Penny Nichols and the Knob Hill Mystery

by Joan Clark

  CHAPTER XIX

  Michael's Admission

  "Bring the book and come on, Penny," Mr. Nichols ordered tersely. "Wedon't want Crocker to catch us here."

  Penny snatched up the account book, slammed shut the desk and followedher father to the door. Susan was waiting there, nervously watchingthe entrance to the narrow lane. A car was just coming into view.

  "Duck into the pine grove," commanded the detective.

  The three disappeared behind the trees just as Herman Crocker'sbattered old car wheezed up the lane. Mr. Nichols and the girlsremained motionless until the old man and his grandson had gone intothe house. Then they moved noiselessly away, keeping to the evergreengrove until they reached the main road.

  "Penny, what were you starting to tell me about an account book?"questioned Mr. Nichols as they paused.

  "I'll show you," offered Penny.

  She opened the account book to the item which had drawn her attention,but in the dim light it was difficult for Mr. Nichols to make out thefine writing.

  "Michael Gladwin," he read slowly aloud. "I seem to be thickheaded----"

  "Oh, Susan and I didn't tell you that part!" Penny cried. "We thinkGladwin is Michael Haymond's real name! He dropped a handkerchiefbearing the initials 'M. G.', and when we were over at Glenhaven welearned from the former matron of the institution that a strange personwho might have been Herman Crocker, brought a boy who was named MichaelGladwin to the Home."

  "There seems to be quite a bit going on that I know nothing about," Mr.Nichols remarked dryly. "Suppose you start at the beginning, Penny,and tell me everything."

  "Are you sure you'll not think my ideas wild?" Penny asked teasingly.

  "I am quite willing to retract my words," Mr. Nichols said. "Yourideas and theories are proving remarkably sound."

  Penny and Susan were only too glad to relate everything they hadlearned about Michael Gladwin.

  "I'll question the young man just as soon as we reach the cottage,"promised Mr. Nichols. "We'll get at the bottom of this matter and seeif it can be straightened out."

  "Michael may deny everything," Penny said thoughtfully. "He has someparticular reason for wishing to keep his past a secret. Dad, I havean idea!"

  "What is it, Penny?"

  "Why couldn't we drive over to Ferndale to-night and take Michael withus? He'd have no suspicion that we were calling upon Mrs. Havers untilhe met her face to face!"

  "Confronted with the former matron you believe that he would break downand confess the truth?"

  "Yes, I think he might, Dad. At any rate, Mrs. Havers could establishdefinitely whether or not he is Michael Gladwin."

  "Your plan is a good one," Mr. Nichols said after a moment'sreflection. "We'll start right away if we can locate Michael."

  "He usually walks down to the village after supper," Penny declaredanxiously. "I hope he hasn't left yet."

  Michael was just starting away from the cottage when Mr. Nichols andthe girls arrived. The detective stopped him, explaining that theywould like to have his company on a motor trip to a distant town.

  "I don't enjoy changing a tire at night," Mr. Nichols said. "While I'mnot looking for trouble, I'd like to have a handy man along just incase something happens."

  "I'll be very glad to go, sir," replied Michael.

  "You might be getting the car from the garage," Mr. Nichols directed."I'll be along in a minute."

  He started for the cottage after his light overcoat. Mrs. Masterbrooksat rocking back and forth on the porch.

  "I hope you're ready for your supper now," she said tartly.

  "I've not time to eat it, Mrs. Masterbrook. I am sorry to have annoyedyou this way."

  "I've kept it warming for over an hour," the housekeeper said crossly."I declare, I can't understand your comings and goings."

  Paying no heed to Mrs. Masterbrook's grumblings, the detective foundhis coat and hastened back to the car.

  "What shall I say if anyone telephones?" the housekeeper called afterhim. "Where shall I say you are?"

  "Tell them you don't know," shouted the detective.

  It was evident to Penny and Susan that Michael had no suspicion wherehe was being taken. Even when the automobile drew near Ferndale he didnot appear to grow uneasy. He was so calm and undisturbed that theybegan to wonder if they had made another mistake.

  "Of course the Orphan's Home isn't at Ferndale," Penny told herself."He probably doesn't know that Mrs. Havers has left the Glenhaven Home."

  It was after nine o'clock when the car finally drew up in front of theformer matron's home. The girls were afraid that Mrs. Havers mighthave retired early and so were greatly relieved to see a light burningon the lower floor.

  "Michael, why don't you come in with us?" Penny asked as she alightedfrom the car.

  "Oh, I'll wait out here," he replied.

  "No, come along," Mr. Nichols invited.

  He took Michael by the arm and steered him up the walk. Penny andSusan went on ahead to ring the doorbell. They were a little worriedfor fear that Mrs. Havers would not wish to receive them so late in theevening.

  After a long wait, the door slowly opened. Mrs. Havers, her facehidden by the shadows, did not readily recognize the girls. However,after they had spoken, she urged them to come inside.

  Penny and Susan entered the cottage and waited for Mr. Nichols andMichael. Mrs. Havers turned to face the newcomers. For an instant shestared blankly at Michael and then she gave a cry of delight.

  "Michael Gladwin! How glad I am to see you again!"

  "Mrs. Havers!" exclaimed the young man. Then he became confused andglanced quickly toward Mr. Nichols.

  "We've known for some time that you were Michael Gladwin," said Mr.Nichols.

  "Of course he is Michael Gladwin," declared Mrs. Havers. "Who elsecould he be?"

  "I have a great deal to explain," said the young man, looking again atthe detective. "I know you surely must be thinking that I havedeceived you----"

  "I am sure you had a very good reason," replied Mr. Nichols kindly.

  Mrs. Havers was deeply troubled by the conversation which she could notunderstand. She urged her visitors to seat themselves. Mr. Nichols,always restless in moments of stress, found it impossible to remain ina chair. He annoyed his hostess exceedingly by moving about the room,appearing to examine books, bric-a-brac and objects of furniture.

  "Before we ask Michael to tell his story, I should like to have youlook at this picture, Mrs. Havers," said Penny. She offered thephotograph of Herman Crocker. "Have you seen the man before?"

  "Let me turn up the light. My eyes aren't as strong as they were."

  Mrs. Havers studied the picture intently for a minute.

  "This is a photograph of Mr. Keenan," said the former matron. Her gazewandered to Michael. "He is the man who brought you to the Orphan'sHome."

  "You are certain?" asked Mr. Nichols eagerly.

  "Of course I am," answered the old lady firmly. "I seldom forget aface. This is a very good likeness of Mr. Keenan as I remember him."

  "Mr. Keenan and Herman Crocker were one and the same person!" criedPenny. "I am beginning to understand everything now!"

  "Then I wish you'd explain it to me," said Michael. "I have known forsome time that Crocker was supposed to be my uncle, but until now Irather doubted that there was any truth to the story."

  "How did you learn that he was related to you?" Penny asked quickly.

  "Through an anonymous letter," Michael replied. "It was forwarded tome after I left the Glenhaven Home. The writer informed me that mytrue name was Walter Crocker and that I would find evidence to supportmy claim to the Crocker fortune at your cottage."

  "So your visit to Kendon was made for the purpose of claiming Crocker'smoney," Mr. Nichols said musing. "What did you expect to find in ourcottage?"

  "I don't know, sir," Michael returned soberly. "I thought possiblythere might be letters or photographs which would establish my trueid
entity."

  "Were you the person whom I mistook for a robber a few nights ago?"Penny questioned.

  "Yes," Michael admitted. "I shouldn't have been prowling about thehouse, but in the day time I never had a chance to search. When youheard me in the living room I ran out the door and hid in the woods."

  "And I suppose it was you who took a package of letters from the attictrunk," Penny went on.

  "I did take some letters, but they were valueless. To tell you thetruth, I haven't a scrap of evidence to support my claim."

  "I think we may be able to help you," Mr. Nichols said slowly. "Butyou must answer several questions. I recall that when you first cameto our cottage you told us you intended to see Mr. Crocker on business.Yet to my knowledge you never went to see him."

  "I don't wonder that my actions appear contrary, sir. I intended tovisit Herman Crocker immediately, but while I was at your cottage, aremark was dropped which led me to believe that another person whoclaimed to be Walter Crocker already had called upon my uncle."

  "That is true," the detective nodded. "There is another young man whoclaims to be Walter Crocker."

  "You see my position, sir. I had no proof of anything. I was afraidthat someone had played a joke on me. For that reason I gave a falsename and said nothing of the matter. I thought I would wait a few daysuntil I had gained more information."

  "You acted wisely," Mr. Nichols declared.

  "Obviously, Walter Crocker is an imposter," Penny said. "But who ishe? What is his true name and how did he obtain the evidence againstHerman Crocker?"

  "We may be able to answer all those questions before we finish with thecase," returned the detective. "If Mrs. Havers will testify thatMichael is the same boy who was brought to the Glenhaven Home by Mr.Keenan and that Keenan and Crocker are the same person, it will be asimple matter to establish a claim to the fortune."

  "The man of this photograph is the same individual who came to the Homeyears ago," declared Mrs. Havers. "I will be glad to sign papers tothat effect."

  "The masquerading Walter Crocker is merely a blackmailer," thedetective continued. "Undoubtedly, he knew that he could neverestablish a court claim to the fortune. But with the letters in hispossession, he was able to frighten Herman Crocker into dealing withhim privately."

  "What finally became of the letters?" inquired Michael.

  "Dad has them," said Penny. "And we have other evidence which shouldhelp your cause. At Crocker's house we found an account book showingthat the old man paid the Glenhaven Home various amounts of money."

  "I can't understand why a man would do such a thing," Michael saidslowly. "Why did my uncle hate me?"

  "Probably he didn't," replied the detective. "You merely stood in Mr.Crocker's way. Greed leads many a person astray."

  "It was queer that for years Herman Crocker fooled everyone in Kendon,"Penny remarked. "And then someone must have discovered his secret."

  "I am puzzled by the anonymous letter," Mr. Nichols admitted, turningto Michael again. "I don't suppose you have it with you?"

  "Yes, I do. You may read it if you wish."

  Michael took a crumpled envelope from his inside coat pocket andoffered it to the detective. Mr. Nichols scanned it briefly.

  "The letter was postmarked at Kendon," he said.

  "May I see it, Dad?" requested Penny.

  He gave the letter to her and she studied it for a moment in silence.The communication contained no new information. As Michael had said,it merely hinted that he was the true heir to the Crocker fortune, andthat he would find evidence to support his claim at the Knob Hillcottage. Penny was more interested in the handwriting than in themessage. It seemed to her that it looked strangely familiar.

  "Why, I've seen this writing before!" she exclaimed.

  "Do you know who sent the letter?" asked her father quickly.

  "I can make a very shrewd guess," replied Penny. "It was our all-wisehousekeeper, Mrs. Masterbrook!"

  CHAPTER XX

  Alias Jay Kline

  "It would be in keeping with Mrs. Masterbrook's character to send ananonymous letter," Mr. Nichols agreed quickly.

  "I am just sure this is her handwriting," Penny insisted. "I'd not bemistaken for she has made out so many grocery lists."

  Mr. Nichols took the letter and put it in his pocket.

  "Then Mrs. Masterbrook is the one person who should be able to clear upthis tangle," he said. "We'll go to the cottage and question her."

  Thanking Mrs. Havers for the aid she had offered, the party leftFerndale and made a swift trip back to Kendon. Unaware that she wasunder suspicion, Mrs. Masterbrook had retired when Mr. Nichols and theyoung people arrived. The detective pounded on her door.

  "What is it?" called the housekeeper.

  "Please come out here a minute," requested Mr. Nichols.

  "I am ready for bed. Can't you tell me what you want from there."

  "No, I cannot, Mrs. Masterbrook. Come out unless you prefer to tellyour story to a policeman."

  "A policeman!" echoed the housekeeper with a little shriek. "Oh, mygoodness! I'll come right out."

  She was dressed in five minutes but did not take time to remove thecurlers from her hair.

  "Just what is it that you wish?" she asked tartly as she gazed from oneperson to another. Everyone was watching her soberly.

  "Look at this letter," said Mr. Nichols, placing the anonymouscommunication in her lap.

  A flush spread over the housekeeper's face but she threw back her headdefiantly.

  "Well, what about it?"

  "We know that you wrote the letter," said the detective sternly, "soyou may as well admit the truth."

  Mrs. Masterbrook hesitated, and for a moment Penny thought that shemeant to deny the charge. Then the woman said coldly:

  "Well, what if I did write it? You can't send me to jail for trying todo a good turn."

  "No one has any intention of causing you trouble--providing you tell useverything," replied Mr. Nichols significantly.

  "What do you wish to know?"

  "First, how did you learn Mr. Crocker's secret?"

  "I worked for him a great many years," returned the housekeeper with aslight toss of her head. "Both at this cottage and later when he livedat his present home. Not being stupid, I suspected a fly in theointment so to speak when he came into his fortune."

  "You did a little investigation work?" prompted the detective.

  "Exactly. I read the letters in the attic, and I thought it was timesomeone knew about the great injustice which had been done WalterCrocker."

  "That was very kind of you, I'm sure," said the detective dryly. "Whatdid you do when you found the letters?"

  "I didn't do anything at first. Then Mr. Crocker discharged me----"

  "I see," interrupted Mr. Nichols. "His high-handed ways made youremember the letters in the cottage attic. Thinking that the nephewshould learn of them you no doubt entered the cottage and secured theevidence."

  "I did," the housekeeper nodded grimly.

  "But how did you know where to find Walter Crocker?"

  "I suspected that he was a certain boy named Michael Gladwin," Mrs.Masterbrook answered. "From various bits of evidence which came my waywhile I worked for Herman, I gathered that Jenny's child had beenplaced in the Glenhaven Orphan's Home under that name."

  "I must say you have shown a distinct talent for detective work," Mr.Nichols told her dryly. "You sent the anonymous letter to Michael atthat address. Then what happened?"

  "Nothing. There was no reply. That's all I know of the matter."

  "Mrs. Masterbrook, I think you can tell us a great deal more," saidPenny quietly. "For instance when did you first meet the man who callshimself Walter Crocker."

  "I don't know what you're talking about," stammered the housekeeper.

  "Either you explain everything or we'll take you to the policestation," interposed Mr. Nichols.

  "All right, I'll tell you exact
ly what happened," Mrs. Masterbrookagreed after a long moment of thought. "The man is a lawyer--his nameis Jay Kline."

  "Mr. Madden's missing partner!" exclaimed the detective.

  "I don't know anything about him being missing," said the housekeepercrossly. "But he's made me plenty of trouble. I wish I had never seteyes on him."

  "Tell us how you came to meet Jay Kline," the detective ordered.

  "It was this way. I waited months to hear from the letter which I sentto the Glenhaven Home. When none came I decided that Michael Gladwinmust be dead. I saw no reason in that case why I shouldn't profit alittle myself. After all, I worked like a slave for Old Herman and henever paid me a living wage! I took the letters to a city law firm."

  "So Mr. Madden is mixed up in this affair too?" asked the detective.

  "I don't know anything about him," replied the housekeeper. "I metonly Jay Kline. He told me to leave everything to him and that hewould force Old Herman to pay me a good sum to get the letters backagain."

  "There is an ugly name for that sort of thing," said Mr. Nichols."Blackmail."

  "I only meant to make Herman pay me a hundred dollars."

  "The principle was exactly the same. I judge that Jay Kline being anunscrupulous rascal took matters out of your hands."

  "Yes, the next thing I knew he came here and pawned himself off asWalter Crocker. I tried to make him go away but he wouldn't. I didn'tmean to do wrong, Mr. Nichols. You'll not send me to jail, will you?"

  "That remains to be seen," replied the detective tersely. "For thetime being you are to remain here in the cottage. Talk with no one."

  "Yes, sir," murmured the housekeeper meekly.

  The detective did not bother to tell the woman that Michael Gladwin andMichael Haymond were the same individual for he felt that the less sheknew the easier it would be to carry out a plan which was forming inhis mind.

  Penny had supposed that her father would go directly to Herman Crocker,confronting him with the evidence. Instead, Mr. Nichols bided histime. He held several conferences with the Kendon police force.

  During his frequent absences from the cottage, Penny, Susan and Michaelwere left to keep watch of Mrs. Masterbrook. The housekeeper was neverallowed to talk with anyone by telephone or to greet persons whochanced to come to the door. While she had given her promise not todisclose anything, Mr. Nichols preferred to take no chance.

  "This is the set-up," he told Penny as they held secret session. "Ihave arranged so that Jay Kline mysteriously recovered his package ofletters----"

  "But Dad----"

  "It is the only way to trap him, Penny. With the letters in hispossession, he'll meet Herman Crocker tonight by the footbridge. WhenCrocker pays over the hush money, police will arrest them both."

  "I'd love to see the big roundup," said Penny eagerly.

  "You shall," Mr. Nichols promised. "You've earned the right."

  That night long before the appointed hour, Penny, her father andseveral plain-clothes men were waiting in the bushes for the arrival ofKline and Herman Crocker.

  Jay Kline was the first to reach the footbridge. He appeared to bevery nervous and smoked one cigarette after another. Now and then hewould light a match and glance at his watch.

  After a fifteen minute wait Herman Crocker's car was heard coming downthe road. The automobile stopped some distance from the bridge, andPenny, who had keen eyes, saw that the old man had brought his grandsonwith him. However, he left the boy in the car and came toward thebridge alone.

  "Well, did you bring the money?" asked Jay Kline.

  "I could raise only half the sum you demanded," the old man whined."You have the letters with you?"

  Jay Kline produced the packet.

  "Oh, no you don't," he laughed as Herman tried to take the letters fromhim. "You'll get them only when you've paid over all the money."

  "I'll give you what I have. Don't be too hard on me."

  At a nod from Mr. Nichols, the plain-clothes men stepped from thebushes surrounding the pair.

  "Tricked!" shouted Jay Kline.

  Believing that Old Herman had betrayed him to the police, he strucksavagely at the man and then brushing past one of the officers, randown the ravine. Two policemen took after him and soon dragged himback. Herman Crocker had not attempted to escape.

  "Take Kline down to Kendon," Mr. Nichols ordered tersely. "I'll lookafter Crocker myself."

  "You've nothing on me," the old man muttered. "I was beingblackmailed, that's all."

  "It's no use trying to put up a front," the detective told him. "Weknow everything. This man was a blackmailer right enough, but the realWalter Crocker has a just claim to a large portion of your estate. Amore serious matter is that you are wanted for the robbery of theKirmenbach residence."

  "I'm wanted for what?" gasped the old man.

  "You are under suspicion for stealing a diamond necklace."

  Until this moment Herman Crocker had been calm and quiet, but suddenlyhe flew into a violent rage, denying any part in the robbery.

  "It's nothing but a frame-up!" he shouted.

  "Maybe I did keep money that wasn't mine, but I never broke intoanyone's house in all my life!"

  "Did you or did you not have a toy lantern in your house?" asked Mr.Nichols.

  "A toy lantern?" the old man repeated. "Perry had one I guess. Helost it and found it again."

  "It happens that Perry's toy lantern was discovered at the scene of therobbery. Perhaps you can explain that."

  "I don't know anything about it," said Old Herman dully. "That's thetruth."

  "We'll see what Perry has to say about it," returned Mr. Nichols."Come along."

  He led the old man back to the automobile where the boy was waiting.

  "Perry," said the detective kindly, "do you remember a toy lanternwhich Mr. Turner gave you the other day?"

  "He didn't give it to me," the lad corrected. "It was mine."

  "You had lost it?" Mr. Nichols prompted. "Do you recall how long agoyou missed the lantern?"

  "It was the night Walter Crocker came to see my grandfather," Perryanswered instantly. "I was playing with it then and I think maybe Idropped it into his pocket."

  "You put the toy lantern into Walter Crocker's coat pocket?" thedetective asked in amazement. "Why did you do that?"

  "I don't know," answered Perry with a shrug. "I guess I thought hemight sit down on it and the glass would go bang! That would have beenfunny."

  "I take it that Walter didn't discover the lantern in his pocket?"

  "No, he went off in a hurry and I couldn't even get my toy back."

  "This puts an entirely different light on the matter," said Mr.Nichols, speaking slowly. "If Perry is telling the truth, thenprobably Jay Kline went off without suspecting that the lantern was inhis coat. He may have pulled the Kirmenbach job."

  "And the toy lantern probably fell from his pocket while he was workingat the wall safe," Penny added eagerly. "Can we prove it, Dad?"

  "It may be possible to make Kline confess," the detective replied."I'll go down to Kendon right away and question him."

  With Herman Crocker in custody there was no one to look after Perry, soPenny took the lad back to her cottage. He was tucked into bed with noinkling of the unfortunate fate which had befallen his grandfather.

  Penny and Susan sat up until late awaiting the return of Mr. Nicholsfrom Kendon. He came in around midnight and the girls saw at once thathe was highly elated.

  "Well, Penny, you've won the reward!" he called out gaily.

  "Not really!" exclaimed Penny.

  "Yes, the case is closed," Mr. Nichols declared, "and Kirmenbach'sreward will go to you."

  "Tell us all about it," pleaded Penny eagerly.

  "Jay Kline broke down and admitted everything. He committed theKirmenbach robbery and several others as well. However, it was a shockto him when he learned that his conviction came about through Perry'stoy lantern. He never dreamed it w
as in his coat."

  "What will become of Herman Crocker?" Penny inquired.

  "He has agreed to turn over the major part of his estate to therightful heir--Michael."

  "Will he be sent to prison, Dad?"

  "That hasn't been determined, but I imagine he may escape a sentence.However, in any case, Perry is to be taken from him and turned over tosomeone who will give him better care."

  "I'm glad of that," said Penny. "Did Herman offer any reason for doingwhat he did?"

  "Only that he hoped to keep the fortune for himself. Then too, itseems he wished to pass it on to his own grandson, Perry. You rememberhe was the child of Herman's daughter, Ella--the only person whom theold man ever loved."

  "Yet he mistreated Perry."

  "In a way, yes, but he probably thought more of the boy than any otherliving person."

  "And what is to become of Mrs. Masterbrook?" Penny questioned, loweringher voice.

  "I didn't bring her name into the case at all. At heart I doubt thatthe woman is bad--she is merely a natural born trouble maker. As faras I'm concerned she's free to go on living in this community. Iimagine she has learned her lesson."

  "There's no question that Michael will get the money, Dad?"

  "Not the slightest. And he'll owe all his good fortune to you, Penny.Come to think of it, I owe you quite a bit myself."

  "You?" asked Penny, smiling.

  "Yes, you practically solved my case for me," declared the detective."Not to mention digging up one of your own."

  "I had good fun doing it," laughed Penny. Then her face fell. "Isuppose now that all the mystery is solved we'll be going back homeagain."

  "We'll certainly pack up and leave this place," answered Mr. Nichols."But we're not starting for home."

  "Then where are we going?" asked Penny in surprise.

  "I don't know," replied Mr. Nichols, smiling broadly, "but it will beto some nice quiet place where I can have a vacation."

  THE END