CHAPTER 7 _PENNY'S DISCOVERY_
"Hiding a secret, my eye!" laughed Louise. "Penny Parker, sometimes Ithink that every person in Riverview suggests mystery and intrigue toyou!"
"Then you explain why Mrs. Marborough doesn't invite us into her house!"Penny challenged her chum. "And why did she turn the members of thePilgrimage Committee away?"
"Oh, probably the place isn't fixed up the way she wants it yet."
"That's no reason. No, she has a different one than that, Lou, and I'mcurious to learn what it is."
"You're always curious," Louise teased, taking Penny by the arm. "Comealong. Let's get a drink at the well."
While the girls were lowering the bucket into the bricked cavern, Mrs.Marborough joined them, a woolen shawl thrown over her head andshoulders.
"I've not had time to get much work done yet," she apologized. "I reallymust hire a man to clean up the grounds."
"Then you have decided to make your home here?" Louise inquired eagerly.
"For the present, I may. Much depends upon how a certain project turnsout."
Penny and Louise waited hopefully, but Mrs. Marborough said no more.Changing the subject, she inquired about Rhoda Wiegand and the othermembers of the Palette Club.
"I like young people," she declared brightly. "Do tell your friends tocome to Rose Acres whenever they wish."
"A rather strange thing occurred yesterday," Penny said suddenly. "Rhodamade a wish here at the well, and it came true."
"What was the wish?" the old lady inquired with curiosity.
"That the people with whom she lives might have more food. Two basketswere left at the trailer camp. Louise and I were responsible for one ofthem, but we can't account for the other."
"Very interesting," Mrs. Marborough commented. "In years past, a greatmany wishes which were made here, apparently came true. So I can't saythat I am surprised."
"To what do you attribute it?" Louise asked quickly.
"Chance perhaps," Mrs. Marborough smiled. "One cannot explain suchthings."
A chill, penetrating wind blew from the direction of the river.Shivering, Louise drew her jacket collar closer about her neck, remarkingrather pointedly that the weather was turning colder. Even then, Mrs.Marborough did not suggest that the girls enter the house. A momentlater, however, she excused herself and went inside, leaving them alonein the garden.
"It does seem odd that she acts so secretive," Louise commented. "I'minclined to agree with members of the Pilgrimage Committee that hermanners aren't the best."
"Perhaps you'll finally decide that I am right!" Penny said triumphantly."Take my word for it, there's something inside the house she doesn't wantanyone to see!"
Louise started slowly toward the road, only to pause as her chum proposedthat they walk to the river and call upon Truman Crocker, thestonecutter.
"You intend to tell him who stole his chicken?" Louise asked in surprise.
Penny shook her head. "No, I'll let him discover it for himself. I wantto talk to him about that big rock he hauled to the museum."
Louise could not imagine what useful information her chum might expect togain, but she obediently trailed Penny through the rear yard of RoseAcres, down a sloping path which led to the river.
"I hope you know the way," she remarked dubiously as the going becamemore difficult, and they were forced to move slowly.
"Oh, we can't miss the cabin. Crocker's place is the only one near here,"Penny responded.
The trail was a narrow one, so infrequently used that bushes and vineshad overgrown it in many places. Finally emerging on an open hillside,the girls were able to gaze down upon the winding river. Recent rains hadswollen it to the very edges of the banks, and from a distance TrumanCrocker's shack appeared to be situated dangerously close to the water.
"Wouldn't you think he would soon be flooded out?" Louise commented,pausing to catch her breath. "I shouldn't care to live so near theriver."
"Oh, the water never comes much higher," Penny rejoined. "A few years agothe city built some sort of river control system which takes care of thespill should there be any. Anyway, Crocker's place wouldn't representmuch of a loss if it did wash away."
The girls regained their breath, and then started down the slope. Penny,who was leading the way, did not pay particular attention to the ruttypath. Suddenly catching her shoe in a small hole, she tripped and fellsideways.
"Ooh, my arm!" she squealed. "I struck it on a big rock!"
Louise helped Penny to her feet, brushing dirt from the girl's skirt.
"You've ripped your stocking," she said sympathetically.
"I guess I'm lucky it wasn't my head," Penny returned gazing ruefully atthe tear. "Let's sit down and rest a minute."
Seating herself on the large smooth rock, she gingerly examined a bruisedplace on her elbow. Louise stood beside her, plucking burs from herchum's sweater.
"I'm all right now," Penny said a moment later, getting up. "Why, Lou! Doyou see what I've been sitting on?"
"A rock, my pet."
"A stone that looks exactly like the one at the museum!" Penny criedexcitedly.
"All rocks are pretty much alike, aren't they?"
"Certainly not," Penny corrected. "There are any number of varieties.This one is quartz unless I'm mistaken and it _does_ resemble the one atthe museum."
"Maybe you can find some writing on it," Louise teased. "The rock onlyweighs two or three hundred pounds. Shall I lift it for you so you cansee the under side?"
"Don't bother," Penny retorted, eagerly examining the stone. "I'vealready found it."
"Found what?"
"The writing! I _knew_ this stone looked like the one at the museum!"
Louise was certain that her chum merely pretended to have made such animportant discovery. However, as Penny continued to examine the rock inan intent, absorbed way, she decided to see for herself.
"Why, it's true!" she exclaimed incredulously. "There _is_ writing on thestone!"
Carved letters, so dimmed by age and weathering processes that theyscarcely remained legible, had been cut unevenly in the hard surface.
"'Went hence vnto heaven 1599,'" Louise deciphered slowly. "Why, 1599would date this stone almost before there were known settlers in thecountry!"
"Almost--but not quite," replied Penny. "Historians believe there wereother settlements before that date. Obviously, this is a burial stonesimilar to the one found on the Gleason farm."
"If it's such an old rock why was it never discovered before?"
"The stone may be a fake, but that's not for us to try to figure out.We've made an important discovery and the museum is sure to beinterested!"
"Don't forget that this is on Mrs. Marborough's property," Louisereminded her chum. "We'll have to tell her about it."
Retracing their way to Rose Acres, the girls knocked on the door. Mrs.Marborough soon appeared, looking none too pleased by their unexpectedreturn.
"What is it?" she asked, blocking the doorway so that the girls could notsee beyond her into the living room.
Breathlessly, Penny told of finding the dated stone on the hillside.
"Did you know such a rock was there?" she asked eagerly.
"I've never seen any stone with writing on it," Mrs. Marborough replied."Goodness knows there are plenty of boulders on my property though."
"Another stone similar to it was found yesterday on the Gleason farm,"Louise revealed. "Do come and see it, Mrs. Marborough."
Before the widow could reply, the three were startled by heavy footstepson the veranda. Turning, the girls saw that Jay Franklin had approachedwithout being observed. Politely, he doffed his hat.
"Excuse me, I couldn't help overhearing your conversation," he said,bowing again to Mrs. Marborough. "You were saying something about a rockwhich bears writing?"
"We found it on the hillside near here," Penny explained. "It has adate--1599."
/> "Then it must be a mate to the stone discovered by Mr. Gleason!"
"I'm sure it is."
"Will you take me to the spot where you found it?" Mr. Franklinrequested. "I am tremendously interested."
"Of course," Penny agreed, but her voice lacked enthusiasm.
She glanced toward Louise, noticing that her chum did not lookparticularly elated either. Neither could have explained the feeling, butJay Franklin's arrival detracted from the pleasure of their discovery.Although ashamed of their suspicions, they were afraid that the man mighttry to take credit for finding the stone.