Mildred A. Wirt

“ I’ve been waiting for a chance to use that ladder, and here it is!”
“Penny! You actually have the courage to climb down into a well?”
“Why not?” Penny laughed. “But it must be tonight while my enthusiasm is bubbling. Meet me at nine o’clock and bring a good flashlight.”
Louise could only stare. “You’re actually serious!”
“Indeed I am,” Penny replied gaily. “Everything is settled. Now let’s slip away from here before Mrs. Marborough sees us.” ”

“ I shouldn’t expect too much.”
“Do make your wish, Rhoda,” urged Penny, “but don’t anticipate quick action. I’m still waiting for mine to come true.”
Rhoda drew a bucket of water from the well, and filling the dipper which always hung on a nail of the wooden roof, drank deeply.
“I wish,” she said soberly, “I wish that Ted might find a job. If he could get work, maybe it wouldn’t be necessary to accept charity from Mr. Coaten or anyone!”
Rhoda’s wish, so earnestly spoken, slightly embarrassed the others, for it served to remind them of the girl’s poverty. ”

“ Marborough must have been at work again!” Louise agreed. “What does she expect to find?”
“Fishing worms, perhaps,” Rhoda suggested with a smile. “Under the flagstones would be a good place.”
“Mrs. Marborough never would go fishing,” Louise answered. “Sometimes I wonder if she’s entirely right in her mind. It just isn’t normal to go around digging on your own property after night.”
“Don’t you worry, Mrs. Marborough knows what she is about,” Penny declared. “She’s looking for something which is hidden!”
“But what can it be?” Louise speculated. “Nothing she does seems to make sense.” ”

“ Hesitating, she gazed at the other girls who were eyeing her in a none too friendly way.
Penny gave Louise Sidell a little pinch. Her chum, understanding what was expected, said with as much warmth as she could: “Yes, do come, Rhoda. We plan to sketch the old wishing well.”
“I have enough drawing material for both of us,” Penny added persuasively.
“If you really want me, of course I’ll come!” Rhoda accepted, her voice rather tremulous. “I’ve heard about the Marborough homestead, and always longed to see it.” ”

“ Penny would reply patiently.
She and Louise laboriously examined every inch of the bricked passageway but with fading hope. The walls were firm, giving no indication that anything ever had been hidden behind or within them. To have excavated the hard-packed dirt flooring was a task not to be considered at the moment.
“There’s nothing here,” Penny whispered to her chum. “I doubt that the pearls ever were hidden in this tunnel.”
“Mrs. Marborough will be terribly disappointed,” Louise replied in an undertone. “What shall we tell her?”
“We can pretend to keep on searching. ”

“ Reaching the Parker home, Penny ran inside to tell Mrs. Weems, the housekeeper, that she was taking Rhoda to the trailer camp. Returning a moment later, she backed the maroon car from the garage with dazzling skill and further exhibited her prowess as a driver.
“Penny always handles an automobile as if she were enroute to a three-alarm fire!” Louise assured Rhoda. “A reporter at the Star taught her how to drive.” ”

“ Louise started slowly toward the road, only to pause as her chum proposed that they walk to the river and call upon Truman Crocker, the stonecutter.
“You intend to tell him who stole his chicken?” Louise asked in surprise.
Penny shook her head. “No, I’ll let him discover it for himself. I want to talk to him about that big rock he hauled to the museum.”
Louise could not imagine what useful information her chum might expect to gain, but she obediently trailed Penny through the rear yard of Rose Acres, down a sloping path which led to the river. ”

“ Fifteen minutes later she arrived at the Parker home to find Penny, garbed in an apron, working industriously in the kitchen.
“Say, what is this?” Louise demanded suspiciously. “If you tricked me into helping you with the dishes, I’m going straight home!”
“Oh, relax,” Penny laughed. “The dishes were done hours ago. We’re going to help out the Old Wishing Well.”
“I wish you would explain what you mean.”
“It’s this way, Lou. The Breens are as poor as church mice, and they need food. At the Marborough place this afternoon Rhoda made a wish—that her family would have more to eat. ”

“ The group of girls hesitated, scarcely knowing what to do or say. As the silence became noticeable, Penny tried to make conversation by remarking that she and her friends had been especially interested in the old wishing well.
[16]
“Is it true that wishes made there have come true?” Rhoda Wiegand interposed eagerly.
“Yes and no,” the old lady smiled. “Hundreds of wishes have been made at the well over the years. A surprising number of the worthwhile ones have been granted, so folks say. Tell me, did you say your name is Rhoda?” ”

“ Inch by inch it was eating away a board walk which led to a pier and a boat tied to it.
“Dad!” Penny suddenly cried. “If only we could get this stone into the boat we could float it to Riverview!”
“Not a chance,” Mr. Parker returned briefly. “Both would sink.”
“We’re completely out of luck,” added Jerry. “At the rate the water is coming up, this shack will be awash in another fifteen minutes.”
[201]
“Dad,” Penny went on determinedly, “if we could make a heavy raft, couldn’t the stone be floated? It might be towed behind the boat.”
“A raft? There’s nothing from which to make one.” ”

“ Louise gasped. “The house always has been furnished. Now everything is gone.”
Penny did not answer. The sound of shuffling feet on the front porch caused both girls to freeze against the wall. Before they could retreat to the basement stairs, the living room door opened. Light from a street lamp cut a path across the bare floor.
Mrs. Marborough stood framed in the doorway. The girls had made no sound, yet the mistress of Rose Acres seemed to sense that she was not alone. ”

“ Mrs. Breen contradicted cheerfully. “You’re just bashful because we’re having two pretty girls visit us. You stay and eat your victuals like you always do, or I’ll box your ears.”
“Okay,” Ted agreed, glancing at Rhoda again. “It’s no use arguing with you, Mom.”
Neither Penny nor Louise wished to remain for dinner, yet they knew of no way to avoid it without offending Mrs. Breen. Briskly the woman herded them inside the trailer.
“It’s nice, isn’t it?” she asked proudly. “We have a little refrigerator and a good stove and a sink. We’re a bit crowded, but that only makes it more jolly.” ”

“ 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 space to the story.” ”

“ Penny and Louise waited hopefully, but Mrs. Marborough said no more. Changing the subject, she inquired about Rhoda Wiegand and the other members of the Palette Club.
“I like young people,” she declared brightly. “Do tell your friends to come to Rose Acres whenever they wish.”
“A rather strange thing occurred yesterday,” Penny said suddenly. “Rhoda made a wish here at the well, and it came true.”
“What was the wish?” the old lady inquired with curiosity.
“That the people with whom she lives might have more food. Two baskets were left at the trailer camp. ”

“ Louise gazed speculatively at her chum, realizing that Penny had some plan in mind. She waited expectantly, and then as the other did not speak, inquired:
“Just what scheme are you hatching now?”
“You gave me the idea yourself,” Penny chuckled. “The logical place to search is deep down inside the well. I’m sure the water can’t be more than a few feet deep.” ”

“ When you girls went through it tonight, did you notice anything unusual?”
“No hiding place,” Penny replied. “Of course we weren’t looking for anything of the sort. If we could explore the passageway by daylight—”
“Can’t we help you find the pearls, Mrs. Marborough?” Louise interrupted. “It would be such fun searching for them.”
“I’ll be very happy to have your help,” the old lady said, smiling. “Upon one condition. You must tell no one. Already I am the laughing stock of Riverview and if this latest story should get around everyone would talk.” ”

“ Revealed for all to see was a large rounded rock, bearing a carving which had not been completed.
“A record stone!” she cried. “Truman Crocker, you are the one who planted those fakes! You’ve been hired by someone!”
[199]
“No, no,” the man denied, cringing away.
Mr. Parker strode across the room, and one glance at the rock Penny had uncovered convinced him that his daughter’s accusation was a sound one. Obviously, the stone had been treated with acid and chemicals to give it an appearance of great age. Several Indian figures remained uncompleted. ”

“ Louise speculated. “Ted is at the critical point of his life now. He could develop into a very fine person or just the opposite.”
“It’s charity, of course. But who put the judge up to it?”
“Mrs. Marborough heard Rhoda express her wish.”
“Yes, she did,” Penny agreed, “but I don’t think she paid much attention. She was too angry at Jay Franklin. Besides, Mrs. Marborough doesn’t have a reputation for doing kind deeds.”
“If you rule her out, there’s nothing left but the old wishing well,” Louise laughed. ”

“ With no misgivings, Penny carried the heavy basket to the garage and loaded it into the car. Discovering that the gasoline gauge registered low, she skillfully siphoned an extra two gallons from her father’s car, and then announced that she was ready to go.
“Don’t you ever patronize a filling station?” Louise inquired as her chum headed the automobile down the street.
“Oh, now and then,” Penny grinned. “After that cheque I wrote for the Breens’ rent, I’m feeling rather poor. Dad is much better able to buy gasoline than I, and he won’t begrudge me a couple of gallons.” ”

“ I’ll be able to hold my head up in society—live like a human being again instead of a recluse.”
Realizing that she was revealing a great deal, Mrs. Marborough snapped shut the jewel case and smiled at the girls.
“I never should have found the pearls by myself. To tell you that I am grateful scarcely expresses my feelings. You’ve saved me from poverty.”
“Rhoda did it,” Penny declared, giving full credit to the trailer-camp girl. “Louise and I never would have thought of searching the roof of the well.”
“Do come inside,” Mrs. Marborough invited gaily. “We’ll have tea in my kitchen. ”

“ Have your parents lived many years in Riverview?”
“My mother and father are dead, Mrs. Marborough. My brother and I haven’t any living relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Breen took us in so we wouldn’t have to go to an orphans’ home. They have three children of their own, and I’m afraid we’re quite a burden.”
“Where do the Breens live, my child?”
“We have a trailer at the Dorset Tourist Camp.”
“I’ve always thought I should enjoy living that way,” Mrs. Marborough declared. “Big houses are entirely too much work. If I decide to clean up this place, it will take me weeks.” ”

“ Parker admitted a bit grimly. “The News used a half page of pictures today and went for the story in a big way.”
“I may subscribe to a rival paper just to keep posted on the latest developments,” Penny teased.
“Nothing really new has come out. Jay Franklin is trying to sell the Marborough stone to the museum at a fancy price, and the institution officials are seriously considering his proposition.”
“Then, in their opinion the stone is an authentic one?”
“Experts have been known to be wrong,” Mr. Parker insisted. “I claim no knowledge of ancient writing, but I do have common sense. ”

“ 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.
“But why should anyone be prowling about Mrs. Marborough’s place at this hour?”
[69]
“It does seem strange.”
Deliberately, Penny steered the sailboat toward the beach.
“I think we should investigate,” she declared firmly. “Everyone knows Mrs. Marborough lives alone. Someone may be attempting to break into the house!” ”

“ Coaten is so eager to adopt you and Ted.”
“Tell me what you have in mind.”
“It’s like this, Rhoda! If we could induce Mr. Coaten and his friend to come to Rose Acres on the night of the costume ball, I know how they might be made to talk!”
“Strong arm methods?” Rhoda asked, slightly amused.
“Indeed not! The old wishing well will turn the trick.”
“You certainly have me puzzled, Penny.”
“Getting those men here will be the most difficult,” Penny went on, thinking aloud. “But I can sell them a ticket to the ball. Failing that, I’ll give them one free.” ”

“ Mindful that in the past Penny had brought the Riverview Star many an important “scoop,” Louise was very willing to accompany her on the trip. Four-thirty found the two girls at the Gleason farm in conversation with the old farmer.
“I’ve been pestered to death ever since that rock was found here,” he told them somewhat crossly. “There’s nothing new to tell. I was plowing in the south field back of the barn, when I turned it up. I didn’t pay much attention until Jay Franklin come along and said the writing on it might interest the museum folks. ”

“ 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 ownership even now,” she suggested thoughtfully. ”

“ Weems won’t care—not a bit,” Penny returned as she started for the basement. “She’s the most charitable person in the world.”
In a minute she was back, her arms laden with heavy canned goods. Finding a market basket in the garage, the girls packed the food, wrapping perishables carefully in waxed paper.
“There! We can’t crowd another thing into the basket,” Penny declared at last.
[43]
“The ice-box is as bare as Mother Hubbard’s cupboard,” Louise rejoined. “What will the Parker family eat tomorrow?”
“Oh, Mrs. Weems can buy more. She’ll be a good sport about it, I know.” ”