Part 14 (2/2)
”I wish that Rose Acres would give us a whopping big mystery!” she said gaily. ”Lou, why did Mrs. Marborough return to Riverview after being away so many years?”
”This is her ancestral home.”
”True, but didn't she tell us that whether or not she remains here depends upon certain conditions? Lou, she must have had a very special reason for coming, and it may be connected with this wis.h.i.+ng well! We ought to find out about it!”
”Why?”
”Why?” Penny fairly wailed. ”Oh, Lou, at times you're the most exasperating person. Here we are face to face with something baffling, and you wonder why we should interest ourselves in it!”
”I like mystery as well as you, but you know Mrs. Marborough won't care to have us interfere in her private affairs.”
”Probably not,” Penny conceded. ”Oh, well, we can forget all about it if that's the way you feel.”
”How could we learn anything without provoking Mrs. Marborough?”
”I know of no way,” Penny admitted. ”In fact, she'll probably be irritated when I rap on her door again.”
Louise followed her chum down the path toward the house.
”Ought we bother Mrs. Marborough now?” she asked in mild protest. ”She may think we have been spying on her.”
”Which of course we never would consider doing,” Penny chuckled.
Paying no heed to Louise, she boldly clomped across the veranda and knocked on the door. The girls did not have long to wait. In a moment Mrs. Marborough appeared, looking decidedly fl.u.s.tered and nervous.
”Who is it?” she asked sharply, and then recognized the girls. ”Oh, I see!”
”Mrs. Marborough, do excuse us,” Penny began hastily. ”I've learned something which I feel sure you'll wish to hear.”
”You've seen another light in the yard perhaps?” the old lady inquired, her voice slightly mocking.
Penny glanced at Louise, uncertain what to say in reply.
”There has been no one in my yard either last night or this evening,”
Mrs. Marborough resumed tartly. ”I appreciate your interest in my welfare, but I can only repeat that I am quite capable of looking after myself.”
”We came to tell you about that big rock which we discovered on the hillside,” Penny interposed. ”Do you care to hear what Jay Franklin did?”
Despite herself, Mrs. Marborough was interested. She hesitated, and then came outside, carefully closing the door behind her. The peculiar action was not lost upon the girls.
”It's quite chilly out tonight,” Penny said significantly. ”Perhaps it would be better to step inside.”
”I don't mind a little fresh air,” Mrs. Marborough replied. ”Now what is it that you wish to tell me?”
Feeling far from comfortable, Penny explained how Jay Franklin had kept the big rock as his own property and was endeavoring to sell it to the museum at a handsome profit.
”But he told me he would give the stone to the inst.i.tution!” Mrs.
Marborough exclaimed indignantly. ”Will you see Mr. Franklin tomorrow?”
<script>