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diff --git a/34591.txt b/34591.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d48c990 --- /dev/null +++ b/34591.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6326 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + + + + + + Clue of + the Silken + Ladder + + + _By_ + MILDRED A. WIRT + + _Author of_ + MILDRED A. WIRT MYSTERY STORIES + TRAILER STORIES FOR GIRLS + + _Illustrated_ + + CUPPLES AND LEON COMPANY + _Publishers_ + NEW YORK + + + + + _PENNY PARKER_ + MYSTERY STORIES + + _Large 12 mo. Cloth Illustrated_ + + + TALE OF THE WITCH DOLL + THE VANISHING HOUSEBOAT + DANGER AT THE DRAWBRIDGE + BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR + CLUE OF THE SILKEN LADDER + THE SECRET PACT + THE CLOCK STRIKES THIRTEEN + THE WISHING WELL + SABOTEURS ON THE RIVER + GHOST BEYOND THE GATE + HOOFBEATS ON THE TURNPIKE + VOICE FROM THE CAVE + GUILT OF THE BRASS THIEVES + SIGNAL IN THE DARK + WHISPERING WALLS + SWAMP ISLAND + THE CRY AT MIDNIGHT + + + COPYRIGHT, 1941, BY CUPPLES AND LEON CO. + + Clue of the Silken Ladder + + PRINTED IN U. S. A. + + + + + _CONTENTS_ + + + CHAPTER PAGE + 1 DOUBLE TROUBLE _1_ + 2 A ROPE OF SILK _12_ + 3 SOCIETY ROUTINE _23_ + 4 A TURN OF FORTUNE _32_ + 5 THE MAN IN GRAY _42_ + 6 AN APARTMENT BURGLARY _49_ + 7 MARK OF THE IRON HOOK _59_ + 8 PSYCHIC SIGNS _67_ + 9 MRS. WEEMS' INHERITANCE _75_ + 10 OUIJA BOARD WISDOM _85_ + 11 THE CELESTIAL TEMPLE _94_ + 12 A MESSAGE FOR MRS. WEEMS _102_ + 13 COUSIN DAVID'S GHOST _111_ + 14 WET PAINT _118_ + 15 HIDDEN MONEY _125_ + 16 OVER THE WINDOW LEDGE _135_ + 17 KANO'S CURIO SHOP _142_ + 18 THE BELL TOWER _151_ + 19 PENNY INVESTIGATES _157_ + 20 INSIDE THE CABINET _163_ + 21 STARTLING INFORMATION _168_ + 22 SCALING THE WALL _174_ + 23 A PRISONER IN THE BELFRY _181_ + 24 THE WOODEN BOX _188_ + 25 EXTRA! _200_ + + + + + CHAPTER + 1 + _DOUBLE TROUBLE_ + + +"Now I ask you, Lou, what have I done to deserve such a fate?" + +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. + +"Well, Penny," responded her chum dryly, "in Riverview persons who park +their cars beside fire hydrants usually expect to get parking tickets." + +"But we were only inside the drugstore five minutes. Wouldn't you think a +policeman could find something else to do?" + +"Oh, the ticket won't cost you more than five or ten dollars," teased +Louise wickedly. "Your father should pay it." + +"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?" + +"You _are_ in a mood today. Why, I think you're lucky to have a grand new +car." + +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, _The Riverview Star_, from a +disastrous law suit. + +"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." + +"What would you do with that old wreck now, Penny? Nearly every time we +went around a corner it broke down." + +"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." + +Penny sighed deeply. Pocketing the yellow card, she squeezed behind the +steering wheel. + +"By the way, whatever became of Lena?" Louise asked curiously, slamming +the car door. She glanced sharply at Penny. + +"Oh, she's changed hands twice. Now she's at Jake Harriman's lot, +advertised for fifty dollars. Want to drive past there?" + +"Not particularly. But I'll do it for your sake, pet." + +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. + +The automobile drew up at the curb. + +"There's Lena." Penny pointed to an ancient blue coupe with battered +fenders which stood on the crowded second-hand lot. A _For Sale_ sign on +the windshield informed the public that the auto might be bought for +forty dollars. + +"Lena's value seems to have dropped ten dollars," commented Louise. "My, +I had forgotten how wrecky the old thing looks!" + +"Don't speak of her so disrespectfully, Lou. All she needs is a good +waxing and a little paint." + +The girls crossed the lot to inspect the coupe. As they were gazing at +it, Jake, the lot owner, sidled toward them, beaming ingratiatingly. + +"Good afternoon, young ladies. May I interest you in a car?" + +"No, thank you," replied Penny. "We're just looking." + +"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." + +"But will it run?" asked Louise, smothering a giggle. + +"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." + +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. + +"Forty dollars is too much for this old wreck," she said firmly. + +"Why, Penny, such disrespect!" mocked Louise. + +Penny frowned down her chum. Sentiment and business were two different +matters. + +"What _will_ you give?" inquired the car owner alertly. + +"Not a cent over twenty-five." + +Louise clutched Penny's arm, trying to pull her away. + +"Have you lost your mind?" she demanded. "What could you do with this old +car when you already have a new one?" + +Penny did not listen. She kept gazing at the coupe as one who had been +hypnotized. + +"I'd take it in a minute, only I don't have twenty-five dollars in cash." + +"How much can you raise?" asked the dealer. + +"Not more than five dollars, I'm afraid. But my father is publisher of +the _Riverview Star_." + +Jake Harriman's brows unknitted as if by magic. + +"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?" + +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. + +"I'll throw in a few gallons of gas," the man offered. + +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. + +"You have acquired a bargain, I must say!" exclaimed Louise. "You can't +even get the car home." + +"Yes, I can," Penny insisted. "I'll tow her. A little tinkering and +she'll be as good as new." + +"You're optimistic, to say the least," laughed Louise. + +Penny produced a steel cable from the tool kit of the maroon sedan, and +Jake Harriman coupled the two cars together. + +"Penny, what will your father say when he learns of this?" Louise +inquired dubiously. "On top of a parking ticket, too!" + +"Oh, I'll meet that problem when I come to it," Penny answered +carelessly. "Louise, you steer Lena. I'll drive the sedan." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Glancing into the mirror, Penny was horrified to see Leaping Lena +careening backwards down the steep slope. The tow rope had unfastened. + +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. + +"Guide it! Guide it!" shouted Penny. "Put on the brakes!" + +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. + +Penny raced down the hill to help her chum from the coupe. + +"Are you hurt?" she asked anxiously. + +Louise shook her head, wailing: "Penny Parker, just see what has happened +now! You never should have bought this stupid old wreck!" + +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. + +"The owner is Mr. Kohl," Louise whispered nervously. "You know, president +of the First National Bank." + +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." + +"It was entirely my fault, Mr. Kohl," acknowledged Penny meekly. "Of +course, I'll pay for the fender." + +The banker softened somewhat, gazing at the girls in a thoughtful, more +friendly way. + +"Haven't I seen you somewhere before?" he asked. + +"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!" + +"I remember you now," said Mr. Kohl, smiling. "You're the Parker girl." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +After Mr. Kohl had driven away, Louise helped Penny hook the coupe to the +sedan once more. She remarked cuttingly: + +"You've done right well today. One parking ticket, a bill for twenty-five +dollars, and another one coming up. Just what _will_ your father say?" + +"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." + +"Don't be too sure." + +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. + +Louise seized her arm. "Penny, you're not going in there!" + +"Why not?" + +"This is Dorr Street--one of the worst places in Riverview." + +"Oh, don't be silly," chuckled Penny. "It's perfectly safe by daylight. +I'll go alone if you're afraid." + +Thus challenged, Louise indignantly denied that she was afraid, and +accompanied her chum. + +The door of Mr. Kano's shop stood invitingly open. Pausing on the +threshold, the girls caught a pleasant aroma of sandalwood. + +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. + +"Good afternoon," said Penny pleasantly. + +The Japanese glanced up quickly and as quickly thrust his work beneath +the counter. Recovering poise, he bowed to the girls. + +"May we use your telephone if you have one?" Penny requested. + +"So very sorry, Miss," the Japanese responded, bowing again. "Have no +telephone." + +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. + +Scarcely had he vanished when Penny turned excitedly to her chum. + +"Lou, did you notice how funny he acted when we came in here?" + +"Yes, he didn't want us to see what he was making evidently." + +"Exactly what I thought! But we'll fool Mr. Kano!" + +Giving Louise no opportunity to protest, Penny boldly peered behind the +counter. + +"Here it is," she whispered. "But _what_ is it?" + +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. + +"Well, of all things!" she exclaimed. "It's a ladder, Lou! A ladder made +of silk!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 2 + _A ROPE OF SILK_ + + +Even as Penny spoke, she felt a hard, warning tug on her skirt. Quickly +she turned around. + +In the doorway stood the old Japanese. His smile was not pleasant to +behold. + +"We-we were just looking at this rope," Penny stammered, trying to carry +off the situation with dignity. "I hope you don't mind." + +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. + +"May I ask what use is made of this silk rope?" Penny inquired. "Do you +sell it for a special purpose?" + +The Japanese coldly ignored the direct questions. + +"So very sorry to have kept you waiting," he said softly. "Your change +please." + +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. + +"Penny, you would do a trick like that! One of these days your curiosity +will get us into serious trouble." + +"At least I learned what was hidden behind the counter," chuckled Penny. +"But that Jap didn't seem very eager to answer my questions." + +"Can you blame him? It certainly was none of our affair what he kept +inside the box." + +"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." + +"He naturally was startled. We came in so quietly." + +"All the same, I'm not one bit sorry I looked behind the counter," Penny +maintained. "I like to learn about things." + +"I agree with you there!" + +"Lou, what purpose do you suppose silk ladders serve? Who uses them and +why?" + +"Now, how should I know? Penny, you ask enough questions to be master of +ceremonies on a radio quiz program." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"The world is filled with serious things," sighed Penny. "But mystery! +One doesn't run into it every day." + +"You do," said Louise brutally. "If a stranger twitches his ears twice +you immediately suspect him of villainy." + +"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 _Behind the Green +Door_." + +"Oh, your curiosity has paid dividends," Louise admitted with a laugh. +"Take for instance the time you trailed the _Vanishing Houseboat_, and +again when you lowered the Kippenberg drawbridge to capture a boatload of +crooks! Those were the days!" + +"Why dwell in the past, Lou? Now take this affair of the silk ladder--" + +"I'm afraid _you'll_ 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." + +"Lou, you can't desert me now," Penny protested quickly. "How will I get +Lena home? I need you to steer her." + +"Thanks, but I don't trust your tow rope." + +"At least go as far as the _Star_ office with me. Once there, maybe I can +get one of the reporters to help me the rest of the way." + +"Oh, all right," Louise consented. "But the _Star_ office is my absolute +limit." + +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 _Riverview +Star_. No parking space being available on the street, Penny pulled into +the newspaper plant's loading dock. + +"Say, you!" shouted a man who was tossing stacks of freshly inked papers +into a truck. "You can't park that caravan in here!" + +Penny's eyes danced mischievously. + +"Oh, it's quite all right," she said. "I guess you don't know who I am." + +"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 _Star_ trucks." + +"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." + +"Okay, chase along," the trucker returned good-naturedly. "But see to it +that you're out of here within an hour." + +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. + +"What's your rush?" inquired an amused voice. "Going to a fire?" + +Jerry Livingston, ace reporter for the _Star_, leaned indolently against +the grillwork of the elevator shaft, his finger pressed on the signal +button. He and Penny were friends of long standing. + +"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!" + +"I can imagine," grinned Jerry. "If you breezed through the place the way +you do this building, you must have left it in ruins." + +"Just for that, I won't tell you a thing, not a thing," retorted Penny. +"What sort of a mood is Dad in today?" + +"Well, I heard him tell DeWitt that unless the news output improves on +this sheet, he aims to fire half the force." + +"Sounds like Dad on one of his bad days," Penny sighed. "Maybe I should +skip home without seeing him." + +"Trouble with the old allowance again?" Jerry asked sympathetically. + +"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." + +"Well, good luck," chuckled Jerry. "You'll need it!" + +Walking through the newsroom, between aisles of desks where busy +reporters tapped on their typewriters, Penny paused before a door marked: +_Anthony Parker, Editor_. + +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. + +Instead, Penny perched herself on a corner of the desk. + +"Dad, I have a splendid surprise for you," she began brightly. "I've just +accomplished a wonderful stroke of business!" + +"Never mind beating about the bush," interrupted Mr. Parker. "Shoot me +the facts straight. What have you done this time?" + +"Dad, your tone! I've bought back my old car, Leaping Lena. And it only +cost me a trifling sum." + +Mr. Parker's chair squeaked as he whirled around. + +"You've done _what_?" + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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?" + +"Oh, anywhere. In the back yard." + +"Not on the lawn, young lady. And what do you plan to do with two cars?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"But Dad! I'm a minor--under legal age. Isn't it a law that a father has +to support his child?" + +"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." + +"How will I pay?" asked Penny gloomily. "I've already borrowed on my +allowance for a month ahead." + +"I know," said her father. "However, with your ingenuity I am sure you +can manage." + +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. + +"Since you won't pay for Lena, I suppose it's useless to mention Mr. +Kohl's fender," she said despairingly. + +"Does he have one?" + +"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." + +"Interesting." + +"I had to promise to pay for it to keep from being arrested. Oh, yes, and +before that I acquired this little thing." + +Penny tossed the yellow card across the desk. + +"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." + +"Dad, you know I can't pay. Think how your reputation will be tarnished +if I am sent to jail." + +Mr. Parker smiled and reached as if to take money from his pocket. +Reconsidering, he shook his head. + +"I know the warden well," he said. "I'll arrange for you to be assigned +to one of the better cells." + +"Is there nothing which will move you to generosity?" pleaded Penny. + +"Nothing." + +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. + +"Sorry to bother you, Chief." + +"What's wrong now, DeWitt?" the publisher inquired. + +"Miss Hilderman was taken sick a few minutes ago. We had to send her home +in a cab." + +"It's nothing serious I hope," said Mr. Parker with concern. + +"A mild heart attack. She'll be out a week, if not longer." + +"I see. Be sure to have the treasurer give her full pay. You have someone +to take her place?" + +"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." + +"Well, do the best you can." + +DeWitt lingered, fingering a paper weight. + +"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." + +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?" + +"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." + +"Service is my motto." Penny eyed her father questioningly. "It might +save the _Star_ from going to press minus a society page. How about it, +Dad?" + +"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. + +"She'll have no difficulty in taking over," said Mr. Parker stiffly. +"None whatsoever." + +"Then I'll start her in at once," DeWitt replied. "Come with me, Miss +Parker." + +At the door Penny paused and discreetly allowed the city editor to get +beyond hearing. Then, turning to her father she remarked innocently: + +"Oh, by the way, we overlooked one trifling detail. The salary!" + +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." + +"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?" + +"So you're holding me up?" + +"Certainly not," chuckled Penny. "Merely using my ingenuity. Am I hired?" + +"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 _Star's_ +inactive list." + + + + + CHAPTER + 3 + _SOCIETY ROUTINE_ + + +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 _Star_ but not yet type-written. + +"There should be a date book around here somewhere," DeWitt remarked. + +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. + +"Do the best you can," DeWitt said encouragingly. "Work fast, but be +careful of names." + +The telephone bell rang. As Penny reached for the receiver, DeWitt +retreated to his own domain. + +"Hello, Miss Hilderman?" a feminine voice cooed, "I wish to report a +meeting, please." + +"Miss Hilderman isn't here this afternoon," replied Penny politely. "I +will take the item." + +Gathering up paper and pencil, she slid into the revolving chair behind +the telephone, poised for action. + +"Yes," she urged, "I am ready." + +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: + +"'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.'" + +"What sort of society is the Order of Amar?" Penny inquired curiously, +taking notes. "I never heard of it before." + +"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." + +"I'll see that the item is printed under club notices," Penny promised. +"Your name, please?" + +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. + +Shortly after five o'clock, DeWitt dropped in for a moment to praise her +for her speed and accuracy. + +"You're doing all right," he said. "So far I've only caught you in one +mistake. Mignonette is spelled with a double t." + +"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!" + +DeWitt reached for the copy on the spindle. "What's this?" he asked. +"More to go?" + +"Club notices." + +The editor tore the sheet from the wire, reading it as he walked toward +the door. Abruptly, he paused and turned toward her. + +"Miss Parker, this can't go through." + +"Why, what is wrong?" Penny asked in surprise. "Have I made another error +in spelling?" + +DeWitt tore off the lead item and tossed it on her desk. + +"It's this meeting of the so-called Mystical Society of Celestial +Thought. The _Star_ never runs stuff like that, not even as a paid +advertisement." + +"I thought it was a regular lodge meeting, Mr. DeWitt." + +"Nothing of the sort. Merely a free advertisement for a group of mediums +and charlatans." + +"Oh, I didn't know," murmured Penny. + +"These meetings have only one purpose," Mr. DeWitt resumed. "To lure +victims who later may be fleeced of their money." + +"But if that is so, why don't police close up the place?" Penny demanded. +"Why doesn't the _Star_ run an expose story?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"Hello, Penny," he greeted her. "How do you like your new job?" + +"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!" + +"For instance?" inquired Mr. Parker, smiling. + +"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." + +"A silk ladder?" repeated Mr. Parker. "Odd perhaps, but hardly worthy of +a news story." + +"Dad, I only wish you had _seen_ that old Japanese--the sinister way he +looked at me. Oh, he's guilty of some crime. I feel it." + +"The _Star_ 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." + +Penny took the announcement of the Celestial Thought meeting from her +pocket and offered it to the publisher. + +"Here's one which might be interesting," she said. "How about assigning +me to it after I get this society job in hand?" + +Mr. Parker read the item and his eyes blazed with anger. + +"Do you know what this means, Penny?" + +"Mr. DeWitt told me a little about the Celestial Temple society. He said +the paper never ran such items." + +"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!" + +"Perhaps they mean no harm, Dad." + +"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!" + +"Why don't you write an editorial about it?" Penny suggested. + +"An editorial! I am seriously tempted to start a vigorous campaign, but +the trouble is, the police cannot be depended upon to cooperate +actively." + +"Why, Dad?" + +"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." + +"Yet the mediums continue to fleece the public?" + +"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." + +"Why don't you start a campaign, Dad?" Penny urged. "You would be doing +the public a worthwhile service." + +"Well, I hesitate to start something which I may be unable to finish." + +"At least the public deserves to be warned." + +"Unfortunately, Penny, many persons would take the attitude that the +_Star_ was persecuting sincere spiritualists. A campaign must be based on +absolute evidence." + +"Can't it be obtained?" + +"Not without great difficulty. These mediums are a clever lot, Penny. +They prey upon the superstitions of their intended victims." + +"I wish you would let me work on the story, Dad." + +"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." + +The telephone bell jingled. With a tired sigh, Penny reached for the +receiver. + +"Society desk," she said mechanically. + +"I am trying to trace Mr. Parker," informed the office exchange operator. +"Is he with you, Miss Parker?" + +"Telephone, Dad," said Penny, offering him the receiver. + +Mr. Parker waited a moment for another connection to be made. Then Penny +heard him say: + +"Oh, it's you, Mrs. Weems? What's that? Repeat it, please." + +From her father's tone, Penny felt certain that something had gone wrong +at home. She arose, waiting anxiously. + +Mr. Parker clicked the receiver several times. "Apparently, Mrs. Weems +hung up," he commented. + +"Is anything the matter, Dad?" + +"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." + +"Why don't you try to reach her again?" + +Mr. Parker placed an out-going call, but after ten minutes the operator +reported that she was unable to contact the housekeeper. + +"Mrs. Weems never would have telephoned if something unusual hadn't +happened," Penny declared uneasily. "Perhaps, she's injured herself." + +"You think of such unpleasant things." + +"Something dreadful must have happened," Penny insisted. "Otherwise, why +doesn't she answer?" + +"We're only wasting time in idle speculation," Mr. Parker said crisply. +"Get your things, Penny. We'll start home at once!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 4 + _A TURN OF FORTUNE_ + + +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. + +"By the way, you have your car downstairs?" the publisher inquired +absently. He seldom drove his own automobile to the office. + +"What a memory you have, Dad!" chuckled Penny. "Yes, I have all two of +them! Parked in the loading dock for convenience." + +"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." + +The elevator shot them down to the first floor. Leaping Lena and the +maroon sedan remained in the loading dock with a string of _Star_ paper +trucks blocking a portion of the street. + +"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. + +"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." + +"Yes, I see," Mr. Parker responded grimly. + +"Of course, if you would feel more dignified driving the sedan--" + +"Let me have the keys," the publisher interrupted. "The important thing +is to get home without delay." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +The door stood open and from within came the reassuring howl of a radio +turned too high. + +"Nothing so very serious can have happened," remarked Penny. "Otherwise, +Mrs. Weems wouldn't have that thing going full blast." + +At the sound of footsteps, the housekeeper herself came into the living +room from the kitchen. Her plump face was unusually animated. + +"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." + +"Penny and I were nearly ready to start home in any case, Mrs. Weems. Has +anything gone wrong here?" + +"Oh, no, Mr. Parker. It was the telegram." + +"Telegram? One for me, you mean?" + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"Then he did leave you money!" exclaimed Penny triumphantly. "How much +does the telegram say, Dad?" + +"You may as well tell her, Mr. Parker," sighed the housekeeper. "She'll +give me no peace until she learns every detail." + +"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." + +"Why, Mrs. Weems, you're an heiress!" cried Penny admiringly. + +"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." + +Before returning the telegram to the housekeeper, Mr. Parker switched off +the radio. + +"This message appears to be authentic," he declared. "My congratulations +upon your good fortune." + +"What will you do with all your money?" inquired Penny. + +"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." + +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. + +"The oceans are very unsafe, Mrs. Weems," discouraged Penny. "Wars and +submarines and things. Surely you wouldn't dare travel now." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Why, Mrs. Weems, you're only forty-eight!" protested Penny. "You would +be unhappy if you didn't have any work to do." + +"At least, I wouldn't mind trying it." + +"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." + +Before Mrs. Weems could reply, a strong odor of burning food permeated +the room. + +"The roast!" exclaimed the housekeeper. "I forgot it!" + +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. + +"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." + +"Don't you mind," laughed Penny. "I'll get dinner tonight. You entertain +Dad." + +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. + +"Mr. Parker, I truly am ashamed--" Mrs. Weems began. + +"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." + +"I'll hide the can opener," said Mr. Parker. + +"That's a good idea, Dad." + +"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." + +"No one can take your place," declared Penny. "If you leave, Dad and I +will go to wrack and ruin." + +"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." + +"An inexperienced person would be putty in my hands," declared Penny. +"You may as well decide to stay, Mrs. Weems." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"Shall we, Mrs. Weems?" inquired Penny. + +"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." + +"A friend of yours?" asked Mr. Parker. + +"Yes, Penny and I have been acquainted with her for years. She lives on +Christopher Street." + +"Perhaps this is none of my affair, Mrs. Weems. However, my advice to you +is not to tell many persons about your inheritance." + +"Oh, Mrs. Hodges is to be trusted." + +"I am sure of it, Mrs. Weems. I refer to strangers." + +"I'll be careful," the housekeeper promised. "No one ever will get that +money away from me once I have it!" + +Penny helped with the dishes, and then as her father was leaving the +house, asked him if she might have the two theatre tickets. + +"Since Mrs. Weems doesn't care to go, I'll invite Louise," she explained. + +Mr. Parker gave her the tickets. Making certain that the housekeeper was +upstairs, he spoke in a low tone. + +"Penny, Mrs. Weems is serious about leaving us. You must try to dissuade +her." + +"What can I do, Dad?" + +"Well, you usually have a few ideas in the old filing cabinet. Can't you +think of something?" + +"I'll do my best," Penny said with a twinkle. "We can't let an +inheritance take Mrs. Weems from us, that's certain." + +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. + +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. + +"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?" + +"The sum was trifling," responded the banker. "Twelve dollars and forty +cents to be exact. I may as well take care of it myself." + +"No, I insist," said Penny, wincing inwardly. "You see, I am one of the +_Star's_ highly paid executives now. I write society in Miss Hilderman's +absence and Dad gives me a salary." + +"Oh, really," remarked Mrs. Kohl with interest. "We are giving a dinner +for eight tomorrow night. You might like to mention it." + +"Indeed, yes," said Penny eagerly. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Why, that's odd!" thought Penny. "I do believe he noted down the car +license number! And perhaps for no good purpose." + + + + + CHAPTER + 5 + _THE MAN IN GRAY_ + + +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. + +Turning once more, the girl saw that the young man in gray had also +disappeared. + +"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." + +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. + +Penny was lost in thought when someone touched her arm. Whirling, she +found herself facing Louise Sidell. + +"Oh, hello, Lou," she laughed. "You startled me." + +"Sorry to have kept you waiting," apologized Louise. "I missed my bus. +May I ask what you find of such interest in this alley?" + +"I was looking for a man. He's disappeared now." + +Penny told Louise what she had observed, mentioning that in her opinion +the man might be a car thief. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Then why did he slip down the alley?" + +"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." + +"Oh, all right," said Penny with a shrug. "But if Mr. Kohl's car is +stolen, don't blame me." + +"It won't be," laughed Louise, linking arms with her chum. "Not with a +chauffeur at the wheel." + +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. + +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 _Star_. + +"Lou," she asked abruptly, "do you mind going home alone?" + +"Why, no. Where are you taking yourself?" + +"To the _Star_ office, if you don't mind." + +"At this time of night?" + +"I have a few notes I should type. Unfinished work always makes me +nervous." + +"You, nervous!" Louise scoffed. "I'll bet you want to see Jerry +Livingston!" + +"No such thing," denied Penny indignantly. "Jerry doesn't work on the +night force unless he's assigned to extra duty." + +"Well, you have something besides work on your mind." + +"Come along with me, Suspicious, and I'll prove it." + +"No, thanks," declined Louise. "It's home and bed for me. You run along." + +The girls separated, Penny walking three blocks to the _Star_ building. +The advertising office was dark, but blue-white lights glowed weirdly +from the composing room. Only a skeleton night staff occupied the +newsroom. + +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. + +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. + +"Oh, it's you!" she laughed in relief. "I thought it was against your +principles to work overtime." + +The reporter slumped into a chair, and picking up a sheet of copy paper, +began to read what Penny had composed. + +"I'm not working," he replied absently. "Just killing time." With a yawn +he tossed the paper on the desk again. + +"Is my stuff that bad?" inquired Penny. + +"Not bad at all. Better than Miss Hilderman writes. But society always +gives me a pain. Not worthy of your talents, Penny." + +"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!" + +"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." + +"Things may pick up soon." + +"Meaning--?" + +"Dad is thinking rather seriously of launching a drive against an +organized group of mediums." + +"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." + +"Then you know about the place?" + +"I've been there several times." + +"What are the meetings like, Jerry?" Penny asked eagerly. + +"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." + +"Perhaps you were suspected of being a _Star_ reporter, Jerry." + +"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." + +"I wish Dad would let me try it." + +"I don't," said Jerry flatly. "The Celestial Temple is no place for a +little girl like you." + +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. + +"I'll take you home," Jerry offered as Penny reached for her hat. + +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. + +"Doesn't Mr. Kohl live on this street?" Penny presently asked her escort. + +"Yes," he answered, "in a large stone apartment building. I'll point it +out when we get there." + +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. + +"You and Louise shouldn't have chased around Dorr Street alone," he said +severely. "It's a bad district." + +"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." + +"I doubt if there's a story connected with it. The Japanese make any +number of curious articles of silk, you know." + +"But a ladder, Jerry! What purpose could it serve?" + +"For one thing it would be more convenient to carry than the ordinary +type." + +"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." + +"He may not have understood you." + +"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!" + +"Better forget the Kano Curio Shop," Jerry said tolerantly. "I repeat, +Dorr Street is no place for you." + +"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--" + +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. + +"What was that?" Penny asked in a low tone. "Someone calling for help?" + +"It sure sounded like it!" exclaimed Jerry. "Come on, Penny! Let's find +out what's going on here!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 6 + _AN APARTMENT BURGLARY_ + + +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. + +Suddenly the front door of the corner dwelling swung open, and a young +woman in a maid's uniform ran toward them. + +Jerry, ever alert for a story of interest to the _Star_, neatly blocked +the sidewalk. Of necessity the girl halted. + +"Get a policeman, quick!" she gasped. "Mr. Kohl's apartment has been +robbed!" + +"Mr. Kohl--the banker?" demanded Penny, scarcely believing her ears. + +"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!" + +"I'll get one for you," offered Jerry. + +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. + +"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?" + +"Mr. and Mrs. Kohl aren't home yet?" + +"No, they went to the theatre. They must have stopped at a restaurant +afterwards. When they hear of this, I'll lose my job." + +"Perhaps not," said Penny kindly. "Surely you weren't to blame for the +burglary." + +"They'll think so," the maid responded gloomily. + +"I am acquainted with Mr. and Mrs. Kohl. Perhaps, if I speak a good word +for you it may help." + +"I doubt it," the girl responded. "I was supposed to have stayed at the +apartment the entire evening." + +"And you didn't?" + +"No, I went to a picture show." + +"That does throw a different light on the matter," commented Penny. + +"I didn't think it would make any difference. I intended to get here +ahead of the Kohls." + +"The robbery occurred while you were away?" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"Will you stay with me?" + +"Gladly." + +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. + +"This is the way I found it," said the maid. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +The bedrooms were in less disorder. However, bureau drawers had been +overturned, and jewel cases looted of everything save the most trivial +articles. + +"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." + +"I wouldn't touch anything if I were you," advised Penny. "Fingerprints." + +The maid dropped the case. "Oh!" she gasped. "I never thought of that! Do +you think the police will blame me for the robbery?" + +"Not if you tell them the truth. It surely will be unwise to try to hide +anything." + +"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." + +"Alone?" + +"With my girl friend. After the show we had a soda together, and then she +went home." + +"What time did you get here?" + +"Only a minute or two before I called for help. I tried the telephone +first." + +"Why didn't you summon the janitor?" + +"I never thought of that. I was so excited I ran outside hoping to find a +policeman." + +Penny nodded and, returning to the living room, satisfied herself that +the telephone wires actually had been cut. + +"You didn't notice anyone in the halls as you went downstairs." + +"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." + +"I was wondering about that myself. You're quite sure you locked the +suite door?" + +"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." + +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. + +"The burglar couldn't have entered that way," declared the maid. "He must +have had his own key." + +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. + +"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." + +"There's no mistake," spoke Penny from across the room. "The Kohls have +been robbed. Will you please come inside and close the door?" + +"Robbed! You don't say!" The janitor stared with alarmed interest. "When +did it happen?" + +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: + +"Mr. Bailey, do you mind answering a few questions?" + +"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." + +"No one is blaming you," Penny assured him. "I merely thought you might +contribute to a solution of the burglary." + +"I don't know a thing about it." + +"You didn't let anyone into the apartment building tonight?" + +"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?" + +"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. + +"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 _Star_." + +"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." + +"You mean tonight?" + +"No, several days ago. He stayed on the other side of the street and kept +watching the doorway." + +"What did he look like, Mr. Bailey?" + +"Oh, I don't remember. He was just an average young man in a gray +overcoat and hat." + +"Gray?" repeated Penny alertly. + +"It may have been light blue. I didn't pay much attention. At the time I +sized up the fellow as a detective." + +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. + +"Learn anything?" the reporter asked softly in her ear. + +"A little," answered Penny. "Let's see how much the officer turns up +before I go into my song and dance." + +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. + +"What time was that?" interposed Penny. + +The policeman gazed at her with sharp disapproval. "Please," he requested +with exaggerated politeness. + +"Sorry," apologized Penny, fading into the background. + +"It rang about eight o'clock," the old lady revealed. + +"The information is not significant," said the officer, glancing again at +Penny. + +She started to speak, then bit her lip, remaining silent. + +"Well, sister, what's on your mind?" he demanded abruptly. + +"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?" + +"Possibly," conceded the policeman. His frown discouraged her. "Any other +theories?" + +"No," said Penny shortly. + +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. + +"Never try to show up a policeman, even if he is a stuffed shirt," +remarked the reporter softly. "It gets you nowhere." + +The door closed and the officer faced the pair. + +"Now young lady," he said, quite pleasantly. "What do you know about this +burglary? I'll be very glad to listen." + +"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." + +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. + +"There is your clue," said Penny. + +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. + + + + + CHAPTER + 7 + _MARK OF THE IRON HOOK_ + + +"What do you think of it?" Penny asked as the officer studied the marks +in silence. + +"I'd say they were made by something which hooked over the ledge," the +policeman replied. "Possibly a ladder with curving irons." + +Jerry gazed down over the window ledge into the dark alley. + +"No ordinary ladder could reach this high," he commented. "Raising an +extension would be quite a problem, too." + +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. + +"Oh, no, sir. They must have been made tonight. I know they weren't there +this afternoon when I dusted the window sills." + +"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." + +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. + +"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. + +"In any case, the story should be front page copy. Anything the Kohls do +is news in Riverview." + +"How high would you estimate the loss?" + +"Oh, I couldn't guess, Jerry. Thousands of dollars." + +Passing groups of tenants who cluttered the hallway excitedly discussing +the burglary, they evaded questioners and reached the street. + +"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." + +"How could you have seen him, Penny? We were together when the Kohl maid +yelled for help." + +"Earlier than that. It was while I was at the theatre." + +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. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"I never thought about the department being closed," confessed Penny. +"How you do love to shoot shrapnel into my little ideas!" + +"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?" + +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. + +Suddenly, both straightened as they heard a sound behind them. The +brilliant beam of a flashlight focused on their faces, blinding them. + +"Oh, it's you again," said a gruff voice. + +The beam was lowered, and behind it they saw the policeman. + +"You young cubs are a pest," he said irritably. + +Ignoring them, he moved his light over the ground. There were no +footprints or other marks visible beneath the window. + +"If a ladder had stood here it would show," remarked Jerry. "The thief +must have used some other means of getting into the building." + +While the policeman was inspecting the ground, the janitor stepped from a +rear basement door, joining the group. + +"Officer, I have some more information for you," he volunteered. + +"What is it?" + +"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." + +"No ladder?" + +"Only a suitcase." + +"I'll have the detectives talk with your wife," the policeman promised. +"They'll be here any minute now." + +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. + +"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." + +"I don't like to abandon you." + +"Don't be silly, Jerry. It's only a few blocks farther." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Is it Penelope?" he asked, squinting at her through the rain. "Come in! +Come in!" + +"Good evening, Mr. Hodges. Is Mrs. Weems still here?" + +"Yes, I am, Penny," called the housekeeper. "Goodness, what time is it +anyway?" + +"Nearly midnight." + +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. + +"Have a chair, Penelope," invited Mrs. Hodges. She was short like her +husband, with graying hair and an untroubled countenance. + +"Thank you, but I can't stay," replied Penny. "I came to drive Mrs. Weems +home." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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?" + +"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--" + +"An evening gown!" Penny gasped. "Where will you wear it?" + +"I'll find places." + +"Maybe she aims to catch a husband while she's galavantin' around out +there in Californy," contributed Mr. Hodges with a sly wink. + +"The very idea!" laughed Mrs. Weems, yet with no displeasure. + +Penny sagged into the nearest rocking chair. The conversation was paced +too fast for her. + +"Evening gowns--husbands--California," she murmured weakly. "Wait until +Dad hears about this." + +"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." + +"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." + +Mrs. Weems squeezed her friend's hand. + +"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." + +"Oh, Pa and I don't complain," the seamstress answered brightly. "And +things are going to look up." + +"Sure they are," agreed Mr. Hodges. "I'll get a job any day now." + +Penny, who was watching the seamstress' face was amazed to see it +suddenly transformed. Losing her usual calm, Mrs. Hodges exclaimed: + +"Pa! It just this minute came to me! Maud getting her inheritance is +another psychic sign!" + +Penny rocked violently and even Mrs. Weems looked startled. + +"I don't know what you mean, Jenny," she said. + +"We said we wouldn't tell anybody, Ma," protested Mr. Hodges mildly. + +"Mrs. Weems is my best friend, and Penelope won't tell. Will you, +Penelope?" + +"Not what I don't know," replied Penny in bewilderment. "How can Mrs. +Weems' inheritance have anything to do with a psychic sign?" + +"You may as well tell 'em," grinned Mr. Hodges, "If you keep the news +much longer you'll bust." + +"The strangest thing happened three nights ago," Mrs. Hodges began, her +voice quivering with excitement. "But wait! First I'll show you the +letter!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 8 + _PSYCHIC SIGNS_ + + +As Penny and Mrs. Weems waited, the seamstress went to another room, +returning with a stamped, slit envelope. + +"Notice the postmark," she requested, thrusting the letter into Penny's +hand. + +"It was mailed from New York," the girl observed. + +"I mean the hour at which the envelope was stamped by the postmaster." + +"I make it 11:30 P.M. June fifteenth," Penny read aloud. "Does the time +and date have special significance?" + +"Indeed, it does," the seamstress replied impressively. "You tell them, +Pa." + +"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." + +"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." + +"A feeling of impending trouble?" questioned Penny. + +"Nothing like that," said Mr. Hodges. + +"No, it was as if one almost could feel a foreign presence in the room," +Mrs. Hodges declared, lowering her voice. "A supernatural being." + +"Surely you don't believe in ghosts...?" Penny began, but the seamstress +did not hear. Unheeding, she resumed: + +"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!" + +"Six sharp raps on the outside bedroom wall," supplied Mr. Hodges. "It +was like this." He demonstrated on the table. + +"We both heard it," added Mrs. Hodges. "It scared me nearly out of my +wits." + +"Possibly it was someone at the door," suggested Penny. + +"No, it wasn't that. Pa got up and went to see." + +"Could it have been a tree bough brushing against the wall?" + +"It wasn't that," said Mr. Hodges. "The maple is too far off to strike +our bedroom." + +"There's only one explanation," declared the seamstress with conviction. +"It was a psychic sign--the first." + +"I don't believe in such things myself," announced Penny. "Surely there +must be another explanation." + +"That's what I told Jenny," nodded Mr. Hodges. "But since the letter +came, doggoned if I don't think maybe she's right." + +"What has the letter to do with it?" inquired Mrs. Weems. + +The seamstress pointed to the postmark on the envelope. + +"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." + +"Corresponding to the marking on this envelope," commented Penny. "That +is a coincidence." + +Mrs. Hodges shook her head impatiently. + +"You surely don't think it just happened by _accident_?" she asked. "It +must have been intended as a sign--an omen." + +"What did the letter say?" Penny inquired, without answering Mrs. Hodges' +question. She knew that her true opinion would not please the woman. + +"It wasn't rightly a letter," the seamstress returned. "The envelope +contained six silver dollars fitted into a stiff piece of cardboard." + +"We figured it was another sign," contributed Mr. Hodges. "Six raps on +the wall--six dollars." + +"I wish some ghost would come and pound all night long on my bedroom +door," remarked Penny lightly. + +"Penelope, you shouldn't speak so disrespectfully," Mrs. Weems reproved +in a mild voice. + +"Excuse me, I didn't mean to," said Penny, composing her face. "What else +has happened of a supernatural nature?" + +"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!" + +"There was nothing psychic about that," said Mrs. Weems. "Cousin David +had no close relatives so he left the money to me." + +The seamstress shook her head, and an ethereal light shone in her eyes. + +"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!" + +Even Mrs. Weems was somewhat startled by the seamstress' calm assumption +that her thoughts had been responsible for the inheritance. + +"Don't you see," Mrs. Hodges resumed patiently. "It must mean that I have +great psychic powers. I confess I am rather frightened." + +Penny arose and began to button her raincoat. + +"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!" + +"A joke!" The seamstress was offended. "People don't give away money as a +joke." + +"No, these days they squeeze the eagles until they holler," chuckled Mr. +Hodges. + +"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!" + +"And there wasn't a sign of anyone near the house," added Mr. Hodges. + +"Well, at least you're six dollars ahead," said Penny. "Shall we go, Mrs. +Weems? It's after midnight." + +The seamstress walked to the door with the callers. + +"I'll get busy tomorrow on those new dresses," she promised Mrs. Weems. +"Drop in again whenever you can. And you, too, Penelope." + +Driving home through the rain, Penny stole a quick glance at the +housekeeper who seemed unusually quiet. + +"Do you suppose Jenny could be right?" Mrs. Weems presently ventured. "I +mean about Cousin David and the inheritance?" + +"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!" + +"I wish I really knew." + +"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!" + +"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?" + +"She didn't speak of it." + +"Not in words, Penny. But those strange rappings, the arrival of the +letter--it was all very strange and unexplainable." + +"I'll admit it was queer, Mrs. Weems. However, I'll never agree that +there's anything supernatural connected with it." + +"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?" + +Penny gazed at Mrs. Weems in alarm. She realized that the seamstress' +story had deeply impressed her. + +"I'll stake my knowledge against Mrs. Hodges' any old day," she declared +lightly. "I met one ghost-maker--Osandra--remember him?" + +"Why remind me of that man, Penny?" asked the housekeeper wearily. + +"Because you once paid him good money for the privilege of attending his +seances. You were convinced he was in communication with the world +beyond. He proved to be an outrageous fraud." + +"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." + +"No, Mrs. Hodges is honest. I believe that the money was sent to her. But +not by a ghost!" + +"Let's not discuss it," said Mrs. Weems with finality. "I never did enjoy +an argument." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + + + + + CHAPTER + 9 + _MRS. WEEMS' INHERITANCE_ + + +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. + +"Good morning, Daddykins," she greeted him cheerfully. "Any news in the +old scandal sheet?" + +Mr. Parker lowered the newspaper. + +"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." + +"You're eight hours late," grinned Penny, reaching for the front page. "I +was there." + +"I suppose you lifted the pearls and the diamond bracelet on your way to +the theatre." + +"No," said Penny, rapidly scanning the story which Jerry had written, +"but I think I may have seen the man who did do it." + +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. + +"You may have been mistaken about what the man wrote down," commented her +father. + +"That's possible, but he was staring straight at the car." + +"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." + +"Couldn't he have recognized them?" + +"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?" + +"No, but he may have done it before I noticed him standing by the +theatre." + +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. + +"Dad, look at this! There were two other burglaries last night! Apartment +houses on Drexel Boulevard and Fenmore Street were entered." + +"H-m, interesting. The Kohls occupy an apartment also. That rather +suggests that the same thief ransacked the three places." + +"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!" + +"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." + +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. + +"Penny!" protested the housekeeper. "You promised Mrs. Hodges to say +nothing about the letter." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"The way to solve that problem is not to leave," said Penny. "You know we +can't get along without you." + +Mrs. Weems shook her head. + +"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." + +"And I suppose a ghost advised her," muttered Penny. + +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. + +"Come, Penny," he said. "If we're having that game of tennis this +morning, it's time we start." + +En route to the park, the publisher explained why he had not chosen to +express an opinion in the housekeeper's presence. + +"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." + +"I'll try to be more careful, Dad. But it's so silly!" + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"I hope the cheque is good," remarked Penny. + +"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." + +"You have six thousand dollars cash in the house!" + +"Yes, I had the cashier give it to me in hundred dollar bills." + +"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?" + +Mrs. Weems shook her head. "It gives me a nice rich feeling to have the +cash. I've hidden it in a good place." + +"Where?" demanded Penny. + +"I won't tell," laughed Mrs. Weems. + +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. + +"When will you be leaving us, Mrs. Weems?" he inquired. + +"Whenever you can spare me. Now that I have the money, I should like to +leave within ten days or two weeks." + +"Since we can't persuade you to remain, I'll try to find someone to take +your place," Mr. Parker promised. + +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. + +"Dad," Penny ventured when they were alone, "just supposing that Mrs. +Weems' money should mysteriously disappear--" + +"Don't allow your mind to dwell on that idea," cut in her father sternly. +"We'll play fair." + +"Oh, I wouldn't do it," said Penny hastily. "I was only joking. But if +something _should_ happen to the money, it would solve all our problems." + +"Mrs. Weems has earned her vacation. Even though it will be hard to lose +her, we mustn't stand in her way." + +"I guess you're right," sighed Penny. + +The following day Miss Hilderman resumed her duties at the _Star_, 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. + +"Dear me, I had forgotten it!" exclaimed Mrs. Weems. "Yes, I must try on +my new dresses!" + +"I'll drive you over," offered Penny. + +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. + +"Housecleaning?" inquired Penny, pausing to chat with the old man. + +"Yes, Jenny's got me hard at it," he grinned. "She's been tearin' the +house upside down gettin' ready for the new roomer." + +"Oh, have you taken one?" + +Penny was surprised, knowing that in past years the Hodges had been too +proud to rent rooms. + +"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." + +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. + +"Oh, Maud, I've been so busy I didn't get your dresses ready to be tried +on." + +"It doesn't matter," replied Mrs. Weems. "What's this about a new +roomer?" + +"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." + +"A sign of what?" inquired Penny with her usual directness. + +"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!" + +"Probably he was the one who sent the letter," said Penny alertly. + +"Oh, no! He didn't know anything about it. I asked him." + +"What is his name, Mrs. Hodges?" + +"Al Gepper. He's such a nice young man and he talks so refined. I am +letting him have the entire floor upstairs." + +"That should bring you a nice income," remarked Mrs. Weems. + +"I am asking only two dollars a week," admitted the seamstress. "He said +he couldn't pay more than that." + +"Why, Jenny," protested Mrs. Weems, "such a small amount hardly will +cover the lights and various extras." + +"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." + +"His apparatus?" echoed Penny. "What is he, a chemist?" + +"No," replied the seamstress, smiling mysteriously. "I'll show you the +rooms." + +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. + +"Mr. Gepper plans to use this room for his studio," explained Mrs. +Hodges. + +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. + +"Mrs. Hodges, to what purpose does your young man expect to put this +studio?" she asked. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Why do you think so?" + +"Because I've seen trappings such as these before at other seance +chambers," replied Penny. "Mrs. Hodges, you must send him away before he +involves you with the police." + + + + + CHAPTER + 10 + _OUIJA BOARD WISDOM_ + + +"Trouble with the police!" Mrs. Hodges echoed, regarding Penny with +unconcealed dismay. "How can it be illegal to rent Mr. Gepper these +rooms?" + +"Renting the rooms isn't illegal," Penny corrected. "But if the young man +conducts public seances 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." + +"I am sure the young man means no wrong." + +"Penny," commented Mrs. Weems, "it seems to me that you are overly +concerned. Why are you convinced that Mr. Gepper is a medium?" + +"Doesn't this cabinet indicate it?" + +"I thought it was some sort of wardrobe closet," Mrs. Hodges admitted. + +"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." + +"Oh, dear, I don't know what to do now," declared the seamstress. "I'll +have to ask Pa about it." + +She and Mrs. Weems started downstairs, expecting that Penny would follow. +Instead, the girl lingered to inspect the cabinet. + +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. + +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. + +"Hello," he said, without smiling. "Aren't you afraid a monkey may jump +out of that cabinet?" + +Penny, who seldom blushed, felt a wave of heat creeping over her cheeks. + +"Hello," she stammered. "You must be Mrs. Hodges' new roomer." + +"Al Gepper, at your service. Who are you, girlie?" + +"You guessed it," said Penny shortly, edging away from the cabinet. + +Al Gepper remained in the doorway, blocking the exit with his arm. He did +not move as the girl attempted to move past him. + +"What's your hurry?" he drawled. "Stick around and let's get acquainted. +I'll show you some neat card tricks." + +"Thanks, but I haven't time, Mr. Gepper." + +"What's your name anyhow?" he persisted. "You're not Mrs. Hodges' +daughter." + +"No, only a friend." + +"You needn't be so icy about it," he rebuked. "Any friend of Mrs. Hodges' +is a friend of mine." + +"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." + +"Oh, you have?" inquired the man, his eyes hardening. "And what business +is it of yours?" + +"None, perhaps. I merely am not going to allow her to be taken in if I +can prevent it!" + +"Oh, indeed. Do you mind explaining?" + +"It's perfectly obvious that you're one of these fake spiritualists," +Penny accused bluntly. "Your nickname should be Six-Raps Al!" + +"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." + +"You admit that you're a medium?" + +"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." + +"You expect to use these rooms for public seances?" + +"I do." + +"Then you are certain to get the Hodges into trouble with the police." + +"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!" + +Penny jerked free and, shouldering through the door, raced downstairs. + +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. + +Mrs. Weems and the old couple were talking in the kitchen. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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 +seances. Isn't that true?" + +Defiantly, she turned to face the young man who had followed her. + +"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." + +"What night did you have the dream?" questioned Mrs. Hodges, deeply +impressed. + +"It was June fifteenth." + +"The very night we heard the strange rappings on our bedroom wall, Pa." + +"Dogonned if it wasn't!" + +"Mr. Gepper, do you truly believe it is possible to communicate with the +spiritual world?" Mrs. Weems inquired politely. + +"My dear madam, I can best answer by offering a demonstration. Have you a +ouija board in the house?" + +"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." + +Mr. Hodges brought a large, flat board which bore letters and figures. +Upon it he placed a small, triangular piece with cushioned legs. + +"This do-dad is supposed to spell out messages, ain't it?" he asked. "Ma +and I could never make it work right." + +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. + +"Place your hands lightly on the triangular piece," he instructed. +"Concentrate with me as we await a message from the spiritual world." + +Penny fastened her eyes on the distant wall with a blank stare. + +A minute passed. The ouija board made several convulsive struggles, but +seemed unable to move. + +"The Spirits encounter resistance," the medium said testily. "They can +send no message when one's attitude is antagonistic." + +"Shall I take off the brakes?" asked Penny. + +Even as she spoke the pointer of the triangle began moving, rapidly +spelling a message. + +"AL GEPPER IS A FRAUD," it wrote. + +The medium sprang to his feet, allowing the board to fall from his lap. + +"You pushed it!" he accused. "The test was unfair." + +"Why, the very idea," chuckled Penny. + +"Penny, please allow Mr. Gepper to conduct a true test," reproved Mrs. +Weems severely. "Let me try." + +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. + +The medium pointedly requested Penny to examine the envelope to assure +herself the writing could not be seen through the paper. + +"You are satisfied that I have not read the message?" he asked. + +"Yes," Penny admitted reluctantly. + +The medium took the envelope, ran his fingers lightly over it, and +returned it still sealed to Mrs. Weems. + +"If I am not mistaken, Madam, you wrote, 'Is the spirit of my cousin in +this room?'" + +"Why, I did!" exclaimed Mrs. Weems. "Those were the exact words! How did +you know?" + +Al Gepper smiled mysteriously. + +"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." + +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: + +"Oh, Spirit, if you are with us in the room, signal by lifting this piece +of furniture." + +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. + +"You see?" With a triumphant ring to his voice, the medium crossed the +room to raise the window shades. "Now do you doubt me?" + +"No! No!" cried Mrs. Hodges tremulously. "Only a Spirit could have moved +that table. Maud, perhaps it _was_ your Cousin David." + +The medium gazed at Mrs. Weems with sympathetic interest. + +"You have lost a loved one recently?" he inquired. + +"Cousin David and I never were well acquainted," replied the housekeeper. +"That was why I was so surprised when he left me an inheritance." + +"Mrs. Weems!" remonstrated Penny. She was dismayed by the revelation so +casually offered. + +"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." + +"Why, that's very generous of you, Mr. Gepper." + +"Not at all. Friends of the Hodges are my friends. Shall we set a +definite date--say tomorrow at two o'clock?" + +"Yes, I'll come. That is, if the Hodges are to be present." + +"Assuredly. Mrs. Hodges is definitely psychic and should contribute to +our seance." + +It was with the greatest of difficulty that Penny finally induced the +housekeeper to leave the cottage. Al Gepper accompanied them to the door. + +"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." + + + + + CHAPTER + 11 + _THE CELESTIAL TEMPLE_ + + +"Penny, tell me the truth," Mrs. Weems urged as they drove home together. +"Didn't you push the ouija board?" + +"Of course," laughed Penny. "But if I hadn't, Al Gepper would have. He +was trying hard enough!" + +"He said you were resisting the spirits." + +"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." + +"How can you accuse him of being a fraud after you saw his marvelous +demonstration? The table actually rose from the floor." + +"I know it did," Penny acknowledged unwillingly. "But it must have been +trickery." + +"How could it have been? The table was an ordinary one. Mrs. Hodges uses +it every day of her life." + +"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." + +"Very well, I'll promise if it gives you satisfaction," the housekeeper +replied. "However, I do intend to keep my appointment." + +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. + +"Will you attend the seance with Mrs. Weems?" Louise asked her curiously. + +"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!" + +Returning home later in the afternoon, she found Mrs. Weems sitting on +the living room floor, sorting a drawer of old photographs. + +"You're not packing your things already?" Penny asked in alarm. + +"Only these photographs," the housekeeper responded. "I wouldn't have +started the task, only I got into it when the agent came." + +"Agent?" + +"A man from the Clamont Photograph Studio." + +"Never heard of the place." + +"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." + +"That is a bargain," remarked Penny. "I wish I had been here." + +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. + +"How about a little adventure?" she proposed. "And don't ask for +explanations." + +"Will we be home by ten o'clock? That's the parental deadline." + +"Oh, yes, we'll make it easily. Meet me at the corner of Carabel and +Clinton Streets." + +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. + +"Tell me about this so-called adventure," she commanded. "Where are we +going?" + +"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." + +"Penny, I don't think I care to go." + +"Nonsense! The meetings are open to the public, aren't they? We'll have a +very interesting time." + +"Oh, all right," Louise consented reluctantly. "But I can't understand +why you're so interested in the place." + +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. + +"Why, we're at our destination now," Penny protested. "I am sure that +must be the building." + +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. + +The evenly spaced windows were illuminated, and music could be heard. + +"Are you sure this is the place?" Louise inquired dubiously. "It looks +like a church to me, and they're holding a service." + +"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." + +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. + +"Let's go inside," Penny proposed. + +Louise held back. "Oh, no, we can see everything from here. It looks as +if it were a very stupid sort of meeting." + +"Appearances are often deceiving. I want a ringside seat." + +Penny pulled her chum toward the entrance door. There they hesitated, +reading a large placard which bore the invitation: + +_The Public Is Invited. Services at eight p.m. daily._ + +"We're part of the public, Lou," urged Penny. "Come along." + +She boldly opened the door, and there was no retreat. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +Louise, her eyes dilated with fear, edged closer to Penny. + +"Let's go," she pleaded. + +Penny shook her head. + +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. + +"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." + +"No, thank you," replied Louise, without giving her chum a chance to +speak. + +"Perhaps, you would prefer a private reading," the woman murmured. "I +give them at my home, and the fee is trivial. Only a dollar." + +"Thank you, no," Louise repeated firmly. "I'm not interested." + +The woman shrugged and moved on down the aisle, pausing beside an elderly +man to whom she addressed herself. + +"Lou, why did you discourage her?" Penny whispered. "We might have +learned something." + +"I've learned quite enough. I'm leaving." + +Louise squeezed past her chum, heading for the exit. Penny had no choice +but to follow. + +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. + +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. + +"Well, he's gone," she remarked. + +"Who?" Louise questioned in a puzzled voice. "You mean that man who +entered the Temple and then left so suddenly?" + +"I do," responded Penny. "Unless my eyes tricked me, he was none other +than Al Gepper!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 12 + _A MESSAGE FOR MRS. WEEMS_ + + +"I don't know anyone answering to that name," remarked Louise. "However, +the fellow did act as if he were retreating from us." + +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. + +"It must have been Gepper," she declared. "Naturally he wouldn't care to +meet me here." Quickly Penny recounted the events of the afternoon. + +"Then you think he may be connected with the Temple, Penny?" + +"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." + +"Isn't that illegal?" + +"Of course it is. The police should raid the place." + +"Then why don't they, Penny?" + +"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!" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +Mrs. Weems sat at the desk. Hastily she closed one of the drawers, and +turned the key. + +"You startled me, Penny!" she exclaimed. "I do wish you would give more +warning before you descend upon one." + +"Sorry," apologized Penny, glancing curiously toward the desk. "Oh, I +see!" + +"You see what?" demanded the housekeeper. + +"Six thousand dollars reposing in a desk drawer!" + +Mrs. Weems' look of consternation betrayed her. She glanced at the locked +drawer, and then laughed. + +"For an instant I thought you actually could see the money, Penny." + +"Then my guess was right?" + +"I keep the money in the drawer," Mrs. Weems admitted. + +Penny sat down on the edge of the bed, drawing up her knees for a chin +rest. + +"Mrs. Weems, don't you think it's risky keeping so much money here?" + +"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." + +"The desk doesn't seem a safe place to me." + +"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." + +Mrs. Weems tapped a black velvet ribbon which she wore about her neck. + +"I keep this on me day and night," she declared. "No thief ever will get +it way from me." + +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. + +"I don't see how you can call it trickery," she protested. "You have no +proof, Penny." + +"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." + +"You can't say that about the table at Mrs. Hodges', Penny." + +"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 seance tomorrow." + +"But Penny, I gave my promise." + +"I can run over to the house and tell him you've changed your mind." + +Mrs. Weems shook her head. "No, Penny, I am curious to learn if he will +be able to communicate with the spirits. Tomorrow's seance should provide +a genuine test. The man knows nothing about me or my ancestors." + +"Mrs. Hodges probably has provided all the information he'll require." + +"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." + +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 seance. + +"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." + +"I'll try to behave myself," Penny laughed. "Yes, we'll give Mr. Gepper a +chance to prove what he can do." + +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 seance, were trembling with anticipation. + +"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." + +"Jenny, I hope you haven't told him anything about me," the housekeeper +mentioned. + +"Oh, no, Maud. For that matter, he's said nothing about you since you +were here." + +Mrs. Weems cast Penny an "I-told-you-so" glance which was not lost upon +Al Gepper who entered the room at that moment. + +"I am ready for you, ladies," he said. "Kindly follow me." + +In the upstairs room blinds had been drawn. Al Gepper indicated that his +audience was to occupy the chairs around the circular table. + +"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." + +"Oh, no, Mr. Gepper," murmured Mrs. Hodges. "We trust you." + +"I'll look, if you don't mind," said Penny. + +She peered beneath the table, thumped it several times, and pulled aside +the curtain of the cabinet. It was empty. + +"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." + +"A la the Celestial Temple method," muttered Penny beneath her breath. + +"What was that?" questioned the medium sharply. + +"Nothing. I was merely thinking to myself." + +"Then please think more quietly. I must warn you that this seance cannot +be successful unless each person present concentrates, entering into the +occasion with the deepest of sincerity." + +"I assure you, I am as sincere as yourself," Penny responded gravely. + +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. + +After everyone was seated about the table, Al Gepper played several +phonograph records, all the while exhorting the Spirits to appear. + +Taking Mrs. Weems' ring from the tray before him, he pressed it to his +forehead. A convulsive shudder wracked his body. + +"Someone comes to me--" he mumbled. "Someone comes, giving the name of +David--David Swester." + +"My cousin," breathed Mrs. Weems in awe. + +"He is tall and dark with a scar over his left eye," resumed the medium. +"I see him plainly now." + +"That _is_ David!" cried the housekeeper, leaning forward in her +eagerness. + +"David, have you a message for us?" the medium intoned. + +There was a long silence, during which the man could be seen writhing and +twisting in the semi-darkness. Then his voice began again: + +"David has a message for a person called Maud." + +"I am Maud," said Mrs. Weems tremulously. "Oh, what does he say?" + +"That he is well and happy in the Spirit World, but he is worried about +Maud." + +"Worried about me? Why?" + +The medium again seemed to undergo physical suffering, but presently the +message "came through," although not in an entirely clear form. + +"David's voice has faded. I am not certain, but it has something to do +with six thousand dollars." + +"The exact amount he left to me!" Mrs. Weems murmured. + +"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." + +With another convulsive shudder, Al Gepper straightened from the position +into which he had slumped. Resuming his normal tone he said: + +"That is all. The connection with Cousin David has been broken." + +"Can't we contact him again?" Mrs. Weems asked in disappointment. + +"Not today. Possibly tomorrow at this same hour." + +"Couldn't you call up another Spirit by using my pin or Pa's watch?" Mrs. +Hodges suggested wistfully. + +Al Gepper raised one of the window blinds. "I am very, very tired," he +said. "This seance 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." + +"You mean I'll be able to see him?" the housekeeper asked incredulously. + +"I hope and believe so. I must rest now. After a seance I should refresh +myself with sleep." + +"Of course," agreed Mrs. Hodges. "We are selfish to overtax you." + +Recovering their trinkets, the elderly couple and Mrs. Weems went from +the room. Penny was the last to leave. + +"Well, sister?" inquired the medium in a low voice. "Were you convinced, +or do you still think that you can show up Al Gepper?" + +"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!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 13 + _COUSIN DAVID'S GHOST_ + + +When Penny reached the lower floor she found Mrs. Weems and the Hodges +excitedly discussing the seance. The seamstress and her husband +emphatically declared that they had given the medium no information +regarding either the housekeeper or the deceased Cousin David. + +"Then there can be only one explanation," Mrs. Weems said. "We were truly +in communication with a departed spirit." + +"Don't you agree, Penny?" inquired Mrs. Hodges. + +"I am afraid I can't," she replied. + +"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." + +"Al Gepper could have obtained much of his information from persons in +Riverview," Penny responded. + +"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." + +"Just think!" murmured Mrs. Hodges. "Tomorrow you may actually be able to +see your departed cousin!" + +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. + +From the cottage Penny went directly to the _Star_ 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. + +"Penny, you actually saw all this?" he questioned when she had finished. + +"Oh, yes! At the Celestial Temple Louise was with me, too. We thought you +might take up the matter with the police." + +"That's exactly what I will do," decided Mr. Parker. "I've turned the +matter over in my mind for several days. The _Star_ will take the +initiative in driving these mediums, character readers and the like out +of Riverview!" + +"Oh, Dad, I was hoping you'd say that!" + +Mr. Parker pressed a desk buzzer. Summoning DeWitt, he told of his plan +to launch an active campaign. + +"Nothing will please me better, Chief," responded the city editor. "Where +do we start?" + +"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." + +"That should start the ball rolling," agreed DeWitt. "I'll assign Jerry +Livingston to the story. Salt Sommers is my best photographer." + +"Get busy right away," Mr. Parker ordered. "We'll play the story big +tomorrow--give it a spread." + +"How about Al Gepper?" Penny inquired after DeWitt had gone. "Could he be +arrested without involving the Hodges?" + +"Not very easily if he lives at their place. Has he accepted money for +the seances he conducts there?" + +"He hasn't taken any yet from Mrs. Weems. I am sure he must have other +customers." + +"You have no proof of it?" + +"No." + +"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." + +"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." + +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." + +"I'll do everything I can to help," Penny promised eagerly. "May I have +Al Gepper for my particular fish bait?" + +"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." + +"I'll try to accompany her every time she goes there, Dad. I am afraid he +may be after her money." + +"Gepper doesn't know she inherited six thousand dollars?" Mr. Parker +asked in alarm. + +"Yes, she dropped the information that she had come into money. He +supplied figures himself." + +"I wonder how?" + +"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 seance." + +Mr. Parker snorted in disgust. + +"Tommyrot! The man will make an excuse about the conditions not being +right, and fail." + +"Perhaps, but he seems pretty confident." + +"You expect to attend the seance?" + +"Oh, definitely. Jungle beasts couldn't keep me away." + +"Then be alert every instant--without appearing too suspicious, of +course. Try to learn how the man accomplishes his tricks." + +"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." + +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. + +At six o'clock her father came home for dinner. + +"Any news?" Penny asked, running to meet him. + +"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." + +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. + +The hands of the clock scarcely appeared to move, so slowly did time +pass. Eight o'clock came, then nine. Suddenly the telephone rang. + +Penny was away in an instant to answer it. From the next room she called +to her father: + +"It's for you, Dad! DeWitt, I think." + +"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. + +"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." + +He hung up the receiver and turned toward Penny who anticipated the news. + +"The raid was a failure?" + +"Yes, Penny. Detectives spent two hours at the meeting. Nothing happened. +It was impossible to make arrests." + +"They must have been recognized as detectives." + +"Undoubtedly." + +"Others will be assigned to the case?" + +"I doubt it, Penny. DeWitt reports that the police have become convinced +that the spiritualists who use the Temple are not operating for profit." + +"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?" + +"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." + + + + + CHAPTER + 14 + _WET PAINT_ + + +Promptly at two o'clock the following afternoon, Penny and Mrs. Weems +presented themselves at the Hodges' cottage for the appointed seance. +Already Mr. Gepper awaited them in the darkened apartment on the second +floor. + +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. + +She moved as if to examine it. Al Gepper intercepted her by saying: + +"Sit here, if you please. Beside Mrs. Weems. I'll call the Hodges and +we'll start at once." + +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. + +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. + +"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 +seance begins I am compelled to request absolute quiet. The slightest +movement may frighten away the Spirits." + +"Why are spirits so timid?" asked Penny. + +"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." + +Mrs. Weems took one of Penny's hands and Mr. Hodges the other. Mrs. +Hodges sat next to her husband. + +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. + +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. + +"Are you there, David?" called the medium. + +The bell jingled violently. + +"We are ready, David," intoned the medium. "Have you a message for us?" + +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. + +Next appeared a white-rimmed slate, upon which luminous words were +written: "I am the Spirit of Cousin David. Is Maud here?" + +"Yes, yes," responded Mrs. Weems, quivering with excitement. "Have you a +message for me?" + +Again the hand wrote: "My happiness in this world beyond is disturbed. +Maud, do not squander the money which I gave to you." + +"Squander it?" the housekeeper said aloud. "Why, I've scarcely spent a +penny!" + +"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." + +The slate vanished and once more the jingling of the cowbell denoted that +the spirit was moving away. + +The medium spoke. "Contact has been broken. Shall we try to reach Cousin +David again?" + +"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." + +"I wouldn't go agin' the Spirits if I was you," advised Mr. Hodges. "You +better change your plans, Maud." + +"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." + +"Madam, I hope you do not distrust me," said Al Gepper reprovingly. + +"Oh, no, it's not that. I'm just upset." + +"Perhaps, if you actually saw your cousin it would set your mind at +rest." + +"Is it possible to see him?" + +"I cannot promise, but we will try. Hold hands again please, and everyone +concentrate." + +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." + +Midway through the selection, the music broke off and the banjo +disappeared. An instant later Mrs. Hodges uttered a choked cry. + +"The easel! Look at it, Maud!" + +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. + +"It _is_ 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!" + +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 seance was at +hand. + +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. + +Throughout the seance 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. + +"I'll end his little game once and for all," she thought. + +Deliberately she waited until the ghostly figure floated close to her own +chair. Then with a sudden upward spring, she snatched at it. + +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. + +Arising, the medium switched on the room lights. His face was white with +anger. + +"I warned you to make no move," he said harshly to Penny. "You +deliberately disobeyed me." + +"Oh, Penny, why did you do it?" wailed Mrs. Weems. "I was so eager to get +another message from Cousin David." + +"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 seance with this young person present. She is a disturbing +element." + +"Oh, Penny, you've ruined everything," said Mrs. Weems accusingly. "Why +do you act so outrageously?" + +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. + +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. + +The paint was still wet. + +Penny stared at her finger a moment. Lifting her eyes she met the +triumphant gaze of Al Gepper. + +"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?" + +"No, just plain dumb," answered Penny. "I salute you, Mr. Gepper." + +Without waiting for Mrs. Weems, she turned and went from the house. + +"Now how _did_ 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." + + + + + CHAPTER + 15 + _HIDDEN MONEY_ + + +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 seance, White and Edwards, Brantwell, and Bierkamp, +were unlisted. + +"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!" + +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 +seance, said distantly: + +"Please, Penny, I prefer not to discuss it. Your conduct was +disgraceful." + +"I apologize for grabbing at the ghost, Mrs. Weems. I only did it to +prove that Al Gepper is a fraud." + +"Your motives were quite apparent. One could not blame Mr. Gepper for +being angry." + +"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." + +"You are very unjust," the housekeeper responded. "Today I tried to pay +Mr. Gepper for the seance and he would not accept one penny." + +"That's because he is playing for higher stakes." + +"It's no use discussing the matter with you," Mrs. Weems shrugged. "You +are prejudiced and will give the man credit for nothing." + +"I give him credit for being very clever. Mrs. Weems, please promise that +you'll not allow him to invest your money for you." + +"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." + +"And stay here with us?" Penny cried eagerly. + +"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." + +"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." + +"You're always asking me to promise something or other," the housekeeper +sighed. "This time I shall use my own judgment." + +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. + +"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." + +"What worries me is that I am afraid she may have told Al Gepper where +the money is kept." + +"Tomorrow I'll urge her again to deposit it in a bank. We'll do our best +to protect her from these sharpers." + +The publisher had been very much interested in Penny's account of the +seance. However, he was unable to explain how the various tricks had been +accomplished. + +"Dad," Penny said thoughtfully, "you don't suppose there's any chance it +wasn't trickery?" + +"Certainly not! I hope you're not falling under this fellow's spell?" + +"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." + +A startled expression came over Penny's face. Without explanation, she +sprang to her feet and ran to the kitchen. + +"Mrs. Weems," she cried, "did you ever get it back? Your picture!" + +"What picture, Penny?" The housekeeper scarcely glanced up as she +vigorously scrubbed carrots. + +"I mean the one of Cousin David. You allowed a photographer to take it +for enlargement." + +"It hasn't been returned," Mrs. Weems admitted. "I can't imagine why the +work takes so long." + +"I think I can," announced Penny. "But you never would believe me if I +told you, so I won't." + +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. + +"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." + +"Nor does it explain the ghost or the banjo. Penny, couldn't Gepper have +painted the picture himself in the darkness?" + +"There wasn't time, Dad. Besides, he held a flashlight on the painting. +No human hand touched it." + +"You say, too, that the banjo was high overhead when it played?" + +"That's right, Dad. Gepper couldn't have reached the strings. The +instrument floated free in the air." + +"Sounds fantastic." + +"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!" + +"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." + +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. + +"Guess I'll run over and see Louise," she thought restlessly. "Nothing to +do here." + +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. + +"This is where Mrs. Weems resides, I believe?" + +"Yes, but she isn't here now." + +"When will she be home?" + +"I can't say," replied Penny. "Are you an agent?" + +The man's appearance displeased her although she could not have said +exactly why. His smile was too ingratiating, his eyes calculating and +hard. + +"My name is Bierkamp," he explained. "I represent the Harold G. Bierkamp +Investment Company." + +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!" + +"And who are you to speak for her?" the man retorted. + +"If you come here again, I'll call the police," Penny threatened. "Now +get out!" + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +"This is in a good cause, Lou. I am protecting Mrs. Weems from her own +folly." + +"What will you do with the money?" + +"Deposit it in a bank." + +"You are taking matters into your hands with a vengeance! Suppose you're +robbed on the way downtown?" + +"That would complicate my life. Upon second thought, I'll send for an +armored truck." + +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. + +"There, that's a load off my mind," said Penny. "Just let Al Gepper try +to steal Mrs. Weems' money now!" + +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." + +"Oh, I'll be able to explain," laughed Penny. + +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. + +At dinner Penny was so subdued that the housekeeper inquired if she were +ill. + +"Not yet," the girl answered. "I'm just thinking about the future. It's +so depressing." + +"Perhaps a picture show would cheer us all," proposed Mr. Parker. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +For a long while she lay staring at a patch of moonlight on the bedroom +carpet. Although she felt tired she could not sleep. + +"It's just as Louise said," she reflected. "I'm always getting myself +into hot water and for no good reason, either!" + +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. + +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? + +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! + + + + + CHAPTER + 16 + _OVER THE WINDOW LEDGE_ + + +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. + +The intruder raised the sash, making no sound. He hesitated, listening a +moment, then dropped lightly into the bedroom. + +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. + +"He means to steal Mrs. Weems' money!" she thought. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"This undoubtedly was the same fellow who broke into the Kohl apartment!" +she thought. "But how did he escape so quickly?" + +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. + +Unlocking the rear door, she glanced carefully about the yard. There was +no one in sight, no movement behind any of the shrubbery. + +"He's gone, of course," she thought. + +Penny wore no shoes. Finding a pair of old galoshes on the porch, she +protected her feet with them, and hobbled into the yard. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"This may be an important clue!" she thought excitedly. "I know now how +the man entered the house!" + +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. + +"Dad, come here quickly!" Penny called as he started to open the garage +doors. + +"What's wrong, Penny?" + +Both the publisher and Mrs. Weems came toward the porch. + +"We've had a burglar," Penny announced. "He broke into Mrs. Weems' room, +smashing the lock on the desk--" + +"My money!" the housekeeper exclaimed in horror. "Oh, Penny, don't tell +me that it's gone!" + +"He escaped with the contents of the drawer." + +Mrs. Weems gave a moan of anguish. "Haven't you called the police?" she +demanded. "When did it happen? Tell me everything!" + +"First, I'll set your mind at rest," Penny replied. "Your money is safe." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"Oh, you darling blessed girl!" laughed Mrs. Weems. "Where did you hide +it, Penny? Are you sure it's safe?" + +"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." + +"Rather high-handed weren't you?" commented her father. + +"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." + +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!" + +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. + +"Dad, I think this may be a valuable clue," she declared. "What does it +suggest to you?" + +"Not much of anything, I am afraid." + +"You remember that when the Kohls were robbed the police couldn't figure +out how the burglar gained entrance?" + +"Yes, I recall the story." + +"Well, I believe the same man committed both burglaries." + +"Why do you think so, Penny?" + +"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." + +"Let's look at them," proposed Mr. Parker. + +"Only the marks are there now, Dad. The man jerked the hooks loose after +he descended. They must have been attached to his ladder." + +"I thought you said he had none, Penny." + +"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." + +"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." + +"He could jerk loose the hooks in an instant, too, Dad. The ladder would +fit into a small suitcase, or even his pocket!" + +"There's one objection to your theory, Penny. How could such a ladder be +raised to the window ledge? It naturally would be limp." + +"That part has me puzzled, I'll admit." + +"I never even heard of a silken ladder," said Mrs. Weems doubtfully. + +"I once saw one being made," declared Penny with deliberate emphasis. "At +a Japanese Shop on Dorr Street." + +"That's right, you spoke of it!" exclaimed her father. "Penny, you may +have something!" + +"I think so, Dad. This strand of twisted silk may lead straight to Kano's +Curio Shop." + +"And from there?" + +Penny hesitated, glancing at Mrs. Weems. She knew that the housekeeper +might take offense, but she answered quietly: + +"My guess would be to Al Gepper, Dad. Who but he or an accomplice could +have known where the money was hidden?" + + + + + CHAPTER + 17 + _KANO'S CURIO SHOP_ + + +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. + +"Think back, Mrs. Weems," urged Mr. Parker. "How many persons knew where +you had secreted the money?" + +"I told Mrs. Hodges." + +"And Al Gepper?" Penny probed. + +"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." + +"What day was that?" inquired Penny. + +"Yesterday. After the seance. But I can't believe that Mr. Gepper would +try to steal the money. I just can't!" + +"From what Penny has told me of the man, I should judge that he is a +schemer," contributed Mr. Parker. "You know the _Star_ has started a +vigorous campaign directed against such mediums as Al Gepper." + +"But he told me such remarkable things about Cousin David," protested +Mrs. Weems. "Facts which couldn't be faked." + +"Oh, Gepper doesn't make many false moves," acknowledged Penny. "He's a +smooth worker. All the same, he's a fake." + +"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." + +"Did the picture closely resemble your cousin?" inquired Mr. Parker. + +"Oh, yes, indeed. It looked exactly as I saw him many years ago." + +"Isn't that rather odd?" demanded Penny. "One would expect Cousin David +to age a little." + +"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?" + +"Well, yes, he did," Mrs. Weems admitted unwillingly. "I made a mistake +giving him the photograph." + +"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?" + +"No, I didn't, Dad. Not his face. He was about the same build as Gepper." + +"That's not much to go on." + +"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." + +"You didn't tell me that," said Mrs. Weems. + +"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." + +"Surely you don't agree with Penny?" the housekeeper asked Mr. Parker +unhappily. + +"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." + +"Come upstairs, Mrs. Weems," urged Penny. "I'll show you the desk." + +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. + +"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." + +Penny gave her a quick hug. "No, you haven't. Anyone might have been +taken in by Al Gepper." + +"I shall never attend another of his seances. I'll urge Mrs. Hodges to +turn him from her house." + +"Mrs. Weems, are you willing to help get evidence against him?" asked Mr. +Parker abruptly. + +"Why, yes, if I can." + +"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 +seances, but you'll still be welcome. Learn everything you can and report +to me." + +"I'll be glad to do it, Mr. Parker." + +"Don't allow him to guess that you have become suspicious. Above all, +never withdraw your money from the bank at his suggestion." + +"You may be sure I won't. This has taught me a bitter lesson." + +"Haven't you an assignment for me, Dad?" inquired Penny. "How about +Kano's Curio Shop?" + +"Early tomorrow I'll send Jerry there to question the old Jap." + +"Will you notify the police?" + +"Not for the present. If we can crack this story I'd like to get it ahead +of the _Record_." + +"I wish you would send me to Kano's instead of Jerry." + +"Dorr Street is no place for you, Penny," Mr. Parker replied, dismissing +the matter. "Shall we get to bed now? It's nearly midnight." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"I have a notion to visit the Kano Curio Shop ahead of him," she thought. +"That's exactly what I'll do!" + +Having made up her mind, she rolled over and promptly fell asleep. + +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. + +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. + +"Good morning, Mr. Kano," she greeted him. "You remember me, I believe?" + +Mr. Kano bowed, regarding her warily. "Yes," he replied. "You are the +young lady whose curiosity is very large." + +Penny smiled. "You are right, Mr. Kano. It is very large, especially +about a certain silken ladder." + +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." + +Penny understood that the Japanese never would tell her what she wished +to know save under compulsion. She decided to adopt firm tactics. + +"Mr. Kano," she said, "my father is the owner of the _Riverview Star_ 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?" + +"Yes, I read," the Japanese shrugged. + +"My own theory is that the thief gained entrance by means of a silk +ladder," Penny declared. "_A ladder made in this shop!_" + +The shopkeeper's eyes narrowed. "I know nothing," he replied. "Nothing. +You go now, please." + +"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. + +Mr. Kano lost some of his poise. "No!" he answered sharply. "I am an +honest man and want no sad trouble with the police." + +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. + +"You see that young man yonder?" she asked, indicating Jerry. "I have but +to summon him and he'll come here." + +"Detective?" demanded Mr. Kano, peering anxiously through the window. "Do +not call him! I am an honest man. I will answer your questions." + +"Then tell me about the silken ladder." + +"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." + +"And what was the man's name?" + +"His name I do not know. But his eyes were small and evil. His skin was +dark, his nose crooked." + +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. + +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. + +"Was he the one?" she demanded as the door slammed. "The man for whom you +made the ladder?" + +"No, no!" denied the Japanese. + +His words failed to convince Penny. Darting to the door, she saw that the +young man already was far down the street, walking rapidly. + +"He is the one," she thought. "I'll follow him." + +"Wait," called the Japanese as she started away, "I have more to tell +you." + +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. + +"Why, Penny!" he exclaimed in surprise. "What are you doing in this part +of town?" + +"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." + + + + + CHAPTER + 18 + _THE BELL TOWER_ + + +Jerry fell into step with Penny. As they walked along, she told him of +her conversation with Mr. Kano. + +"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." + +"Here's hoping you're right," replied Jerry. "If I muff this assignment, +I may wake up looking for another job." + +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. + +"I know that place," commented Jerry. "It's run by Spike Weiser, a +notorious _fence_. He buys stolen goods and gets rid of it at a profit. +Has a swell home on Clarmont Drive." + +"Why don't the police arrest him?" + +"Oh, they watch the place, but Spike is too smart to be caught. He has a +system for handling _hot_ goods." + +"I'll venture some of the Kohl loot was sold through him, Jerry." + +"It wouldn't surprise me. But if the police search the place they won't +find a thing." + +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. + +"He must have slipped out the back door," Jerry remarked. "Probably knew +he was being watched." + +"I'm beginning to think so myself." + +Jerry glanced at his watch. "I can't take any more time," he said. "I'll +have to get back to the office." + +"I'll watch a few minutes longer," answered Penny. "If anything develops +I'll try to telephone." + +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. + +Without observing her, the stranger crossed the street and walked briskly +toward an intersecting boulevard. There was no opportunity for Penny to +telephone the _Star_ office. Following, she was hard pressed to keep the +man within view. + +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. + +"It's exactly as I guessed!" she thought triumphantly. "He's connected +with Al Gepper and the other mediums!" + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"You here, Slippery?" she commented, gazing at him with distrust. +"Where's Pete?" + +"Hello, Sade. I was wonderin' about Pete myself. Just got here a minute +ago." + +The woman's gaze fastened upon the key which had been left in the bell +tower door. + +"Say, what's coming off here?" she demanded. "You were trying to get +inside!" + +"Now don't ruffle your feathers, Sade," the man said soothingly. "I was +only testing the door to make sure it was locked." + +"I'll bet! You were aiming to break in! Slippery, they sure named you +right. Why, you'd double-cross your own mother!" + +"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." + +The woman deliberately seated herself in a chair beside the bell tower +door. + +"I'm parking here until Pete shows up," she announced. "Maybe you're on +the square, Slippery, but I don't trust you." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Gettin' sort of jittery, ain't you?" + +"Maybe you haven't been reading those editorials in the _Star_." + +"Sure, I read them and get a big laugh. This guy Parker has to blow off +steam. Nothing will come of it." + +"The police have visited this place once already." + +"And what did they find? Nothing." + +"That's no guarantee they won't try again. I tell you this town is +getting too hot for comfort." + +"Figurin' on blowing?" the woman inquired, watching him shrewdly. + +Slippery's laughter had an unpleasant edge. "You sure do get ideas, Sade. +Don't start peddling that line of talk. Understand?" + +"I hear." + +Suddenly losing his temper, the man strode nearer, seizing her arm. + +"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!" + +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. + + + + + CHAPTER + 19 + _PENNY INVESTIGATES_ + + +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. + +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. + +"To the _Star_ office," Penny ordered the driver. + +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. + +"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." + +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? + +"Something of great value to the organization must be kept there," she +reasoned. "But what can it be?" + +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. + +Upon arriving at the newspaper office DeWitt stopped her as she went past +his desk. + +"Don't go in there," he said, jerking his thumb toward Mr. Parker's +private room. + +"Why not?" asked Penny in surprise. "Is Dad having a conference?" + +DeWitt nodded as he composed a two column headline. "With J. P. Henley." + +"The _Star's_ Sugar Daddy?" + +"Our biggest advertiser. He's threatening to go over to the _Record_." + +"Why, that's serious!" + +"It is if he quits the _Star_. 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." + +"I won't, Mr. DeWitt, but I did wish to see Dad." + +"Anything I can do for you?" + +Penny hesitated. "Well, I wanted to talk to him about something I learned +today at the Celestial Temple." + +"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." + +Rather startled by DeWitt's unusual politeness, Penny glanced hopefully +toward Jerry Livingston's desk. It was littered with papers, but quite +deserted. + +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. + +The car was ready, and with it a bill for eight dollars and forty-two +cents. + +"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?" + +"Give me the dollar," said the garage man hastily. + +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. + +Turning into her own street, Penny saw Mrs. Weems walking toward home, +and stopped for her. + +"I've just come from the Hodges'," the housekeeper commented, climbing +into the car. + +"You have?" inquired Penny eagerly. "Did you learn anything?" + +"No, I didn't. Mr. Gepper seemed very unwilling to conduct another +seance. He acted so different this time--almost as if he bore me a +personal grudge." + +"He's probably provoked because your inheritance eluded him." + +"He did tell Mrs. Hodges that he doubted I had any money," Mrs. Weems +responded. + +"What happened at the seance?" + +"Why, nothing. The table moved and we heard a few raps. That was all." + +"No message from Cousin David?" + +"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." + +"What do you think about him now?" Penny asked curiously. "Don't you +agree with Dad and me that he was after your money?" + +"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." + +"You mean he threatened her?" + +"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." + +"I wonder if he ever has charged for his seances?" Penny said +thoughtfully. + +"I am sure he has, Penny. Of course I have no proof." + +"Mrs. Weems, you must go there again this afternoon," Penny urged. +"Insist upon another seance, and pay him for it! Then you'll be able to +testify as a witness against him!" + +"But I don't wish to go into court," the housekeeper protested. "Besides, +Mr. Gepper won't be at the cottage this afternoon." + +"Where is he going?" Penny questioned alertly. + +"I don't know. I heard him tell Mrs. Hodges he would be gone this +afternoon, but would return for an eight o'clock seance." + +"Why, that's fine--wonderful!" chuckled Penny. + +Mrs. Weems gazed at the girl with sudden suspicion. "Now what have you +thought up?" she demanded. + +"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!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 20 + _INSIDE THE CABINET_ + + +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. + +The doors were closed and Penny knocked several times without receiving a +response. + +"Everyone must have gone away," she thought. "Oh, dear, now what shall I +do?" + +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. + +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. + +"If I wait for her to come home it may be too late," decided Penny. "This +is an emergency." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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." + +"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 seance was merely +a copy of this! Even so, how was it painted so quickly?" + +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. + +"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!" + +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. + +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. + +"This must be a 'sucker' list!" thought Penny. "No wonder it's easy for a +medium to find victims and tell them astonishing facts." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"The same one which played during Mrs. Weems' seance!" 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?" + +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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +In one corner of the cabinet Penny came upon a luminous slate. + +"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." + +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 _Star_ office to report her +findings. + +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. + +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. + +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. + + + + + CHAPTER + 21 + _STARTLING INFORMATION_ + + +Scarcely had Penny hidden herself when Al Gepper entered the room. With +him was the hook-nosed young man known as Slippery. + +"I tell you, Al," the latter was saying, "this town is getting too hot +for comfort. We've got to blow." + +"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." + +"You never should have let her in here. We had a swell set-up, but now we +can expect a raid any day." + +"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." + +"We've got to blow, Al. Sade's threatening to make trouble, too. She +thinks we're holding out on the others." + +"We have picked up a little extra coin now and then." + +"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?" + +"It's time we cut loose from 'em, Slippery." + +"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." + +"Okay," agreed Gepper. "I have some suckers coming for a seance at eight. +I'll get rid of them in quick time, and be waiting. So long, Slippery." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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 +seance. + +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. + +Penny knew that hours had elapsed. The room gradually darkened, and Al +Gepper turned on the lights. + +"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." + +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. + +Two women in their early forties were ushered into the seance chamber, to +be followed almost immediately by an elderly man. + +"We will start at once if you please," said Al Gepper brusquely. "I have +another engagement tonight. However, before the seance is undertaken I +must ask that each of you pay the required fee, five dollars." + +The money was paid, and the three persons seated themselves at the table. +Gepper switched off the lights. + +The seance 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. + +"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?" + +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. + +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. + +"That wasn't the way he made Mrs. Weems' picture appear," thought Penny. +"The fellow must have a great repertoire of tricks!" + +The seance 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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +At that critical instant, Penny's hand encountered the door. She swung it +open, and bounded down the stairway. + +In the seance chamber a light went on, then the hallway became +brilliantly illuminated. But by that time the girl was in the dining +room. + +She could hear Al Gepper clattering down the steps, intent upon capturing +her. Penny was determined that he should never learn her identity. + +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. + +Scarcely had she secreted herself, when Al Gepper ran into the yard. He +glanced about carefully and circled the house twice. + +Finally, convinced that the "ghost" had escaped he came back to the +porch. His customers, greatly agitated by what had occurred, were +demanding explanations. + +"Someone played a prank," Gepper explained briefly. "It will be +impossible to resume the seance for the spirits are offended. You will +leave, please." + +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. + +"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!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 22 + _SCALING THE WALL_ + + +The nearest drugstore with a public telephone was two blocks away. Penny +ran the distance, and slipping into the booth, she dialed the _Star_ +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. + +"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." + +"Henley!" Jerry exclaimed. "Say, have you gone loco?" + +"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!" + +"Penny, what's this all about?" the reporter demanded. "I can't go to the +police unless I know what I am doing." + +"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!" + +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. + +"I'll get to the Henley place quicker in Lena than by waiting for a cab +to come along," she thought. + +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. + +Penny drove as fast as she could to the Henley home in the southern +section of Riverview. Lights blazed from the downstairs windows. + +Abandoning her car in the driveway, she rang the doorbell. After a long +wait, a maid appeared. + +"Is Mr. Henley here?" Penny asked breathlessly. "Or Mrs. Henley? It's +most important that I talk with them at once." + +"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!" + +"The house hasn't been robbed?" + +"Mrs. Henley's jewelry has been taken! I don't know what else." + +"When did it happen?" Penny asked. + +"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." + +"The police already have been notified," said Penny. "They'll be here any +minute." + +"But how did you know--?" the maid began in astonishment. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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? + +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. + +"If I coast on all the downgrades I should just make it," she estimated. + +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. + +"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." + +Penny had reached the entrance to Butternut Lane. Parking at the side of +the road, she continued afoot toward the Celestial Temple. + +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. + +"He must be the guard," thought Penny. "Probably the one they call Pete." + +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. + +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. + +"Now what?" thought Penny, watching alertly. "This should prove +interesting." + +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. + +Thoroughly mystified, Penny cautiously followed, taking care that her +body cast no shadow which would attract Slippery's attention. + +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. + +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. + +"Now why did he climb up there?" she asked herself. "He must be after +something hidden in the belfry." + +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. + +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. + +"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!" + +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. + +Penny screamed in terror and tried to break free. The hand help her in a +grip of steel. + +As she struggled, her captor emerged from the shelter of leaves. It was +Al Gepper. + +"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!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 23 + _A PRISONER IN THE BELFRY_ + + +Penny tried to scream, only to have Al Gepper clamp his hand over her +mouth. + +"None of that!" he said harshly. "Behave yourself or you'll get rough +treatment." + +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. + +"Who's there?" he demanded suspiciously. + +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. + +"It's Al!" he called softly. "This girl broke up my seance tonight, and I +trailed her here. She was prowling around the bell tower." + +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. + +"Let's have a look at her," said Pete. He flashed a light directly into +Penny's face. + +"She's the Parker girl--daughter of the publisher," informed Al. + +"Yeah," commented Pete. "I saw her at one of our meetings. Another girl +was with her. How much has she learned?" + +"Enough to get us all run out of town. The question is, what shall we do +with her?" + +"Bring her inside, and we'll talk it over," said Pete. "Maybe we ought to +call a meeting." + +"No," replied Al Gepper impatiently, shoving Penny through the doorway. +"We can take care of this ourselves." + +The door was locked from the inside. Al pushed Penny into a chair on the +front platform. + +"Now sit there," he ordered. "One peep out of you and we'll tie you up +and tape your mouth. Understand?" + +"_Oui, oui, Monsieur_," said Penny, mockingly. + +The two men stepped a few paces away and began to whisper together. Pete +seemed to protest at Al's proposals. + +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. + +"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." + +Penny slumped lower in her chair. Her own predicament concerned her far +less than the knowledge that she had bungled a golden opportunity. + +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. + +Al Gepper and Pete came toward her. With no explanation, the medium +seized her arm and ordered her to walk toward the exit. + +"Where are you taking me?" Penny asked. + +"Never mind. You'll find out in good time." + +"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." + +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. + +"Where did you get that ladder?" demanded Al Gepper. + +"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!" + +"You're lying," accused Gepper. + +Penny shrugged and did not speak. + +"What were you going to say?" Gepper prodded in a moment. "Out with it! +How did you get Slippery's ladder?" + +"It fell into my hands, literally and figuratively." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Why, the dirty sneak!" exclaimed Pete. + +"Weren't you here on guard all evening?" Gepper demanded, turning to him. + +"Sure, I was. I never set foot outside the building." + +"Slippery wasn't here?" + +"Haven't seen him since yesterday morning." + +"Then the girl is lying!" + +"Oh, no, the girl isn't," refuted Penny. "If you care for proof you'll +find it in the tower." + +"Proof?" + +"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." + +"Why, the low-down skunk!" Pete exclaimed wrathfully. "So he planned to +rob us! I'll get him!" + +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. + +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. + +"You were right," he admitted in a stunned voice. "Slippery's up there. +He meant to get all the swag for himself." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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-- + +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. + +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. + +"Hey!" shouted Al Gepper, starting after her. + +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. + + + + + CHAPTER + 24 + _THE WOODEN BOX_ + + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"We've got to get out of here," muttered Al. "Come on!" + +The two men on the floor had ceased their struggles. Painfully they +regained their feet. In this sudden emergency they had forgotten their +differences. + +"What shall we do about the box in the tower?" Pete demanded, nursing a +swollen eye. + +"Leave it here," returned Al. "We can't save anything now. The police are +apt to swoop down on us any minute." + +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. + +"They've escaped after all," she thought dismally. "But I may have saved +some of the loot. I'll take a look." + +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. + +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. + +"They must have heard the bell!" she told herself. "Oh, if only I can +make them understand what has happened!" + +Her best means of attracting attention was by ringing the bell. She +pushed against it and was rewarded by a deafening clang. + +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. + +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: + +"Get him, too! At the end of the street!" + +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. + +"It's Al Gepper!" she shouted. "Don't let him escape!" + +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. + +"Keep after him, Jerry!" encouraged Penny. "The gas tank is almost empty. +He can't possibly go more than three or four blocks!" + +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. + +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. + +"What's the idea of ringing that bell?" demanded an officer, leaping to +the ground. + +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. + +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. + +"If only Jerry captures Al Gepper--that's all I ask!" she breathed. + +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. + +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 _Star_. + +"Dad!" shouted Penny. "Can you get me down from this pigeon roost?" + +Mr. Parker, separating from the others, came to the foot of the bell +tower. + +"So it was you who sounded the alarm!" he exclaimed. "I might have known! +How did you get up there?" + +"I'm locked in. Dad, send the police to help Jerry. He's after Al Gepper +who rode off in my car." + +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. + +"You're all right?" he asked anxiously. + +"Of course. Here's a little present for you." Penny thrust the wooden box +into his hands. + +"What's this?" + +"I don't know yet. I found it hidden in the belfry." + +"Penny, if you fell into a river you would come up with a chest of gold!" +exclaimed the publisher admiringly. + +"Open it quick, Dad." + +Mr. Parker required no urging. The box was locked but he pried off the +cover hinges, exposing the contents. + +"A real treasure!" exclaimed Penny. + +The box contained several bracelets, one of them set with rubies and +diamonds, countless rings, four watches, and several strings of matched +pearls. + +"Stolen loot!" ejaculated the publisher. + +"And what a collection!" chuckled Penny as she examined the separate +pieces. "There's enough plunder here to start a jewelry store." + +"Likewise sufficient evidence to put this Celestial Temple gang out of +circulation for a long, long time," added her father. + +"I learned a lot tonight, Dad. Wait until I tell you!" + +"A scoop for the _Star_?" + +"You'll be able to use your largest, blackest headlines." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"They've caught him!" she cried jubilantly. + +The prisoner was brought into the Temple to be identified. He had been +captured when Leaping Lena had stalled for lack of gasoline. + +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. + +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. + +"It was lucky you rang that bell, Penny," chuckled Jerry. "If you hadn't, +we never would have arrived here in time." + +"It was lucky, too, that Mr. Gepper tried to escape in Lena," she +laughed. "I guess my old rattle-trap has redeemed itself." + +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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +Searching Slippery they found, not only jewelry stolen from the Henley +residence, but a booklet containing many names and telephone numbers. + +"Sadie Beardsell," Penny read. "She's one of the members, I am sure." + +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: + +"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." + +"You seem to have everything figured out," Al Gepper responded +sarcastically. "Clever girl!" + +"I saw how you made the spirit painting tonight at the seance," resumed +Penny. "May I ask if that same method was used in regard to Mrs. Weem's +picture of Cousin David?" + +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: + +"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 seance, an assistant sprayed the back of the canvas with an atomizer, +bringing out the colors one by one." + +"And how was the paint made to appear wet?" + +"Poppy oil." + +"One more question, Mr. Gepper. I never could understand how you were +able to raise the kitchen table at Mrs. Hodges' cottage." + +"No?" Al Gepper smiled mockingly. "I assure you I had nothing to do with +that demonstration. It was a true spirit manifestation." + +"I'll never believe that," declared Penny. + +"Then figure it out for yourself," replied the medium. "You are such a +very brilliant child." + +Before the prisoners were led to the police car, Salt Sommers set up his +camera and took a number of flashlight pictures for the _Star_. + +"How about it, Mr. Parker?" inquired Jerry eagerly. "Are we putting out +an extra?" + +"We are," said the publisher crisply. "This is the big break I've been +hoping we would get! We should beat the _Record_ on the story by at least +a half hour." + +The three men hurriedly left the Celestial Temple, with Penny trailing +behind them. At the main street intersection they finally obtained a +taxicab. + +"To the _Star_ office," Mr. Parker ordered. "An extra dollar if you step +on it." + +"How about my pictures?" Salt Sommers asked, as the cab rocked around a +corner. "They ought to be dandies." + +"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." + +Jerry glanced at Penny who sat very still between her father and Salt. +Their eyes met. + +"Chief," he said, "there's a sort of fraternity among reporters--an +unwritten rule that we never chisel on each other's work." + +"What's that?" Mr. Parker asked, startled. "I don't get it." + +Then his glance fell upon his daughter, and he smiled. + +"Oh, so it's that way! You think Penny should write the story?" + +"I do, Chief. It's hers from the ground floor up." + +"Please, Dad, may I?" Penny pleaded. + +The cab rolled up to the _Star_ office, stopping with a jerk. Mr. Parker +swung open the door, helping her alight. + +"The story is yours, Penny," he said. "That is, if you can crack it out +fast enough to make the extra." + +"I'll do it or die in the attempt." + +"Keep to the facts and write terse, simple English--" Mr. Parker began, +but Penny did not wait to hear his instructions. + +With a triumphant laugh, she ran ahead into the _Star_ office. Her entry +into the newsroom was both dramatic and noisy. + +"Big scoop, Mr. DeWitt," she called cheerily. "Start the old print +factory running full blast!" + +Dropping into a chair behind the nearest typewriter, she began to write. + + + + + CHAPTER + 25 + _EXTRA!_ + + +Penny stood at the window of her father's office, listening to the +newsboys crying their wares on the street. + +"_Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Police Capture Three in Raid on +Celestial Temple! Extra! Extra!_" + +Mr. Parker rocked back in his swivel chair, smiling at his daughter. + +"Your story was first-class, Penny," he said. "Thanks to you we scooped +the _Record_. Tired?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"So far the police have only captured Al Gepper, Slippery and Pete. +There's not much evidence against the others." + +"True, but rest assured those who aren't rounded up will leave Riverview. +The backbone of the organization has been smashed." + +Penny sank wearily into a chair, picking up a copy of the _Star_ 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: _by Penelope Parker_. 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. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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." + +"There's one thing which annoys me," Penny said, frowning. + +"And what is that?" + +"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?" + +"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?" + +"Yes, it was." + +"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." + +"Now that I recall it, he did glance at the pad! How would you guess he +lifted the table?" + +"Were his hands held high above it, Penny?" + +"Only an inch or two. However, he never touched the table. I was able to +see that." + +"Could he have used sharp, steel pins held between his fingers?" + +"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?" + +"Well, no, I didn't, Penny." + +"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!" + +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. + +"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." + +"I need you," said Penny. "And so does Dad. Why not promise to stay with +us instead of going away on a trip?" + +"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." + +"What will you do with your inheritance, Mrs. Weems?" + +"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." + +The hour was late. Penny felt relieved when her father locked his desk in +preparation for leaving the office. + +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. + +"Mr. Parker!" he called. "May I speak with you?" + +The publisher turned, recognizing him. "Mr. Henley!" he exclaimed. + +"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." + +"Yes, Penny managed to have a rather busy evening," smiled Mr. Parker. "I +hope you suffered no loss." + +"Everything was recovered, thanks to your daughter. Miss Parker, I +realize I never can properly express my appreciation." + +"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." + +"You are too modest," protested Mr. Henley. "I've talked with the police, +you know. I am truly grateful." + +The man hesitated, evidently wishing to say more, yet scarcely knowing +how to shape his words. Penny and her father started to move away. + +"Oh, about that contract we were discussing today," the advertiser said +quickly. + +"Yes?" Mr. Parker paused. + +"I've been thinking it over. I acted too hastily in deciding to cancel." + +"Mr. Henley, please do not feel that you are under obligation," said the +publisher quietly. "Even though Penny accidentally did you a favor--" + +"It's not that," Mr. Henley interrupted. "The _Star_ is a good paper." + +"The best in Riverview," said Penny softly. + +"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." + +"Very well," agreed Mr. Parker. "The Commodore Hotel at one." + +Bowing to Penny, Mr. Henley retreated into a waiting taxi and drove away. + +"How do you like that, Dad?" Penny inquired after a moment's silence. + +"I like it," answered Mr. Parker. "The _Star_ could have limped along +without Mr. Henley. But the going would have been tough." + +"He'll renew the old contract?" + +"Oh, yes, and probably give us a better one. Stealing Mr. Henley's words, +I am truly grateful." + +Penny gazed at her father with twinkling eyes. + +"Are those idle words, Dad? Or are you willing to back them in a material +way?" + +"I might," grinned Mr. Parker. "Present your bill." + +"Well, Dad, I've discovered to my sorrow that I can't support two cars on +my present allowance. I need a generous raise." + +"You could get rid of Lena." + +"Why, Dad! After her noble work tonight!" + +"No, I suppose not," sighed Mr. Parker. "You've earned an increase, and I +may as well grant it." + +"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!" + +"You drive a hard bargain," chuckled the publisher. "But I'll agree." + +Arm in arm, they started on down the street. Rounding a corner of the +_Star_ 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. + +"It's modern magic, isn't it, Dad?" Penny said reflectively as the great +machine pounded in steady rhythm. + +"Yes, Penny," her father agreed. "And for this edition, at least, you +were the master magician!" + + THE END + + + + + Transcriber's Notes + + +--Replaced the list of books in the series by the complete list, as in + the final book, "The Cry at Midnight". + +--Silently corrected a handful of palpable typos. + +--Conforming to later volumes, standardized on "DeWitt" as the name of + the city editor. + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Clue of the Silken Ladder, by Mildred A. 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