"Oh, I'm removing discoloration from a stone," Mr. Crocker answered.

"Don't touch the sacking. Leave it alone."

"What do you do with the rock after you finish working on it?" Louise asked, crossing the room to stand beside Penny.

"I sell it," Mr. Crocker returned briefly. "I have work to do, and I'm waiting to get at it."

"Oh, we didn't mean to interrupt you," Penny apologized. "The truth is, we came here to ask you about that stone you hauled for Jay Franklin. Do you think the writing on it is genuine?"

"Sure it is. Anyone who knows anything about stones could tell it had been lying in the ground for years."

"The aging couldn't have been faked?"

"Say, what is this?" Crocker demanded, scowling. "What are you trying to get at?"

"My father, who publishes the _Star_, believes that someone may be perpetrating a hoax."

"A what?" Crocker asked, puzzled by the word.

"A joke. He thinks that some _clever_ person may have faked the writing on the two stones."

"Well, I didn't have nothing to do with it," Truman Crocker declared, his tone unpleasant. "I hauled the rock for Jay Franklin and that's all I know about it. Now go away and don't pester me."

"We're the same as absent right now," Penny laughed, retreating to the doorway. "Thanks for your splendid cooperation."

"What's that?"

"Never mind, you wouldn't understand," Penny replied. "Goodbye."

A safe distance from the shack, the three girls expressed their opinion of the old stonecutter's manners.

"He acted as if we were suspicious of him," Louise declared. "Such a simple fellow!"

"It never once entered my head that Crocker could have any connection with the hoax, a.s.suming that the writing isn't genuine," Penny said. "But now that I think of it, why wouldn't he be a logical person to do such a trick?"

"He's far too stupid," Louise maintained. "Why, I doubt that he ever went through eighth grade in school. Likely he never even heard of Elizabethan writing."

"All true," Penny conceded, "but couldn't someone have employed him? If he were told to carve a rock in such and such a manner, I'm sure he could carry out instructions perfectly. He knows more about such work than anyone in this community."

"Oh, Penny, you're quite hopeless!" Louise laughed. "Just let anyone rebuff you, and immediately you try to pin a crime on him!"

"I'm not accusing Truman Crocker of anything--at least not yet. All the same, those two stones were found quite close to his shack. The Gleason farm isn't more than three-quarters of a mile away."

"Why should Mr. Crocker be interested in playing such a joke?" Rhoda inquired dubiously. "Or for that matter, any other person?"

"I can't figure it out," Penny acknowledged. "If the stones are fakes, one would judge them to be the creation of a rather brilliant practical joker."

"Are you sure you didn't do it yourself?" Louise asked teasingly. "After all, you were the one who found the second stone, so that throws suspicion on you!"

Penny allowed the subject to die. With a quick change of interest, she suggested to her companions that they return to Riverview by way of the Marborough place.

"Don't you think we're showing ourselves there too frequently," Louise protested mildly. "There's such a thing as wearing out one's welcome."

"Oh, we needn't try to break into the house." Penny grinned. "But if we don't go there, we'll never learn any more about the mystery."

Louise and Rhoda were not particularly eager to climb the hill. However, to oblige Penny they offered no objection to her proposal.

Approaching the Marborough property five minutes later, the girls were startled to hear loud, angry voices. The sound came from the direction of the old wishing well.

"Someone is having a fearful argument!" Penny declared, quickening her step.

As the three friends emerged into the clearing they saw Mrs. Marborough and Jay Franklin sitting together on a garden bench. The widow was speaking in a high-pitched voice, reprimanding the caller for having misled her regarding the record stone found on her land.

"She's giving it to him right, and I'm glad!" Penny chuckled.

"Let's not go any closer," Louise murmured, holding back.

Penny stared at her chum in blank amazement. "Not go closer?" she demanded. "Why, this is why we came! I thought Mr. Franklin might be here, and I want to hear what he has to say for himself."

CHAPTER 12 _NO ADMITTANCE_

Neither Louise nor Rhoda approved of interfering in the argument between Mrs. Marborough and Mr. Franklin, but as usual they could not stand firm against Penny. Making considerable noise to give warning of their approach, the girls drew near the garden bench.

"Your conduct has amazed and disappointed me," they heard the old lady say in clipped words. "When I allowed you to remove the stone from my yard you promised that you would deliver it to the museum."

"I may have mentioned such a possibility, but I made no promise," Mr.

Franklin replied. "You sold the rock to me. It is now mine to do with as I see fit."

"You deliberately tricked me! I am less concerned with the money than with the fact that you are trying to force the museum to pay for something which I meant them to have free."

"Mrs. Marborough, you sold the rock for two dollars. Unless I am very much mistaken, that money meant more to you than you would have the townspeople believe!"

Mrs. Marborough arose from the bench, glaring at the visitor.

"Mr. Franklin, you are insulting! Leave my premises this minute and never return!"

"I'll be very happy to depart," the man retorted, smiling coldly. "I came here only because you sent for me. However, if you were inclined to take a sensible viewpoint, I might make you a business proposition."

"What do you mean by that, Mr. Franklin?"

"I refer to this house here. If you're disposed to sell it I might make you an offer."

Mrs. Marborough had started toward the house, but then she paused and regarded him speculatively.

"What is your offer, Mr. Franklin?"