CHAPTER XVII
A New Clue
"'M. G.'", Susan repeated slowly, staring at the handkerchief. "What'sso startling about that?"
"Michael dropped this handkerchief," Penny said significantly.
"And his last name is Haymond!" Susan cried as light dawned upon her."Why would he have a handkerchief marked 'M. G.'?"
"Why indeed? The simple answer is that maybe his name isn't MichaelHaymond after all!"
"Maybe he happened to pick up some other person's handkerchief."
"He'd not be apt to be using it."
"Once one of yours got into our washing somehow," Susan defended hertheory. "Don't you remember I was using it for one of my own until youhappened to notice it?"
"That was different," Penny replied. "I'll venture this is Michael'shandkerchief all right."
"Oh, you're too suspicious," laughed Susan. "Remember that wild chasewe had to Glenhaven just because you thought Michael might be hidingsomething about his past."
"I'm not sure that it was a wild chase at all," Penny answered soberly."If you recall, Michael fitted into Mrs. Havers story quitenicely--everything except his last name. And now the initials of thishandkerchief could stand for Michael Gladwin."
"Why, that's so," Susan murmured in astonishment. "But it doesn't seemreasonable! What has Michael done that he's ashamed to have his truename known?"
"I may be jumping at another one of my false conclusions," Pennyadmitted. "Anyway, I think I'll keep this handkerchief."
"If only we had a picture of Michael we might send it to Mrs. Haversfor identification," Susan said thoughtfully.
"I was thinking of that," Penny nodded. "We'll get a picture today."
"How? By telling Michael that you've suddenly taken a great fancy tohim?"
"We'll take a snapshot. Fortunately I brought my camera along when wecame to Kendon."
"Do you have a film?"
"Yes, it's all loaded ready to go."
"Then let's get our prey!" laughed Susan. "But Michael may refuse."
"He shouldn't unless we make him suspicious. Mind, not a word aboutthe handkerchief."
The girls went directly to the cottage for Penny's camera. First theyflattered Mrs. Masterbrook by requesting her picture. The housekeeperposed on the porch steps.
"We'd like your picture too," Penny said to Michael who was standingnear.
"I'd break your camera," the young man laughed good-naturedly.
"Oh, don't be silly," Susan cried, and catching him by the hand, pulledhim up on the porch.
Penny snapped the picture. To make certain that she would have a goodone, she took still another.
"That's enough," declared Michael moving away.
Mrs. Masterbrook lingered on the porch, hoping that the girls wouldtake another picture of her. However, they had no intention of wastingany film.
"Let's get it developed right away," Susan declared.
"There's one more picture I'd like to take just to make the recordcomplete," Penny announced as she and her chum walked away from thecottage.
"Whose?" asked Susan.
"Herman Crocker's."
"It would be interesting to keep it as a souvenir of your vacation,"Susan agreed. "But try to get it!"
"I believe I could."
"You'd try anything."
"We'll have an hour before the sun is low," Penny declared, glancingtoward the western horizon. "Come on, let's go there now."
"I don't like the idea a bit," Susan complained but she allowed herchum to lead her down the road.
"I'll have to think up a new excuse for calling on Herman," Pennyremarked as they drew near the house. "That one about wanting to buyeggs is getting pretty thread bare."
"You're inviting trouble to go there again," Susan warned darkly."Herman will suspect something is wrong the minute you ask for hispicture."
"I don't mean to ask," Penny chuckled. "Perhaps I'll just snap it andrun."
There was no sign of activity about the Crocker premises. They did notsee the dog, and when they rapped on the door there was no response.
"Mr. Crocker and his grandson are gone," Susan said in relief.
"I guess I'll have to give up the picture then," Penny sighed. "I hada particular use for it too."
"Why don't you snap one of the house?" Susan suggested.
"I might do that just to finish out the roll. Then we can take thefilm down to Kendon and have it developed."
"You mean now?"
"Yes, I'm in a hurry to get the prints. Dad may take it into his headto leave this place any day and I have considerable unfinished businesson my calendar."
"It seems as if I've walked a million miles today," Susan grumbledgood-naturedly.
"It's good for your figure," Penny laughed. "You don't want to getfat."
"No chance of it around you," Susan retorted.
Penny took the picture and removed the roll of exposed film from hercamera. Walking down Knob Hill, the girls left it at one of thedrugstores in Kendon.
"How soon may we have the prints?" Penny asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon," the clerk promised.
When the girls had left the drugstore, Penny suggested that they dropin for a moment at Turner's.
"Are you still hopeful that someone will claim the toy lantern?" Susaninquired with a trace of amusement.
"No, I gave up long ago," Penny admitted. "I just keep asking as amatter of routine."
"Mr. Turner would let you know if anything develops."
"He might forget," Penny insisted. "Let's drop in for just a minute."
Susan sighed wearily and followed her chum into the store. Mr. Turnerdid not look very pleased to see them. He had grown tired of theirfrequent calls.
"Nothing new?" Penny asked pleasantly.
The storekeeper shook his head. "I think you may as well take thelantern with you," he said. "I'm convinced it doesn't belong to anychild around here."
"It begins to look that way," Penny admitted.
She was debating what to do when she felt Susan pluck her sleeve.Glancing quickly up she was surprised to see that Perry Crocker hadentered the store. The boy did not notice the girls but walked towardthe candy department.
"I didn't know Old Herman ever let him go any place alone," Susanwhispered.
"Neither did I," Penny agreed. "Probably Perry's grandfather iswaiting outside."
Susan started toward the boy, but Penny restrained her.
"Wait!" she whispered.
The boy had gone directly to the candy counter.
"Good afternoon, Perry," said the storekeeper. "I don't see you veryoften."
"Today is my birthday," the boy explained in an excited voice. "I'meleven years old. My grandfather gave me ten cents to spend."
"That's fine," said the storekeeper. "What kind of candy will youhave?"
"I want some of those caramels and lemon drops. Or would I getmore----"
Perry broke off to stare at the broken toy lantern which stood on thestorekeeper's shelf directly behind the candy counter.
"Why, where did you get my lantern?" he asked quickly. "Give it to me."
"Is this your lantern?" the storekeeper questioned, glancing towardPenny and Susan who had remained some distance away.
"Of course it's mine," said Perry. "Please give it to me."
"But how do I know it is yours?" asked Mr. Turner. He had been coachedcarefully by Mr. Nichols. "A great many boys have lanterns exactlylike this."
"It's really mine, Mr. Turner," Perry insisted. "I can tell because Imade a new wick for it out of an old piece of white cloth. Someone hassmashed the isinglass."
Mr. Turner again glanced inquiringly toward Penny. She nodded her headas a signal that he was to give the lantern to the boy.
"Very well, Perry, here you are," the storekeeper said, handing him thetoy. "Now what kind of candy do you want?"
He filled the order and Perry left the store without observing P
ennyand Susan. Through the plate glass window the girls saw him show thetoy lantern to his grandfather. Then he climbed into the car and theydrove away.
"I hope I did right to let him take the toy," said the storekeeperanxiously.
"Yes, you did," said Penny quietly. "The lantern has served itspurpose now."
"I was very much surprised that it belonged to Perry," went on Mr.Turner.
"It was somewhat of a shock to me too," Penny acknowledged.
"Your father told me a little about the case," the storekeepercontinued. "I fear that this clue has no significance for Perry'sgrandfather is an upstanding man in the community."
"I quite understand," replied Penny gravely. "Thank you for going toso much trouble to help my father. I'm sure that he'll not wish you tospeak of this matter to anyone."
"I'll keep it to myself," Mr. Turner promised. "If there is anythingmore I can do, let me know."
The instant that the girls were outside the store they lost theirserene attitude.
"Now what's our move?" asked Susan tensely.
"We must get home as fast as we can and tell Dad," Penny replied."This clue has a lot more significance than Mr. Turner believes. Itprobably means that Herman Crocker is the man who took the Kirmenbachjewels!"