re from the woman named Hilda
Frank and were postmarked, Belgrade Lakes, Maine.

"That is a summer resort place," Penny commented as she opened the
first letter. "If Herman's sister had plenty of money she may have
been staying there."

Susan crowded close beside her chum so that they might read the
communications together. The letter from Hilda Frank disclosed several
facts of interest. The woman, evidently a housekeeper for Herman's
sister, had written to say that her mistress had passed away following
a sudden illness. She wished Herman to come at once to take charge of
funeral arrangements and to look after Jenny's young son, Walter.

"Jenny thought that no one would take care of him as well as you," the
housekeeper wrote, "and the money she left will be more than enough to
keep him. It is her wish as expressed in her will that if anything
should ever happen to the boy, you are to be the sole heir--otherwise
the money is to be kept in trust.

"This will signed by my mistress on the day before her death is now in
my possession. I await your arrival before filing it with the court."

The two additional letters from Hilda Frank had been written weeks
later, and inquired after the welfare of the boy, Walter, indicating
that Herman Crocker after going east to attend his sister's funeral had
brought the lad home with him.

"But we're quite certain Herman never arrived here with Walter," Penny
commented thoughtfully. "The only boy who has ever been seen at the
Crocker place is the old man's grandson."

"What do you think happened?" Susan asked.

"Obviously, from all we have learned, Herman must have decided that he
wanted all the money for himself. He then had the boy conveniently
disappear."

"How could he hope to get away with anything as crude as that?"

"I don't know, but his plan seemed to work for many years. I suppose
there weren't many persons who ever suspected that Jenny had a child."

"Mrs. Frank did."

"Yes, but Herman probably quieted her with some simple story. Anyway,
she lived in Maine and that's a long way from here."

"It's inconceivable that he could get by with such high-handed robbery!
Stealing from a child!"

"It is disgusting," Penny agreed. "We don't know what became of
Walter, but probably he was brought up by some strange person in
complete ignorance of his heritage."

"Then how did he learn his true name and that he had a right to the
fortune? How did he know about