Part 28 (1/2)
”There's one person who might be able to implicate him!” Penny exclaimed.
”Ben Bowman!”
”Bowman should have it in his power to clear up some of the mystery,” Mr.
Parker agreed. ”But how are we to find him?”
”I don't know,” Penny admitted. ”It looks rather hopeless unless the police just present him to us wrapped in pink ribbon.”
The clock struck nine. Daring not to linger any longer, Penny hastily bade her father goodbye and left the house.
Driving to the camp site with Louise Sidell, she told her chum of the latest complications.
”Mr. Blake is one of the worst hypocrites in the world,” she declared feelingly. ”He pretends he wants to help the orphans, and all the while he intends to trick the Board and make a nice profit for himself.”
”Your father won't let him get away with it,” Louise returned confidently. ”So long as the money hasn't been paid over there's no need to worry.”
Arriving at the camp site, the girls went at once to the official tent.
To their surprise, Mr. Blake, Mrs. Van Cleve, and all members of the Board save Mr. Parker, were there. On the table lay various legal papers which bore signatures still moist with ink.
Penny gazed from one person to another, slowly comprehending the scene.
”You're not buying this property!” she exclaimed in protest.
Mrs. Van Cleve's reply stunned her.
”It seemed unreasonable to keep Mr. Blake waiting,” the woman said quietly. ”The transaction has just been completed.”
CHAPTER 18 _ADELLE'S ACCUSATION_
”Oh, Mrs. Van Cleve! You've been cheated!”
The signing of the papers had taken Penny so by surprise that she did not weigh her words before speaking. Too late, she realized that her father never would approve of revealing the facts in such blunt fas.h.i.+on.
However, having said so much, she was determined to go on.
”My dear, what do you mean?” inquired Mrs. Van Cleve, troubled by the unexpected accusation.
”Any money paid for this land will be lost! My father has just learned--”
”I resent such loose talk!” Mr. Blake broke in irritably. ”Mr. Bowman, whom I represent, has taken a substantial loss on the property.”
”And who is Ben Bowman?” Penny challenged. ”You can't produce him, nor prove that he owns the land. The t.i.tle is faulty. Neither you nor Ben Bowman has any right to sell it!”
”This isn't true?” Mrs. Van Cleve asked the real estate man.
”Certainly not! You may be sure that if there is the slightest flaw in the t.i.tle, I shall return your cheque.”
”Perhaps, considering the uncertainty, it might be wise to postpone payment until I have talked again with Mr. Parker,” Mrs. Van Cleve said diffidently.
The real estate man made no attempt to hide his annoyance. ”My dear Mrs.