Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key Part 4

"How would you like to take a little trip?" he asked casually.

Penny dropped the newspaper. "With you?" she questioned eagerly.

"Yes, I've been working hard lately and I feel like taking a rest over the week end."

"Where will we go?"

"I thought of Mt. Ashland. It will be cool in the mountains and at this time of year the hotels will not be too crowded."

"Why, Mt. Ashland isn't very far from Snow Mountain, is it?" Penny demanded with interest. "I'm going to look it up on the map."

She ran into the house for the big red atlas. A moment later she returned, her eyes dancing with excitement.

"Mt. Ashland isn't more than a two hours' drive from Snow Mountain," she told her father.

"And just what difference does it make?"

"Why, Raven Ridge is located on Snow Mountain, you know."

"Oh! So that's what you have in your mind!"

Penny perched herself on her father's knee, smiling her most beguiling smile.

"Never mind, you little tease," he said hastily. "I give in."

"You don't even know what I want," she laughed.

"Yes, I do. You want to take this new friend of yours along with us."

"I think it would be nice, don't you?" Penny beamed. "Then while you're having a good rest at Mt. Ashland we could drive on to Raven Ridge.

Rosanna could investigate her property there, if she has any, and it wouldn't cost her much of anything to make the trip."

"You seem to have it well planned," the detective marveled.

"Well, what's wrong with the idea?"

"Nothing. We'll take her along if she wants to go. She may help keep you out of mischief."

"When do we start?" Penny demanded gaily.

"Tomorrow afternoon as soon as I can get away from the office."

"Then I'll dash over to see Rosanna now and ask if she can go with us,"

Penny announced.

Without giving her father an opportunity to change his mind, she hurried to the garage for her roadster. At the rooming house on Sixty-fifth Street, the landlady, a stout woman with a tired, lined face, admitted her.

"Miss Winters has the attic room," she informed. "Five flights up."

At the top of the last flight Penny paused to catch her breath before rapping on Rosanna's door. The orphan was a trifle startled at seeing her.

"Do come in," she said cordially.

The room was oppressive and warm, although the tiny windows were open wide. A bed, a chest of drawers, two chairs and a cracked mirror composed the entire furniture.

"I don't expect to stay here long," Rosanna said apologetically. "I thought it would do until I found work."

"Why, of course," Penny agreed instantly. "Did you have any luck today?"

Rosanna shook her head and sank wearily down upon the bed.

"No, everywhere I went it was the same old story. I'm beginning to think I'll never find employment."

"Perhaps you'll not need it if you come into an inheritance," Penny smiled. "Rosanna, I've found a way for you to get to Raven Ridge."

The orphan's face brightened but for a full minute after Penny had explained the plan, she sat silent.

"Don't you want to go?" Penny asked, perplexed.

"Yes, of course I do. It isn't that. You've been so good and kind to me.

I'll never be able to repay you for your trouble and expense."

"Nonsense! The trip will be more fun if you go along, Rosanna. Besides, I have an overwhelming curiosity to see Raven Ridge and your uncle's estate. Please say you'll go."

"All right, I will," Rosanna gave in.

"Good. Father and I will stop for you tomorrow. I must get back home now and start packing."

Penny clattered down the creaking, narrow stairway and disappeared into the night.

Although the trip was only a short one, and at the longest would occupy less than a week's time, Penny spent many hours planning her wardrobe.

She packed an evening gown, several afternoon frocks, and sports clothes.

Then, reflecting that Rosanna would not be so well fixed, she hung the garments back in the closet, subst.i.tuting her plainest dresses.

"There, that will be much better," she decided. "A wise traveler goes light anyway."

At three o'clock the following afternoon, Penny and her father stopped at Rosanna's rooming house to pick up the orphan. She was waiting on the porch, and as Penny had thought, confined her luggage to one overnight bag.

At first the road to Mt. Ashland wound through fertile valleys and low hills. Gradually, they climbed. The curves became more frequent. Tall pines bordered the roadside.

Six o'clock found the party well into the mountains, although still some miles from their destination. Noticing a pleasant little inn at the top of a ridge, they stopped for dinner which was served on the veranda overlooking a beautiful valley.

"I wonder if Raven Ridge will be as pretty as this?" Rosanna mused.

"It's even more beautiful," Mr. Nichols told her. "The scenery is very impressive."

Before they arose from the table it was growing dusk for they had lingered to watch the sunset.

"It's just as well that I wired ahead for hotel reservations," Mr.