Chapter XX: A Break for Freedom

Max Laponi bolted across the center hall, flinging open the outside door. He looked directly into the face of Christopher Nichols.

"Hello, what's the big hurry?" the detective demanded, grasping him firmly by the arm.

Laponi tried to jerk free but he was no match for the detective.

By this time Penny and the others had come streaming into the hall.

"Don't let him get away!" Penny cried.

As the crook struggled to escape, Mr. Nichols slipped a pair of handcuffs over the man's wrists. Recovering the metal box he handed it to his daughter.

"Dad, how did you get here?" she asked eagerly.

The detective did not hear for he was regarding Laponi with keen interest.

"Well, well, if it isn't my old friend Leo Corley. Or possibly you have a new alias by this time."

"He calls himself Max Laponi," Penny informed. "Is he a known criminal?"

"Very well known, Penny. He's wanted in three states for forgery, blackmail and robbery. His latest escapade was to steal a diamond ring from the Bresham Department Store."

"Then you did get my wire?" Penny cried.

"Yes, that's what brought me here. After I received it I got busy right off and with the information you furnished it was easy to look up this man's record. The police have been after him for months."

"You didn't waste any time coming here," Penny smiled.

"I was afraid you girls might be in more danger than you realized. Max here isn't such a nice companion. By the way what's in the box?"

Penny opened it to reveal Mr. Winters' fine collection of ivory. The detective whistled in awe.

"That would have been a nice haul, Max," he said. "Too bad we had to spoil your little game."

"If it hadn't been for that kid of yours I'd have gotten away with it," the crook growled. "I was dumb not to suspect she was the daughter of a detective."

"You may as well cough up the diamond ring," Mr. Nichols advised. "It will save an unpleasant search."

With a shrug of his shoulders, Laponi took the gem from an inner pocket and gave it to the detective.

"When do we start for the station?" he asked. "We may as well get going."

"I've already called the police," Penny told her father.

"Then we won't have long to wait." He shoved Laponi toward a chair. "May as well make yourself comfortable until the wagon gets here."

"Your kindness overwhelms me," the crook returned with exaggerated politeness.

"How did you get wind that Mr. Winters' ivories were kept in the house?" the detective inquired curiously.

Although the crook had refused to answer the same questions a few minutes before, he was now willing to talk, knowing that his last chance for escape had been cut off.

"I read an item in the paper some months ago," he confessed. "It was a little news story to the effect that Jacob Winters had recently purchased several new pieces for his collection and that he intended to build special exhibit cases in his house as a means of displaying them. I clipped the item and forgot about it.

"Then one day I chanced to pick up a letter which someone had dropped. It contained a key to this house. I decided it was too good an opportunity to miss. Posing as Jacob Winters' nephew I came here to look over the situation."

"I never had a nephew," Mr. Winters declared.

"That was the first mistake I made. The second was in underestimating the ability of Penny Nichols. I thought she was only a school girl."

Penny smiled broadly as she inquired: "Didn't you enter into an agreement with Mrs. Leeds to defraud Rosanna?"

"I forged the will for her if that's what you mean. I wasn't interested in getting any of the money myself."

"That was because you knew it couldn't be done," the detective interposed. "You considered the ivory collection more profitable."

"Of course you forged the letter stating that Jacob Winters had been buried at sea," Penny mentioned.

With a nod of his head, the man acknowledged the charge. It was Christopher Nichols' turn to ask a question. Penny's letters had mentioned the mysterious mansion ghost and he was deeply interested in the subject.

"I suppose you were the ghost, Max?"

Jacob Winters answered for him.

"I was the ghost. It was part of my joke to frighten the occupants of this house. Not a very good joke, I'll admit."

"And you were the one who put bats in my room," Mrs. Leeds accused.

"Yes, and a garter snake in your bed which you never found."

"Oh!"

"Of course, Mr. Eckert, your ghostly pranks included playing the organ," Penny smiled. "I suspected it when I learned Jacob Winters had been a talented musician."

"I built the pipe organ into the house before my wife died," Mr. Winters explained. "I haven't used it a great deal in recent years."

"You haven't told us about the tunnel," Rosanna reminded him. "How did you happen to construct it?"

"I didn't. The lower branch of the passage was an old mine tunnel. The mine closed down forty years or so ago. The upper passage which connects with the house was built by my grandfather. This house, you know, has been in the Winters' family for generations. And I hope, upon my death, that it will pass on to another by the same name."

He looked significantly at Rosanna as he spoke.

Before the conversation could be continued, the police car drove up to the door. Max Laponi was loaded in and taken away. Mr. Nichols went with the police, promising to return to the Winters' house as soon as he could.

After the commotion had subsided, Jacob Winters turned severely to Mrs. Leeds.

"As for you, madam, kindly pack your things and leave this house at once. I never want to see you again."

"But it isn't even daylight yet. Alicia, poor child, is sleeping----"

"Wake her up. I'll give you just an hour to get out of the house."

"You're a hard, cruel, old man!" Mrs. Leeds cried bitterly, but she hurried up the stairs to obey his command.

After the woman had disappeared, Rosanna picked up her sweater which she had dropped on a chair. She turned toward the door.

"Hold on there," Jacob called. "Where are you going?"

"I was just leaving. You told Mrs. Leeds----"

"Well, you're not Mrs. Leeds, are you?" the old man snapped. "If you're willing, I want you to stay here."

"You mean--indefinitely?"

"Yes, if you think you could stand to live with me. I'm cross and I like things done my own way, but if you could put up with me----"

"If I could put up with you!" Rosanna ran to him and flung her arms about him. "Why, I think you're a darling! I was afraid to tell you so for fear you'd believe I was after your money."

"Money! Fiddlesticks!" Jacob sniffed. He wiped a tear from his eye. "I'm going to try to make up to you for all that you've missed."

The two had a great deal to say to each other, but presently they remembered Penny. She had been watching the little scene with eager delight.

"I'll never be able to thank you," Rosanna declared happily. "You're responsible for everything, Penny."

"I wish you'd permit me to reward you in a substantial way," Mr. Winters added.

Penny smilingly shook her head. "It was fun coming here to Raven Ridge. But it would ruin everything if I accepted pay for it."

"At least you'll stay a few days longer," Mr. Winters urged.

"If Father will agree to it."

When Mr. Nichols returned from police headquarters another pleasant surprise was in store for Penny.

"It looks as if you've won the reward which the Bresham Store offered for the capture of Laponi," he told her. "Five hundred dollars."

"Don't turn it down," Rosanna urged.

"I won't," Penny laughed. "In fact, I know just how I'll use that money when I get it."

"How?" her father inquired.

"I'll buy myself a new car."

"I thought perhaps you'd use it to go into business in competition with me," he teased.

"Some day I'll solve a mystery which will be so big and important that you'll not be able to twit me about it," Penny announced.

"I wasn't really teasing, my dear. I think you did a fine bit of work this time and I'm proud of you."

"Honestly?"

"Honestly," Mr. Nichols repeated, smiling broadly. "And I predict that you're only starting on this career of crime detection which you find so very thrilling."

"I wish I could be sure of that," Penny sighed.

With all her heart she longed for another adventure as exciting as the one she had experienced. Although she had no way of knowing what the future held, she was destined soon to have her wish gratified. In the third volume of the Penny Nichols' series, entitled, "The Secret of the Black Imp," she encounters a mystery more baffling than any she has previously solved.

After Mrs. Leeds and her daughter left the house, the others took Mr. Nichols for a tour of the secret passageway. Jacob Winters explained in detail how the panel operated and entertained them by playing several selections on the pipe organ.

"I love music," Rosanna remarked wistfully. "I've never even had an opportunity to learn to play the piano."

"You'll have it now," he assured her.

Mr. Nichols remained during the day but late in the afternoon he was forced to start for home as his work had been neglected. He was very willing, however, that Penny should remain as long as she wished at the old mansion.

The days were all too short for the two girls who enjoyed rambling through the woods, rowing and swimming in the lake, and exploring every nook and cranny of the interesting old house. But at length the time came when Penny too was obliged to depart.

"Come back and see us often, won't you?" Rosanna urged as they parted.

"Whenever I can," Penny promised. "I've had a glorious time."

She drove away, but at the bend in the road halted the car to glance back. The house, cloaked in the shadows of evening, looked nearly as mysterious as upon the occasion of her first visit. However, to her it would never again have a fearful aspect.

Jacob Winters and his niece stood framed in the doorway. They waved.

Penny returned the salute. Then regretfully she turned her back upon Raven Ridge and drove slowly down the mountain road which led home.

M. W.

THE END

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