Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key

Lost

window. She saw nothing save t

ve imagined

t. I know I

close to Penny

k out," Penny pr

ng it open. A man in oilskins confronted her. His face was

ant?" Penny as

ook as terrifying as he had at first glance. Penny saw when he swept off his dripping h

ters' house when he's away?" the man demanded curtly.

the situation. She told how they had been caught by the storm and mentioned

man questioned gruffly, peering intently a

h I never saw him," Rosanna defen

elf," the man snapped. "

t was time the newcomer answered a few questions

me to keep an eye on his house while he was away. I saw

nna said quietly. "I hav

card from him last week. Mailed from some place down

came over her face. She was certain she had placed both the lette

ot it?" the man s

imagine how I misplaced it. You rem

tbook the last time I saw it. We're

"If you didn't have a key how

n-that is, it was unlo

if she were speaking the truth. Rosanna, who by this time had emptie

the key and so we've no right to be here at all. I didn't mean to trespass.

might cry at any moment

into this storm. As far as I'm conce

o intrude," Rosa

an declared, adopting a more friendly tone. "Now don't be o

It may be that someone played a joke on Rosanna in sending h

to the crackling fire, the

irls stay here for the night. In the morning

e have no right to use this ho

ob Winters wouldn't turn anyone out in a storm, much

od since lunch time. Caleb led them to the kitc

an opener there's no need

uble. Rosanna timidly ventured a

er see him?"

ut he never answered. I've heard

n most folks do. He traveled a lot too. I guess he must have visited every country in the wor

," Rosanna said sincerely. "I don't real

ers never l

"I guess that's why he n

inheritance, didn't you?"

but did not deny

Mother died I've battered around from one rooming house to another. But even if

He was alive when he sent that postcard from Africa. Si

kitchen stove watching. He showed them how to start a fire in

ll show you where you can sl

ar here?" Penny

cabin through the dining room window. It's perched o

he scenery around Raven

ave to walk down to the lake in the morning. The

we go, we'll surely ex

y but otherwise ready for occupancy. Penny turned back the coverlet of the bed and found that

ke out here for one

comfortable," P

lantern and prepared to leave. With his hand on

got to mention. If you hear queer n

ises?" Pe

odded s

unted but I never took stock in such sto

m their astonishment, he firmly closed