"But why should anyone be prowling about Mrs. Marborough's place at this hour?"

"It does seem strange."

Deliberately, Penny steered the sailboat toward the beach.

"I think we should investigate," she declared firmly. "Everyone knows Mrs. Marborough lives alone. Someone may be attempting to break into the house!"

CHAPTER 9 _MYSTERIOUS PROWLERS_

"Oh, Penny, there must be a perfectly good reason for that moving light,"

Louise protested as the boat grated on the sand. "You only want an excuse for going to the Marborough place!"

"Perhaps," her chum acknowledged with a grin. "Jump out and pull us in, will you please?"

"My ankles are nice and dry and I like them that way," Louise retorted.

"If it's all the same, you do the jumping."

"All right, I don't mind--much." With a laugh, Penny gingerly stepped from the dinghy into shallow water. She pulled the boat farther up onto the sh.o.r.e so that her chum was able to climb out without wetting her feet. Together they furled the sail and removed the steering apparatus which they hid in the nearby bushes.

"I don't see a light now," Louise protested after their various tasks had been completed. "Must we climb that steep hill?"

"We must," Penny declared firmly, taking her by the hand. "Something may be wrong at Mrs. Marborough's and we ought to find out about it."

"You just love to investigate things," Louise accused. "You know as well as I do that there's not likely to be anything amiss."

"Someone may be prowling about the grounds! At any rate, my feet are cramped from sitting so long in the boat. We need exercise."

Finding a trail, the girls climbed it until they were within a hundred yards of the Marborough mansion. Emerging from behind a clump of lilac bushes they suddenly obtained an un.o.bstructed view of the yard.

"There's the light!" Penny whispered. "See! By the wishing well!"

To their knowledge the girls had made no unusual sound. Yet, apparently the person who prowled in the yard was aware of their approach. As they watched, the lantern was extinguished. Simultaneously, the moon, which had been so bright, moved under a dark cloud.

For several seconds the girls could not see the shadowy figure by the well. When the moon again emerged from behind its shield no one was visible in the yard.

"Whoever was there has hidden!" Penny whispered excitedly. "Louise, after we leave he may attempt to break into the house!"

"What ought we to do?"

"I think we should warn Mrs. Marborough."

"The house is dark," Louise said dubiously. "She's probably in bed."

"Wouldn't you want to know about it if someone were prowling about your premises?"

"Yes, of course--but--"

"Then come on," Penny urged, starting through the tangle of tall gra.s.s.

"Mrs. Marborough should be very grateful for the warning. It may prevent a burglary."

In crossing the yard, the girls kept an alert watch of the bushes but could see no one hiding behind them. Nevertheless, they felt certain that the prowler could not have left the grounds.

Penny pounded on the rear door of the Marborough house.

"Not so loud," Louise warned nervously.

"Mrs. Marborough probably is asleep. I want to awaken her."

"You will, don't worry!"

Penny repeated the knock many times, and then was rewarded by the approach of footsteps. The door opened, and Mrs. Marborough, in lace night cap and flannel robe, peered suspiciously at the girls.

"What do you want?" she asked crossly. "Why do you awaken me at such an hour?"

"Don't you remember us?" Penny said, stepping into the light. "We didn't mean to startle you."

"Startle me, fiddlesticks! I am merely annoyed at being awakened from a sound slumber."

"I'm terribly sorry," Penny apologized. "We wouldn't bother you, but we saw someone with a lantern moving about in the yard. We were afraid a burglar might try to break into the house."

Mrs. Marborough gazed carefully about the yard. "I see no light," she said stiffly.

"It's gone now," Louise admitted. "As we came up from the river, we distinctly saw it near the old wishing well. Penny and I thought that whoever it was hid behind the bushes!"

"You both imagined you saw a light," the old lady said with biting emphasis. "In any case, I am not afraid of prowlers. My doors have good bolts and I'll be more than a match for anyone who tries to get inside.

Thank you for your interest in my behalf, but really, I am able to look after myself."

"I'm sorry," Penny apologized meekly.

"There, your intentions were good," Mrs. Marborough said in a more kindly tone. "Better go home now and forget it. Young girls shouldn't be abroad at such a late hour."

After the door had closed, Penny and Louise slowly retraced their way to the river's edge.

"Someday I'll learn never to pay attention to your crazy ideas, Penny Parker," Louise said, breaking a lengthy silence.

"You saw the light, didn't you?"

"I thought so, but I'm not sure of anything now. It may have come from the main road."

"Sorry, but I disagree," replied Penny. "Oh, well, if Mrs. Marborough wishes to be robbed, I suppose it's her own affair."

Launching the dinghy, the girls spread their canvas, and sailing before what wind there was, presently reached the Parker camp. Penny's father awaited them by the boathouse and helped to haul in the craft.

The girls did not tell Mr. Parker of their little adventure, but the next day at school they discussed it at considerable length. During the night no attempt had been made by anyone to break into the Marborough house.