Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key

by Joan Clark

  CHAPTER XIX The Tables Turn

  Max Laponi whirled about and looked directly into the muzzle of Penny'srevolver.

  "Drop that box and put up your hands," she ordered crisply.

  Laponi gazed at her jeeringly.

  "The gun isn't loaded," he sneered.

  "You should know," Penny retorted. "It's your own revolver. I took itfrom your room."

  The expression of the crook's face altered for he well remembered thatthe weapon had been left in readiness for instant use.

  While keeping Laponi covered, Penny kicked the other revolver across thefloor in Caleb Eckert's direction. The old man hastily snatched it up.

  Laponi knew then that he did not have a chance. With a shrug of hisshoulders he admitted defeat. He dropped the metal box on the table.Rosanna darted forward and snatched it up.

  "I might have known you'd be the one to ruin things," Laponi saidbitterly to Penny. "I was afraid of you from the first."

  "Thank you for the compliment," Penny smiled. "Kindly keep your hands up,Mr. Laponi--if that's your true name."

  "He's nothing but an impostor," Caleb Eckert broke in angrily. "I knewfrom the moment I set eyes on him that he was no relative of JacobWinters."

  "I can imagine that," Penny returned quietly. "But when explanations arein order, I think you'll need to clear up a few points yourself."

  The old man looked confused. However, before he could answer, footstepswere heard on the stairs. Mrs. Leeds, wrapped in her bath-robe, camehurrying into the room. She had been disturbed by the sound of voices.

  "Penny Nichols!" she cried furiously. "What are you doing in my house?"

  Then she noticed the revolver and recoiled a step.

  "What is the meaning of this?" she demanded. "Mr. Laponi, has this girllost her senses?"

  "Apparently, she has," the man sneered. "She claims I came here to stealthat box while I was only trying to keep Caleb from making off with it."

  "Release Mr. Laponi at once," Mrs. Leeds ordered haughtily. She glared atCaleb. "I always did distrust that man."

  "Our dislike was mutual," Caleb retorted. "You are a grasping, selfishwoman and your daughter is a chip of the old block!"

  "How dare you!" Mrs. Leeds choked in fury. "Get out of this house, youmeddlesome old man, or I'll have you arrested!"

  Penny was actually enjoying the scene but now she decided to put an endto it.

  "This little farce has gone far enough," she announced, turning to Caleb."Tell them who you are, Mr. Eckert."

  The old man nodded. Eyeing Mrs. Leeds with keen satisfaction, he explodedhis bomb shell.

  "I am Jacob Winters!"

  Mrs. Leeds gasped in astonishment and even Max Laponi looked dazed. Ofthe entire group only Rosanna appeared pleased. Yet she too recalled thatat times she had spoken with embarrassing frankness to the old man.

  "I don't believe it!" Mrs. Leeds snapped when she had recovered from thefirst shock. "It's another one of your trumped up stories."

  "He has no proof," Max Laponi added.

  "If he hasn't, I have," Penny interposed. She took the small package fromher dress pocket, giving it to Rosanna to unwrap for her.

  "Why, it's a photograph!" the girl exclaimed. "It's of you, Mr. Eckert,taken many years ago."

  "Look on the back," Penny directed.

  Rosanna turned the picture over and read the bold scrawl:

  "Jacob Winters--on the occasion of his fiftieth birthday."

  "That's all the proof I need," Rosanna cried, her eyes shining. "You aremy uncle, aren't you, Mr. Eckert? This isn't another of your jokes?"

  "No, it isn't a joke this time, Rosanna, although for a time it looked asif the joke would be on me. And if it hadn't been for Penny Nichols thisscoundrel certainly would have made off with my ivory collection."

  "I didn't mean to pry into your private affairs," Penny apologized. "Ishouldn't have taken the photograph only I suspected the truth and neededproof of it."

  "It's just as well that you did take matters into your own hands. I guessI botched things up."

  The little package of evidence which Penny had produced contained notonly the photograph but the letter and key which she had found in MaxLaponi's room.

  Penny now directed attention to the signature appearing at the bottom ofthe letter.

  "Compare it with the writing on the back of the photograph."

  "They're identical," Rosanna declared.

  "Then Caleb Eckert wrote those letters himself!" Mrs. Leeds criedfuriously.

  "Guilty," Caleb acknowledged with a grin.

  "You ought to be arrested!" Mrs. Leeds fairly screamed. "It was a crueljoke to play. You led us all to believe that we had inherited a fortune."

  "Tell me, why did you write the letters?" Penny inquired. "That's onething I've not been able to figure out although I think I might make anexcellent guess."

  Caleb sank down in the nearest chair.

  "I may as well tell the entire story," he said. "Since my wife died someyears ago I have been a very lonely man. I longed for an agreeablecompanion in my old age, someone who would enjoy traveling with me. Myfriends were few for I had spent most of my time abroad. My only livingrelatives were unknown to me. I felt ashamed because I had never lookedthem up."

  "So you decided to become better acquainted," Penny prompted as Calebhesitated.

  "Yes, but I wanted to be liked for myself and not my fortune. I conceivedthe plan of sending out letters inviting my relatives here. I thought Iwould subject them to a series of tests and all the while I could bestudying their characters."

  "An insane plan!" Mrs. Leeds interposed.

  "The idea didn't work the way I expected," Caleb continued ruefully. "Isent out four letters but two of them were returned unopened as theindividuals to whom they were addressed were no longer living. However,as you know, three persons came to Raven Ridge claiming to have receivedone of the communications."

  "Max Laponi must have found the letter and key which Rosanna lost," Pennydeclared. "He was the impostor."

  "You have it all figured out very nicely," the crook sneered.

  "I suspected right off that he was the one," Caleb went on with hisstory. "I knew I had no relative answering to his name."

  "Why didn't you send him away at once?" Rosanna questioned.

  "I couldn't very well do that without exposing my hand. If I admitted myidentity then my little plan would be ruined."

  "You were caught in an awkward position," Penny smiled.

  "It kept getting worse all the time. I soon suspected that Laponi wasnothing less than a crook. When I discovered that he knew the ivorycollection was in the house I decided to remove it from the safe."

  "That was the day I came upon you when you were trying to open it," Pennyrecalled.

  "Yes, but Laponi was prowling about the house and it was my bad luck thathe happened in upon me at exactly the wrong time. Of course he guessedinstantly that the ivories were locked in the safe.

  "After that, I decided to get rid of him at any cost. I had a talk withhim but even threats did no good."

  "Why didn't you call in the police?" Penny asked. "Surely they would haveprovided you with protection."

  "I thought I would make one more effort to get the ivories from the safe.Then if I failed I intended to admit my identity and send for help. Imight have done it sooner only the police commissioner and I once had alittle trouble--nothing serious. It was an argument over a tract of land.Still, I knew he'd enjoy making me look ridiculous if ever he learnedwhat I had done."

  "Your pride very nearly cost you a fortune," Penny commented. Shedirected her gaze upon Max Laponi as she questioned: "How did you learnthat Mr. Winters kept the ivory collection in this house?"

  "That's for you to find out," the man jeered. "You'll have a hard timeproving anything against me."

  "This letter will be evidence enough," Penny retorted. "It's a plain caseof forgery with intent to defraud
. And then there's the matter of thewill."

  "The will wasn't forged," Mrs. Leeds cut in although Penny had not madesuch a claim.

  "There never was a will," Caleb informed.

  Mrs. Leeds stared at him. "What of the document I found in the drawer ofthe desk?" she demanded.

  "You mean the one you discovered in the _locked_ drawer," Caleb correctedwith a chuckle. "The one that was made out in Rosanna's favor. That wasjust another of my little jokes. If you had examined the will closely youwould have noticed that the signature was never witnessed. It was afake."

  "That was the document which I saw you burn in the fireplace," Pennyaccused.

  Mrs. Leeds flushed angrily. She realized that she had trapped herself.

  "By the way, how do you explain the will made out in your favor?" Pennyprobed maliciously.

  Mrs. Leeds turned her gaze upon Laponi for an instant. Then she saidglibly:

  "I found the will just as I said."

  "You didn't find one made out in your favor," Caleb contradicted."Because I never wrote such a document."

  "Let's take a look at it," Penny suggested. "Where is the will, Mrs.Leeds?"

  "I don't know what became of it. I misplaced it."

  "You're afraid to produce it," Penny challenged.

  Rosanna had been looking through the desk. She now triumphantly broughtto light the paper which Mrs. Leeds had claimed to be Jacob Winters' lastwill and testament.

  "I never wrote a line of it," Caleb declared as he examined the document."It's a forgery."

  "Forgery is a serious offense, Mrs. Leeds," Penny remarked significantly.

  "I didn't do it!" the woman cried nervously.

  "I expect we'll have to send you to jail along with Laponi here," Calebcackled.

  Mrs. Leeds did not realize that he was only baiting her. She began totremble with fright.

  "Don't send me to jail," she pleaded. "I'll tell everything."

  "Hold your tongue," Laponi cut in sharply.

  Mrs. Leeds whirled upon him.

  "You say that because you want me to take all the blame! Well, I won't doit. You forged that will yourself."

  "At your suggestion, Mrs. Leeds."

  "It wasn't my suggestion. I'd never have considered such a thing if youhadn't put the idea into my head."

  "You burned the first will which you believed to be genuine."

  "Perhaps I did. But I never forged anything in my life."

  "That was because you were afraid you'd be caught," Laponi sneered. "Youwanted someone else to take the rap for you."

  "You tricked me," Mrs. Leeds accused. "If I had known you intended to robMr. Winters of his ivories I should have had nothing to do with you."

  "I suppose you thought it wasn't robbery when you decided to cheatRosanna Winters out of her inheritance?"

  "She had no inheritance."

  "But you thought she did. No, Mrs. Leeds you paid me well to forge thewill in your favor. You're involved every bit as deeply as I."

  Mrs. Leeds collapsed into a chair and burying her face in her hands beganto sob.

  Penny felt a little sorry for her, realizing that at heart the woman wasnot a criminal. She had been goaded on by an overpowering ambition toimprove her social position by gaining Jacob Winters' fortune.

  "We may as well call the police," Penny said after a slight hesitation.She had noticed that Laponi was casting cunning glances about the roomand guessed that he was hoping for an opportunity to escape.

  Mrs. Leeds sprang to her feet. She darted over to Jacob Winters, graspinghim by the arm.

  "Oh, please, please don't have me arrested. I didn't mean to do wrong.For the sake of my daughter let me go free. After all, we are relatives."

  "Unfortunately, we are," he agreed. Turning to Rosanna, he said quietly:"It is for you to decide, my dear."

  "Let her go free," Rosanna urged instantly.

  "I think that is best," he nodded. "But as far as Max Laponi is concernedwe can't get him to the lock-up soon enough to please me."

  "If you'll guard him I'll telephone for the police," Penny offered.

  Leaving the old man with both revolvers she went into an adjoining roomto place the call.

  No sooner had she disappeared than Max Laponi saw his opportunity toescape. For an instant Jacob Winters' attention wavered.

  That instant was enough for Laponi. Seizing the metal box which Rosannahad replaced upon the table, he darted out through the doorway.

  CHAPTER XX A Break for Freedom

  Max Laponi bolted across the center hall, flinging open the outside door.He looked directly into the face of Christopher Nichols.

  "Hello, what's the big hurry?" the detective demanded, grasping himfirmly by the arm.

  Laponi tried to jerk free but he was no match for the detective.

  By this time Penny and the others had come streaming into the hall.

  "Don't let him get away!" Penny cried.

  As the crook struggled to escape, Mr. Nichols slipped a pair of handcuffsover the man's wrists. Recovering the metal box he handed it to hisdaughter.

  "Dad, how did you get here?" she asked eagerly.

  The detective did not hear for he was regarding Laponi with keeninterest.

  "Well, well, if it isn't my old friend Leo Corley. Or possibly you have anew alias by this time."

  "He calls himself Max Laponi," Penny informed. "Is he a known criminal?"

  "Very well known, Penny. He's wanted in three states for forgery,blackmail and robbery. His latest escapade was to steal a diamond ringfrom the Bresham Department Store."

  "Then you did get my wire?" Penny cried.

  "Yes, that's what brought me here. After I received it I got busy rightoff and with the information you furnished it was easy to look up thisman's record. The police have been after him for months."

  "You didn't waste any time coming here," Penny smiled.

  "I was afraid you girls might be in more danger than you realized. Maxhere isn't such a nice companion. By the way what's in the box?"

  Penny opened it to reveal Mr. Winters' fine collection of ivory. Thedetective whistled in awe.

  "That would have been a nice haul, Max," he said. "Too bad we had tospoil your little game."

  "If it hadn't been for that kid of yours I'd have gotten away with it,"the crook growled. "I was dumb not to suspect she was the daughter of adetective."

  "You may as well cough up the diamond ring," Mr. Nichols advised. "Itwill save an unpleasant search."

  With a shrug of his shoulders, Laponi took the gem from an inner pocketand gave it to the detective.

  "When do we start for the station?" he asked. "We may as well get going."

  "I've already called the police," Penny told her father.

  "Then we won't have long to wait." He shoved Laponi toward a chair. "Mayas well make yourself comfortable until the wagon gets here."

  "Your kindness overwhelms me," the crook returned with exaggeratedpoliteness.

  "How did you get wind that Mr. Winters' ivories were kept in the house?"the detective inquired curiously.

  Although the crook had refused to answer the same questions a few minutesbefore, he was now willing to talk, knowing that his last chance forescape had been cut off.

  "I read an item in the paper some months ago," he confessed. "It was alittle news story to the effect that Jacob Winters had recently purchasedseveral new pieces for his collection and that he intended to buildspecial exhibit cases in his house as a means of displaying them. Iclipped the item and forgot about it.

  "Then one day I chanced to pick up a letter which someone had dropped. Itcontained a key to this house. I decided it was too good an opportunityto miss. Posing as Jacob Winters' nephew I came here to look over thesituation."

  "I never had a nephew," Mr. Winters declared.

  "That was the first mistake I made. The second was in underestimating theability of Penny Nichols. I thought she was only a sc
hool girl."

  Penny smiled broadly as she inquired: "Didn't you enter into an agreementwith Mrs. Leeds to defraud Rosanna?"

  "I forged the will for her if that's what you mean. I wasn't interestedin getting any of the money myself."

  "That was because you knew it couldn't be done," the detectiveinterposed. "You considered the ivory collection more profitable."

  "Of course you forged the letter stating that Jacob Winters had beenburied at sea," Penny mentioned.

  With a nod of his head, the man acknowledged the charge. It wasChristopher Nichols' turn to ask a question. Penny's letters hadmentioned the mysterious mansion ghost and he was deeply interested inthe subject.

  "I suppose you were the ghost, Max?"

  Jacob Winters answered for him.

  "I was the ghost. It was part of my joke to frighten the occupants ofthis house. Not a very good joke, I'll admit."

  "And you were the one who put bats in my room," Mrs. Leeds accused.

  "Yes, and a garter snake in your bed which you never found."

  "Oh!"

  "Of course, Mr. Eckert, your ghostly pranks included playing the organ,"Penny smiled. "I suspected it when I learned Jacob Winters had been atalented musician."

  "I built the pipe organ into the house before my wife died," Mr. Wintersexplained. "I haven't used it a great deal in recent years."

  "You haven't told us about the tunnel," Rosanna reminded him. "How didyou happen to construct it?"

  "I didn't. The lower branch of the passage was an old mine tunnel. Themine closed down forty years or so ago. The upper passage which connectswith the house was built by my grandfather. This house, you know, hasbeen in the Winters' family for generations. And I hope, upon my death,that it will pass on to another by the same name."

  He looked significantly at Rosanna as he spoke.

  Before the conversation could be continued, the police car drove up tothe door. Max Laponi was loaded in and taken away. Mr. Nichols went withthe police, promising to return to the Winters' house as soon as hecould.

  After the commotion had subsided, Jacob Winters turned severely to Mrs.Leeds.

  "As for you, madam, kindly pack your things and leave this house at once.I never want to see you again."

  "But it isn't even daylight yet. Alicia, poor child, is sleeping----"

  "Wake her up. I'll give you just an hour to get out of the house."

  "You're a hard, cruel, old man!" Mrs. Leeds cried bitterly, but shehurried up the stairs to obey his command.

  After the woman had disappeared, Rosanna picked up her sweater which shehad dropped on a chair. She turned toward the door.

  "Hold on there," Jacob called. "Where are you going?"

  "I was just leaving. You told Mrs. Leeds----"

  "Well, you're not Mrs. Leeds, are you?" the old man snapped. "If you'rewilling, I want you to stay here."

  "You mean--indefinitely?"

  "Yes, if you think you could stand to live with me. I'm cross and I likethings done my own way, but if you could put up with me----"

  "If I could put up with you!" Rosanna ran to him and flung her arms abouthim. "Why, I think you're a darling! I was afraid to tell you so for fearyou'd believe I was after your money."

  "Money! Fiddlesticks!" Jacob sniffed. He wiped a tear from his eye. "I'mgoing to try to make up to you for all that you've missed."

  The two had a great deal to say to each other, but presently theyremembered Penny. She had been watching the little scene with eagerdelight.

  "I'll never be able to thank you," Rosanna declared happily. "You'reresponsible for everything, Penny."

  "I wish you'd permit me to reward you in a substantial way," Mr. Wintersadded.

  Penny smilingly shook her head. "It was fun coming here to Raven Ridge.But it would ruin everything if I accepted pay for it."

  "At least you'll stay a few days longer," Mr. Winters urged.

  "If Father will agree to it."

  When Mr. Nichols returned from police headquarters another pleasantsurprise was in store for Penny.

  "It looks as if you've won the reward which the Bresham Store offered forthe capture of Laponi," he told her. "Five hundred dollars."

  "Don't turn it down," Rosanna urged.

  "I won't," Penny laughed. "In fact, I know just how I'll use that moneywhen I get it."

  "How?" her father inquired.

  "I'll buy myself a new car."

  "I thought perhaps you'd use it to go into business in competition withme," he teased.

  "Some day I'll solve a mystery which will be so big and important thatyou'll not be able to twit me about it," Penny announced.

  "I wasn't really teasing, my dear. I think you did a fine bit of workthis time and I'm proud of you."

  "Honestly?"

  "Honestly," Mr. Nichols repeated, smiling broadly. "And I predict thatyou're only starting on this career of crime detection which you find sovery thrilling."

  "I wish I could be sure of that," Penny sighed.

  With all her heart she longed for another adventure as exciting as theone she had experienced. Although she had no way of knowing what thefuture held, she was destined soon to have her wish gratified. In thethird volume of the Penny Nichols' series, entitled, "The Secret of theBlack Imp," she encounters a mystery more baffling than any she haspreviously solved.

  After Mrs. Leeds and her daughter left the house, the others took Mr.Nichols for a tour of the secret passageway. Jacob Winters explained indetail how the panel operated and entertained them by playing severalselections on the pipe organ.

  "I love music," Rosanna remarked wistfully. "I've never even had anopportunity to learn to play the piano."

  "You'll have it now," he assured her.

  Mr. Nichols remained during the day but late in the afternoon he wasforced to start for home as his work had been neglected. He was verywilling, however, that Penny should remain as long as she wished at theold mansion.

  The days were all too short for the two girls who enjoyed ramblingthrough the woods, rowing and swimming in the lake, and exploring everynook and cranny of the interesting old house. But at length the time camewhen Penny too was obliged to depart.

  "Come back and see us often, won't you?" Rosanna urged as they parted.

  "Whenever I can," Penny promised. "I've had a glorious time."

  She drove away, but at the bend in the road halted the car to glanceback. The house, cloaked in the shadows of evening, looked nearly asmysterious as upon the occasion of her first visit. However, to her itwould never again have a fearful aspect.

  Jacob Winters and his niece stood framed in the doorway. They waved.

  Penny returned the salute. Then regretfully she turned her back uponRaven Ridge and drove slowly down the mountain road which led home.

  M. W.

  THE END