Part 29 (2/2)

Having a.s.sured Mrs. Marborough that she would disclose nothing about the lost pearl necklace, she could not honorably share the adventure with her friend. However, it was her hope and belief that the widow would be willing to allow Rhoda to aid in the exciting search of the premises.

Penny's surmise proved entirely correct. Later that afternoon when the three girls called at Rose Acres, Mrs. Marborough scarcely noticed that Rhoda was an uninvited member of the party. At once she began talking of the missing pearls, which to the satisfaction of Louise and Penny, necessitated a complete explanation.

”Imagine finding a tunnel leading from the old wis.h.i.+ng well to the house!” Rhoda cried in delight. ”Take me through it! Show me everything!”

”Perhaps you can find the pearls,” Penny laughed. ”So far Louise and I have failed.”

”They're supposed to be hidden somewhere near the old wis.h.i.+ng well,”

Louise contributed. ”That's the only real clue we have.”

”I suppose you looked under the flagstones?”

”I did that many days ago,” answered Mrs. Marborough. ”In fact, I don't think there's a single place I haven't searched.”

”The roof of the well?” Rhoda suggested.

”We never once thought of that place!” Louise exclaimed. ”But how could the necklace be secreted there?” She frowned as she stared at the steep-pitched, s.h.i.+ngled covering which formed a protection over the well.

”It's worth looking at anyhow!” Penny declared. ”I'll get a ladder if I can find one.”

”In the woodshed,” directed Mrs. Marborough.

Penny soon returned carrying a dust-laden step-ladder which had not seen service in many years. Bracing it against the well, she mounted and began to inspect the roof.

”Find anything?” inquired Rhoda impatiently.

”Two birds' nests. There seems to be a hole under the edge of the roofing--”

Penny broke off as she ran her hand into the narrow opening.

”Yes, there is something here!” she exclaimed a moment later. ”It feels like a tiny box!”

Mrs. Marborough and the two girls waited tensely, hardly daring to hope.

Penny withdrew her hand from the hole, triumphantly holding up a small leather case.

”This isn't it?” she asked.

”Oh, yes, yes!” Mrs. Marborough cried. ”It is the old jewel case. The pearls must be inside!”

In her haste to climb down from the ladder, Penny missed one of the steps. Rhoda seized her arm saving her from a hard fall. Recovering her breath, Penny politely offered the jewel case to Mrs. Marborough.

With the three girls cl.u.s.tered about her, the mistress of Rose Acres ceremoniously opened the lid. In a nest of yellowed silk lay a string of matched pearls, so beautiful and l.u.s.trous that no one could find words to admire it.

”The famous Marborough pearls,” the widow murmured at last. ”This necklace brought only unhappiness to our family. Now, however, they shall serve a useful purpose!”

<script>