[“I’ve been robbed!” Mrs. Lear proclaimed wildly.] “I’ve been robbed!”
CHAPTER
12
PREMONITIONS
Penny leaped out of bed and touched a match to the wick of an oil lamp. In its flickering yellow glow Mrs. Lear looked as pale as a ghost.
“While we were at the barn dance someone broke into the house,” the old lady explained in an agitated voice. “The deed’s gone! Now I’ll be put off my land like the others. Oh, lawseeme, I wisht I was dead!”
“What deed do you mean?” Penny asked, perplexed.
“Why, the deed to this house and my land! I’ve always kept it under the mattress o’ my bed. Now it’s gone!”
“Isn’t the deed recorded?”
“No, it ain’t. I always calculated on havin’ it done, but I wanted to save the fee long as I could. Figured to have the property put in my son’s name jes’ before I up and died. He’s married and livin’ in Omaha. Now see what a mess I’m in.”
“If the deed is lost and not recorded, you are in difficulties,” Penny agreed.
“Perhaps it isn’t lost,” said Louise, encouragingly. “Did you search everywhere, Mrs. Lear?”