“But where is the furniture?” demanded Louise in bewilderment.
Penny’s light cut squares across the room, but the only objects revealed were a chair and a table drawn close to the fireplace.
“What can this mean?” Louise gasped. “The house always has been furnished. Now everything is gone.”
Penny did not answer. The sound of shuffling feet on the front porch caused both girls to freeze against the wall. Before they could retreat to the basement stairs, the living room door opened. Light from a street lamp cut a path across the bare floor.
Mrs. Marborough stood framed in the doorway. The girls had made no sound, yet the mistress of Rose Acres seemed to sense that she was not alone.
“Who is it?” she called sharply. “Speak up! Who is hiding here?”
CHAPTER
17
THE MARBOROUGH PEARLS
In frightened voices Penny and Louise acknowledged their presence in the dark room. Greatly relieved that the intruders were girls, Mrs. Marborough struck a match and lighted three half-burned candles which were set in a huge glass candelabra.
“Oh, so it’s you!” she exclaimed as the flickering light fell upon their faces. “May I ask why you have broken into my house?”
“We’re thoroughly ashamed of ourselves, Mrs. Marborough,” Penny said apologetically.