Part 11 (1/2)
”Why, no,” she replied. ”It has no value to me.”
”Then with your permission, I'll arrange to have it hauled to Riverview without delay. I'll buy the stone from you.”
”The museum is entirely welcome to it.”
”There is a possibility that the museum will refuse the stone. In that event you would have the expense of hauling it away again. By purchasing it outright, I can relieve you of all responsibility.”
Giving Mrs. Marborough no opportunity to protest, the real estate man forced a crisp two dollar bill into her unwilling hand.
”There,” he said jovially, ”now I am the owner of the stone. I'll just run down to Truman Crocker's place and ask him to do the hauling for me.”
The wind was cold, and after Mr. Franklin had gone, Mrs. Marborough went quickly to the house, leaving the girls to await his return.
”I knew something like this would happen,” Penny declared in annoyance.
”Now it's Mr. Franklin's stone, and the next thing we know, he'll claim that he discovered it too!”
Louise nodded gloomily, replying that only bad luck had brought the real estate agent to Rose Acres that particular afternoon.
”I have a sneaking notion he came here to buy Mrs. Marborough's house,”
Penny said musingly. ”He thinks it would make a good tourist place!”
For half an hour the girls waited patiently. Neither Jay Franklin nor Truman Crocker appeared, so at last they decided it was a waste of time to remain longer. Arriving at home, shortly before the dinner hour, Penny found her father there ahead of her. To her surprise she learned that he already knew of the stone which had been discovered at Rose Acres.
”Information certainly travels fast,” she commented. ”I suppose Jay Franklin must have peddled the story the minute he reached town.”
”Yes, he called at the _Star_ office to report he had found a stone similar to the one unearthed at the Gleason farm,” Mr. Parker nodded.
”_He_ found it!” Penny cried indignantly. ”Oh, I knew that old publicity seeker would steal all the credit! Louise and I discovered that rock, and I hope you say so in the _Star_.”
”Franklin let it drop that he will offer the stone to the museum for five hundred dollars.”
”Well, of all the cheap tricks!” Penny exclaimed, her indignation mounting. ”He bought that rock for two dollars, pretending he meant to give it to the museum. Just wait until Mrs. Marborough hears about it!”
”Suppose you tell me the facts,” Mr. Parker invited.
Penny obligingly revealed how she had found the rock by stumbling against it in descending a steep path to the river. Upon learning of the transaction which Jay Franklin had concluded with Mrs. Marborough, Mr.
Parker smiled ruefully.
”Franklin always did have a special talent for making money the easy way,” he declared. ”I'll be sorry to see him cheat the museum.”
”Dad, you don't think Mr. Kaleman will be foolish enough to pay money for that rock?” Penny asked in dismay.
”I am afraid he may. He seems convinced that the Gleason stone is a genuine specimen.”
”You still believe the writing to be faked?”
”I do,” Mr. Parker responded. ”I'll stake my reputation upon it! I said as much to Jay Franklin today and he rather pointedly hinted that he would appreciate having me keep my theories entirely to myself.”
”I guess he doesn't understand you very well,” Penny smiled. ”Now you'll be more determined than ever to expose the hoax--if hoax it is.”