CHAPTER 8 _A MOVING LIGHT_
As if to confirm the thought of the two girls, Jay Franklin remarked thatshould the newly discovered stone prove similar to the one found at theGleason farm, he would immediately have it hauled to the Riverviewmuseum.
"Isn't that for Mrs. Marborough to decide?" Penny asked dryly. "The rockis on her land, you know."
"To be sure, to be sure," Mr. Franklin nodded, brushing aside the matterof ownership as if it were of slight consequence.
Mrs. Marborough had gone into the house for a coat. Reappearing, shefollowed Mr. Franklin and the two girls down the trail where the hugestone lay.
"Did you ever notice this rock?" Penny questioned the mistress of RoseAcres.
"Never," she replied, "but then I doubt that I ever walked in thisparticular locality before."
Jay Franklin stooped to examine the carving, excitedly declaring that itwas similar to the marking of the Gleason stone.
"And here are other characters!" he exclaimed, fingering well-weatheredgrooves which had escaped Penny's attention. "Indian picture writing!"
"How do you account for two types of carving on the same stone?" Louiseinquired skeptically.
"The Indian characters may have been added at a later date," Mr. Franklinanswered. "For all we know, this rock may be one of the most valuablerelics ever found in our state! From the historical standpoint, ofcourse. The stone has no commercial value."
"I imagine the museum will want it," Penny said thoughtfully.
"Exactly what I was thinking." Mr. Franklin turned toward Mrs. Marboroughto ask: "You would not object to the museum having this stone?"
"Why, no," she replied. "It has no value to me."
"Then with your permission, I'll arrange to have it hauled to Riverviewwithout delay. I'll buy the stone from you."
"The museum is entirely welcome to it."
"There is a possibility that the museum will refuse the stone. In thatevent you would have the expense of hauling it away again. By purchasingit outright, I can relieve you of all responsibility."
Giving Mrs. Marborough no opportunity to protest, the real estate manforced a crisp two dollar bill into her unwilling hand.
"There," he said jovially, "now I am the owner of the stone. I'll justrun down to Truman Crocker's place and ask him to do the hauling for me."
The wind was cold, and after Mr. Franklin had gone, Mrs. Marborough wentquickly to the house, leaving the girls to await his return.
"I knew something like this would happen," Penny declared in annoyance."Now it's Mr. Franklin's stone, and the next thing we know, he'll claimthat he discovered it too!"
Louise nodded gloomily, replying that only bad luck had brought the realestate agent to Rose Acres that particular afternoon.
"I have a sneaking notion he came here to buy Mrs. Marborough's house,"Penny said musingly. "He thinks it would make a good tourist place!"
For half an hour the girls waited patiently. Neither Jay Franklin norTruman Crocker appeared, so at last they decided it was a waste of timeto remain longer. Arriving at home, shortly before the dinner hour, Pennyfound her father there ahead of her. To her surprise she learned that healready knew of the stone which had been discovered at Rose Acres.
"Information certainly travels fast," she commented. "I suppose JayFranklin must have peddled the story the minute he reached town."
"Yes, he called at the _Star_ office to report he had found a stonesimilar to the one unearthed at the Gleason farm," Mr. Parker nodded.
"_He_ found it!" Penny cried indignantly. "Oh, I knew that old publicityseeker would steal all the credit! Louise and I discovered that rock, andI hope you say so in the _Star_."
"Franklin let it drop that he will offer the stone to the museum for fivehundred dollars."
"Well, of all the cheap tricks!" Penny exclaimed, her indignationmounting. "He bought that rock for two dollars, pretending he meant togive it to the museum. Just wait until Mrs. Marborough hears about it!"
"Suppose you tell me the facts," Mr. Parker invited.
Penny obligingly revealed how she had found the rock by stumbling againstit in descending a steep path to the river. Upon learning of thetransaction which Jay Franklin had concluded with Mrs. Marborough, Mr.Parker smiled ruefully.
"Franklin always did have a special talent for making money the easyway," he declared. "I'll be sorry to see him cheat the museum."
"Dad, you don't think Mr. Kaleman will be foolish enough to pay money forthat rock?" Penny asked in dismay.
"I am afraid he may. He seems convinced that the Gleason stone is agenuine specimen."
"You still believe the writing to be faked?"
"I do," Mr. Parker responded. "I'll stake my reputation upon it! I saidas much to Jay Franklin today and he rather pointedly hinted that hewould appreciate having me keep my theories entirely to myself."
"I guess he doesn't understand you very well," Penny smiled. "Now you'llbe more determined than ever to expose the hoax--if hoax it is."
Mr. Franklin's action thoroughly annoyed her for she felt that he haddeliberately deceived Mrs. Marborough. Wishing to tell Louise Sidell whathe had done, she immediately telephoned her chum.
"I've learned something you'll want to hear," she disclosed. "No, I can'ttell you over the 'phone. Meet me directly after dinner. We might go fora sail on the river."
The previous summer Mr. Parker had purchased a small sailboat which hekept at a summer camp on the river. Occasionally he enjoyed an outing,but work occupied so much of his time that his daughter and her friendsderived far more enjoyment from the craft than he did.
Louise accepted the invitation with alacrity, and later that evening,driving to the river with Penny, listened indignantly to a coloredaccount of how Jay Franklin would profit at the widow's expense. Sheagreed with her chum that he had acted dishonestly in trying to sell thestone.
"Perhaps Mrs. Marborough can claim ownership even now," she suggestedthoughtfully.
"Not without a lawsuit," Penny offered as her opinion. "She sold the rockto Mr. Franklin for two dollars. Remember his final words: 'Now I am theowner of the stone.' Oh, he intended to trick her even then!"
The car turned into a private dirt road and soon halted beside a cabin oflogs. A cool breeze came from the river, but the girls were prepared forit, having worn warm slack suits.
"It's a grand night to sail," Penny declared, leading the way to theboathouse. "We should get as far as the Marborough place if the breezeholds."
Launching the dinghy, Louise raised the sail while her chum took chargeof the tiller. As the canvas filled, the boat heeled slightly and beganto pick up speed.
"Now use discretion," Louise warned as the dinghy tilted farther andfarther sideways. "It's all very well to sail on the bias, but I prefernot to get a ducking!"
During the trip up the river the girls were kept too busy to enjoy thebeauty of the night. However, as the boat approached Truman Crocker'sshack, the breeze suddenly died, barely providing steerage way. Holdingthe tiller by the pressure of her knee, Penny slumped into ahalf-reclining position.
"Want me to steer for awhile?" Louise inquired.
"Not until we turn and start for home. We'll have the current with usthen, which will help, even if the breeze has died."
Curiously, Penny gazed toward Truman Crocker's cabin which was entirelydark. High on the hillside stood the old Marborough mansion and there,too, no lights showed.
"Everyone seems to have gone to bed," she remarked. "It must be late."
Louise held her watch so that she could read the figures in the brightmoonlight and observed that it was only a quarter past ten.
"Anyway, we should be starting for home," Penny said. "Coming about!"
Louise prepared to lower her head as the boom swung over, but to hersurprise the maneuver was not carried through. Instead of turning, thedinghy kept steadily on its course.
&nb
sp; "What's the idea?" she demanded. "Isn't there enough breeze to carry usaround?"
"I was watching that light up on the hill," Penny explained.
Louise twisted in the seat to look over her shoulder.
"What light, Penny?"
"It's gone now, but I saw it an instant ago. There it is again!"
Unmistakably, both girls saw the moving light far up the hill. As theywatched, it seemed to approach the dark Marborough house, and thenreceded.
"Probably someone with a lantern," Louise remarked indifferently.
"But why should anyone be prowling about Mrs. Marborough's place at thishour?"
"It does seem strange."
Deliberately, Penny steered the sailboat toward the beach.
"I think we should investigate," she declared firmly. "Everyone knowsMrs. Marborough lives alone. Someone may be attempting to break into thehouse!"
The Wishing Well Page 9