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diff --git a/34591-h/34591-h.htm b/34591-h/34591-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..40bcfd9 --- /dev/null +++ b/34591-h/34591-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,5849 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<title>Clue of the Silken Ladder, by Mildred A. Wirt</title> +<style type="text/css"> + body { margin-left:1.5em; margin-right:1.5em; } + h1, h2, h3, h4, .center { text-align:center; clear:right; } + h2 { margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2.5em; line-height:1.7em; } + h3 { font-style:italic; } + table { clear:right; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + p, blockquote, li { text-align:justify; max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + div.bq { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } + .bq p { margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em; } + div.box { border-style:double; margin-bottom:2em; max-width:20em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-top:2em; } + div.subbox { border-style:double; margin:.2em; } + div.img { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:center; margin-top:1em; } + .large { font-size:120%; } + .small { font-size:90%; } + .smaller { font-size:80%; } + .sc { font-variant:small-caps; } + .gsw { margin-left:3em; } + .tb { margin-top:2em; } + .fndef p { font-size:100%; margin-left:0em; text-indent:0em; } + div.fndef { margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em; text-align:justify; font-size:80%; margin-top:1em; } + a sup { font-size:60%; } + span.pb, div.pb, dt.pb, p.pb /* PAGE BREAKS */ + { text-align: right; float:right; margin-right:-1em; } + div.pb { display:inline; } + .pb { text-align:right; float:right; margin-left: 1.5em; + margin-top:.5em; margin-bottom:.5em; display:inline; + font-size:80%; font-style:normal; font-weight:bold; } + div.index .pb { display:block; } + dt.xx { text-align:justify; margin-left:2em; text-indent: -2em; } + dd { text-align:justify; margin-left:3em; text-indent: -2em; } +dl.toc { clear:both; } + /* CONTENTS (.TOC) */ + .toc dt.center { text-align:center; clear:both; margin-top:3em; margin-bottom:1em; } + .toc dt { text-align:right; clear:left; + margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:20em; } + .toc dt.smaller { max-width:25em; } + .toc dd { text-align:right; clear:both; margin-left:2em; } + .toc dd.t { text-align:right; clear:both; margin-left:4em; text-indent:0em; } + .toc dt a, .toc dd a { text-align:left; clear:right; float:left; } + .toc dt.sc { text-align:right; clear:both; } + .toc dt.scl { text-align:left; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; } + .toc dt.sct { text-align:right; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; margin-left:1em; } + .toc dt.jl { text-align:left; clear:both; font-variant:normal; } + .toc dt.scc { text-align:center; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; } + .toc dt span.lj { text-align:left; display:block; float:left; } + .toc dt a { font-variant:small-caps; } + .poem { margin-bottom:1em; margin-top:1em; } + p.t0 { margin-bottom:0em; margin-top:0em; margin-left:2em; } +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Clue of the Silken Ladder, by Mildred A. Wirt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Clue of the Silken Ladder + +Author: Mildred A. Wirt + +Release Date: December 7, 2010 [EBook #34591] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CLUE OF THE SILKEN LADDER *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Brenda Lewis and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div id="cover" class="img"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Clue of the Silken Ladder" width="363" height="500" /> +</div> +<div class="box"> +<h1>Clue of +<br />the Silken +<br />Ladder</h1> +<p class="center"><i>By</i> +<br />MILDRED A. WIRT</p> +<p class="center"><i>Author of</i> +<br /><span class="small">MILDRED A. WIRT MYSTERY STORIES +<br />TRAILER STORIES FOR GIRLS</span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="small"><i>Illustrated</i></span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="small">CUPPLES AND LEON COMPANY +<br /><i>Publishers</i> +<br />NEW YORK</span></p> +</div> +<div class="box"> +<div class="subbox"> +<p class="center"><span class="large"><b>PENNY PARKER</b></span> +<br />MYSTERY STORIES</p> +<p class="center"><span class="small"><i>Large 12 mo. <span class="gsw">Cloth</span> <span class="gsw">Illustrated</span></i></span></p> +</div> +<p class="center">TALE OF THE WITCH DOLL +<br />THE VANISHING HOUSEBOAT +<br />DANGER AT THE DRAWBRIDGE +<br />BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR +<br />CLUE OF THE SILKEN LADDER +<br />THE SECRET PACT +<br />THE CLOCK STRIKES THIRTEEN +<br />THE WISHING WELL +<br />SABOTEURS ON THE RIVER +<br />GHOST BEYOND THE GATE +<br />HOOFBEATS ON THE TURNPIKE +<br />VOICE FROM THE CAVE +<br />GUILT OF THE BRASS THIEVES +<br />SIGNAL IN THE DARK +<br />WHISPERING WALLS +<br />SWAMP ISLAND +<br />THE CRY AT MIDNIGHT</p> +<div class="subbox"> +<p class="center"><span class="smaller">COPYRIGHT, 1941, BY CUPPLES AND LEON CO.</span></p> +<p class="center">Clue of the Silken Ladder</p> +<p class="center"><span class="smaller">PRINTED IN U. S. A.</span></p> +</div></div> +<div id="front" class="img"> +<img src="images/front.png" alt="“It’s a ladder, Lou! A ladder made of silk!”" width="400" height="615" /> +<p class="center"><span class="small">“It’s a ladder, Lou! A ladder made of silk!” +<br />“<i>Clue of the Silken Ladder</i>” <span class="gsw">(<a href="#Page_11">See Page 11</a>)</span></span></p> +</div> +<h2><i>CONTENTS</i></h2> +<dl class="toc"> +<dt class="smaller"><span class="lj">CHAPTER</span> PAGE</dt> +<dt><a href="#c1">1 DOUBLE TROUBLE</a> <i>1</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c2">2 A ROPE OF SILK</a> <i>12</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c3">3 SOCIETY ROUTINE</a> <i>23</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c4">4 A TURN OF FORTUNE</a> <i>32</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c5">5 THE MAN IN GRAY</a> <i>42</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c6">6 AN APARTMENT BURGLARY</a> <i>49</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c7">7 MARK OF THE IRON HOOK</a> <i>59</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c8">8 PSYCHIC SIGNS</a> <i>67</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c9">9 MRS. WEEMS’ INHERITANCE</a> <i>75</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c10">10 OUIJA BOARD WISDOM</a> <i>85</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c11">11 THE CELESTIAL TEMPLE</a> <i>94</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c12">12 A MESSAGE FOR MRS. WEEMS</a> <i>102</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c13">13 COUSIN DAVID’S GHOST</a> <i>111</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c14">14 WET PAINT</a> <i>118</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c15">15 HIDDEN MONEY</a> <i>125</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c16">16 OVER THE WINDOW LEDGE</a> <i>135</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c17">17 KANO’S CURIO SHOP</a> <i>142</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c18">18 THE BELL TOWER</a> <i>151</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c19">19 PENNY INVESTIGATES</a> <i>157</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c20">20 INSIDE THE CABINET</a> <i>163</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c21">21 STARTLING INFORMATION</a> <i>168</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c22">22 SCALING THE WALL</a> <i>174</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c23">23 A PRISONER IN THE BELFRY</a> <i>181</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c24">24 THE WOODEN BOX</a> <i>188</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c25">25 EXTRA!</a> <i>200</i></dt> +</dl> +<div class="pb" id="Page_1">[1]</div> +<h2 id="c1"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">1</span> +<br /><i>DOUBLE TROUBLE</i></h2> +<p>“Now I ask you, Lou, what have I done to deserve +such a fate?”</p> +<p>Jerking a yellow card from beneath the windshield +of the shiny new maroon-colored sedan, Penny Parker +turned flashing blue eyes upon her companion, Louise +Sidell.</p> +<p>“Well, Penny,” responded her chum dryly, “in +Riverview persons who park their cars beside fire +hydrants usually expect to get parking tickets.”</p> +<p>“But we were only inside the drugstore five minutes. +Wouldn’t you think a policeman could find something +else to do?”</p> +<p>“Oh, the ticket won’t cost you more than five or +ten dollars,” teased Louise wickedly. “Your father +should pay it.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_2">[2]</div> +<p>“He should but he won’t,” Penny answered gloomily. +“Dad expects his one and only daughter to assume +her own car expense. I ask you, what’s the good of +having a weekly allowance when you never get to use +it yourself?”</p> +<p>“You <i>are</i> in a mood today. Why, I think you’re +lucky to have a grand new car.”</p> +<p>Louise’s glance caressed the highly polished chrome +plate, the sleek, streamlined body which shone in the +sunlight. The automobile had been presented to Penny +by her father, Anthony Parker, largely in gratitude +because she had saved his newspaper, <i>The Riverview +Star</i>, from a disastrous law suit.</p> +<p>“Yes, I am lucky,” Penny agreed without enthusiasm. +“All the same, I’m lonesome for my old coupe, +Leaping Lena. I wish I could have kept her. She was +traded in on this model.”</p> +<p>“What would you do with that old wreck now, +Penny? Nearly every time we went around a corner +it broke down.”</p> +<p>“All the same, we had marvelous times with her. +This car takes twice as much gasoline. Another thing, +all the policemen knew Lena. They never gave her a +ticket for anything.”</p> +<p>Penny sighed deeply. Pocketing the yellow card, +she squeezed behind the steering wheel.</p> +<p>“By the way, whatever became of Lena?” Louise +asked curiously, slamming the car door. She glanced +sharply at Penny.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_3">[3]</div> +<p>“Oh, she’s changed hands twice. Now she’s at Jake +Harriman’s lot, advertised for fifty dollars. Want to +drive past there?”</p> +<p>“Not particularly. But I’ll do it for your sake, pet.”</p> +<p>As the car started toward the Harriman Car Lot, +Louise stole an amused glance at her chum. Penny was +not unattractive, even when submerged in gloom. +Upon the slightest provocation, her blue eyes sparkled; +her smile when she chose to turn it on, would melt a +man of stone. She dressed carelessly, brushed a mop of +curly, golden hair only if it suited her fancy, yet somehow +achieved an appearance envied by her friends.</p> +<p>The automobile drew up at the curb.</p> +<p>“There’s Lena.” Penny pointed to an ancient blue +coupe with battered fenders which stood on the +crowded second-hand lot. A <i>For Sale</i> sign on the +windshield informed the public that the auto might be +bought for forty dollars.</p> +<p>“Lena’s value seems to have dropped ten dollars,” +commented Louise. “My, I had forgotten how wrecky +the old thing looks!”</p> +<p>“Don’t speak of her so disrespectfully, Lou. All she +needs is a good waxing and a little paint.”</p> +<p>The girls crossed the lot to inspect the coupe. As +they were gazing at it, Jake, the lot owner, sidled +toward them, beaming ingratiatingly.</p> +<p>“Good afternoon, young ladies. May I interest you +in a car?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_4">[4]</div> +<p>“No, thank you,” replied Penny. “We’re just looking.”</p> +<p>“Now here is a fine car,” went on the dealer, indicating +the coupe. “A 1934 model—good mechanical +condition; nice rubber; a lively battery and fair paint. +You can’t go wrong, ladies, not at a price of forty +dollars.”</p> +<p>“But will it run?” asked Louise, smothering a giggle.</p> +<p>“There’s thousands of miles of good service left in +this little car, ladies. And the price is only fifteen dollars +above the junk value.”</p> +<p>The thought of Leaping Lena coming to an inglorious +end in a junk yard was disconcerting to +Penny. She walked slowly about the car, inspecting it +from every angle.</p> +<p>“Forty dollars is too much for this old wreck,” she +said firmly.</p> +<p>“Why, Penny, such disrespect!” mocked Louise.</p> +<p>Penny frowned down her chum. Sentiment and +business were two different matters.</p> +<p>“What <i>will</i> you give?” inquired the car owner +alertly.</p> +<p>“Not a cent over twenty-five.”</p> +<p>Louise clutched Penny’s arm, trying to pull her +away.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_5">[5]</div> +<p>“Have you lost your mind?” she demanded. “What +could you do with this old car when you already have +a new one?”</p> +<p>Penny did not listen. She kept gazing at the coupe +as one who had been hypnotized.</p> +<p>“I’d take it in a minute, only I don’t have twenty-five +dollars in cash.”</p> +<p>“How much can you raise?” asked the dealer.</p> +<p>“Not more than five dollars, I’m afraid. But my +father is publisher of the <i>Riverview Star</i>.”</p> +<p>Jake Harriman’s brows unknitted as if by magic.</p> +<p>“Anthony Parker’s daughter,” he said, smiling. +“That’s plenty good enough for me. I’ll sell you the +best car on the lot for nothing down. Just come inside +the office and sign a note for the amount. Will +that be okay?”</p> +<p>Disregarding Louise’s whispered protests, Penny +assured the dealer that the arrangement would be perfectly +satisfactory. The note was signed, and five dollars +in cash given to bind the bargain.</p> +<p>“I’ll throw in a few gallons of gas,” the man offered.</p> +<p>However, Jake Harriman’s gasoline did not seem +suited to Leaping Lena’s dyspeptic ignition. She +coughed feebly once or twice and then died for the +day.</p> +<p>“You have acquired a bargain, I must say!” exclaimed +Louise. “You can’t even get the car home.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_6">[6]</div> +<p>“Yes, I can,” Penny insisted. “I’ll tow her. A little +tinkering and she’ll be as good as new.”</p> +<p>“You’re optimistic, to say the least,” laughed Louise.</p> +<p>Penny produced a steel cable from the tool kit of +the maroon sedan, and Jake Harriman coupled the +two cars together.</p> +<p>“Penny, what will your father say when he learns +of this?” Louise inquired dubiously. “On top of a +parking ticket, too!”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’ll meet that problem when I come to it,” +Penny answered carelessly. “Louise, you steer Lena. +I’ll drive the sedan.”</p> +<p>Shaking her head sadly, Louise climbed into the +old car. Although Penny was her dearest friend she +was forced to admit that the girl often did bewildering +things. Penny’s mother was dead and for many years +she had been raised by a housekeeper, Mrs. Maud +Weems. Secretly Louise wondered if it were not the +housekeeper who had been trained. At any rate, Penny +enjoyed unusual freedom for a high school girl, and +her philosophy of life was summed up in one headline: +ACTION.</p> +<p>Penny put the sedan in gear, towing the coupe +slowly down the street. The two vehicles traveled +several blocks before a hill loomed ahead. Penny considered +turning back, and then decided that the cars +could make the steep climb easily.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_7">[7]</div> +<p>However, midway up the hill the sedan suddenly +leaped forward as if released from a heavy burden. +At the same instant Lena’s horn gave a sharp warning +blast.</p> +<p>Glancing into the mirror, Penny was horrified to see +Leaping Lena careening backwards down the steep +slope. The tow rope had unfastened.</p> +<p>Bringing the sedan to the curb, she jerked on the +hand brake, and sprang to the pavement. Louise, bewildered +and frightened, was trying desperately to +control the coupe. The car gathered speed, wobbling +crazily toward the line of traffic.</p> +<p>“Guide it! Guide it!” shouted Penny. “Put on the +brakes!”</p> +<p>So confused was Louise that she lost her head completely. +Straight toward a long black limousine rolled +the coupe. The chauffeur spun his wheel, but too late. +There was a loud crash as the two cars came together.</p> +<p>Penny raced down the hill to help her chum from +the coupe.</p> +<p>“Are you hurt?” she asked anxiously.</p> +<p>Louise shook her head, wailing: “Penny Parker, +just see what has happened now! You never should +have bought this stupid old wreck!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_8">[8]</div> +<p>Both the chauffeur and an elderly gentleman who +carried a cane, alighted from the limousine. With +grim faces they surveyed the fender which had been +crushed.</p> +<p>“The owner is Mr. Kohl,” Louise whispered nervously. +“You know, president of the First National +Bank.”</p> +<p>The banker did not recognize either of the girls. +Addressing them both, he made several pointed remarks +to the effect that irresponsible young people +were very thoughtless to endanger the property of +others with their ancient “jalopies.”</p> +<p>“It was entirely my fault, Mr. Kohl,” acknowledged +Penny meekly. “Of course, I’ll pay for the +fender.”</p> +<p>The banker softened somewhat, gazing at the girls +in a thoughtful, more friendly way.</p> +<p>“Haven’t I seen you somewhere before?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, Mr. Kohl.” Penny was quick to press for +an advantage. “Why, I am one of your best customers. +Ever since I was six years old I’ve trusted your bank +with my savings!”</p> +<p>“I remember you now,” said Mr. Kohl, smiling. +“You’re the Parker girl.”</p> +<p>Adding a mental note that Anthony Parker actually +was one of the bank’s largest depositors, he decided +it would be excellent policy to make light of the accident. +A moment later as a policeman came to investigate, +he insisted that the incident had been unavoidable +and that it would be a mistake to arrest the +girls.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_9">[9]</div> +<p>“Mr. Kohl, you were noble, absolutely noble,” declared +Penny gratefully after the policeman had gone. +“The least I can do is to pay for the damage.”</p> +<p>“I’ll stop at Sherman’s Garage and have a new +fender put on,” the banker responded. “The bill can +be sent to your father.”</p> +<p>After Mr. Kohl had driven away, Louise helped +Penny hook the coupe to the sedan once more. She +remarked cuttingly:</p> +<p>“You’ve done right well today. One parking ticket, +a bill for twenty-five dollars, and another one coming +up. Just what <i>will</i> your father say?”</p> +<p>“Plenty,” sighed Penny. “I wonder if it might not +be a good idea to break the news by easy stages? Perhaps +he’ll take it more calmly if I telephone.”</p> +<p>“Don’t be too sure.”</p> +<p>The street was a narrow, dingy one with few business +houses. Noticing a Japanese store which bore a +sign, “Kano’s Curio Shop,” she started toward it, intending +to seek a public telephone.</p> +<p>Louise seized her arm. “Penny, you’re not going in +there!”</p> +<p>“Why not?”</p> +<p>“This is Dorr Street—one of the worst places in +Riverview.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_10">[10]</div> +<p>“Oh, don’t be silly,” chuckled Penny. “It’s perfectly +safe by daylight. I’ll go alone if you’re afraid.”</p> +<p>Thus challenged, Louise indignantly denied that +she was afraid, and accompanied her chum.</p> +<p>The door of Mr. Kano’s shop stood invitingly open. +Pausing on the threshold, the girls caught a pleasant +aroma of sandalwood.</p> +<p>So quietly did Louise and Penny enter that the +elderly, white-haired shop owner did not immediately +see them. He sat behind a high counter, engrossed in +something he was sewing.</p> +<p>“Good afternoon,” said Penny pleasantly.</p> +<p>The Japanese glanced up quickly and as quickly +thrust his work beneath the counter. Recovering +poise, he bowed to the girls.</p> +<p>“May we use your telephone if you have one?” +Penny requested.</p> +<p>“So very sorry, Miss,” the Japanese responded, +bowing again. “Have no telephone.”</p> +<p>Penny nodded, absently fingering a tray of tiny +ivory figures. The Japanese watched her, and mistaking +curiosity for buying interest, brought additional +pieces for her to inspect. The curios were all +too expensive for Penny’s purse, but after endless debate +she bought a pair of wooden clogs. The shop +owner padded away into a back room, intending to +wrap the package for her.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_11">[11]</div> +<p>Scarcely had he vanished when Penny turned excitedly +to her chum.</p> +<p>“Lou, did you notice how funny he acted when we +came in here?”</p> +<p>“Yes, he didn’t want us to see what he was making +evidently.”</p> +<p>“Exactly what I thought! But we’ll fool Mr. Kano!”</p> +<p>Giving Louise no opportunity to protest, Penny +boldly peered behind the counter.</p> +<p>“Here it is,” she whispered. “But <i>what</i> is it?”</p> +<p>Hidden in a pasteboard box lay coil upon coil of +what appeared to be fine, black silk rope. Curiously, +she lifted it up, exposing a network of crossbars.</p> +<p>“Well, of all things!” she exclaimed. <a href="#front">“It’s a ladder, +Lou! A ladder made of silk!”</a></p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_12">[12]</div> +<h2 id="c2"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">2</span> +<br /><i>A ROPE OF SILK</i></h2> +<p>Even as Penny spoke, she felt a hard, warning tug +on her skirt. Quickly she turned around.</p> +<p>In the doorway stood the old Japanese. His smile +was not pleasant to behold.</p> +<p>“We-we were just looking at this rope,” Penny +stammered, trying to carry off the situation with +dignity. “I hope you don’t mind.”</p> +<p>The Japanese shopkeeper gazed steadily at the girl, +his face an emotionless mask. Since he spoke no word, +it became increasingly evident that he regarded her +with anger and suspicion.</p> +<p>“May I ask what use is made of this silk rope?” +Penny inquired. “Do you sell it for a special purpose?”</p> +<p>The Japanese coldly ignored the direct questions.</p> +<p>“So very sorry to have kept you waiting,” he said +softly. “Your change please.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_13">[13]</div> +<p>Penny knew that she deserved the rebuke. Accepting +the package and coins, she and Louise hastily left +the shop. Not until they were some distance away did +the latter speak.</p> +<p>“Penny, you would do a trick like that! One of +these days your curiosity will get us into serious +trouble.”</p> +<p>“At least I learned what was hidden behind the +counter,” chuckled Penny. “But that Jap didn’t seem +very eager to answer my questions.”</p> +<p>“Can you blame him? It certainly was none of our +affair what he kept inside the box.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps not, Lou, but you must admit he acted +strangely when we first entered the shop. You know—as +if we had surprised him in a questionable act.”</p> +<p>“He naturally was startled. We came in so quietly.”</p> +<p>“All the same, I’m not one bit sorry I looked behind +the counter,” Penny maintained. “I like to learn +about things.”</p> +<p>“I agree with you there!”</p> +<p>“Lou, what purpose do you suppose silk ladders +serve? Who uses them and why?”</p> +<p>“Now, how should I know? Penny, you ask enough +questions to be master of ceremonies on a radio quiz +program.”</p> +<p>“I can’t recall ever having seen a silk ladder before,” +Penny resumed, undisturbed by her chum’s quip. +“Would acrobats use them, do you think?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_14">[14]</div> +<p>“Not to my knowledge,” Louise answered. “If I +were in your shoes I should worry about more serious +matters than those connected with a mere silk ladder.”</p> +<p>“The world is filled with serious things,” sighed +Penny. “But mystery! One doesn’t run into it every +day.”</p> +<p>“You do,” said Louise brutally. “If a stranger +twitches his ears twice you immediately suspect him +of villainy.”</p> +<p>“Nevertheless, being of a suspicious nature won me +a new car,” Penny defended herself. “Don’t forget +Dad gave it to me for solving a mystery, for telling his +newspaper readers what was going on <i>Behind the +Green Door</i>.”</p> +<p>“Oh, your curiosity has paid dividends,” Louise admitted +with a laugh. “Take for instance the time you +trailed the <i>Vanishing Houseboat</i>, and again when you +lowered the Kippenberg drawbridge to capture a +boatload of crooks! Those were the days!”</p> +<p>“Why dwell in the past, Lou? Now take this affair +of the silk ladder—”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid <i>you’ll</i> have to take it,” Louise interrupted. +“Do you realize it’s nearly four o’clock? In +exactly ten minutes I am supposed to be at the auditorium +for orchestra practice.”</p> +<p>“Lou, you can’t desert me now,” Penny protested +quickly. “How will I get Lena home? I need you to +steer her.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_15">[15]</div> +<p>“Thanks, but I don’t trust your tow rope.”</p> +<p>“At least go as far as the <i>Star</i> office with me. Once +there, maybe I can get one of the reporters to help +me the rest of the way.”</p> +<p>“Oh, all right,” Louise consented. “But the <i>Star</i> +office is my absolute limit.”</p> +<p>Deciding not to take time to telephone her father, +Penny once more climbed into the maroon sedan, +posting Louise behind the wheel of the coupe. At a +cautious speed the two cars proceeded along the +street, coming presently to a large corner building +which housed the <i>Riverview Star</i>. No parking space +being available on the street, Penny pulled into the +newspaper plant’s loading dock.</p> +<p>“Say, you!” shouted a man who was tossing stacks +of freshly inked papers into a truck. “You can’t park +that caravan in here!”</p> +<p>Penny’s eyes danced mischievously.</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s quite all right,” she said. “I guess you don’t +know who I am.”</p> +<p>“Sure, I do,” the trucker grinned. “But your dad +gave orders that the next time you tried to pull that +daughter-of-the-publisher stuff we were to bounce +you! This dock is for <i>Star</i> trucks.”</p> +<p>“Why, the very idea,” said Penny, with pretended +injury. “The night edition doesn’t roll for an hour +and I’ll be away from here before then! Besides, this +is a great emergency! When Dad hears about all the +trouble I’m in, a little matter such as this won’t even +ruffle him.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_16">[16]</div> +<p>“Okay, chase along,” the trucker returned good-naturedly. +“But see to it that you’re out of here within +an hour.”</p> +<p>Penny bade Louise good-bye, and with plaid skirt +swinging jauntily, crossed the cement runway to the +rear elevator entrance. Without waiting for the cage +to descend, she took the steps two at a time, arriving +at the editorial floor gasping for breath.</p> +<p>“What’s your rush?” inquired an amused voice. +“Going to a fire?”</p> +<p>Jerry Livingston, ace reporter for the <i>Star</i>, leaned +indolently against the grillwork of the elevator shaft, +his finger pressed on the signal button. He and Penny +were friends of long standing.</p> +<p>“Oh, hello, Jerry!” Penny greeted him breathlessly. +“Guess what? I’ve just come from Dorr Street—Kano’s +Curio Shop—and I had the most amazing adventure!”</p> +<p>“I can imagine,” grinned Jerry. “If you breezed +through the place the way you do this building, you +must have left it in ruins.”</p> +<p>“Just for that, I won’t tell you a thing, not a thing,” +retorted Penny. “What sort of a mood is Dad in today?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_17">[17]</div> +<p>“Well, I heard him tell DeWitt that unless the news +output improves on this sheet, he aims to fire half +the force.”</p> +<p>“Sounds like Dad on one of his bad days,” Penny +sighed. “Maybe I should skip home without seeing +him.”</p> +<p>“Trouble with the old allowance again?” Jerry +asked sympathetically.</p> +<p>“You don’t know the half of it. I’m submerged so +deeply in debt that I’ll be an old lady before I get out, +unless Dad comes to my rescue.”</p> +<p>“Well, good luck,” chuckled Jerry. “You’ll need +it!”</p> +<p>Walking through the newsroom, between aisles of +desks where busy reporters tapped on their typewriters, +Penny paused before a door marked: <i>Anthony +Parker, Editor</i>.</p> +<p>Listening a moment and hearing no voices within, +she knocked and entered. Her father, a lean, dignified +man with tired lines about his eyes and mouth, sat +working at his desk. He smiled as he saw his daughter, +and waved her toward a chair.</p> +<p>Instead, Penny perched herself on a corner of the +desk.</p> +<p>“Dad, I have a splendid surprise for you,” she began +brightly. “I’ve just accomplished a wonderful +stroke of business!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_18">[18]</div> +<p>“Never mind beating about the bush,” interrupted +Mr. Parker. “Shoot me the facts straight. What have +you done this time?”</p> +<p>“Dad, your tone! I’ve bought back my old car, +Leaping Lena. And it only cost me a trifling sum.”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker’s chair squeaked as he whirled around.</p> +<p>“You’ve done <i>what</i>?”</p> +<p>“It’s a long story, Dad. Now don’t think that I fail +to appreciate the grand new car you gave me last +winter. I love it. But between Lena and me there exists +a deep bond of affection. Today when I saw her on +Jake Harriman’s lot looking so weather-beaten and unhappy—why, +a little voice inside me whispered: +‘Penny, why don’t you buy her back?’ So I did.”</p> +<p>“Never mind the sentimental touches. When I gave +you the new car I thought we were well rid of Lena. +How much did you pay for it?”</p> +<p>“Oh, Lena was a marvelous bargain. Five dollars +cash and a note for twenty more. The man said you +could pay for it at your convenience.”</p> +<p>“Very considerate of him,” Mr. Parker remarked +ironically. “Now that we have three cars, and a double +garage, where do you propose to keep Lena?”</p> +<p>“Oh, anywhere. In the back yard.”</p> +<p>“Not on the lawn, young lady. And what do you +plan to do with two cars?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_19">[19]</div> +<p>“The maroon one for style, and Lena when I want +a good time. Why, Dad, she bears the autographs of +nearly all my school friends! I should keep her as a +souvenir, if for no other reason.”</p> +<p>“Penny, it’s high time you learned a few lessons in +finance.” Mr. Parker spoke sternly although his mouth +twitched slightly. “I regret that I cannot assume your +debts.”</p> +<p>“But Dad! I’m a minor—under legal age. Isn’t it a +law that a father has to support his child?”</p> +<p>“A child, but not two cars. If you decide to take +the case to court, I think any reasonable judge will +understand my viewpoint. I repeat, the debt is yours, +not mine.”</p> +<p>“How will I pay?” asked Penny gloomily. “I’ve already +borrowed on my allowance for a month ahead.”</p> +<p>“I know,” said her father. “However, with your ingenuity +I am sure you can manage.”</p> +<p>Penny drew a deep breath. Argument, she realized, +would be utterly useless. While her father might be +mildly amused by her predicament, he never would +change his decision.</p> +<p>“Since you won’t pay for Lena, I suppose it’s useless +to mention Mr. Kohl’s fender,” she said despairingly.</p> +<p>“Does he have one?”</p> +<p>“Please don’t try to be funny, Dad. This is tragic. +While I was towing Lena, the rope broke and smash +went the fender of Mr. Kohl’s slinky black limousine.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_20">[20]</div> +<p>“Interesting.”</p> +<p>“I had to promise to pay for it to keep from being +arrested. Oh, yes, and before that I acquired this little +thing.”</p> +<p>Penny tossed the yellow card across the desk.</p> +<p>“A parking ticket! Penny, how many times—” Mr. +Parker checked himself, finishing in a calm voice: +“This, too, is your debt. It may cost you five dollars.”</p> +<p>“Dad, you know I can’t pay. Think how your reputation +will be tarnished if I am sent to jail.”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker smiled and reached as if to take money +from his pocket. Reconsidering, he shook his head.</p> +<p>“I know the warden well,” he said. “I’ll arrange for +you to be assigned to one of the better cells.”</p> +<p>“Is there nothing which will move you to generosity?” +pleaded Penny.</p> +<p>“Nothing.”</p> +<p>Retrieving the parking ticket, Penny jammed it into +her pocket. Before she could leave there came a rap +on the door. In response to Mr. Parker’s “Come in,” +Mr. DeWitt, the city editor, entered.</p> +<p>“Sorry to bother you, Chief.”</p> +<p>“What’s wrong now, DeWitt?” the publisher inquired.</p> +<p>“Miss Hilderman was taken sick a few minutes ago. +We had to send her home in a cab.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_21">[21]</div> +<p>“It’s nothing serious I hope,” said Mr. Parker with +concern.</p> +<p>“A mild heart attack. She’ll be out a week, if not +longer.”</p> +<p>“I see. Be sure to have the treasurer give her full +pay. You have someone to take her place?”</p> +<p>“That’s the problem,” moaned DeWitt. “Her assistant +is on vacation. I don’t know where we can get +a trained society editor on short notice.”</p> +<p>“Well, do the best you can.”</p> +<p>DeWitt lingered, fingering a paper weight.</p> +<p>“The society page for the Sunday paper is only half +finished,” he explained. “Deadline’s in less than an +hour. Not a chance we can pick up anyone in time to +meet it.”</p> +<p>Penny spoke unexpectedly. “Mr. DeWitt, perhaps I +can help you. I’m a whiz when it comes to writing +society. Remember the Kippenberg wedding I covered?”</p> +<p>“Do I?” DeWitt’s face relaxed into a broad grin. +“That was a real write-up. Say, maybe you could take +over Miss Hilderman’s job until we can replace her.”</p> +<p>“Service is my motto.” Penny eyed her father questioningly. +“It might save the <i>Star</i> from going to press +minus a society page. How about it, Dad?”</p> +<p>“It certainly would solve our problem,” contributed +DeWitt. “Of course the undertaking might be too great +a one for your daughter.” He winked at Penny.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_22">[22]</div> +<p>“She’ll have no difficulty in taking over,” said Mr. +Parker stiffly. “None whatsoever.”</p> +<p>“Then I’ll start her in at once,” DeWitt replied. +“Come with me, Miss Parker.”</p> +<p>At the door Penny paused and discreetly allowed +the city editor to get beyond hearing. Then, turning +to her father she remarked innocently:</p> +<p>“Oh, by the way, we overlooked one trifling detail. +The salary!”</p> +<p>The editor made a grimace. “I might have expected +this. Very well, I’ll pay you the same as I do Miss +Hilderman. Twenty-five a week.”</p> +<p>“Why, that would just take care of my debt to Jake +Harriman,” protested Penny. “I simply can’t do high +pressure work without high pay. Shall we make it +fifty a week?”</p> +<p>“So you’re holding me up?”</p> +<p>“Certainly not,” chuckled Penny. “Merely using +my ingenuity. Am I hired?”</p> +<p>“Yes, you win,” answered Mr. Parker grimly. “But +see to it that you turn out good work. Otherwise, you +soon may find yourself on the <i>Star’s</i> inactive list.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_23">[23]</div> +<h2 id="c3"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">3</span> +<br /><i>SOCIETY ROUTINE</i></h2> +<p>Penny followed City Editor DeWitt to a +small, glass-enclosed office along the left hand wall of +the newsroom. Miss Hilderman’s desk was cluttered +with sheets of copy paper which bore scribbled notations, +items telephoned to the <i>Star</i> but not yet type-written.</p> +<p>“There should be a date book around here somewhere,” +DeWitt remarked.</p> +<p>Finally he found it in one of the desk drawers. +Penny drew a deep breath as she scanned the long list +of social events which must be covered for the Sunday +page.</p> +<p>“Do the best you can,” DeWitt said encouragingly. +“Work fast, but be careful of names.”</p> +<p>The telephone bell rang. As Penny reached for the +receiver, DeWitt retreated to his own domain.</p> +<p>“Hello, Miss Hilderman?” a feminine voice cooed, +“I wish to report a meeting, please.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_24">[24]</div> +<p>“Miss Hilderman isn’t here this afternoon,” replied +Penny politely. “I will take the item.”</p> +<p>Gathering up paper and pencil, she slid into the revolving +chair behind the telephone, poised for action.</p> +<p>“Yes,” she urged, “I am ready.”</p> +<p>There was a lengthy pause, and then the woman at +the other end of the line recited as if she were reading +from a paper:</p> +<p>“‘A meeting of the Mystical Society of Celestial +Thought, Order of Amar, 67, will be held Tuesday +night at eight o’clock in the Temple, 426 Butternut +Lane. The public is cordially invited.’”</p> +<p>“What sort of society is the Order of Amar?” +Penny inquired curiously, taking notes. “I never heard +of it before.”</p> +<p>“Why, my dear, the society is very well known,” +the woman replied. “We hold our meetings regularly, +communing with the spirits. I do hope that the item +appears in print. So often Miss Hilderman has been +careless about it.”</p> +<p>“I’ll see that the item is printed under club notices,” +Penny promised. “Your name, please?”</p> +<p>The woman had hung up the receiver, so with a +shrug, Penny typed the item and speared it on a wire +spindle. For the next hour she was kept busy with +other telephone calls and the more important stories +which had to be rushed through. Copy flowed steadily +from her office by way of the pneumatic tube to the +composing room.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_25">[25]</div> +<p>Shortly after five o’clock, DeWitt dropped in for a +moment to praise her for her speed and accuracy.</p> +<p>“You’re doing all right,” he said. “So far I’ve only +caught you in one mistake. Mignonette is spelled with +a double t.”</p> +<p>“This job wouldn’t be half bad if only brides could +learn to carry flowers with easy names,” laughed +Penny. “When I get married I’ll have violets and +sweet peas!”</p> +<p>DeWitt reached for the copy on the spindle. +“What’s this?” he asked. “More to go?”</p> +<p>“Club notices.”</p> +<p>The editor tore the sheet from the wire, reading it +as he walked toward the door. Abruptly, he paused +and turned toward her.</p> +<p>“Miss Parker, this can’t go through.”</p> +<p>“Why, what is wrong?” Penny asked in surprise. +“Have I made another error in spelling?”</p> +<p>DeWitt tore off the lead item and tossed it on her +desk.</p> +<p>“It’s this meeting of the so-called Mystical Society +of Celestial Thought. The <i>Star</i> never runs stuff like +that, not even as a paid advertisement.”</p> +<p>“I thought it was a regular lodge meeting, Mr. DeWitt.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_26">[26]</div> +<p>“Nothing of the sort. Merely a free advertisement +for a group of mediums and charlatans.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I didn’t know,” murmured Penny.</p> +<p>“These meetings have only one purpose,” Mr. DeWitt +resumed. “To lure victims who later may be +fleeced of their money.”</p> +<p>“But if that is so, why don’t police close up the +place?” Penny demanded. “Why doesn’t the <i>Star</i> run +an exposé story?”</p> +<p>“Because evidence isn’t easy to get. The meetings +usually are well within the law. Whenever a police +detective or a reporter attends, the services are decorous. +But they provide the mediums with a list of +suckers.”</p> +<p>Penny would have asked DeWitt for additional information +had not the city editor walked hurriedly +away. Scrambling the item into a ball, she tossed it +into the waste paper basket. Then upon second +thought she retrieved it and carefully smoothed the +paper.</p> +<p>“Perhaps, I’ll drop around at the Temple sometime +just to see what it is like,” she decided, placing +the item in her pocket. “It would be interesting to +learn what is going on there.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_27">[27]</div> +<p>For the next half hour Penny had no time to think +of the Celestial Temple. However, at twenty minutes +before six, when her father came into the office, she +was well ahead of her work.</p> +<p>“Hello, Penny,” he greeted her. “How do you like +your new job?”</p> +<p>“Fine and dandy. Only routine items rather cramp +one’s style. Now if I were a regular reporter instead of +a society editor, I know several stories which would +be my dish!”</p> +<p>“For instance?” inquired Mr. Parker, smiling.</p> +<p>“First, there’s an Oriental Shop on Dorr Street that +I should investigate. The Japanese owner acted very +mysteriously today when I went there. Louise and I +saw him making a silk ladder, and he refused to reveal +its purpose.”</p> +<p>“A silk ladder?” repeated Mr. Parker. “Odd perhaps, +but hardly worthy of a news story.”</p> +<p>“Dad, I only wish you had <i>seen</i> that old Japanese—the +sinister way he looked at me. Oh, he’s guilty of +some crime. I feel it.”</p> +<p>“The <i>Star</i> requires facts, not fancy or emotion,” +Mr. Parker rejoined. “Better devote your talents to +routine society items if you expect to remain on my +payroll.”</p> +<p>Penny took the announcement of the Celestial +Thought meeting from her pocket and offered it to +the publisher.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_28">[28]</div> +<p>“Here’s one which might be interesting,” she said. +“How about assigning me to it after I get this society +job in hand?”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker read the item and his eyes blazed with +anger.</p> +<p>“Do you know what this means, Penny?”</p> +<p>“Mr. DeWitt told me a little about the Celestial +Temple society. He said the paper never ran such +items.”</p> +<p>“Certainly not! Why, I should like nothing better +than to see the entire outfit driven out of town! Riverview +is honeycombed with mediums, fortune tellers +and faith healers!”</p> +<p>“Perhaps they mean no harm, Dad.”</p> +<p>“I’ll grant there may be a small number of persons +who honestly try to communicate with the spirit +world,” Mr. Parker replied. “My concern is not with +them, but with a group of professional mediums who +lately have invaded the city. Charlatans, crooks—the +entire lot!”</p> +<p>“Why don’t you write an editorial about it?” Penny +suggested.</p> +<p>“An editorial! I am seriously tempted to start a +vigorous campaign, but the trouble is, the police cannot +be depended upon to cooperate actively.”</p> +<p>“Why, Dad?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_29">[29]</div> +<p>“Because experience has proven that such campaigns +are not often successful. Evidence is hard to gain. If +one place is closed up, others open in different sections +of the city. The mediums and seers operate from +dozens of private homes. When the police stage raids +they acquire no evidence, and only succeed in making +the department look ridiculous.”</p> +<p>“Yet the mediums continue to fleece the public?”</p> +<p>“The more gullible strata of it. Until recent months +the situation here has been no worse than in other +cities of comparable size. Lately an increasing number +of charlatans has moved in on us.”</p> +<p>“Why don’t you start a campaign, Dad?” Penny +urged. “You would be doing the public a worthwhile +service.”</p> +<p>“Well, I hesitate to start something which I may be +unable to finish.”</p> +<p>“At least the public deserves to be warned.”</p> +<p>“Unfortunately, Penny, many persons would take +the attitude that the <i>Star</i> was persecuting sincere +spiritualists. A campaign must be based on absolute +evidence.”</p> +<p>“Can’t it be obtained?”</p> +<p>“Not without great difficulty. These mediums are +a clever lot, Penny. They prey upon the superstitions +of their intended victims.”</p> +<p>“I wish you would let me work on the story, Dad.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_30">[30]</div> +<p>“No, Penny,” responded her father. “You attend to +your society and allow DeWitt to worry about the +Celestial Temple crowd. Even if I should launch a +campaign, I couldn’t allow you to become mixed up in +the affair.”</p> +<p>The telephone bell jingled. With a tired sigh, Penny +reached for the receiver.</p> +<p>“Society desk,” she said mechanically.</p> +<p>“I am trying to trace Mr. Parker,” informed the +office exchange operator. “Is he with you, Miss +Parker?”</p> +<p>“Telephone, Dad,” said Penny, offering him the receiver.</p> +<p>Mr. Parker waited a moment for another connection +to be made. Then Penny heard him say:</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s you, Mrs. Weems? What’s that? Repeat +it, please.”</p> +<p>From her father’s tone, Penny felt certain that +something had gone wrong at home. She arose, waiting +anxiously.</p> +<p>Mr. Parker clicked the receiver several times. “Apparently, +Mrs. Weems hung up,” he commented.</p> +<p>“Is anything the matter, Dad?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” Mr. Parker admitted, his face +troubled. “Mrs. Weems seemed very excited. She requested +me to come home as soon as possible. Then +the connection was broken.”</p> +<p>“Why don’t you try to reach her again?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_31">[31]</div> +<p>Mr. Parker placed an out-going call, but after ten +minutes the operator reported that she was unable to +contact the housekeeper.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Weems never would have telephoned if +something unusual hadn’t happened,” Penny declared +uneasily. “Perhaps, she’s injured herself.”</p> +<p>“You think of such unpleasant things.”</p> +<p>“Something dreadful must have happened,” Penny +insisted. “Otherwise, why doesn’t she answer?”</p> +<p>“We’re only wasting time in idle speculation,” Mr. +Parker said crisply. “Get your things, Penny. We’ll +start home at once!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_32">[32]</div> +<h2 id="c4"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">4</span> +<br /><i>A TURN OF FORTUNE</i></h2> +<p>Penny immediately locked her desk and +gathered up hat and gloves. She was hard pressed to +keep pace with her father as they hastened to the +elevator.</p> +<p>“By the way, you have your car downstairs?” the +publisher inquired absently. He seldom drove his own +automobile to the office.</p> +<p>“What a memory you have, Dad!” chuckled Penny. +“Yes, I have all two of them! Parked in the loading +dock for convenience.”</p> +<p>“Penny, haven’t I told you a dozen times—” Mr. +Parker began, only to check himself. “Well, it will +save us time now. However, we may discuss a few +matters when we get home.”</p> +<p>The elevator shot them down to the first floor. +Leaping Lena and the maroon sedan remained in the +loading dock with a string of <i>Star</i> paper trucks blocking +a portion of the street.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_33">[33]</div> +<p>“Hey, sister,” a trucker called angrily to Penny. +“It’s time you’re getting these cars out of here.” He +broke off as he recognized Mr. Parker and faded behind +one of the trucks.</p> +<p>“Dad, do you mind steering Lena?” Penny asked +demurely. “We can’t leave her here. You can see for +yourself that she seems to be blocking traffic.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I see,” Mr. Parker responded grimly.</p> +<p>“Of course, if you would feel more dignified driving +the sedan—“</p> +<p>“Let me have the keys,” the publisher interrupted. +“The important thing is to get home without delay.”</p> +<p>Penny became sober, and slid into her place at the +wheel of Leaping Lena. Amid the smiles of the truckers, +Mr. Parker drove the two cars out of the dock.</p> +<p>Once underway, the caravan made reckless progress +through rush-hour traffic. More than once Penny +whispered a prayer as Lena swayed around a corner, +missing other cars by scant inches.</p> +<p>Presently the two automobiles drew up before a +pleasant, tree-shaded home built upon a high terrace +overlooking a winding river. Penny and her father +alighted, walking hurriedly toward the front porch.</p> +<p>The door stood open and from within came the reassuring +howl of a radio turned too high.</p> +<p>“Nothing so very serious can have happened,” remarked +Penny. “Otherwise, Mrs. Weems wouldn’t +have that thing going full blast.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_34">[34]</div> +<p>At the sound of footsteps, the housekeeper herself +came into the living room from the kitchen. Her +plump face was unusually animated.</p> +<p>“I hope you didn’t mind because I telephoned the +office, Mr. Parker,” she began apologetically. “I was +so excited, I just did it before I stopped to think.”</p> +<p>“Penny and I were nearly ready to start home in +any case, Mrs. Weems. Has anything gone wrong +here?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no, Mr. Parker. It was the telegram.”</p> +<p>“Telegram? One for me, you mean?”</p> +<p>“No, my own.” The housekeeper drew a yellow +paper from the pocket of her apron, offering it to the +publisher. “My Cousin David died out in Montana,” +she explained. “The funeral was last Saturday.”</p> +<p>“That’s too bad,” remarked Penny sympathetically. +And then she added: “Only you don’t look particularly +sad, Mrs. Weems. How much did he leave you?”</p> +<p>“Penny! You say such shocking things! I never met +Cousin David but once in my life. He was a kind, good +man and I only wish I had written to him more often. +I never dreamed he would remember me in his will.”</p> +<p>“Then he did leave you money!” exclaimed Penny +triumphantly. “How much does the telegram say, +Dad?”</p> +<p>“You may as well tell her, Mr. Parker,” sighed the +housekeeper. “She’ll give me no peace until she learns +every detail.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_35">[35]</div> +<p>“This message which is from a Montana lawyer +mentions six thousand dollars,” returned the publisher. +“Apparently, the money is to be turned over without +legal delay.”</p> +<p>“Why, Mrs. Weems, you’re an heiress!” cried +Penny admiringly.</p> +<p>“I can’t believe it’s true,” murmured Mrs. Weems. +“You don’t think there’s any mistake, Mr. Parker? It +would be too cruel if someone had sent the message as +a joke.”</p> +<p>Before returning the telegram to the housekeeper, +Mr. Parker switched off the radio.</p> +<p>“This message appears to be authentic,” he declared. +“My congratulations upon your good fortune.”</p> +<p>“What will you do with all your money?” inquired +Penny.</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t know.” The housekeeper sank into a +chair, her eyes fastening dreamily on a far wall. “I’ve +always wanted to travel.”</p> +<p>Penny and her father exchanged a quick, alarmed +glance. Mrs. Weems had been in charge of the household +for so many years that they could not imagine +living without her, should she decide to leave. During +her brief, infrequent vacations, the house always degenerated +into a disgrace of dust and misplaced furniture, +and meals were never served at regular hours.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_36">[36]</div> +<p>“The oceans are very unsafe, Mrs. Weems,” discouraged +Penny. “Wars and submarines and things. +Surely you wouldn’t dare travel now.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I mean in the United States,” replied the +housekeeper. “I’ve always wanted to go out West. +They say the Grand Canyon is so pretty it takes your +breath away.”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Weems, you have worked for us long and +faithfully and deserve a rest,” said Mr. Parker, trying +to speak heartily. “Now if you would enjoy a trip, +Penny and I will get along somehow for two or three +weeks.”</p> +<p>“Oh, if I go, I’ll stay the entire summer.” The +housekeeper hesitated, then added: “I’ve enjoyed +working here, Mr. Parker, but doing the same thing +year after year gets tiresome. Often I’ve said to myself +that if I had a little money I would retire and take +life easy for the rest of my days.”</p> +<p>“Why, Mrs. Weems, you’re only forty-eight!” protested +Penny. “You would be unhappy if you didn’t +have any work to do.”</p> +<p>“At least, I wouldn’t mind trying it.”</p> +<p>“Such a change as you contemplate should be considered +carefully,” contributed Mr. Parker. “While +six thousand seems a large sum it would not last long +if one had no other income.”</p> +<p>Before Mrs. Weems could reply, a strong odor of +burning food permeated the room.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_37">[37]</div> +<p>“The roast!” exclaimed the housekeeper. “I forgot +it!”</p> +<p>Penny rushed ahead of her to the kitchen. As she +jerked open the oven door, out poured a great cloud +of smoke. Seizing a holder, she rescued the meat, and +seeing at a glance that it was burned to a crisp, carried +the pan outdoors.</p> +<p>“What will the neighbors say?” Mrs. Weems +moaned. “I never did a thing like that before. It’s just +that I am so excited I can’t think what I am doing.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you mind,” laughed Penny. “I’ll get dinner +tonight. You entertain Dad.”</p> +<p>With difficulty she persuaded the housekeeper to +abandon the kitchen. Left to herself, she opened a +can of cold meat, a can of corn, a can of peaches, and +with a salad already prepared, speedily announced the +meal.</p> +<p>“Mr. Parker, I truly am ashamed—” Mrs. Weems +began.</p> +<p>“Now don’t apologize for my cooking,” broke in +Penny. “Quantity before quality is my motto. Anyway, +if you are leaving, Dad will have to accustom +himself to it.”</p> +<p>“I’ll hide the can opener,” said Mr. Parker.</p> +<p>“That’s a good idea, Dad.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_38">[38]</div> +<p>“Before I go, I’ll try to teach Penny a little more +about cooking,” Mrs. Weems said uncomfortably. +“Of course, you’ll have no difficulty in getting someone +efficient to take my place.”</p> +<p>“No one can take your place,” declared Penny. “If +you leave, Dad and I will go to wrack and ruin.”</p> +<p>“You are a pair when you’re left to yourselves,” +Mrs. Weems sighed. “That’s the one thing which +makes me hesitate. Penny needs someone to keep her +in check.”</p> +<p>“An inexperienced person would be putty in my +hands,” declared Penny. “You may as well decide to +stay, Mrs. Weems.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know what to do. I’ve planned on this trip +for years. Now that it is possible, I feel I can’t give it +up.”</p> +<p>Penny and Mr. Parker regarded each other across +the table, and immediately changed the subject. Not +until that moment had they actually believed that the +housekeeper was serious about leaving Riverview. +Somehow they had never contemplated a future without +Mrs. Weems.</p> +<p>“I happen to have two complimentary tickets to +a show at the Rialto,” Mr. Parker said offhand. “I’ll +be tied up with a meeting tonight, but you folks might +enjoy going.”</p> +<p>“Shall we, Mrs. Weems?” inquired Penny.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_39">[39]</div> +<p>“Thank you,” responded the housekeeper, “but I +doubt if I could sit still tonight. I thought I would run +over to see Mrs. Hodges after dinner. She’ll be pleased +to learn about my inheritance, I know.”</p> +<p>“A friend of yours?” asked Mr. Parker.</p> +<p>“Yes, Penny and I have been acquainted with her +for years. She lives on Christopher Street.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps this is none of my affair, Mrs. Weems. +However, my advice to you is not to tell many persons +about your inheritance.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Mrs. Hodges is to be trusted.”</p> +<p>“I am sure of it, Mrs. Weems. I refer to strangers.”</p> +<p>“I’ll be careful,” the housekeeper promised. “No +one ever will get that money away from me once I +have it!”</p> +<p>Penny helped with the dishes, and then as her father +was leaving the house, asked him if she might have the +two theatre tickets.</p> +<p>“Since Mrs. Weems doesn’t care to go, I’ll invite +Louise,” she explained.</p> +<p>Mr. Parker gave her the tickets. Making certain that +the housekeeper was upstairs, he spoke in a low tone.</p> +<p>“Penny, Mrs. Weems is serious about leaving us. +You must try to dissuade her.”</p> +<p>“What can I do, Dad?”</p> +<p>“Well, you usually have a few ideas in the old filing +cabinet. Can’t you think of something?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_40">[40]</div> +<p>“I’ll do my best,” Penny said with a twinkle. “We +can’t let an inheritance take Mrs. Weems from us, +that’s certain.”</p> +<p>After her father had gone, Penny telephoned +Louise, agreeing to meet her chum at the entrance of +the Rialto. Arriving a few minutes early, she idly +watched various cars unloading their passengers at the +theatre.</p> +<p>Presently a long black limousine which Penny +recognized drew up at the curb. The chauffeur opened +the door. Mr. Kohl and his wife stepped to the pavement. +Observing the girl, they paused to chat with her.</p> +<p>“I see you have the new fender installed on your +car, Mr. Kohl,” Penny remarked with a grin. “May I +ask how much I owe the garageman?”</p> +<p>“The sum was trifling,” responded the banker. +“Twelve dollars and forty cents to be exact. I may +as well take care of it myself.”</p> +<p>“No, I insist,” said Penny, wincing inwardly. “You +see, I am one of the <i>Star’s</i> highly paid executives now. +I write society in Miss Hilderman’s absence and Dad +gives me a salary.”</p> +<p>“Oh, really,” remarked Mrs. Kohl with interest. +“We are giving a dinner for eight tomorrow night. +You might like to mention it.”</p> +<p>“Indeed, yes,” said Penny eagerly.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_41">[41]</div> +<p>Obtaining complete details, she jotted notes on the +back of an envelope. Mrs. Kohl, at Penny’s request, +was able to recall several important parties which had +been held that week, providing material for nearly +a half-column of society.</p> +<p>After the Kohls had entered the theatre, Penny +turned to glance at the black limousine which was +pulling away from the curb. A short distance away +stood a young man who likewise appeared to be +watching the car. He wore a gray suit and a gray felt +hat pulled unnaturally low over his eyes as if to shield +his face.</p> +<p>As Penny watched, the young man jotted something +down on a piece of paper. His gaze remained fixed +upon the Kohl limousine which was moving slowly +down the street toward a parking lot.</p> +<p>“Why, that’s odd!” thought Penny. “I do believe +he noted down the car license number! And perhaps +for no good purpose.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_42">[42]</div> +<h2 id="c5"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">5</span> +<br /><i>THE MAN IN GRAY</i></h2> +<p>Deciding that the matter should be brought to +Mr. Kohl’s attention, Penny looked quickly into the +crowded theatre lobby. The banker and his wife no +longer were to be seen.</p> +<p>Turning once more, the girl saw that the young +man in gray had also disappeared.</p> +<p>“Now where did he go?” thought Penny. “He must +have slipped into the alley. I wish I knew who he was +and why he wrote down that car license number.”</p> +<p>Curious to learn what had become of the man, she +walked to the entrance of the alley. At its far end she +could barely distinguish a shadowy figure which soon +merged into the black of the starless night.</p> +<p>Penny was lost in thought when someone touched +her arm. Whirling, she found herself facing Louise +Sidell.</p> +<p>“Oh, hello, Lou,” she laughed. “You startled me.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_43">[43]</div> +<p>“Sorry to have kept you waiting,” apologized +Louise. “I missed my bus. May I ask what you find +of such interest in this alley?”</p> +<p>“I was looking for a man. He’s disappeared now.”</p> +<p>Penny told Louise what she had observed, mentioning +that in her opinion the man might be a car +thief.</p> +<p>“I’ve heard that crooks spot cars ahead of time and +then steal them,” she declared. “I think I should have +Mr. Kohl paged in the theatre, and tell him about it.”</p> +<p>“You’ll make yourself appear ridiculous if you do,” +Louise discouraged her. “The man may not have taken +down the license number at all. Even if he did, his +purpose could have been a legitimate one.”</p> +<p>“Then why did he slip down the alley?”</p> +<p>“It’s merely a short-cut to another street, isn’t it? +Penny, your imagination simply works at high speed +twenty-four hours of the day.”</p> +<p>“Oh, all right,” said Penny with a shrug. “But if +Mr. Kohl’s car is stolen, don’t blame me.”</p> +<p>“It won’t be,” laughed Louise, linking arms with +her chum. “Not with a chauffeur at the wheel.”</p> +<p>Entering the theatre, the girls were escorted to their +seats only a few minutes before the lights were lowered. +Penny glanced over the audience but failed to see +either Mr. Kohl or his wife. The curtain went up, and +as the entertainment began, she dismissed all else from +her mind.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_44">[44]</div> +<p>The show ended shortly before eleven and the girls +mingled with the crowd which filed from the theatre. +Penny watched for Mr. and Mrs. Kohl but did not see +them. As she walked with Louise toward the bus stop +she spoke of her new duties as society editor of the +<i>Star</i>.</p> +<p>“Lou,” she asked abruptly, “do you mind going +home alone?”</p> +<p>“Why, no. Where are you taking yourself?”</p> +<p>“To the <i>Star</i> office, if you don’t mind.”</p> +<p>“At this time of night?”</p> +<p>“I have a few notes I should type. Unfinished work +always makes me nervous.”</p> +<p>“You, nervous!” Louise scoffed. “I’ll bet you want +to see Jerry Livingston!”</p> +<p>“No such thing,” denied Penny indignantly. “Jerry +doesn’t work on the night force unless he’s assigned to +extra duty.”</p> +<p>“Well, you have something besides work on your +mind.”</p> +<p>“Come along with me, Suspicious, and I’ll prove it.”</p> +<p>“No, thanks,” declined Louise. “It’s home and bed +for me. You run along.”</p> +<p>The girls separated, Penny walking three blocks to +the <i>Star</i> building. The advertising office was dark, +but blue-white lights glowed weirdly from the composing +room. Only a skeleton night staff occupied the +newsroom.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_45">[45]</div> +<p>Without attracting attention, Penny entered her +own office. For an hour she worked steadily, writing +copy, and experimenting with various types of +make-up to be used on Monday’s page.</p> +<p>The door creaked. Glancing up, Penny momentarily +was startled to see a large, grotesque shadow of +a man moving across the glass panel. However, before +she actually could be afraid, Jerry Livingston stepped +into the room.</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s you!” she laughed in relief. “I thought it +was against your principles to work overtime.”</p> +<p>The reporter slumped into a chair, and picking up +a sheet of copy paper, began to read what Penny had +composed.</p> +<p>“I’m not working,” he replied absently. “Just killing +time.” With a yawn he tossed the paper on the desk +again.</p> +<p>“Is my stuff that bad?” inquired Penny.</p> +<p>“Not bad at all. Better than Miss Hilderman writes. +But society always gives me a pain. Not worthy of +your talents, Penny.”</p> +<p>“I wish you would tell Dad that, Jerry. I’d love to +work on a big story again—one that would rock +Riverview on its foundation!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_46">[46]</div> +<p>“I could bear up under a little excitement myself, +Penny. Ever since you broke the Green Door yarn, +this sheet has been as dead as an Egyptian tomb.”</p> +<p>“Things may pick up soon.”</p> +<p>“Meaning—?”</p> +<p>“Dad is thinking rather seriously of launching a +drive against an organized group of mediums.”</p> +<p>“So I hear,” nodded Jerry. “You know, for a long +while I’ve thought that a clever reporter might be +able to dig up some evidence at the Celestial Temple.”</p> +<p>“Then you know about the place?”</p> +<p>“I’ve been there several times.”</p> +<p>“What are the meetings like, Jerry?” Penny asked +eagerly.</p> +<p>“Similar to a church musical service. At least everything +was dignified when I was there. But I sure had +a feeling that the lid was about to blow off.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps you were suspected of being a <i>Star</i> reporter, +Jerry.”</p> +<p>“Oh, undoubtedly. I could tell that by the way folks +stared at me. The only person who would have a +chance to get real evidence would be someone unknown +as a reporter.”</p> +<p>“I wish Dad would let me try it.”</p> +<p>“I don’t,” said Jerry flatly. “The Celestial Temple +is no place for a little girl like you.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_47">[47]</div> +<p>Penny did not reply as she lowered her typewriter +into the cavity of the desk. She was thinking, however, +that if Louise could be persuaded to accompany her, +she would investigate the Celestial Temple at the first +opportunity.</p> +<p>“I’ll take you home,” Jerry offered as Penny +reached for her hat.</p> +<p>The night was a warm, mellow one in early June, +marred only by dark clouds which scudded overhead, +threatening rain. Deciding to walk, Penny and Jerry +crossed the park to Oakdale Drive where many of +Riverview’s most expensive homes had been built.</p> +<p>“Doesn’t Mr. Kohl live on this street?” Penny presently +asked her escort.</p> +<p>“Yes,” he answered, “in a large stone apartment +building. I’ll point it out when we get there.”</p> +<p>They walked for a time in silence. Then Penny +found herself telling about the afternoon meeting with +Mr. Kohl which had led her to Kano’s Curio Shop. +She spoke, too, of the silken ladder which had so +aroused her speculation. Jerry listened with polite interest.</p> +<p>“You and Louise shouldn’t have chased around +Dorr Street alone,” he said severely. “It’s a bad district.”</p> +<p>“Oh, it was safe enough, Jerry. I’d like to go back +there. I can’t help being curious about that strange +ladder which the old Japanese man was sewing.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_48">[48]</div> +<p>“I doubt if there’s a story connected with it. The +Japanese make any number of curious articles of silk, +you know.”</p> +<p>“But a ladder, Jerry! What purpose could it serve?”</p> +<p>“For one thing it would be more convenient to +carry than the ordinary type.”</p> +<p>“One couldn’t stand it against a wall or use it in the +ordinary way, Jerry. I asked the Japanese about it +but he refused to answer.”</p> +<p>“He may not have understood you.”</p> +<p>“Oh, he understood, all right. Do you know what I +think? He was afraid I might discover something +which would involve him with the police!”</p> +<p>“Better forget the Kano Curio Shop,” Jerry said +tolerantly. “I repeat, Dorr Street is no place for you.”</p> +<p>“And I’m supposed to forget the Celestial Temple, +too,” grumbled Penny. “Oh, I see you grinned behind +your hand! Well, Mr. Livingston, let me tell you—“</p> +<p>She paused, and Jerry’s hand tightened on her own. +Unmistakably, both had heard a muffled scream. The +cry seemed to have come from one of several large +brick and stone buildings only a short distance ahead.</p> +<p>“What was that?” Penny asked in a low tone. +“Someone calling for help?”</p> +<p>“It sure sounded like it!” exclaimed Jerry. “Come +on, Penny! Let’s find out what’s going on here!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_49">[49]</div> +<h2 id="c6"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">6</span> +<br /><i>AN APARTMENT BURGLARY</i></h2> +<p>Together Penny and Jerry ran down the +street, their eyes raised to the unevenly lighted windows +of the separate apartment houses. They were +uncertain as to the building from which the cry had +come.</p> +<p>Suddenly the front door of the corner dwelling +swung open, and a young woman in a maid’s uniform +ran toward them.</p> +<p>Jerry, ever alert for a story of interest to the <i>Star</i>, +neatly blocked the sidewalk. Of necessity the girl +halted.</p> +<p>“Get a policeman, quick!” she gasped. “Mr. Kohl’s +apartment has been robbed!”</p> +<p>“Mr. Kohl—the banker?” demanded Penny, +scarcely believing her ears.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_50">[50]</div> +<p>“Yes, yes,” the maid said in agitation. “Jewels, silverware, +everything has been taken! The telephone +wire was cut, too! Oh, tell me where I’ll find a policeman!”</p> +<p>“I’ll get one for you,” offered Jerry.</p> +<p>The information that it was Mr. Kohl’s house which +had been burglarized dumbfounded Penny. As the reporter +darted away to summon help, she showered +questions upon the distraught maid.</p> +<p>“I don’t know yet how much has been taken,” the +girl told her excitedly. “The rooms look as if a cyclone +had swept through them! Oh, what will the Kohls say +when they learn about it?”</p> +<p>“Mr. and Mrs. Kohl aren’t home yet?”</p> +<p>“No, they went to the theatre. They must have +stopped at a restaurant afterwards. When they hear +of this, I’ll lose my job.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps not,” said Penny kindly. “Surely you +weren’t to blame for the burglary.”</p> +<p>“They’ll think so,” the maid responded gloomily.</p> +<p>“I am acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Kohl. Perhaps, +if I speak a good word for you it may help.”</p> +<p>“I doubt it,” the girl responded. “I was supposed to +have stayed at the apartment the entire evening.”</p> +<p>“And you didn’t?”</p> +<p>“No, I went to a picture show.”</p> +<p>“That does throw a different light on the matter,” +commented Penny.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_51">[51]</div> +<p>“I didn’t think it would make any difference. I intended +to get here ahead of the Kohls.”</p> +<p>“The robbery occurred while you were away?”</p> +<p>“Yes. As soon as I opened the door I knew what had +happened! Oh, I’ll lose my job all right unless I can +think up a good story.”</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t lie if I were you,” advised Penny. “The +police are certain to break down your story. In any +case, you owe it to yourself and your employers to +tell the truth.”</p> +<p>A misty rain had started to fall. The maid, who was +without a wrap, shivered, yet made no move to re-enter +the building. Overhead, all along the dark expanse +of apartment wall, lights were being turned on.</p> +<p>“I am afraid your scream aroused nearly everyone +in the building,” said Penny. “If I were in your place +I would return to the Kohl apartment and not answer +many questions until the police arrive.”</p> +<p>“Will you stay with me?”</p> +<p>“Gladly.”</p> +<p>The apartment door had slammed shut and locked +with the night latch. Fortunately the maid had a key +with her so it was not necessary to ring for the janitor. +Ignoring the persons who had gathered in the hall, +they took an automatic lift to the third floor, letting +themselves into the Kohl suite.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_52">[52]</div> +<p>“This is the way I found it,” said the maid.</p> +<p>She switched on a light, revealing a living room entirely +bare of rugs. Where three small Oriental rugs +had been placed, only rectangular rims of dirt remained +to mark their outlines.</p> +<p>Beyond, in the dining room with its massive carved +furniture, the contents of a buffet had been emptied +on the floor. Several pieces of china lay in fragments. +A corner cupboard had been stripped, save for a vase +and an ebony elephant with a broken tusk.</p> +<p>“The wall cabinet was filled with rare antiques,” +disclosed the maid. “Mrs. Kohl has collected Early +American silver for many years. Some of the pieces +she considered priceless.”</p> +<p>The bedrooms were in less disorder. However, bureau +drawers had been overturned, and jewel cases +looted of everything save the most trivial articles.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Kohl’s pearls are gone, and her diamond bracelet,” +the maid informed, picking up the empty jewel +box. “I am pretty sure she didn’t wear them to the +theatre.”</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t touch anything if I were you,” advised +Penny. “Fingerprints.”</p> +<p>The maid dropped the case. “Oh!” she gasped. “I +never thought of that! Do you think the police will +blame me for the robbery?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_53">[53]</div> +<p>“Not if you tell them the truth. It surely will be unwise +to try to hide anything.”</p> +<p>“I won’t hold anything back,” the maid promised. +“It happened just like I said. After Mr. and Mrs. Kohl +left I went to a picture show.”</p> +<p>“Alone?”</p> +<p>“With my girl friend. After the show we had a soda +together, and then she went home.”</p> +<p>“What time did you get here?”</p> +<p>“Only a minute or two before I called for help. I +tried the telephone first.”</p> +<p>“Why didn’t you summon the janitor?”</p> +<p>“I never thought of that. I was so excited I ran outside +hoping to find a policeman.”</p> +<p>Penny nodded and, returning to the living room, +satisfied herself that the telephone wires actually had +been cut.</p> +<p>“You didn’t notice anyone in the halls as you went +downstairs.”</p> +<p>“No one. Old Mr. Veely was on the lower floor +when I came from the show, but he’s lived here for +seven years. I don’t see how the burglar got into the +apartment.”</p> +<p>“I was wondering about that myself. You’re quite +sure you locked the suite door?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_54">[54]</div> +<p>“Oh, yes, I know I did,” the maid said emphatically. +“And it isn’t possible to get into the building without +a key. Otherwise, the janitor must be called.”</p> +<p>Penny walked thoughtfully to the living room window. +The apartment stood fully thirty-five feet from +a neighboring building, with the space between much +too wide to be spanned. Below, the alley was deserted, +and no fire escape ascended from it.</p> +<p>“The burglar couldn’t have entered that way,” declared +the maid. “He must have had his own key.”</p> +<p>Before Penny could respond, a sharp knock sounded +on the door. The servant girl turned to open it. However, +instead of the anticipated police, the apartment +janitor, George Bailey, peered into the disordered +room.</p> +<p>“I heard someone scream a minute or so ago,” he +said. “Some of the tenants thought it came from this +apartment. Maybe they were mistaken.”</p> +<p>“There’s no mistake,” spoke Penny from across the +room. “The Kohls have been robbed. Will you please +come inside and close the door?”</p> +<p>“Robbed! You don’t say!” The janitor stared with +alarmed interest. “When did it happen?”</p> +<p>Penny allowed the maid to tell what had occurred, +adding no information of her own. When there came +a lull in the excited flow of words, she said quietly:</p> +<p>“Mr. Bailey, do you mind answering a few questions?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_55">[55]</div> +<p>“Why should I?” the janitor countered. “I’ll tell +you right now I know nothing about this. I’ve attended +strictly to my duties. It’s not my lookout if +tenants leave their suite doors unlocked.”</p> +<p>“No one is blaming you,” Penny assured him. “I +merely thought you might contribute to a solution of +the burglary.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know a thing about it.”</p> +<p>“You didn’t let anyone into the apartment building +tonight?”</p> +<p>“Not a soul. I locked the service door at six o’clock, +too. Now let me ask this: Who are you, and how did +you get in here?”</p> +<p>“That’s fair enough,” smiled Penny. She told her +name, explained that she was an acquaintance of the +Kohls, and had been summoned by the maid.</p> +<p>“Please don’t think that I am trying to play detective,” +she added. “I ask these questions in the hope of +gaining information for my father’s paper, the <i>Star</i>.”</p> +<p>“Well, it looks to me as if it was an inside job,” the +janitor replied, mollified. “Come to think of it though, +I’ve seen a suspicious-acting fellow hanging around +the building.”</p> +<p>“You mean tonight?”</p> +<p>“No, several days ago. He stayed on the other side +of the street and kept watching the doorway.”</p> +<p>“What did he look like, Mr. Bailey?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_56">[56]</div> +<p>“Oh, I don’t remember. He was just an average +young man in a gray overcoat and hat.”</p> +<p>“Gray?” repeated Penny alertly.</p> +<p>“It may have been light blue. I didn’t pay much attention. +At the time I sized up the fellow as a detective.”</p> +<p>Penny had no opportunity to ask additional questions +for just then voices were heard in the hallway. +As she opened the door, Jerry Livingston, followed by +a policeman, came toward her.</p> +<p>“Learn anything?” the reporter asked softly in her +ear.</p> +<p>“A little,” answered Penny. “Let’s see how much +the officer turns up before I go into my song and +dance.”</p> +<p>Making a routine inspection of the rooms, the police +questioned both the maid and the janitor. From an +elderly lady who occupied the adjoining suite he +gleaned information that the Kohls’ telephone had +rung steadily for fifteen minutes during the early evening +hours.</p> +<p>“What time was that?” interposed Penny.</p> +<p>The policeman gazed at her with sharp disapproval. +“Please,” he requested with exaggerated politeness.</p> +<p>“Sorry,” apologized Penny, fading into the background.</p> +<p>“It rang about eight o’clock,” the old lady revealed.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_57">[57]</div> +<p>“The information is not significant,” said the officer, +glancing again at Penny.</p> +<p>She started to speak, then bit her lip, remaining +silent.</p> +<p>“Well, sister, what’s on your mind?” he demanded +abruptly.</p> +<p>“Excuse me, officer, but I think the information does +have importance. Couldn’t it mean that the crooks, +whoever they were, telephoned the apartment to make +certain it was deserted before breaking in?”</p> +<p>“Possibly,” conceded the policeman. His frown discouraged +her. “Any other theories?”</p> +<p>“No,” said Penny shortly.</p> +<p>The policeman began to herd the tenants into the +hall. For a moment he paid no attention to Penny and +Jerry, who with the maid were permitted to remain.</p> +<p>“Never try to show up a policeman, even if he is a +stuffed shirt,” remarked the reporter softly. “It gets +you nowhere.”</p> +<p>The door closed and the officer faced the pair.</p> +<p>“Now young lady,” he said, quite pleasantly. “What +do you know about this burglary? I’ll be very glad to +listen.”</p> +<p>“I don’t really know a thing,” admitted Penny. “But +here’s a little clue which you may be able to interpret. +I can’t.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_58">[58]</div> +<p>Leading the policeman to the window, she started to +raise the sash. The officer stopped her, performing the +act himself, his hand protected by a handkerchief.</p> +<p>“There is your clue,” said Penny.</p> +<p>She indicated two freshly made gashes on the window +ledge. Separated by possibly a foot of space, they +clearly had been made by a hook or sharp instrument +which had dug deeply into the wood.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_59">[59]</div> +<h2 id="c7"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">7</span> +<br /><i>MARK OF THE IRON HOOK</i></h2> +<p>“What do you think of it?” Penny asked as the +officer studied the marks in silence.</p> +<p>“I’d say they were made by something which +hooked over the ledge,” the policeman replied. “Possibly +a ladder with curving irons.”</p> +<p>Jerry gazed down over the window ledge into the +dark alley.</p> +<p>“No ordinary ladder could reach this high,” he commented. +“Raising an extension would be quite a problem, +too.”</p> +<p>The Kohl maid timidly approached the window, +gazing at the two deep gashes with interest. Asked by +the policeman if she ever had noticed them before, she +shook her head.</p> +<p>“Oh, no, sir. They must have been made tonight. +I know they weren’t there this afternoon when I +dusted the window sills.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_60">[60]</div> +<p>“Incredible as it seems, the thief came through this +window,” decided the policeman. “How he did it is +for the detectives at Central Station to figure out.”</p> +<p>Explaining that the rooms must not be disturbed until +Identification Bureau men had made complete +fingerprint records, the officer locked Penny, Jerry +and the maid outside the suite. He then went to a +nearby apartment to telephone his report.</p> +<p>“Maybe this is an ordinary burglary, but it doesn’t +look that way to me,” remarked Jerry as he and Penny +went down the stairway.</p> +<p>“In any case, the story should be front page copy. +Anything the Kohls do is news in Riverview.”</p> +<p>“How high would you estimate the loss?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I couldn’t guess, Jerry. Thousands of dollars.”</p> +<p>Passing groups of tenants who cluttered the hallway +excitedly discussing the burglary, they evaded questioners +and reached the street.</p> +<p>“Jerry,” said Penny suddenly, “I didn’t mention this +to the policeman because he seemed to resent my +opinions. But it occurred to me that I may have seen +the man who robbed the Kohls—or at least had something +to do with it.”</p> +<p>“How could you have seen him, Penny? We were +together when the Kohl maid yelled for help.”</p> +<p>“Earlier than that. It was while I was at the theatre.”</p> +<p>Half expecting that Jerry would laugh, Penny told +how she had observed the man in gray note down the +license number of the Kohl limousine.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_61">[61]</div> +<p>“It came to me like a flash! That fellow may have +telephoned the Kohl apartment after seeing the car at +the theatre. Making sure no one was at home, he then +looted the place at his leisure.”</p> +<p>“Wait a minute,” interrupted Jerry. “The Motor +Vehicle Department closes at six o’clock. How could +your man have obtained Kohl’s name and address from +the license number?”</p> +<p>“I never thought about the department being +closed,” confessed Penny. “How you do love to shoot +shrapnel into my little ideas!”</p> +<p>“At least you have original theories, which is more +than I do,” comforted Jerry. “Before we leave, shall +we take a look at the alley?”</p> +<p>Penny brightened instantly and accompanied the reporter +to the rear of the building. The alley was deserted. +Without a light they were unable to examine +the ground beneath the Kohl’s apartment window.</p> +<p>Suddenly, both straightened as they heard a sound +behind them. The brilliant beam of a flashlight focused +on their faces, blinding them.</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s you again,” said a gruff voice.</p> +<p>The beam was lowered, and behind it they saw the +policeman.</p> +<p>“You young cubs are a pest,” he said irritably.</p> +<p>Ignoring them, he moved his light over the ground. +There were no footprints or other marks visible beneath +the window.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_62">[62]</div> +<p>“If a ladder had stood here it would show,” remarked +Jerry. “The thief must have used some other +means of getting into the building.”</p> +<p>While the policeman was inspecting the ground, +the janitor stepped from a rear basement door, joining +the group.</p> +<p>“Officer, I have some more information for you,” he +volunteered.</p> +<p>“What is it?”</p> +<p>“I was talking with my wife. She says that about +two hours ago she noticed a man walking through the +alley. He carried a suitcase, and kept looking at the +upstairs windows.”</p> +<p>“No ladder?”</p> +<p>“Only a suitcase.”</p> +<p>“I’ll have the detectives talk with your wife,” the +policeman promised. “They’ll be here any minute +now.”</p> +<p>Penny and Jerry lingered until the two men arrived, +bringing a photographer with them. No new evidence +being made available, it seemed a waste of time to remain +longer.</p> +<p>“Don’t bother to take me home,” Penny insisted. +“Dash straight to the office and write your story. The +other papers won’t have a word about the robbery until +the police report is made.”</p> +<p>“I don’t like to abandon you.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_63">[63]</div> +<p>“Don’t be silly, Jerry. It’s only a few blocks farther.”</p> +<p>Thus urged, the reporter bade Penny good-bye. As +she hastened on alone, it began to rain and the air +turned colder. To save her clothing, she ran the last +block, reaching the porch quite breathless.</p> +<p>The house was dark, the front door locked. Penny +let herself in with a key, switched on the lights, and +after getting a snack from the refrigerator, started upstairs.</p> +<p>From her father’s room issued loud snores. However, +Mrs. Weems’ door stood open, and as Penny +glanced in she was surprised to see that the bed had +not been disturbed.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Weems must still be at the Hodges’,” she +thought. “Perhaps I should go after her. She’ll have a +long walk in this rain.”</p> +<p>Penny went to a window and looked out. The +downpour showed no sighs of slackening. With a sigh +she found her raincoat and started for the garage.</p> +<p>During her absence, Mr. Parker had towed Leaping +Lena to a vacant lot adjoining the property. The maroon +car awaited her beneath shelter, and she drove it +through dark streets to the Hodges’ modest home.</p> +<p>Lights glowed cheerily from the lower floor windows. +In response to Penny’s knock, a bent old man, +his hands gnarled by hard labor, opened the door.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_64">[64]</div> +<p>“Is it Penelope?” he asked, squinting at her through +the rain. “Come in! Come in!”</p> +<p>“Good evening, Mr. Hodges. Is Mrs. Weems still +here?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I am, Penny,” called the housekeeper. “Goodness, +what time is it anyway?”</p> +<p>“Nearly midnight.”</p> +<p>Penny shook water from her coat and stepped into +the spic and span living room. An unshaded electric +light disclosed a rug too bright, wallpaper too glaring, +furniture stiff and old fashioned. Yet one felt at once +welcome, for the seamstress and her husband were +simple, friendly people.</p> +<p>“Have a chair, Penelope,” invited Mrs. Hodges. She +was short like her husband, with graying hair and an +untroubled countenance.</p> +<p>“Thank you, but I can’t stay,” replied Penny. “I +came to drive Mrs. Weems home.”</p> +<p>“I had no idea it was so late,” the housekeeper said, +getting to her feet. “Mrs. Hodges and I have been +planning my traveling outfit.”</p> +<p>“I’ll try to have the dresses for you within the next +two weeks,” promised the seamstress. “Your good fortune +makes me very happy, Maud. Isn’t the news of +her inheritance wonderful, Penelope?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_65">[65]</div> +<p>“Oh, yes, yes, of course,” stammered Penny. “Only +I hope Mrs. Weems isn’t leaving us within two weeks. +What’s this about a traveling outfit?”</p> +<p>“I’ve always wanted fine clothing,” said Mrs. Weems +dreamily. “Mrs. Hodges is making me a suit, three silk +dresses, a tissue velvet evening gown—”</p> +<p>“An evening gown!” Penny gasped. “Where will +you wear it?”</p> +<p>“I’ll find places.”</p> +<p>“Maybe she aims to catch a husband while she’s +galavantin’ around out there in Californy,” contributed +Mr. Hodges with a sly wink.</p> +<p>“The very idea!” laughed Mrs. Weems, yet with no +displeasure.</p> +<p>Penny sagged into the nearest rocking chair. The +conversation was paced too fast for her.</p> +<p>“Evening gowns—husbands—California,” she murmured +weakly. “Wait until Dad hears about this.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Hodges was only joking,” declared Mrs. +Weems, reaching for her hat. “I wouldn’t marry the +best man on earth. But I definitely am going west this +summer.”</p> +<p>“I envy you, Maud,” said the seamstress, her eyes +shining. “Pa and I want to go out there and buy a little +orange grove someday. But with taxes what they are, +we can’t seem to save a penny.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Weems squeezed her friend’s hand.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_66">[66]</div> +<p>“I wish I could take you along, Jenny,” she said. +“All these years you’ve sewed your poor fingers almost +to the bone. You deserve an easier life.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Pa and I don’t complain,” the seamstress answered +brightly. “And things are going to look up.”</p> +<p>“Sure they are,” agreed Mr. Hodges. “I’ll get a job +any day now.”</p> +<p>Penny, who was watching the seamstress’ face was +amazed to see it suddenly transformed. Losing her +usual calm, Mrs. Hodges exclaimed:</p> +<p>“Pa! It just this minute came to me! Maud getting +her inheritance is another psychic sign!”</p> +<p>Penny rocked violently and even Mrs. Weems +looked startled.</p> +<p>“I don’t know what you mean, Jenny,” she said.</p> +<p>“We said we wouldn’t tell anybody, Ma,” protested +Mr. Hodges mildly.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Weems is my best friend, and Penelope won’t +tell. Will you, Penelope?”</p> +<p>“Not what I don’t know,” replied Penny in bewilderment. +“How can Mrs. Weems’ inheritance have +anything to do with a psychic sign?”</p> +<p>“You may as well tell ’em,” grinned Mr. Hodges, +“If you keep the news much longer you’ll bust.”</p> +<p>“The strangest thing happened three nights ago,” +Mrs. Hodges began, her voice quivering with excitement. +“But wait! First I’ll show you the letter!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_67">[67]</div> +<h2 id="c8"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">8</span> +<br /><i>PSYCHIC SIGNS</i></h2> +<p>As Penny and Mrs. Weems waited, the seamstress +went to another room, returning with a stamped, slit +envelope.</p> +<p>“Notice the postmark,” she requested, thrusting the +letter into Penny’s hand.</p> +<p>“It was mailed from New York,” the girl observed.</p> +<p>“I mean the hour at which the envelope was stamped +by the postmaster.”</p> +<p>“I make it 11:30 <span class="small">P.M.</span> June fifteenth,” Penny read +aloud. “Does the time and date have special significance?”</p> +<p>“Indeed, it does,” the seamstress replied impressively. +“You tell them, Pa.”</p> +<p>“It happened three nights ago,” began Mr. Hodges. +“Ma worked late stitchin’ up some playsuits for Mrs. +Hudson’s little girl. Afterwards we had bread and milk +like we always do, and then we went to bed.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_68">[68]</div> +<p>“At the time, I said to Pa that something queer was +going to happen,” broke in the seamstress. “I could +feel it in my bones. It was as if something was hovering +over us.”</p> +<p>“A feeling of impending trouble?” questioned +Penny.</p> +<p>“Nothing like that,” said Mr. Hodges.</p> +<p>“No, it was as if one almost could feel a foreign +presence in the room,” Mrs. Hodges declared, lowering +her voice. “A supernatural being.”</p> +<p>“Surely you don’t believe in ghosts...?” Penny +began, but the seamstress did not hear. Unheeding, she +resumed:</p> +<p>“Pa rubbed my back to ease the pain I get from +working too long at the machine. Then we went to +bed. Neither of us had gone to sleep when suddenly +we heard it!”</p> +<p>“Six sharp raps on the outside bedroom wall,” supplied +Mr. Hodges. “It was like this.” He demonstrated +on the table.</p> +<p>“We both heard it,” added Mrs. Hodges. “It scared +me nearly out of my wits.”</p> +<p>“Possibly it was someone at the door,” suggested +Penny.</p> +<p>“No, it wasn’t that. Pa got up and went to see.”</p> +<p>“Could it have been a tree bough brushing against +the wall?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_69">[69]</div> +<p>“It wasn’t that,” said Mr. Hodges. “The maple is too +far off to strike our bedroom.”</p> +<p>“There’s only one explanation,” declared the seamstress +with conviction. “It was a psychic sign—the +first.”</p> +<p>“I don’t believe in such things myself,” announced +Penny. “Surely there must be another explanation.”</p> +<p>“That’s what I told Jenny,” nodded Mr. Hodges. +“But since the letter came, doggoned if I don’t think +maybe she’s right.”</p> +<p>“What has the letter to do with it?” inquired Mrs. +Weems.</p> +<p>The seamstress pointed to the postmark on the envelope.</p> +<p>“The hour at which we heard the strange tappings +was eleven-thirty! Pa looked at the clock. And it was +three days ago, June fifteenth.”</p> +<p>“Corresponding to the marking on this envelope,” +commented Penny. “That is a coincidence.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Hodges shook her head impatiently.</p> +<p>“You surely don’t think it just happened by <i>accident</i>?” +she asked. “It must have been intended as a +sign—an omen.”</p> +<p>“What did the letter say?” Penny inquired, without +answering Mrs. Hodges’ question. She knew that her +true opinion would not please the woman.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_70">[70]</div> +<p>“It wasn’t rightly a letter,” the seamstress returned. +“The envelope contained six silver dollars fitted into a +stiff piece of cardboard.”</p> +<p>“We figured it was another sign,” contributed Mr. +Hodges. “Six raps on the wall—six dollars.”</p> +<p>“I wish some ghost would come and pound all night +long on my bedroom door,” remarked Penny lightly.</p> +<p>“Penelope, you shouldn’t speak so disrespectfully,” +Mrs. Weems reproved in a mild voice.</p> +<p>“Excuse me, I didn’t mean to,” said Penny, composing +her face. “What else has happened of a supernatural +nature?”</p> +<p>“Why, nothing yet,” Mrs. Hodges admitted. “But +Pa and I have had a feeling as if something important +were about to take place. And now Maud inherits six +thousand dollars!”</p> +<p>“There was nothing psychic about that,” said Mrs. +Weems. “Cousin David had no close relatives so he +left the money to me.”</p> +<p>The seamstress shook her head, and an ethereal light +shone in her eyes.</p> +<p>“Night before last when I went to bed I was thinking +that I wished with all my heart something nice +would happen to you, Maud. Now it’s come to pass!”</p> +<p>Even Mrs. Weems was somewhat startled by the +seamstress’ calm assumption that her thoughts had been +responsible for the inheritance.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_71">[71]</div> +<p>“Don’t you see,” Mrs. Hodges resumed patiently. +“It must mean that I have great psychic powers. I confess +I am rather frightened.”</p> +<p>Penny arose and began to button her raincoat.</p> +<p>“Excuse me for saying it,” she remarked, “but if I +were you, Mrs. Hodges, I’d spend the six dollars and +forget the entire affair. Someone must have played a +joke on you!”</p> +<p>“A joke!” The seamstress was offended. “People +don’t give away money as a joke.”</p> +<p>“No, these days they squeeze the eagles until they +holler,” chuckled Mr. Hodges.</p> +<p>“The letter was postmarked New York City,” went +on his wife. “We don’t know a soul there. Oh, no one +ever can make me believe that it was done as a joke. +The letter was mailed at exactly the hour we heard the +six raps!”</p> +<p>“And there wasn’t a sign of anyone near the house,” +added Mr. Hodges.</p> +<p>“Well, at least you’re six dollars ahead,” said Penny. +“Shall we go, Mrs. Weems? It’s after midnight.”</p> +<p>The seamstress walked to the door with the callers.</p> +<p>“I’ll get busy tomorrow on those new dresses,” she +promised Mrs. Weems. “Drop in again whenever you +can. And you, too, Penelope.”</p> +<p>Driving home through the rain, Penny stole a quick +glance at the housekeeper who seemed unusually quiet.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_72">[72]</div> +<p>“Do you suppose Jenny could be right?” Mrs. +Weems presently ventured. “I mean about Cousin +David and the inheritance?”</p> +<p>“Of course not!” laughed Penny. “Why, your +cousin died a long while before Mrs. Hodges discovered +that she was psychic. It’s all the bunk!”</p> +<p>“I wish I really knew.”</p> +<p>“Why, Mrs. Weems!” Penny prepared to launch +into a violent argument. “I never heard of such nonsense! +How could Mrs. Hodges have psychic powers? +Everyone realizes that communication with the spirit +world is impossible!”</p> +<p>“You are entitled to your opinion, Penny, but others +may differ with you. Who can know about The Life +Beyond? Isn’t it in the realm of possibility that Mrs. +Hodges may have had a message from Cousin David?”</p> +<p>“She didn’t speak of it.”</p> +<p>“Not in words, Penny. But those strange rappings, +the arrival of the letter—it was all very strange and +unexplainable.”</p> +<p>“I’ll admit it was queer, Mrs. Weems. However, I’ll +never agree that there’s anything supernatural connected +with it.”</p> +<p>“You close your mind to things you do not wish to +believe,” the housekeeper reproved. “What can any of +us know of the spirit world?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_73">[73]</div> +<p>Penny gazed at Mrs. Weems in alarm. She realized +that the seamstress’ story had deeply impressed her.</p> +<p>“I’ll stake my knowledge against Mrs. Hodges’ any +old day,” she declared lightly. “I met one ghost-maker—Osandra—remember +him?”</p> +<p>“Why remind me of that man, Penny?” asked the +housekeeper wearily.</p> +<p>“Because you once paid him good money for the +privilege of attending his séances. You were convinced +he was in communication with the world beyond. He +proved to be an outrageous fraud.”</p> +<p>“I was taken in by him as were many other persons,” +Mrs. Weems acknowledged. “Mrs. Hodges’ case is +different. We have been friends for ten years. She +would not misrepresent the facts.”</p> +<p>“No, Mrs. Hodges is honest. I believe that the money +was sent to her. But not by a ghost!”</p> +<p>“Let’s not discuss it,” said Mrs. Weems with finality. +“I never did enjoy an argument.”</p> +<p>Penny lapsed into silence and a moment later the +car swung into the Parker driveway. The housekeeper +hurried into the house, leaving the girl to close the +garage doors.</p> +<p>Penny snapped the padlock shut. Unmindful of the +rain, she stood for a moment, staring into the night. +Nothing had gone exactly right that day, and her disagreement +with Mrs. Weems, minor though it was, +bothered her.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_74">[74]</div> +<p>“There’s more to this psychic business than appears +on the surface,” she thought grimly. “A great deal +more! Maybe I am stubborn and opinionated. But I +know one thing! No trickster is going to take advantage +of the Hodges or of Mrs. Weems either—not if I +can prevent it.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_75">[75]</div> +<h2 id="c9"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">9</span> +<br /><i>MRS. WEEMS’ INHERITANCE</i></h2> +<p>The clock chimed seven-thirty the next morning +as Penny came downstairs. She dropped a kiss on her +father’s forehead and slid into a chair at the opposite +side of the breakfast table.</p> +<p>“Good morning, Daddykins,” she greeted him cheerfully. +“Any news in the old scandal sheet?”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker lowered the newspaper.</p> +<p>“Please don’t call me Daddykins,” he requested. +“You know I hate it. Here’s something which may interest +you. Your friends the Kohls were robbed last +night.”</p> +<p>“You’re eight hours late,” grinned Penny, reaching +for the front page. “I was there.”</p> +<p>“I suppose you lifted the pearls and the diamond +bracelet on your way to the theatre.”</p> +<p>“No,” said Penny, rapidly scanning the story which +Jerry had written, “but I think I may have seen the +man who did do it.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_76">[76]</div> +<p>She then told her father of having observed a stranger +note the license number of the Kohl car, and mentioned +the events which had followed.</p> +<p>“You may have been mistaken about what the man +wrote down,” commented her father.</p> +<p>“That’s possible, but he was staring straight at the +car.”</p> +<p>“I doubt if the incident had any connection with the +burglary, Penny. With the Motor Vehicle Department +closed, he would have had no means of quickly learning +who the Kohls were or where they lived.”</p> +<p>“Couldn’t he have recognized them?”</p> +<p>“In that case he would have no need for the license +number. You didn’t see the man note down the plates +of other cars?”</p> +<p>“No, but he may have done it before I noticed him +standing by the theatre.”</p> +<p>Turning idly through the morning paper, Penny’s +attention was drawn to another news story. Reading it +rapidly, she thrust the page into her father’s hand.</p> +<p>“Dad, look at this! There were two other burglaries +last night! Apartment houses on Drexel Boulevard and +Fenmore Street were entered.”</p> +<p>“H-m, interesting. The Kohls occupy an apartment +also. That rather suggests that the same thief ransacked +the three places.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_77">[77]</div> +<p>“And it says here that the families were away for +the evening!” Penny resumed with increasing excitement. +“I’ll bet a cent they were at the theatre! Oh, +Dad, that man in gray must have been the one who +did it!”</p> +<p>“If all the persons you suspect of crime were arrested, +our jails couldn’t hold them,” remarked Mr. +Parker calmly. “Eat your breakfast, Penny, before it +gets cold.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Weems entered through the kitchen door, +bearing reenforcements of hot waffles and crisp bacon. +Her appearance reminded Penny to launch into a +highly entertaining account of all that had transpired +at the Hodges’ the previous night.</p> +<p>“Penny!” protested the housekeeper. “You promised +Mrs. Hodges to say nothing about the letter.”</p> +<p>“Oh, no, I didn’t promise,” corrected Penny. “I was +careful to say that I couldn’t tell what I didn’t know. +Years ago Dad taught me that a good reporter never +agrees to accept a confidence. Isn’t that so, Dad?”</p> +<p>“A wise reporter never ties his own hands,” replied +Mr. Parker. “If he promises, and then obtains the +same story from another source, he’s morally bound +not to use it. His paper may be scooped by the opposition.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_78">[78]</div> +<p>“You two are a pair,” sighed Mrs. Weems. “Scoops +and front page stories are all either of you think about. +I declare, it distresses me to realize how Penny may be +trained after I leave.”</p> +<p>“The way to solve that problem is not to leave,” +said Penny. “You know we can’t get along without +you.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Weems shook her head.</p> +<p>“It cuts me almost in two to leave,” she declared +sadly, “but my mind’s made up. Mrs. Hodges says I +am doing the right thing.”</p> +<p>“And I suppose a ghost advised her,” muttered +Penny.</p> +<p>Mr. Parker glanced sternly at his daughter and she +subsided into silence. But not for long. Soon she was +trying to reopen the subject of the mysterious letter +received by the Hodges. For a reason she could not +understand, her father was loath to discuss it.</p> +<p>“Come, Penny,” he said. “If we’re having that game +of tennis this morning, it’s time we start.”</p> +<p>En route to the park, the publisher explained why +he had not chosen to express an opinion in the housekeeper’s +presence.</p> +<p>“I quite agree with you that Mrs. Hodges has no +psychic powers, Penny. She’s been the victim of a +hoax. However, Mrs. Weems is intensely loyal to her +friend, and any disparaging remarks made by us will +only serve to antagonize her.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_79">[79]</div> +<p>“I’ll try to be more careful, Dad. But it’s so silly!”</p> +<p>Monday morning found Penny busy once more with +her duties at the society desk. No new information had +developed regarding the Kohl burglary, and she did +not have time to accompany Mrs. Weems who went +frequently to the Hodges’ cottage.</p> +<p>Secretly Penny held an opinion that the housekeeper’s +inheritance might be the work of a prankster. +Therefore, upon returning from the office one afternoon +and learning that the money actually had been +delivered, she was very glad she had kept her thoughts +to herself.</p> +<p>“The lawyer came this morning and had me sign a +paper,” Mrs. Weems revealed to the Parkers. “Then +he turned the money over to me—six thousand dollars.”</p> +<p>“I hope the cheque is good,” remarked Penny.</p> +<p>“It was. I had the lawyer accompany me to the +bank. They gave me the money without asking a +single question. I have it here.”</p> +<p>“You have six thousand dollars cash in the house!”</p> +<p>“Yes, I had the cashier give it to me in hundred dollar +bills.”</p> +<p>“Do you consider it safe to keep such a large sum?” +Mr. Parker inquired mildly. “I should advise returning +it to the bank, or better still, why not invest it in +sound securities?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_80">[80]</div> +<p>Mrs. Weems shook her head. “It gives me a nice rich +feeling to have the cash. I’ve hidden it in a good place.”</p> +<p>“Where?” demanded Penny.</p> +<p>“I won’t tell,” laughed Mrs. Weems.</p> +<p>Again later in the evening, Mr. Parker tried without +success to convince the housekeeper that she should +return the money to a bank. Never one to force his +opinions upon another, he then dropped the subject.</p> +<p>“When will you be leaving us, Mrs. Weems?” he +inquired.</p> +<p>“Whenever you can spare me. Now that I have the +money, I should like to leave within ten days or two +weeks.”</p> +<p>“Since we can’t persuade you to remain, I’ll try to +find someone to take your place,” Mr. Parker promised.</p> +<p>Both he and Penny were gloomy at the prospect of +replacing the housekeeper. Not only would they miss +Mrs. Weems but they honestly believed that she would +never be happy without two incorrigibles and a home +to manage.</p> +<p>“Dad,” Penny ventured when they were alone, “just +supposing that Mrs. Weems’ money should mysteriously +disappear—”</p> +<p>“Don’t allow your mind to dwell on that idea,” cut +in her father sternly. “We’ll play fair.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_81">[81]</div> +<p>“Oh, I wouldn’t do it,” said Penny hastily. “I was +only joking. But if something <i>should</i> happen to the +money, it would solve all our problems.”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Weems has earned her vacation. Even though +it will be hard to lose her, we mustn’t stand in her +way.”</p> +<p>“I guess you’re right,” sighed Penny.</p> +<p>The following day Miss Hilderman resumed her +duties at the <i>Star</i>, and Penny once more found herself +a person of leisure. To her annoyance, Mrs. Weems +insisted that she spend many hours in the kitchen, +learning how to bake pies and cakes. A particularly +distasteful lesson came to an end only when Penny, +with brilliant inspiration, remembered that the housekeeper +had an appointment with the seamstress.</p> +<p>“Dear me, I had forgotten it!” exclaimed Mrs. +Weems. “Yes, I must try on my new dresses!”</p> +<p>“I’ll drive you over,” offered Penny.</p> +<p>Not in recent days had the girl called upon the +Hodges. As she and Mrs. Weems alighted from the +car, they both noticed freshly ironed curtains at the +windows. Mr. Hodges was pounding dust from a +carpet on the line.</p> +<p>“Housecleaning?” inquired Penny, pausing to chat +with the old man.</p> +<p>“Yes, Jenny’s got me hard at it,” he grinned. “She’s +been tearin’ the house upside down gettin’ ready for +the new roomer.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_82">[82]</div> +<p>“Oh, have you taken one?”</p> +<p>Penny was surprised, knowing that in past years the +Hodges had been too proud to rent rooms.</p> +<p>“There’s a young feller moving in today,” Mr. +Hodges said, picking up the carpet beater. “Go on +inside. Jenny’ll tell you about it.”</p> +<p>Penny and Mrs. Weems entered the cottage where +the seamstress was running a dust mop over the floors. +She was somewhat dismayed to see the housekeeper.</p> +<p>“Oh, Maud, I’ve been so busy I didn’t get your +dresses ready to be tried on.”</p> +<p>“It doesn’t matter,” replied Mrs. Weems. “What’s +this about a new roomer?”</p> +<p>“I always said I wouldn’t have one cluttering up the +place. But this young man is different. His coming +here—well, I interpret it as another sign.”</p> +<p>“A sign of what?” inquired Penny with her usual +directness.</p> +<p>“Well, it seemed as if I had a direct message from +the spirit world to take him into our home. He came +here last night. Instead of knocking in the usual way, +he rapped six times in succession!”</p> +<p>“Probably he was the one who sent the letter,” said +Penny alertly.</p> +<p>“Oh, no! He didn’t know anything about it. I asked +him.”</p> +<p>“What is his name, Mrs. Hodges?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_83">[83]</div> +<p>“Al Gepper. He’s such a nice young man and he +talks so refined. I am letting him have the entire floor +upstairs.”</p> +<p>“That should bring you a nice income,” remarked +Mrs. Weems.</p> +<p>“I am asking only two dollars a week,” admitted +the seamstress. “He said he couldn’t pay more than +that.”</p> +<p>“Why, Jenny,” protested Mrs. Weems, “such a +small amount hardly will cover the lights and various +extras.”</p> +<p>“I know, Maud, but I couldn’t turn him away. He +moved his apparatus in last night and will bring his +personal belongings sometime today.”</p> +<p>“His apparatus?” echoed Penny. “What is he, a +chemist?”</p> +<p>“No,” replied the seamstress, smiling mysteriously. +“I’ll show you the rooms.”</p> +<p>Penny and Mrs. Weems followed the woman upstairs. +The upper floor was divided into two small bedrooms +with a wide, old-fashioned sliding door between +which could be opened to make one large chamber. +The larger of the rooms had been cleared of its usual +furniture. Where a bed previously had stood was a +circular table with six or eight chairs, and behind it a +tall cabinet with a black curtain across the front.</p> +<p>“Mr. Gepper plans to use this room for his studio,” +explained Mrs. Hodges.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_84">[84]</div> +<p>Penny’s gaze had fastened upon the cabinet. She +crossed to it and pulled aside the curtain. Inside were +several unpacked boxes and a suitcase.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Hodges, to what purpose does your young +man expect to put this studio?” she asked.</p> +<p>“I don’t know. He didn’t tell me. But I think he intends +to carry on psychic experiments. He’s a student, +he said.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Gepper was afraid to tell you the truth lest +you refuse to rent the rooms,” declared Penny. “Mrs. +Hodges, your roomer is a medium.”</p> +<p>“Why do you think so?”</p> +<p>“Because I’ve seen trappings such as these before at +other séance chambers,” replied Penny. “Mrs. Hodges, +you must send him away before he involves you with +the police.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_85">[85]</div> +<h2 id="c10"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">10</span> +<br /><i>OUIJA BOARD WISDOM</i></h2> +<p>“Trouble with the police!” Mrs. Hodges echoed, +regarding Penny with unconcealed dismay. “How +can it be illegal to rent Mr. Gepper these rooms?”</p> +<p>“Renting the rooms isn’t illegal,” Penny corrected. +“But if the young man conducts public séances here—filches +money from people—then you may be considered +a party to the scheme. This city has a local +ordinance prohibiting fortune telling, mind reading +and the like.”</p> +<p>“I am sure the young man means no wrong.”</p> +<p>“Penny,” commented Mrs. Weems, “it seems to me +that you are overly concerned. Why are you convinced +that Mr. Gepper is a medium?”</p> +<p>“Doesn’t this cabinet indicate it?”</p> +<p>“I thought it was some sort of wardrobe closet,” +Mrs. Hodges admitted.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_86">[86]</div> +<p>“Al Gepper is a medium, or pretends to have spiritualistic +powers,” Penny repeated. “In my opinion +you’ll be very unwise to allow him to start an illegal +business here.”</p> +<p>“Oh, dear, I don’t know what to do now,” declared +the seamstress. “I’ll have to ask Pa about it.”</p> +<p>She and Mrs. Weems started downstairs, expecting +that Penny would follow. Instead, the girl lingered to +inspect the cabinet.</p> +<p>On the lower floor a door slammed, and there were +footsteps ascending the stairway. She paid no heed, +assuming that it was either Mr. Hodges or his wife +who approached.</p> +<p>The door swung open. Turning, Penny saw a young +man, possibly thirty years of age, standing on the +threshold. His dark eyes were sharp and appraising.</p> +<p>“Hello,” he said, without smiling. “Aren’t you +afraid a monkey may jump out of that cabinet?”</p> +<p>Penny, who seldom blushed, felt a wave of heat +creeping over her cheeks.</p> +<p>“Hello,” she stammered. “You must be Mrs. Hodges’ +new roomer.”</p> +<p>“Al Gepper, at your service. Who are you, girlie?”</p> +<p>“You guessed it,” said Penny shortly, edging away +from the cabinet.</p> +<p>Al Gepper remained in the doorway, blocking the +exit with his arm. He did not move as the girl attempted +to move past him.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_87">[87]</div> +<p>“What’s your hurry?” he drawled. “Stick around +and let’s get acquainted. I’ll show you some neat card +tricks.”</p> +<p>“Thanks, but I haven’t time, Mr. Gepper.”</p> +<p>“What’s your name anyhow?” he persisted. “You’re +not Mrs. Hodges’ daughter.”</p> +<p>“No, only a friend.”</p> +<p>“You needn’t be so icy about it,” he rebuked. “Any +friend of Mrs. Hodges’ is a friend of mine.”</p> +<p>“I never make friends easily,” Penny replied. “For +that matter, I don’t mind telling you that I have advised +Mrs. Hodges not to rent you these rooms.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you have?” inquired the man, his eyes hardening. +“And what business is it of yours?”</p> +<p>“None, perhaps. I merely am not going to allow her +to be taken in if I can prevent it!”</p> +<p>“Oh, indeed. Do you mind explaining?”</p> +<p>“It’s perfectly obvious that you’re one of these fake +spiritualists,” Penny accused bluntly. “Your nickname +should be Six-Raps Al!”</p> +<p>“A little spit-fire, aren’t you?” the man retorted. +“But you have style. Now I may be able to use you in +my business.”</p> +<p>“You admit that you’re a medium?”</p> +<p>“I am a spiritualist. Not a fake, as you so crudely +accuse. And I assure you I have no intention of deceiving +or taking advantage of your dear friends, the +Hodges.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_88">[88]</div> +<p>“You expect to use these rooms for public séances?”</p> +<p>“I do.”</p> +<p>“Then you are certain to get the Hodges into trouble +with the police.”</p> +<p>“Not unless you start squawking.” Al Gepper’s +manner changed abruptly. He grasped Penny’s wrist +and pushed a leering face close to hers. “I’m not looking +for any trouble from you or anyone else—see! If +you try to make it, you’ll wake up with a headache!”</p> +<p>Penny jerked free and, shouldering through the +door, raced downstairs.</p> +<p>Glancing back, she saw that Al Gepper was following, +though at a more leisurely pace. Instantly she divined +that he intended to make sure no report of the +incident was given to the Hodges, save in his presence.</p> +<p>Mrs. Weems and the old couple were talking in the +kitchen.</p> +<p>“Well, Ma, it’s for you to decide,” Mr. Hodges was +saying. “We gave our word to the young feller, and +it’s kinda mean to turn him out so sudden like.”</p> +<p>“I regret Penny said anything about the matter.” +apologized Mrs. Weems. “You know how out-spoken +and impulsive she is. Of course, she has no information +about Mr. Gepper.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_89">[89]</div> +<p>“Oh, but I do have information,” spoke Penny from +the doorway. “Mr. Gepper has just admitted that he +intends to use the room for public séances. Isn’t that +true?”</p> +<p>Defiantly, she turned to face the young man who +had followed her.</p> +<p>“Quite true,” he acknowledged loftily. “One who +has a great psychic gift is duty-bound to allow the +world to benefit from one’s talents. The selection of +this house as a Temple for Celestial Communication +was not mine, but the bidding of the Spirits. In a +dream I was instructed to come here and take up residence.”</p> +<p>“What night did you have the dream?” questioned +Mrs. Hodges, deeply impressed.</p> +<p>“It was June fifteenth.”</p> +<p>“The very night we heard the strange rappings on +our bedroom wall, Pa.”</p> +<p>“Dogonned if it wasn’t!”</p> +<p>“Mr. Gepper, do you truly believe it is possible to +communicate with the spiritual world?” Mrs. Weems +inquired politely.</p> +<p>“My dear madam, I can best answer by offering a +demonstration. Have you a ouija board in the house?”</p> +<p>“Yes, we have,” spoke Mrs. Hodges eagerly. “Pa +and I got it from a mail order house years ago, but it +never worked for us. You fetch it, Pa.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_90">[90]</div> +<p>Mr. Hodges brought a large, flat board which +bore letters and figures. Upon it he placed a small, triangular +piece with cushioned legs.</p> +<p>“This do-dad is supposed to spell out messages, ain’t +it?” he asked. “Ma and I could never make it work +right.”</p> +<p>Al Gepper smiled in a superior way, and placing the +board on his lap, motioned for Mrs. Weems to sit opposite +him. However, before the housekeeper could +obey, Penny slid into the vacant chair. The medium +frowned.</p> +<p>“Place your hands lightly on the triangular piece,” +he instructed. “Concentrate with me as we await a +message from the spiritual world.”</p> +<p>Penny fastened her eyes on the distant wall with a +blank stare.</p> +<p>A minute passed. The ouija board made several convulsive +struggles, but seemed unable to move.</p> +<p>“The Spirits encounter resistance,” the medium said +testily. “They can send no message when one’s attitude +is antagonistic.”</p> +<p>“Shall I take off the brakes?” asked Penny.</p> +<p>Even as she spoke the pointer of the triangle began +moving, rapidly spelling a message.</p> +<p>“AL GEPPER IS A FRAUD,” it wrote.</p> +<p>The medium sprang to his feet, allowing the board +to fall from his lap.</p> +<p>“You pushed it!” he accused. “The test was unfair.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_91">[91]</div> +<p>“Why, the very idea,” chuckled Penny.</p> +<p>“Penny, please allow Mr. Gepper to conduct a true +test,” reproved Mrs. Weems severely. “Let me try.”</p> +<p>Al Gepper, however, would have no more of the +ouija board. Instead, he took a pad of white paper +from his pocket. Seating Mrs. Weems at the kitchen +table he requested her to write a message, which, without +being shown to anyone in the room, was sealed in +an envelope.</p> +<p>The medium pointedly requested Penny to examine +the envelope to assure herself the writing could not be +seen through the paper.</p> +<p>“You are satisfied that I have not read the message?” +he asked.</p> +<p>“Yes,” Penny admitted reluctantly.</p> +<p>The medium took the envelope, ran his fingers +lightly over it, and returned it still sealed to Mrs. +Weems.</p> +<p>“If I am not mistaken, Madam, you wrote, ‘Is the +spirit of my cousin in this room?’”</p> +<p>“Why, I did!” exclaimed Mrs. Weems. “Those were +the exact words! How did you know?”</p> +<p>Al Gepper smiled mysteriously.</p> +<p>“You have seen nothing, Madam,” he said. “Now if +conditions are right, it may be possible for us to learn +if a Spirit has joined our group. Lower the blinds, +please.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_92">[92]</div> +<p>Mr. Hodges hastened to obey. With the kitchen in +semi-darkness, the medium motioned for his audience +to move a few paces away. Taking his own position +behind the kitchen table, he intoned:</p> +<p>“Oh, Spirit, if you are with us in the room, signal +by lifting this piece of furniture.”</p> +<p>Slowly the man moved his hands above the table. +At first nothing happened, then to the astonishment +of his audience, it lifted a few inches from the floor. +There it hung suspended a moment before dropping +into place again.</p> +<p>“You see?” With a triumphant ring to his voice, the +medium crossed the room to raise the window shades. +“Now do you doubt me?”</p> +<p>“No! No!” cried Mrs. Hodges tremulously. “Only +a Spirit could have moved that table. Maud, perhaps +it <i>was</i> your Cousin David.”</p> +<p>The medium gazed at Mrs. Weems with sympathetic +interest.</p> +<p>“You have lost a loved one recently?” he inquired.</p> +<p>“Cousin David and I never were well acquainted,” +replied the housekeeper. “That was why I was so surprised +when he left me an inheritance.”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Weems!” remonstrated Penny. She was dismayed +by the revelation so casually offered.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_93">[93]</div> +<p>“No doubt you would like to communicate with +your departed cousin at some later time,” the medium +said smoothly. “Allow me to offer my services as an +intermediary. No charge, of course.”</p> +<p>“Why, that’s very generous of you, Mr. Gepper.”</p> +<p>“Not at all. Friends of the Hodges are my friends. +Shall we set a definite date—say tomorrow at two +o’clock?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I’ll come. That is, if the Hodges are to be +present.”</p> +<p>“Assuredly. Mrs. Hodges is definitely psychic and +should contribute to our séance.”</p> +<p>It was with the greatest of difficulty that Penny +finally induced the housekeeper to leave the cottage. +Al Gepper accompanied them to the door.</p> +<p>“Tomorrow at two,” he repeated, smiling slyly at +Penny. “And you may come also, my little doubter. I +assure you it will be well worth your time.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_94">[94]</div> +<h2 id="c11"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">11</span> +<br /><i>THE CELESTIAL TEMPLE</i></h2> +<p>“Penny, tell me the truth,” Mrs. Weems urged +as they drove home together. “Didn’t you push the +ouija board?”</p> +<p>“Of course,” laughed Penny. “But if I hadn’t, Al +Gepper would have. He was trying hard enough!”</p> +<p>“He said you were resisting the spirits.”</p> +<p>“That was the worst sort of nonsense,” Penny returned +impatiently. “Gepper is a fraud, and I wish you +hadn’t told him about your inheritance.”</p> +<p>“How can you accuse him of being a fraud after +you saw his marvelous demonstration? The table actually +rose from the floor.”</p> +<p>“I know it did,” Penny acknowledged unwillingly. +“But it must have been trickery.”</p> +<p>“How could it have been? The table was an ordinary +one. Mrs. Hodges uses it every day of her life.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_95">[95]</div> +<p>“I don’t know how he did it,” Penny responded. +“All the same, I am sure he’s a trickster. Promise me +you won’t tell him anything more about yourself or +the inheritance.”</p> +<p>“Very well, I’ll promise if it gives you satisfaction,” +the housekeeper replied. “However, I do intend to +keep my appointment.”</p> +<p>Penny had no opportunity to relate to her father +what had occurred at the Hodges home, for Mr. Parker +was absent on a two-day business trip to a distant +town. Feeling that she must tell someone, she sought +Louise Sidell, and they discussed every angle of the +affair.</p> +<p>“Will you attend the séance with Mrs. Weems?” +Louise asked her curiously.</p> +<p>“Will I?” Penny repeated. “I’ll be right there with +bells! I intend to expose Mr. Al Gepper if it’s the last +act of my life!”</p> +<p>Returning home later in the afternoon, she found +Mrs. Weems sitting on the living room floor, sorting a +drawer of old photographs.</p> +<p>“You’re not packing your things already?” Penny +asked in alarm.</p> +<p>“Only these photographs,” the housekeeper responded. +“I wouldn’t have started the task, only I got +into it when the agent came.”</p> +<p>“Agent?”</p> +<p>“A man from the Clamont Photograph Studio.”</p> +<p>“Never heard of the place.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_96">[96]</div> +<p>“It’s opening this week. They’re having a special +offer—three old photographs enlarged for only +twenty-five cents. I gave the man Cousin David’s picture +and two others.”</p> +<p>“That is a bargain,” remarked Penny. “I wish I had +been here.”</p> +<p>The evening meal was served, and afterwards Mrs. +Weems devoted herself to the reading of travel books +borrowed from the library. Penny could find no occupation +to satisfy her. She turned the radio on, switched +it off again, and wandered restlessly from room to +room. Finally she went to the telephone and called +Louise.</p> +<p>“How about a little adventure?” she proposed. “And +don’t ask for explanations.”</p> +<p>“Will we be home by ten o’clock? That’s the +parental deadline.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, we’ll make it easily. Meet me at the corner +of Carabel and Clinton Streets.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Weems was so engrossed in her book that she +merely nodded as Penny explained that she and Louise +were going for a walk. Reaching the appointed corner +the girl found her chum awaiting her.</p> +<p>“Tell me about this so-called adventure,” she commanded. +“Where are we going?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_97">[97]</div> +<p>“To the Celestial Temple, Lou. At least, we’ll look +at it from the outside. Meetings are held there nearly +every night at eight o’clock.”</p> +<p>“Penny, I don’t think I care to go.”</p> +<p>“Nonsense! The meetings are open to the public, +aren’t they? We’ll have a very interesting time.”</p> +<p>“Oh, all right,” Louise consented reluctantly. “But +I can’t understand why you’re so interested in the +place.”</p> +<p>The girls took a bus to the end of the line, then +walked three blocks until they came to Butternut +Lane. For long stretches there were only scattered +houses and the street lamps were far between. Becoming +increasingly uneasy, Louise urged her chum to +turn back.</p> +<p>“Why, we’re at our destination now,” Penny protested. +“I am sure that must be the building.”</p> +<p>She pointed to an old, rectangular brick structure +only a few yards ahead. Obviously it once had been a +church for there was a high bell tower, and behind the +building a cluster of neglected tombstones gleamed in +the moonlight.</p> +<p>The evenly spaced windows were illuminated, and +music could be heard.</p> +<p>“Are you sure this is the place?” Louise inquired +dubiously. “It looks like a church to me, and they’re +holding a service.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_98">[98]</div> +<p>“Oh, the building hasn’t been used for such purposes +in over fifteen years,” Penny explained. “I investigated, +so I know its history. Until three years ago it was +used as a county fire station. Only recently it was reclaimed +by this Omar Society of Celestial Thought.”</p> +<p>The girls moved closer. Through an open window +they were able to see fifteen or twenty people seated +in the pews. A woman played a wheezing organ while +a man led the off-key singing.</p> +<p>“Let’s go inside,” Penny proposed.</p> +<p>Louise held back. “Oh, no, we can see everything +from here. It looks as if it were a very stupid sort of +meeting.”</p> +<p>“Appearances are often deceiving. I want a ringside +seat.”</p> +<p>Penny pulled her chum toward the entrance door. +There they hesitated, reading a large placard which +bore the invitation:</p> +<p><i>The Public Is Invited. Services at eight p.m. daily.</i></p> +<p>“We’re part of the public, Lou,” urged Penny. +“Come along.”</p> +<p>She boldly opened the door, and there was no retreat.</p> +<p>Heads turned slightly as the girls entered the rear of +the Temple. As quickly they turned forward again, +but not before Penny had gained an impression, of +sharp, appraising faces.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_99">[99]</div> +<p>A man arose, bowed, and offered the girls his bench, +although many others were available. They slipped +into the pew, accepting a song book which was placed +in Louise’s hand.</p> +<p>While her chum sang in a thin, squeaky voice, +Penny allowed her gaze to wander over the room. At +the far end she saw a door which apparently opened +into the bell tower. On a slightly raised platform where +the leader stood, were two black-draped cabinets somewhat +similar to the one she had seen at Mrs. Hodges’ +cottage. Otherwise, there was nothing of unusual interest.</p> +<p>The services were decorous to the point of being +boring. Yet as the meeting went on, Penny and Louise +both felt that they were being studied. More than once +they surprised persons gazing at them.</p> +<p>At the conclusion of the session which lasted no +longer than thirty minutes, the leader asked the audience +if any “brother” were present who wished to +attempt a spirit communication. Immediately, Penny +sat up a bit straighter, anticipating that interesting +demonstrations were in store.</p> +<p>Nor was she mistaken. A thin, hard-faced man went +to the rostrum, and in a loud voice began to call upon +the spirits to make known their presence. Signs were +at once forthcoming. The empty pews began to dance +as if alive. The speaker’s table lifted a foot from the +floor and a pitcher of water fell from it, smashing into +a dozen pieces.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_100">[100]</div> +<p>Louise, her eyes dilated with fear, edged closer to +Penny.</p> +<p>“Let’s go,” she pleaded.</p> +<p>Penny shook her head.</p> +<p>A woman dressed in blue silk glided down the aisle, +stopping beside the girls. She held a tray upon which +were a number of objects, an opal ring, a knife, and +several pins.</p> +<p>“Dearie,” she said to Penny, “if you would care to +have a message from a departed soul, place a trinket in +this collection. Any personal object. Our leader will +then exhort the spirit to appear.”</p> +<p>“No, thank you,” replied Louise, without giving +her chum a chance to speak.</p> +<p>“Perhaps, you would prefer a private reading,” the +woman murmured. “I give them at my home, and the +fee is trivial. Only a dollar.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, no,” Louise repeated firmly. “I’m not +interested.”</p> +<p>The woman shrugged and moved on down the aisle, +pausing beside an elderly man to whom she addressed +herself.</p> +<p>“Lou, why did you discourage her?” Penny whispered. +“We might have learned something.”</p> +<p>“I’ve learned quite enough. I’m leaving.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_101">[101]</div> +<p>Louise squeezed past her chum, heading for the +exit. Penny had no choice but to follow.</p> +<p>Before they could reach the door, it suddenly +opened from the outside. A young man who had not +bothered to remove his hat, entered. Seeing the girls, +he abruptly halted, then turned and retreated.</p> +<p>Penny quickened her step. Taking Louise’s hand she +pulled her along at a faster pace. They reached the +vestibule. It was deserted. Penny peered up and down +the dark street.</p> +<p>“Well, he’s gone,” she remarked.</p> +<p>“Who?” Louise questioned in a puzzled voice. “You +mean that man who entered the Temple and then +left so suddenly?”</p> +<p>“I do,” responded Penny. “Unless my eyes tricked +me, he was none other than Al Gepper!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_102">[102]</div> +<h2 id="c12"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">12</span> +<br /><i>A MESSAGE FOR MRS. WEEMS</i></h2> +<p>“I don’t know anyone answering to that name,” +remarked Louise. “However, the fellow did act as if +he were retreating from us.”</p> +<p>Penny glanced up and down the dark street. No +one was to be seen, and since so little time had elapsed, +she reasoned that the man had taken refuge either in +the high weeds or the nearby cemetery.</p> +<p>“It must have been Gepper,” she declared. “Naturally +he wouldn’t care to meet me here.” Quickly +Penny recounted the events of the afternoon.</p> +<p>“Then you think he may be connected with the +Temple, Penny?”</p> +<p>“That would be my guess. Lou, this place is nothing +but a blind. The members of the society pretend to be +honest spiritualists, while in reality they’re charlatans. +They hold services for one purpose only—to solicit +persons for private readings.”</p> +<p>“Isn’t that illegal?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_103">[103]</div> +<p>“Of course it is. The police should raid the place.”</p> +<p>“Then why don’t they, Penny?”</p> +<p>“Dad says it’s because they’ve been unable to obtain +sufficient evidence. But they’ll have it after we report +what we’ve seen tonight!”</p> +<p>“How do you suppose they made things jump +around as if they were alive?” Louise remarked as the +girls walked slowly toward home. “It frightened me.”</p> +<p>“Everything was done by trickery. I’m sure of that, +Lou. Just as soon as Dad returns I shall make a full report +to him. We’ll see what he can do about it.”</p> +<p>By the time Penny arrived home, Mrs. Weems had +retired to her room. However, the light still burned +and the door was open a crack. Rapping, the girl entered, +for she was eager to tell the housekeeper about +her visit to the Celestial Temple.</p> +<p>Mrs. Weems sat at the desk. Hastily she closed one +of the drawers, and turned the key.</p> +<p>“You startled me, Penny!” she exclaimed. “I do +wish you would give more warning before you descend +upon one.”</p> +<p>“Sorry,” apologized Penny, glancing curiously toward +the desk. “Oh, I see!”</p> +<p>“You see what?” demanded the housekeeper.</p> +<p>“Six thousand dollars reposing in a desk drawer!”</p> +<p>Mrs. Weems’ look of consternation betrayed her. +She glanced at the locked drawer, and then laughed.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_104">[104]</div> +<p>“For an instant I thought you actually could see +the money, Penny.”</p> +<p>“Then my guess was right?”</p> +<p>“I keep the money in the drawer,” Mrs. Weems +admitted.</p> +<p>Penny sat down on the edge of the bed, drawing +up her knees for a chin rest.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Weems, don’t you think it’s risky keeping so +much money here?”</p> +<p>“It will only be for a few days, Penny. I’ll have it +converted into traveler’s cheques as soon as I am ready +to start west.”</p> +<p>“The desk doesn’t seem a safe place to me.”</p> +<p>“You’re the only person who knows where I keep +the money, Penny. Oh, yes, I told Mrs. Hodges, but +she is to be trusted. No one can steal it as long as I +have the key.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Weems tapped a black velvet ribbon which +she wore about her neck.</p> +<p>“I keep this on me day and night,” she declared. “No +thief ever will get it way from me.”</p> +<p>Penny said nothing more about the matter. Instead, +she launched into a highly colored account of her visit +to the Celestial Temple. The housekeeper expressed +disapproval, remarking that she never would have +granted permission had she known in advance where +the girls were going. Nevertheless, her eager questions +made it evident that she was deeply interested in the +demonstration which had been witnessed.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_105">[105]</div> +<p>“I don’t see how you can call it trickery,” she protested. +“You have no proof, Penny.”</p> +<p>“Never in the world will I believe that spirits can +make tables do a dance, Mrs. Weems! Probably the +furniture had special wiring or something of the sort.”</p> +<p>“You can’t say that about the table at Mrs. Hodges’, +Penny.”</p> +<p>“No, it seemed to be just an ordinary piece of furniture,” +the girl admitted reluctantly. “All the same, Al +Gepper is a fraud, and I wish you wouldn’t attend his +old séance tomorrow.”</p> +<p>“But Penny, I gave my promise.”</p> +<p>“I can run over to the house and tell him you’ve +changed your mind.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Weems shook her head. “No, Penny, I am +curious to learn if he will be able to communicate +with the spirits. Tomorrow’s séance should provide a +genuine test. The man knows nothing about me or my +ancestors.”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Hodges probably has provided all the information +he’ll require.”</p> +<p>“I telephoned her yesterday and requested her not +to tell Mr. Gepper anything about me. She’ll respect +my wishes. The test should prove a true one.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_106">[106]</div> +<p>Penny sighed and arose from the bed. Knowing +Mrs. Weems as she did, she realized that her opinion +could not be changed by argument. It was her hope +that Al Gepper would discredit himself by failing in +the séance.</p> +<p>“Penny, please promise that you’ll do nothing outrageous +tomorrow,” Mrs. Weems begged as the girl +started to leave. “I am sure Mr. Gepper feels that you +are antagonistic.”</p> +<p>“I’ll try to behave myself,” Penny laughed. “Yes, +we’ll give Mr. Gepper a chance to prove what he can +do.”</p> +<p>At two the following afternoon she and Mrs. +Weems presented themselves at the Hodges’ cottage. +Both Mr. Hodges and his wife, who were to sit in at +the séance, were trembling with anticipation.</p> +<p>“Mr. Gepper is simply wonderful,” the seamstress +confided to Mrs. Weems. “He tells me that I have +great healing powers as well as a psychic personality.”</p> +<p>“Jenny, I hope you haven’t told him anything +about me,” the housekeeper mentioned.</p> +<p>“Oh, no, Maud. For that matter, he’s said nothing +about you since you were here.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Weems cast Penny an “I-told-you-so” glance +which was not lost upon Al Gepper who entered the +room at that moment.</p> +<p>“I am ready for you, ladies,” he said. “Kindly follow +me.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_107">[107]</div> +<p>In the upstairs room blinds had been drawn. Al +Gepper indicated that his audience was to occupy the +chairs around the circular table.</p> +<p>“Before we attempt to communicate with the departed +souls, I wish to assure you that I employ no +trickery,” he announced, looking hard at Penny. “You +may examine the table or the cabinet if you wish.”</p> +<p>“Oh, no, Mr. Gepper,” murmured Mrs. Hodges. +“We trust you.”</p> +<p>“I’ll look, if you don’t mind,” said Penny.</p> +<p>She peered beneath the table, thumped it several +times, and pulled aside the curtain of the cabinet. It +was empty.</p> +<p>“Now if you are quite satisfied, shall we begin?” +purred Mr. Gepper. “It will make it much easier, if +each one of you will give me a personal object.”</p> +<p>“A la the Celestial Temple method,” muttered +Penny beneath her breath.</p> +<p>“What was that?” questioned the medium sharply.</p> +<p>“Nothing. I was merely thinking to myself.”</p> +<p>“Then please think more quietly. I must warn you +that this séance cannot be successful unless each person +present concentrates, entering into the occasion +with the deepest of sincerity.”</p> +<p>“I assure you, I am as sincere as yourself,” Penny +responded gravely.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_108">[108]</div> +<p>Mr. Hodges deposited his gold watch on the table. +His wife offered a pin and Mrs. Weems a plain band +ring. Penny parted with a handkerchief.</p> +<p>After everyone was seated about the table, Al +Gepper played several phonograph records, all the +while exhorting the Spirits to appear.</p> +<p>Taking Mrs. Weems’ ring from the tray before him, +he pressed it to his forehead. A convulsive shudder +wracked his body.</p> +<p>“Someone comes to me—” he mumbled. “Someone +comes, giving the name of David—David Swester.”</p> +<p>“My cousin,” breathed Mrs. Weems in awe.</p> +<p>“He is tall and dark with a scar over his left eye,” +resumed the medium. “I see him plainly now.”</p> +<p>“That <i>is</i> David!” cried the housekeeper, leaning +forward in her eagerness.</p> +<p>“David, have you a message for us?” the medium +intoned.</p> +<p>There was a long silence, during which the man +could be seen writhing and twisting in the semi-darkness. +Then his voice began again:</p> +<p>“David has a message for a person called Maud.”</p> +<p>“I am Maud,” said Mrs. Weems tremulously. “Oh, +what does he say?”</p> +<p>“That he is well and happy in the Spirit World, but +he is worried about Maud.”</p> +<p>“Worried about me? Why?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_109">[109]</div> +<p>The medium again seemed to undergo physical suffering, +but presently the message “came through,” although +not in an entirely clear form.</p> +<p>“David’s voice has faded. I am not certain, but it has +something to do with six thousand dollars.”</p> +<p>“The exact amount he left to me!” Mrs. Weems +murmured.</p> +<p>“David is afraid that you will not have the wisdom +to invest the money wisely. He warns you that the +present place where you have it deposited is not safe. +He will tell you what to do with it. Now the voice is +fading again. David has gone.”</p> +<p>With another convulsive shudder, Al Gepper +straightened from the position into which he had +slumped. Resuming his normal tone he said:</p> +<p>“That is all. The connection with Cousin David has +been broken.”</p> +<p>“Can’t we contact him again?” Mrs. Weems asked +in disappointment.</p> +<p>“Not today. Possibly tomorrow at this same hour.”</p> +<p>“Couldn’t you call up another Spirit by using my +pin or Pa’s watch?” Mrs. Hodges suggested wistfully.</p> +<p>Al Gepper raised one of the window blinds. “I am +very, very tired,” he said. “This séance was particularly +exhausting due to the presence of someone antagonistic. +Tomorrow if conditions are right, I hope +actually to materialize Cousin David. The poor soul +is trying so hard to get a message through to the one +he calls Maud.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_110">[110]</div> +<p>“You mean I’ll be able to see him?” the housekeeper +asked incredulously.</p> +<p>“I hope and believe so. I must rest now. After a +séance I should refresh myself with sleep.”</p> +<p>“Of course,” agreed Mrs. Hodges. “We are selfish +to overtax you.”</p> +<p>Recovering their trinkets, the elderly couple and +Mrs. Weems went from the room. Penny was the last +to leave.</p> +<p>“Well, sister?” inquired the medium in a low voice. +“Were you convinced, or do you still think that you +can show up Al Gepper?”</p> +<p>“I think,” said Penny softly, “that you are a very +clever man. But clever as you are, one of your well-trained +ghosts may yet lead you to the city jail!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_111">[111]</div> +<h2 id="c13"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">13</span> +<br /><i>COUSIN DAVID’S GHOST</i></h2> +<p>When Penny reached the lower floor she found +Mrs. Weems and the Hodges excitedly discussing the +séance. The seamstress and her husband emphatically +declared that they had given the medium no information +regarding either the housekeeper or the deceased +Cousin David.</p> +<p>“Then there can be only one explanation,” Mrs. +Weems said. “We were truly in communication with +a departed spirit.”</p> +<p>“Don’t you agree, Penny?” inquired Mrs. Hodges.</p> +<p>“I am afraid I can’t,” she replied.</p> +<p>“The test was a fair one,” Mrs. Weems insisted. +“Mr. Gepper couldn’t have described Cousin David +so accurately if he hadn’t actually seen him as he materialized +from the spirit world.”</p> +<p>“Al Gepper could have obtained much of his information +from persons in Riverview,” Penny responded.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_112">[112]</div> +<p>“About me, perhaps,” the housekeeper conceded. +“But not about Cousin David. Why, I doubt if anyone +save myself knew he had a scar over his eye. He received +it in an automobile accident twelve or thirteen +years ago.”</p> +<p>“Just think!” murmured Mrs. Hodges. “Tomorrow +you may actually be able to see your departed cousin!”</p> +<p>In vain Penny argued that Al Gepper was a trickster. +She was unable to offer the slightest evidence to +support her contention while, on the other hand, the +Hodges reminded her that the medium had never +asked one penny for his services.</p> +<p>From the cottage Penny went directly to the <i>Star</i> +office, feeling certain that her father would have returned +there from his trip. Nor was she mistaken. +Gaining admittance to the private office, she wasted no +words in relating everything which had transpired +during his absence. Her father’s attention was flattering.</p> +<p>“Penny, you actually saw all this?” he questioned +when she had finished.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes! At the Celestial Temple Louise was with +me, too. We thought you might take up the matter +with the police.”</p> +<p>“That’s exactly what I will do,” decided Mr. Parker. +“I’ve turned the matter over in my mind for several +days. The <i>Star</i> will take the initiative in driving these +mediums, character readers and the like out of Riverview!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_113">[113]</div> +<p>“Oh, Dad, I was hoping you’d say that!”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker pressed a desk buzzer. Summoning DeWitt, +he told of his plan to launch an active campaign.</p> +<p>“Nothing will please me better, Chief,” responded +the city editor. “Where do we start?”</p> +<p>“We’ll tip the police to what is going on at the +Celestial Temple. Have them send detectives there for +tonight’s meeting. Then when the usual hocus-pocus +starts, arrests can be made. Have photographers and a +good reporter on hand.”</p> +<p>“That should start the ball rolling,” agreed DeWitt. +“I’ll assign Jerry Livingston to the story. Salt Sommers +is my best photographer.”</p> +<p>“Get busy right away,” Mr. Parker ordered. “We’ll +play the story big tomorrow—give it a spread.”</p> +<p>“How about Al Gepper?” Penny inquired after DeWitt +had gone. “Could he be arrested without involving +the Hodges?”</p> +<p>“Not very easily if he lives at their place. Has he accepted +money for the séances he conducts there?”</p> +<p>“He hasn’t taken any yet from Mrs. Weems. I am +sure he must have other customers.”</p> +<p>“You have no proof of it?”</p> +<p>“No.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_114">[114]</div> +<p>“Suppose we forget Al Gepper for the time being, +and concentrate on the Celestial Temple,” Mr. Parker +proposed. “In the meantime, learn everything you can +about the man’s methods.”</p> +<p>“No assignment would please me more, Dad. I’ve +the same as promised Mr. Gepper he’ll land in jail, and +I want to make good.”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker began to pace the floor. “I’ll write a +scorching editorial,” he said. “We’ll fight ignorance +with information. Our reporters must learn how these +mediums do their tricks, and expose them to the gullible +public.”</p> +<p>“I’ll do everything I can to help,” Penny promised +eagerly. “May I have Al Gepper for my particular fish +bait?”</p> +<p>“He’s your assignment. And I’m depending upon +you to see that he doesn’t work any of his trickery on +Mrs. Weems. If she can’t be persuaded to remain +away from the Hodges’, then we must protect her as +best we can.”</p> +<p>“I’ll try to accompany her every time she goes there, +Dad. I am afraid he may be after her money.”</p> +<p>“Gepper doesn’t know she inherited six thousand +dollars?” Mr. Parker asked in alarm.</p> +<p>“Yes, she dropped the information that she had +come into money. He supplied figures himself.”</p> +<p>“I wonder how?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_115">[115]</div> +<p>“I haven’t the slightest idea, Dad. Gepper is as clever +a man as ever I met. Honestly, it wouldn’t surprise me +if he does produce Cousin David at tomorrow’s +séance.”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker snorted in disgust.</p> +<p>“Tommyrot! The man will make an excuse about +the conditions not being right, and fail.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps, but he seems pretty confident.”</p> +<p>“You expect to attend the séance?”</p> +<p>“Oh, definitely. Jungle beasts couldn’t keep me +away.”</p> +<p>“Then be alert every instant—without appearing +too suspicious, of course. Try to learn how the man +accomplishes his tricks.”</p> +<p>“Leave it to me,” chuckled Penny. “Mr. Al Gepper +is due for his first shock when he wakes up tomorrow +and reads that the Celestial Temple has been raided. +Unless I am much mistaken, that place is one of his +favorite haunts.”</p> +<p>Leaving the newspaper office, Penny went directly +home. She longed to stop at the Sidell home, but she +had promised her father to say nothing about the +planned raid until it was an accomplished fact. Feeling +the need of work to occupy her time, she washed the +maroon car and waxed the fading paint of Leaping +Lena.</p> +<p>At six o’clock her father came home for dinner.</p> +<p>“Any news?” Penny asked, running to meet him.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_116">[116]</div> +<p>“Everything’s set,” he answered. “DeWitt laid your +information before the police. Tonight three detectives +will attend the meeting at the Temple. If anything +out of the way happens, the raid will be staged.”</p> +<p>Penny was so tense with expectation that she was +unable to do justice to the delicious dinner which Mrs. +Weems had prepared. Her father, too, seemed unusually +restless. After dinner he made a pretense of reading +the paper, but actually his eyes did not see the +print.</p> +<p>The hands of the clock scarcely appeared to move, +so slowly did time pass. Eight o’clock came, then nine. +Suddenly the telephone rang.</p> +<p>Penny was away in an instant to answer it. From +the next room she called to her father:</p> +<p>“It’s for you, Dad! DeWitt, I think.”</p> +<p>“I told him to telephone me as soon as the raid was +staged.” Mr. Parker arose and went quickly to take +the receiver. Penny hovered at his elbow.</p> +<p>“Hello! DeWitt?” the publisher asked, and after a +slight pause: “Oh, I see. No, I don’t think Penny was +mistaken. It’s more likely there was a tip-off.”</p> +<p>He hung up the receiver and turned toward Penny +who anticipated the news.</p> +<p>“The raid was a failure?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_117">[117]</div> +<p>“Yes, Penny. Detectives spent two hours at the +meeting. Nothing happened. It was impossible to make +arrests.”</p> +<p>“They must have been recognized as detectives.”</p> +<p>“Undoubtedly.”</p> +<p>“Others will be assigned to the case?”</p> +<p>“I doubt it, Penny. DeWitt reports that the police +have become convinced that the spiritualists who use +the Temple are not operating for profit.”</p> +<p>“Louise and I know better because she was approached.” +Penny anxiously regarded her father. “Dad, +even if the police do give up, we won’t, will we?”</p> +<p>“No, we’re in this fight and we’ll stay in it,” he answered +grimly. “We’ll put some new teeth in our trap. +And the next time it’s sprung, I warrant you we’ll +catch a crook.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_118">[118]</div> +<h2 id="c14"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">14</span> +<br /><i>WET PAINT</i></h2> +<p>Promptly at two o’clock the following afternoon, +Penny and Mrs. Weems presented themselves at +the Hodges’ cottage for the appointed séance. Already +Mr. Gepper awaited them in the darkened apartment +on the second floor.</p> +<p>Penny’s glance about the room found everything in +the same order as upon the previous visit, save that an +easel with a large black sheet of artist’s paper stood +beside the cabinet.</p> +<p>She moved as if to examine it. Al Gepper intercepted +her by saying:</p> +<p>“Sit here, if you please. Beside Mrs. Weems. I’ll call +the Hodges and we’ll start at once.”</p> +<p>The medium went to the door and shouted down +the stairway. Penny noticed that he remained where +he could watch her every move in a mirror which +hung on the wall. She shrewdly guessed that he was +afraid she might attempt to examine either the cabinet +or the easel.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_119">[119]</div> +<p>Mr. and Mrs. Hodges came in response to the call, +taking chairs about the circular table. The gaze which +they fastened upon Al Gepper was almost worshipful.</p> +<p>“Now today I hope to materialize the Spirit of +Cousin David,” announced the medium. “The task +will be difficult, as you must realize. After the séance +begins I am compelled to request absolute quiet. The +slightest movement may frighten away the Spirits.”</p> +<p>“Why are spirits so timid?” asked Penny.</p> +<p>“Because their beings are so sensitive that they instantly +feel an unfriendly presence,” the man responded +glibly. “Please hold hands, and use every precaution +that contact is not broken.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Weems took one of Penny’s hands and Mr. +Hodges the other. Mrs. Hodges sat next to her husband.</p> +<p>After lowering black curtains over the window +blinds to further darken the room, the medium returned +to his chair. Those at the table were unable to +distinguish his form, and for a time there was no sound +save the scratching music of a phonograph record.</p> +<p>Presently the medium exhorted the Spirit of Cousin +David to appear. For at least ten minutes there was no +indication that communication was to be established. +Then a cowbell tinkled, causing Mrs. Weems to shake +and tremble.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_120">[120]</div> +<p>“Are you there, David?” called the medium.</p> +<p>The bell jingled violently.</p> +<p>“We are ready, David,” intoned the medium. +“Have you a message for us?”</p> +<p>To Penny’s amazement, a pair of shapely white +hands slowly materialized, apparently pulling aside +the curtain of the cabinet above the medium’s head. +In the darkness they glowed with a weird phosphorescent +light.</p> +<p>Next appeared a white-rimmed slate, upon which +luminous words were written: “I am the Spirit of +Cousin David. Is Maud here?”</p> +<p>“Yes, yes,” responded Mrs. Weems, quivering with +excitement. “Have you a message for me?”</p> +<p>Again the hand wrote: “My happiness in this world +beyond is disturbed. Maud, do not squander the +money which I gave to you.”</p> +<p>“Squander it?” the housekeeper said aloud. “Why, +I’ve scarcely spent a penny!”</p> +<p>“A trip to California is ill-advised,” wrote the hand. +“Invest your money in good eight per cent securities. +There are many excellent companies—the Brantwell +Corporation, White and Edwards, the Bierkamp Company.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_121">[121]</div> +<p>The slate vanished and once more the jingling of +the cowbell denoted that the spirit was moving away.</p> +<p>The medium spoke. “Contact has been broken. +Shall we try to reach Cousin David again?”</p> +<p>“Oh, please!” pleaded Mrs. Weems. “I don’t know +what to do now. I’ve planned on the western trip and +I can’t understand why Cousin David should advise +me to give it up.”</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t go agin’ the Spirits if I was you,” advised +Mr. Hodges. “You better change your plans, +Maud.”</p> +<p>“But how can I be certain that the message came +from Cousin David?” the housekeeper quavered. “Oh, +dear, I am so upset! If only I could be certain.”</p> +<p>“Madam, I hope you do not distrust me,” said Al +Gepper reprovingly.</p> +<p>“Oh, no, it’s not that. I’m just upset.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps, if you actually saw your cousin it would +set your mind at rest.”</p> +<p>“Is it possible to see him?”</p> +<p>“I cannot promise, but we will try. Hold hands +again please, and everyone concentrate.”</p> +<p>There followed an interval during which the medium +pleaded with the Spirit of Cousin David to return +and show himself. Suddenly the group was startled +to see a luminous banjo move high through the +air, unsupported by any hand. It began to play “Down +upon the Swanee River.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_122">[122]</div> +<p>Midway through the selection, the music broke off +and the banjo disappeared. An instant later Mrs. +Hodges uttered a choked cry.</p> +<p>“The easel! Look at it, Maud!”</p> +<p>All eyes turned toward the painter’s canvas. As the +medium focused a flashlight upon it, the face of an +elderly man slowly materialized on the blank surface, +the picture appearing in red, blue and finally black oil +paint.</p> +<p>“It <i>is</i> Cousin David!” whispered Mrs. Weems, gripping +Penny’s hand so tightly that it hurt. “He looks +exactly as he did when last I saw him!”</p> +<p>The medium extinguished his light and again the +room was dark. Mrs. Weems’ chair creaked as she +stirred restlessly. Mr. Hodges’ heavy breathing could +be plainly heard. There was no other sound. Everyone +waited in tense expectancy, sensing that the climax of +the séance was at hand.</p> +<p>Suddenly, behind Al Gepper’s chair a spot of +ethereal light appeared. As Penny watched, it grew in +size until the figure had assumed the proportions of a +man. Then, to her further amazement, it slowly rose +toward the ceiling, hovering above Mrs. Weems’ chair.</p> +<p>Throughout the séance Penny had remained firm in +her conviction that the medium had resorted to trickery +to produce his startling effects. Although she could +not be sure, she thought that several times he had +slipped from his chair to enter the conveniently placed +cabinet. She also believed that the only way he could +have materialized the ghost was by donning luminous +robes.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_123">[123]</div> +<p>“I’ll end his little game once and for all,” she +thought.</p> +<p>Deliberately she waited until the ghostly figure +floated close to her own chair. Then with a sudden upward +spring, she snatched at it.</p> +<p>Greatly to her chagrin, her hand encountered nothing +solid. With the speed of lightning, the figure +streaked toward the cabinet behind Al Gepper’s chair +and was seen no more.</p> +<p>Arising, the medium switched on the room lights. +His face was white with anger.</p> +<p>“I warned you to make no move,” he said harshly +to Penny. “You deliberately disobeyed me.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Penny, why did you do it?” wailed Mrs. +Weems. “I was so eager to get another message from +Cousin David.”</p> +<p>“His Spirit has been frightened away,” announced +the medium. “It will be impossible ever to recall him. +For that matter, I shall never again conduct a séance +with this young person present. She is a disturbing +element.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Penny, you’ve ruined everything,” said Mrs. +Weems accusingly. “Why do you act so outrageously?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_124">[124]</div> +<p>Penny started to speak and then changed her mind. +Mrs. Weems, the seamstress and her husband, all were +gazing at her with deep reproach. She realized that +there was nothing she could say which would make +them understand.</p> +<p>She arose and walked to the easel. The painting of +Cousin David remained clearly visible. She touched +it and then glanced at her finger which bore a streak +of red.</p> +<p>The paint was still wet.</p> +<p>Penny stared at her finger a moment. Lifting her +eyes she met the triumphant gaze of Al Gepper.</p> +<p>“Not even a skillful artist could have painted a +picture so quickly,” he said with a smirk. “Only a +spirit would have the ability. You are dumbfounded, +my little one?”</p> +<p>“No, just plain dumb,” answered Penny. “I salute +you, Mr. Gepper.”</p> +<p>Without waiting for Mrs. Weems, she turned and +went from the house.</p> +<p>“Now how <i>did</i> he do it?” she muttered. “I saw +everything and yet I am more in the dark than ever. +But I am sure of one thing. Unless I work fast, Al +Gepper is almost certain to obtain Mrs. Weems’ inheritance.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_125">[125]</div> +<h2 id="c15"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">15</span> +<br /><i>HIDDEN MONEY</i></h2> +<p>One of Penny’s first acts upon arriving home was +to scan the telephone directory under the heading, +Investment Firms. The three companies mentioned +during the séance, White and Edwards, Brantwell, and +Bierkamp, were unlisted.</p> +<p>“Evidently there are no such firms in Riverview,” +she reflected. “But why was Mrs. Weems advised to +invest her money with one of them? It looks very +suspicious to me!”</p> +<p>Not until after five o’clock did Mrs. Weems return +from the Hodges’. She seemed rather upset, and when +Penny tried to bring up the subject of the séance, said +distantly:</p> +<p>“Please, Penny, I prefer not to discuss it. Your conduct +was disgraceful.”</p> +<p>“I apologize for grabbing at the ghost, Mrs. Weems. +I only did it to prove that Al Gepper is a fraud.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_126">[126]</div> +<p>“Your motives were quite apparent. One could not +blame Mr. Gepper for being angry.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Mrs. Weems,” said Penny in desperation. +“How can you be taken in by his smooth line? His +one purpose is to obtain your money.”</p> +<p>“You are very unjust,” the housekeeper responded. +“Today I tried to pay Mr. Gepper for the séance and +he would not accept one penny.”</p> +<p>“That’s because he is playing for higher stakes.”</p> +<p>“It’s no use discussing the matter with you,” Mrs. +Weems shrugged. “You are prejudiced and will give +the man credit for nothing.”</p> +<p>“I give him credit for being very clever. Mrs. +Weems, please promise that you’ll not allow him to +invest your money for you.”</p> +<p>“I have no intention of doing so, Penny. It does seem +to me that I should consider Cousin David’s wishes in +the matter. Very likely I shall abandon my plans for +the western trip.”</p> +<p>“And stay here with us?” Penny cried eagerly.</p> +<p>“No, I am thinking of going to a larger city and +taking an apartment. With my money invested in +eight per cent securities, I should have a comfortable +little income.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_127">[127]</div> +<p>“Mrs. Weems, I’ve heard Dad say over and over +that sound securities will not pay such a high rate of +interest. Promise you won’t invest your money until +you’ve talked with him.”</p> +<p>“You’re always asking me to promise something or +other,” the housekeeper sighed. “This time I shall use +my own judgment.”</p> +<p>Realizing that further argument was only a waste of +breath, Penny wandered outside to await her father. +When he came, they sat together on the front porch +steps, discussing the situation.</p> +<p>“I’ll drop a word of advice to Mrs. Weems at the +first opportunity,” offered Mr. Parker. “If she is in the +mood you describe, it would not be wise to bring up +the subject tonight. She merely would resent my interference.”</p> +<p>“What worries me is that I am afraid she may have +told Al Gepper where the money is kept.”</p> +<p>“Tomorrow I’ll urge her again to deposit it in a +bank. We’ll do our best to protect her from these +sharpers.”</p> +<p>The publisher had been very much interested in +Penny’s account of the séance. However, he was unable +to explain how the various tricks had been accomplished.</p> +<p>“Dad,” Penny said thoughtfully, “you don’t suppose +there’s any chance it wasn’t trickery?”</p> +<p>“Certainly not! I hope you’re not falling under this +fellow’s spell?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_128">[128]</div> +<p>“No, but it gave me a real shock when I saw Cousin +David’s face materialize on the canvas. It was the absolute +image of him—or rather of a picture Mrs. Weems +once showed me.”</p> +<p>A startled expression came over Penny’s face. Without +explanation, she sprang to her feet and ran to the +kitchen.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Weems,” she cried, “did you ever get it back? +Your picture!”</p> +<p>“What picture, Penny?” The housekeeper scarcely +glanced up as she vigorously scrubbed carrots.</p> +<p>“I mean the one of Cousin David. You allowed a +photographer to take it for enlargement.”</p> +<p>“It hasn’t been returned,” Mrs. Weems admitted. +“I can’t imagine why the work takes so long.”</p> +<p>“I think I can,” announced Penny. “But you never +would believe me if I told you, so I won’t.”</p> +<p>Racing to the porch, she revealed to her father what +she thought had occurred. It was her theory that the +agent who had called at the Parker home days earlier +had in actuality been one of Al Gepper’s assistants.</p> +<p>“Don’t you see, Dad!” she cried. “The man obtained +a picture of Cousin David, and probably turned +it over to the medium.” Her face fell slightly. “Of +course, that still doesn’t explain how the painting +slowly materialized.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_129">[129]</div> +<p>“Nor does it explain the ghost or the banjo. Penny, +couldn’t Gepper have painted the picture himself in +the darkness?”</p> +<p>“There wasn’t time, Dad. Besides, he held a flashlight +on the painting. No human hand touched it.”</p> +<p>“You say, too, that the banjo was high overhead +when it played?”</p> +<p>“That’s right, Dad. Gepper couldn’t have reached +the strings. The instrument floated free in the air.”</p> +<p>“Sounds fantastic.”</p> +<p>“Believe me, it was, Dad. It’s no wonder Gepper is +gaining such influence over Mrs. Weems. He’s as slick +as a greased fox!”</p> +<p>“I’ll have Jerry go to the house and try to learn how +the fellow operates,” declared Mr. Parker. “We can’t +break the story until we have absolute evidence that +Gepper has obtained money under false pretenses.”</p> +<p>The next day Penny remained close at home. Mrs. +Weems still treated her somewhat distantly, leaving +the house immediately after lunch and declining to explain +where she was going. Penny was quite certain +that her destination was the Hodges’ cottage.</p> +<p>“Guess I’ll run over and see Louise,” she thought +restlessly. “Nothing to do here.”</p> +<p>Before she could leave the house, the doorbell rang. +A man of perhaps thirty, well dressed, with a leather +briefcase tucked under his arm, stood on the front +porch. He bowed politely to Penny.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_130">[130]</div> +<p>“This is where Mrs. Weems resides, I believe?”</p> +<p>“Yes, but she isn’t here now.”</p> +<p>“When will she be home?”</p> +<p>“I can’t say,” replied Penny. “Are you an agent?”</p> +<p>The man’s appearance displeased her although she +could not have said exactly why. His smile was too +ingratiating, his eyes calculating and hard.</p> +<p>“My name is Bierkamp,” he explained. “I represent +the Harold G. Bierkamp Investment Company.”</p> +<p>Penny stiffened. She glared at the agent. “You mean +you represent the Al Gepper Spookus Company,” she +said in a cutting voice. “Well, Mrs. Weems doesn’t +want any of your wonderful eight per cent stocks! +She’ll not see you, so don’t come here again!”</p> +<p>“And who are you to speak for her?” the man retorted.</p> +<p>“If you come here again, I’ll call the police,” Penny +threatened. “Now get out!”</p> +<p>Without another word, the man retreated down +the street. Penny watched until he turned a corner +and was lost to view. She was a trifle worried as to +what she had done.</p> +<p>“If Mrs. Weems learns about this she’ll never forgive +me,” she thought uneasily. “But he was a crook +sent by Al Gepper. I know it.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_131">[131]</div> +<p>Wandering upstairs, she entered the bathroom, intending +to wash before going to Louise’s home. On +the tiled floor lay a velvet ribbon with a key attached. +At once, Penny realized that Mrs. Weems had left it +there inadvertently.</p> +<p>“It’s the key to her desk,” she reflected, picking it +up. “And she insists that her money is kept in a safe +place! I have a notion to play a joke on her.”</p> +<p>The longer Penny considered the idea, the more it +pleased her. Jubilantly, she set forth for the Sidell +home. Taking Louise into her confidence, she visited +a novelty shop and purchased a supply of fake money.</p> +<p>Returning home, she then unlocked the drawer of +Mrs. Weems’ desk and, removing the six thousand +dollars, replaced it with neat stacks of imitation bills. +Louise watched her with misgiving.</p> +<p>“Penny, this joke of yours isn’t likely to strike +Mrs. Weems as very funny,” she warned. “You’re always +doing things which get you into trouble.”</p> +<p>“This is in a good cause, Lou. I am protecting Mrs. +Weems from her own folly.”</p> +<p>“What will you do with the money?”</p> +<p>“Deposit it in a bank.”</p> +<p>“You are taking matters into your hands with a +vengeance! Suppose you’re robbed on the way downtown?”</p> +<p>“That would complicate my life. Upon second +thought, I’ll send for an armored truck.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_132">[132]</div> +<p>To Louise’s amazement, Penny actually carried +through her plan. A heavily guarded express truck +presently drew up before the Parker residence, and +Mrs. Weems’ money was turned over to the two +armed men who promised that it would be delivered +safely to the First National Bank.</p> +<p>“There, that’s a load off my mind,” said Penny. +“Just let Al Gepper try to steal Mrs. Weems’ money +now!”</p> +<p>Louise shook her head sadly. “You may be accused +of stealing yourself. I wouldn’t be in your slippers +when Mrs. Weems learns about this.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’ll be able to explain,” laughed Penny.</p> +<p>The joke she had played did not seem quite so funny +an hour later. Mrs. Weems returned home and without +comment recovered the key which had been replaced +on the lavatory floor. She did not open her desk +or mention the money.</p> +<p>At dinner Penny was so subdued that the housekeeper +inquired if she were ill.</p> +<p>“Not yet,” the girl answered. “I’m just thinking +about the future. It’s so depressing.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps a picture show would cheer us all,” proposed +Mr. Parker.</p> +<p>Mrs. Weems displayed interest, and Penny, without +enthusiasm, agreed to go. Eight o’clock found them +at the Avalon, a neighborhood theatre. The show was +not to Penny’s liking, although her father and the +housekeeper seemed to enjoy it. She squirmed restlessly, +and finally whispered to her father that she was +returning home.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_133">[133]</div> +<p>In truth, as Penny well knew, she was suffering +from an acute case of “conscience.” Now that it was +too late, she regretted having meddled with Mrs. +Weems’ money.</p> +<p>Gloomily she walked home alone. As she entered, +she heard the telephone ringing, but before she could +answer, the party hung up. With a sigh Penny locked +the front door again, switched out the lights and went +to bed.</p> +<p>For a long while she lay staring at a patch of moonlight +on the bedroom carpet. Although she felt tired +she could not sleep.</p> +<p>“It’s just as Louise said,” she reflected. “I’m always +getting myself into hot water and for no good reason, +either!”</p> +<p>Her morose thoughts were interrupted as a hard +object thudded against a nearby wall. Penny sat up, +listening. She believed that the sound had come from +Mrs. Weems’ room, yet she knew she was alone in the +house.</p> +<p>Rolling from bed, she groped for a robe, and without +turning on the lights, tiptoed down the hall. Mrs. +Weems’ door stood open. Was some intruder hidden +in that room?</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_134">[134]</div> +<p>Peering inside, Penny at first noticed nothing amiss. +Then her gaze fastened on the window sill, plainly +visible in the moonlight. Two iron hooks, evenly +spaced, had been clamped over the ledge!</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_135">[135]</div> +<h2 id="c16"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">16</span> +<br /><i>OVER THE WINDOW LEDGE</i></h2> +<p>As Penny flattened herself against the wall, the +head and shoulders of a man slowly rose into view. +Although his body was plainly silhouetted in the +moonlight, she could not see his face.</p> +<p>The intruder raised the sash, making no sound. He +hesitated, listening a moment, then dropped lightly +into the bedroom.</p> +<p>Without turning on a flashlight which he carried, he +went directly to Mrs. Weems’ desk. So deliberate was +the action that Penny instantly decided the fellow had +come for a particular purpose and knew the lay-out of +the entire house.</p> +<p>“He means to steal Mrs. Weems’ money!” she +thought.</p> +<p>Opening the desk, the man tried the drawer where +the inheritance funds had been hidden. Failing to unlock +it with a key, he took a tool from his pocket and +in a moment had broken the lock.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_136">[136]</div> +<p>Removing the stack of fake bills which Penny had +substituted, he thrust them into his coat. Taking no +interest in anything else in the room, he moved +stealthily toward the window.</p> +<p>Penny knew there was no one within calling distance +and that the man probably was armed. Wisdom +dictated that she remain in hiding, but she was determined +the thief should not escape. Hoping to take him +by surprise, she stalked forward.</p> +<p>A board creaked. With a muttered exclamation the +man whirled around. At the same instant Penny flung +herself upon him, diving low in imitation of a football +tackle.</p> +<p>The thief reeled, but instead of falling he recovered +his balance and gave Penny a tremendous shove which +sent her sprawling backwards. Before she could regain +her feet, he ran to the window. Swinging himself over +the ledge, he vanished from view.</p> +<p>By the time Penny reached the window there was +no sign of the intruder. He had disappeared as if into +thin air. However, she knew that the man must have +descended by means of a ladder which he had hastily +removed.</p> +<p>She ran her hand over the window ledge. The iron +hooks no longer were there, only the scars which had +been cut in the wood.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_137">[137]</div> +<p>“This undoubtedly was the same fellow who broke +into the Kohl apartment!” she thought. “But how did +he escape so quickly?”</p> +<p>Penny started for a telephone, intending to notify +the police. However, when it occurred to her that her +father might not wish the matter made public, she +changed her mind and ran downstairs.</p> +<p>Unlocking the rear door, she glanced carefully +about the yard. There was no one in sight, no movement +behind any of the shrubbery.</p> +<p>“He’s gone, of course,” she thought.</p> +<p>Penny wore no shoes. Finding a pair of old galoshes +on the porch, she protected her feet with them, and +hobbled into the yard.</p> +<p>The grass beneath Mrs. Weems’ window had been +trampled, but at first glance there was no clue to indicate +how the burglar had gained entrance to the house.</p> +<p>“Obviously he used a ladder,” she reasoned. “But +how did he descend so quickly? And what became of +the ladder? I know he never had time to carry away +one of the ordinary type.”</p> +<p>A dark object lying on the grass attracted Penny’s +attention. Picking it up, she carried it to the porch and +switched on a light that she might see to better advantage. +In her hand she held a torn strand of black +silk rope.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_138">[138]</div> +<p>“This may be an important clue!” she thought excitedly. +“I know now how the man entered the +house!”</p> +<p>As Penny examined the piece of rope, automobile +headlight beams cut a path across the yard. The Parker +car drew up on the driveway and both Mrs. Weems +and Mr. Parker alighted.</p> +<p>“Dad, come here quickly!” Penny called as he +started to open the garage doors.</p> +<p>“What’s wrong, Penny?”</p> +<p>Both the publisher and Mrs. Weems came toward +the porch.</p> +<p>“We’ve had a burglar,” Penny announced. “He +broke into Mrs. Weems’ room, smashing the lock on +the desk—”</p> +<p>“My money!” the housekeeper exclaimed in horror. +“Oh, Penny, don’t tell me that it’s gone!”</p> +<p>“He escaped with the contents of the drawer.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Weems gave a moan of anguish. “Haven’t you +called the police?” she demanded. “When did it happen? +Tell me everything!”</p> +<p>“First, I’ll set your mind at rest,” Penny replied. +“Your money is safe.”</p> +<p>“Oh! I never was so relieved in all my born days.” +Mrs. Weems sagged weakly into a porch rocker. +“Penny, how could you torture me by letting me +think the money was stolen?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_139">[139]</div> +<p>“Because I have a confession to make, Mrs. Weems. +You left the key to your desk lying on the bathroom +floor. I thought it might be a good joke to move the +money to another place.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you darling blessed girl!” laughed Mrs. +Weems. “Where did you hide it, Penny? Are you sure +it’s safe?”</p> +<p>“It should be. I had it taken to the First National +Bank and deposited in your name. The thief carried +off a package of fake money.”</p> +<p>“Rather high-handed weren’t you?” commented her +father.</p> +<p>“Now don’t you scold her,” spoke Mrs. Weems +quickly. “I am glad Penny acted as she did. Otherwise, +I might have lost my entire inheritance.”</p> +<p>Penny drew a deep breath. “I’m relieved you feel +that way about it. I wish I could see the burglar’s face +when he discovers he stole worthless money!”</p> +<p>Both the housekeeper and Mr. Parker pressed her +with questions. She revealed exactly what had occurred +during their absence, showing them the strand +of black silk rope.</p> +<p>“Dad, I think this may be a valuable clue,” she declared. +“What does it suggest to you?”</p> +<p>“Not much of anything, I am afraid.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_140">[140]</div> +<p>“You remember that when the Kohls were robbed +the police couldn’t figure out how the burglar gained +entrance?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I recall the story.”</p> +<p>“Well, I believe the same man committed both +burglaries.”</p> +<p>“Why do you think so, Penny?”</p> +<p>“At the Kohl’s the police found two marks on the +window ledge apparently made by iron hooks. Similar +marks are on the sill in Mrs. Weems’ room. For that +matter, I distinctly saw the iron pieces bite into the +wood.”</p> +<p>“Let’s look at them,” proposed Mr. Parker.</p> +<p>“Only the marks are there now, Dad. The man +jerked the hooks loose after he descended. They must +have been attached to his ladder.”</p> +<p>“I thought you said he had none, Penny.”</p> +<p>“There was no time for him to have carried away +an ordinary, heavy ladder. I think the one he used +must have been made of silk.”</p> +<p>“And this is a piece of it!” Mr. Parker exclaimed, +examining the twisted strand with new interest. “Your +theory sounds plausible. It would be possible for a +man to scale a wall with such a ladder.”</p> +<p>“He could jerk loose the hooks in an instant, too, +Dad. The ladder would fit into a small suitcase, or +even his pocket!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_141">[141]</div> +<p>“There’s one objection to your theory, Penny. How +could such a ladder be raised to the window ledge? It +naturally would be limp.”</p> +<p>“That part has me puzzled, I’ll admit.”</p> +<p>“I never even heard of a silken ladder,” said Mrs. +Weems doubtfully.</p> +<p>“I once saw one being made,” declared Penny with +deliberate emphasis. “At a Japanese Shop on Dorr +Street.”</p> +<p>“That’s right, you spoke of it!” exclaimed her +father. “Penny, you may have something!”</p> +<p>“I think so, Dad. This strand of twisted silk may +lead straight to Kano’s Curio Shop.”</p> +<p>“And from there?”</p> +<p>Penny hesitated, glancing at Mrs. Weems. She knew +that the housekeeper might take offense, but she answered +quietly:</p> +<p>“My guess would be to Al Gepper, Dad. Who but +he or an accomplice could have known where the +money was hidden?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_142">[142]</div> +<h2 id="c17"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">17</span> +<br /><i>KANO’S CURIO SHOP</i></h2> +<p>As Penny had anticipated, Mrs. Weems indignantly +declared that she did not believe Mr. Gepper could +have had any connection with the attempted robbery. +Yet, even as she made the assertion, a startled expression +came over her face.</p> +<p>“Think back, Mrs. Weems,” urged Mr. Parker. +“How many persons knew where you had secreted the +money?”</p> +<p>“I told Mrs. Hodges.”</p> +<p>“And Al Gepper?” Penny probed.</p> +<p>“Well—” The housekeeper looked ill at ease. “He +may have heard me talking with Mrs. Hodges. I remember +he passed through the hall while we were +together.”</p> +<p>“What day was that?” inquired Penny.</p> +<p>“Yesterday. After the séance. But I can’t believe +that Mr. Gepper would try to steal the money. I just +can’t!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_143">[143]</div> +<p>“From what Penny has told me of the man, I should +judge that he is a schemer,” contributed Mr. Parker. +“You know the <i>Star</i> has started a vigorous campaign +directed against such mediums as Al Gepper.”</p> +<p>“But he told me such remarkable things about +Cousin David,” protested Mrs. Weems. “Facts which +couldn’t be faked.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Gepper doesn’t make many false moves,” acknowledged +Penny. “He’s a smooth worker. All the +same, he’s a fake.”</p> +<p>“How could he have faked Cousin David’s message? +You forget we actually saw the picture of my relative +painted without the aid of a human hand.”</p> +<p>“Did the picture closely resemble your cousin?” inquired +Mr. Parker.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, indeed. It looked exactly as I saw him +many years ago.”</p> +<p>“Isn’t that rather odd?” demanded Penny. “One +would expect Cousin David to age a little.”</p> +<p>“Penny believes that a photographer’s agent who +came here a few days ago was sent by Gepper to obtain +a picture of your relative,” explained Mr. Parker. +“Did the man ask you many questions about your +cousin?”</p> +<p>“Well, yes, he did,” Mrs. Weems admitted unwillingly. +“I made a mistake giving him the photograph.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_144">[144]</div> +<p>“It seems fairly evident that the picture was used +by Gepper,” Mr. Parker commented. “Whether he +plotted to steal your money remains to be proven. +Penny, you saw the man plainly?”</p> +<p>“No, I didn’t, Dad. Not his face. He was about the +same build as Gepper.”</p> +<p>“That’s not much to go on.”</p> +<p>“From the first Gepper was determined to get Mrs. +Weems’ money, Dad. He sent a man here who pretended +to be from the Bierkamp Investment Company.”</p> +<p>“You didn’t tell me that,” said Mrs. Weems.</p> +<p>“Well, no I didn’t. I was afraid you would invest +your money with him, so I drove the man away. He +must have been Gepper’s accomplice. Failing to acquire +the money by that means, he plotted the burglary.”</p> +<p>“Surely you don’t agree with Penny?” the housekeeper +asked Mr. Parker unhappily.</p> +<p>“In general, I am afraid I do. Mr. Gepper is an undesirable +character, and I should like nothing better +than to send him to jail.”</p> +<p>“Come upstairs, Mrs. Weems,” urged Penny. “I’ll +show you the desk.”</p> +<p>Both the housekeeper and Mr. Parker followed her +to the second floor. An examination of the bedroom +disclosed no additional clues, but after studying the +marks on the window ledge, the publisher favored +Penny’s theory that a silk ladder had been utilized.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_145">[145]</div> +<p>“It was unwise of me to keep my money here,” +Mrs. Weems remarked in a crestfallen tone. “I—I’ve +been silly about everything, I guess.”</p> +<p>Penny gave her a quick hug. “No, you haven’t. +Anyone might have been taken in by Al Gepper.”</p> +<p>“I shall never attend another of his séances. I’ll urge +Mrs. Hodges to turn him from her house.”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Weems, are you willing to help get evidence +against him?” asked Mr. Parker abruptly.</p> +<p>“Why, yes, if I can.”</p> +<p>“Then go to the Hodges’ exactly as you have in the +past,” instructed the publisher. “Penny has been +warned by Gepper not to attend any of the séances, +but you’ll still be welcome. Learn everything you can +and report to me.”</p> +<p>“I’ll be glad to do it, Mr. Parker.”</p> +<p>“Don’t allow him to guess that you have become +suspicious. Above all, never withdraw your money +from the bank at his suggestion.”</p> +<p>“You may be sure I won’t. This has taught me a +bitter lesson.”</p> +<p>“Haven’t you an assignment for me, Dad?” inquired +Penny. “How about Kano’s Curio Shop?”</p> +<p>“Early tomorrow I’ll send Jerry there to question +the old Jap.”</p> +<p>“Will you notify the police?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_146">[146]</div> +<p>“Not for the present. If we can crack this story I’d +like to get it ahead of the <i>Record</i>.”</p> +<p>“I wish you would send me to Kano’s instead of +Jerry.”</p> +<p>“Dorr Street is no place for you, Penny,” Mr. +Parker replied, dismissing the matter. “Shall we get to +bed now? It’s nearly midnight.”</p> +<p>After the doors had been locked once more Penny +went to her room, but she did not immediately fall +asleep. Instead, she kept mulling over the events of the +night. The more she thought about it the more firmly +she became convinced that both the Kohl home and +her own had been entered by the same person.</p> +<p>“The telephone was ringing when I came from the +movie,” she recalled. “Now I wonder who called? It +may have been a trick of the thief to learn if anyone +were in the house. When no one answered, the assumption +would be that the coast was clear.”</p> +<p>Penny felt rather well satisfied with the way matters +had developed. In one bold stroke she had saved Mrs. +Weems’ inheritance, convinced the housekeeper that +Al Gepper was not to be trusted, and had made definite +progress in gaining evidence to be used in her +father’s campaign against the charlatan invaders of +Riverview. Yet it annoyed her that the story, now +that it had reached an active stage, was to be turned +over to Jerry.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_147">[147]</div> +<p>“I have a notion to visit the Kano Curio Shop ahead +of him,” she thought. “That’s exactly what I’ll do!”</p> +<p>Having made up her mind, she rolled over and +promptly fell asleep.</p> +<p>In the morning Penny ate breakfast and wiped the +dishes with a speed which astonished Mrs. Weems. +Shortly after her father left for the office, she backed +her own maroon car from the garage, and offering +only a vague explanation, departed for Kano’s Curio +Shop.</p> +<p>Dorr Street was quite deserted at such an early +hour, and the Japanese shop owner had just unlocked +his doors. He was sweeping the floor as Penny boldly +entered.</p> +<p>“Good morning, Mr. Kano,” she greeted him. “You +remember me, I believe?”</p> +<p>Mr. Kano bowed, regarding her warily. “Yes,” he +replied. “You are the young lady whose curiosity is +very large.”</p> +<p>Penny smiled. “You are right, Mr. Kano. It is very +large, especially about a certain silken ladder.”</p> +<p>Mr. Kano frowned as he leaned on his broom. “I +am very sorry,” he said. “I am a merchant, not one +who answers what you call the quiz-bee.”</p> +<p>Penny understood that the Japanese never would +tell her what she wished to know save under compulsion. +She decided to adopt firm tactics.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_148">[148]</div> +<p>“Mr. Kano,” she said, “my father is the owner of +the <i>Riverview Star</i> and he intends to expose certain +crooks who have been robbing wealthy persons such +as the Kohls. You read in the paper that their home +was entered?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I read,” the Japanese shrugged.</p> +<p>“My own theory is that the thief gained entrance +by means of a silk ladder,” Penny declared. “<i>A ladder +made in this shop!</i>”</p> +<p>The shopkeeper’s eyes narrowed. “I know nothing,” +he replied. “Nothing. You go now, please.”</p> +<p>“If I go,” said Penny, “I’ll return with the police. +You would not like that, I take it?” Her voice was +crisp and full of menace.</p> +<p>Mr. Kano lost some of his poise. “No!” he answered +sharply. “I am an honest man and want no sad trouble +with the police.”</p> +<p>Chancing to glance toward the street, Penny observed +Jerry Livingston standing on the opposite +corner. He was gazing thoughtfully toward the Curio +Shop, and she knew that he must have been sent by +her father to interview Mr. Kano. Inspired, she turned +again to the old Japanese.</p> +<p>“You see that young man yonder?” she asked, indicating +Jerry. “I have but to summon him and he’ll +come here.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_149">[149]</div> +<p>“Detective?” demanded Mr. Kano, peering anxiously +through the window. “Do not call him! I am +an honest man. I will answer your questions.”</p> +<p>“Then tell me about the silken ladder.”</p> +<p>“I know little,” the shopkeeper insisted. “I made the +rope for a man who said: ‘Do this or we will burn +your shop down, Mr. Kano.’ So I made the ladder and +he paid me well for fashioning it.”</p> +<p>“And what was the man’s name?”</p> +<p>“His name I do not know. But his eyes were small +and evil. His skin was dark, his nose crooked.”</p> +<p>Mr. Kano ceased speaking with an abruptness which +caused Penny to glance toward the door. Her first +thought was that Jerry had entered. Instead a strange +young man stood there, regarding her suspiciously.</p> +<p>As she stared at him he quickly retreated, but not +before she had caught a fleeting impression of a face +which matched Mr. Kano’s description with startling +accuracy.</p> +<p>“Was he the one?” she demanded as the door +slammed. “The man for whom you made the ladder?”</p> +<p>“No, no!” denied the Japanese.</p> +<p>His words failed to convince Penny. Darting to the +door, she saw that the young man already was far +down the street, walking rapidly.</p> +<p>“He is the one,” she thought. “I’ll follow him.”</p> +<p>“Wait,” called the Japanese as she started away, “I +have more to tell you.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_150">[150]</div> +<p>It was a ruse to detain her, Penny knew. Pushing +past the shopkeeper who sought to bar the exit, she +reached the street and ran toward Jerry Livingston.</p> +<p>“Why, Penny!” he exclaimed in surprise. “What +are you doing in this part of town?”</p> +<p>“Never mind that,” she answered hastily. “If you’re +after a story, come along with me. We’re trailing the +man who just left Kano’s Shop.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_151">[151]</div> +<h2 id="c18"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">18</span> +<br /><i>THE BELL TOWER</i></h2> +<p>Jerry fell into step with Penny. As they walked +along, she told him of her conversation with Mr. Kano.</p> +<p>“I believe this man we’re following is the same one +who entered our house last night,” she declared. “He’s +the same build as the fellow I grabbed. Besides, he fits +Kano’s description of the person who bought the +silken ladder.”</p> +<p>“Here’s hoping you’re right,” replied Jerry. “If I +muff this assignment, I may wake up looking for another +job.”</p> +<p>Fearing that the man ahead would discover he was +being followed, Jerry and Penny dropped farther and +farther behind. Presently they saw him enter a pawnshop.</p> +<p>“I know that place,” commented Jerry. “It’s run by +Spike Weiser, a notorious <i>fence</i>. He buys stolen goods +and gets rid of it at a profit. Has a swell home on +Clarmont Drive.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_152">[152]</div> +<p>“Why don’t the police arrest him?”</p> +<p>“Oh, they watch the place, but Spike is too smart +to be caught. He has a system for handling <i>hot</i> goods.”</p> +<p>“I’ll venture some of the Kohl loot was sold through +him, Jerry.”</p> +<p>“It wouldn’t surprise me. But if the police search +the place they won’t find a thing.”</p> +<p>Loitering on the opposite side of the street, Penny +and the reporter kept close watch of the pawnbroker’s +shop. Thirty minutes elapsed. The man whom they +had trailed, did not reappear.</p> +<p>“He must have slipped out the back door,” Jerry +remarked. “Probably knew he was being watched.”</p> +<p>“I’m beginning to think so myself.”</p> +<p>Jerry glanced at his watch. “I can’t take any more +time,” he said. “I’ll have to get back to the office.”</p> +<p>“I’ll watch a few minutes longer,” answered Penny. +“If anything develops I’ll try to telephone.”</p> +<p>Jerry walked hurriedly away. Scarcely had he disappeared +when the door of the pawnshop opened, and +the young man who had entered a half hour earlier, +appeared. Penny hastily moved back into the vestibule +of an office building.</p> +<p>Without observing her, the stranger crossed the +street and walked briskly toward an intersecting boulevard. +There was no opportunity for Penny to telephone +the <i>Star</i> office. Following, she was hard pressed +to keep the man within view.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_153">[153]</div> +<p>Not until they reached the entrance of Butternut +Lane did it dawn upon her that the Celestial Temple +might be their destination. Then, indeed, her pulse +stepped up a pace.</p> +<p>“It’s exactly as I guessed!” she thought triumphantly. +“He’s connected with Al Gepper and the +other mediums!”</p> +<p>Not wishing to attract attention in the deserted lane, +Penny took a short cut through the cemetery, emerging +at the rear of the Celestial Temple. There was no +door on that side of the building but a window had +been left raised. Placed beneath it, as if for her particular +convenience, was a large rock.</p> +<p>Penny stood on it, peering into the Temple. The +room was unoccupied. However, as she waited, the +same man she had trailed, quietly let himself in through +the front entrance, using a key. He glanced about and +called in a low voice: “Pete! Pete! Anyone here?”</p> +<p>There was no answer, which seemed to please the +young man. He moved quickly down the aisle, crossed +the platform to a door which opened into the bell +tower. Kneeling he began to fit keys into the lock, +seeking one which would serve.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_154">[154]</div> +<p>As Penny watched, the young man suddenly +straightened. Apparently he had heard footsteps in the +vestibule for he moved away from the bell tower door.</p> +<p>A middle-aged woman with dyed hair and a skin of +unusual pallor entered the Temple. She stopped short +as she saw the young man.</p> +<p>“You here, Slippery?” she commented, gazing at +him with distrust. “Where’s Pete?”</p> +<p>“Hello, Sade. I was wonderin’ about Pete myself. +Just got here a minute ago.”</p> +<p>The woman’s gaze fastened upon the key which had +been left in the bell tower door.</p> +<p>“Say, what’s coming off here?” she demanded. “You +were trying to get inside!”</p> +<p>“Now don’t ruffle your feathers, Sade,” the man +said soothingly. “I was only testing the door to make +sure it was locked.”</p> +<p>“I’ll bet! You were aiming to break in! Slippery, +they sure named you right. Why, you’d double-cross +your own mother!”</p> +<p>“Oh, quiet down,” the man retorted angrily. “I only +came here to make sure Pete was on the job. The lazy +loafer has skipped out and left the place unguarded.”</p> +<p>The woman deliberately seated herself in a chair +beside the bell tower door.</p> +<p>“I’m parking here until Pete shows up,” she announced. +“Maybe you’re on the square, Slippery, but +I don’t trust you.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_155">[155]</div> +<p>“Thanks for your flattering opinion,” the man responded +mockingly. “You give me a pain, Sade. I do +all the dangerous work, and what do I get? A measly +ten per cent.”</p> +<p>“Plus what you stick in your pocket when you’re +on a job,” the woman shot back with rising anger. +“You’ve been doing pretty well for yourself, Slippery—you +and Al. But the boys are getting wise. From +now on it may not be so easy. Better play fair with the +rest of us—or else.”</p> +<p>“You always did have a wagging tongue,” the man +retorted. “Always trying to stir up trouble. Don’t you +realize we’ve got to work together or we’ll be jailed +separately? Our ranks must be united.”</p> +<p>“Gettin’ sort of jittery, ain’t you?”</p> +<p>“Maybe you haven’t been reading those editorials +in the <i>Star</i>.”</p> +<p>“Sure, I read them and get a big laugh. This guy +Parker has to blow off steam. Nothing will come +of it.”</p> +<p>“The police have visited this place once already.”</p> +<p>“And what did they find? Nothing.”</p> +<p>“That’s no guarantee they won’t try again. I tell you +this town is getting too hot for comfort.”</p> +<p>“Figurin’ on blowing?” the woman inquired, watching +him shrewdly.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_156">[156]</div> +<p>Slippery’s laughter had an unpleasant edge. “You +sure do get ideas, Sade. Don’t start peddling that line +of talk. Understand?”</p> +<p>“I hear.”</p> +<p>Suddenly losing his temper, the man strode nearer, +seizing her arm.</p> +<p>“Just start something and see where you wake up!” +he said harshly. “One word to Pete or any of the boys +and you won’t do any more pretty fortune telling!”</p> +<p>The woman jerked her arm free, gazing at the man +in sullen silence. Nor did she speak as he left the +Temple, slamming the door behind him.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_157">[157]</div> +<h2 id="c19"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">19</span> +<br /><i>PENNY INVESTIGATES</i></h2> +<p>Penny debated whether or not to follow Slippery. +Deciding that she should try to keep him within +sight, she abandoned her post beneath the window and +ran to the front of the building.</p> +<p>Already the young man was far down the lane, +walking rapidly. Before Penny could overtake him he +hailed a taxi and drove away. By the time she obtained +another cab, pursuit was futile.</p> +<p>“To the <i>Star</i> office,” Penny ordered the driver.</p> +<p>Although Slippery had eluded her, she did not feel +that her morning’s work had been wasted. She believed +that her father would be very much interested in +a report of her findings.</p> +<p>“It’s evident that Slippery is connected with Al +Gepper and various mediums of the Celestial Temple,” +she reflected. “I am sure, too, that he’s the one who +broke into our house, but to prove it may not be so +easy.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_158">[158]</div> +<p>Penny had not fully understood the conversation +which she had overheard between Slippery and Sade. +That they distrusted each other was evident, but why +had the woman feared Slippery might break into the +bell tower during the guard’s absence?</p> +<p>“Something of great value to the organization must +be kept there,” she reasoned. “But what can it be?”</p> +<p>Penny believed that her father would not delay in +requesting police to search the bell tower of the +Celestial Temple. However, a disappointment awaited +her.</p> +<p>Upon arriving at the newspaper office DeWitt +stopped her as she went past his desk.</p> +<p>“Don’t go in there,” he said, jerking his thumb toward +Mr. Parker’s private room.</p> +<p>“Why not?” asked Penny in surprise. “Is Dad having +a conference?”</p> +<p>DeWitt nodded as he composed a two column headline. +“With J. P. Henley.”</p> +<p>“The <i>Star’s</i> Sugar Daddy?”</p> +<p>“Our biggest advertiser. He’s threatening to go over +to the <i>Record</i>.”</p> +<p>“Why, that’s serious!”</p> +<p>“It is if he quits the <i>Star</i>. The old man—Mr. Parker—” DeWitt +corrected hastily, “has been trying to +soften him up for the past two hours. Whatever you +do, don’t bust in there now.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_159">[159]</div> +<p>“I won’t, Mr. DeWitt, but I did wish to see Dad.”</p> +<p>“Anything I can do for you?”</p> +<p>Penny hesitated. “Well, I wanted to talk to him +about something I learned today at the Celestial +Temple.”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes,” nodded the city editor, his attention on +a sheet of copy. “Mr. Parker is handling the campaign +personally. Sorry I can’t be of service.”</p> +<p>Rather startled by DeWitt’s unusual politeness, +Penny glanced hopefully toward Jerry Livingston’s +desk. It was littered with papers, but quite deserted.</p> +<p>With a sigh she left the building and walked to Dorr +Street where she had left her maroon car. Upon reaching +home she found that Mrs. Weems was not there +and she had forgotten her own key. For a time she sat +disconsolately on the front porch. Then she decided +to go to the Hudell Garage where Leaping Lena had +been left for repairs three days earlier.</p> +<p>The car was ready, and with it a bill for eight dollars +and forty-two cents.</p> +<p>“I’ll have to give you a dollar on account and pay +the remainder next week,” said Penny. “Or would +you rather keep the car as a deposit?”</p> +<p>“Give me the dollar,” said the garage man hastily.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_160">[160]</div> +<p>Penny became even more depressed as she drove +the automobile home. Not for the world would she +openly admit that she had made a mistake in repurchasing +Lena. Secretly she acknowledged that two +cars were an unbearable financial drain upon slender +resources.</p> +<p>Turning into her own street, Penny saw Mrs. +Weems walking toward home, and stopped for her.</p> +<p>“I’ve just come from the Hodges’,” the housekeeper +commented, climbing into the car.</p> +<p>“You have?” inquired Penny eagerly. “Did you +learn anything?”</p> +<p>“No, I didn’t. Mr. Gepper seemed very unwilling +to conduct another séance. He acted so different this +time—almost as if he bore me a personal grudge.”</p> +<p>“He’s probably provoked because your inheritance +eluded him.”</p> +<p>“He did tell Mrs. Hodges that he doubted I had +any money,” Mrs. Weems responded.</p> +<p>“What happened at the séance?”</p> +<p>“Why, nothing. The table moved and we heard a +few raps. That was all.”</p> +<p>“No message from Cousin David?”</p> +<p>“Not a word or a sign. Mr. Gepper seemed very +indifferent about it all. He said he couldn’t give me +another appointment unless I paid for it.”</p> +<p>“What do you think about him now?” Penny asked +curiously. “Don’t you agree with Dad and me that +he was after your money?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_161">[161]</div> +<p>“Yes, I was very silly,” the housekeeper acknowledged. +“Mrs. Hodges has begun to lose faith in him, +too. She says he’s been bringing all sorts of folks to +her place. When she told him she didn’t care to have +the house over-run with strangers, he became very +unpleasant.”</p> +<p>“You mean he threatened her?”</p> +<p>“In a mild way. He told her that he would stay as +long as he pleased and she could do nothing about it. +Mrs. Hodges is afraid to go to the police for fear +she’ll be arrested with Mr. Gepper.”</p> +<p>“I wonder if he ever has charged for his séances?” +Penny said thoughtfully.</p> +<p>“I am sure he has, Penny. Of course I have no +proof.”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Weems, you must go there again this afternoon,” +Penny urged. “Insist upon another séance, and +pay him for it! Then you’ll be able to testify as a +witness against him!”</p> +<p>“But I don’t wish to go into court,” the housekeeper +protested. “Besides, Mr. Gepper won’t be at +the cottage this afternoon.”</p> +<p>“Where is he going?” Penny questioned alertly.</p> +<p>“I don’t know. I heard him tell Mrs. Hodges he +would be gone this afternoon, but would return for +an eight o’clock séance.”</p> +<p>“Why, that’s fine—wonderful!” chuckled Penny.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_162">[162]</div> +<p>Mrs. Weems gazed at the girl with sudden suspicion. +“Now what have you thought up?” she demanded.</p> +<p>“Nothing alarming,” grinned Penny. “I merely plan +to visit Mr. Gepper’s studio during his absence. Who +knows, I may yet master a few of the finer points +of ghost-making!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_163">[163]</div> +<h2 id="c20"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">20</span> +<br /><i>INSIDE THE CABINET</i></h2> +<p>Despite Mrs. Weems’ protests, Penny remained +firm in her decision to investigate Mr. Gepper’s +studio. She ate a belatedly prepared lunch and did +not reach the Hodges’ cottage until nearly four +o’clock, having driven there in Lena.</p> +<p>The doors were closed and Penny knocked several +times without receiving a response.</p> +<p>“Everyone must have gone away,” she thought. +“Oh, dear, now what shall I do?”</p> +<p>Penny reasoned that it was of vital importance for +her to inspect Al Gepper’s room during his absence. +She might never have another opportunity. Yet she +hesitated to enter the house while the Hodges were +away, even though she felt certain the seamstress +would not mind.</p> +<p>Walking to the rear, Penny noticed that the porch +screen had been left unfastened. Entering the kitchen, +she called Mrs. Hodges’ name but received no answer.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_164">[164]</div> +<p>“If I wait for her to come home it may be too late,” +decided Penny. “This is an emergency.”</p> +<p>Her mind made up, she took the stairs two at a time +to Al Gepper’s room. Her knock went unanswered. +Satisfied that he was not there, she tried the door and +found it unlocked.</p> +<p>Penny raised a blind to flood light into the darkened +room. Save that a film of dust covered the furniture, +everything was approximately the same as she had +last seen it.</p> +<p>Her gaze fell upon two suitcases which had been +pushed beneath the bed. The first contained only +miscellaneous clothing. The second merited a more +careful inspection.</p> +<p>Almost at once Penny came upon an old faded +picture, the one of Cousin David which Mrs. Weems +had given to the photographer’s “agent.”</p> +<p>“So that was how it was done!” she thought. “Al +Gepper sent one of his confederates to see Mrs. Weems +and obtain information about her cousin. The painting +which appeared so miraculously during the séance was +merely a copy of this! Even so, how was it painted +so quickly?”</p> +<p>Forgetting the picture for a moment, Penny picked +up several newspaper clippings which were fastened +together with a rubber band. All had been taken from +the obituary column and concerned the death of well-to-do +Riverview persons.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_165">[165]</div> +<p>“Al Gepper and his pals are ghouls!” Penny told +herself. “They prey upon the relatives of persons who +have died, realizing that at such a time it will be much +easier to interest them in trying to communicate with +the departed!”</p> +<p>Lifting a tray from the suitcase, her attention focused +upon a small red booklet. As she turned rapidly +through it, a folded sheet of paper fell to the floor.</p> +<p>Examining it, Penny saw a long list of names, together +with pertinent information about each person. +Not only was the address and financial standing of +the individual given, but the deceased relatives in each +family and other facts of a personal nature. The list +had been mimeographed.</p> +<p>“This must be a ‘sucker’ list!” thought Penny. “No +wonder it’s easy for a medium to find victims and tell +them astonishing facts.”</p> +<p>Thrusting the paper into her pocket, she turned her +attention to the wardrobe closet. Al Gepper’s clothes +hung in orderly rows from the hangers. Behind them, +half hidden from view, was a small box.</p> +<p>Pulling it to the window, Penny examined the contents. +There were many bottles filled with chemicals, +the names of which were unfamiliar. She noted a bottle +of varnish, another of zinc white, and some photographic +paper in a sealed envelope.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_166">[166]</div> +<p>A glance satisfying her, she replaced the box and +next turned her attention to the cabinet behind the +large circular table. Here she was richly rewarded +as her gaze fell upon a banjo.</p> +<p>“The same one which played during Mrs. Weems’ +séance!” she thought. “We were able to see it in the +dark because it’s covered with luminous paint. But +what made it rise into the air, and how could it play +without the aid of human hands?”</p> +<p>Penny examined the instrument closely. She +chuckled as she discovered a tiny phonograph with +a record built into its back side. As she pressed a +control lever, it began a stringed version of “Down +Upon the Swanee River.”</p> +<p>Quickly turning it off, she inspected other objects +in the cabinet. At once she found a rod which could +be extended to a height of five feet.</p> +<p>“That’s how the banjo was raised!” she reasoned. +“And by use of this rod it would be easy to make a +ghost appear to float high overhead. This luminous +material must have been used.”</p> +<p>Penny picked up a filmy robe, shaking out the +many folds. While it was clear to her that Al Gepper +had employed the garment to materialize the so-called +spirit of Cousin David, she could only guess how he +had made it enlarge from a mere spot to a full sized +figure.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_167">[167]</div> +<p>“He must have wadded the cloth in his hand, and +held it above his head,” she mused. “Then he could +have slowly shaken it out until it covered his entire +body. Thus the figure would appear to grow in size.”</p> +<p>In one corner of the cabinet Penny came upon a +luminous slate.</p> +<p>“This was used for Cousin David’s message,” she +thought. “Al probably had an assistant who wrote on +it and thrust it through the curtain.”</p> +<p>While many questions remained unanswered, Penny +had obtained sufficient evidence to indicate that Al +Gepper was only a clever trickster. Greatly elated, +she decided to hasten to the <i>Star</i> office to report her +findings.</p> +<p>Noticing that she had neglected to return the two +suitcases to their former places, Penny pushed them +under the bed again. As she straightened, a door +slammed on the lower floor.</p> +<p>For an instant she hoped that it was Mrs. Hodges +or her husband who had come home. Then she heard +footsteps on the stairs, and their rapidity warned her +that they could belong only to a young person.</p> +<p>Frantically, she gazed about the room. The cabinet +seemed to offer the safest hiding place. Slipping into +it, she pulled the black curtain across the opening.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_168">[168]</div> +<h2 id="c21"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">21</span> +<br /><i>STARTLING INFORMATION</i></h2> +<p>Scarcely had Penny hidden herself when Al +Gepper entered the room. With him was the hook-nosed +young man known as Slippery.</p> +<p>“I tell you, Al,” the latter was saying, “this town +is getting too hot for comfort. We’ve got to blow.”</p> +<p>“It was that Parker girl who queered everything,” +muttered Gepper. “How could I know that her father +was a newspaper publisher? He’s stirred up folks with +his editorials.”</p> +<p>“You never should have let her in here. We had a +swell set-up, but now we can expect a raid any day.”</p> +<p>“I tell you I thought she was just a smart-aleck kid, +a friend of the Hodges’. Didn’t learn until yesterday +who she was.”</p> +<p>“We’ve got to blow, Al. Sade’s threatening to make +trouble, too. She thinks we’re holding out on the +others.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_169">[169]</div> +<p>“We have picked up a little extra coin now and +then.”</p> +<p>“Sure, Al, but we’ve always been the brains of the +outfit. We take most of the risk, plan all the big jobs, +so why shouldn’t we have more?”</p> +<p>“It’s time we cut loose from ’em, Slippery.”</p> +<p>“Now you’re talking! But we can’t pull out until +the Henley job comes off. I’ve had a tip that the house +is likely to be deserted tonight. Let’s make the haul +and then skip.”</p> +<p>“Okay,” agreed Gepper. “I have some suckers +coming for a séance at eight. I’ll get rid of them in +quick time, and be waiting. So long, Slippery.”</p> +<p>A door slammed, telling Penny that the hook-nosed +man had left. She was somewhat stunned by +what she had overheard, believing that the Henley +who had been mentioned must be her father’s chief +advertiser.</p> +<p>Nervously she waited inside the cabinet, wishing +that she might take her information to the police. To +her intense annoyance, Al Gepper did not leave the +room even for a moment.</p> +<p>Instead he threw himself on the bed and read a +tabloid newspaper. After an hour, he arose and began +to prepare his supper on an electric grill.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_170">[170]</div> +<p>Penny shifted from one position to another, growing +more impatient. Every time the man came toward the +cabinet her heart beat a trifle faster. She was quite +sure the Hodges had not yet returned home, and +should Al Gepper discover her, he would not treat +her kindly.</p> +<p>The medium finished his supper and stacked the +dishes in the closet without washing them. Then he +started to get ready for the night’s séance.</p> +<p>Peeping from between the cracks of the curtain, +Penny saw him seat himself before the easel. With +painstaking care he painted a picture of a woman, +using a photograph as a model. After a coating of +varnish had been applied, he allowed it to dry and +afterwards covered the entire picture with zinc white. +The original painting was entirely hidden.</p> +<p>Penny knew that hours had elapsed. The room +gradually darkened, and Al Gepper turned on the +lights.</p> +<p>“Oh, dear, I must get out of here soon!” the girl +thought desperately. “But if I make a break for it +he’ll be sure to see me. That will ruin all my plans.”</p> +<p>Eight o’clock came. Al Gepper put on his coat, +combed his hair and was alertly waiting when the +doorbell rang. However, instead of descending the +stairs he shouted an invitation for the visitors to come +up.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_171">[171]</div> +<p>Two women in their early forties were ushered +into the séance chamber, to be followed almost immediately +by an elderly man.</p> +<p>“We will start at once if you please,” said Al Gepper +brusquely. “I have another engagement tonight. However, +before the séance is undertaken I must ask that +each of you pay the required fee, five dollars.”</p> +<p>The money was paid, and the three persons seated +themselves at the table. Gepper switched off the lights.</p> +<p>The séance began in much the same manner as the +one Penny had attended. The medium called upon +the spirit of a woman named Flora to appear.</p> +<p>“Now concentrate hard—everyone,” he instructed. +“Flora, where are you? Can you not show yourself +that we may know it is truly your spirit which communicates +with us?”</p> +<p>From the cabinet, so close to Al Gepper that she +could have touched his hand, Penny was able to see +his every move. Yet so swift was his next action, that +she barely discerned it.</p> +<p>Taking a wet sponge from his pocket he wiped it +across the painting previously prepared. The picture +immediately became visible to the audience as Gepper +focused his flashlight on the canvas.</p> +<p>“That wasn’t the way he made Mrs. Weems’ picture +appear,” thought Penny. “The fellow must have a +great repertoire of tricks!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_172">[172]</div> +<p>The séance had become so interesting that she no +longer thought of escape. Nevertheless, she came to +a sudden realization of her precarious position as she +heard the medium say that he would next endeavor to +persuade the Spirit of Flora to take actual shape. With +a shock it dawned upon her that in another moment +the man would enter the cabinet to make use of the +luminous gauze robe and other paraphernalia.</p> +<p>Knowing that she could not hide from him, Penny +decided upon a bold break for freedom. Dropping the +ghostly robe over her face and shoulders, she pulled +aside the dark curtain and flitted into the room.</p> +<p>Her dramatic entrance brought gasps of astonishment +from the persons who sat at the circular table. +The medium, as dumbfounded as his audience muttered: +“What the dickens!” and pushed back his chair, +his legs rasping on the floor.</p> +<p>Penny did not linger, but darted past the group and +groped for the door. In the darkness she could not +immediately find it. Her shining robe, on the other +hand, made her an easy target for Al Gepper.</p> +<p>Angrily the medium strode across the room, seizing +her arm. She jerked away, but he grasped a fold of the +robe. It tore and was left behind.</p> +<p>At that critical instant, Penny’s hand encountered +the door. She swung it open, and bounded down the +stairway.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_173">[173]</div> +<p>In the séance chamber a light went on, then the +hallway became brilliantly illuminated. But by that +time the girl was in the dining room.</p> +<p>She could hear Al Gepper clattering down the +steps, intent upon capturing her. Penny was determined +that he should never learn her identity.</p> +<p>Letting herself out of the house by way of the +kitchen door, she decided that if she attempted to +cross the yard, the medium certainly would recognize +her. The woodpile offered a hiding place and she +crouched behind it.</p> +<p>Scarcely had she secreted herself, when Al Gepper +ran into the yard. He glanced about carefully and +circled the house twice.</p> +<p>Finally, convinced that the “ghost” had escaped he +came back to the porch. His customers, greatly agitated +by what had occurred, were demanding explanations.</p> +<p>“Someone played a prank,” Gepper explained +briefly. “It will be impossible to resume the séance for +the spirits are offended. You will leave, please.”</p> +<p>The customers departed and the medium locked +himself in the house. He did not bother to lower the +upstairs hall blind, and Penny caught occasional +glimpses of him as he moved to and fro.</p> +<p>“He’s packing to leave!” she observed. “Unless I +act in double-quick time, he’ll skip town! I must +notify Dad and the police without an instant’s delay!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_174">[174]</div> +<h2 id="c22"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">22</span> +<br /><i>SCALING THE WALL</i></h2> +<p>The nearest drugstore with a public telephone +was two blocks away. Penny ran the distance, and +slipping into the booth, she dialed the <i>Star</i> office. +Informed by the building switchboard operator that +neither her father nor DeWitt was available, she inquired +for Jerry Livingston, and to her relief was connected +with him.</p> +<p>“Listen, Jerry, this is Penny!” she began excitedly. +“I haven’t time to explain, but the lid is blowing off +the fake spiritualist story! Rush the police out to the +Hodges’ cottage and demand Al Gepper’s arrest! Send +another squad or some private detectives to Mr. +Henley’s home.”</p> +<p>“Henley!” Jerry exclaimed. “Say, have you gone +loco?”</p> +<p>“I’m not making any mistakes,” Penny replied +tersely. “If you act quickly we may prevent a robbery. +I’m on my way there now to warn Mr. Henley! Oh, +yes, try to find Dad or DeWitt and warn them a big +story is breaking!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_175">[175]</div> +<p>“Penny, what’s this all about?” the reporter demanded. +“I can’t go to the police unless I know what +I am doing.”</p> +<p>“You must, Jerry. I have plenty of evidence against +Gepper and his crowd, but unless you take the police +to the Hodges’ in the next fifteen minutes it will be +too late!”</p> +<p>Without giving Jerry opportunity to delay her with +other questions, Penny hung up the receiver. Hastening +to the street, she gazed frantically about for a +taxi. None was to be had.</p> +<p>“I’ll get to the Henley place quicker in Lena than +by waiting for a cab to come along,” she thought.</p> +<p>The battered old car had been parked a short +distance from the Hodges’ cottage. Hurrying there, +Penny jumped into the ancient vehicle and started +the motor. As usual it made a loud clatter, but she did +not suspect that the sound carried far up the street. +Nor did she guess that Al Gepper stood at the darkened +window of his room, watching her.</p> +<p>Penny drove as fast as she could to the Henley home +in the southern section of Riverview. Lights blazed +from the downstairs windows.</p> +<p>Abandoning her car in the driveway, she rang the +doorbell. After a long wait, a maid appeared.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_176">[176]</div> +<p>“Is Mr. Henley here?” Penny asked breathlessly. +“Or Mrs. Henley? It’s most important that I talk with +them at once.”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Henley has been at the seashore for a month,” +the maid replied in an agitated voice. “Mr. Henley is +somewhere downtown. I’ve been trying to get him, +but the telephone wire has been cut!”</p> +<p>“The house hasn’t been robbed?”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Henley’s jewelry has been taken! I don’t +know what else.”</p> +<p>“When did it happen?” Penny asked.</p> +<p>“It must have been during the last half hour. I went +to the corner store for a book of stamps. When I came +back five minutes ago I discovered what had occurred. +I ought to call the police, but I am afraid to do it until +I’ve talked with my employer.”</p> +<p>“The police already have been notified,” said Penny. +“They’ll be here any minute.”</p> +<p>“But how did you know—?” the maid began in +astonishment.</p> +<p>Penny had turned away. She was convinced that +the burglary had been committed by Slippery. Perhaps, +by this time he had fled town, but she did not +believe he would leave without his pal, Al Gepper.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_177">[177]</div> +<p>Climbing into the car again, Penny debated. It was +reasonable to suppose that, having accomplished the +burglary, Slippery would return to the Hodges’ cottage +to meet the medium.</p> +<p>“If he does, the police should be on hand to seize +him,” she thought. “At least, he and Al will be held +for questioning. But there’s one place I forgot to cover—the +Celestial Temple.”</p> +<p>Like a flash came the recollection that Slippery had +been deeply interested in something which was +guarded in the bell tower. Was it not possible that +he might return there before leaving Riverview?</p> +<p>Shifting gears, Penny turned the car and headed for +Butternut Lane. Anxiously, she glanced at the gasoline +gauge. It registered less than a gallon of fuel and she +had used her last dime in the telephone booth.</p> +<p>“If I coast on all the downgrades I should just make +it,” she estimated.</p> +<p>In starting for the Celestial Temple Penny was +acting upon a “hunch.” However, it disturbed her that +the Henley burglary had been accomplished, and she +was afraid she might again be wasting precious time. +Now that it was too late, she wondered if it would not +have been wiser to remain at the Hodges’ cottage until +the police arrived.</p> +<p>“I only hope that end of the affair isn’t bungled,” +she thought. “I’ll never get over it if Al and Slippery +both escape.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_178">[178]</div> +<p>Penny had reached the entrance to Butternut Lane. +Parking at the side of the road, she continued afoot +toward the Celestial Temple.</p> +<p>From a distance the building appeared dark. However, +as she drew closer she could distinguish a dim +light. Inside the Temple, a stout man wearing a hat +sat with his chair tilted against the door of the bell +tower room.</p> +<p>“He must be the guard,” thought Penny. “Probably +the one they call Pete.”</p> +<p>Suddenly she paused, retreating into a clump of +elder bushes near the walk. From the direction of the +cemetery a figure emerged. At first, all that Penny +could distinguish was a man carrying a suitcase. As +he drew closer, her pulse quickened. Unmistakably, it +was Slippery.</p> +<p>Without passing the bushes where the girl had taken +refuge, the man walked on toward the Temple. +Presently he halted. Glancing carefully about to assure +himself that he was unobserved, he shoved his suitcase +into the tall weeds which lined the walk. Then he +moved to one of the Temple windows, peering into +the gloomy interior.</p> +<p>“Now what?” thought Penny, watching alertly. +“This should prove interesting.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_179">[179]</div> +<p>Slippery remained beneath the window a minute +or two. Instead of entering the Temple, he presently +returned to the high weeds, stooping to remove some +object from his suitcase. Hiding it under his coat, he +circled the building and approached the side adjoining +the cemetery.</p> +<p>Thoroughly mystified, Penny cautiously followed, +taking care that her body cast no shadow which would +attract Slippery’s attention.</p> +<p>The man seemed deeply engrossed in the task he +had set for himself. From his coat he took a collapsible +rod which he extended to the approximate length of +a fish pole. To its end he attached a trailing silken +ladder.</p> +<p>Deftly the man raised the ladder until two metal +hooks bit into a projection of the bell tower. He +tested the ropes to make certain they would bear his +weight then, with the agility of a cat, mounted the +silken rungs. Penny saw him disappear into the bell +tower.</p> +<p>“Now why did he climb up there?” she asked herself. +“He must be after something hidden in the +belfry.”</p> +<p>Penny knew that she was a long distance from police +aid, but it was unthinkable that Slippery should be +allowed to escape. Impulsively, she moved from her +hiding place to the base of the tower.</p> +<p>Grasping the silken ladder, she gave it a quick jerk +which dislodged the two iron hooks. Down it tumbled +into her arms, leaving the man trapped in the turret.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_180">[180]</div> +<p>“He’ll never dare call for help when he discovers +what has happened,” reasoned Penny. “If he does, the +guard, Pete, will have something to say!”</p> +<p>Rolling the ladder into a small bundle, she started +across the clearing, intending to seek the nearest telephone. +With no thought of lurking danger, she +brushed past a clump of bushes. A hand reached out +and grasped her arm.</p> +<p>Penny screamed in terror and tried to break free. +The hand help her in a grip of steel.</p> +<p>As she struggled, her captor emerged from the +shelter of leaves. It was Al Gepper.</p> +<p>“I thought I might find you here, my little one,” +he said grimly. “You have had your fun. Now you +must pay, and the entertainment shall be mine!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_181">[181]</div> +<h2 id="c23"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">23</span> +<br /><i>A PRISONER IN THE BELFRY</i></h2> +<p>Penny tried to scream, only to have Al Gepper +clamp his hand over her mouth.</p> +<p>“None of that!” he said harshly. “Behave yourself +or you’ll get rough treatment.”</p> +<p>Inside the Temple, lights suddenly were turned on, +for the brief struggle had been heard by Pete. The +squat, stupid-faced man appeared in the doorway of +the building, peering down the lane.</p> +<p>“Who’s there?” he demanded suspiciously.</p> +<p>Al Gepper uttered an angry word beneath his +breath. It was not to his liking that Pete should be +drawn into the affair. However, he could not avoid +detection.</p> +<p>“It’s Al!” he called softly. “This girl broke up my +séance tonight, and I trailed her here. She was +prowling around the bell tower.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_182">[182]</div> +<p>As he spoke, he dragged Penny toward the Temple +entrance. His words convinced her that he had not +observed her remove the silken ladder from the belfry +wall, nor was he aware that Slippery was a prisoner in +the tower.</p> +<p>“Let’s have a look at her,” said Pete. He flashed a +light directly into Penny’s face.</p> +<p>“She’s the Parker girl—daughter of the publisher,” +informed Al.</p> +<p>“Yeah,” commented Pete. “I saw her at one of our +meetings. Another girl was with her. How much has +she learned?”</p> +<p>“Enough to get us all run out of town. The question +is, what shall we do with her?”</p> +<p>“Bring her inside, and we’ll talk it over,” said Pete. +“Maybe we ought to call a meeting.”</p> +<p>“No,” replied Al Gepper impatiently, shoving +Penny through the doorway. “We can take care of +this ourselves.”</p> +<p>The door was locked from the inside. Al pushed +Penny into a chair on the front platform.</p> +<p>“Now sit there,” he ordered. “One peep out of you +and we’ll tie you up and tape your mouth. Understand?”</p> +<p>“<i>Oui, oui, Monsieur</i>,” said Penny, mockingly.</p> +<p>The two men stepped a few paces away and began +to whisper together. Pete seemed to protest at Al’s +proposals.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_183">[183]</div> +<p>Penny watched them uneasily, speculating upon +their final decision. Whatever it was, she would never +be given an opportunity to report to the police until +it was too late to apprehend members of the Temple.</p> +<p>“I was stupid not to realize that Gepper might trail +me,” she told herself. “If only I had used an ounce of +caution, I might have brought about the capture of the +entire gang. Not to mention a grand scoop for Dad’s +paper.”</p> +<p>Penny slumped lower in her chair. Her own predicament +concerned her far less than the knowledge that +she had bungled a golden opportunity.</p> +<p>Speculatively, her gaze shifted toward the bell tower +room. The door was closed and she believed that it +must be locked. There was no sound from the belfry, +adding to her conviction that the man imprisoned +there was fearful of attracting attention to his plight.</p> +<p>Al Gepper and Pete came toward her. With no +explanation, the medium seized her arm and ordered +her to walk toward the exit.</p> +<p>“Where are you taking me?” Penny asked.</p> +<p>“Never mind. You’ll find out in good time.”</p> +<p>“Wait!” exclaimed Penny, bracing her legs and refusing +to be pushed. “If you’ll let me go, I’ll tell you +something very much worth your while.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_184">[184]</div> +<p>Deliberately, she allowed the silken ladder to slip +from beneath her coat. The men would not have +heeded her words, but the familiar object served its +purpose.</p> +<p>“Where did you get that ladder?” demanded Al +Gepper.</p> +<p>“So you would like to know what became of your +friend, Slippery?” responded Penny evenly. “You’ll +be surprised when I tell you that he has double-crossed +you both!”</p> +<p>“You’re lying,” accused Gepper.</p> +<p>Penny shrugged and did not speak.</p> +<p>“What were you going to say?” Gepper prodded +in a moment. “Out with it! How did you get Slippery’s +ladder?”</p> +<p>“It fell into my hands, literally and figuratively.”</p> +<p>“Stalling for time will get you nowhere,” snapped +Gepper, losing patience. “If you know anything about +Slippery spill it fast or you’ll not have another chance.”</p> +<p>“Your friend tried to double-cross you,” declared +Penny. She decided to make a shrewd guess. “Tonight, +after he robbed the Henley home he came here intending +to loot the bell tower.”</p> +<p>“Why, the dirty sneak!” exclaimed Pete.</p> +<p>“Weren’t you here on guard all evening?” Gepper +demanded, turning to him.</p> +<p>“Sure, I was. I never set foot outside the building.”</p> +<p>“Slippery wasn’t here?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_185">[185]</div> +<p>“Haven’t seen him since yesterday morning.”</p> +<p>“Then the girl is lying!”</p> +<p>“Oh, no, the girl isn’t,” refuted Penny. “If you care +for proof you’ll find it in the tower.”</p> +<p>“Proof?”</p> +<p>“I mean Slippery. He’s hiding in the belfry now, +hoping you’ll not discover him there. You see, he +scaled the wall by means of this silk ladder. I removed +the ladder, and I assume he’s still up there.”</p> +<p>“Why, the low-down skunk!” Pete exclaimed +wrathfully. “So he planned to rob us! I’ll get him!”</p> +<p>Leaving Al to watch Penny, the guard ran to the +tower room door and unlocked it. Stealthily he crept +up the iron stairway which led to the belfry.</p> +<p>Suddenly those below heard a cry of rage, followed +by the sound of scuffling. Al Gepper listened tensely, +yet made no move to join the fight. He remained +standing between Penny and the outside door.</p> +<p>“You were right,” he admitted in a stunned voice. +“Slippery’s up there. He meant to get all the swag for +himself.”</p> +<p>The fight increased in intensity as the two men +struggled on the belfry steps. Over and over they +rolled, first one delivering a hard blow, and then the +other. Still locked, they finally toppled to the floor, +but even then Al Gepper remained a bystander.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_186">[186]</div> +<p>Penny was less concerned with the fight than with +thoughts of escape. She had hoped that Al, too, would +join the battle. Apparently, he was taking no chance +of letting her get away.</p> +<p>She considered attempting a sudden break for freedom, +but immediately abandoned it. The outside door +had been locked by Pete. Before she could turn the +key, Al would be upon her. As for the windows, none +were open. While they might not be locked, it was out +of the question to reach one quickly enough.</p> +<p>Penny’s gaze roved to the tower room once more, +and the struggling men. High above their heads she +saw something which previously had not drawn her +attention. It was a loop of rope, hanging from the +belfry.</p> +<p>“Why, that must be attached to the old church +bell!” thought Penny. “If only I could reach it, I +might be able to bring help here.”</p> +<p>However, the rope dangled high overhead. Even +if she were able to reach the room leading to the +tower, there was nothing upon which she could stand +to grasp the loop. Obviously the rope had been cut +short years before to prevent anyone from ringing +the bell.</p> +<p>Penny glanced toward Al Gepper. The medium’s +gaze was upon the two struggling men, not her. A +golden opportunity presented itself, if only she had the +wits to make use of it.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_187">[187]</div> +<p>Almost at the girl’s feet lay the tangle of silken +ladder. As she stared at it, a sudden idea took possession +of her. The iron hooks would serve her purpose, +but dared she try it? If she failed—and the chances +were against her—punishment would be certain.</p> +<p>Yet, if she did nothing and merely waited, it was +likely that Al Gepper and his pals never would be +brought to justice. She must take the chance, no matter +how great the personal risk.</p> +<p>For a moment Penny remained inactive, planning +what she must do. If she made a single mistake, +fumbled at the critical instant, everything would be +lost. Above all, her aim must be accurate. If she missed +the loop—</p> +<p>Slippery and Pete were beginning to tire, their +blows becoming futile and ineffective. Further delay +in executing her plan only increased the danger. She +must act now or never.</p> +<p>Her mind made up, Penny no longer hesitated. With +a quick movement she seized the silken ladder and +darted to the doorway of the bell tower.</p> +<p>“Hey!” shouted Al Gepper, starting after her.</p> +<p>Penny slammed the door in his face. Taking careful +aim, she hurled the silken ladder upward. One of the +iron hooks caught in the loop of the rope. She jerked +on it, and to her joy, the bell began to ring.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_188">[188]</div> +<h2 id="c24"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">24</span> +<br /><i>THE WOODEN BOX</i></h2> +<p>Penny pulled the rope again and again, causing +the huge bell to sway back and forth violently. It +rang many times before Al Gepper succeeded in +opening the tower room door.</p> +<p>His face was crimson with fury when he seized the +girl, hurling her away from the rope. With one quick +toss he released the hooks of the silken ladder, stuffing +the soft strands beneath his coat. The bell made a final +clang and became silent.</p> +<p>Penny retreated against the wall, anticipating severe +punishment for her act. However, Al and his companions +were more concerned with thoughts of escape +than with her.</p> +<p>“We’ve got to get out of here,” muttered Al. “Come +on!”</p> +<p>The two men on the floor had ceased their struggles. +Painfully they regained their feet. In this sudden +emergency they had forgotten their differences.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_189">[189]</div> +<p>“What shall we do about the box in the tower?” +Pete demanded, nursing a swollen eye.</p> +<p>“Leave it here,” returned Al. “We can’t save anything +now. The police are apt to swoop down on us +any minute.”</p> +<p>Turning, he fled to the street. Pete and Slippery +hesitated, then followed. Penny heard a key turn in +the lock. Even before she tested the door she knew +she had been imprisoned in the tower room.</p> +<p>“They’ve escaped after all,” she thought dismally. +“But I may have saved some of the loot. I’ll take a +look.”</p> +<p>Quickly she climbed the iron stairs to the belfry. +From the turret she obtained a perfect view of the +entire Lane. Al Gepper was running down the street, +while Pete and Slippery had turned toward the +cemetery.</p> +<p>There were no other persons in the vicinity, Penny +thought at first glance. Then her heart leaped as she +saw three men entering the Lane at its junction with +the main street. They, too, were running.</p> +<p>“They must have heard the bell!” she told herself. +“Oh, if only I can make them understand what has +happened!”</p> +<p>Her best means of attracting attention was by ringing +the bell. She pushed against it and was rewarded +by a deafening clang.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_190">[190]</div> +<p>The men stopped short, staring toward the belfry. +Penny cupped her hands and shouted. Her words did +not carry plainly, but the newcomers seemed to gain +an inkling of what was amiss, for they wheeled and +began to pursue the two who had taken refuge in the +cemetery.</p> +<p>From her high perch, Penny saw Al Gepper nearing +the end of the Lane, unobserved by all save herself. +Tapping the bell again, she called:</p> +<p>“Get him, too! At the end of the street!”</p> +<p>One of the pursuers halted, turning toward the +tower. In the moonlight Penny saw his face and recognized +Jerry Livingston. He was close enough now +to hear her voice.</p> +<p>“It’s Al Gepper!” she shouted. “Don’t let him +escape!”</p> +<p>The reporter turned, but as he started off in the +new direction, both he and Penny saw the fleeing man +climbing into Leaping Lena. With a grinding of gears, +he drove away. Jerry stopped, thinking that he never +could overtake the car.</p> +<p>“Keep after him, Jerry!” encouraged Penny. “The +gas tank is almost empty. He can’t possibly go more +than three or four blocks!”</p> +<p>As the reporter again took up the chase, she began +tolling the bell once more, determined to arouse everyone +within a mile of the Temple.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_191">[191]</div> +<p>Her energy was rewarded, for in another minute +she heard the familiar wail of a siren. A police cruiser +swerved alongside the tower, stopping with a lurch.</p> +<p>“What’s the idea of ringing that bell?” demanded +an officer, leaping to the ground.</p> +<p>Tersely Penny explained the situation. The two +policemen took a short-cut through a vacant lot, +circling the cemetery. Darkness swallowed them, but +presently there came a muffled command to halt, followed +by a revolver shot.</p> +<p>So excited was Penny that she nearly tumbled from +the bell tower. Recovering her balance, she sat on the +stone ledge, trying to remain calm. Her nerves were +jumpy and on edge.</p> +<p>“If only Jerry captures Al Gepper—that’s all I +ask!” she breathed.</p> +<p>As the minutes elapsed, it occurred to her that she +had not yet searched for the loot which she believed +to be hidden in the belfry. With questing fingers +she groped beneath the ledge. For a short distance she +felt nothing. Then she encountered a long wooden +box.</p> +<p>Before she could open it, she heard shouts from the +direction of the cemetery. Four men, two of them +police officers, were marching Slippery and Pete toward +the Temple. As they came nearer she received +another pleasant surprise. The two who had aided in +the capture were her father and Salt Sommers, a +photographer for the <i>Star</i>.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_192">[192]</div> +<p>“Dad!” shouted Penny. “Can you get me down +from this pigeon roost?”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker, separating from the others, came to +the foot of the bell tower.</p> +<p>“So it was you who sounded the alarm!” he exclaimed. +“I might have known! How did you get up +there?”</p> +<p>“I’m locked in. Dad, send the police to help Jerry. +He’s after Al Gepper who rode off in my car.”</p> +<p>The police cruiser was dispatched, leaving one +officer to guard the two prisoners. Mr. Parker unlocked +the door of the tower room, releasing his +daughter.</p> +<p>“You’re all right?” he asked anxiously.</p> +<p>“Of course. Here’s a little present for you.” Penny +thrust the wooden box into his hands.</p> +<p>“What’s this?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know yet. I found it hidden in the belfry.”</p> +<p>“Penny, if you fell into a river you would come up +with a chest of gold!” exclaimed the publisher admiringly.</p> +<p>“Open it quick, Dad.”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker required no urging. The box was locked +but he pried off the cover hinges, exposing the contents.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_193">[193]</div> +<p>“A real treasure!” exclaimed Penny.</p> +<p>The box contained several bracelets, one of them +set with rubies and diamonds, countless rings, four +watches, and several strings of matched pearls.</p> +<p>“Stolen loot!” ejaculated the publisher.</p> +<p>“And what a collection!” chuckled Penny as she +examined the separate pieces. “There’s enough plunder +here to start a jewelry store.”</p> +<p>“Likewise sufficient evidence to put this Celestial +Temple gang out of circulation for a long, long time,” +added her father.</p> +<p>“I learned a lot tonight, Dad. Wait until I tell you!”</p> +<p>“A scoop for the <i>Star</i>?”</p> +<p>“You’ll be able to use your largest, blackest headlines.”</p> +<p>Penny began to tell her story, interrupting only +when Slippery and Pete were brought into the building +handcuffed together. Starting again, she made her +charges, accusing Slippery not only of having committed +the Henley burglary, but also of having robbed +the Kohls and many prominent Riverview families.</p> +<p>After inspecting the jewelry found in the wooden +box, one of the police officers definitely identified +several of the pieces as stolen goods. He expressed an +opinion that the jewelry had been hidden in the belfry +because it was too “hot” to be disposed of by fences.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_194">[194]</div> +<p>“The organization members had an agreement by +which all shared in the loot,” added Penny. “That +caused trouble. Al Gepper and Slippery thought they +were taking most of the risk without sufficient return. +So they pulled a few extra jobs of their own.”</p> +<p>Before she could reveal more, the police car was +heard outside the Temple. From the window Penny +saw that Jerry and the policeman were returning with +Al Gepper who had been handcuffed.</p> +<p>“They’ve caught him!” she cried jubilantly.</p> +<p>The prisoner was brought into the Temple to be +identified. He had been captured when Leaping Lena +had stalled for lack of gasoline.</p> +<p>As Gepper was searched, the silken ladder, and +various small objects were removed from his coat. +Penny noticed two tiny rubber suction cups no larger +than dimes, and immediately made up her mind that +later she would try to obtain them. She was quite +certain she knew their purpose.</p> +<p>Penny told her story and learned, in turn, that after +she had telephoned Jerry, he had traced her father, and +with the police both had hastened to the Hodges’ +cottage. Arriving there, they discovered that Gepper +had fled. Jerry, Mr. Parker, and Salt Sommers had +immediately proceeded to the Celestial Temple.</p> +<p>“It was lucky you rang that bell, Penny,” chuckled +Jerry. “If you hadn’t, we never would have arrived +here in time.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_195">[195]</div> +<p>“It was lucky, too, that Mr. Gepper tried to escape +in Lena,” she laughed. “I guess my old rattle-trap has +redeemed itself.”</p> +<p>One of the officers picked up the silken ladder, +examining it with critical interest. He agreed that it +had undoubtedly been used in many mysterious burglaries +committed during the past month.</p> +<p>“It’s obvious that Slippery approached the houses +on the ‘blind’ side, and scaled the wall after hooking +his ladder into a window ledge,” Penny remarked. +“I suppose he reasoned that second-story windows +nearly always are left unlocked. But how did he learn +the houses were deserted? By telephoning?”</p> +<p>“That would be my opinion,” nodded the policeman. +“If someone answered, he could hang up. Otherwise, +he would be fairly sure the house was empty.”</p> +<p>“One night at the theatre I saw a man who resembled +Slippery noting down the license number of +the Kohl car. But the house was robbed within a few +hours after that. How could he have obtained the +name and address?”</p> +<p>“Easily. There are ‘information fences’ who supply +such data to fellow members of the underworld. It +is also possible that Slippery previously had watched +the Kohl house, obtained the car license number, and +then watched for it later at the theatre.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_196">[196]</div> +<p>Jerry already had supplied police with the name of +the fence whose establishment Slippery had visited +earlier in the day. Later, a raid staged there brought +to light much loot taken from various Riverview +homes.</p> +<p>However, for the moment, police were most interested +in gaining complete information which could +be used in rounding up all members of the Celestial +Temple Society who had not fled the city.</p> +<p>Searching Slippery they found, not only jewelry +stolen from the Henley residence, but a booklet containing +many names and telephone numbers.</p> +<p>“Sadie Beardsell,” Penny read. “She’s one of the +members, I am sure.”</p> +<p>Lest Mr. and Mrs. Hodges might also be arrested, +she explained that the old couple had been an innocent +dupe of Al Gepper. Turning to the medium she said:</p> +<p>“I think I know how you accomplished most of +your tricks. Of course, you were the one who sent +Mrs. Hodges a letter with six dollars. Undoubtedly, +you had it mailed by an accomplice from New York +at exactly the hour you specified. Then at that same +hour you slipped up to the Hodges’ cottage, and +rapped six times on the bedroom wall.”</p> +<p>“You seem to have everything figured out,” Al +Gepper responded sarcastically. “Clever girl!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_197">[197]</div> +<p>“I saw how you made the spirit painting tonight at +the séance,” resumed Penny. “May I ask if that same +method was used in regard to Mrs. Weem’s picture of +Cousin David?”</p> +<p>She did not dream that the medium would answer +her question. With a shrug which implied that the +entire matter was very boring, he replied:</p> +<p>“No, the picture was painted with a solution of +sulphocyanid of potassium and other chemicals, invisible +until brought out with a re-agent. During the +séance, an assistant sprayed the back of the canvas +with an atomizer, bringing out the colors one by one.”</p> +<p>“And how was the paint made to appear wet?”</p> +<p>“Poppy oil.”</p> +<p>“One more question, Mr. Gepper. I never could +understand how you were able to raise the kitchen +table at Mrs. Hodges’ cottage.”</p> +<p>“No?” Al Gepper smiled mockingly. “I assure you +I had nothing to do with that demonstration. It was +a true spirit manifestation.”</p> +<p>“I’ll never believe that,” declared Penny.</p> +<p>“Then figure it out for yourself,” replied the +medium. “You are such a very brilliant child.”</p> +<p>Before the prisoners were led to the police car, Salt +Sommers set up his camera and took a number of flashlight +pictures for the <i>Star</i>.</p> +<p>“How about it, Mr. Parker?” inquired Jerry eagerly. +“Are we putting out an extra?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_198">[198]</div> +<p>“We are,” said the publisher crisply. “This is the +big break I’ve been hoping we would get! We should +beat the <i>Record</i> on the story by at least a half hour.”</p> +<p>The three men hurriedly left the Celestial Temple, +with Penny trailing behind them. At the main street +intersection they finally obtained a taxicab.</p> +<p>“To the <i>Star</i> office,” Mr. Parker ordered. “An extra +dollar if you step on it.”</p> +<p>“How about my pictures?” Salt Sommers asked, as +the cab rocked around a corner. “They ought to be +dandies.”</p> +<p>“Rush them through as soon as we get to the office,” +Mr. Parker instructed. “If they’re any good we’ll run +’em on page one. Jerry, you handle the story—play it +for all it’s worth.”</p> +<p>Jerry glanced at Penny who sat very still between +her father and Salt. Their eyes met.</p> +<p>“Chief,” he said, “there’s a sort of fraternity among +reporters—an unwritten rule that we never chisel on +each other’s work.”</p> +<p>“What’s that?” Mr. Parker asked, startled. “I don’t +get it.”</p> +<p>Then his glance fell upon his daughter, and he +smiled.</p> +<p>“Oh, so it’s that way! You think Penny should write +the story?”</p> +<p>“I do, Chief. It’s hers from the ground floor up.”</p> +<p>“Please, Dad, may I?” Penny pleaded.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_199">[199]</div> +<p>The cab rolled up to the <i>Star</i> office, stopping with a +jerk. Mr. Parker swung open the door, helping her +alight.</p> +<p>“The story is yours, Penny,” he said. “That is, if +you can crack it out fast enough to make the extra.”</p> +<p>“I’ll do it or die in the attempt.”</p> +<p>“Keep to the facts and write terse, simple English—” +Mr. Parker began, but Penny did not wait to hear his +instructions.</p> +<p>With a triumphant laugh, she ran ahead into the +<i>Star</i> office. Her entry into the newsroom was both +dramatic and noisy.</p> +<p>“Big scoop, Mr. DeWitt,” she called cheerily. “Start +the old print factory running full blast!”</p> +<p>Dropping into a chair behind the nearest typewriter, +she began to write.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_200">[200]</div> +<h2 id="c25"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">25</span> +<br /><i>EXTRA!</i></h2> +<p>Penny stood at the window of her father’s office, +listening to the newsboys crying their wares on the +street.</p> +<p>“<i>Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Police Capture +Three in Raid on Celestial Temple! Extra! Extra!</i>”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker rocked back in his swivel chair, smiling +at his daughter.</p> +<p>“Your story was first-class, Penny,” he said. “Thanks +to you we scooped the <i>Record</i>. Tired?”</p> +<p>“I do feel rather washed out,” Penny admitted. +“Writing at high speed with a deadline jabbing you in +the back is worse than facing a gang of crooks. But it +was exciting.”</p> +<p>“You turned in a good story,” her father praised +again. “In fact, you may as well take credit for breaking +up that outfit of fake spiritualists.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_201">[201]</div> +<p>“So far the police have only captured Al Gepper, +Slippery and Pete. There’s not much evidence against +the others.”</p> +<p>“True, but rest assured those who aren’t rounded up +will leave Riverview. The backbone of the organization +has been smashed.”</p> +<p>Penny sank wearily into a chair, picking up a copy +of the <i>Star</i> which lay on her father’s desk. Two-inch, +black headlines proclaimed the capture, and opening +from the banner was her own story tagged with a +credit line: <i>by Penelope Parker</i>. Salt Sommer’s photographs +had made the front page, too, and there was +a brief contribution by Jerry telling of Al Gepper’s attempted +flight in Leaping Lena.</p> +<p>“Dad, you must admit that it was a stroke of genius +when I bought back that old car,” remarked Penny. +“Why, if it hadn’t been for Lena, Al Gepper surely +would have escaped.”</p> +<p>“That and the fact you always run your cars on +an empty tank,” responded Mr. Parker. “I suppose you +foresaw the future when you made your brilliant purchase?”</p> +<p>“Not exactly. It was just a feeling I had—the same +sort of hunch which came to me when I found the +silken ladder at Kano’s Curio Shop. If I depended upon +a mere brain to solve mysteries, why I’d be no better +than the police.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_202">[202]</div> +<p>“Your modesty overwhelms me,” chuckled her +father. “I’m thankful my other reporters aren’t guided +by their instincts. Otherwise I might have a scoop a +day.”</p> +<p>“There’s one thing which annoys me,” Penny said, +frowning.</p> +<p>“And what is that?”</p> +<p>“Two of Al Gepper’s tricks haven’t been explained. +How was he able to raise a table and read a message in +a sealed envelope?”</p> +<p>“I was talking to the Chief of Police about that letter +trick only this morning, Penny. Magicians often +employ it. Wasn’t the message written on a pad of +paper before it was placed in the envelope?”</p> +<p>“Yes, it was.”</p> +<p>“Then very likely Gepper read the message from +the pad. He could have placed carbon paper beneath +the second or third sheets. Possibly he resorted to a +thin covering of paraffin wax which would be less +noticeable.”</p> +<p>“Now that I recall it, he did glance at the pad! How +would you guess he lifted the table?”</p> +<p>“Were his hands held high above it, Penny?”</p> +<p>“Only an inch or two. However, he never touched +the table. I was able to see that.”</p> +<p>“Could he have used sharp, steel pins held between +his fingers?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_203">[203]</div> +<p>“I doubt it. But I think I know what he may have +used! Did you notice two small suction cups which +were taken from his pockets by the police?”</p> +<p>“Well, no, I didn’t, Penny.”</p> +<p>“The longer I mull over it, the more I’m convinced +he used them to raise the table. They could be held between +the fingers and wouldn’t be observed in a darkened +room. Dad, if I can get those rubber cups from +the police, I’ll have some fun!”</p> +<p>The telephone rang. It was Mrs. Weems calling to +ask if Penny were safe. Mr. Parker replied in the affirmative +and handed the receiver to his daughter.</p> +<p>“Penny, I just read your story in the paper,” the +housekeeper scolded. “You never should have pitted +yourself against those dangerous men! I declare, you +need someone to watch you every minute.”</p> +<p>“I need you,” said Penny. “And so does Dad. Why +not promise to stay with us instead of going away on +a trip?”</p> +<p>“Of course, I’ll remain,” came Mrs. Weems’ surprising +answer. “I made up my mind to that two days ago. +You and your father never could take care of yourselves.”</p> +<p>“What will you do with your inheritance, Mrs. +Weems?”</p> +<p>“I hope your father will invest it for me,” replied +the housekeeper meekly. “One thing I know. No medium +will tell me what to do with it.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_204">[204]</div> +<p>The hour was late. Penny felt relieved when her +father locked his desk in preparation for leaving the +office.</p> +<p>They walked through the newsroom, down the stairway +to the street. A middle-aged man in a brown suit +and derby hat alighted from a taxi, pausing as he saw +them.</p> +<p>“Mr. Parker!” he called. “May I speak with you?”</p> +<p>The publisher turned, recognizing him. “Mr. Henley!” +he exclaimed.</p> +<p>“I have just come from the police station,” the advertiser +said in an agitated voice. “I was told that your +daughter is responsible for the capture of the men who +robbed our home tonight.”</p> +<p>“Yes, Penny managed to have a rather busy evening,” +smiled Mr. Parker. “I hope you suffered no +loss.”</p> +<p>“Everything was recovered, thanks to your daughter. +Miss Parker, I realize I never can properly express +my appreciation.”</p> +<p>“I was sorry I couldn’t prevent the burglary,” replied +Penny stiffly. “As it turned out, the capture of +the crooks was mostly due to luck.”</p> +<p>“You are too modest,” protested Mr. Henley. “I’ve +talked with the police, you know. I am truly grateful.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_205">[205]</div> +<p>The man hesitated, evidently wishing to say more, +yet scarcely knowing how to shape his words. Penny +and her father started to move away.</p> +<p>“Oh, about that contract we were discussing today,” +the advertiser said quickly.</p> +<p>“Yes?” Mr. Parker paused.</p> +<p>“I’ve been thinking it over. I acted too hastily in deciding +to cancel.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Henley, please do not feel that you are under +obligation,” said the publisher quietly. “Even though +Penny accidentally did you a favor—”</p> +<p>“It’s not that,” Mr. Henley interrupted. “The <i>Star</i> is +a good paper.”</p> +<p>“The best in Riverview,” said Penny softly.</p> +<p>“Yes, it is!” Mr. Henley declared with sudden emphasis. +“I tell you, Parker, I was irritated because of a +trivial mistake in my firm’s copy. I’ve cooled off now. +Suppose we talk over the matter tomorrow at lunch.”</p> +<p>“Very well,” agreed Mr. Parker. “The Commodore +Hotel at one.”</p> +<p>Bowing to Penny, Mr. Henley retreated into a waiting +taxi and drove away.</p> +<p>“How do you like that, Dad?” Penny inquired after +a moment’s silence.</p> +<p>“I like it,” answered Mr. Parker. “The <i>Star</i> could +have limped along without Mr. Henley. But the going +would have been tough.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_206">[206]</div> +<p>“He’ll renew the old contract?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, and probably give us a better one. Stealing +Mr. Henley’s words, I am truly grateful.”</p> +<p>Penny gazed at her father with twinkling eyes.</p> +<p>“Are those idle words, Dad? Or are you willing to +back them in a material way?”</p> +<p>“I might,” grinned Mr. Parker. “Present your bill.”</p> +<p>“Well, Dad, I’ve discovered to my sorrow that I +can’t support two cars on my present allowance. I need +a generous raise.”</p> +<p>“You could get rid of Lena.”</p> +<p>“Why, Dad! After her noble work tonight!”</p> +<p>“No, I suppose not,” sighed Mr. Parker. “You’ve +earned an increase, and I may as well grant it.”</p> +<p>“Retroactive to the time I started working on the +story,” added Penny. “I figure if you pay back allowance, +I’ll be solvent once more!”</p> +<p>“You drive a hard bargain,” chuckled the publisher. +“But I’ll agree.”</p> +<p>Arm in arm, they started on down the street. Rounding +a corner of the <i>Star</i> building they abruptly paused +before the plate-glass window to watch a long, unbroken +sheet of white paper feed through the thundering +press. Freshly inked newspapers, cut and folded, +slid out one upon the other to be borne away for distribution.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_207">[207]</div> +<p>“It’s modern magic, isn’t it, Dad?” Penny said reflectively +as the great machine pounded in steady +rhythm.</p> +<p>“Yes, Penny,” her father agreed. “And for this edition, +at least, you were the master magician!”</p> +<p class="center"><span class="smaller">THE END</span></p> +<h2>Transcriber’s Notes</h2> +<ul> +<li>Replaced the list of books in the series by the complete list, +as in the final book, “The Cry at Midnight”.</li> +<li>Silently corrected a handful of palpable typos.</li> +<li>Conforming to later volumes, standardized on “DeWitt” +as the name of the city editor.</li> +</ul> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Clue of the Silken Ladder, by Mildred A. 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