The Wishing Well Part 11

"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."

Mr. Franklin's action thoroughly annoyed her for she felt that he had deliberately deceived Mrs. Marborough. Wis.h.i.+ng to tell Louise Sidell what he had done, she immediately telephoned her chum.

"I've learned something you'll want to hear," she disclosed. "No, I can't tell you over the 'phone. Meet me directly after dinner. We might go for a sail on the river."

The previous summer Mr. Parker had purchased a small sailboat which he kept at a summer camp on the river. Occasionally he enjoyed an outing, but work occupied so much of his time that his daughter and her friends derived far more enjoyment from the craft than he did.

Louise accepted the invitation with alacrity, and later that evening, driving to the river with Penny, listened indignantly to a colored account of how Jay Franklin would profit at the widow's expense. She agreed with her chum that he had acted dishonestly in trying to sell the stone.

"Perhaps Mrs. Marborough can claim owners.h.i.+p even now," she suggested thoughtfully.

"Not without a lawsuit," Penny offered as her opinion. "She sold the rock to Mr. Franklin for two dollars. Remember his final words: 'Now I am the owner of the stone.' Oh, he intended to trick her even then!"

The car turned into a private dirt road and soon halted beside a cabin of logs. A cool breeze came from the river, but the girls were prepared for it, having worn warm slack suits.

"It's a grand night to sail," Penny declared, leading the way to the boathouse. "We should get as far as the Marborough place if the breeze holds."

Launching the dinghy, Louise raised the sail while her chum took charge of the tiller. As the canvas filled, the boat heeled slightly and began to pick up speed.

"Now use discretion," Louise warned as the dinghy tilted farther and farther sideways. "It's all very well to sail on the bias, but I prefer not to get a ducking!"

During the trip up the river the girls were kept too busy to enjoy the beauty of the night. However, as the boat approached Truman Crocker's shack, the breeze suddenly died, barely providing steerage way. Holding the tiller by the pressure of her knee, Penny slumped into a half-reclining position.

"Want me to steer for awhile?" Louise inquired.

"Not until we turn and start for home. We'll have the current with us then, which will help, even if the breeze has died."

Curiously, Penny gazed toward Truman Crocker's cabin which was entirely dark. High on the hillside stood the old Marborough mansion and there, too, no lights showed.

"Everyone seems to have gone to bed," she remarked. "It must be late."

Louise held her watch so that she could read the figures in the bright moonlight and observed that it was only a quarter past ten.

"Anyway, we should be starting for home," Penny said. "Coming about!"

Louise prepared to lower her head as the boom swung over, but to her surprise the maneuver was not carried through. Instead of turning, the dinghy kept steadily on its course.

"What's the idea?" she demanded. "Isn't there enough breeze to carry us around?"

"I was watching that light up on the hill," Penny explained.

Louise twisted in the seat to look over her shoulder.

"What light, Penny?"

"It's gone now, but I saw it an instant ago. There it is again!"

Unmistakably, both girls saw the moving light far up the hill. As they watched, it seemed to approach the dark Marborough house, and then receded.

"Probably someone with a lantern," Louise remarked indifferently.