Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key

terio

munication stated briefly that Rosanna Winters was the sole heiress of the late Jacob Winters, her uncle, and that she had inherited his

?" Rosanna questioned as Penny

d after a slight hesitation. "D

at all. In fact I n

ritance must have

nking there must be some mistake.

d her. "It is a lovely s

n," Rosanna said. "Will the car

t more than

"Of course, now that I've actually inherited Uncle Jac

ip-up about getting the property," Penny advised bluntly. "Perhaps I shoul

mean?" Rosann

it difficult

heard of a lawyer by the name of Elfhedge. It seems a trif

lingly. "Of course, I do have an uncle named Jacob Winters-m

ited a fortune. Only I think I'd be a trifle

pt to obey the letter a

his lawyer and have a talk with him? Brookport isn't fa

Brookport by

the main line of travel. You haven't a c

N

you like," Penny offered gene

rouble you, Miss Nichols.

to learn if there is an attorney by the name of Elfhedge living in Broo

It's good of you to offer. Per

use by the back door she found Mrs. Gallup, the housekeeper, cooking dinn

enny inquired, pausi

udy," the house

who had gained state-wide recognition for his ability in solving baffling cases. Mr. Nichols had served an apprenticeship on the police for

e had been only a slight feminine influence in her life her outlook upon the world was somewhat different from that of the average high school girl. She thought

a daring gang of automobile thieves. The story of her exciting encounter with underworld charac

daughter perched herself on the corner of his

d as she sho

e a few dollars of my allowance lef

t of info

me, did you ever hear of a lawyer by the na

y. "There is an attorney in the Stover building

nsisted. She then related the co

Mr. Nichols declared. "I'd advise the girl not to spe

hat I did

like," Mr. Nichols promised. "It sounds like a fictitio

ved, Mr. Nichols left for his office and Penny saw him no more that evening. He left the house before she was up

of the rooming house on Sixty-fifth

mind about wishing to make the trip," s

your lawyer. It will be wonderful, Rosanna, i

have plenty of use for the money. I can't belie

doubting that the girl had come into an inheritance, save that the letter from Mr. Elfhedge did not have a genu

een taken from her. She found work of a sort in a grocery store, but long hours and trying conditions had worn her down. She had taken sick. Hospital bills claimed the greater part of the money whi

ter arrived from Mr. Elfhedge," Rosanna ended. "You don't know w

had no reason for thinking that so

ed. "I never met him but Mother often mentioned his name. He w

id he c

rient and antiques fro

e inherited some real treasures," Penny commented.

there alone. Penny, I wi

guess I'll have to stay a

tion and Penny had no trouble in finding the main business section. After cruising about for some minutes, they located the

t inside, searching the directory for

a troubled frown. "His office must

o make inquiry of

his building by that

ing superintendent. To satisfy them, the man looked carefully through his list

Rogers," the superintendent told the girls. "You m

te office. Rosanna was too shy to state the purpose of her visit, so Penny explained

at he's even located in the city," they were tol

ss was plainly written on the outside of the envelope wh

ding," he admitted. "It looks as

her companion. Rosanna had counted so heavily upon the inheritan

hey walked slowly back to the car. "You wer

was written in longhand instead of

Rosanna acknowledged, "and yet why s

is wasted, you might feel better about it i

tant if I had the

oan it

shook

t although it's kin

ould help y

y. Perhaps a little later on I'll fin

usually proud, would not hear of it. The girls parted

ised as she drove away. "Perhaps by that time

ng to report. Doubtless, the name had been a fictitious one.

on the surface," she reflected. "If only I h

dreaming that such an opportunity