“It’s Rhoda’s turn now,” Penny said, offering the dipper to her.
The older girl stepped to the edge of the well, her face very serious.
“Do you think wishes really do come true?” she asked thoughtfully.
“Oh, it’s only for the fun of it,” Louise responded. “But they do say that in the old days, this well had remarkable powers. At least many persons came here to make wishes which they claimed came true. I couldn’t believe in it myself.”
Rhoda stood for a moment gazing down into the well. Drinking from the dipper, she allowed a few drops to spatter into the deep cavern below.
“I wish—” she said in a low, tense voice—“I wish that some day Pop and Mrs. Breen will be repaid for looking after my brother and me. I wish that they may have more money for food and clothes and a few really nice things.”
An awkward, embarrassing silence descended upon the group of girls. Everyone knew that Rhoda and her younger brother, Ted, lived at a trailer camp with a family unrelated to them, but not even Penny had troubled to learn additional details. From Rhoda’s wish it was apparent to all that the Breens were in dire poverty.
“It’s your turn now, Louise,” Penny said quickly.
Louise accepted the dipper. Without drinking, she tossed all the water into the well, saying gaily:
“I wish Penny would grow long ears and a tail! It would serve her right for solving so many mystery cases!”