Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key Part 12

"But won't that inconvenience both of you?"

"No, I suspect Dad will be grateful for the rest and as for myself, I'd enjoy seeing this thing through."

It required little urging to convince Rosanna of the wisdom of remaining on the scene. She had taken an immediate dislike to Mrs. Leeds and her daughter, and agreed with Penny that they were determined to claim more than a rightful share of the inheritance.

Once the girls arrived at a decision they lost no time in driving to the nearest town where Penny dispatched a message to her father. Noticing an inviting looking restaurant, they ate lunch before motoring back to the Winters' mansion. It was nearly two o'clock when they reached the Ridge again.

An unfamiliar car stood on the driveway. Penny was certain it did not belong to Mrs. Leeds for her mud-splattered sedan was parked some distance away.

"It looks like more visitors," she commented as they crossed the veranda together.

At the doorway both girls involuntarily paused. Mrs. Leeds was engaged in conversation with a stranger.

For an instant Penny and Rosanna stood and stared. It was the same man who had refused them help on the road.

CHAPTER VII "Ghost" Music

As Penny and Rosanna entered the living room, the stranger turned to face them. For a long moment Penny was convinced that he was the shoplifter who had stolen the diamond ring from the Belton City department store.

His build was the same and the general lines of his face were similar.

Then the man spoke and she was not certain at all. The tone of his voice was entirely different as was his abrupt manner of speaking.

A trifle nervously, or so it seemed to Penny, Caleb Eckert introduced the stranger.

"Max Laponi," he said. "He represents himself as a nephew of Jacob Winters."

"Not only do I represent myself as such, but I have proof that I am Uncle Jacob's nephew," the stranger retorted. "You'll find my credentials in order. I've come to take over the estate."

The girls were not greatly surprised when he took from his pocket a letter similar to the one which Mrs. Leeds had produced. They were more impressed with the other papers which he offered for Caleb's inspection--a birth certificate, a letter of identification from a well known Chicago banker and various legal doc.u.ments.

"It looks to me as if someone has played a joke on all you folks," Caleb said slowly. "We don't know that Mr. Winters is even dead."

"Oh, yes, we do," Max Laponi insisted, producing another letter. "This came from my attorney this morning. It definitely states that Mr.

Winters--Uncle Jacob--was buried at sea."

Caleb sank down in a chair. He scarcely read the letter although his face had turned an ashen hue.

"I can't believe it even now," he murmured. "There must be some mistake."

"There's no mistake," Max cut in sharply. "It's clear enough that I am the heir too. By the way, didn't the old man have a valuable collection of ivories?"

Caleb stiffened visibly. "Ivories?" he asked blankly.

"Sure, some pieces he collected years ago on his tours. Read about it in the paper."

"Oh, so you read about it?" Caleb echoed significantly.

"Uncle Jacob told me about the collection too. He always intended me to have it."

"Then you should know where to find it," Caleb retorted bluntly. "I'm sure I don't."

With that he turned and walked to the door. There he paused to fling over his shoulder:

"I wash my hands of the whole matter. You folks will have to fight it out among you."

Mrs. Leeds had managed to hold her tongue very well, but the moment that the door closed behind Caleb, she began an angry attack upon Rosanna and the newcomer, accusing both of being impostors. Unwilling to listen to such an unreasonable tirade, Penny and Rosanna fled out of doors.

"Such a mad house!" Penny exclaimed, taking a deep breath. "I have to keep pinching myself to believe it's real!"

"I never saw such a hopeless muddle," Rosanna added. "Everyone is so eager for the property no one gives the slightest thought to the tragedy which befell poor Mr. Winters."

"Perhaps he isn't dead," Penny suggested.

Rosanna stared. "What makes you think that? Didn't Mr. Laponi have proof of it?"

"He seemed to have proof of everything," Penny admitted with a rueful laugh. "That's what makes me suspicious. There's something strange about this entire affair."

"I agree with you there."

"I'm convinced of one thing, Rosanna. Either Mrs. Leeds or this man Laponi is an impostor. At first I thought Laponi was the same person who stole the ring. Now I can't be sure."

Rosanna did not believe that the two were identical although she admitted there was a close resemblance. However, she was quite willing to agree that the man seemed like an impostor despite his credentials.

"He may have picked up that letter and key you lost," Penny went on, thinking aloud. "And there was something rather sinister in the way he mentioned the collection of ivories."

"I noticed that. Caleb seemed disturbed."

"It wouldn't surprise me if he knows where Mr. Winters kept the collection," Penny continued. "At any rate, he's wise to pretend ignorance. With such a mad lot of people in the house, anything might happen."

Noticing a nearby path which led to a spring house, the girls followed it, drinking of the cool mountain water. They sat down on a bench which afforded a view of the tall chalk-like cliffs. After a time they felt soothed and tranquil again. They presently walked back to the house.

Max Laponi was nowhere to be seen although Alicia told them that he was busy moving his things into one of the upstairs bedrooms.

"Mother's worried since he came," the girl confided, growing more friendly. "They had a dreadful quarrel. Now she's hunting for the will."

"But Caleb Eckert warned her not to do that," Penny protested.

"That old meddler has nothing to do with this place," Alicia declared with a toss of her head. "I hope he minds his own business and stays away."

The girls found Mrs. Leeds in the library. She was going through the drawers of the desk in systematic fas.h.i.+on, tossing papers carelessly on the floor. One drawer was locked. She shook it viciously.

"Like as not Jacob Winters' will is locked up in there," she said irritably. "I'm half a notion to break into it."

"Oh, you mustn't do that," Rosanna cried indignantly, before she could check herself.