"I don't know what became of him," Penny admitted. "He should be somewhere around."
"Is he good looking?"
"You would ask that," teased Penny. "No, Michael isn't handsome, but he's nice."
"You said in your letter that you thought he might be a crook——"
"Well, he acted mysteriously at first," Penny said defensively. "But after you get to know him, he seems like anyone else, only he's very reserved."
"Perhaps Mr. Crocker will turn out that way."
"I don't think so," Penny smiled. "He's really an eccentric character. Do you mind walking down Knob Hill?"
"Not at all. I need a little exercise."
The distance between the cottage and Mr. Crocker's house was only a quarter of a mile. Penny intended to use as a pretext for calling upon the old man that she wished to buy more eggs. However, as the girls drew near the mansion they saw Mr. Crocker's car coming down the lane.
"There goes Herman now!" Penny exclaimed. "And Perry is with him."