Hoofbeats on the Turnpike

MAN'S T

ly, she sat up in bed. Beside her, Louise, curled into a tight ball, slumbered und

ordered pleasantly.

se grumbled, trying to snugg

om the bed. "It's only so dark because it's raining," she

Penny told Louise of the telephone conve

I'm sure," she concluded. "And about us

r. "Then you figure Silas Malcom i

nning to

t w

alley folk aren't simple by any means! Unless we

ouise chuckled. "Why don't we go home this

find out what's going on here," she announ

. "You know you never could resist a mystery

Lear was baking pancakes in the warm kitchen. She flipped one neatly as

chirped. "Did you sl

mantel showed that it was only eight o'clock. But eight o'clock for Mrs. Lear was a late hour, judging by t

ll that fruit this mo

n't much," she added modestly. "Only a bushel

set it in a twinkling, and placed befor

she advised. "I ha

tion from the eccentric old woman. Deliberately,

to know?" Mrs. Lear a

aster so disliked

he old lady replied promptly. "Mr. Burmaster ain't so bad, only he

o think that the valley

" Mrs. Lear's dark eyes flashed. "Y

a gener

e, and forced folks

master pay for

' this valley was owned by a man in the East. He rented it out in parcel

entire track of land from the

. They ain't nothin' in this world that will git me in a mood to se

on both sides of the question. Mr. Burmaster had purchased his land legally, and so could not be blamed for asking the

r commented reflectively, "but it's been home fer a

own land?" i

ar proudly. "I got the deed

lty with the Headless Horseman," Penny urged, fe

to know?" Mrs. Lea

such a thing or i

you'll learn fer yourselves," Mrs. Lear chuc

e prankster is!" Pen

chuckle. "But a ten-mule team couldn't

in the barn yard. A large, expensive looking car pulled up near the side d

stage whisper. "Well, he ain't goin' to pressur

he kitchen door, the old lady to

ng," he sai

n', ain't it? And if we git much more o' it this fall, the dam

stepped into the kitchen. Seeing Penny and Louise,

s. Lear encouraged. "Don't stand on no c

t like to speak before strange

r," he began. "I've already made

turned 'em

er a boy rode a horse across the bridge by our house. All this stupid talk about Headless Hors

seman and put an end to it?

ad no success. My wife can't endure the stra

lied Mrs. Lear stonily. "Th

e one irritation. You see, my wife considers the place an eyesore. She can see your

was sarcastic. "Well, let me tell you somet

lear," Mr. Burmaster said hastily.

. "If she didn't have my house to bother her it would be somet

I'll give you two thousand d

ooked a tri

ive hundred," Mr. Burmaster resu

aid firmly. "Not at any pri

e carefully controlled but the

e. "I've been very patient but I warn you! F

other?" drawled a voice fr

agent, stood framed in the open doorway. Smiling at Bu