Part 35 (1/2)

”Ah, I knew you would come to your senses,” Mr. Coaten answered. ”Just sign this paper and we'll be able to go into court and settle everything.”

There was a slight pause and then Rhoda said: ”Will you excuse me a moment, Mr. Coaten? I want to run into the house, but I'll be back.”

Those in the ballroom had gathered close to Penny, listening with interest to the conversation, but curious to learn its significance.

”Listen!” she commanded, as many persons began to comment.

The two men who stood alone at the wis.h.i.+ng well were talking again, and Penny did not intend to miss a single word.

”Now what possessed Rhoda?” she heard Mr. Coaten mutter. ”Is she going to back out again?”

”No, we have her nailed this time,” the other answered. ”That land is as good as ours! As soon as the adoption is legal, we'll put in our claim.

The Texano Oil Company will pay handsomely. What those youngsters don't know won't hurt them.”

The words, blaring out into the ballroom, were exactly what Penny wished to hear. Believing themselves to be alone, the two men were making damaging admissions. However, although it was evident that they meant to profit at Rhoda's expense, she could not understand exactly what they meant to do.

Judge Harlan stepped forward to inspect the radio equipment. ”What is this?” he inquired. ”A special joke of yours, Penelope?”

”It's no joke,” she a.s.sured him earnestly. ”Mr. Coaten has been trying to force Rhoda and Ted to agree to an adoption. We were suspicious of him, and so we arranged this little affair.”

”How is the sound brought into the house?”

”I had a microphone installed inside the wis.h.i.+ng well,” Penny revealed.

”The wires run through an underground tunnel.”

”Very clever, very clever indeed,” murmured the judge. ”And the meaning of the conversation?”

”I don't know,” Penny confessed. ”Mr. Coaten is trying to cheat Rhoda and Ted, but how I can't guess. They own no property.”

”Mr. Coaten spoke of the Texano Oil Company,” the judge said thoughtfully. ”That gives me a faint inkling--”

He did not finish, for at that instant Rhoda came hurriedly into the room. Penny motioned for her to join the group by the loudspeaker.

”Rhoda,” said the judge, turning to her, ”did your father own land in Texas?”

”Never,” she replied promptly. ”The only person in our family who owned property was grandfather. He had a large farm but sold it long before his death.”

”Do you know the location of the property?” inquired the judge.

”I believe it was near the town of Elkland.”

”Elkland! Then perhaps we have the explanation. Less than a month ago oil was discovered in that locality!”

”But the Wiegand land was sold years ago,” Penny murmured.

”Much litigation has resulted from the fact that in the past many Texas properties were sold with oil rights reserved,” explained the judge.

”Now, this is only a guess. However, if Rhoda's grandfather kept such oil rights--as he may well have done--his heirs would have indisputable claim to any income derived from such source.”

The loudspeaker had come to life again. As the two men at the wis.h.i.+ng well resumed their conversation, everyone in the ballroom strained to hear the words.