Hoofbeats on the Turnpike Part 21

"Quite a gal!" Quigley said admiringly. "What can't you do?"

This was Penny's opportunity and she seized it. "Quite a number of things," she answered. "For one, I can't solve a certain mystery that plagues me."

Joe Quigley finished making out the way bill. His eyes danced as he handed Penny her receipt.

"So you admit that you've met your Waterloo in our Galloping Ghost?"

"I admit nothing," Penny retorted. "You could help me if you would!"

"How?"

"I'm sure you know the person who has been causing the Burmasters so much trouble."

"Trouble?" Quigley's eyebrows jerked. "The way I look at it, that Headless Horseman may do 'em a good turn. He may actually save their worthless necks by driving them out of the valley."

"Meaning?"

"Meaning that Burmaster can't keep on in his bull headed fas.h.i.+on without bringing tragedy upon himself as well as the valley. Even now it's probably too late to reinforce the dam."

"Then what does your prankster hope to gain?"

"You'll have to ask him," Joe Quigley shrugged. "This is the way I look at it. Mrs. Lear and the Burmasters are deep in a feud. The old lady lost the deed to her place and she figures if she moves off, the Burmasters somehow will take advantage of her."

"They've made no attempt to do so?"

"Not yet. But old Mrs. Lear is convinced Mrs. Burmaster is biding her time."

"It all sounds rather silly."

"Maybe it does to an outsider. But this is the serious part. If the dam should let go there'd be no chance to warn either the Burmasters or Mrs.

Lear. Both places should be evacuated."

"Then why isn't it done?"

"Because two stubborn women refuse to listen to reason. Mrs. Burmaster won't budge because she says there's no danger--that it's a scheme to get her out of the valley. Mrs. Lear won't leave her home while the Burmasters stay."

"What's to be done?"

"Ask me something easy." The telegraph instrument was chattering the Delta station call again so Quigley turned to answer it. "If you see Mrs.

Lear before you leave here, try to reason with her," he tossed over his shoulder. "I've given up."

The girls nodded goodbye and went outside. Silas Malcom's wagon was nowhere to be seen, and after a brief debate they decided to walk to Mrs.

Lear's place.

"Maybe we still can catch a ride home with Salt," Louise remarked dubiously. "With all this talk about the dam, I certainly don't relish spending a night in the valley."

"Oh, Silas said there was no immediate danger unless it rains again,"

Penny reminded her chum. "What Joe Quigley said about Mrs. Lear worries me. We must try to get her to leave the valley."

"Why not move a mountain?" Louise countered. "It would be a lot easier."

When the girls reached Mrs. Lear's cabin they discovered that word of their arrival in Delta had traveled ahead of them.

"Your room's all ready fer you," the old lady beamed as she greeted them at the door. "This time I hope you're stayin' fer a week."

Nothing seemed changed at the Lear cabin. Mrs. Lear had spent the morning canning fruit, and the kitchen table was loaded with containers. A was.h.i.+ng flapped lazily on the line. While waiting for the clothes to dry, the old lady filled in her time by sewing on a rag rug of elaborate pattern.

"I'm a mite behind in my work," she confessed to her young visitors.

"These infernal rains set a body back. Fer three days I couldn't get my was.h.i.+n' hung, an' I never will git my corn dried less I do it in the oven."

"Speaking of rain," Penny began hesitantly, "Don't you think it's dangerous to remain here much longer?"

"Maybe it is, maybe it ain't," the old lady retorted. "Either way I'm not worryin'. There ain't nothin' going to put me off my place--not even a flood."

"Joe Quigley thinks that you and the Burmasters both should move to a safer place."

"Then let 'em go fust," Mrs. Lear declared. "Didn't Mrs. Burmaster steal the deed to my land jest fer meanness and spite? If I was dumb enough to leave this place fer an hour she'd find some way to git it away from me."

"That couldn't be done so easily," smiled Penny. "After all, Mr.

Burmaster has more sense than his wife. Did you never talk to him about the missing deed?"

"We had words," Mrs. Lear said with emphasis. "'Course he stood up fer his wife--said she'd never do such a thing. But I know better!"

"Yet since the deed disappeared no one has tried to put you off your land."

"That's cause the Burmasters are waitin' their chance. Oh, they're sly and cunning. But I'm jest as smart as they are, and they'll never git me off this place!"

The discussion, Penny felt, was traveling in the same familiar circle.

One could not influence Mrs. Lear. Her mind had been made up. Nothing would move her.

Thinking that they might at least talk matters over with Mr. Burmaster, the girls presently walked down the road to Sleepy Hollow estate. A workman who was busy with hammer and saw told them that Mr. and Mrs.

Burmaster had motored to Delta for the afternoon.

"What are you building?" Penny inquired curiously. "A gate?"

"You might call it that," he grinned. "Mr. Burmaster ordered me to knock together a couple of 'em, one for each end of the bridge."

"Oh! I see!" Light dawned upon Penny. "Moveable barriers to trap the Headless Horseman prankster!"

"It's a lot o' nonsense if you ask me," the workman grumbled. "That fellow ain't been around here in a week. Reckon he may never show up again."

"Yet Mr. Burmaster keeps watch of the bridge?"

"Every night. That wife of his wouldn't give him no peace if he didn't."

The workman hammered a nail into place and added: "The Burmasters have got something to worry about if they only had sense enough to realize it."

"You mean the Huntley Dam?"