Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key

by Joan Clark

  CHAPTER III An Arrogant Guest

  That evening at the dinner table Penny told her father about theunsuccessful trip to Brookport.

  "It looks like someone played a practical joke on your friend," hecommented.

  "But who could be so mean, Dad? Rosanna has had such a desperately hardtime to get along. Now if she wastes money going to Raven Ridge on afruitless visit, it won't seem fair."

  "Well, it's likely to amount to just that," Mr. Nichols returned. "Itried to locate that attorney, Elfhedge today."

  "Any luck?"

  "No, I doubt if such a person exists."

  "So do I," Penny agreed. "By the way, what became of the newspaper today?I wanted to read up about the department store theft."

  "To see if your name was mentioned?" her father teased.

  "No, I was just curious to learn if the thief was captured."

  "I can set your mind at rest on that point," Mr. Nichols informed. "Hewasn't. If you're interested in the details, you'll find the paper on thefront porch."

  Penny helped Mrs. Gallup clear the table of dishes, then went outside toget the paper. The story appeared on the front page. It was a slightlydistorted version of what had happened and Penny was just as well pleasedthat her name was not mentioned. According to the account, the thief hadescaped by means of a rear fire escape. The ring, valued at approximatelynine hundred dollars, was fully covered by insurance.

  While Penny was reading the story, Mr. Nichols came out and sat on theporch steps.

  "How would you like to take a little trip?" he asked casually.

  Penny dropped the newspaper. "With you?" she questioned eagerly.

  "Yes, I've been working hard lately and I feel like taking a rest overthe week end."

  "Where will we go?"

  "I thought of Mt. Ashland. It will be cool in the mountains and at thistime of year the hotels will not be too crowded."

  "Why, Mt. Ashland isn't very far from Snow Mountain, is it?" Pennydemanded with interest. "I'm going to look it up on the map."

  She ran into the house for the big red atlas. A moment later shereturned, her eyes dancing with excitement.

  "Mt. Ashland isn't more than a two hours' drive from Snow Mountain," shetold her father.

  "And just what difference does it make?"

  "Why, Raven Ridge is located on Snow Mountain, you know."

  "Oh! So that's what you have in your mind!"

  Penny perched herself on her father's knee, smiling her most beguilingsmile.

  "Never mind, you little tease," he said hastily. "I give in."

  "You don't even know what I want," she laughed.

  "Yes, I do. You want to take this new friend of yours along with us."

  "I think it would be nice, don't you?" Penny beamed. "Then while you'rehaving a good rest at Mt. Ashland we could drive on to Raven Ridge.Rosanna could investigate her property there, if she has any, and itwouldn't cost her much of anything to make the trip."

  "You seem to have it well planned," the detective marveled.

  "Well, what's wrong with the idea?"

  "Nothing. We'll take her along if she wants to go. She may help keep youout of mischief."

  "When do we start?" Penny demanded gaily.

  "Tomorrow afternoon as soon as I can get away from the office."

  "Then I'll dash over to see Rosanna now and ask if she can go with us,"Penny announced.

  Without giving her father an opportunity to change his mind, she hurriedto the garage for her roadster. At the rooming house on Sixty-fifthStreet, the landlady, a stout woman with a tired, lined face, admittedher.

  "Miss Winters has the attic room," she informed. "Five flights up."

  At the top of the last flight Penny paused to catch her breath beforerapping on Rosanna's door. The orphan was a trifle startled at seeingher.

  "Do come in," she said cordially.

  The room was oppressive and warm, although the tiny windows were openwide. A bed, a chest of drawers, two chairs and a cracked mirror composedthe entire furniture.

  "I don't expect to stay here long," Rosanna said apologetically. "Ithought it would do until I found work."

  "Why, of course," Penny agreed instantly. "Did you have any luck today?"

  Rosanna shook her head and sank wearily down upon the bed.

  "No, everywhere I went it was the same old story. I'm beginning to thinkI'll never find employment."

  "Perhaps you'll not need it if you come into an inheritance," Pennysmiled. "Rosanna, I've found a way for you to get to Raven Ridge."

  The orphan's face brightened but for a full minute after Penny hadexplained the plan, she sat silent.

  "Don't you want to go?" Penny asked, perplexed.

  "Yes, of course I do. It isn't that. You've been so good and kind to me.I'll never be able to repay you for your trouble and expense."

  "Nonsense! The trip will be more fun if you go along, Rosanna. Besides, Ihave an overwhelming curiosity to see Raven Ridge and your uncle'sestate. Please say you'll go."

  "All right, I will," Rosanna gave in.

  "Good. Father and I will stop for you tomorrow. I must get back home nowand start packing."

  Penny clattered down the creaking, narrow stairway and disappeared intothe night.

  Although the trip was only a short one, and at the longest would occupyless than a week's time, Penny spent many hours planning her wardrobe.She packed an evening gown, several afternoon frocks, and sports clothes.Then, reflecting that Rosanna would not be so well fixed, she hung thegarments back in the closet, substituting her plainest dresses.

  "There, that will be much better," she decided. "A wise traveler goeslight anyway."

  At three o'clock the following afternoon, Penny and her father stopped atRosanna's rooming house to pick up the orphan. She was waiting on theporch, and as Penny had thought, confined her luggage to one overnightbag.

  At first the road to Mt. Ashland wound through fertile valleys and lowhills. Gradually, they climbed. The curves became more frequent. Tallpines bordered the roadside.

  Six o'clock found the party well into the mountains, although still somemiles from their destination. Noticing a pleasant little inn at the topof a ridge, they stopped for dinner which was served on the verandaoverlooking a beautiful valley.

  "I wonder if Raven Ridge will be as pretty as this?" Rosanna mused.

  "It's even more beautiful," Mr. Nichols told her. "The scenery is veryimpressive."

  Before they arose from the table it was growing dusk for they hadlingered to watch the sunset.

  "It's just as well that I wired ahead for hotel reservations," Mr.Nichols remarked as they hurried to the parked car. "Getting in afterdark it wouldn't be so pleasant to find all the rooms taken."

  At exactly nine o'clock the twinkling lights of the Mt. Ashland Hotelwere sighted, and a few minutes later the automobile drew up in front ofthe large white rambling building. An attendant took the car and they allwent inside.

  "I doubt if you'll get rooms here tonight, sir," a bellboy told thedetective as he carried the luggage to the main desk. "There's been a bigrush of guests this week-end."

  Mr. Nichols was not disturbed. At the desk he merely gave the clerk hisname, claiming the two rooms which he had reserved by wire.

  "We saved two very fine rooms for you," the clerk returned politely."Both overlook the valley."

  While Mr. Nichols signed the register, Penny and Rosanna sat down nearby.Their attention was drawn to the main entrance. A large touring car hadpulled up to the door. A pompous looking woman of middle age and ayounger woman, evidently her daughter, had alighted. Both were elegantlyif somewhat conspicuously dressed. Several suitcases, hat boxes andmiscellaneous packages were unloaded. The older woman carried a fatlapdog in her arms.

  "They seem to have brought everything but the bird cage," Penny said inan undertone.

  The two women walked up to the desk.

  "I am Mrs. Everet
t Leeds," the one with the dog announced a trifle tooloudly. "I have a reservation."

  "Just a minute please," the clerk requested.

  It seemed to Penny that he looked disturbed as he thumbed through hiscards.

  "There is no occasion for delay," Mrs. Leeds declared blandly. "Mydaughter and I always engage the same room--305."

  "Why, that was the number of one of the rooms assigned to my party," Mr.Nichols observed.

  "There's been some mix-up," the clerk said in distress. He turned againto the two women. "Your reservation isn't on file, Mrs. Leeds. When didyou send the wire?"

  "I reserved the room by letter," the woman informed him coldly.

  "It was never received here I am sure."

  "No doubt the letter was lost."

  "You are certain it was sent?"

  "Of course I am," Mrs. Leeds declared icily. "My daughter mailed it.Didn't you, Alicia, my dear?"

  A queer expression passed over the girl's face. It struck Penny that sheprobably had forgotten to post the letter. However, Alicia staunchlymaintained that she had.

  "It's most provoking that you have misplaced the reservation," Mrs. Leedssaid irritably to the clerk. "But of course we can have the room?"

  "I am afraid that is impossible, Mrs. Leeds. The room you wanted wasreserved for two young ladies." With a nod of his head the clerkindicated Penny and Rosanna.

  Mrs. Leeds and her daughter turned to stare somewhat haughtily.

  "What other room can you give us then?" the woman demanded angrily.

  The clerk cast Mr. Nichols a despairing glance. He knew he was in fortrouble.

  "Practically everything is taken, Mrs. Leeds. In fact the only availableroom is on the top floor."

  "And you expect us to take that?" Mrs. Leeds cried, her voice risinguntil everyone in the lobby could hear. "I never heard of such outrageoustreatment. Call the manager!"

  Penny had risen to her feet. She moved quickly forward.

  "There's no need to do that," she said pleasantly. "If Rosanna doesn'tmind, I am perfectly willing to exchange rooms with Mrs. Leeds."

  "Why, of course," Rosanna agreed. "It doesn't matter to me where Isleep."

  Satisfied at having her own way, Mrs. Leeds quieted down. She eventhanked the girls graciously for the sacrifice they had made. The clerkgave out the keys.

  "Why did you do that?" Mr. Nichols asked gruffly as he and the girlsfollowed a bellboy to the elevator. "Your room up by the roof will be hotas blazes."

  "I know, but I didn't see any sense in making such a fuss over a room,Dad. Besides, it's only for one night."

  "I'd insist that you girls take my room if it had a double bed."

  Penny shook her head.

  "No, you came here for a rest. Rosanna and I really won't mind."

  The three entered the elevator and a minute later Mrs. Leeds and herdaughter likewise stepped into the lift.

  "I hope you girls will not find it uncomfortable on the top floor," Mrs.Leeds remarked, trying to make pleasant conversation.

  "It isn't very warm tonight," Penny returned politely. "Besides, it willonly be for one night. We're going on to Raven Ridge in the morning."

  The elevator was whizzing them upward.

  "Did you say Raven Ridge?" Mrs. Leeds questioned sharply.

  "Yes."

  A queer expression had come into Mrs. Leeds sharp, blue eyes. She seemedon the verge of speaking, then apparently changed her mind.

  The elevator stopped at the third floor. Without a word, the woman urgedher daughter out the door, following her down the hall.