Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key

ght V

atically, "that I had never brou

ce and dropped on another stick of wood. She

ned us of ghosts," she declared. "At any rate, I'm too tired

a admitted, going to the window. "I

whistled weirdly around the corners of the house. The tall maple

ore the fire. Presently Penn

tested. "Even though Caleb Eckert said it was all right f

the creaking stairs to their bedroom. "According to the

I can't understand ho

wever, several times for one purpose or another she had opened her pocketbook, and it was quite likely that the articles had fal

repared to retire. Penny put up the window, snapped out the

, snuggling drowsily into her pillow. "

d. "I can almost imagine that someone is coming up t

t get you," Penny chuckled tea

ash of the tree branches against the roof, the creaking of old timbers and boards. But the stea

upright in bed, straining to hear. She was co

ain. A peculiar poun

ed Penny b

the latter mut

meone is trying to b

she became instantly alert. She too sat up, lis

o?" Rosanna whis

n the light. "I'm going to dress an

chattered. "If you'r

ing on the door increased in violence. Penny, who was dr

or?" she grumbled. "I should think wh

stairs, Rosanna close at her elbow. Before snapping on

ce of the midnight visitors, they

licia, swept into the room. Both were

flung her wet hat into the nearest chai

ng here, may I as

eeping," Pe

are you doing

Penny said evenly. "She inherited

interpret. For an instant she looked stu

He died recently, leaving me everything. I have a letter and key to prove it. Natura

e letter to Penny. A casual glance assured the girls that i

tonight," Penny protested. "L

ds agreed coldly. "Wh

floor. Opening the door of one of the rooms, she was surprised to see that it was not as well fur

sleep here, Miss Nichols. The r

the ceiling!" Alicia added indignantl

ning room is bette

that if anything it w

st of it for tonight," Penny declared, "unl

"I'd prefer to sit up all night, rather than

" Alicia informed. "That's what made

en. As they made up the beds, neither Mrs. Leeds nor her daughter offered to

arked in an undertone as they snapped out the light once more. "I w

Mt. Ashland she dropped the hint that she was going to Raven R

moment. Oh well, in the morning we'll

. At first she thought nothing of it, then it occurred to her that no one had wound any of the timepieces the previous evenin

Leeds or her daugh

tiptoed to the door. She looked out into the dark hall

Rosanna. Scarcely had she pulled the blankets up t

d us about," she thought uneasily. "Oh,

e noise in the hall ceased she caught herself listening for the footsteps. At a quart

e into the kitchen, Penny had cof

ormed cheerfully. "Someone left milk on our do

hing," Rosanna declared. "Shal

don't know how they'l

. She returned a minute later, reporting that ne

t being disturbed so early

own breakfasts then. Come

llup. She had done remarkably well with the meager supplies at he

es and were stacking them away

take our breakfast

the kitchen, but Penny

ut we've just finished ours. You

ing to hear what she might have to say,

ed. "If Mrs. Leeds and Alicia expect to get along with me, they'll have

wound its way directly below, emptying into a crystal blue lake. Deep in the pine woods, some di

enery, someone came up behind them. Th

ght and gay this morning," he

him shyly. "That is, we did

sit

ile Penny added omitted details. For some reason they

e proclaimed, shaking his head. "It's hard to believe that Jacob Winters is dead. I

step this morning?" Penny quest

that he had p

nna said gratefully. "I want

to leave today?"

e will. I don't feel ri

n't leave while that other woman and her daughter are here. Fr

. "I've lost my letter and the key. I haven't

it was left to her either," Caleb said sagely.

from lack of sleep the previous night, and the breakfast which she and Alicia had endeavored to cook had not been a

e said aloofly. "I have inherited this property from my cousin and

which you say you rece

tantly handed it over. Caleb stu

of Mr. Winters' death," he said quietly. "For

scuss the matter with you further. I shall send for

Caleb returned grimly. "And ther

caught him up. "Are you

at he had made one and hidde

urse it can

private papers," Caleb insisted. "Until I have definite

!" Mrs. Leeds retorted indignantly. "What right have yo

Winters asked me to look aft

ll must

he said severely, "I repeat, things

oudly. "Unquestionably, the w

ed, "but this girl here has a c

d to Rosanna's account of the letter and key. But a look of relief, which was not lost

oldly. "If you can't produce the letter or the key, what p

ew days," Rosanna declared. "The

d them in the car," Penny i

automobile had been parked near the house. A careful search of the flooring and pockets

s could have picked it

ng certain. She intends to make trouble. You surely don't intend to

lse can

're staying on a day or two

t inconvenienc

for the rest and as for myself, I'

. She had taken an immediate dislike to Mrs. Leeds and her daughter, and agreed with

dispatched a message to her father. Noticing an inviting looking restaurant, they ate lunch before

certain it did not belong to Mrs. Leeds for her m

s," she commented as they c

arily paused. Mrs. Leeds was engag

od and stared. It was the same man w