"On the contrary, Mrs. Botts has been very kind to me. Especially since I've been sick."

Penny's perplexity increased. "But I've seen you wandering in the garden at night," she murmured. "Why do you do it?"

"Because--oh, hang it! Do I have to explain everything to you? My head's aching again. Unless you go away and stop bothering me, I'll call the police."

Penny was completely crushed. She had been so sure that the man was her father! Seemingly she had made a very stupid mistake.

"I'll go," she said quietly.

Retreating down the stairway, she left the opened telegram on the living-room table and switched off the light. Then unlocking the kitchen door, she rejoined Louise and Joe.

"I guess you didn't have any luck," her chum commented, observing her downcast face.

Penny ruefully admitted that the man who had been seen in the garden was Lester Jones.

"I knew he wasn't your father," Louise replied. "You wouldn't listen to reason--"

"All the same, his voice was similar," Penny cut in. "Why, the man even used one of Dad's pet expressions."

"What was it?" Louise inquired curiously.

"'Oh, hang it!' That's the expression Dad uses when he's irritated."

Louise helped her chum over the back fence and guided her toward the parked taxi. Midway there Penny paused to stare up at the dark windows of the second floor.

"Lou!" she exclaimed. "That man must have been Dad even if he didn't know me!"

"Oh, Penny, don't start that all over again," Louise pleaded. "You're only torturing yourself."

"I'm going back!"

"No, we can't let you, Penny."

Louise held her chum's arm firmly. Joe opened the door of the taxi and they pushed her in. Penny protested for a moment, then submitted.

"All right, but we're going straight to the police station!" she announced. "I'll not be satisfied until that man positively is identified as Lester Jones."

A few minutes later, at the police station, Detective Fuller heard the entire story. It was the first he had learned about Mrs. Botts, for Penny's earlier message had not been delivered by Policeman Burns.

"For that matter, I've not seen Burns today," the detective explained.

"I'll go to the estate at once and question the woman."

Again Penny and Louise taxied to the estate, this time trailed by a police car. Detective Fuller broke the padlock on the gate and led the party to the front door.

A light now burned in the living room. To Penny's astonishment, the door was opened by Mrs. Botts.

"Good evening," she greeted the visitors pleasantly.

Detective Fuller flashed his badge. "We want to ask you a few questions,"

he said. "May we come in?"

With obvious reluctance the woman stepped aside, allowing the party to enter the living room. Penny's gaze roved to the center table. The telegram which she had opened no longer was there.

Mrs. Botts did not offer chairs to the callers. Glaring at Penny with undisguised dislike, she said coldly: "I suppose I am indebted to you for this visit. What is it you want?"

"I understand you have a roomer here," began Detective Fuller.

"A roomer?" Mrs. Botts echoed blankly.

"Yes, a man by the name of Lester Jones."

"Ridiculous! You don't seem to realize that this is the Deming estate."

"Are you an employee here?"

"I am the housekeeper. During Mr. Deming's absence I look after the property. I a.s.sure you no one but myself lives in the house at present."

"No roomer ever has stayed here?"

Mrs. Botts drew herself up proudly. "Would Mr. Deming be likely to annoy himself with roomers? He has a very substantial fortune."

"You might try to pick up a few dollars yourself."

"Mr. Deming would not hear of such a thing! He pays me well."

Detective Fuller asked additional questions, trying to learn whether or not the woman was the one who had fled from the cemetery. Mrs. Botts frankly admitted that she had taken Mr. Parker to the hospital, but she denied ever trying to collect a ransom.

"What you say now doesn't agree with your original story," Penny protested. "You admitted to me--"

"I admitted nothing," Mrs. Botts broke in indignantly. "I have no secrets to hide!"

"But I'm sure Mr. Jones is living in this house," Penny said stubbornly.

"He's upstairs."

"Indeed?" mocked Mrs. Botts. "Perhaps you'd like to search the house."

"Yes, we would," said Detective Fuller.

Mrs. Botts remained undisturbed. Bestowing upon Penny a look of deep contempt, she motioned toward the stairway.

"Very well, search the house," she invited with cool a.s.surance. "I've told you the truth. You'll find no one here but myself."

CHAPTER 19 _A BAFFLING SEARCH_