es of philosophy and history and he
studied textbooks of mathematics and French.

"Rather deep stuff," Mr. Nichols had commented, looking at one of the
philosophy volumes.

"I never had a chance to attend college, sir," Michael had replied,
flushing. "I'm trying to educate myself a little."

During the afternoon both Mr. Nichols and Michael absented themselves
from the cottage. Mrs. Masterbrook decided that she would walk down to
the village. Penny was delighted to be left alone in the house.

The moment that everyone was gone she hastened to the attic. It was a
low-ceiling room, dimly lighted by two gable windows. Dust and cobwebs
were everywhere.

The attic contained an old chest of drawers, the footboards of a bed,
two trunks, a chair with a broken leg, and several boxes of dishes.

As Penny's gaze roved over the objects she observed that a faint
scratch on the floor showed where the trunks had been recently moved.
Some of the dust had been brushed off from the lids.

"Herman must have been looking at the trunks," the girl thought. "I
wonder what he expected to find?"

She lifted the lid of the nearest one and was pleased that it was
unlocked. There was nothing in the top tray but beneath it she found
old fashioned clothing which had belonged to a woman. The garments had
been very carefully packed in moth balls.

Penny opened the second trunk. It too was filled with clothing in a
style worn some fifteen years before. In the bottom she came upon an
old picture album and a packet of letters. All were addressed to
Herman Crocker and appeared to be of a business nature.

Penny was tempted to read the letters, but she put aside the thought.
After all it was not very honorable of her to pry into Mr. Crocker's
personal affairs without a stronger motive than curiosity.

"If there is any occasion for learning more about the man, I can read
the letters later," Penny reflected. "Dad would be ashamed of me if he
knew what I was doing."

She replaced the packet in the trunk and closed down the lid. Then
after making certain that the chest of drawers contained nothing of
interest, she hastened down stairs again and washed the grime from her
hands.

Later in the afternoon Mrs. Masterbrook came back from Kendon and it
seemed to Penny that she was more subdued than usual. Even Mr. Nichols
noticed a change in the woman.

"I wonder what is the matter with her?" he remarked. "She seems to be
losing her f