Louise offered no serious objection to Penny’s proposal, for she too was curious to learn who might be prowling about the Marborough yard. Driving on down the road for a considerable distance, they parked the car just off the pavement and walked back to the estate. A high hedge bounded the front side of the Marborough property, but they were able to peer through the scanty foliage into the yard.

“It will be just our luck that the light has disappeared,” Penny muttered. “I don’t see it anywhere.”

“I do!” Louise whispered excitedly. “Look over there by the wishing well.”

In the darkness, both girls could see the faint glow of a covered lantern which had been deposited on the ground. A shadowy figure was bending over, examining some object on the ground.

“Can you tell who it is?” Penny murmured.
[80]

“Not from here. Dare we move closer?”

“Let’s risk it,” Penny said, and led the way through the open gateway.

Taking the precaution to keep tall bushes between themselves and the wishing well, the girls quietly stole closer. Soon they were near enough to distinguish that someone in dark clothing was kneeling on the ground, face turned away from them. Apparently the person was trying to lift one of the flagstones which formed a circular base about the covered well.

“Who can he be?” Penny whispered, pausing. “And what is he doing?”

At that moment the figure straightened, and the lantern was lifted from the ground.

“It’s a she, not a he!” Louise observed in an undertone.

“Mrs. Marborough!”

“It looks like her from here,” Louise nodded. “But what can she be doing at the well?”

Completely mystified, the girls remained motionless, watching. Mrs. Marborough raised one of the flagstones and peered beneath it.

“She’s searching for something,” Penny whispered. “Probably she works after dark so she won’t be observed.”

It was evident to both girls that the moving light which had attracted their attention the previous night had, undoubtedly, been Mrs. Marborough’s lantern.
[81]

Although they now could understand the old lady’s irritation at their intrusion, her actions mystified them. As they continued to watch, she pried up one stone after another, frequently resting from her labors.

“We might offer to help her,” Louise proposed half-seriously.

“If we show ourselves now she’ll order us never to return,” Penny replied. “We want to find out what this is all about.”

During the next ten minutes the girls huddled behind the friendly bush. At the end of that period, Mrs. Marborough gathered together her tools, and went wearily into the house.

“Obviously she didn’t find what she was after,” Penny said, coming from behind the shelter. “What do you suppose it can be?”

“Buried treasure, perhaps.”

“Or possibly the family silverware hidden during the Civil War,” Penny chuckled. “I’m afraid not. Mrs. Marborough lived at Rose Acres all her early years. If there had been anything valuable buried, wouldn’t she have done her searching long ago?”

“If that’s a question, I can’t answer it,” sighed Louise. “What’s our next move? Home?”

“I should say not! Let’s inspect the wishing well.”

Penny started forward, taking pains to avoid a patch of light which came from the lower windows of the Marborough house. Even in the semi-darkness the girls were able to see that many flagstones about the well had been removed and fitted again into place.
[82]

“Just for luck I shall make a wish!” Penny announced unexpectedly, lowering the bucket into the pit.

“What will it be this time?” Louise inquired, slightly amused.

Penny drank deeply of the cool, sweet water, and tossed a token into the well.

“I wish that Rose Acres would give us a whopping big mystery!” she said gaily. “Lou, why did Mrs. Marborough return to Rive............