Penny thrust the abstract into his hand. "Here, read it for yourself, Dad. Bowman seems to be the present owner of the land."
Mr. Parker rapidly scanned the document.
"The land is held by a Benjamin Bowman," he admitted, frowning. "A strange coincidence."
"I never heard of a Bowman family living near Riverview," Penny remarked, reaching for a telephone book. "Did you?"
"No, but Bowman is a fairly common name."
Turning to the "B" section Penny went through the telephone list.
"There's only one Bowman here," she said, penciling a circle around the name. "A Mrs. Maud Bowman."
"The name Maud Bowman doesn't appear on the abstract," Mr. Parker declared, as he studied the document once more. "There's something funny about this."
"Mr. Blake seemed rather eager to dispose of the land, didn't he?"
"His price was a bit low, which surprised me," Mr. Parker said, thinking aloud. "Probably everything can be explained satisfactorily."
"Then why not ask Mr. Blake to do it?" Penny proposed. "He should be able to tell you something about his client."
"That's really a first-class idea," Mr. Parker agreed and he reached for a telephone. "I'll ask Mr. Blake to come here at once."
CHAPTER 17 _FALSE RECORDS_
Mr. Blake, suave, completely at ease, sat opposite Mr. Parker and Penny in the editor's private office.
"I came as soon as I could after receiving your telephone message, Mr.
Parker," he said pleasantly. "Now what seems to be the trouble?"
"Perhaps I shouldn't have bothered you," the editor apologized. "However, in glancing over the abstract for the Orphans' Camp property I noticed that the land is owned by a man named Benjamin Bowman."
"Quite true. I am acting as his agent."
"It happens that I have had dealings with a man by that same name,"
resumed Mr. Parker. "Rather unpleasant dealings, I might add. I'm curious to learn if this property owner is the same fellow."
"Very unlikely, I think," Mr. Blake shrugged. "My client does not reside in Riverview."
"Nor does the man I have in mind."
"Can you tell us what he looks like?" Penny interposed eagerly.
"I am very sorry, but I can't," Mr. Blake returned. "I've never met Mr.
Bowman."
"Yet you act as his agent?" Mr. Parker inquired in astonishment.
"All our dealings have been by mail or telephone."
"I see," the editor commented reflectively. "Well, at least you can provide me with the man's address."
"I can't do that either," Mr. Blake declined. "Benjamin Bowman is a salesman with no permanent address. He communicates with me at fairly regular intervals, but until I hear from him, I have no idea where he will be the following week."
"Your description seems to fit the man of my acquaintance," Mr. Parker said dryly. "But tell me, how do you expect to complete this deal? Will Bowman come here to sign the necessary papers?"
"Oh, that won't be required. He's already made out the sales documents, and also given me a power of attorney."
"Mr. Bowman seems to think of everything," Mr. Parker remarked grimly. "I was hoping for the pleasure of meeting him."
"I really don't see what all this has to do with the sale of the property," Mr. Blake reproved in a mild voice. "You feel that the site is a suitable one, and the price right?"
"I have no serious objections to it."
"Then why allow your personal feelings to interfere with the deal?"
"I have no intention of doing so," Mr. Parker answered.
"Then if you'll give your approval, we'll sign the final papers tomorrow at my office. The dedication of the new camp has been set for the tenth of the month, and that means no time can be lost."
"Everything seems to have been settled without my approval," Mr. Parker said, smiling. "However, if you don't mind, I'll keep this abstract a little longer."
"As you like," the real estate man shrugged. "Have your lawyer go over the records with a fine tooth comb. He'll find no flaws anywhere."
Arising, Mr. Blake bowed politely and left the office. Penny waited until she knew that he was a considerable distance from the door before seeking her father's opinion of the interview.
"Everything may be on the level," he conceded, frowning. "I've no reason to distrust Blake, and yet I can't help feeling that there's something peculiar about this land deal."
"Blake has been rushing things through at such a furious rate," Penny nodded. "Another thing, Ben Bowman is a well-known forger."
"What makes you think that?" the editor asked alertly. "Any real information?"
Penny revealed everything she had learned that day at Claymore. Mr.
Parker listened attentively, making few comments until she had finished.
"I am more than ever convinced there is something phoney about Bowman's connection with this affair," he declared grimly. "We'll see what my lawyer has to say."
Having made up his mind that the transaction merited a thorough investigation, Mr. Parker personally carried the questionable abstract to a reliable law firm, Adams and McPherson. The report came back late in the afternoon, and was relayed to Penny at the dinner table.
"Mr. Adams says that the abstract seems to be drawn up correctly," the editor disclosed. "He could find no flaw in it or in any of the records at the court house."
"Then apparently we jumped too hasty to conclusions," Penny remarked in disappointment.
"I'm not so sure. Mr. Adams tells me that the ownership of the property is a very muddled affair."