're in sympathy with me," Penny laughed. "I'm hoping that
together we may be able to help little Perry Crocker. And
incidentally, we might stumble into a mystery which would rival Dad's
toy lantern case."

"You know I want to help," said Susan eagerly. "But I'm an awful dub.
I never have any ideas."

"I'm a little short of them myself just now," Penny admitted. "But
first we'll go down to the Crocker place. I'm anxious for you to meet
the main characters of our melodrama."

"I think I noticed the house on the way up the hill," Susan replied.
"Is it that ancient, vine-covered mansion?"

"Yes, Mrs. Masterbrook told me Old Herman moved in there after his
sister died. He used to live in this cottage."

"And where is this young man named Michael Haymond?"

"I don't know what became of him," Penny admitted. "He should be
somewhere around."

"Is he good looking?"

"You would ask that," teased Penny. "No, Michael isn't handsome, but
he's nice."

"You said in your letter that you thought he might be a crook----"

"Well, he acted mysteriously at first," Penny said defensively. "But
after you get to know him, he seems like anyone else, only he's very
reserved."

"Perhaps Mr. Crocker will turn out that way."

"I don't think so," Penny smiled. "He's really an eccentric character.
Do you mind walking down Knob Hill?"

"Not at all. I need a little exercise."

The distance between the cottage and Mr. Crocker's house was only a
quarter of a mile. Penny intended to use as a pretext for calling upon
the old man that she wished to buy more eggs. However, as the girls
drew near the mansion they saw Mr. Crocker's car coming down the lane.

"There goes Herman now!" Penny exclaimed. "And Perry is with him."

The car reached the end of the lane and turned down the main road
toward Kendon.

"Well, it looks as if I'll not get to meet the old gentleman after
all," commented Susan.

"No, but this will be a good time to see the house at close range.
With Mr. Crocker away, we can look around as much as we please."

As the girls walked on up the lane Penny told Susan about the
automobile which she had seen parked in Mr. Crocker's barn.

"What do you think became of the owner?" asked Susan. "You're not
intimating that Walter Crocker never went back to the city?"

"I've asked myself that question a great many times. I know that Mr.
Crocker's nephew came here to claim an inheritance, yet the people of
Kendon ar