"Here, wait," called the old man. "I'm willing to do anything that's
reasonable. Come up to the house and I'll give you some clean linen."

Penny walked with Mr. Crocker up the lane, trying not to show that she
felt uneasy. The old man caught her staring at his shotgun.

"I was hunting squirrels early this morning," he explained.

"Isn't this out of season?" Penny asked before she stopped to think.

Herman Crocker glanced at her with an expression which she was unable
to fathom.

"Seasons make no difference to me," he answered shortly. "I go hunting
when I please."

They walked on in silence. When they were near the house Penny said
casually:

"Oh, by the way, my father and I met your nephew last night."

"My nephew?"

"Why, yes, Walter Crocker. He told us he was on his way to visit you."

Penny saw the old man glance quickly toward her. She could tell that
her words had disturbed him.

"Oh, I couldn't think who you meant at first," he muttered. "Yes,
Walter was here last night. But he's gone back to the city."

Penny allowed the subject to drop, yet she wondered if Herman Crocker
were telling the truth. Had the younger man really visited his uncle
for the purpose of claiming an inheritance? He had seemed very bitter
toward the old fellow. From her observation of Walter Crocker she did
not believe that he was a person who would be easily discouraged in his
ambitious designs.

Penny had learned from past experience that if one wished to avoid
trouble it did not pay to ask too many questions. More than once an
inquiring turn of mind had involved her in strange adventures. Not so
many months before this same trait of curiosity had drawn her into a
detective case which had baffled the Belton City police. Her clever
work, which resulted in the capture of a daring group of auto thieves,
is recounted in the first volume of this series, "Penny Nichols Finds a
Clue."

Even more recently, Penny had solved a mystery which concerned a queer
sculptured figure called The Black Imp. By exposing an unscrupulous
dealer in paintings who sought to betray his patrons, she saved many
persons from being swindled and at the same time gained honor for
herself.

At the moment, Penny was not eager to involve herself in trouble. She
determined to say no more about Walter Crocker unless the old man
reopened the subject.

"I'll get the things for you," said Herman Crocker as they reached the
kitchen door. "Ju