CHAPTER VII The Inside Story
In the end Madge decided that the easiest way to help Miss Swenster wouldbe to disregard propriety and descend boldly upon her. Accordingly, thenext morning, which was a school holiday, she and Cara Wayne dressed intheir old clothes and armed with brooms and dust cloths, presentedthemselves at the back door of the mansion.
"We're here to help," they announced blithely. "Please say we may, for wewant an excuse to see your dishes and the lovely heirlooms."
They were not certain how this blunt approach would be received, butafter the first look of astonishment, Miss Swenster smiled.
"Why, how very thoughtful of you both. I'll be delighted to have youhelp. Goodness knows there is enough to be done."
They followed her inside. Miss Swenster had straightened the living roombut had made no attempt to put other rooms to rights. The girls attackedthe work with vigor. It progressed slowly for there was a great deal tobe done and they frequently stopped to examine some object which strucktheir fancy.
"It's a shame this house has to be sold," Cara declared to her chum."Miss Swenster doesn't say much about it but you can tell it makes herfairly sick to think of it."
"I know," Madge agreed in an undertone. "I wish we could really dosomething for her, but I'm afraid we can't."
It was impossible for the girls to work side by side with Miss Swensterand not learn more of her fine character and interesting history. Soonthey caught themselves telling her about Skull and Crossbones and Cara'sweird experience in connection with the midnight initiation. MissSwenster expressed an interest in the secret society and did not appearin the least annoyed because they had trespassed. Nor did she seemdisturbed to learn of the stranger who prowled about the garden.
"I have no idea who it could have been," she declared. "Perhaps it wasonly a tramp."
"He was much too well dressed for that," Madge returned. "We thoughtpossibly he might be digging for some treasure that had been hidden onthe estate."
Miss Swenster studied the girls quizzically. Her eyes twinkled.
"Dear me, I only wish there were a lost treasure! I am afraid you girlshave been listening to wild stories. The Swensters were never as wealthyas townfolks thought."
"Then it wasn't true about the pearl necklace?" Cara asked indisappointment.
"I'm not sure. I never saw the pearls myself, but according to the familylegend, they did exist. I suppose you know the story?"
The girls shook their heads, waiting eagerly. At last they were to hearthe true account of what became of the famous pearls!
"I'm not sure that I believe this myself," Miss Swenster warned, "but atleast the story was handed down to me. As you may know, the pearls werewilled to my mother, Rose Swenster. That was her maiden name, of course.She married young and was divorced soon after my birth. She took back hermaiden name and I always used it too.
"But to return to the pearls. My mother never had them. Her sister,Florence, felt that she had been cheated in the will. She was so besideherself that she actually hid the pearls, saying that if she could nothave them, they should never be worn by my mother."
"How mean!" Cara exclaimed.
"Perhaps the story isn't true," Miss Swenster smiled. "My mother nevermentioned the pearls to me. I learned the tale from the nursemaid whocared for me after Mother's death."
"And Florence never told where she hid the pearls?" Madge probed.
"No, a short time later she fell ill. When she realized she could not getwell, she tried to tell what she had done with the pearls, but failed."
"No one had the slightest hint what became of them?" Cara questioned.
"According to the story, I believe an old Negro caretaker was supposed toknow something about it. His name was George Andrew Jackson. He must havebeen seventy at the time Florence died. At any rate he was very forgetfuland either would not or could not tell what became of the pearls."
"Was a search never made?" Madge inquired.
"Oh, dear me, yes. Every inch of the house was gone over and the groundswere carefully searched. As a child, I used to think perhaps I couldrestore the Swenster fortunes. 'Hunt the pearls' was our favorite game."
It struck Madge and Cara that their interest in the lost necklace was notvery original. They harbored secret hopes of locating the pearls and hadeven been guilty of trying to connect Miss Swenster's loss with themysterious excavations of the midnight prowler. They were unwilling tobelieve that the story was pure legend. And the fact that two generationsof Swensters had failed to recover the pearls, could not entirely dauntthem.
"I had forgotten the matter until you girls reminded me of it," MissSwenster remarked. "Years ago, when my John was a little boy--"
She broke off, coloring. Then, apparently thinking that some explanationwas expected, she finished lamely:
"John was my adopted son. As a boy, he was interested in the pearls too."
It was the first time she had mentioned the name of her son. The girlsrealized that Miss Swenster had not intended to speak of him. The wordshad slipped out unbidden. Even to think of him seemed to distress her,for she quickly changed the subject.
The girls remained for luncheon, helping Miss Swenster prepare it. Theyworked through to four o'clock and as they left for their homes, asked ifthey might come again.
"Of course," she assured them, "although I can't see what fun you get outof working. If I could pay you--"
The girls hastily explained that they did not want pay. They really hadenjoyed the day for it was fun to browse about the old mansion.
"And do you mind if we look around for those pearls?" Madge inquired. "Insorting out things we might stumble upon them."
Miss Swenster smiled at her enthusiasm.
"Search anywhere you wish, but don't be too disappointed if you fail."
The girls had a great deal to talk over as they walked slowly towardtheir homes. They were very tired but the day had been a highlysatisfactory one. The prospect of roaming over the old mansion at willwas very alluring. Already Madge had several places in mind where shethought possibly they might find the missing pearls.
"How fine it would be if we could find the necklace before the mansion issold," Cara mused. "Then Miss Swenster could go on living there."
"Perhaps she wouldn't care to. When she left here eight years ago, shemust have had a reason other than financial for closing up the house. Isuppose it was on account of her adopted son."
"What do you imagine he did that turned her against him?"
"I have no idea. He must have done something disgraceful. I'd like toknow what it was, but of course, we must never ask."
The girls had every intention of returning to the old mansion the nextnight after school. In planning their search for the missing pearls, theydid not overlook the garden.
"I feel there's something valuable buried near the fountain, or thesundial," Madge declared. "It may not be the pearls but at least it'sworth investigating. So tomorrow bring your father's spade and we'll do alittle digging of our own!"
The Secret of the Sundial Page 7