The Wishing Well Part 35

"Ah, I knew you would come to your senses," Mr. Coaten answered. "Just sign this paper and we'll be able to go into court and settle everything."

There was a slight pause and then Rhoda said: "Will you excuse me a moment, Mr. Coaten? I want to run into the house, but I'll be back."

Those in the ballroom had gathered close to Penny, listening with interest to the conversation, but curious to learn its significance.

"Listen!" she commanded, as many persons began to comment.

The two men who stood alone at the wishing well were talking again, and Penny did not intend to miss a single word.

"Now what possessed Rhoda?" she heard Mr. Coaten mutter. "Is she going to back out again?"

"No, we have her nailed this time," the other answered. "That land is as good as ours! As soon as the adoption is legal, we'll put in our claim.

The Texano Oil Company will pay handsomely. What those youngsters don't know won't hurt them."

The words, blaring out into the ballroom, were exactly what Penny wished to hear. Believing themselves to be alone, the two men were making damaging admissions. However, although it was evident that they meant to profit at Rhoda's expense, she could not understand exactly what they meant to do.

Judge Harlan stepped forward to inspect the radio equipment. "What is this?" he inquired. "A special joke of yours, Penelope?"

"It's no joke," she a.s.sured him earnestly. "Mr. Coaten has been trying to force Rhoda and Ted to agree to an adoption. We were suspicious of him, and so we arranged this little affair."

"How is the sound brought into the house?"

"I had a microphone installed inside the wishing well," Penny revealed.

"The wires run through an underground tunnel."

"Very clever, very clever indeed," murmured the judge. "And the meaning of the conversation?"

"I don't know," Penny confessed. "Mr. Coaten is trying to cheat Rhoda and Ted, but how I can't guess. They own no property."

"Mr. Coaten spoke of the Texano Oil Company," the judge said thoughtfully. "That gives me a faint inkling--"

He did not finish, for at that instant Rhoda came hurriedly into the room. Penny motioned for her to join the group by the loudspeaker.

"Rhoda," said the judge, turning to her, "did your father own land in Texas?"

"Never," she replied promptly. "The only person in our family who owned property was grandfather. He had a large farm but sold it long before his death."

"Do you know the location of the property?" inquired the judge.

"I believe it was near the town of Elkland."

"Elkland! Then perhaps we have the explanation. Less than a month ago oil was discovered in that locality!"

"But the Wiegand land was sold years ago," Penny murmured.

"Much litigation has resulted from the fact that in the past many Texas properties were sold with oil rights reserved," explained the judge.

"Now, this is only a guess. However, if Rhoda's grandfather kept such oil rights--as he may well have done--his heirs would have indisputable claim to any income derived from such source."

The loudspeaker had come to life again. As the two men at the wishing well resumed their conversation, everyone in the ballroom strained to hear the words.

"We'll get out of Riverview just as soon as the girl signs the paper,"

Mr. Coaten said to his companion. "We've wasted enough time in this one-horse town."

"Oh, I shouldn't say wasted," drawled Carl Addison. "We'll get the oil money. And that's not all. Take a look at this little trinket!"

There was a brief pause, followed by Mr. Coaten's angry exclamation: "The Marborough pearls! So you stole them!"

"Careful of your words," the other warned. "Your own record isn't so pure."

"I've never descended to stealing!"

"No?" Mr. Addison mocked. "The only difference is that you tie your packages up with legal red tape so that no one can pin anything on you."

"I use my head! Stealing the Marborough pearls was a stupid thing to do.

You may go to prison for it."

"There's no risk," the other retorted. "The police didn't find a single clue."

The voices died away, indicating that the two men had moved some distance from the wishing well. Nevertheless, everyone in the ballroom had heard enough to realize that Mrs. Marborough's priceless pearls were in the possession of Mr. Coaten's companion, Carl Addison.

"I understand it all now!" Penny exclaimed. "Mr. Coaten and his friend must have been standing outside the window of the trailer that night when Rhoda told the Breen family about finding the pearls! They probably heard the conversation."

"I want those two men arrested!" Mrs. Marborough announced in a shrill voice, propelling her wheel chair toward the door. "Why doesn't someone do something?"

Spurred to action, Judge Harlan instructed several men from the group to guard the estate exits. Accompanied by Penny, Rhoda, Louise, in fact, nearly every person who had attended the party, he strode into the yard to confront the two conspirators. Taken completely by surprise, Mr.

Coaten and his friend did not immediately understand the meaning of the encircling delegation.

"Your little game is up," said Penny, thoroughly savoring the moment. "We know now that your real reason for wanting to adopt Rhoda and Ted was to gain control of valuable oil lands!"

"And you stole my pearl necklace!" accused Mrs. Marborough. "I want it returned!" Thoroughly incensed, she wheeled her chair directly into Carl Addison, seizing him by the coat.

"Madam, I know nothing about your pearls," the man bl.u.s.tered, shaking loose from her grasp. "We came to this party only because we were given free tickets."

"Let's get out of here," Mr. Coaten said gruffly, starting away.

"It's no use," Penny interposed, blocking the path. "We have learned everything. You see, a microphone was installed at the wishing well and it carried your entire conversation into the ballroom for everyone to hear."

Mr. Coaten and his companion, gazing at the unfriendly faces encircling them, realized that they could not hope to explain the situation away.

In a sudden break for freedom, Carl Addison ran to the hedge and attempted to leap over it. One of the guards at a nearby exit seized the man and brought him back.

"Search his pockets!" Mrs. Marborough cried.

Judge Harlan did as the widow demanded, but the missing pearls were not found on either of the men.

"There, you see!" Mr. Coaten declared triumphantly. "You have falsely accused my friend."

Penny suspected that Mr. Addison had disposed of the jewel case somewhere near the hedge. Crossing to it, she groped about on the ground. After a brief search her hand encountered a tiny box which she knew must contain the stolen necklace. Returning with it, she displayed the pearls and presented them to Mrs. Marborough.