Part 33 (2/2)
”You never gave them a chance to show it before.”
”Perhaps I have been unfriendly,” the widow acknowledged. ”I didn't mean to be. Now that I'd like to show my appreciation, there's no way to do it. If only the police would get busy and find the rascal who stole my necklace--”
Penny did not reply immediately, for she could think of nothing encouraging to say. She and Rhoda both believed that the thief who had taken the pearls never would be apprehended.
”Mrs. Marborough,” she said at length, ”there is a way you could show the people of Riverview how you feel--but I'm sure you wouldn't care to do it.”
”By opening my home for the Pilgrimage?” the widow asked, smiling.
”That's what I had in mind, but of course--”
”When is the Festival?” Mrs. Marborough broke in. ”I've lost track of time since I've been sick.”
”It starts day after tomorrow.” Penny drew a deep sigh. ”I'm afraid the Festival may be a failure, for not half enough tickets have been sold.”
”Would it help to include this house in the Pilgrimage?”
”It would save the Festival!” cried Penny. ”You're not well enough to go through with it, though!”
”Fiddlesticks!” Mrs. Marborough snapped, her spirits reviving. ”I'd like nothing better than a big party. What pleasure is it sitting in a wheel chair staring at a cracked wall? Now you go ahead and plan it just the way you like.”
With time so short, Penny flew into action. She contacted members of the Festival Committee and immediately a new publicity campaign was launched.
It was announced that Rose Acres would be included in the Pilgrimage and that a grand costume ball at the mansion would be open to the public.
”The affair is certain to be a success,” Penny told her father enthusiastically. ”I wish though that the Indian Show wasn't playing Riverview at the same time. By the way, have you made any further progress in proving that Jay Franklin's record stones are fakes?”
”Not very much,” Mr. Parker ruefully admitted. ”A report came back on that tool you picked up at Truman Crocker's shack.”
”What was the verdict, Dad?”
”Professor Anjus, the expert who examined the chisel, says he believes the stones could have been marked with it.”
”Then Truman Crocker may be the guilty person!”
”It's not at all certain. In all events, I still hold to my original theory that the hoax was planned by Bill McJavins of the Indian Show.”
”I certainly hope Mr. Franklin fails in trying to sell the stones to the museum.”
”So do I,” agreed the editor. ”Unfortunately, unless I dig up evidence very quickly, the transaction will take place.”
Penny did not give a great deal of thought to the affair of the record stones for Mrs. Marborough's illness had centered her interest at Rose Acres. In truth, she was far more concerned about the missing pearls. The police had made no progress in tracing the necklace and held scant hope the thief would be captured.
As for Ted Wiegand, Penny was unable to make up her mind whether or not he was the guilty person. Although he still worked for Judge Harlan, she seldom saw him. Occasionally, reports of his progress were given to her by Rhoda.
”Ted isn't provoked at me any more,” she a.s.sured Penny. ”He's beginning to think as I do that Mr. Coaten has been up to something crooked. I know for a fact that he gave Mrs. Breen money to force me out of the family.”
”Are those two men still in town?” Penny asked thoughtfully.
Rhoda nodded. ”They've been here to see me twice. Mrs. Marborough sent them away the last time. She dislikes them both because they once came here to ask if they could rent rooms.”
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