The Wishing Well Part 27

"Generous, fiddlesticks! I did it because it pleased me and for no other reason. Let's not talk about it any more."

Mrs. Marborough questioned the girls concerning their exploration of the tunnel. Her disappointment over the failure to find the pearls was keen but she tried not to show it.

"I knew it was a fool's errand coming to Riverview to look for that stupid necklace!" she declared. "Like as not, it never was hidden at Rose Acres, my sister's letter to the contrary. I intend to forget about the whole affair."

"Oh, Mrs. Marborough, don't give up so soon," Penny pleaded. "Louise and I have only started to search. We may find it yet."

"You've been very nice," the widow said, smiling almost in a friendly way. "I'll remember it always when I am far away."

"Then you intend to leave Riverview?" Louise asked in disappointment.

"I must sell Rose Acres. I have no other course open."

"Not to Jay Franklin, I hope!" Penny exclaimed.

"I have no intention of dealing with him if anyone else will make an offer. So far I have found no other person who is interested in the property."

Drawing a deep sigh, Mrs. Marborough arose. Without much enthusiasm she invited the girls to come with her into the house, but they tactfully declined.

"We'll come again tomorrow, if you don't mind," Penny said as she and Louise turned to leave.

"Do," replied Mrs. Marborough. "We might make a final search for the pearls."

Enroute to Riverview, the girls talked over the situation and agreed that the prospect of finding the necklace was a slim one. They had grown to like the eccentric widow and were sorry that she had decided to move away from the city of her birth.

"I am sure if she had money she would remain here," Louise declared. "And it will nearly kill her if she is forced to deal with Jay Franklin. How she does dislike him!"

Parting with her chum in the business section of Riverview, Penny went directly to the _Star_ office. Her father was ready to start home.

"Anything new about Jay Franklin and those record stones he hopes to sell to the museum?" Penny inquired absently as the automobile sped along the congested streets.

"Nothing you haven't heard," Mr. Parker replied. "Franklin expects to make the sale and probably will. The museum people have put themselves on record as saying that the stones bear authentic writing."

"Then it appears that your original hunch was incorrect," Penny observed.

"Too bad you played down the story in the _Star_."

"I may have made a mistake. All the same, I am pinning my hopes on the expert from Brimwell College."

"What expert, Dad?"

"I guess I neglected to tell you. The _Star_ hired Professor Anjus from Brimwell to inspect the stones. His opinion doesn't coincide with that of the museum experts. He has p.r.o.nounced them fakes."

"If the experts can't agree, then how can one prove anything?"

"It is something of a tangle," Mr. Parker smiled. "I turned that tool you obtained from Crocker over to Professor Anjus. He expects to make exhaustive tests and to report to me within a few days."

The car had reached the outskirts of Riverview. As it pa.s.sed along streets which were spa.r.s.ely dotted with houses, Penny called attention to several large billboards which disfigured the landscape.

"Look, Dad!" she directed, pointing to a particularly colorful poster.

"An Indian show is coming to town next week!"

Mr. Parker turned his head to gaze at the billboard. To Penny's amazement, he suddenly slammed on the brake, bringing the car to a lurching halt at the side of the road.

"That's it!" he cried, his eyes on the huge sign. "The motive! I couldn't figure it out, but now I have the clue I need! Penny, we'll put a crimp in Jay Franklin's little game, or my name isn't Anthony Parker!"

CHAPTER 19 _PUBLICITY PLUS_

Completely mystified by her father's remarks, Penny waited for him to explain.

"Don't you get it?" he asked, waving his hand toward the big signboard.

"The finding of those stones bearing Elizabethan and Indian writing was perfectly timed! It's all a publicity stunt for the coming show!"

"How could it be?" Penny questioned, scarcely able to accept her father's theory. "I found one of the rocks myself. I know I wasn't hired by any Indian show!"

"It was pure luck that you stumbled into the stone, Penny. If you hadn't, someone hired by the Indian show would have brought it to light."

"But where does Jay Franklin figure in, Dad? You don't think he's connected with the publicity scheme as you call it!"

"Franklin wouldn't have sufficient imagination to pull off a stunt like that," Mr. Parker declared. "No, he may actually believe in the authenticity of the stones. At any rate, he saw an opportunity to make a little money for himself and seized it."

"Why should an Indian show go to the trouble of having stones carved and planted in various fields? It doesn't make sense."

"The resulting publicity should draw state-wide attention to the show, Penny. It's just the sort of idea which would appeal to a clever publicity agent. Every newspaper in Riverview except the _Star_ has fallen for it, giving columns of s.p.a.ce to the story."

"I still don't see how the show will gain. Its name never has been mentioned in connection with the finding of the stones."

"Of course not, Penny. That would be too crude. But at the proper time, the publicity agent will twist all of the stories to his own purpose."

"Dad," said Penny sadly, "in the past you have accused me of having wild ideas. I think the score is even now."

"I'll have that show traced," Mr. Parker declared, paying no heed to his daughter. "Since it is coming to Riverview next week it can't be far away now. I may find it worth while to call on the publicity agent and have a little chat with him."

Penny was gazing at the billboard again, reading the dates.

"Dad, the show will play here during Pilgrimage Week," she declared.

"What a shame! It's certain to take away customers from a much more worthwhile event."

"There may not be an Indian show," responded Mr. Parker grimly. "Not when I get through with the outfit!"

Immediately upon arriving at home, the publisher called the newspaper office, delegating City Editor DeWitt to obtain complete information about the Indian Show and to report to him. All evening he talked of his theory until both Penny and Mrs. Weems confessed that they were a bit weary of redskins.

"I shall write an editorial for tomorrow's _Star_," Mr. Parker announced.

"Even if I haven't absolute facts, I'll drop a few broad hints about those fake stones!"