The Wishing Well Part 36

"Do we need additional evidence to hold these men?" she asked Judge Harlan anxiously.

"You have produced more than enough," he replied. Turning to the two culprits, he said sternly: "I place you both under arrest! Stand where you are until the police arrive, and remember, anything you say may be used against you."

CHAPTER 24 _RIVER RISING_

The exposure of Mr. Coaten and Carl Addison had been even more dramatic than Penny had dared hope it might be. She felt very grateful to Judge Harlan for the vital information he had provided regarding oil lands, and especially for the "break" of luck which had made it possible to regain Mrs. Marborough's necklace.

"How glad I am that I never told Rhoda I suspected Ted of the theft," she thought. "I was very unjust."

After the two Texas men had been removed to jail by Riverview police, the party went on with more gaiety than before. Penny, the center of attention, was forced to tell over and over how a high-school boy friend had a.s.sisted her in installing the microphone-loudspeaker arrangement in the old wishing well.

"I wasn't at all certain it would work," she modestly declared. "I did hope that under the proper conditions, those two men would talk, and they did!"

"You are a very clever young lady," praised Judge Harlan, patting her arm. "This will make a nice story for your father's paper too."

Mrs. Marborough did not try to express in words her appreciation for the recovery of the heirloom pearls. However, throughout the evening, her worshipful gaze followed Penny wherever she went. Not until refreshments were being served did she have an opportunity to say:

"Penelope, you have brought me more happiness than I deserve--you and Rhoda together. Now that I have the pearls again, I'll be able to carry out a few of my plans."

"You'll remain in Riverview?" Penny asked eagerly.

"Yes, I shall, and I've been wondering--do you suppose Rhoda and Ted would be willing to live with me? I'm getting old. While I'll have money enough I'll need someone."

"Why not talk to Rhoda about it?"

"I think I shall," Mrs. Marborough nodded. "I'll do it tonight."

Penny was pleased a few minutes later when Rhoda relayed the widow's request to her.

"Will you agree to it?" she asked the girl, her eyes twinkling.

"Will I?" Rhoda laughed. "I love Rose Acres, and Ted and I will be together again! Mrs. Breen was kind to us, but she has her own family.

Mrs. Marborough needs someone to care for her."

"I think the arrangement will be an ideal one," Penny declared. "Oh, yes, I meant to tell you. Judge Harlan has promised to look after your legal interests. With him working on the case those oil rights are the same as yours right now!"

As the night wore on, additional guests arrived at Rose Acres, crowding the s.p.a.cious rooms. Nevertheless, shortly before midnight, Penny was surprised to see her father's car drive up to the door, for she had not expected him to attend the party. Mr. Parker was accompanied by a reporter, Jerry Livingston.

"What brings you two news hawks here?" Penny asked, running outside to greet the newcomers. "You must have heard about Mr. Coaten and the pearl necklace!"

"Yes, but that's not why we came," Mr. Parker tersely replied. "There's been a break in the dam above Cedarville and the river is rising fast!"

"Rose Acres isn't in danger?" gasped Penny.

"The water shouldn't come this high, but the flats will be inundated within a few minutes. Everyone is being warned to get out fast!"

"We've not been able to telephone Truman Crocker," Jerry added. "His shack has no 'phone."

"Can we drive down there?" Mr. Parker asked anxiously.

Penny shook her head. "Not without going miles around. The quickest way is to take the trail at the rear of this property. Wait, I'll show you!"

Darting into the house for a coat, she led her father and Jerry to the hillside. Then, deciding to accompany them, she went on ahead down the steep incline.

"There's a light burning in the shack," Mr. Parker observed a few minutes later. "Crocker must be up."

Reaching the building, the editor thumped once on the door of the workshop and then pushed it open. Truman Crocker was busy at his bench.

Startled by the unexpected intrusion of the three visitors, he backed a few steps away from them.

"You can't do nothin' to me," he mumbled. "All I did was what I was told to do."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Mr. Parker cut him short.

"We're here to warn you! The dam at Cedarville has let go, and the river is rising fast."

"The river--" the stonecutter faltered.

For a fleeting instant the man's gaze had roved toward a large object covered with a piece of canvas. As Crocker's words came back to Penny, she suddenly knew why he had been so startled to see her father.

Impulsively, she darted across the room and jerked the canvas from the object it covered. 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!"

"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.

"Who hired you?" he demanded of Truman Crocker. "Tell the truth!"

"I ain't tellin' nothing," the stonecutter returned sullenly.

"Then you'll go to jail," Mr. Parker retorted. "You've been a party to a fraud. It was the publicity agent of the Indian Show who hired you. He probably gave you a hundred dollars for the job."

"Not that much," Crocker muttered. "An' you can't send me to jail because all I did was fix the stones and put 'em where he told me."

"You won't go to jail if you testify to the truth," Mr. Parker a.s.sured him. "All you'll have to do is tell what you know--"

"I ain't going to tell nothing," Crocker said sullenly.

Moving so quickly that both Jerry and Mr. Parker were caught off guard, he wheeled and ran out the open door.

"Get him!" the editor barked. "Unless he'll testify against Bill McJavins we may lose a big story!"

Penny waited anxiously at the shack while her father and Jerry pursued the fleeing man. Ten minutes later they stumbled back, completely winded, to report their failure. The laborer had hidden somewhere among the bushes dotting the hillside, and they could not hope to find him.