Part 19 (1/2)

”The mechanism is locked,” called back the reporter. ”And the watchman won't be back for an hour.”

Penny walked a short distance up the sh.o.r.e searching for a boat. The only available craft was the large launch which she could not hope to operate.

She might return to the house and appeal to Miss Kippenberg but such a course was not to her liking.

As she considered whether or not to ruin her clothing by swimming across, Jerry called her attention to a small boat some distance up the river.

The boy who was fis.h.i.+ng from it obligingly rowed ash.o.r.e after Penny had signaled him.

”I'll give you fifty cents to ferry me across,” she offered.

”I'll be glad to do it,” he agreed.

Penny stepped into the boat and then asked: ”Aren't you the same lad I saw here yesterday?”

The boy nodded as he reached for the oars. ”I remember you,” he answered.

”You seem to fish here nearly every day.”

”Just about. I caught some nice ones today.” Proudly he held up two large fish for her to see.

”Beauties,” praised Penny. ”I take it the motor boats haven't been bothering you as much as they were.”

”It's been pretty quiet on the river today,” the boy agreed. ”Want to see something else I fished up?”

”Why, yes. What did you hook, a mud turtle?”

The boy opened a large wooden box which contained an a.s.sortment of rope, fis.h.i.+ng tackle and miscellaneous articles. He lifted out a man's high silk hat, bedraggled and shapeless.

”You fished that out of the water?” Penny demanded, leaning forward to take the article from him. ”Where did you find it?”

”Up there a ways.” The boy motioned vaguely toward a point on the Kippenberg estate.

Penny turned the hat over in her hand, examining it closely. She found no identifying marks, yet she believed that it had belonged to Grant Atherwald for he had worn similar headdress. The point indicated by the boy was not far distant from the Kippenberg lily pool.

”How would you like to sell this hat?” she asked.

”Why, it's not worth anything.”

”I'd like to have it,” said Penny. ”I'll give you another fifty cents.”

”It's a deal.”

Penny offered the boy a dollar bill, and a moment later he beached the boat. Jerry was waiting to help her ash.o.r.e. His alert gaze fastened upon the hat which she hugged close, but he withheld comment. To the boy he said:

”Son, how would you like to earn five dollars?”

The boy's eyes brightened. ”Say, this is my lucky day!” he exclaimed.

”What doin'?”

”It's easy,” Jerry told him. ”All you need to do is to be here for a couple of days with your boat. You're not to allow anyone to use it except me.”