CHAPTER 21 MRS. MARBOROUGH’S LOSS

Mrs. Breen hastily removed her apron and opened the door to admit the caller.

“Good evening,” said Mr. Coaten. His gaze roved from one person to another in the crowded little room, coming to rest upon Rhoda.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t keep our appointment this afternoon,” she said stiffly. “The truth is, I’ve changed my mind about signing that paper.”

“I’ve tried to talk sense into her,” Mrs. Breen broke in. “I don’t know what’s come over the girl lately.”

Mr. Coaten seated himself on the day bed, smiling at Rhoda in a friendly way.

“I understand how you feel,” he said. “You are afraid you don’t know me well enough to agree to the adoption.”

“I never heard of you until you came to Riverview.”

“Rhoda, that’s no way to talk!” Mrs. Breen reprimanded. “What would we have done without Mr. Coaten? He’s given us money, bought groceries, and made everything much easier.”

“I appreciate everything. It’s just that—well, I don’t care to be adopted. I like things as they are.”

Mrs. Breen’s kindly face tightened into hard lines.

“Rhoda,” she said firmly, “this is an opportunity for you, and you ought to be smart enough to realize it. Mr. Coaten will give you good clothes and schooling. Pop and I can’t do it.”

“You’ve given me too much now,” Rhoda murmured, her gaze on the linoleum rug.

“I’ve been patient with you, but now I’m going to have my say. We can’t keep you any more.”

“You’re telling me to go?” Rhoda gasped, scarcely believing that she had heard correctly.

“I’m asking you to sign whatever it is that Mr. Coaten wants you to.”

Rhoda gazed at Penny, her lips trembling. There seemed but one course open to her, for she had no money and no relatives. Fully aware of her predicament, Mr. Coaten smiled triumphantly. From his pocket he whipped out a fountain pen and a folded, neatly-typed paper.

“Rhoda, don’t sign unless you really wish to,” Penny said quietly.

“But I’ll have no home—”

“You may stay with me. I’ll find a place for you.”

Directing her gaze upon Mr. Coaten, Penny resumed:

“May I ask why you are so eager to obtain a guardianship over Ted and Rhoda? What do you expect to gain by it?”

“My dear young lady—” Mr. Coaten’s voice was soft but his eyes glinted angrily. “I expect to gain nothing.”

“I gathered a different impression when I heard you and your friend talking a night or so ago at the Marborough place.”

At first Mr. Coaten did not appear to understand, then as Penny’s meaning dawned upon him, he arose from the couch.

“I have no wish to discuss this matter with you—a stranger,” he said coldly. “For some reason you are prejudiced against me, and have deliberately influenced Rhoda to go against Mrs. Breen’s desires.”

“It’s a question for our own family to settle,” Mrs. Breen added.

“I’ll go at once,” said Penny. She gazed questioningly at Rhoda.

“Do you really think you could take me in at your place?” the girl asked.

“Of course. My offer holds.”

“Then I’ll come with you!” Darting to a wardrobe closet, Rhoda began to toss garments into a suitcase.

“Rhoda, you can’t go like this!” Mrs. Breen cried in protest. “Why won’t you listen to reason?”

“Let her go!” Mr. Coaten said harshly. “She’ll come back in a day or two glad to accept my offer.”

Rhoda paid no heed to the conversation which flowed about her. Swiftly she packed her suitcase and told Penny that she was ready to leave.

“Mrs. Breen,” she said, squeezing the woman’s hand in parting, “you and Pop have been wonderful to Ted and me. I’ll never forget it—never. Someday I’ll repay you, too.”

“This is the way you do it,” Mrs. Breen retorted bitterly. “By defying my wishes.”

There was nothing more to be said. Penny and Rhoda quickly left the trailer, carrying the suitcase between them.

“I shouldn’t have done it,” the girl murmured contritely. “I don’t know how I’ll ever manage to make a living. Ted likely will side against me, too.”

“Don’t think of anything tonight,” Penny advised, although she too was worried. “We’ll find something for you. Dad may have an opening on the Star.”

Mrs. Weems long ago had ceased to be surprised by anything that Penny did, and so, when the two girls arrived at the Parker home, she did not ask many questions. Rhoda was comfortably established in the guest room and made to feel that she was welcome. However, ultimately learning what had occurred, the housekeeper was not at all certain that Penny had done right by helping the girl to leave home. Nor was Mr. Parker encouraging about the prospects of finding employment.

“Can she type or take shorthand?” he asked bluntly.

“I don’t think so,” Penny admitted.

“The Star can’t be made a catch-all for your unemployed friends,” Mr. Parker resumed severely. “My advice is to send her back to the Breens.”

“I can’t do that, Dad. You don’t understand.”

“Well, let it ride for a few days,” her father replied, frowning. “I’ll see what I can do.”

Penny tried to keep Rhoda from realizing that her presence in the household had created a problem. In the morning the girls went to school together, returned for lunch, and then attended the afternoon session. Rhoda became increasingly gloomy.

“Penny, this can’t go on indefinitely,” she protested. “I’ll have to get a job somehow.”

“Let me worry about that.”

“Ted hasn’t come to see me either,” Rhoda went on nervously. “I—I’m beginning to think I should go back and sign that paper.”

“Don’t even consider it,” Penny said firmly. “You need diversion to keep your mind off the problem. Let’s hike out to the Marborough place!”

Carrying their books, the girls set off for Rose Acres. Several windows on the lower floor of the house had been opened to admit fresh air and the blinds no longer were drawn. For the first time since Mrs. Marborough’s return, the old mansion actually had a “lived in” appearance. However, although Penny knocked many times, the widow did not come to the door.

“She can’t be here,” Rhoda remarked at last.

“The windows are open,” Penny said thoughtfully. “I doubt that Mrs. Marborough would go very far away without closing them.”

The girls wandered to the wishing well, and then made a complete tour of the grounds. Mrs. Marborough was nowhere in the yard.

“Shall we go?” Rhoda asked.

“I’ll knock on the door just once more,” Penny said. “I can’t help feeling that she is here.”

Circling the house to the side entrance, the girls again rapped and waited.

“Listen!” commanded Penny suddenly.

“I don’t hear anything,” declared Rhoda, startled by the manner in which her companion had given the command.

“I thought someone called or groaned—the sound came from inside the house.”

“You must have imagined it.”

“Maybe I did,” Penny acknowledged, “but I don’t think so.”

Testing the door, she found it unlocked. As it swung back a tiny crack, she called loudly: “Oh, Mrs. Marborough, are you at home?”

Distinctly, both girls heard an answering cry, but the words were unintelligible. The sound had come from the direction of the kitchen.

“Mrs. Marborough must be ill!” Penny gasped, for the voice had been very weak.

Hesitating no longer, she entered the house, and with Rhoda trailing close behind, ran to the kitchen. Mrs. Marborough, still garbed in night clothing, lay on the daybed, her face ashen. The woman breathed with the greatest of difficulty, and both girls knew at once that she was seriously ill.

“My heart—” Mrs. Marborough whispered. “An attack—last night.”

“Rhoda, run as fast as you can and get Doctor Hamilton,” Penny said tersely. “I’ll stay here.”

As soon as her friend had gone, she busied herself trying to make Mrs. Marborough comfortable. She rearranged the disordered blankets, and fanned air toward the woman, making it easier for her to breathe.

“My pearls,” Mrs. Marborough whispered after a moment. “They’re gone.”

Penny thought little of the remark, deciding that the widow was not entirely rational.

“Oh, you have the necklace,” she said soothingly. “Don’t you remember? We found it yesterday.”

“Gone—” Mrs. Marborough repeated. “It gave me such a shock—I had hidden the pearls in the teapot. This morning—”

Penny bent closer, suddenly realizing that the old lady was in possession of her faculties and was trying to disclose something of great importance.

“I went there this morning,” Mrs. Marborough completed with difficulty. “The pearls were gone. They’ve been stolen. Now I have nothing.”