I came to Riverview to search for something which has been lost many years."

"Something hidden during the Civil War?" inquired Louise breathlessly.

"No, my dear, an object secreted by my sister, Virginia. Since you girls already have learned so much I will tell you all. Perhaps you have heard of the Marborough pearls?"

Penny and Louise shook their heads.

"I forget that you are so very young," Mrs. Marborough said. "Your mothers would remember. At any rate, the necklace was handed down in our family for many generations, always to the daughter who was the first to marry. Virginia, my younger sister, dreamed and hoped that the pearls would go to her. Naturally, I shared a similar desire. As it came about, I was the first of the family to marry."

"Then you received the necklace?" Louise commented.

"It should have gone to me, but my sister was determined I never should win such a victory over her. In a fit of anger she hid the pearls. Father tried to force her to tell what she had done with them, but she was very headstrong. She ran away from home, married a scamp, and sailed with him to South America. She died there less than two years after my own marriage."

"What became of the pearls?" Penny asked eagerly.

"Our family believed that she took the necklace with her. For many years we a.s.sumed that Virginia's worthless husband had obtained possession of it. He denied any knowledge of the pearls, but we never accepted his story as true. Then, a few weeks ago, a letter came from South America.

It had been written by Virginia's husband shortly before his death."

"He confessed to the theft of the necklace?" Louise asked, trying to speed the story.

"No, indeed. He merely enclosed a letter written by Virginia years before. It was addressed to me, and had never been sent, because her husband deliberately withheld it. Just selfish and cantankerous, that man was! The letter told where the pearls had been hidden. I imagine that Virginia's husband had planned to gain possession of them someday, but fate defeated him. So on his death bed he sent me the original letter which I should have received forty years earlier."

"Where were the pearls hidden?" Penny questioned, her eyes sparkling with antic.i.p.ation. "You haven't found them yet?"

"No, and I doubt that I ever shall," Mrs. Marborough sighed. "Virginia's letter was not very definite. She begged my forgiveness for having caused so much trouble, and said that she had hidden the necklace near the old wishing well."

"Didn't she tell you where?" Louise asked in disappointment.

"There were several words which had been blotted with ink. I suspect Virginia's husband did it to prevent anyone but himself from learning the hiding place. Then when he finally sent the letter to me, he may have forgotten what he had done. That's only my guess, of course. As the letter reads, my only clue is that the pearls were hidden near the wishing well."

"That explains why you were removing the flagstones the other night,"

Louise remarked.

"Yes, I've searched everywhere I can think of except in the old tunnel.

When you girls went through it tonight, did you notice anything unusual?"

"No hiding place," Penny replied. "Of course we weren't looking for anything of the sort. If we could explore the pa.s.sageway by daylight--"

"Can't we help you find the pearls, Mrs. Marborough?" Louise interrupted.

"It would be such fun searching for them."

"I'll be very happy to have your help," the old lady said, smiling. "Upon one condition. You must tell no one. Already I am the laughing stock of Riverview and if this latest story should get around everyone would talk."

Penny and Louise promptly a.s.sured her that they would tell no one about the pearls.

"Another thing--" Mrs. Marborough hesitated and then went on. "I suppose you understand now why I never invited you into the house. It wasn't that I meant to be inhospitable."

"Because the place isn't fixed up?" Louise came to her aid. "Why, Penny and I would have thought nothing of it. This is a cozy kitchen with a cheerful fire. I think it's nice."

"I probably shan't be here long. My purpose in returning to Riverview was to find the pearls. I've nearly made up my mind that they are lost forever."

"Oh, don't say that!" Penny cried. "Tomorrow, with your permission, Louise and I will explore the tunnel. We may have luck."

"I shall be very glad to have your help, my dear." Again Mrs. Marborough groped for words and finished awkwardly: "Please, I beg of you, don't tell anyone what you have seen tonight, particularly the barren state of this house."

"We understand," Penny said gravely.

The fire had burned low. Mindful that they must be home early, the girls bade Mrs. Marborough goodbye, promising to return the following day. Once outside the mansion, they paused beside a tree so that Penny might remove the heavy coveralls which she still wore over her frock.

"What a night!" she murmured happily.

"For once, Penny, one of your crazy adventures turned out beautifully,"

Louise praised. "We'll have a wonderful time searching for that necklace!

She's certainly queer though."

"Mrs. Marborough?"

"Yes, imagine being so sensitive about how the interior of her house looks. Who would expect it to be fixed up nicely after standing empty so many years?"

"Aren't you forgetting something?" Penny asked. She hopped grotesquely on one foot as she extricated the other from the coveralls.

"Forgetting what?" Louise demanded, puzzled.

"Remember that first day we peeped into the house through the window?"

"Why, yes, what about it?"

"Your memory isn't very good, Louise. Don't you remember the sheet-draped furniture we saw?"

"That's right! I had forgotten. What became of it?"

"If I had just one guess, I'd say--Mr. b.u.t.terworth."

"Who is he, Penny?"

"A second-hand dealer who buys old furniture, newspapers, rubber tires--everything except bottles."

"Not that funny looking man we saw enter this house the other day!"

"The same. Louise, it's my guess that Mrs. Marborough sold all of her valuable antiques--probably for a fraction of their true worth."

"How foolish of her. Why would she do that?"

"Don't you understand?" Penny asked patiently. "There can be but one explanation. Mrs. Marborough isn't wealthy any more. She's living in dire poverty and trying to keep people from learning the truth."

CHAPTER 18 _SIGNBOARD INDIANS_