Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key Part 13

"And why shouldn't I?" Mrs. Leeds demanded tartly. "Jacob Winters is dead isn't he? And his will must be found. I suppose you're afraid to have the doc.u.ment come to light for fear you'll be cut off completely."

Rosanna's cheeks flushed.

"I never thought of such a thing, Mrs. Leeds. I think it's disgraceful the way everyone is acting about the property!"

Before Mrs. Leeds could reply, she ran from the room. Penny loyally followed, joining Rosanna in the bedroom which they shared. She found the orphan in tears.

"Forget it," Penny advised kindly. "Mrs. Leeds is so intent on getting the money that she doesn't realize what she says."

"I'm sorry I ever came here. I want no part in this disgraceful grab for Uncle Jacob's money."

"I know how you feel," Penny agreed, "but let's stay a day or two. I'm curious to learn just what is going on here."

In truth, she was completely baffled. It was difficult for her to make up her mind whether or not the entire arrangement was a hoax. Somehow she had distrusted Laponi's credentials. She distrusted him too.

"I don't believe he could be a nephew of Jacob Winters," she thought. "I wish there was some way to trace down his past."

It was clear to Penny that Rosanna would never defend her claim to the inheritance. Unless she personally took a hand in the affair, Mrs. Leeds and Max Laponi would ignore the orphan completely.

"I'll let them make the first move," she decided shrewdly. "For the time being I'll play a waiting game."

For the greater part of the afternoon, Penny and Rosanna remained in their own room. Toward nightfall they walked about the grounds and later motored to a nearby inn for dinner. At nine o'clock when they returned to the big empty house, the downstairs was dark. They judged that Mrs. Leeds and Max Laponi had already gone to their rooms.

"We may as well turn in too," Penny suggested. "The mountain air makes one drowsy."

Both girls were soon sound asleep. However, sometime later Penny was awakened by the sound of footsteps in the hall. She thought little of it, and rolling over, tried to go to sleep again. Suddenly she heard soft music from above.

She sat up in bed, listening. A strain of a famous opera resounded through the room, rising in volume, then falling away. Penny knew that she was not imagining it. She nudged her companion who quickly awakened.

"Do you hear the same thing I do?"

Rosanna clutched the sheets more tightly about her.

"Ghost music," she whispered in awe.

"It sounds like pipe organ music coming from a long distance away," Penny whispered. "I'm going to find out!"

Before Rosanna could prevent it, she stole from bed and swiftly tiptoed to the door.

CHAPTER VIII The Ivory Collection

Penny quietly opened the bedroom door, peering out into the long dark hall. She could hear the music distinctly. It seemed to be coming from almost directly overhead.

By this time, Rosanna, overcoming her fear, crept beside her friend. They huddled together, listening.

"It's an organ. I'm sure of it," Penny whispered. "But where can it be hidden?"

"I'm afraid of this place," Rosanna chattered. "Let's lock the bedroom door and leave in the morning."

Penny made no response. For that matter she did not even hear for she was intent upon trying to localize the sound of the music. Never inclined to be superst.i.tious, she had no thought that the old house was haunted. She felt certain that the ghost-like music was man made.

"This house must have a third floor or an attic," she declared softly.

"Let's see if we can find our way up."

"Never!"

"Then I'm going alone."

Penny started off down the hall. Rosanna hesitated, and then, unable to watch her friend walk into danger alone, hurriedly followed. Halfway down the hall she reached for the electric switch but Penny caught her hand before she could turn on the light.

"Don't! It would give warning that we're coming."

Groping about in the dark the girls went past Mrs. Leeds' bedroom and the one occupied by the stranger. Penny noted that the doors of both were tightly closed. At the end of the hall she found still another door.

Gently she turned the handle and opened it. A steep flight of stairs led upward.

"Oh, please, let's not go up," Rosanna pleaded, trembling.

"You stay here," Penny said in a whisper. "If anything goes wrong, let out a cry for help."

The mysterious music had ceased for the moment. Penny waited until it began again, and then, following the sound, crept noiselessly up the stairs leaving Rosanna on guard below.

At the top of the last step Penny paused to listen again. Actually, she was not as courageous as she had pretended. She could hear her own heart pounding.

It was so dark on the third floor that at first she could distinguish nothing. The music had increased in volume and Penny was more sure than ever that it came from a hidden pipe organ.

As her eyes focused better she found herself standing upon a small landing from which branched two closed doors. After a slight hesitation she tiptoed to the nearest one and opened it a tiny crack.

Although no sound had betrayed her, the music from within ended with a discordant crash. Startled, Penny allowed the door to swing wide. She started forward, and suddenly tripped. Until that moment her nerve had held steady. But as she stumbled and fell she uttered a shrill cry of terror.

Rosanna, fearing the worst, came running up the stairs.

"Penny! Penny! Are you hurt?"

Rea.s.sured by her friend's voice, Penny scrambled to her feet and met Rosanna at the door.

"I'm all right," she said shakily. "But I've done enough investigating for one night!"

"What frightened you so?"

"I'll tell you later."

They lost no time in returning to the lower floor. Down the hall, Mrs.

Leeds' door had opened. A light flashed on.

"What is going on here?" Mrs. Leeds demanded, emerging into the hallway.