Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key Part 27

"Not Dad. He'd rather catch a crook than eat. I'm sure he'll help me."

"When will you send the wire?"

"Right away. I'd like to leave the house before Laponi sees me."

However, as the girls stepped out into the hall a few minutes later they heard loud voices coming up from the living room. Penny instantly recognized Laponi's sharp tones and paused at the top of the stairs to peer down.

"It's Max and Caleb Eckert," she reported in a whisper. "My, what a quarrel they're having!"

The girls listened for a minute but the voices of the two men died to a low murmur and they could distinguish only an occasional word.

"Unless you want Laponi to see you we'd better slip down the back way,"

Rosanna suggested.

Using the rear stairs the girls were able to leave the house without being observed. They drove directly to Andover where Penny dispatched a lengthy wire to her father. She requested him to learn all he could concerning Max Laponi and if possible to send her a complete description of the diamond ring which had been stolen from the department store.

"I wonder why Caleb and Max Laponi were going at each other in such dreadful fas.h.i.+on?" Rosanna mused as they drove back toward the Winters'

mansion.

Penny had been pondering over the same question.

"I suppose Caleb may be suspicious of him," Rosanna went on when Penny did not answer.

"Possibly. Old Caleb hasn't acted too honestly himself, Rosanna."

"I know he hasn't. He doesn't like to answer questions and his interest in Mr. Winters' safe is rather puzzling. It seems to me that everyone at Raven Ridge acts queerly."

"Including me?" Penny teased.

Rosanna laughed and squeezed her arm affectionately. "Of course I don't mean you. You've been wonderful and I'll never never be able to repay you for all you've done."

"Nonsense, so far I've accomplished exactly nothing. But I have a feeling that before another twenty-four hours elapse things are going to start breaking for us."

"I hope so," Rosanna sighed.

Neither Max Laponi nor Caleb Eckert were in the living room when the girls returned to the house. Alicia was reading a book by the fireplace but at sight of Penny and Rosanna she coldly withdrew.

"I'm glad she's gone," Penny smiled. "It clears the atmosphere."

"Must we stay here tonight?" Rosanna asked. "Couldn't we go to a hotel and come back in the morning? Since I know that Max Laponi----"

She broke off as Penny shot her a warning glance.

"Even the walls seem to have ears in this house, Rosanna. Come outside and we'll do our planning there."

They went out into the yard and sat down on a stone bench.

"I know I'm a dreadful coward," Rosanna acknowledged. "Only I'm so afraid something terrible is about to happen."

"Now don't let your nerves get the best of you," Penny advised kindly. "I shouldn't have shown you that revolver I found in Laponi's room. You haven't been the same since."

"It wasn't just the revolver. It's everything."

Penny was silent for a moment. Then she said quietly:

"I don't blame you for feeling the way you do. Perhaps we are taking a chance to remain here tonight. I shouldn't do it only I feel that it will give me an opportunity to clear up the mystery."

"But if you suspect Max----"

"I do suspect him of a great many things, but I'm not certain of his game yet, Rosanna. Besides, I must have absolute proof before I dare notify the police. Tonight I intend to watch the mouth of the tunnel."

"I can't permit you to do it by yourself. If you insist on taking such a chance I'll go with you!"

Penny remonstrated but at length it was agreed that shortly after nightfall the two would steal down to the lake's edge and lie in wait at the mouth of the tunnel for the mysterious ghost to appear.

For a long time the two girls sat staring out across the lake, each absorbed with her own thoughts. What would the night bring forth?

"I believe I'll walk down to Caleb Eckert's cabin and chat with him for a few minutes," Penny remarked a little later as her companion arose from the bench. "Want to come along?"

"No, I think I'll go inside. The air is growing chilly and my sweater is upstairs."

"I'll be glad to wait for you."

"If you don't mind, I believe I'll just rest. You go on alone."

"You really don't mind?"

"Of course not. But I doubt if you'll find Caleb at home. He usually goes fis.h.i.+ng about this time of day."

"Well, I may as well see anyhow. I want to ask him about that picture of Jacob Winters. I intend to keep annoying him until he gives me a satisfactory answer."

As Rosanna returned to the house, Penny walked swiftly in the direction of the cabin.

"I'm only wasting my time," she thought. "Caleb has no intention of ever producing that photograph."

Penny rapped on the door, noticing that it was partly ajar. There was no response. She knocked a second time.

Far out on the lake she could see a small rowboat with one lone fisherman. No doubt it was Caleb, she decided.

She started away from the cabin, then abruptly halted as she was struck with a sudden thought. With Caleb out on the lake she would have an excellent opportunity to search his shack for the photograph of Jacob Winters. She felt convinced she would find it there.

"Entering people's private quarters seems to be a bad habit of mine," she chuckled. "Still, it's all in a good cause."

Penny surveyed the lake again. The rowboat was nearly out of sight.

After a moment of indecision, she pushed open the cabin door and entered.

Caleb had left everything in a clutter and she scarcely knew where to begin her search.