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diff --git a/34832-8.txt b/34832-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..3fa2367 --- /dev/null +++ b/34832-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6338 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Voice from the Cave, 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: Voice from the Cave + +Author: Mildred A. Wirt + +Release Date: January 3, 2011 [EBook #34832] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK VOICE FROM THE CAVE *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Charlie Howard, and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + Voice + from the Cave + + + _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, 1944, BY CUPPLES AND LEON CO. + + Voice from the Cave + + PRINTED IN U. S. A. + + + + + _CONTENTS_ + + + CHAPTER PAGE + 1 AN UNINVITED GUEST _1_ + 2 STORMY WEATHER _10_ + 3 A JADE GREEN CHARM _19_ + 4 NO CAMPING ALLOWED _27_ + 5 OVER THE AIR _37_ + 6 BREAKFAST BLUES _42_ + 7 THE BEARDED STRANGER _49_ + 8 KEEPER OF THE LIGHT _57_ + 9 A SURPRISE FROM THE SKY _66_ + 10 HELP FROM MR. EMORY _74_ + 11 A MAN OF MYSTERY _83_ + 12 CAUGHT BY THE TIDE _93_ + 13 A HIDDEN PACKAGE _98_ + 14 VOICE FROM THE CAVE _106_ + 15 AFTERGLOW _114_ + 16 SUSPICION _122_ + 17 VISITORS NOT PERMITTED _130_ + 18 INSIDE THE LIGHTHOUSE _139_ + 19 A LOCKED DOOR _146_ + 20 NYMPHS OF THE SEA _154_ + 21 THE CARDBOARD BOX _161_ + 22 UNFINISHED BUSINESS _170_ + 23 NIGHT ADVENTURE _178_ + 24 OUT OF THE SEA _187_ + 25 A SCOOP FOR UNCLE SAM _198_ + + + + + CHAPTER + 1 + _AN UNINVITED GUEST_ + + +"Mrs. Weems, what can be delaying Dad? He promised faithfully to be home +by three o'clock and it's nearly five now. Unless we start soon we'll +never get to Sunset Beach tonight." + +Penny Parker, in blue slacks and a slightly mussed polo shirt, gazed +disconsolately at the over-loaded automobile standing on the gravel +driveway of the Parker home. Aided by Mrs. Weems, the family housekeeper, +she had spent hours packing the sedan with luggage and camping equipment. +Though the task long had been finished, Mr. Parker failed to arrive. + +"Your father is a very busy man," Mrs. Weems responded to the girl's +question. "No doubt he's been held up at the office." + +"Then why doesn't he telephone? It's driving me crazy to wait and +wonder." + +Penny's freckled little face twisted into a grimace of worry. For weeks +she and her father, editor-owner of the _Riverview Star_, had planned a +vacation camping trip to the nearby seashore resort, Sunset Beach. Twice +the excursion had been postponed. Penny, who knew well her father's habit +of changing his mind, was fearful that even now something would cause +another vexing delay. + +"I'm going to call the _Star_ office this minute!" she declared, starting +for the house. + +Mrs. Weems busied herself gathering up loose odds and ends that had blown +about the yard. She was cramming waste paper into a box when Penny banged +out the door, her eyes tragic. + +"I couldn't reach Dad!" she announced. "He left the office more than an +hour ago." + +"Then he should have been home before this," Mrs. Weems agreed. + +"Something's happened. Maybe he's been run down by a car--" + +"Now Penny, stop such wild talk," the housekeeper interrupted sternly. +"You know better." + +"But Dad was struck by an automobile last winter. What else could delay +him?" + +"A dozen things," Mrs. Weems replied. "Probably a business engagement." + +"In that case, wouldn't he have telephoned me?" + +"Perhaps not. Now do stop fretting, Penny. Your father will be here +before long." + +"He'd better be," Penny said darkly. + +Sitting down on the stone step by the door, she scuffed the toe of her +tennis shoe back and forth in the gravel. Mrs. Weems who had cared for +the girl ever since the death of Mrs. Parker, gazed at her sternly. + +"Now do stop grieving!" she chided. "That's no way to act just because +you're impatient and disappointed." + +"But I've been disappointed three times now," Penny complained. "We +planned on starting early and having a picnic lunch on the road. Dad +promised faithfully--" + +A car drove up to the curb at the front of the house. Penny sprang +hopefully to her feet. However, it was not her father who had arrived. +Instead, her chum, Louise Sidell, alighted and came running across the +yard. + +"Oh, I'm glad I'm not too late to say goodbye to you, Penny!" she cried. +"How soon are you starting?" + +"I'd like to know the answer to that one myself. Dad hasn't put in an +appearance. He was due here at three o'clock." + +"Why, I saw him about twenty minutes ago," Louise replied, turning to +inspect the over-loaded sedan. "My, how did you accumulate so much +luggage?" + +Penny ignored the question to ask one of her own. "Where did you see Dad, +Lou?" + +"Why, riding in a car." Louise's dark eyes sparkled mischievously as she +added: "With a beautiful brunette too." + +"You're joking." + +"I am not. Your father was riding with Mrs. Deline. She's a widow, you +know, and has lived in Riverview less than a month." + +Mrs. Weems, who had overheard the conversation, came over to the steps. + +"Mrs. Deline, did you say?" she inquired, slightly disturbed. "I've heard +of her." + +"And so have I!" declared Penny with biting emphasis. "Why, that woman +would make the Merry Widow look like a dead number! She'd better not try +to sink her hooks into Dad!" + +"Penelope!" the housekeeper reproved sternly. + +"Well, you know what everyone says--" + +"Please don't repeat idle gossip," Mrs. Weems requested. "I'm sure Mrs. +Deline is a very fine woman." + +"She's the slickest serpent that ever free-wheeled into Riverview!" Penny +said heatedly. "I saw her in action last week-end at the Country Club. +Why, she simply went out of her way to cultivate any man who had an +income of more than twenty-five thousand a year." + +"Penny, your father is a sensible man," the housekeeper reproved. +"Unfortunately, it's a quality I'm afraid you didn't inherit." + +Louise, unhappy to have stirred up such a hornet's nest, said hastily: +"Maybe it wasn't Mrs. Deline I saw. The car went by so fast." + +"Oh, I'm not worried. Dad can handle a bigger package of dynamite than +Mrs. Deline. It just makes me irritated because he doesn't get here." + +Tossing her head, Penny crossed to the loaded automobile where she +switched on the radio. She tuned it carelessly. After a moment a blurred +voice blared forth: + +"Attention Comrades!" + +Penny turned quickly to glance at the dial, for she realized that she did +not have the local station WZAM. + +"Attention Comrades!" the announcer commanded again. "This is the Voice +from the Cave." + +There followed a strange jibberish of words which were in no language +that Penny ever before had heard. + +"Mrs. Weems! Louise!" she called excitedly. "I think I've tuned in an +outlaw short wave station! Just listen!" + +Louise and the housekeeper hastened over to the car. Penny tried +desperately to tune the station in more clearly. Instead she lost it +completely. + +"Did you hear what that announcer said?" she asked eagerly. "Most of it I +couldn't understand. I'm sure it was in code!" + +"Code!" Mrs. Weems exclaimed in amazement. + +"I'm sure I didn't have one of the regular stations! It must have been a +short wave broadcast beamed at a particular group of persons. The +announcer began: 'Attention Comrades!'" + +"Can't you tune in again?" Louise demanded. + +Penny twisted the dial without success. She was still trying when a taxi +cab drew up at the front door. + +"There's your father now!" Louise declared. + +"And see who's with him!" Penny added, craning her neck. "It _is_ Mrs. +Deline." + +Mrs. Weems, decidedly flustered, hurriedly removed her apron. In an +undertone she warned Penny to be polite to the unexpected visitor. + +Mr. Parker, a tall, lean man with hair only touched by gray, stepped from +the taxi. The woman he assisted was attractively slender, and dressed in +an expensive tailored suit. Her face was cold and serene, but so striking +that it commanded instant interest. Penny's spirits sagged as she +observed that the widow came equipped with luggage. + +"Now what?" she muttered. + +Mr. Parker escorted Mrs. Deline across the yard, introducing her first to +Mrs. Weems and then to the girls. + +"Mrs. Deline is riding with us to Sunset Beach," he explained to Penny. +"She intended to go by train but failed to get a reservation." + +"Coaches are so unbearable," Mrs. Deline said in an affected drawl. "It +was so nice of Mr. Parker to invite me to share your car." + +"I'm afraid it may not be so pleasant for you," Penny replied. She tried +to speak cordially but the words came in stiff little jerks. "There's not +much room." + +"Nonsense!" said Mr. Parker. "Mrs. Deline will ride up front. Penny, +you'll have to battle it out with the luggage." + +By the time Mrs. Deline's suitcase and hat boxes were stowed away, there +was indeed little room left in the rear seat for a passenger. Penny's +face was very long. For weeks she had planned on a vacation trip with her +father, and now all her plans had been shattered. + +"Will you be staying long at Sunset Beach?" she asked the widow politely. + +"Probably a week," Mrs. Deline replied. "I've engaged a suite at the +Crystal Inn. I'm sure I couldn't endure a camping trip. Mosquitoes--hard +beds--cooking over a camp fire--it all seems rather difficult to me." + +"Oh, it will be fun to camp!" + +"I'm not so certain of it myself." Mr. Parker assisted the widow into the +front seat. "Penny, why don't we ditch this camp stuff and try a hotel +ourselves?" + +"No!" answered Penny fiercely. + +"It would be a far more sensible arrangement." + +"But I don't want to be sensible," Penny argued. "We've planned on this +trip for weeks, Dad." + +"Oh, all right, if that's the way you feel about it," he gave in +willingly enough. "Only I never did care much for the rough and tumble +life myself. Are we ready to start?" + +"Just a minute," Penny requested. "I have to get my pocketbook from the +house." + +She went indoors, her face as dark as a summer rain cloud. Mrs. Weems and +Louise followed her in, corraling her in the kitchen. + +"Now Penny, just a word of advice," the housekeeper cautioned. "Mrs. +Deline seems like a very nice woman. I trust that you'll be pleasant to +her." + +"I don't see why Dad had to invite her! It's ruined everything!" + +"Aren't you being selfish?" + +"Maybe I am," said Penny. "But why should I be crammed back with the pots +and pans and luggage while she sits up front with Dad?" + +"Mrs. Deline is your guest." + +"She's Dad's guest," Penny corrected. "Furthermore, I suspect she invited +herself." + +"Whatever you think, I hope you'll keep your thoughts to yourself," Mrs. +Weems said severely. "I'm really ashamed of you." + +The deep scowl disappeared from Penny's face and she laughed. Wrapping +her arms about the housekeeper's ample waist she squeezed until it hurt. + +"I know I'm a spoiled brat," she admitted. "But don't worry. I'll pretend +to like Mrs. Deline if it kills me." + +"That's much better, Penny. At any rate, you'll not be troubled with her +company long. You'll reach Sunset Beach by nightfall." + +Penny made no reply. She turned to say goodbye to Louise. + +"Wish you were going along," she said wistfully. "A vacation won't seem +fun without you." + +A staccato toot of the auto horn reminded Penny that her father and Mrs. +Deline were waiting. Hurriedly she gathered up her purse. + +"Have a nice time," Louise said, kissing her goodbye. "And don't let Mrs. +Deline get in your hair." + +Penny turned to make certain that Mrs. Weems was beyond hearing. + +"Don't worry about that, Lou," she whispered. "Mrs. Deline's already in +my hair. What I'm really worried about is keeping her from building a +nest in it!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 2 + _STORMY WEATHER_ + + +For an hour the Parker car had rolled smoothly along the paved road +enroute to Sunset Beach. In the back seat, firmly wedged between boxes +and suitcases, Penny squirmed and suffered. + +"How much farther, Dad?" she inquired, interrupting an animated +conversation he was having with Mrs. Deline. + +"Oh, about fifty miles," Mr. Parker tossed over his shoulder. "We can't +make much time at thirty-five an hour." + +"How about lunch somewhere along the road?" + +"Well, should we take the time?" the publisher asked. He turned toward +his companion. "What do you think, Mrs. Deline?" + +"Picnics always seemed stupid to me," she replied in a bored manner. +"Perhaps we'll find a nice tea house along the way." + +"But Mrs. Weems prepared such a good lunch," Penny argued. "I thought--" + +"We can use the food after we make camp," Mr. Parker decided briskly. "A +warm meal will be much better." + +Penny subsided into hurt silence. Since the party had left Riverview she +felt that she had been pushed far into the background. Mrs. Deline had +made no attempt to talk to her. On the other hand, the widow fairly +hypnotized Mr. Parker with her dazzling smile and conversation. + +"Dad," Penny began, determined to get in a word, "just before you came +home this afternoon, something queer happened." + +"That so?" he inquired carelessly. + +"Yes, I turned on the radio, and a station I'd never heard before came +in. The announcer said: 'Attention Comrades, this is the Voice from the +Cave.'" + +"Sounds like a juvenile radio serial." + +"Oh, but it wasn't, Dad! I'm sure it was an outlaw station. Then the +announcer spoke very rapidly in a language I'd never heard before. It +really sounded like code." + +"Sure you didn't imagine it? You know you do get ideas, Penny. Especially +when you're on the prowl for a mystery to solve." + +"Aren't children quaint?" Mrs. Deline laughed. + +Penny's lips tightened, but by great effort of will she kept silent. A +child indeed! She knew now that Mrs. Deline disliked her and that they +had launched an undeclared war. + +"I heard the broadcast all right," she said. "For that matter, so did +Mrs. Weems and Louise. But probably it's of no consequence." + +The subject was dropped. It was stuffy in the closed car and Penny +presently rolled down a window. Immediately Mrs. Deline protested that +the wind was blowing her hair helter-skelter. At a stern glance from her +father, Penny closed the window again, leaving only a tiny crack for air. + +"All the way, please," requested Mrs. Deline. + +"Penny, you're being very, very difficult," Mr. Parker added. + +Penny rolled the window shut, but her blue eyes cast off little sparks of +fire. As a rule, she was a very pleasant person, not in the least +spoiled. In Riverview where she had lived for fifteen happy, eventful +years, her friends were beyond count. Penny liked people and nearly +everyone liked her. But for some reason, she and Mrs. Deline had taken an +instant dislike to each other. + +"Maybe I'm jealous," Penny thought ruefully. "I shouldn't be, but Dad's +all I have." + +Between Mr. Parker and his daughter there existed a deep bond of +affection. Penny's mother was dead and the noted publisher had devoted +himself to filling the great void in the girl's life. He had given her +companionship and taught her to think straight. Knowing that she was +dependable, he allowed her more freedom than most girls her age were +permitted. + +Penny adored her father and seemingly had inherited his love of newspaper +work. Upon various occasions she had helped him at the _Riverview Star_, +writing and obtaining some of the paper's most spectacular front page +stories. Only the past winter, following her father's severe illness, she +had acted as editor of the _Star_, managing the paper entirely herself. + +"And now Dad and Mrs. Deline treat me as if I were a child!" she +reflected resentfully. + +Though very much upset, Penny kept her thoughts to herself. Curling up +with her head on a pile of blankets, she pretended to sleep. + +The car went over a hard bump. Penny bounced and opened her eyes. She was +surprised to see that it had grown quite dark. The automobile was moving +in a wide curve between long rows of pine trees. + +"What time is it?" she asked, pressing her face to the window. + +"Not so late," replied her father. "We're running into a rain storm. Just +our luck." + +Dark clouds had entirely blotted out the late afternoon sun. Even as Mr. +Parker spoke, several big raindrops splashed against the windshield. + +Soon the rain came down in such a thick sheet that the road ahead was +obscured. Stopping suddenly for a crossroads traffic light, the car went +into a slight skid. Mrs. Deline screamed in terror, and clutched Mr. +Parker's arm. + +"Oh, can't we stop somewhere?" she pleaded. "I'm so afraid we'll have an +accident." + +"Yes, we'll stop," Mr. Parker agreed. "The storm is certainly getting +worse." + +A short distance ahead the party glimpsed a group of buildings. One was a +filling station and beside it stood a small three-story hotel and tea +room. + +"Doesn't look too bad," Mr. Parker commented, pulling up close to the +door. "We'll have dinner and by that time the storm may be over." + +While Penny and Mrs. Deline went into the tea room, the publisher took +the car next door to the filling station to have the tank refueled. He +rejoined them soon, shaking the raindrops from his coat. + +"It's coming down harder than ever," he reported. "And we still have a +long drive ahead of us." + +"Do you think we'll reach our camp site tonight, Dad?" Penny inquired +anxiously. + +"We'll be lucky to get to Sunset Beach. As for making camp, that's out of +the question." + +"Maybe it will stop raining soon," Penny ventured hopefully. + +Mr. Parker ordered dinner for the party and an hour was consumed in +dining. The rain, however, showed no signs of slackening. + +"We could go on--" Mr. Parker said thoughtfully. "Of course, the roads +are slippery." + +"Oh, please let's not venture out in this," Mrs. Deline pleaded before +Penny could speak. "I know I am being silly, but I'm so afraid of an +accident. Once I was in a car that overturned and I've never forgotten +it." + +"There's no great hurry," Mr. Parker replied. "If we can't reach Sunset +Beach tonight, I suppose we could stay here." + +Mrs. Deline did not comment upon the suggestion, but from the way she +smiled, Penny was sure that the idea appealed to her. Taking her father +aside, the girl urged him to try to drive on to Sunset Beach that night. + +"Our vacation is so short, Dad. Even now we'll lose almost a day in +setting up camp." + +"We'll certainly push on if we can," he promised. "This storm complicates +everything." + +For two hours the rain fell steadily. With the prospects anything but +improved, Mr. Parker made inquiry as to lodging for the night. From the +hotel keeper he learned that rooms already were at a premium. + +"We'll have to make up our minds soon," he reported to Penny and Mrs. +Deline. "If we wait much longer we'll probably find ourselves sleeping in +the lobby." + +"Then let's stay," the widow urged. "Please engage a room and a bath for +me. Preferably one at the rear of the building away from the highway." + +"I'm afraid you'll have no choice," Mr. Parker told her regretfully. +"We'll have to take what we can get." + +The publisher consulted with the hotel clerk, and returned to report that +only two rooms remained available. + +"You and Penny will have to share one together," he explained. "I hope +you won't mind." + +It was evident by the expression of Mrs. Deline's face that she minded a +great deal. However, she consented to the arrangement and the luggage was +taken upstairs. The door closed behind the bellboy. For the first time +Penny and Mrs. Deline were left alone. + +"Such a cheap, dirty hotel!" the widow exclaimed petulantly. "And I do +hate to share a room with anyone." + +Penny busied herself unpacking her over-night bag. Crossing to the +window, she raised it half way. + +"Do put that down!" Mrs. Deline ordered. "I detest air blowing directly +on me." + +Penny lowered the window. + +Mrs. Deline smoked a cigarette, carelessly allowing the ashes to fall on +the bed. Getting up, she moved nervously about the room. + +"This place is so small it seems like a prison," she complained. "Why do +you sit there and stare at me?" + +"I didn't realize I was staring," Penny apologized. "If you'll excuse me, +I'll go to bed." + +Undressing quickly, she crawled beneath the covers. Mrs. Deline smoked +still another cigarette and then began to prepare for bed. As she removed +the jacket of her suit, Penny noticed that the woman wore a beautiful +jade elephant pin. + +"Why, what an attractive ornament!" she exclaimed. "Is it a locket or +just a pin?" + +"I bought it in China," the widow answered without replying to the +question. + +"In China! Have you been there?" + +"Of course!" Mrs. Deline gave Penny an amused glance. Without removing +the pin or offering to show it to the girl, she completed her +preparations for bed. + +Just at that moment there came a light tap on the door. + +"Oh, Penny!" Mr. Parker called. + +"Yes, Dad, what is it?" Penny leaped out of bed. + +"I'm worried about the car keys," he called through the transom. "You +didn't by chance see them after we left the dining room?" + +"Why, yes," Penny reassured him. "You left them lying on the table. I +picked them up and forgot to tell you. They're here on the dresser. I'll +hand them out." + +"No, never mind. Keep them. I was just afraid they were lost. Goodnight." + +Mrs. Deline glanced curiously at the key ring on the dresser. She +remarked that she had not seen Penny pick it up. + +"You were talking to Dad at the time," the girl replied. + +Leaving the keys on the dresser, she leaped into bed again and settled +herself for a comfortable sleep. Mrs. Deline presently turned out the +light and took the other bed. For a time Penny was annoyed by voices from +the hallway, then all became quiet. She slept. + +Much later Penny awoke. She stirred and rolled over. The rain had ceased +and moonlight was flooding into the room. A beam fell directly across +Mrs. Deline's bed, revealing a mass of crumpled sheets and covers. + +Penny stared, scarcely believing her eyes. The bed was empty. + + + + + CHAPTER + 3 + _A JADE GREEN CHARM_ + + +Sitting up in bed, Penny gazed about the room. Mrs. Deline was not there +and her clothes were gone from the chair where they had been placed +earlier that night. + +"Queer," mused the girl. + +Jumping out of bed, she darted to the door. Though it had been carefully +locked a few hours before, the latch now was off. + +Thoroughly puzzled, Penny switched on a light and glanced carefully +about. Mrs. Deline's suitcase remained in the closet, but coat and hat +were missing. And then Penny made an even more disturbing discovery. The +car keys were gone from the dresser! + +"Why, I know I put those keys on the bureau just before I went to bed!" +she told herself in dismay. "Now I wonder if that woman--" Ashamed of her +thoughts, she muttered: "Guess I _am_ a suspicious brat!" + +Deeply mystified, she moved quickly to the window overlooking the parking +lot and filling station. It was reassuring to see the Parker automobile +standing where her father had left it earlier that night. But as she +stood staring down into the dark, deserted yard, she was startled to +observe a shadowy figure rounding a corner of the hotel. + +"Mrs. Deline!" she recognized the woman. + +Penny waited only long enough to see that the widow was walking straight +toward the Parker sedan. + +"She intends to steal it!" thought the girl. "Why else would she take the +keys?" + +Snatching dress and coat from a chair, Penny scrambled into them without +taking time to remove her pajamas. She tucked up the unsightly legs of +the garment and put on her shoes. Thus clad she ran downstairs through +the semi-dark lobby to the side exit of the hotel. + +As she reached the outside door, she heard the blast of an automobile +engine. + +"That's our car!" Penny thought, recognizing the sound of the running +motor. "She'll get away before I can stop her!" + +The engine, evidently cold, sputtered a moment, then died. + +Hopeful that she might still get there in time, Penny raced across the +parking lot. Reaching the car just as it started to move backwards, she +jerked open the door. + +"Mrs. Deline!" she cried. + +Startled, the woman released the clutch so suddenly that the motor died +again. + +"Where are you taking our car?" Penny demanded, sliding into the seat +beside the widow. + +The girl's unexpected arrival seemed to completely unnerve Mrs. Deline. +She lost composure, but only for an instant. Lighting a cigarette, she +gazed at Penny with cold disdain. + +"I had intended to go for a little ride," she replied. "Any objections?" + +The question placed Penny on the defensive. "You shouldn't have taken the +car without asking Dad," she said stiffly. "We barely have enough +gasoline to reach Sunset Beach." + +"Oh, I had no thought of going far. I'll just drive a few miles and come +back." + +"At this time of night? It must be nearly two o'clock." + +"I always enjoy night driving. Particularly if I am nervous and unable to +sleep. Now run back to bed like a good child." + +Penny did not like the widow's tone of voice. She liked it less that Mrs. +Deline ignored her hint that the car was not to be used. More than ever +she was convinced that the woman had intended to steal the automobile. + +"I'm sorry," she said firmly. "I must ask you not to take the car without +Dad's permission." + +"Well!" Mrs. Deline exclaimed indignantly. "You expect me to rap on your +father's door at this time of night to ask if I may use the car!" + +"I don't see why you need to use the car at all." + +"Oh, you don't?" Mrs. Deline's tone was scornful. "Well, let me tell you +this! I've already given you as much of an explanation as I intend to! I +need the car." + +"I thought you said you only intended to go for a little drive--to quiet +your nerves," Penny reminded her. + +"That's what I meant." Mrs. Deline tossed her cigarette through the open +window and stepped on the car starter. "I intend to go too." + +Penny, equally determined, switched off the ignition. + +"Why, how dare you!" Mrs. Deline turned furiously upon the girl. "In all +my life I never met such a spoiled child." + +"I don't mean to be rude, but I can't allow you to take the car." + +Mrs. Deline swung open the door on Penny's side of the seat. She reached +as if to push the girl out of the car. + +Just then a man stepped from one of the hotel garages. Obviously he had +been listening to the conversation, for he deliberately approached the +car. + +"Anything wrong here?" he inquired. + +Penny recognized one of the night hotel clerks. She began to tell him of +the disagreement between herself and Mrs. Deline. + +"This child doesn't know what she's talking about!" the widow declared +irritably. "Mr. Parker doesn't mind if I use the car." + +"Then please ask him!" Penny challenged. + +"Why not allow me to do it for you," the hotel clerk offered. "Wait here +and I'll call Mr. Parker. He can settle the entire matter." + +"No, don't bother him," Mrs. Deline decided suddenly. "I've changed my +mind anyhow. After such a commotion I wouldn't enjoy a ride." + +"In any case, I'd prefer to call Mr. Parker," said the hotel man. + +"Do," urged Penny in deep satisfaction. "We'll wait here." + +"I'm going back to bed," Mrs. Deline announced, getting out of the car. + +She followed the hotel clerk into the building. Left in possession of the +car, Penny reparked it and locked the doors. Then, feeling a trifle +uneasy, she sauntered into the hotel. + +The lobby was deserted. Penny climbed the stairs, and in the hallway +leading to her room, met her father and the hotel clerk. Summoned from +bed, Mr. Parker garbed in dressing gown and slippers, looked more annoyed +than alarmed. + +"Penny, what is this I hear?" he inquired. "I can't get the straight of +the story." + +Penny drew a deep breath. "Well, it was this way, Dad. I awakened and +discovered that Mrs. Deline had disappeared with the car keys." + +"Mrs. Deline!" + +"Yes, I think she meant to steal the car. But she explained that she only +intended to borrow it for a night ride." + +"Anything wrong about that?" + +Penny regarded her father in blank amazement. + +"Why, Dad, would you borrow another person's car without asking?" + +"No, but Mrs. Deline probably didn't stop to consider the matter. No +doubt she was too thoughtful to awaken you." + +"Thoughtful, my left eye! Dad, I'm sure Mrs. Deline meant to steal the +car. Either that or she had a very important appointment--a meeting with +someone she wasn't willing to tell us about." + +"Nonsense!" Mr. Parker exclaimed impatiently. "Penny, you made a serious +mistake in refusing to allow Mrs. Deline to use the car. She is our guest +and I'm afraid you were rude." + +"But Dad--" + +"You must apologize to her at once." + +Penny did not answer for a moment. She bent to tie her flapping shoe +strings and took her time at the task. When she straightened, she said +quietly: + +"All right, Dad. If you say so, I'll apologize. But I don't think I was +wrong." + +"We'll not discuss it now, Penny. Suppose you turn the car keys over to +me and go to your room." + +Penny gave up the keys and without another word went down the hall. Tears +stung her eyes, but she brushed them away. She knew she had been +unpleasant to Mrs. Deline. Nevertheless, she felt that her father had not +been entirely just in his attitude. + +Entering the bedroom, she hesitated before turning on the light. Mrs. +Deline had undressed and was in bed. She ignored the girl. + +"I--I guess I made a bad mistake," Penny began awkwardly. "I shouldn't +have been so rude." + +Mrs. Deline rolled over in bed. Her dark eyes flashed and she made no +effort to hide her dislike. + +"So you admit it?" she asked. "Well, we will forget the matter. Do not +speak of it to me again." + +In silence Penny undressed and hung up her coat and dress. As she +prepared to snap out the light, she noticed that Mrs. Deline still wore +the jade elephant charm about her neck. + +"Aren't you afraid you'll break the chain?" she asked before she thought. +"You forgot to take it off." + +Mrs. Deline raised herself on an elbow, fairly glaring at Penny. + +"Will you kindly worry about your own affairs?" she asked insolently. +"I've had about all I can take from you in one night." + +"But I didn't mean anything personal." + +"Good night!" said Mrs. Deline with emphasis. + +Penny turned out the light and crept into her own bed. She felt beaten +and hurt. It was easy to understand why Mrs. Deline disliked her, but her +own attitude was bewildering. + +"I distrusted the woman the instant I met her," she reflected. "Perhaps I +had no reason for it at first. Now I'm not so sure." + +Penny rolled over to face the window. Moonlight was flooding into the +room. In the diffused light the girl could see Mrs. Deline plainly. The +woman had propped herself up in bed and was fingering the jade green +elephant charm which hung on its slender chain. Though Penny could not be +certain, she thought the lid of the figure lay open and that Mrs. Deline +quickly snapped it shut. + +"Good night, Mrs. Deline," she ventured, still trying to make amends. + +The widow did not answer. Instead she turned her back and pretended to +sleep. + + + + + CHAPTER + 4 + _NO CAMPING ALLOWED_ + + +Breakfast the next morning was a trying ordeal for Penny. Over the coffee +cups Mr. Parker apologized to Mrs. Deline for what he termed his +daughter's "inexcusable behavior." + +The widow responded graciously, quite in contrast to her attitude of the +previous night. Without saying much, she conveyed the impression that +Penny had been completely in the wrong, and was in fact, a spoiled child +who must be humored. + +The journey on to Sunset Beach was equally unpleasant. Mr. Parker and +Mrs. Deline seemed so absorbed in animated conversation, that they +scarcely spoke or noticed Penny. Wedged between the luggage and the +camping equipment, she indulged in self pity. + +"At least we'll get rid of Mrs. Deline when we reach Sunset Beach," she +cheered herself. + +Presently the car rounded a wide curve in the road, and Penny caught her +first glimpse of the seashore. Big waves were rolling in, washing an +endless stretch of white sand. + +"Oh, isn't it beautiful!" she exclaimed, brightening. "I wish we were +camping right on the beach instead of in the State Forest." + +"I fear the authorities wouldn't permit that," Mr. Parker laughed. "By +the way, Penny, is your heart really set on this camping trip?" + +Penny gave him a quick look. "Yes, it is, Dad," she said briefly. "Why do +you ask?" + +"Well, I was thinking that we'd be a lot more comfortable at one of the +big hotels. We'd be right on the beach and--" + +"Oh, I was just talking when I said I'd like to camp on the beach," Penny +cut in. "I'd like the State Forest much better." + +"Then we'll go there just as we planned," Mr. Parker said, sighing. "But +you know I never was cut out for a rough and tumble life, Penny. I'm far +from sure I'll make a good camper." + +The car rolled on along the ocean road, presently entering the little +village of Sunset Beach. Normally a tourist center, the town now was +practically deserted, and the Parkers had chosen it because it was within +easy driving distance of Riverview. Nearly all of the fine hotels along +the water front were closed. However, the Crystal Inn remained in +operation, and it was there that Mrs. Deline had engaged a suite. + +The car swung into the driveway and halted in front of the hotel. An +attendant did not come immediately so Mr. Parker himself unloaded the +widow's luggage. Mrs. Deline gave him a dazzling smile as she bade him +goodbye. + +"Oh, we'll not say goodbye just yet," Mr. Parker corrected. "Penny and I +will camp only a short distance away. We'll run down to the beach often." + +"Do," urged Mrs. Deline. "I have no friends here and I'll be happy to see +you." + +Mr. Parker carried the widow's luggage into the hotel. While he was +absent, Penny moved up to the front seat. She tuned in a radio program, +listening to it with growing impatience. Finally her father sauntered out +of the hotel. + +"I nearly gave you up," Penny remarked pointedly. + +Mr. Parker slid behind the steering wheel and started the car. When they +were driving along the ocean front road he said quietly: + +"Penny, I can't imagine what has come over you lately. You're not in the +least like the little girl who was my pal and companion. Why have you +been so unkind to Mrs. Deline?" + +"I just don't like her," Penny said flatly. "Furthermore, I distrust +her." + +"You've acted very stupid and silly." + +"I'm sorry if you're ashamed of me," Penny replied glaring at her own +reflection in the car mirror. "At any rate, I saved the car for you." + +"That accusation was ridiculous, Penny. Mrs. Deline is a wealthy woman +who could buy herself a dozen cars in ordinary times. She merely gave in +to a sudden whim." + +"Just what do you know about Mrs. Deline, Dad?" + +"Not a great deal," Mr. Parker admitted. "I met her at the club. She +served as a special War correspondent in China, I believe. She has +traveled all over the world and speaks a half dozen languages." + +"I never heard of her until she came to Riverview," Penny said with a +sniff. "Nor did I ever see any of her writing in print. If you ask me, +she's a phony." + +"Let's not discuss the subject further," Mr. Parker replied, losing +patience. "When you're older, I hope you'll learn to be more gracious and +charitable." + +Penny subsided into hurt silence. In all her life she could recall only a +few occasions when her father had spoken so sternly to her. Close to +tears, she studied the tumbling surface of the ocean with concentrated +interest. + +In silence the Parkers drove through the village, stopping at a filling +station to inquire the way to Rhett State Forest. Supplies were purchased +at one of the stores, and by that time it was noon. At Mr. Parker's +suggestion they stopped at a roadside inn for lunch. After that they +drove on a half mile beyond the outskirts of Sunset Beach, past a tall +lighthouse to the end of the pavement. + +"We follow a dirt road for a quarter of a mile to Bradley Knoll," Mr. +Parker said, consulting directions he had jotted down on an envelope. + +"A mud road, you mean," Penny corrected, peering ahead at the narrow, +twisting highway. "It really rained here last night." + +The car had no chains. Not without misgiving, Mr. Parker drove off the +pavement onto the slippery road. The car wallowed about and at times +skidded dangerously. + +"Once we reach the State park we'll have gravel roads," Penny said, +studying a map. + +"_If_ we get there," Mr. Parker corrected. + +Barely had he spoken than the car went out of control. It took a long +skid, turned crosswise in the road, and then the rear wheels slipped into +a deep ditch. Opening the car door, Penny saw that the car was bogged +down to the hub caps. + +Mr. Parker tried without success to pull out of the ditch. Alighting, he +inspected the rear wheels which had spun deeper and deeper into the mud. + +"Not a chance to get out of here without help," he said crossly. "I'll +have to find someone to give us a hand." + +Farther down the road stood a weatherbeaten farmhouse. Penny offered to +go there to summon help, but her father insisted upon doing it himself. +He presently returned with a farmer and a small tractor. After +considerable difficulty the car was pulled out of the ditch. + +"How much do I owe you?" Mr. Parker asked the man. + +"Ten dollars." + +The amount seemed far too high for the service rendered, but Mr. Parker +paid it without comment. His shoes were caked with mud, and so were the +trouser legs of his suit. Only by an effort of will did he keep his +temper under control. + +"Figurin' on camping in the Rhett Forest?" the farmer asked Mr. Parker. + +"That's right. Is it much farther?" + +"Only a little piece down the road. You'll strike gravel at the next +corner. You can make it if you're careful. I don't calculate you'll have +much fun camping in the Park though." + +"Why not?" asked Penny. + +"We've had a lot o' rain lately. The mosquitoes are bitin' something +fierce. And the ground's mighty damp." + +"We have a floor to our tent," Penny said optimistically. "I think +camping will be fun. I've always wanted to try it." + +The farmer started the tractor. "Then don't let me discourage you," he +shrugged. "So long." + +Mr. Parker rejoined Penny in the car. "Why not call this whole thing +off?" he suggested. "We could go to the hotel and--" + +"No, Dad! You promised me!" + +"All right, Penny, if that's the way you feel, but I know we're asking +for punishment." + +By careful driving the Parkers reached the gravel road without mishap. At +the entrance to the Rhett Park area they were stopped by a pleasant, +middle-aged forest ranger who took down the license number of the car. + +"Be careful about your camp fire," he instructed. "Only last week several +acres of timber were destroyed at Alton. We're not certain whether it was +started by a camper or was a case of sabotage. In any case, one can't be +too careful." + +"We will be," promised Mr. Parker. + +"Camp only in the designated sites," the ranger added. "I'll be around +later on to see how you're getting along." + +Once beyond the gateway arch, Penny's sagging spirits began to revive. +The road curled lazily between dense masses of timber fringed by artistic +old-fashioned rail fences. Numerous signs pointed to trails that invited +exploration. + +"Oh, Dad, it's really nice here!" she cried. "We'll have a wonderful +time!" + +Presently the car came to an open space with picnic tables. There was a +picturesque spot beside a rocky brook which looked just right for a camp +site. + +"Let's pitch our tent here!" pleaded Penny. "You set it up while I cook +supper." + +Mr. Parker unloaded the car and went to work with a will hammering the +metal stakes of the umbrella tent. Penny busied herself sorting pots and +pans and trying to get the gasoline stove started. Despite her best +efforts she could not induce it to burn. + +In the meantime, Mr. Parker was having his own set of troubles. Three of +the tent stakes were missing. Twice he put up the umbrella framework, +only to have the entire structure collapse upon his head. + +"Penny, come here and help me!" he called. "I've had about enough of +this!" + +Penny ran to her father's rescue, pulling the canvas from his head and +shoulders. By working together they finally got the tent set up. Another +half hour was required to put up the cots and make them. + +"Well, that job is done," Mr. Parker sighed, collapsing on one of the +beds. "Such a life!" + +"Dad, I hate to bother you," Penny apologized, "but I can't start the +stove. Do you mind looking at it?" + +Grumbling a bit, Mr. Parker went to tinker with the stove. Three-quarters +of an hour slipped away before he succeeded in coaxing a bright flame. + +"All this work has given me a big appetite for supper," he announced. +"What are we having, Penny?" + +"Steaks." + +"Sounds fine." + +"I forgot the salt though," Penny confessed, slapping the meat into a +frying pan. + +The burner was too hot. While Penny had her back turned and was opening a +can of beans, the steaks began to scorch. Mr. Parker tried to rescue +them. In his haste he seized the hot skillet handle and burned his hands. + +"Oh, Dad, I'm so sorry!" Penny sympathized. "I guess the steaks are +practically ruined too." + +"Anything else to eat?" the publisher asked, nursing his blistered hand. + +"Beans." + +"Beans!" Mr. Parker repeated with bitter emphasis. "Oh, well--dish them +up." + +Penny was serving the food on tin plates when a car drove up and stopped. +A ranger climbed out and walked over to the tent. + +"What's the idea, camping here?" he demanded. "Can't you read signs?" + +"We didn't see any sign," said Penny. + +The ranger pointed to one in plain sight tacked on the trunk of a tree. +It read: + +"Restricted Area. No Camping Permitted." + +"You can't stay here," the ranger added. "You'll have to move on." + +Penny and her father gazed at each other in despair. After all the work +they had done, it didn't seem as though they could break camp. + +"Any objections if we stay here until morning?" Mr. Parker requested. +"We've had a pretty hard time of it getting established." + +The ranger looked sympathetic but unmoved. + +"Sorry," he said curtly. "Regulations are regulations. You may finish +your supper if you like, then you must move on. The regular camp site is +a quarter of a mile farther up the road." + + + + + CHAPTER + 5 + _OVER THE AIR_ + + +The ranger's order so discouraged Penny and her father that they lost all +zest for supper. Too weary for conversation, they tore up the beds, +repacked the dishes, and pulled the tent stakes. + +"I've not worked so hard in years," Mr. Parker sighed. "What a mistake to +call this a vacation!" + +"Perhaps it won't be so hard once we get settled," Penny said hopefully. +"After all, we've had more than our share of bad luck." + +Bad luck, however, continued to follow the campers. In the gathering +darkness, Penny and her father had trouble finding the specified camp +ground. It was impossible to drive a car into the cleared space, so they +were forced to carry all of the heavy luggage and equipment from the +automobile to the camp site. + +By that time it was quite dark. Mr. Parker misplaced one of the tent +stakes and could not find it without a lengthy search. As he finally +drove it in, he hammered his thumb instead of the metal pin. + +"Drat it all! I've had enough of this!" he muttered irritably. "Penny, +why not give it up--" + +"Oh, no, Dad!" Penny cut in quickly. "Once we get the tent up again, +we'll be all right. Here, I'll hold the flashlight so you can see +better." + +Finally the tent was successfully staked down, though Mr. Parker +temporarily abandoned the idea of putting up the front porch. Penny set +up the cots again and made the beds. + +"Hope you packed plenty of woolen blankets," Mr. Parker commented, +shivering. "It will be cold tonight." + +Penny admitted that she had brought only two thin ones for each bed. "I +didn't suppose it could get so cold on a summer night," she confessed +ruefully. + +Worn by his strenuous labors, Mr. Parker climbed into the closed car to +smoke a cigar. Penny, finding the dark tent lonesome, soon joined him +there. She switched on the car radio, tuning in an orchestra. Presently +it went off the air so she dialed another station. A strange jargon of +words which could not be understood, accosted her ears. + +"Hold that, Penny!" exclaimed Mr. Parker. + +"What station can it be?" Penny speculated, peering at the luminous dial. +"It sounds like a short wave broadcast. Must be a station off its wave +band." + +She and her father listened intently to the speaker who had a resonant, +baritone voice. Not a word of the broadcast could they understand. +Obviously a message was being sent in code. + +"Dad, that sounds like the same station I heard yesterday!" Penny broke +in. "Where can it be located?" + +"I'd like to know myself." + +Penny glanced quickly at her father. His remark, she thought, had +definite significance. Before she could question him, the strange jargon +ceased. The deep baritone voice concluded in plain, slightly accented +English: "This is the Voice from the Cave, signing off until tomorrow +night. Stand by, Comrades!" + +"That was no regular station," Penny declared, puzzled. "But what was +it?" + +Mr. Parker reached over to turn off the panel switch. "It was an outlaw +station," he said quietly. "The authorities have been after it for +weeks." + +"How did you learn about it?" + +"Through various channels. Most outlaw radio stations can be traced quite +easily by the use of modern radio-detecting devices. The enemy agent who +operates this station is a particularly elusive fellow. Just when the +police are sure they have him, he moves to another locality." + +Penny was silent a moment and then she said: + +"You seem to know quite a bit about this mysterious Voice, Dad." + +"Naturally I've been interested in the case. If the police catch the +fellow it will make a good story for the _Star_." + +"Where is the station thought to be located, Dad?" + +"Oh, it moves nightly. The fellow obviously has a portable broadcasting +outfit." + +"But isn't the general locality known?" + +Mr. Parker smiled as he knocked ashes from his cigar. + +"Authorities seem to think that it may be somewhere near here. Sunset +Beach has countless caves, you know." + +"Really?" The information excited Penny. "You never told me that before, +Dad. And I suspect that you're keeping a lot of other secrets from me +too!" + +"Sunset Beach's caves are no secret. They're part of the tourist +attraction." + +"All the same you never mentioned them, Dad. I thought it was odd that +you chose this place for a vacation. Now I'm beginning to catch on." + +Mr. Parker pretended not to understand. + +"Isn't it true that you came here to do a bit of investigation work?" +Penny pursued the subject relentlessly. + +"Now don't try to pin me down," Mr. Parker laughed. "Suppose we just say +we came here for a vacation." + +Penny eyed her father quizzically. From the way he sidestepped her +questions she was certain that he had more than a casual interest in the +outlaw radio station. + +"Dad, will you let me help you?" she pleaded eagerly. + +"Help me?" Mr. Parker joked. "Why, you seem to think that I'm a +Government investigator in disguise!" + +"You don't deny that you came here largely because of your interest in +that station?" + +"Well, I may be a tiny bit interested. But don't jump to conclusions, +young lady! It doesn't necessarily follow that I have set out to track +down any enemy agent single handed." Mr. Parker brought the discussion to +an end by opening the car door. "I'm dead tired, Penny. If you'll excuse +me, I'll turn in." + +After her father had gone to the tent, Penny remained for a while in the +car. Soberly she stared at the stars and thought over what she had +learned. + +"I don't care what Dad says," she reflected, "he came here to find that +radio station! But maybe, just maybe, I'll beat him to it!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 6 + _BREAKFAST BLUES_ + + +Penny awoke next morning to find the tent cold and damp. She rolled over +on the hard cot and moaned with pain. Every muscle in her battered body +felt as if it had been twisted into a knot. + +Swinging her feet to the canvas floor, she pulled away the curtain to +peer at her father's cot. It was empty. + +"Guess I've overslept," she thought. "Hope Dad's started breakfast." + +Penny dressed quickly, cringing as she pulled on damp shirt and shorts. +Dew lay heavy upon the tent and the grass outside was saturated. She +walked gingerly as she picked her way toward the parked car. + +Mr. Parker had set up a portable table nearby and was tinkering with the +gasoline stove. He was unshaven and looked very much out of sorts. + +"Hi, Dad!" Penny greeted him with as much cheer as she could muster. +"What are we having for breakfast?" + +"Nothing, so far as I can see! This stove is on strike again. I've tried +for half an hour to get it started." + +Penny climbed into the car to use the mirror. The sight of her face +horrified her. One cheek was blotched with ugly red mosquito bites, there +were dark circles under her eyes, and her hair hung in strings. + +"If anyone ever gets me on another camping trip I'll be surprised!" Mr. +Parker exclaimed. He slammed the stove down on the table. "I'm through +monkeying with this contrary beast!" + +"Oh, Dad, such a temper," Penny chided, giggling despite her own +discouragement. + +"Suppose you suggest how we're to eat." + +"Well, there's cold breakfast food with canned milk." Penny burrowed deep +in a box of supplies stored in the car. "Two soft bananas. No coffee, I'm +afraid." + +"Wonderful!" Mr. Parker said grimly. "Well, bring on the bird food." + +Penny set the table and dished up the dry breakfast cereal. + +"At least we have beautiful scenery," she remarked as she sat down to the +dismal repast with her father. "Just look at those grand old trees." + +"The place is all right. It's camping that has me tied in a knot. Now at +the Crystal Inn we could be comfortable--right on the beach too." + +"No," Penny said, though not very firmly. "We'll like it here after we +get adjusted." + +"Need any supplies today?" Mr. Parker asked abruptly. + +"Yes, we'll have to have fresh meat and milk. I forgot salt too and +bread." + +"I'll drive down to Sunset Beach and get the things. May as well take the +stove along too and try to have it repaired." + +"That might be a good idea," Penny admitted, though with reluctance. +"Don't be gone long, will you? I thought we might explore some of the +trails." + +"Oh, there's plenty of time for that." + +Mr. Parker was noticeably cheerful as he stowed the portable stove in the +car and drove away. Not without misgiving Penny watched him go. She +remained somewhat troubled as she washed the breakfast dishes at the +brook and struggled with the beds. The camping trip hadn't worked out as +she had hoped and expected. So far it had been all work and no fun. + +"Dad was up to something when he skipped out of here so fast," she mused. +"Wonder why he doesn't come back?" + +The sun rose high above the trees, drying the grass and tent. Penny went +for a short hike in the woods. She returned to find that her father still +had not returned. + +Just then a car rattled up the twisting road. Recognizing the same ranger +who had caused so much trouble the previous night, Penny prepared herself +for further blows. However, the government man was all smiles as he +pulled up not far from the umbrella tent. + +"Just dropped by to see if you're getting along all right," he greeted +her in a friendly way. "Everything Okay?" + +"I wouldn't venture such a rash statement as that," Penny answered, her +face downcast. + +Because the ranger, whose name was Bill Atkins, seemed to have a genuine +interest, she found herself telling him all about her troubles. + +"Why, you've not had a decent meal since you came here!" he exclaimed, +climbing out of the car. "Maybe I can help you." + +"Can you wave a magic wand and produce hot food?" + +"We'll see," laughed the ranger. "Gasoline stoves are more bother than +they're worth in my opinion." + +As Penny watched in amazed admiration he built a good fire which soon +made a bed of glowing cherry red coals. + +"How about a nice pan of fish fried to a crisp brown?" the ranger tempted +her. "I caught a string of them this morning. Beauties!" + +From the car he brought a basket of fat trout, already dressed and ready +for cooking. Without asking Penny for anything, he wrapped them in corn +meal, salted each fish and let it sizzle in hot butter. + +"Do you always travel with your car equipped like a kitchen cabinet?" +Penny joked. Crouching beside the fire, she barely could take her eyes +from the food. + +"Not always," the ranger laughed. "I've been on an overnight trip. +Usually have the fixings of a meal with me though." + +While the fish slowly sizzled, Bill put on a pot of coffee and fried +potatoes. He accomplished everything with such ease that Penny could only +watch dumbfounded. + +"Guess you and your father considered me an old crab last night," he +remarked. "Sometimes we hate to enforce the rules, but we have to treat +everyone alike. If we allowed folks to camp wherever they pleased the +danger of forest fire would be greatly increased." + +"You're right, of course. Have you had any fires this season?" + +"Not here." Deftly the ranger dished up the potatoes and crisply browned +fish. "Plenty of them farther South. Not all caused by carelessness of +campers either." + +Penny was quick to seize upon the remark. "Sabotage?" she questioned. + +"That's what we think," the ranger nodded. He poured two cups of +steaming, black coffee. "Fact is, enemy agents have made quite a few +attempts to set fire to our forests. Nearly always they're caught, but +that doesn't mean we dare let up our vigilance." + +Penny ate every morsel of the food, praising the ranger highly for his +cooking ability. + +"I wish Dad could have had some of this fish," she added. "He went down +to Sunset Beach for supplies and for some reason hasn't returned." + +"I'll have to be on the road myself," the ranger declared, getting up +from the ground. "I'm due in town at twelve o'clock and it's nearly that +now." + +"You're driving to Sunset Beach?" + +"Yes, want to ride along?" + +Penny debated briefly. "Wait until I get my coat," she requested. "It's +lonesome here alone. Anyway, I want to learn what's keeping Dad." + +The park road had dried considerably, but even so the car skidded from +side to side until it reached the paved highway. At Sunset Beach, the +ranger dropped Penny off at the postoffice. Rather at a loss to know what +to do with herself, she wandered about the half-deserted streets in +search of her father. He was not at any of the stores, nor did inquiry +reveal his whereabouts. + +"Perhaps he's sunning himself on the beach," she thought. + +A boardwalk led over the dunes to the water front. The tide was at ebb, +revealing a long, wide stretch of white sand strewn with shells and +seaweed. Penny paused to gaze meditatively upon the wind-swept sea. For a +time she watched the waves break and spill their foam on the sandy shore. +Then she walked slowly on toward the imposing Crystal Inn. + +Approaching the private beach area, Penny met only a few persons, mostly +soldiers on furlough with their girls. There were no bathers for a sharp, +cool wind blew off the water. + +"Sunset Beach is nice," thought Penny, "but it's lonesome." + +At the Crystal Inn there was more activity. Tennis courts were in use and +so was the swimming pool. Penny circled the well-kept grounds, not +intending to enter the building. However, as she drew near, her attention +was drawn to the flagstone terrace overlooking the formal garden. Though +it was set with tables there were not many diners. + +Suddenly Penny stopped short, scarcely believing her eyes. At one of the +tables near the stone railing sat her father with Mrs. Deline. + + + + + CHAPTER + 7 + _THE BEARDED STRANGER_ + + +Penny's first thought upon seeing her father and Mrs. Deline was to steal +quietly away. Then amazement and injury gave way to a feeling of +indignation. Perhaps her father had a perfect right to lunch with Mrs. +Deline, but it was inconsiderate of him to so completely forget his own +daughter. + +"I might just as well be an orphan!" Penny sighed. "Well, we'll see!" + +Stiffly she marched across the lawn to the railed-in hotel veranda. Her +father saw her coming. His look of surprise changed to one of guarded +welcome. + +"Come up and have lunch with us," he invited. "The food here is quite an +improvement on what we've been having at camp." + +Penny could find no outside entranceway to the terrace. To Mrs. Deline's +horror and her father's amusement, she climbed over the stone railing. + +"Dad," Penny began, ignoring the widow except for a curt nod, "I was just +about ready to get out a search warrant for you." + +Mr. Parker drew another chair to the table for his daughter. Her hair was +none too well combed, she wore no stockings, and the coat did not +entirely cover her camp costume. By contrast Mrs. Deline was perfectly +turned out in tailored tweed suit with a smart little hat of feathers. +Though the woman said nothing, her gaze was scornful as she appraised +Penny. + +"What shall I order for you?" Mr. Parker asked, signaling a waiter. + +"Nothing, thank you." Penny was coldly polite. "I had a very fine lunch +at camp, thanks to one of the rangers." + +"I'm sorry I didn't get back," Mr. Parker apologized. "It took a long +while to have the stove repaired. Then I met Mrs. Deline and--" + +"Oh, I understand," Penny broke in. "The point is, when, if ever, are you +coming back to camp?" + +"Why, right now I suppose. We've finished our luncheon." + +The waiter had come to the table. Mr. Parker asked for the bill, paid it, +and arose. As he bade Mrs. Deline goodbye, he remarked that he probably +would see her again soon. + +Walking to the hotel parking lot where Mr. Parker had left the car, +neither he nor Penny had much to say. Not until they were driving through +the village was the subject of Mrs. Deline mentioned. + +"I don't see why you can't be a bit nicer to her," Mr. Parker commented. +"You scarcely spoke a word to her." + +"Did she say anything to me?" + +"Well, I don't recall." + +"I've treated Mrs. Deline just as well as she treats me!" Penny defended +herself. "I'll admit I don't like her." + +"And you show it too." + +"Maybe I do, but she has no business taking so much of your time." + +"So that's where the shoe pinches," chuckled Mr. Parker. "My little girl +is jealous." + +"The very idea!" + +"Mrs. Deline is brilliant--a highly educated woman and I enjoy talking to +her," Mr. Parker said thoughtfully. "I assure you it's no more serious +than that." + +Penny moved close to her father and squeezed his arm. + +"We've been pals for such a long while," she said wistfully. "If anything +ever should come between us--" + +"Penny, you're positively morbid!" her father interrupted. "Of course +nothing ever will come between us! Now let's talk of more cheerful +subjects." + +"Such as?" + +"I've been thinking, Penny. You need a friend, someone to pal around +with." + +"You're the only friend I need, Dad." + +"I mean someone your own age, Penny. Why not send for Louise Sidell? I'll +gladly pay her train fare." + +"It would be fun having Lou here." + +"Then it's settled. We'll send a wire now." Mr. Parker turned the car +around and drove to the local telegraph office. + +Before Penny could change her mind, the message was sent. Not until long +after she and her father had returned to the park did it occur to her +that unwittingly she might have fashioned her own undoing. Though camping +would be far more interesting with Louise to share her experiences, it +also would give her father added opportunity to see Mrs. Deline. + +"Maybe he didn't think of that angle," Penny reflected uneasily. "I'll +keep it to myself." + +The following day Mr. Parker spent the entire day in camp. With the +gasoline stove in working order, hot meals were prepared though not +without endless effort. There were dishes to wash, beds to make, and by +the time the tasks were done, neither Penny nor her father had any energy +left for hiking. + +The second day was much easier. However, with more free time, Mr. Parker +became increasingly restless. He missed his morning paper and was +dissatisfied with the skimpy news reports that came in over the radio. +Penny was not surprised when he mentioned that he would walk down to +Sunset Beach. + +"Mind if I go with you?" Penny asked quickly. + +"Of course not," her father answered. "Why should I?" + +At Sunset Beach a call at the local telegraph office disclosed a message +for Penny which had been held for lack of an address. The wire was from +Louise and read: + +"ARRIVING AT SUNSET BEACH THURSDAY ON THE 12:30 PLANE. HOLD EVERYTHING." + +"Thursday!" Penny cried, offering the telegram to her father. "That's +tomorrow! My, will I be glad to see Lou! This place has been like a +morgue without her." + +"I imagine the town will brighten up quite a bit within the next few +days," Mr. Parker said, a twinkle in his eye. "In fact, Louise may not be +the only new arrival." + +"Is someone else coming to see us?" + +Mr. Parker would not answer her many questions. "Wait and see," he +teased. + +Since arriving at Sunset Beach Penny had been eager to visit the +lighthouse located on Crag Point. Noticing that the tide was low, she +suggested to her father that they go there together. + +"Too long a walk," he complained. "You run along by yourself. I'll sun +myself on the beach." + +Leaving her father, Penny started off alone. The sun was warm and there +were a number of bathers splashing about in the surf. A long row of +picturesque cottages lined the water front. They thinned out as she went +farther up the beach, and presently there were no habitations, only +desolate, wind-blown sand. + +Midway to the lighthouse, Penny met a man of early middle age who carried +fishing rod and creel. He stared at her, hesitated, then paused to speak. + +"I notice you're going toward Crag Point," he remarked pleasantly. "Are +you a stranger to this locality?" + +Penny admitted that she was. + +"Then perhaps you haven't been told that the Point is a dangerous place +to be at high tide." + +"No, I hadn't heard." + +"The Point is very nearly covered at that time," the stranger explained. +"There's no danger at the present moment, of course." + +"How long will I have here?" + +"Oh, several hours," the stranger replied. "There's no cause for alarm if +you just keep watch of the tide." + +Penny thanked the stranger and walked on toward the lighthouse. The +structure rose to a height of seventy-five feet above the beach and was +reached by means of a narrow little iron stairway. + +No one was about the premises as Penny approached. However, as she +started up the iron steps, a door far above her head opened. A burly, +stout man whose face was browned by wind and sun, peered down at her. + +"You can't come up here!" he shouted. "No visitors are allowed!" + +"Oh," Penny murmured, retreating a step. "I didn't know. I only wanted to +see the tower." + +"No visitors," the keeper of the light repeated. "War regulations." + +The rule seemed a reasonable one, but after such a long hike, Penny was +disappointed. Walking back to the main section of the beach, she looked +about for her father. He had disappeared. + +"I'll bet a cookie he's at the Crystal Inn!" she thought indignantly. + +But Penny could not find her father there nor at any other place along +the water front. After an hour's search she decided that he must have +returned to camp. Returning there, she approached the tent, noticing that +the flap was closed, though not buttoned as she had left it. + +"Dad must be here," she thought. + +Drawing nearer she could see movement within the tent as someone brushed +against the canvas walls. + +"Oh, Dad!" she called. + +There was no answer. But the next instant a man in rough garments and +straw hat rushed out of the tent. Penny never before had set eyes upon +him. She was so astonished that she gained only a fleeting impression of +the bearded stranger. Seeing her, he thrust some object beneath his coat +and fled into the woods. + + + + + CHAPTER + 8 + _KEEPER OF THE LIGHT_ + + +Recovering from astonishment, Penny darted to the tent and jerked open +the flap. The beds had been torn apart. Her purse, hidden beneath the +pillow, was gone. Suitcases lay open on the canvas floor. + +"That man was a thief!" she thought angrily. + +Too late, she tried to determine which direction he had taken. She could +hear no sound of crackling leaves or running feet. + +"He's lying low," she told herself. "No use chasing him. I never could +find him among the trees." + +Thoroughly incensed, she went back to the disordered tent. A preliminary +check revealed that besides the pocketbook, a pair of her father's shoes +and a sweater had been taken. + +"Lucky I didn't have much money in my purse," Penny congratulated +herself. "It was a good leather pocketbook though, and I hate to lose +it." + +Going outside, she discovered other losses. The supply of groceries had +been ransacked. Bread was gone, several oranges and a tin of cold meat. + +"That fellow was hungry," Penny reflected. "Probably some shiftless +person who isn't willing to work for a living." + +Entering the tent again, she busied herself making the beds and repacking +the suitcases. As she finished the task, she heard footsteps outside. +Fearful that the thief had returned, she jerked open the canvas flap. It +was her father who had arrived. + +"Oh, Dad, I'm glad you're back!" she exclaimed, rushing out to meet him. +"We've been robbed!" + +"What?" + +Penny told him how she had frightened away the bearded stranger. + +"That's bad," Mr. Parker said, frowning. "I didn't suppose there was +another camper within miles of us." + +"This man didn't look like a camper, Dad. He wore dirty, mussed clothing +and a beard of at least a week's growth." + +"How old a fellow?" + +"Why, he looked young to me. And he ran like a young person." + +"We'll report it to the ranger," Mr. Parker said, entering the tent to +check over his belongings. "Probably never will get any of our things +back though." + +"The ranger may know who the fellow is, Dad." + +"That's possible," Mr. Parker admitted. "Penny, I'm glad Louise is coming +tomorrow. I certainly don't like the idea of your remaining here in camp +alone." + +"Then why don't you stay with me?" Penny countered instantly. + +"Well, I'm planning on being rather busy." + +"With Mrs. Deline." + +"Penny, you're impossible!" + +"Weren't you with her today? I looked everywhere for you." + +"Mrs. Deline and I did go for a little walk. No harm in that, is there?" + +"It all depends upon your viewpoint," Penny said loftily. "Personally, I +consider her about as harmless as a Grade A rattler!" + +"Penny, enough of such talk!" + +"Okay," she returned grimly, "but never say I didn't warn you." + +"I was about to tell you," Mr. Parker resumed, "that I expect to be busy +the next few days helping local authorities trace that outlaw radio +station we heard on the air." + +"Oh!" + +"In fact, Army experts are being sent here to aid in the work. My days +will be pretty well tied up." + +"I'm sorry, Dad," Penny said contritely. "Naturally I thought--" + +"I'm afraid your trouble is that you don't stop to think," Mr. Parker +lectured. "Please, will you forget Mrs. Deline?" + +"I promise not to bother you about her again, Dad." + +"Good!" Mr. Parker awkwardly patted his daughter's hand. "I realize +you've had an unpleasant time of it so far, Penny. But things should pick +up after Louise arrives." + +"And that other surprise you hinted about?" + +"Oh, you'll have to wait and see," Mr. Parker smiled. "However, I promise +you that what's coming really will prove a pleasant surprise." + +Though Penny kept up a running fire of questions, her father would tell +her no more. From a few hints he dropped, she gathered that he was +expecting a visitor within a day or so. That rather disappointed her, for +with the exception of Louise, she could think of no one she particularly +wanted to see at Sunset Beach. + +Later that day when a forest ranger stopped at camp for a few minutes, +Mr. Parker reported the theft of food and clothing to him. + +"So the thief was a young man with a beard?" the ranger pondered. "Don't +know of anyone in the area answering such a description. We'll certainly +be on the watch for him." + +Penny and her father expected to hear no more from the matter. Toward +sundown, however, the same ranger returned to camp, bringing the missing +pocketbook. It was stripped of money but still contained a compact and +various toilet articles. + +"Where did you find the purse?" Penny inquired eagerly. + +"On the Beech Trail not far from here." + +"Then it was dropped on purpose?" + +"Apparently it was. I followed the trail for a quarter of mile, then lost +the fellow when he took to the brook." + +"Rather a smart fellow to think of that," commented Mr. Parker +thoughtfully. "Perhaps he wasn't an ordinary snatch-thief after all." + +The ranger offered no comment. As he turned to go, he did assure Penny +again that every effort would be made to capture the culprit. + +"If the fellow still is in the park we'll get him," he declared. "Don't +you worry about that." + +With the coming of dusk a penetrating chill settled over the camp. Even +the hot supper of steak and potatoes that Penny prepared failed to +sufficiently warm the two tenters. They did the dishes and then, not +wishing to go to bed, sought the enclosed car for heat. + +"It's starting to rain," Mr. Parker observed as a few drops splashed +against the windshield. "Looks as if we're in for another siege of it." + +"And Louise is due tomorrow," Penny sighed. "Unless the weather improves +I'd not blame her one bit if she turns right around and starts back to +Riverview." + +The rain came down steadily with a promise of continuing throughout the +night. Mr. Parker read a day-old newspaper by the light in the car, +grumbling because the news was so old. Presently he switched on the +radio, trying without success to tune in the outlaw station which had +been heard previously at the same hour. + +"No luck," he commented. "Reception must be poor tonight, or the station +has changed to another time. Probably it's shifted to a different +locality too." + +"Dad, isn't it true that the operator of that secret station is an enemy +agent?" Penny asked curiously. + +"It's a possibility." + +"Why not tell me all about it?" + +"Nothing to tell yet, Penny. Confidentially I'll admit I came here hoping +to help State authorities find the station. So far I've accomplished +nothing." + +"What clues have you gained?" + +"Now Penny, don't quiz me," Mr. Parker laughed. "I'll tell you everything +as soon as I'm free to do so." + +"In the meantime, maybe I'll find out for myself!" Penny hinted. Abruptly +swinging open the car door, she bolted through the rain to the tent. + +Breakfast the next morning was a more cheerful meal than had been +expected. During the night the rain had ceased and a hot morning sun soon +dried out the drenched canvas. Mr. Parker prepared coffee, eggs and +bacon, an unbelievable example of perfect cooking. + +"Dad, I didn't think you had it in you!" Penny praised as she sat down on +a camp stool beside him. "Maybe you'll develop into a real camper after +all." + +"Not if I have anything to say about it." Grinning, Mr. Parker dropped +two plump fried eggs on his daughter's plate and took the remaining four +for himself. "This life could be worse though." + +"Dad, what time shall we start for the airport?" + +Mr. Parker poured himself a cup of coffee and then answered: "Afraid I +won't be able to go with you, Penny." + +"But Dad! Louise will be expecting you." + +"It's not me she wants to see," Mr. Parker corrected. "I have an +important engagement I can't break." + +Penny glanced quickly up. She was tempted to ask her father if he +intended to see Mrs. Deline. Recalling that she had made her father a +promise, she wisely withheld comment. Instead she asked if she might use +the car. + +"By all means," he consented. "Just go easy on the gasoline." + +Breakfast over, dishes were dispatched and the camp put in order. By +eleven o'clock Penny and her father were in Sunset Beach. + +"Drop me anywhere," Mr. Parker instructed vaguely. + +Leaving her father on a street corner, Penny drove slowly toward the +airport a mile and a quarter away. There was little travel on the winding +highway which curled along the beach. A government jeep whizzed past and +two soldiers shouted and waved. Penny waved back. + +There was no need to hurry for Louise's plane was not yet due. Penny took +her time and enjoyed the ocean scenery. The tide was coming in and gulls +free-wheeled over the waves, dipping down at intervals in search of food. + +Gazing along the deserted beach, Penny was startled to see a familiar +feminine figure hastening toward the lighthouse on Crag Point. The woman +wore a white scarf that half obscured her face, yet the girl easily +recognized her. + +"Mrs. Deline!" she thought, idling the car. "She's certainly going to the +lighthouse! I wonder if that gruff old keeper will drive her away as he +did me?" + +Curious to learn what would happen, the girl drew up at the side of the +road. Mrs. Deline was too far away to observe the automobile. Intent only +upon her own affairs, she walked swiftly along the beach until she +reached the base of the lighthouse. + +"Now to see the fun!" chuckled Penny. + +The keeper had appeared on the platform and was gazing down upon the +visitor. He called something to the woman that Penny could not hear. But +to her amazement, Mrs. Deline started up the iron stairway. + +Penny waited expectantly. She was certain that the keeper of the light +would order Mrs. Deline away. Instead, he greeted her with a hearty +handshake as if they were old friends. They entered the lighthouse tower +room together, and the heavy door closed behind them. + + + + + CHAPTER + 9 + _A SURPRISE FROM THE SKY_ + + +"Well, if that isn't strange!" Penny muttered. "I wasn't permitted to set +foot inside the lighthouse, but in goes Mrs. Deline without a single +question asked!" + +Her curiosity aroused, the girl decided to wait and watch. Twenty minutes +elapsed. During that time Mrs. Deline did not reappear. Penny grew tired +of her vigil. + +"Mrs. Deline evidently intends to stay there a long while," she thought +as she drove on. "For all I know, she and the lighthouse keeper may be +old friends. They did greet each other as if they were acquainted." + +At the airport Penny parked on the crowded lot. She dropped into the +lunch room for a sandwich and then wandered out on the cement runway. The +noon passenger plane presently was announced through the loudspeaker +system. A moment later Penny glimpsed the big silver twin-motor transport +gliding down over the tree tops. As it taxied up to unload passengers, +she held her breath. Knowing that there had been several last-minute +cancellation of tickets, she was afraid that Louise might not be aboard. + +But as the door of the big transport swung back, her chum was the second +passenger to alight. Fresh and trim in a yellow wool suit, she flung +herself into Penny's arms. + +"Have a nice trip, Lou?" + +"Oh, heavenly! Only it didn't last long enough. We were here almost +before I knew we'd started. I nearly lost my ticket to an Army Major +too!" + +"I was afraid you might not get here," Penny laughed, picking up Louise's +light over-night case. "What happened to the Major?" + +"Oh, at the last minute he changed his mind, so the company decided I +could have my ticket back. And here I am! How's camping?" + +"Not much fun so far," Penny confessed truthfully. "But I can feel things +starting to pick up." + +"We'll have a wonderful time together." + +"You just bet we will!" Penny declared with emphasis. "Had anything to +eat?" + +"Oh, yes, lunch was served on the plane." + +"Then we may as well start for camp. I have oodles to tell you, Lou." + +Midway to the parking lot, Louise paused, calling attention to a Flying +Fortress that was coming in against the wind. + +"Let's watch it land," she pleaded. "Did you ever see such a beautiful +ship?" + +The huge Fortress came in fast for a perfect landing. Crew members began +to tumble out through the door. One of the young men in captain's uniform +evidently was a passenger for he carried a suitcase. + +"Lou!" Penny grasped her chum's arm. "That flier looks like Jerry +Livingston!" + +"Oh, it couldn't be!" + +"All the same, I think it is!" + +Penny was so excited that she barely could control her voice. Jerry +Livingston was one of her very best friends, a former reporter on the +_Riverview Star_. In the days before he had joined the Army Air Force, +she and Jerry had shared many an exciting adventure. However, since he +had gone away there had been only a few letters and those brief +communications had contained no real news. + +"It _is_ Jerry!" Penny cried an instant later. "Oh, Lou, this must have +been the surprise that Dad knew about! How could he keep it from me?" + +Breaking away from her chum, Penny darted across the runway. As she +called Jerry's name, the young man turned toward her. His handsome, +wind-tanned face became a brilliant smile. A dozen long strides carried +him to her side. + +"Penny!" he cried. He didn't hesitate. He just swept her into his arms +and kissed her. + +"Sorry, Penny," Jerry apologized, his eyes twinkling. "Guess I shouldn't +have done that. But when you've not seen your one and only girl for going +on a year--" + +"Your which?" Penny stammered, too confused to blush. + +"You are my one and only, you know," Jerry grinned. "Always were for that +matter. Even in the days when we tracked down news stories together." + +Louise came hurrying up. Jerry turned to greet her and the conversation +became less personal. But from the way Louise smiled, Penny knew she had +seen the kiss and would demand lengthy explanations later on. + +"Jerry!" she cried, noticing the decorations on his trim uniform. +"They've given you the Distinguished Flying Cross! And the Purple Heart! +You didn't write a word about that." + +"Nothing to write." + +Indignantly, the girls pried the story from Jerry. He had piloted a +Flying Fortress in a highly successful raid over the Romanian oil fields. +To reach its target, the Fortress had flown through flaming refineries, +so low to the ground that fire actually had leaped up through the bomb +bay of the plane. Swarms of enemy fighter ships had been fought off. +Jerry's plane was one of the few to get back to its base safely. + +"I was luckier than some of the other fellows," Jerry said modestly. +"That was all. Now they've sent me home to rest up for a while." + +"Oh, that's marvelous!" Penny said, guiding him toward the waiting car. +"You can spend all of your spare time with us!" + +Jerry grinned down at her. "I'd like nothing better. But I'm not exactly +on furlough." + +"I thought you just said--" + +"I'm doing a special mission here at Sunset Beach for the Army." + +"Anything you dare tell about?" + +Jerry helped the girls into the car, stowed the suitcases away, and then +slid in beside Penny. + +"I can't tell you very much," he replied quietly. "But I can give you a +general idea of why I'm here. There's a certain outlaw radio station that +has been causing the government considerable annoyance. I've been sent +here to try to trace its location." + +"And that's why Dad's here too!" Penny cried. "So you two schemers +intended to join forces all along! A pity no one could let me know!" + +"I didn't want your father to tell you, because until the last minute I +wasn't sure I was coming," Jerry explained. "The radio station assignment +is only part of the reason why I'm here." + +"What's the other?" Penny asked as she started the car. + +"I'm on the lookout for an escaped German flier. The fellow escaped from +a Canadian prison camp and was traced to this locality." + +"And you're supposed to be taking a rest from flying!" + +"This assignment will be a vacation." + +"I'd call it anything but one," Penny said indignantly. Her face suddenly +became grave. "Jerry!" + +"Yes?" + +"What does that escaped prisoner look like?" + +"Oh, I can't describe him. I have a photograph in my brief case. Why do +you ask?" + +"Maybe I've seen him." + +"Where?" Jerry could not hide a smile. + +"Why at our camp in the woods!" Excitedly Penny told of the bearded +stranger who had robbed the Parker stores of food and clothing. Her +description of the man was so vague that Jerry could make little of it. + +"I'm afraid your thief isn't the man we're after," he said kindly. "After +I get to a hotel and open my luggage, I'll show you his picture." + +"And will you let me help you trail him?" + +"Oh, sure," Jerry answered, only half meaning it. "By the way, drive me +to the Crystal Inn. I have a reservation there." + +Penny's face fell. + +"Anything wrong with the place?" Jerry inquired, observing her change of +expression. + +Penny shook her head. "The place is all right. It's the people who stay +there. Jerry--" + +"Yes?" + +"Are you susceptible to brunettes?" + +"Never noticed it." + +"You'll likely meet a Mrs. Deline at the hotel," Penny warned. "Don't +have a thing to do with her." + +"Why should I?" Jerry was amused. + +"She's already made a jelly fish of Dad," Penny went on. "Jerry, stop +grinning! This is serious." + +"Sorry, I didn't know I was smiling." + +"I need your help, Jerry. The truth is, I'm terribly worried about Dad." + +"If I know your father, there's no need to worry about him." + +"But you don't understand this Mrs. Deline," Penny said desperately. +"She's a very clever, scheming woman. Jerry, will you promise to help me +try to save Dad from her clutches?" + +Jerry managed to keep his face straight. "I'll do my best," he promised. + +Penny drew a deep sigh. "Oh, I'm so glad you're here," she murmured +gratefully. "With you fighting on my side, the war's as good as won!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 10 + _HELP FROM MR. EMORY_ + + +With Jerry at Sunset Beach, the vacation already promised to take on a +rosy hue. Penny was so thrilled to be with her friends again that she +paid scant heed to her driving. Several times, enroute to the Crystal +Inn, Louise had to warn her to steer more carefully. + +"Oh, Jerry, now that you're here the fun will start!" Penny declared +happily. "You've no idea how dull things have been without you." + +"And that goes double," Jerry said with emphasis. "How's your father?" + +"Oh, fine!" Penny laughed. "Camping has made him cross though. By the +way, did he know you were coming?" + +"Yes, I sent him a wire." + +"I thought so! Dad's been keeping it from me. Why all the secrecy, I +wonder?" + +"Well, my trip here isn't exactly a pleasure jaunt. And if I have luck, +I'll be gone again in a few days." + +"I certainly hope you have no luck then," Penny said with a laugh. + +The car drew up at the Crystal Inn and Jerry unloaded his suitcase. He +was taller, Penny thought, or at least more filled out. The trim uniform +set off his broad shoulders. As he bent to pick up his luggage, a group +of women on the hotel veranda turned to stare at him. + +"I'll check in and clean up a bit," Jerry said. "Then where can I meet +you girls?" + +"Oh, we'll be somewhere on the beach," Penny replied carelessly. "Do +hurry, Jerry. We have a million things to talk over." + +The girls parked the car not far from the hotel. As they walked along, +scuffing their shoes in the loose sand, they saw Mrs. Deline coming +toward them from the direction of Crag Point. + +"She's evidently been at the lighthouse all this time!" Penny commented +in an undertone. "Now how did she get in there for a visit when I +couldn't?" + +Mrs. Deline saw that she would meet the girls. Frowning, she glanced +quickly toward the boardwalk as if seeking an avenue of escape. However, +she could not avoid meeting them without appearing to do so deliberately. + +"How do you do," she greeted Penny coldly. + +Penny paused to introduce Louise. Mrs. Deline acknowledged the girl with +an indifferent nod. Somewhat confused, Louise nervously twisted a silver +ring she wore. It slipped from her finger and fell into the loose sand. + +"Oh, how awkward of me!" she exclaimed, and stooped to retrieve it. + +The ring buried itself deeper in the sand. + +"You'll lose it entirely if you're not careful!" Penny warned. "Here, let +me help you." + +Getting down on their knees, the girls sifted the sand with their hands. +Mrs. Deline seemed amused by their difficulties and did not offer to +help. + +"Well, I must be getting on to the hotel," she said casually. "I took a +long walk this afternoon and I'm tired." + +"To the lighthouse?" Penny commented, before she stopped to think. + +Mrs. Deline glanced at her sharply. "No, not to the lighthouse," she +replied in a tone meant to put the girl in her place. "I shouldn't think +of walking that far." + +"But I thought I saw you there." + +"You saw me?" Mrs. Deline laughed. "Well, my dear, you certainly were +mistaken. I walked to the 12th Street bridge. No farther." + +Penny started to reply, then thought better of it. There was no point in +arguing with Mrs. Deline. However, she was certain she had seen the widow +at the lighthouse. Why the woman should deny it she could not imagine. + +After Mrs. Deline had gone, Penny and Louise searched in vain for the +missing ring. They knew it could not be many inches away, yet it kept +eluding them. + +"Oh, I can't afford to lose the ring!" Louise wailed. + +"How valuable is it?" + +"It's not worth much from a money standpoint. I drew it as a prize in a +piece of wedding cake and I've always kept it as a good luck piece." + +"We'll find it," Penny said confidently. "That is, if the tide doesn't +catch us first." + +Just as she spoke, a wave came rippling up the beach. It broke only a few +feet away, showering the girls with spray and wetting their shoes. + +"If the tide flows over this spot, I never will find the ring," Louise +cried in vexation. "Such wretched luck!" + +"Having trouble?" inquired a deep masculine voice. + +Penny and Louise raised their heads. Unnoticed by them, a stranger had +approached. The man wore a wet bathing suit plastered with sand. He had +on glasses and a moment elapsed before Penny recognized him as the same +fisherman who had warned her about the tide at Crag Point. + +"I'm George Emory," he introduced himself. "Have you lost something?" + +"My ring," Louise explained. + +The man helped the girls search for the missing trinket. By now waves +were creeping higher and higher on the beach. A particularly big one sent +Penny and Louise scurrying for safety. + +"It's no use looking any longer for the ring," Louise gave up. "Perhaps I +can find it after the tide turns." + +"By then it will be washed away," replied Mr. Emory. "Ah! What's this?" + +He stooped to pick a shiny object from the sand. + +"It's my ring!" Louise cried in delight. "Oh, thank you for finding it!" + +The three retreated to higher ground. As Penny and Louise were about to +start for the hotel, Mr. Emory suggested that they might like to share a +picnic lunch with him. Neither of the girls was hungry, but to offend the +man after he had found Louise's ring was unthinkable. Accordingly, they +accompanied him to one of the gaily painted wooden umbrellas along the +beach. Beneath its shade Mr. Emory spread a paper tablecloth and produced +ample supplies of sandwiches, fruit and lemonade. + +"Were you expecting to eat all this food yourself?" Penny asked in +amazement. + +"No, I was hoping to find a companion who would share it," replied Mr. +Emory. "The truth is, I'm a pretty lonely old fellow." + +Penny and Louise stole a quick look at the stranger. By no stretch of the +imagination could they call him old. Judging from appearances, he was not +yet forty years old. + +"My wife died a few years ago," Mr. Emory explained sadly. "Since then +I've been like a ship without a rudder. I have plenty of money, but I +don't get much enjoyment out of life. I go wherever it suits my fancy, +stay until I weary of it, then move on." + +"Oh, I see," Penny murmured with a show of sympathy. + +She felt ashamed of herself that the story did not move her more deeply. +Mr. Emory evidently was a lonely fellow, deserving of companionship. Yet +for some reason, he failed to interest her. + +"Have you been at Sunset Beach long?" she inquired politely. + +"Oh, about a month. I know every nook and cranny along the shore." + +"You do?" Penny asked, and her interest revived. "Are there many caves +near Sunset Beach?" + +"Plenty of them, though none very close. There are several near the +lighthouse, back among the rocks. Crystal Cave probably is the most +interesting. Then there are half a dozen scattered on up the shore. +Interested in caves?" + +"Oh, in a general way," Penny replied carelessly. + +"Penny is interested in anything that suggests mystery," Louise +volunteered with a grin. + +"Mystery?" + +"Lou's joking," Penny said quickly. She gave her chum a hard look which +was not lost upon Mr. Emory. + +"Why, Penny!" Louise refused to be silenced. "Only a few minutes ago you +were telling me about a radio broadcast said to come from a cave!" + +"That was just my idea," Penny said, confused. She jumped hastily to her +feet. "We really should be going, Lou." + +"Oh, don't hurry away." Mr. Emory offered Louise another sandwich. +"Speaking of mysterious radio stations, I've heard of one that is said to +be located in a cave somewhere along these shores. Fact is, I've searched +for it." + +"You have?" Penny asked, sinking back into the sand. "Any luck?" + +"None. But I did manage to kill quite a few afternoons. I take it that +your father came to Sunset Beach to help the authorities search for the +station. Right?" + +"Why, whatever made you think that?" Penny asked, instantly on guard. "Do +you know my father?" + +"I regret I haven't the honor. I chanced to overhear a conversation at +the hotel." + +"Oh," Penny murmured. She was certain that the information could have +leaked out in only one way. Her father had told Mrs. Deline, who in turn +had spread the news about the hotel. + +"I trust I'm not inquiring into secrets," Mr. Emory went on cheerfully. +"Fact of the matter is, I might be able to help your father." + +"I'm sure Dad will want to talk with you." + +"I'll look forward to meeting your father. Think you can arrange it?" + +"Why, I suppose so," Penny said, though with no great enthusiasm. Again +she experienced a queer, uneasy feeling. She did not entirely trust Mr. +Emory. + +The man smiled and seemed to relax. As the girls arose to leave he tried +once more to detain them. + +"See that old fellow down the beach?" he inquired, pointing to an aged +man who was picking up objects from the sand with a sharp-pointed stick. + +"Yes, what about him?" Penny asked, turning to stare. "Just an ordinary +beachcomber, isn't he?" + +"I'd not call Old Jake Skagway ordinary," Mr. Emory corrected. "If you're +really interested in solving the radio station mystery, I'd advise you to +keep watch of that rascal." + +"But why him?" Penny asked. + +"I can't explain," Mr. Emory said with finality. "It's just a tip. Take +it or leave it." + +Yawning, he stretched himself full length on the sand and turned his back +to the girls. + + + + + CHAPTER + 11 + _A MAN OF MYSTERY_ + + +The following day when Penny told her father of Mr. Emory's desire to +meet him, Mr. Parker showed little interest. + +"I've no time to waste getting acquainted with strangers," he said. "Why +is the man so eager to know me?" + +"He thinks he may be able to help you locate that hidden radio station." + +Mr. Parker's annoyance visibly increased. "Penny," he said severely, +"you've evidently been talking out of turn." + +"I didn't mean to let him know why you're at Sunset Beach, Dad. It sort +of slipped out." + +Louise, who was washing the breakfast dishes, spoke quickly. + +"It was my fault," she insisted. "Penny tried to stop me, but I gave the +information before I thought." + +"Well, it doesn't matter," Mr. Parker assured her kindly. "I came here +mostly for a vacation. If I should be lucky enough to dig up a few facts +about the radio station, well and good. If not, no harm will have been +done." + +"You sent for Jerry to help you?" Penny inquired curiously. + +Mr. Parker shook his head. "No, I knew he was coming, but I didn't send +for him. If I had, I'm afraid the Army wouldn't have been obliging enough +to have filled my order." + +Penny helped Louise put away the camp dishes and pick up loose papers. It +was only eight-thirty but already most of the work had been done. With +Louise to help, camping no longer was a burden. Even Mr. Parker seemed to +have moments of enjoying the outdoor life. + +"Anyone riding to Sunset Beach with me?" he inquired cheerfully. "I have +a date with Jerry this morning." + +Penny and Louise both wanted to go. They washed at the brook, changed +into becoming "town" dresses, and soon were ready. + +At the Crystal Inn, Jerry was not to be found. A clerk explained that the +young man had left the hotel a half hour earlier but was expected to +return soon. + +"He probably went somewhere for breakfast or a walk," Mr. Parker +remarked, sinking into a comfortable chair. "I'll wait for him." + +Penny and Louise loitered in the lobby. Presently Mrs. Deline came from +the dining room and Mr. Parker politely arose to greet her. The widow +took a chair beside him and they began to chat in an animated way. + +"Let's get away from here!" Penny muttered to Louise. "I don't like the +scenery." + +The girls went outside into the warm sunshine. Because the Parker +automobile was at the curb they climbed into it and sat watching the sea. + +"Why do you dislike Mrs. Deline so intensely?" Louise presently asked her +chum. + +"Because she's aiming to be my stepmother, that's why!" + +"Oh, Penny!" Louise laughed outright. "I'm sure you have a mistaken idea +about the entire situation. Your father isn't serious in liking her." + +"Then he's certainly developed remarkable talents for acting," Penny +retorted with a sniff. "I wish we'd never come to Sunset Beach." + +"You'd be willing to forego the mystery?" + +"Who cares about a radio station?" Penny asked crossly. "Dad won't tell +me anything about the case, and probably Jerry won't either. It seems to +be one of those affairs for the experts only." + +"If I know you, Penny, you'll manage to get in on the affair," Louise +said, her eyes twinkling. + +Penny turned on the ignition and started the car. "I'm just not +interested," she announced flatly. "Mrs. Deline has taken all the fun out +of me. Want to go for a ride?" + +"Where?" + +"Oh, just up the beach." + +"Isn't it dangerous to drive on the sand?" + +"Everyone does it at low tide. The sand is hard and firm along this +stretch of beach." + +Louise offered no further objection, so Penny drove slowly away from the +hotel. The car rode on silken tires, making only a soft swishing sound as +it rolled smoothly over the sand. + +"Oh, this is fun!" Louise cried in delight. + +"We might drive to the lighthouse," Penny proposed, steering to avoid two +bathers who crossed in front of the car. + +Following the curve of the beach, the girls kept on until the sand became +so soft that they were afraid to drive farther. The lighthouse was close +by. Penny, curious to learn what sort of reception the keeper would +accord her on the second visit, proposed to Louise that they call there. + +"If he let Mrs. Deline visit the tower why can't we?" she argued. "Come +along, let's try to get in!" + +Abandoning the car on the beach, they waded through the dunes, climbed a +fence, and ultimately reached the base of the tower. No one seemed to be +in evidence. Penny started boldly up the iron steps. However, before she +had gone very far, the keeper, Jim McCoy, came out on the platform. + +"Didn't I tell you no visitors are allowed here?" he called down angrily. + +"I saw a lady come here yesterday!" Penny returned. + +"You must have dreamed it," retorted the lighthouse keeper. "No visitors +allowed. Don't make me tell you again!" + +Penny retreated, decidedly crushed. + +"You asked for it, kitten," Louise teased as they walked toward the car. +"I don't blame the keeper for not wanting visitors." + +"Mrs. Deline was there," Penny insisted stubbornly. "Why should he deny +it?" + +Half way to the car, the girls paused to pick up a few large shells lying +in the deep sand. The task became an absorbing one. Before they realized +it, the sun was high overhead and their faces were being burned by the +direct rays. + +"Let's go," Louise urged. "The tide turned a long while ago. We should be +returning to the hotel." + +"Okay," Penny agreed. She stooped to pick up another shell. As she +straightened, she observed an old man in ragged clothing coming down the +beach. + +"Lou," she said in a low tone, "there's that same man Mr. Emory was +telling us about!" + +"The beachcomber?" Louise turned to stare. + +"Yes, and he's coming this way. Perhaps it might be worth while to watch +him." + +"He's not seen us yet." + +Penny glanced about for a hiding place. The only one that offered was a +huge sand dune. Pulling Louise along with her, she crouched down out of +sight. + +In a moment the old beachcomber came along. He was whistling and seemed +to have not a care in the world. His face, viewed at close range, was +weather-beaten, his hair uncombed, and his clothing had not been washed +in many a day. + +"What's so mysterious about him?" Louise whispered. "Why did Mr. Emory +say he'd bear watching?" + +"Maybe he's not really a beachcomber," Penny returned, low. "He may be an +Enemy Agent in disguise." + +"You have Enemy Agents on the brain!" Louise chuckled. "Likewise, +man-snatching widows." + +The beachcomber passed within a few feet of the girls. He crossed the +courtyard of the lighthouse and was seen to take a trail which led amid +the rocks. + +"Lou, perhaps he's going to one of the caves!" Penny cried. "You know Mr. +Emory said this locality is honeycombed with them." + +"Let him go," Louise answered indifferently. "It's lunch time and I'm +hungry." + +"Your appetite will have to wait. I'm going to follow that man!" + +"Oh, Penny." + +"But this may be important." + +"And it may be just another of your so-called bright ideas," Louise +retorted. "Well, lead on, and let's get it over with." + +The beachcomber already had disappeared amid the mass of piled-up rock +farther back from shore. Penny had marked the locality well with her eye. +She was able to lead Louise to the place where he had vanished. + +"See, there's a well-worn trail," she indicated triumphantly. "He must +have taken it." + +They followed the path, and a moment later caught a fleeting glimpse of +the beachcomber. At times the trail was so narrow that the girls barely +could squeeze between the rocks. Wind whistled around the cliffs, +whipping hair and blowing skirts. + +Unexpectedly, Penny, who was in the lead, came to the low entranceway of +a cave. + +"He must have gone in there!" she declared excitedly. "Listen!" + +From deep within the cave the girls could hear a strange sound. + +"Rushing water!" Louise said in awe. "The Cave must have a waterfall or +an underground river." + +"We'll soon know." Penny started into the cave only to have Louise clutch +at her hand. + +"Don't be silly, Penny. We have no flashlight." + +"But we can't let that beachcomber get away. We want to learn what he +does." + +"I can bear up without knowing." + +"Well, I can't," Penny announced with equal firmness. + +"But it may be dangerous. Let's go back to the hotel and get Jerry or +your father." + +Penny hesitated, then shook her head. "You stay here if you like, Lou," +she replied. "I'm going inside." + +Before her chum could detain her, she stooped low and crawled into the +narrow, dark tunnel. + + + + + CHAPTER + 12 + _CAUGHT BY THE TIDE_ + + +Unwilling to be left behind, Louise followed her chum into the dark +cavern. Once she and Penny were well beyond the yawning mouth of the +cave, they could not see a foot ahead of them. Guided by the sound of +rushing water, they groped their way along a damp wall. + +"This is awful!" Louise whispered nervously. "Let's turn back." + +Penny might have yielded to her chum's coaxing but at that moment the +tunnel broadened out and became lighter. Directly ahead a series of steps +led down to a lower room of the cave. + +"This place must be safe enough or steps wouldn't have been built here," +she whispered. "Don't be nervous, Lou. We may discover something +important." + +Louise muttered that they were more likely to break their necks. However, +she cautiously followed Penny down the rock-hewn steps. Half way down, +they both paused. From below came a weird sound. + +"What was that?" Louise whispered. + +"It sounded for all the world like the note of a pipe organ!" Penny +observed. "There it is again--a different tone this time." + +Noiselessly the girls moved on down the steps. Ahead of them they now +could see a moving light which undoubtedly was a flash lantern carried by +the beachcomber. Drawing closer, they saw the man himself. In the great +cavern his shadow appeared grotesque and huge. + +"What is he doing?" Louise whispered in awe. + +The man was unaware that he had been followed. He stood in the center of +the great chamber, gazing with wrapt expression at the stalagmites which +rose in strange formations from the cave floor. The girls could hear him +muttering to himself. At the risk of being seen they moved closer. + +"Music! Music!" the old man mumbled. "Talk about your pipe organs! They +ain't in it with _this_!" + +He held a long stick in his hand and with it began to explore the row of +stalagmites, striking them one by one, at first with a slow tempo and +then faster and faster. The weird sounds echoed and reached through the +galleries of the cavern. + +"Pretty!" the old man prattled. "It's the music o' Heaven. There ain't no +music to equal it." + +Again the beachcomber struck the stalagmites, listening raptly while the +sounds died slowly away. + +"Come on, Penny," Louise urged, tugging at her hand. "Let's get out of +here. That old goof has lost his buttons." + +Decidedly crestfallen, Penny permitted herself to be pulled along the +passage and up the steps. As the girls groped their way to the cave's +mouth, they still could hear the weird echoing tones. + +"That was a good joke on you!" Louise teased. "You thought you were going +to find a hidden radio station!" + +"Well, we did find a cave," Penny said defensively. + +"We didn't exactly discover it," Louise amended. "This must be Crystal +Cave. Seemingly that old beachcomber regards it as his own personal +property." + +"Mr. Emory certainly gave us a wrong steer. A mysterious character, my +eye!" + +"You'll admit that the old fellow is interesting," Louise laughed. +"However, I doubt he'll warrant much attention from the FBI." + +"All right, laugh," Penny retorted grimly. "You think my detective +efforts are a joke anyway." + +"No, I don't, Penny. But I will say I doubt you'll have success tracing a +hidden radio station. After all, it's a problem that has the State +authorities baffled. Not to mention Uncle Sam's Army." + +The girls stepped from the cave out into the brilliant sunshine. Gazing +toward the sea, they were amazed to see how high the tide had risen. +Giant waves were washing very close to the Parker automobile left on the +beach. + +"Ye fishes!" Penny exclaimed in horror. "I forgot all about the car!" + +"And the tide's coming in fast!" + +"The Point will be cut off in a few more minutes!" Penny added, recalling +Mr. Emory's warning. "We'll have to travel, and travel fast!" + +Scrambling down from the rocks, the girls plunged through the dunes to +the beach. A wind was blowing and the sea had an angry look. + +"If just one wave strikes the car, the wheels will sink in the sand, and +then we'll be in it!" Penny cried. + +With increasing alarm she noted that sand was damp within a foot of the +rear wheels. And as she jerked open the car door, a greedy wave nipped +again at the rubber. + +"We'll soon be out of here," Louise said encouragingly. + +Penny stepped on the starter and to her relief the motor caught +instantly. In great haste she turned the car around, circling away from +the inrushing sea. + +"Careful!" Louise warned. "The sand is dreadfully soft this far up +shore." + +Too late Penny realized the same thing. She could feel the car starting +to bog down. The motor began to labor. Then the car stalled completely. + +"We're stuck!" she gasped. + +Both girls sprang out to look at the wheels. Their spirits sank. On one +side, front and rear tires were bogged deep in sand. + +"Start the engine again!" Louise urged desperately. "I'll try to push." + +Penny obeyed, but her chum's puny strength made not the slightest +impression upon the car. It could not be moved a foot. The spinning +wheels only drove deeper and deeper into the sand. + +"What shall we do?" Louise asked helplessly. She turned to stare at the +incoming sea. Each wave was breaking a little closer to the car. + +"This place will be under in another twenty minutes," Penny calculated. +"Even if the car isn't washed away, the salt water will ruin it. How did +we ever get into such a mess?" + +"Just by being careless. If only we weren't so far from the hotel!" + +"I'll run to the lighthouse," Penny decided desperately. "Maybe the +keeper will help us." + +Both girls were badly frightened, not for their own safety, but because +they feared that the car would be damaged beyond repair. Once the waves +began to strike it, it would sink deeper and deeper into the sand. Salt +water would corrode all of the bright chromium. + +"We've no time to waste!" Penny cried, darting away. + +The girls plunged through the sand drifts to the lighthouse. Evidently +the keeper already had observed their plight, for he was standing on the +upper platform peering down into the courtyard. + +"Our car is stuck in the sand!" Penny shouted. "Can you help us get it +out?" + +"No, I can't," the keeper answered gruffly. "You should have watched the +tide." + +"There's no one else to help us," Penny pleaded. "Just a little push--" + +"I'm forbidden to leave my post." + +"Then will you telephone to the Inn? Or to a garage?" + +"I could 'phone but it wouldn't do any good," the keeper said +reluctantly. "Your car will be under water before a tow-car could get +here." + +Exasperated by the man's unwillingness to help, Louise and Penny ran back +to the car. Already waves were lapping against the rear wheels. The +situation seemed hopeless. + +"Shall I try to push again?" Louise asked. + +"It wouldn't do any good. We're not strong enough." In desperation, +Penny's gaze wandered down the deserted shore. Suddenly she saw a lone +fisherman who was wading through the surf. She recognized him as George +Emory. + +"He'll help us!" she cried confidently. + +The girls shouted Mr. Emory's name. Apparently he heard, for he turned +his head quickly. Their plight, they thought, must be instantly evident, +but Mr. Emory did not seem to comprehend. He waved his hand as if in +friendly greeting, and then, reeling in his fish line, turned and walked +away from them. + + + + + CHAPTER + 13 + _A HIDDEN PACKAGE_ + + +"Why, Mr. Emory doesn't understand!" Penny cried, aghast. "Can't he see +that we're stuck here with the tide rolling in?" + +The girls shouted again and again. If the man heard, he gave no sign. + +"I don't believe he wanted to help us!" Penny declared furiously. +"Probably he's afraid he'll over-strain himself pushing!" + +Unwilling to give up without a last try, she sprang into the car and once +more started the engine. It roared and labored but could not pull the +vehicle. Sick with despair, Penny allowed the motor to idle. She slumped +behind the steering wheel, only to straighten suddenly as she thought she +heard her name called. + +Louise too heard the cry for she turned quickly toward the main road some +yards back from the beach. A young man in uniform was running across the +dunes toward the girls. + +"It's Jerry!" Penny cried jubilantly. "He'll help us!" + +"He will if he can," Louise corrected. "The tide's coming in so fast now. +I doubt anyone can get us out of here now." + +Jerry did not waste time asking questions. Taking in the situation at a +glance, he instructed Penny to remain at the wheel. With the motor +racing, he and Louise pushed with all their strength. At first the rear +wheels kept spinning in the sand. A great wave slapped the rear end of +the car, spraying Louise from head to foot. + +"It's no use!" she gasped. "We can't do it." + +"Yes, we can!" Jerry insisted. "Try once more, Louise." + +Again they pushed and this time the car actually moved a few feet before +it bogged down. Encouraged, Jerry and Louise tried harder than before. +The wheels suddenly struck firm sand, dug in, and the car began to creep +forward. Penny kept it moving until she was sure the footing beneath the +tires was solid. Then she pulled up so that Jerry and Louise might leap +aboard. + +"Drive as fast as you can for the hotel!" Jerry instructed crisply. +"We'll be lucky to make it." + +Where an hour before the roadway along the beach had been wide and ample, +there now was only a fringe of white sand. To avoid the incoming waves, +Penny had to drive dangerously close to the dunes. And midway to the +hotel, they came to a flooded stretch of beach. + +"We'll have to risk it," Jerry advised as Penny hesitated to drive on. + +The water was not deep but the sand was wet and treacherous. Choosing a +moment between breakers, Penny braved it, and to her intense relief the +car rolled through without sinking down. + +"It's clear sailing now," Jerry said as a wider strip of beach opened +before them. "We're well beyond the Point." + +Mr. Emory was walking along the shore and as the car went past, he waved +his hand in a friendly way. Penny did not bother to return the salute, +pretending she did not see him. + +"I'm sure he knew we were in trouble and didn't want to help," she told +Jerry. "The more I see of that man the less I like him." + +"Who is he anyhow?" + +"Just a vacationer. He got Lou and me all excited yesterday with his talk +about that hidden radio station." + +"How do you mean?" Jerry asked with interest. + +Penny repeated the conversation, and mentioned how Mr. Emory had +suggested that the old beachcomber was a mysterious character that would +bear watching. + +"Not old Jake Skagway?" Jerry asked, amused. + +"I believe that was his name." + +"Jake's the only beachcomber I know hereabouts. He makes his living +picking up things on the beach and selling them. Folks say he buries some +of his loot in the caves." + +"How do you know so much about him, Jerry?" + +"Oh, I used to run down to Sunset Beach real often years ago. I know this +locality like a book. Guess that's why the Army sent me here to do a +little scouting around." + +Penny waited expectantly, but Jerry offered no more information as to the +reason for his visit to Sunset Beach. + +"Probably Lou and I were taken in by Jake Skagway," she admitted after a +moment. "If we hadn't followed him into the cave, we certainly wouldn't +have involved ourselves in such difficulties." + +Upon reaching the Crystal Inn a few minutes later, the girls searched for +Mr. Parker. He was nowhere to be found. After waiting for a time, they +left the car with Jerry and hiked to the forest camp. There the early +afternoon was devoted to camp tasks. When Mr. Parker still did not come, +Penny proposed that they return to Sunset Beach for a plunge in the surf. + +"Too cold," Louise shivered. + +"Well, let's go down to Sunset Beach anyhow," Penny urged. "I get +restless just sitting here in camp." + +"You know you want to see Jerry again," Louise teased. "'Fess up." + +"All right, I do want to see him," Penny admitted unabashed. "Jerry's my +very best friend. I've not been with him in months and I suppose in a few +days he'll be shot off to goodness-knows-where." + +"He's not told you very much about why he came here." + +"No," Penny said briefly. The subject was a sore one with her. She felt +that both her father and Jerry were keeping secrets. + +The tide was still high when the girls reached the beach, but the flow +was outward. Sprawling in the warm sand, they watched the gulls. + +"Wonder what became of Jerry and Dad?" Penny speculated. "They're +probably together somewhere." + +"Or with Mrs. Deline," Louise suggested wickedly. + +She was sorry that she had spoken for Penny's face immediately became as +black as a thundercloud. + +"Sorry," Louise apologized. "I was only joking." + +Penny continued to scowl for at that moment she glimpsed Mrs. Deline +walking rapidly down the beach. The widow came from the direction of the +lighthouse and was alone. To avoid the incoming waves she waded ankle +deep through the great sand ridges along the drift fence. + +"That's queer," Penny muttered, sitting up. + +"What is?" + +"Why, Mrs. Deline apparently has been at the lighthouse again. What's she +doing now?" + +The widow had paused. Carefully she gazed up and down the deserted shore, +but she did not see Penny and Louise who were hidden from view by a sand +dune. However, by raising up slightly, they could see her plainly. + +Mrs. Deline carried a package of considerable size under her arm. +Seemingly satisfied that no one was at hand to observe her actions, she +moved swiftly to one of the sand dunes near the drift fence. As the girls +watched in amazement, she dug a deep hole and buried the package. Her +work completed, she carefully brushed sand over the spot and obliterated +her own footprints one by one. + +"What was the idea of that?" Louise asked in bewilderment. + +"That's what I want to know!" Penny muttered. "We'll wait until she +leaves and then find out the contents of that package!" + +But Mrs. Deline did not immediately go away. Instead she sat down in the +sand close by. The girls could not see very well but they thought she was +writing something on the skirt of her white suit. + +"Why is she doing that?" Louise asked in bewilderment. + +"I'll bet a cookie she's writing down the location of what she hid in the +sand dune!" Penny speculated. "That's so she can find it again!" + +"But why write it on her skirt? And why should she hide anything here on +the beach?" + +"Because she's a spy!" Penny declared triumphantly. "I've been suspicious +of her from the first!" + +"Yes, you have, darling," agreed Louise. "But would a spy necessarily +hide a package? If Mrs. Deline had information to communicate wouldn't +she send it to her superiors? Besides, Sunset Beach isn't even an +important manufacturing town." + +"That's true. But I've heard Dad say that the Coast Guards watch this +place closely. Because of its isolation and jagged coastline it's +considered a likely spot for surprise night landings by the Enemy." + +"Only this morning you thought old Jake Skagway was a rascal," Louise +chuckled. "You don't catch me falling for your theories this time." + +"Then you have no interest in that hidden package?" + +"Of course I have! I merely don't agree that Mrs. Deline is a spy." + +"Quiet!" Penny warned. "Here she comes!" + +Mrs. Deline had arisen from the sand and came rapidly down the beach. She +did not see the girls until she was very close to them. Involuntarily, +she paused, and looked somewhat disconcerted. Recovering, she spoke +coldly. + +"Hello," Penny responded, her gaze on the woman's white flannel skirt. It +bore not a single tell-tale mark. + +Mrs. Deline went on down the beach. + +"You see," Louise whispered when the woman was beyond hearing, "she +didn't write anything on her dress." + +"But we saw her do it!" + +"We only thought we did." + +"Maybe she wrote it in invisible ink." + +"Oh, Penny, you certainly have an imagination," Louise sighed. + +"I suppose I imagined about the package too?" + +"No, she really did bury something in the sand." + +"Then what are we waiting for?" Penny demanded, leaping to her feet. +"Let's dig it up, and then maybe we'll have the answer to a few of our +questions." + + + + + CHAPTER + 14 + _VOICE FROM THE CAVE_ + + +From a distance Penny and Louise had marked well the spot where Mrs. +Deline had buried the package. But as they approached the drift fence all +of the dunes seemed strikingly similar in appearance. They could not +agree as to the exact mound which contained the hidden package. + +"It was buried in this one, I think," Penny said, starting to dig. "Mrs. +Deline certainly did a good job of covering her tracks." + +"You're wasting time working on that dune," Louise insisted. "I'll get +busy over here and turn up the package in nothing flat." + +Selecting a mound of sand several feet from Penny, she began to dig with +a will. The mysterious package proved elusive. Scarcely had the girls +started work than a few raindrops splattered down. + +"Oh, it's going to storm!" Louise exclaimed, turning startled eyes toward +the dark sea. + +The rain came down faster and faster. Faced with a choice of abandoning +the search or being drenched, the girls decided to make a dash for the +hotel. + +As they darted up the steps at the Crystal Inn, they were surprised to +see Mrs. Deline sitting on the veranda. A spyglass lay in her lap. +Whether she had been watching the sea or their own antics they had no way +of knowing. + +"Have you seen my father, Mrs. Deline?" Penny asked, shaking the +raindrops from her flying hair. + +"Indeed, I don't keep track of his whereabouts," Mrs. Deline replied +coldly. "By the way, did you find what you were searching for in the +sand?" + +The question caught Penny off guard. She stammered a few words which only +caused the widow to smile in a knowing, amused way. + +"I don't mind telling you what I buried in the sand," she resumed. "It +may save you a little trouble. The package contained nothing but fish +bones." + +"Fish bones!" + +"Yes, I had just visited my friend, Jim McCoy, at the lighthouse. It's +most difficult to bury anything there because of so many rocks. He asked +me to dispose of the scraps for him." + +"Oh," Penny murmured, completely deflated. + +"I've been watching you girls through the spyglass," Mrs. Deline went on. +"It really was amusing." + +"I can imagine," Penny agreed grimly. "Oh, well, I'm glad to provide a +little amusement for this dead place." + +She and Louise retreated until they were screened from the widow by a +potted palm. + +"I guess she scored on you that time, Penny," Louise commented. "So we +wasted our strength digging for garbage!" + +"You needn't rub it in." + +"But it's all so silly. Why don't we try to like Mrs. Deline, Penny?" + +"I'll leave that job up to you. Furthermore, how do I know she was +telling the truth? Maybe she just handed us that story so we wouldn't go +on digging in the dunes!" + +"That's so!" Louise acknowledged. "Mrs. Deline isn't the type to be doing +gracious little jobs for anyone." + +"If Jim McCoy asked her to bury a package of garbage, she would have +disposed of it long before she did," Penny reasoned. "Instead, she walked +quite a distance down shore. Then she seemed to select a particular dune, +as if by pre-arrangement." + +"You think she may have hidden something there expecting another person +to pick it up?" + +"That's my theory, Lou. Oh, I wish this rain would let up." + +Restlessly Penny walked to a window. The rain showed signs of slackening. +And as she watched, a taxi drew up in front of the hotel. Jerry +Livingston leaped out. + +"Wait for me!" he instructed the driver. "I'll be right back." + +Penny and Louise managed to block Jerry's path as he came hurrying into +the hotel. + +"Hello, girls," he greeted them offhanded. "Want to go for a drive into +the country?" + +"We certainly do," Penny accepted for both. "What's our destination?" + +"Tell you on the way," Jerry answered. + +He disappeared into an elevator, but was back in the lobby within a few +minutes. Taking Penny and Louise each by an elbow, he escorted them to +the waiting cab. + +"In a way, this is a secret trip," he said after he had given directions +to the driver. "Ever see a radio monitoring truck?" + +"Never even heard of one," Penny replied. "What is it?" + +"Well, we have a truck equipped so that our instruments pick up the +direction from which any short wave broadcast is sent. It's not generally +known that the Army's at work here, so whatever you girls see you must +keep under your sunbonnets." + +The taxi sped along the country road, following a route that was +unfamiliar to the girls. By the time it drew up several miles from Sunset +Beach the rain had ceased. + +"Tumble out," Jerry said, opening the cab door. "This is the end of the +line." + +He went ahead, breaking a hole in the tall hedge at one side of the road. +Eagerly the girls followed him through the gap. In a clearing just beyond +a clump of saplings stood what appeared to be an ordinary covered Army +truck. + +An enlisted man came toward Jerry and the girls, saluting smartly. + +"Are you picking up any signals?" Jerry asked him. + +"Nothing yet, sir. The weather hasn't been very favorable." + +"You've had your equipment set up here two days now?" + +"Right, sir." + +"It's not likely we'll get anything today or tonight," Jerry replied. +"Oh, well, we'll have to have patience. Sooner or later the station will +go on the air again, and then we'll learn its location." + +Louise and Penny were curious to learn more about the monitoring truck. +Jerry took them inside, introduced them to the officers, and showed them +the radio apparatus. + +"Our truck is equipped with rotating antennae," he explained. "Whenever +the unknown station starts to broadcast we'll be able to swing our loops +toward the signals. Then we chart the signals and where the lines +intercept, the station is located." + +"As you explain it, Jerry, finding any radio station is a simple matter." + +"It is, providing the station doesn't move in the meantime. +Unfortunately, Mr. Voice from the Cave is an elusive fellow." + +"You have no idea who the man may be?" + +"No, he's known to FBI agents only as B4 which is a code number." + +"What is the purpose behind the broadcasts?" Louise inquired. "Enemy +propaganda?" + +"We know that the station is enemy owned and operated," Jerry replied. +"So far that's about all we do know, for we've been unable to break the +code. We suspect that persons connected with the station may be aiding +German prisoners to escape from the country." + +"Prisoners originally held in Canada?" Penny inquired. + +"Yes, they've been aided by a ring of very clever spies." + +Penny was silent as she thought over the information. There were many +questions she longed to ask. + +"Jerry--" she began, but just then there came an interruption. + +In the Army truck an officer had adjusted his earphones. His attitude as +he listened was one of tense expectancy. + +"Picking up any signals?" Jerry demanded. + +The other man nodded. "Something's coming in! Yes, it's our friend, the +Voice. In just a minute we should know exactly where the station is +located." + +Jerry and the girls remained in the truck, eagerly awaiting a report from +the efficient men who manned the radio direction finders. + +"Okay, we've got it charted!" came the terse announcement a moment later. + +"Where's the station located?" Jerry demanded eagerly. "Let's see the +chart." + +It was thrust into his hand. Jerry stared at the intercepting lines and +then at a map of the district. + +"Why, the station seems to be located along the shore!" he exclaimed. +"Apparently in one of the caves--Crystal Cave I'd judge." + +"That's the cave where Louise and I were!" Penny exclaimed. "But we saw +no shortwave radio apparatus. Only crazy old Skagway who was playing a +tune on the stalagmites." + +"All the same, direction finders don't lie. The broadcast came from +Crystal Cave! But that doesn't mean the station will be there fifteen +minutes from now." + +"What's to be done?" Penny asked. "Can't the Voice be caught before he +has a chance to move his portable outfit?" + +"A message already has been sent to Headquarters. Army men should be on +their way to the cave now." + +"Jerry, we're not far from Crystal Cave ourselves!" Penny exclaimed, her +eyes dancing with excitement. "Can't we go there too?" + +"We can and will!" Jerry laughed. "But if we expect to catch our friend, +the Voice, there's no time to lose. Come along, girls, if you're +traveling with me." + + + + + CHAPTER + 15 + _AFTERGLOW_ + + +Penny sprawled on the grass beside the dying embers of the camp fire. +Listlessly, and with very bad aim, she hurled acorns at a brown squirrel +chattering overhead. + +"You've been in a bad mood ever since we got back from Crystal Cave," +Louise observed, coming out of the tent. "But why take it out on that +poor creature?" + +Penny raised herself on an elbow. She scowled and did not reply. + +Louise moved over to the fire, seating herself on a log beside her chum. + +"Oh, brace up," she said, slipping an arm about Penny's shoulders. "In +all my life I've never seen you act so discouraged." + +"I feel lower than the worms. Nothing's gone right since we came to +Sunset Beach." + +"On the contrary, I can't see that anything has gone so very wrong." + +"Wasn't our trip to the Crystal Cave a bust?" Penny demanded. + +"Well, it wasn't a success." + +Louise smiled wryly at the recollection. With Jerry and the Army men, she +and Penny had spent the afternoon searching various caves along the water +front. Not a trace had been found of the mysterious radio station which +so plagued local authorities. The search had been a long and exhausting +one. In the end, though the others kept on, she and Penny had been +compelled to give up. + +"My feet hurt yet from scrambling over the rocks," Penny declared. "I +suppose Jerry and those Army officers will keep searching half the +night." + +"And I'll warrant they never do find the station," Louise contributed. +"This is one mystery I wish you had never stumbled into, Penny." + +"I'm beginning to feel the same way, Lou. This is supposed to be a +vacation. I'd like to see Dad and Jerry once in awhile." + +"So that's what's bothering you!" + +"Well, you know Jerry will be here only a few days at most," Penny said +defensively. "I've barely had a chance to say 'hello' to him. Dad's +always down at the hotel too." + +"What you crave seems to be male companionship." + +Penny tossed a stick of wood on the fire, making the sparks fly. "I could +do with a little," she admitted. "Life is too dull here." + +"Dull?" Louise gazed at her chum suspiciously. + +"It's no use being surrounded by mystery if one can't get into the thick +of it. So far all the adventure has by-passed us." + +"We might stir up a little excitement by looking for that package Mrs. +Deline buried in the sand." + +"Not today," Penny said with a sigh. "Too tired. Besides, I told Jerry +about it and he wasn't much impressed." + +"So that's the reason for your gloom," Louise remarked wisely. "As a +detective you don't rate." + +"Something like that. Jerry met Mrs. Deline at the hotel today and he +thought her a very charming lady." + +"Oh!" Louise laughed. "No wonder you're all smashed to bits!" + +Penny got up from the grass and began preparations for supper. She peeled +a pan of potatoes and opened a can of corn. + +"We need a bucket of water from the spring," she said suggestively. "Want +to help me carry it?" + +"I will," Louise agreed without enthusiasm. + +The trail led up a steep path to a rocky ledge from which cool spring +water gushed out of a steel pipe. Penny drank deeply and then hung her +tin bucket over the outlet to fill. + +"It's starting to get dark," she observed, noticing how shadowy the woods +had grown. "I hope Dad returns to camp soon." + +"Someone's coming now," Louise remarked as her keen ears detected the +sound of footsteps on the trail below. + +"Probably one of the rangers." + +Penny unhooked the water bucket from the pipe, and the girls started down +the trail, carrying it between them. Emerging from among the trees, they +glimpsed a figure below them. A woman in a dark cloak who carried a +picnic hamper, was walking rapidly up the winding trail. + +Penny stopped so suddenly that she spilled water on her sandals. + +"Lou, that's Mrs. Deline!" she whispered. + +"What of it, pet? She's evidently going on a picnic." + +"At this time of day? And alone?" + +"Well, that part of it does seem a bit odd." + +Penny pulled her chum into the bushes beside the path. Crouching low +beside their water bucket, they allowed the woman to pass. Looking +neither to the right nor left, she hastened on up the trail. + +"She seems to be in a big hurry," Penny commented, coming out of hiding. +"Now where do you suppose she's going?" + +"Probably to the cabin. One of your ranger friends told me about a rustic +place farther up the trail. It was built especially for the enjoyment of +the public." + +"But why would Mrs. Deline go there alone?" + +"Maybe she intends to meet someone." + +"Lou, that's probably what she is going to do!" Penny exclaimed. "Let's +follow her and find out." + +"What about supper?" + +"Who cares for food?" Penny demanded. "If Dad comes home he can rustle a +little for himself. It's more important that we follow Mrs. Deline." + +"Okay," Louise agreed, "only I'm in no mood to walk very far. Remember, +we've had one wild chase today." + +Leaving the water bucket behind the bushes, the girls set out in pursuit +of Mrs. Deline. Not without admiration they acknowledged that the widow +was a better trail climber than they. Though the hamper she carried +evidently was heavy, she fairly skimmed up the rough trail. Penny and +Louise fell farther and farther behind. + +"She's heading for the cabin all right," Penny puffed. "Of course she +intends to meet someone. Otherwise, she'd have had her picnic on the +beach or some place closer to the hotel." + +A clearing opened up through a gap in the trees. Mrs. Deline paused as +she came within view of the rustic log cabin and gazed carefully about. +The girls saw her look at her wrist watch. + +"She has an appointment with someone," Penny declared. + +Mrs. Deline walked to the door of the cabin and tested it to make certain +that it was unlocked. She did not go inside. Instead, she set down the +hamper and gazed slowly about the clearing. Louise and Penny, at the +fringe of woods, saw her start as she looked directly toward them. + +"She's seen us!" Louise gasped. + +"We'll have to go out and meet her," Penny decided instantly. "Let's +pretend we just happened to be coming this way. But we'll stick around +and see who she's meeting." + +Mrs. Deline stiffened visibly as the girls sauntered out of the woods +toward her. + +"Well, this is a surprise meeting you," she said in a tone none too +friendly. "Is your camp located near here?" + +"Down the trail a short distance," Penny replied, thoroughly enjoying the +widow's discomfiture. "Having a picnic?" + +"Why, yes. I love the outdoors and thought I'd take a hike this +afternoon." + +"It's rather late for a picnic," Penny said pointedly. + +"It took me longer to get here than I expected." + +In an effort to discourage her young annoyers, Mrs. Deline pushed open +the door of the cabin. Before she could pick up the hamper, Penny seized +it. + +"Let me," she said quickly. "My how heavy! All this food for one person?" + +"Certainly," Mrs. Deline answered. "Who else?" + +Penny set the hamper on the table. Deliberately she raised the lid. The +basket was filled with food, enough for a dozen persons, and in the +bottom she saw a folded wool blanket. Beneath the blanket were several +bulky garments which she took to be men's clothing. Before she could see +plainly, Mrs. Deline jerked the lid of the hamper into place. + +"Please!" she said with emphasis. + +"I was only trying to be helpful," Penny said, pretending to look +injured. "Don't you want Lou and me to dust off the table and spread out +the picnic things?" + +"I do not. If you'll excuse me for saying so, I came on this picnic to be +alone. I enjoy solitude." + +"But it's getting dark," Penny argued. "We wouldn't think of deserting +you. The cabin has no light." + +"I don't mind the dark. Anyway, I brought candles. I really prefer to be +alone." + +Thus dismissed, Louise started to leave. Penny lingered, trying to think +of some excuse. Just then, from somewhere in the woods, she heard a +shrill whistle unlike any bird call. + +"What was that?" she asked alertly. + +"I heard nothing," said Mrs. Deline. + +Nevertheless, a moment later the woman sauntered to an open cabin window. +Deliberately she turned her back to the girls, trying to block their +view. Quickly she raised and lowered her handkerchief. + +The movement was deftly executed, but swift though it was, Penny saw and +understood. Mrs. Deline had signaled to an unseen person beyond the +fringe of trees! + + + + + CHAPTER + 16 + _SUSPICION_ + + +Penny moved swiftly to the open cabin door, gazing toward the darkening +woods. No one was visible amid the shadows. Yet she was certain that Mrs. +Deline had signaled to someone lurking among the trees. + +The widow had turned from the window to unfasten the lid of the picnic +hamper. + +"Since you girls are here you may as well stay and share my supper," she +said without warmth. "There's enough food for all." + +Louise's chin tilted proudly. The invitation was grudgingly given, and +she meant to decline. Penny forestalled her by saying: + +"How nice of you, Mrs. Deline! Of course we'll be delighted to remain." + +Mrs. Deline made no reply, though obviously she had not expected an +acceptance. Irritably she laid out the picnic dishes--sandwiches, a +salad, cake, cookies, and fruit--all carefully prepared and cooked at the +hotel kitchen. + +"You certainly did bring plenty of food for one person," Penny commented, +helping herself to a chicken sandwich. "Isn't that clothing in the bottom +of the basket?" + +"Only a blanket." Mrs. Deline closed the lid firmly. "I thought I might +need it if I should sit on the damp ground." + +Hungry as bears, Penny and Louise did not try to curb their healthy, +young appetites. Mrs. Deline, on the other hand, scarcely nibbled at the +food. Several times she arose and paced nervously to the window. + +"It's growing dark and I should return to the hotel," she said the +instant the girls had finished eating. "I'll not bother to repack the +lunch basket." + +"Oh, we'll help you pick up everything," Penny offered. + +"Please don't bother. I'll merely pay the hotel for the basket." + +Penny was convinced that Mrs. Deline deliberately intended to leave the +hamper behind. Despite the deep inroads she and Louise had made, +considerable food remained. It occurred to her that the widow hoped to +leave what remained so that the person hiding in the woods might come to +the cabin for it after the party had gone. + +"I can't be bothered with a heavy basket," Mrs. Deline said impatiently. +"We'll just leave it on the table." + +"Oh, the rangers wouldn't like to have us leave food here," Penny +protested. "It will only take a minute to clean up everything." + +Disregarding Mrs. Deline's order, she began to repack the remains of the +lunch. + +"But I don't wish to carry the basket all the way to the hotel!" + +"Louise and I will help you." + +Tossing her head, Mrs. Deline walked out of the cabin, allowing the door +to slam behind her. Louise and Penny finished packing the lunch and +hastened down the trail in pursuit. + +"Maybe we shouldn't cross her so," Louise whispered uneasily. "I think +she intended to meet someone here!" + +"I'm sure of it," agreed Penny. "We spiked her little plan. I have an +idea who she intended to meet too!" + +"Who?" + +Penny could not answer, for by this time she and Louise were practically +at Mrs. Deline's heels. The widow was walking as fast as she could. + +"You'll have to keep the basket," she told the girls irritably. "I'm sure +I'll never carry it back to the hotel." + +All the way to the Parker camp Mrs. Deline ignored Penny and Louise. And +as they bade her goodbye, she barely responded. + +"Can't we drive you down to the hotel in the car?" Penny offered, feeling +slightly ashamed of her actions. + +"Thank you, no," the widow answered icily. "You've done quite enough for +one day." She vanished down the darkening road. + +After Mrs. Deline was beyond view, the girls retraced their way to the +spring for the water bucket. As they approached, they thought for a +moment that they heard retreating footsteps. The realization that they +were alone in the woods, made them a bit nervous. Hurriedly they +recovered the bucket and carried it to camp. + +"Now tell me what you think, Penny!" Louise commanded when they were +inside the tent. + +"Why, it's clear as crystal." Penny struck a match to the wick of the +gasoline lantern and hung it on a hook of the tent pole. "Mrs. Deline +went to the cabin intending to meet someone. She carried extra food, a +blanket, and if I'm not mistaken, clothing for a man." + +"You thought she signaled from the window?" + +"I'm sure she did, Lou. She warned the person, whoever he was, not to +approach. She hoped by leaving the basket behind to get it into his hands +after we'd gone." + +"You thwarted her in that." + +"We did together," Penny chuckled. Her face suddenly became sober. +"Lou--" + +"Yes?" + +"It just occurred to me! Maybe the man she intended to meet was the same +fellow who stole food from our camp." + +"That's possible. But why should Mrs. Deline be interested in a common +tramp?" + +"How do we know that fellow was a tramp?" Penny speculated. "Jerry told +us about a young soldier that had escaped from a Canadian prison camp. +Mrs. Deline may be trying to help him by supplying food and heavy +clothing!" + +"As usual, Penny, aren't you leaping to hasty conclusions?" + +"Maybe I am, but everything fits in beautifully. I've thought from the +first that Mrs. Deline was nothing less than a spy or an international +crook." + +"You've aired that theory before," Louise said, stretching out on the +cot. "Wonder when your father will get here?" + +"I wish he would come," Penny replied, glancing anxiously toward the +road. "At least I have one consolation." + +"What's that?" + +"I know he's not with Mrs. Deline. Oh, Lou, think how horrible it would +be to have a spy for a stepmother!" + +"It would be something different anyhow," Louise chuckled. "Want to +listen to the radio awhile?" + +"Okay," Penny agreed, "maybe we can tune in that outlaw station. It's +about time for the regular nightly broadcast." + +Closing themselves into the car, the girls tried without success to get +the outlaw shortwave station. Tuning instead to a dance orchestra, they +discussed the day's happenings and made elaborate plans for the morrow. + +"I'm really going to work," Penny announced grimly. "No Mrs. Deline ever +will outwit me! Our first job must be to find that package she buried in +the sand." + +"And what of the person hiding in the woods?" + +"The rangers ought to take over that part." Penny peered out through the +car window at the dark woods which hemmed in the camp. "Somehow," she +admitted, "I don't like the idea of being here at night. I'm not exactly +afraid, but--" + +"Listen!" Louise ordered sharply, "Someone's coming!" + +Penny snapped off the radio. Tensely, the girls watched the road. The +next instant they relaxed, for it was Mr. Parker who trudged wearily up +the slope. Seeing Penny and Louise in the car, he came over to apologize +for being so late. + +"I've been with Jerry for the past two hours," he explained. "Time went +faster than I realized." + +"Any news?" Penny asked eagerly. + +"Not about the radio station if that's what you mean. The fellow got away +with his portable outfit slick as a whistle." + +"The authorities have no idea who the man is, Dad?" + +"Not the slightest. So far they've not been able to break the code he +uses either. But in time they'll get him." + +Having gleaned what information they could from Mr. Parker, the girls +related their own adventure. As they fully expected, he made light of the +episode at the cabin. + +"Why should Mrs. Deline expect to meet anyone there?" he argued. "Penny, +I'm afraid you don't understand her and misinterpret her actions." + +"I don't understand her, that's certain." + +"As to a man loitering about the camp," Mr. Parker resumed, "I've been +worried about that ever since food was stolen. As I must be gone so much +of the time, why wouldn't it be better for us to move to the hotel?" + +Penny stiffened for an argument, and then suddenly changed her mind. + +"All right, Dad," she astonished him by saying, "as far as I'm concerned, +we can move tomorrow. I've had enough of the lonesome life." + +"Why, that's fine!" Mr. Parker said heartily. "Splendid!" + +After he had moved on, to sit for awhile by the dying embers of the fire, +Louise remarked to Penny that explanations were in order. + +"How come you're ready to desert the rough and rugged life?" she +demanded. "At first you were dead set against moving into the hotel." + +Penny carefully raised the car window so that her father would not +overhear. + +"I believe in fighting the Enemy on his own territory," she explained +elaborately. "Mrs. Deline will bear watching. I intend to devote all my +waking hours to the cause." + +"So Jerry has nothing to do with it?" + +"Jerry?" + +"You wouldn't want to move to the hotel so you'd see more of him?" + +"What an idea!" Penny scoffed. "Whoever thought of such a thing!" + +"You did or I'm no mind reader." + +"Well, it may have crossed my mind," Penny acknowledged with a giggle. +"In fact, I can see quite a few advantages to hotel life. With luck we'll +yet make something of this vacation!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 17 + _VISITORS NOT PERMITTED_ + + +Penny stood before the mirror in the hotel room and struggled to coax a +little curl into her damp hair. She and Louise had spent two hours +splashing in the surf that morning. The salt water had tightened their +skins and produced discouraging results with their tresses. + +"This place does have it over a forest camp," Penny said, gazing about +the comfortably furnished room she shared with Louise. Her father's room +was three doors down the hall. "A shower bath, no meals to cook, no +dishes to wash, and the sea at one's elbow." + +"I like it better," replied Louise. She had curled up kitten fashion on +the bed and was making deep inroads into a box of chocolates. "So far +though, we've not done much fancy sleuthing." + +"We've only been here a few hours. Where do you suppose Mrs. Deline keeps +herself?" + +"In her room no doubt. Why do you worry about her so much, Penny?" + +Penny twisted a few ringlets over her finger and abandoned the project as +hopeless. "Lou, you know all the prize answers without asking me," she +said. "I've told you a dozen times why I distrust that woman." + +"Doesn't it all simmer down to one thing? You're jealous as a green-eyed +cat!" + +"Maybe I do dislike her," Penny grinned. "On second thought, I'm sure of +it! But facts are facts and have nothing to do with my personal feelings. +In the first place, didn't she get Dad to bring her with us to Sunset +Beach?" + +"But what does that prove? She has no car of her own and the trains are +so crowded." + +"I think she knew that Dad was coming here to try to dig up a story about +the outlaw radio station," Penny went on, unruffled. "She's probably +pumped him of information." + +"Your father knows how to look after himself." + +"That's what _he_ thinks!" Penny muttered. "I wouldn't place any wagers +on it myself. Why, he's been as blind as a bat." + +"I'm afraid you see enough for two or three people," Louise chuckled. + +"I told you, didn't I, how that vampire tried to steal our car while we +were on our way here?" + +"Two or three times, darling." + +"Well, it would bear repeating. I think she intended to meet someone that +night--perhaps the same person who was hiding in the woods!" + +Louise, methodically eating chocolates, mulled over the possibility. + +"Jerry told us that an escaped flier from a Canadian prison camp may be +hiding somewhere near here," Penny resumed, wandering to the window. +"Perhaps Mrs. Deline is trying to help him!" + +"You have a new theory every minute," Louise yawned. "Why not think up +one and stick to it?" + +Penny did not answer for at that moment she observed Jerry Livingston +leaving the veranda of the hotel. + +"Come on, Lou!" she cried, jerking her chum off the bed. "I want to see +Jerry before he escapes!" + +"Talk about Mrs. Deline pursuing your defenseless father!" Louise +protested as she was pulled down the hall to the elevator. "Her tactics +at least are more subtle than yours!" + +"This is different," Penny retorted shamelessly. "Jerry and I are old +friends." + +Swinging through the revolving doors of the hotel, the girls raced after +Jerry. Breathless from running, they finally overtook him far down the +boardwalk. + +"Why, hello," he greeted them with a broad smile. "I hear you've moved +into the hotel." + +"Lock, stock and barrel," Penny laughed. "We want to be in the thick of +things. Any news about the radio station?" + +"Nothing I can report, I'm on my way now to Intercept Headquarters." + +"Did you see Dad this morning?" + +"Only for a few minutes. He's doing a little special work for me." + +"At least I'm glad it's for you and not Mrs. Deline," Penny said stiffly. +"Jerry, there are some things you should know about that woman." + +"Suppose you unburden your heart," Jerry invited, seating himself on a +sand dune. "I have about ten minutes to listen." + +"Don't encourage her," sighed Louise. "She's slightly cracked on the +subject, you know." + +"Nevertheless, Penny has ideas at times," Jerry paid her tribute. +"Shoot!" + +Talking like a whirlwind, Penny delved deeply into the subject of Mrs. +Deline. She repeated how the widow had buried a package in the sand, but +it was not until the episode of the cabin was described that Jerry really +seemed interested. + +"Penny, at first I didn't take your Mrs. Deline talk very seriously," he +admitted. "Perhaps you have something after all!" + +"I'm sure of it, Jerry!" + +"Have you reported to the park rangers?" + +"Dad may have seen them, I'm not sure. We left camp in a big rush." + +"Then I'll take care of that, Penny. We'll have the park searched again +and try to find that fellow!" + +"Then you do believe he's the escaped flier!" Penny exclaimed. + +"Probably not," was Jerry's discouraging reply. "Nevertheless, we can't +afford to overlook any possibility." + +"What about the package in the sand?" + +"You remember where it was buried?" + +"Approximately." + +"I'll not have time to go with you now," Jerry said, looking at his wrist +watch. + +"Louise and I haven't much to do this morning. We'll be glad to search." + +"Go ahead," Jerry urged. "If you fail then I can take over. The important +thing is not to tip off your hand. Don't let anyone suspect what you're +about." + +Penny and Louise nodded soberly. They felt rather important to have been +assigned a definite task. + +"Report to me as soon as you find that package," Jerry urged as he +started on. "It may contain something of vital importance. It may not. +We'll withhold judgment until we have the facts." + +Left to themselves, the girls lost not a moment in hastening to the +section of beach where Mrs. Deline had been seen to bury the package. + +"Now just where was it?" Penny asked, gazing about the deserted dunes. +"What became of our marker?" + +"We left a stick to show the exact spot." + +"Not a sign of it now. What wretched luck!" + +Though the girls knew the general locality where the package had been +buried, all of the dunes looked discouragingly alike. Not a footprint +remained to guide them. + +"I'll bet a cent Mrs. Deline came back here and removed that stick!" +Penny declared. "Maybe she dug up the package too!" + +"Anyone could have taken the stick. Why do you think she did it?" + +"Because she watched us digging for the package. Well, let's look for it +anyhow." + +With none too much enthusiasm, the girls set to work. The tide was much +lower than upon their last visit and the shoreline did not look the same. +Nor could they agree within forty feet of the right place to dig. + +"You try one dune, and I'll work on another," Penny offered as a +compromise. + +An hour of unavailing work found the pair too discouraged to keep on +digging. + +"If this is the right place, Mrs. Deline or someone has removed the +package," Penny declared, sinking back on her heels. + +"We may as well give up," Louise added wearily. + +Penny slid down the dune and emptied sand from her shoes. + +"There should be an easy way to beat Mrs. Deline at her own little game," +she remarked thoughtfully. "For instance, why does she always wear that +jade green charm?" + +"Because she likes it I'd imagine." + +"But wouldn't you think she'd take it off at night?" + +"Perhaps she does, Penny." + +"Not the night I was with her. I distinctly gained the impression that +there was something about it she was afraid I'd see." + +"A message contained inside?" + +"That's been my theory from the first, Lou. Now if only we could lay our +hands on the charm--" + +"Finding the package would be a lot easier. We can't waylay the woman and +take the jade elephant by force. Or can we?" + +"No," Penny agreed reluctantly, "I don't think Dad would like that. And +there's always the possibility I might be wrong." + +"The probability, you mean," corrected Louise. + +Penny retied her shoes and glanced toward the hotel. Far up the beach she +saw Mrs. Deline, and the widow was walking slowly toward the sand dunes. + +"Duck!" Penny ordered, rolling over one of the high ridges. "We don't +want her to see us here. She'll suspect what we've been up to." + +Louise crouched behind the dune with her chum, though she complained that +she felt silly doing it. Apparently, Mrs. Deline had not seen the girls. +She came steadily on. + +Drawing close, she peered directly at the dune where the girls had taken +refuge. For a second they feared that she had seen them. But she passed +on without another glance. + +"It looks to me as though she's on her way to the lighthouse again," +Penny remarked after Mrs. Deline was far down the beach. "Wonder why she +goes there so often?" + +"I thought visitors weren't allowed." + +"According to the rules they're not." + +From behind the dune, the girls kept watch of the widow. Presently they +saw her climb the steps of the lighthouse and disappear into the +interior. + +"Well, that settles it!" Penny exclaimed indignantly. + +"Settles what?" Louise straightened up, brushing sand from her skirt. + +"If Mrs. Deline can get into that lighthouse, so can I. We'll make an +issue of it!" + +"Not today," said Louise dubiously. + +"Right now!" Penny corrected, starting down the beach. "That lighthouse +is government property, and as citizens we have certain rights. Let's +assert them and see what happens!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 18 + _INSIDE THE LIGHTHOUSE_ + + +Unchallenged, Penny and Louise reached the base of the lighthouse. But as +they slowly climbed the iron stairs, their courage fast slipped away. + +"What will we say to the keeper?" Louise faltered. "I've even forgotten +his name." + +"I haven't," said Penny. "It's Jim McCoy. If Mrs. Deline is allowed +inside the tower, shouldn't we have the same privileges?" + +"She's a personal friend." + +"That should make no difference," Penny argued. "This is government +property." + +"Let's not do it," Louise pleaded, holding back. + +Having proceeded so far. Penny was in no mood to retreat. Quickly, lest +she too lose her courage, she rapped hard on the tower door. + +Minutes elapsed. Then the heavy oak door swung back and Jim McCoy, the +burly keeper, peered out at the girls. His bushy brows drew together in +an angry scowl. + +"You here again!" he exclaimed. + +"Yes," said Penny, making the word crisp and firm. + +"I'll have to report you if you keep pestering me," the keeper scolded. +"How many times have I told you no visitors are allowed?" + +"But you don't treat everyone the same!" Penny remonstrated. "Mrs. Deline +just came here." + +"Mrs. Deline? Who's she?" + +"Why, a woman who stays at the hotel. She came through this door not five +minutes ago!" + +"You must have imagined it. I've had no visitors." + +Penny's silence said more plainly than words that she did not believe the +keeper. + +"So you think I'm lying, eh?" he demanded unpleasantly. "Okay, come in +and see for yourselves. I'm breaking a rule to invite you into the tower, +but maybe then you'll be satisfied and quite bothering me. We have work +to do here, you know." + +The keeper stepped aside so that the girls might enter. + +"My living quarters," he said curtly. "You see, I have no visitors." + +Decidedly ill at ease, the girls gazed about the little circular room. +The walls were lined with built-in cupboards. Nearly all of the furniture +had been made with a view to conserving space. As Mr. McCoy had said, +there were no visitors--no evidence that Mrs. Deline ever had been there. + +"Are you satisfied?" the keeper demanded unpleasantly. + +"But we were sure Mrs. Deline came here," Penny stammered. + +"There's been no one today except early this morning when a government +inspector paid me a visit." + +Penny did not believe the man but she deemed it wise to appear to do so. + +"I'm sorry," she apologized. "I guess we have made nuisances of +ourselves." + +"That's all right," the keeper said in a less unfriendly tone. "Kids are +kids. Now that you're here, look around a bit." + +"Oh, thank you," Louise replied gratefully. "I've always wanted to see +the inside of a lighthouse." + +"I have some work to do," Mr. McCoy announced. "The light's not been +operating right and I'm trying to get the mechanism adjusted. I'll be +back." + +He went out, allowing the door to slam hard. + +The girls surveyed their surroundings with keen interest. On a table near +the window there was a shortwave radio. A circular couch occupied another +curving corner of the room. + +"What became of Mrs. Deline?" Penny whispered. "She certainly came here." + +"Of course she did! We saw her plain as day!" + +"She must be somewhere in the tower. Probably there's a room above this +one." + +Penny tiptoed to the door and tried to open it. To her surprise and +chagrin, it would not budge. + +"My Great Aunt!" she whispered. "We're locked in!" + +"Maybe the door's just stuck." Louise strode across the room to help +Penny. Both of them tried without success to open it. + +"Let's shout and pound!" Louise suggested. + +"No, wait! I think we've been locked in here on purpose." + +"Oh, Penny!" + +"Now don't get nervous. The keeper's no fool. He'll have to let us out." + +"But why would he lock us in?" + +"Because he's provoked at us for one reason, Lou. Another, something's +going on here that he doesn't want us to know about. He and Mrs. Deline +may be having a tête-à-tête in the room above." + +"Then let's listen. Maybe we can overhear their conversation." + +Penny nodded and fell silent. Though the girls listened for a long while, +no sound reached their ears. + +"This is a nice situation!" Louise fumed. "I think the door locked +itself. We ought to shout for help." + +"Goose, a door doesn't lock itself." + +"This one might have a trick catch." + +"It was Mr. Jim McCoy who accomplished the trick," Penny said. "Listen! +Someone's coming now." + +Plainly the girls could hear footsteps on the iron balcony outside the +door. A moment later they were able to distinguish a murmur of men's +voices. The footsteps moved on and a moment later they heard a door close +overhead. + +"Another visitor!" Penny announced. "Did you hear what was said, Lou?" + +"Couldn't make out a word." + +"Nor could I. But that voice sounded familiar. I'm sure I've heard it +somewhere." + +"I had the same feeling, Penny." + +The girls listened intently, hoping to overhear conversation on the floor +above. However, the walls of the lighthouse were so thick that not a word +reached them. Now and then they thought they heard Mrs. Deline's high +pitched voice. + +"Louise, it's just come to me!" Penny whispered a moment later. "I +believe Mr. McCoy's visitor may be George Emory!" + +"The voice did sound a little like his. But why would he come here?" + +"Maybe we've under-rated George Emory. Why, all this time he may have +been trying to get information from us." + +"He did ask us quite a few questions, particularly about your father." + +"And he seemed to know a lot about that outlaw radio station, Lou. Maybe +he tried to throw us off the track by suggesting that we watch old Jake +Skagway." + +"We certainly fell for it, Penny." + +"We did, if you assume that George Emory is upstairs having a conference +with Mrs. Deline and the lighthouse keeper. But we're not sure." + +"No, we're not, Penny. One easily can be mistaken in voices." + +Determined to hear more, Penny cautiously climbed up on the radio table, +so that her head and ear were close to the ceiling. + +"Can you make out anything?" Louise whispered. + +Penny shook her head in disgust. After a few minutes she dropped lightly +down from the table. + +"Walls are too thick," she announced. "I could hear three voices though. +Two were men and the other, a woman." + +"Then Mrs. Deline must be here. The keeper lied about that part." + +Presently the girls heard footsteps again on the iron stairway. They +moved to the window, hoping to see whomever was descending from the room +above. However, the little round aperture was so situated that it gave a +view of only one side of the Point. They could not see the stairway nor +the stretch of beach leading to the hotel. + +"We're certainly learning a lot!" Louise said crossly. "I've had enough +of this. Let's shout for help." + +"All right," Penny agreed. "We may as well find out whether or not we're +prisoners." + +Crossing to the heavy oak door, she pounded hard on the panels. Almost at +once the girls heard someone coming. + +"Don't let on what we suspect," Penny warned her companion. + +The next moment the door swung open to admit the keeper of the light. + + + + + CHAPTER + 19 + _A LOCKED DOOR_ + + +"I was gone a little longer than I meant to be," Jim McCoy apologized as +he came into the room. "Did I keep you waiting?" + +"We probably wouldn't have waited if you hadn't locked the door!" Louise +said sharply. + +The keeper's eyebrows lifted and he looked slightly amused. "Locked in?" +he echoed. + +"Yes, we couldn't get the door open." + +"Oh, it sticks sometimes. Been intending to fix it for several days. If +you had pushed hard it would have opened." + +"We certainly pushed hard enough," Penny said dryly. She was more than +ever certain that the lighthouse keeper had unlocked the door only a +moment before entering. Clearly, he had meant to prevent Louise and her +from seeing and hearing what went on in the room above. + +"Come along," the keeper invited. "I'll show you the tower." + +"No thank you," Penny replied coldly. "We've spent so much time here that +we'll have to be getting back to the hotel." + +"As you like." The keeper shrugged, and looked relieved by the decision. + +Jim McCoy stepped away from the door, and the girls hastened down the +iron stairway. No one was in sight on the beach. Whoever had visited the +lighthouse during the time they were imprisoned, had disappeared. + +When they were well down the beach, Louise and Penny slackened their +pace. Glancing back they saw that the keeper of the light still stood on +the tiny iron balcony watching them. + +"That man gives me the creeps," Louise remarked. "Did you believe what he +said about the door sticking?" + +"I did not," Penny returned with emphasis. "I think he locked us in on +purpose, probably because he was expecting visitors and didn't want us to +see too much." + +"As it turned out we didn't learn a thing." + +"We have no proof of anything," Penny admitted slowly. "Nevertheless, +we're pretty sure Mrs. Deline visited the tower." + +"George Emory too." + +"That part is pure guess," Penny said, "so we don't dare consider it too +seriously. Did you ever see Mrs. Deline with George Emory?" + +"Why, no. But then, we've not been at the hotel long." + +"Let's find Jerry or Dad," Penny said abruptly. "We ought to report to +them." + +Returning to the hotel, the girls looked in vain for Mr. Parker. The +publisher was not in his room nor anywhere in the lobby. Jerry apparently +had not returned from Intercept Headquarters. + +"There's Mrs. Deline," Louise whispered, jerking her head toward a +high-backed chair not far from the elevator. + +The widow was reading a newspaper. If she saw the girls she paid no +attention to them. + +"Let's talk to her and see what we can learn," Louise suggested. + +Penny had another thought. "No," she vetoed the suggestion. "Mrs. Deline +would be more likely to learn things from us. That woman is clever." + +Just then Mrs. Deline arose, picked up her purse, and went out the front +door of the hotel. On their way to the elevator. Penny and Louise noticed +that the woman carelessly had left a handkerchief and her room key lying +on the chair. + +"I'll turn them in at the desk," Louise said, picking up the articles. + +"Wait, Lou!" + +Louise glanced at her chum in surprise. + +"I have an idea!" Penny revealed, lowering her voice. "Are you game to +try something risky?" + +"Well, I don't know." + +"This chance is tailor-made for us!" Penny went on. "Mrs. Deline simply +handed her room key over to us. Let's use our opportunity." + +"Enter her room?" Louise asked, shocked. + +"Why not? FBI agents think nothing of examining the belongings of a +suspected person." + +"But we're not FBI agents, Penny. I don't want to do it without asking +Jerry." + +"By that time it will be too late. It's now or never." + +"Mrs. Deline might catch us in the act." + +"That's a chance we'll have to take." Penny, in possession of the room +key, walked to the front door of the hotel. She was reassured to see that +Mrs. Deline had seated herself on a bench some distance from the veranda. + +"The coast's clear," Penny reported, coming back to Louise. "What do you +say?" + +"Well, I suppose so," Louise consented nervously. + +An elevator shot the girls up to the fourth floor. To locate Mrs. +Deline's room required but a moment, and the halls fortunately were +deserted. Penny fitted the key into the lock and pushed open the door. + +"We'll have to work fast," she said, closing it behind them again. + +The room was in perfect order. Only a few toilet articles had been set +out on the dresser. Mrs. Deline's suitcase was only half unpacked. + +"It looks to me as if the widow is holding herself ready to fly at a +moment's notice," Penny commented. "Otherwise, why didn't she unpack +everything?" + +"What do you expect to find here?" Louise asked nervously. "Let's get it +over with fast, Penny." + +"Start with the bureau drawers," Penny instructed. "Search for any +papers, letters or the sort. I'll go through the suitcase." + +Carefully the girls began examining Mrs. Deline's personal belongings. +Almost at once Louise reported that the bureau contained nothing of +interest. Penny, however, had more luck. She came upon a pearl-handled +revolver buried beneath a pile of silk underclothing. + +"Jeepers!" she whispered, touching the weapon gingerly. "Now will you +believe me when I say that the widow isn't the sweet little girl she'd +have us believe!" + +Louise's eyes had opened wide at sight of the revolver. + +"And here's that white suit she wore!" Penny cried, lifting out a folded +garment from the suitcase. "Look, Lou!" + +From the skirt of the suit had been cut a neat, square hole. + +"Well, of all things!" Louise exclaimed. "What's the meaning of that?" + +"Mrs. Deline wrote something on the skirt--don't you remember? Probably +she used a pen with invisible ink." + +"But why on her skirt, Penny?" + +"She'd just been to the lighthouse. Perhaps she learned something there +and she wanted to write it down before she forgot. Possibly she didn't +have any paper. Then when she got back here, she either destroyed the +message, or sent it to someone." + +"Well, I don't know," Louise said doubtfully. "It's all so fantastic. I +wouldn't believe a bit of it except for this revolver. Having it doesn't +look so good." + +"And don't forget the green elephant charm," Penny reminded her. "I wish +we could find it here." + +"Not a chance. Mrs. Deline always wears it around her neck. She had it on +today. I noticed." + +Time fast was elapsing and the girls were worried lest someone discover +them in the room. Hastily they replaced everything as they had found it, +and relocking the door, stepped out into the hall. + +"What's our next move?" Louise asked as they buzzed for a down-going +elevator. + +"To tell Jerry and Dad, of course. But before that, there's one thing I +wish we could do, Lou. It would give everything we have to report a more +substantial basis." + +"What's that, Penny?" + +"Why don't we get our hands on the jade green elephant? I've a hunch that +it contains something important--perhaps evidence that would crack the +case wide open." + +"And just how do you propose that we acquire the charm?" Louise asked +sarcastically. "Are we to waylay Mrs. Deline and take it by force?" + +"Afraid that wouldn't do." + +"There's no other way to get it. Mrs. Deline wears that charm as if it +were her skin. I've never seen her without it." + +The elevator was coming down so Penny spoke hurriedly. + +"There is a way," she said softly, "if only it will work. Think we could +get Mrs. Deline to go bathing in the surf with us?" + +"And ruin that lovely hair-do? Don't be silly." + +"All the same, it's worth trying," Penny urged. "Let's go to our room now +and get our bathing suits." + +"I don't see any point in it." + +"You will," Penny laughed, entering the elevator. "If my little plan +works we'll have keen sport and maybe do our country a good turn!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 20 + _NYMPHS OF THE SEA_ + + +"How you expect to get Mrs. Deline to go swimming with us is beyond me!" +Louise opined as she and Penny left the hotel, their bathing suits +swinging over their arms. "It's none too warm today. She dislikes us both +intensely. Furthermore, she never swims." + +"Any other reasons?" Penny asked cheerfully. + +"That should be enough." + +"Just wait and watch," Penny chuckled. "I just hope she doesn't suspect +we've been prowling in her room. If she got wise to that she'd report us +to the hotel management." + +Before leaving the hotel the girls had taken care to drop the room key in +the chair where Mrs. Deline had left it. They were confident that no one +had seen them take the key or enter the room. + +The widow remained as the girls last had seen her. She was sitting on a +bench facing the sea, her gaze fixed on the deep blue line of the +horizon. As the girls passed beside her, she looked up, frowning +slightly. + +"We're on our way to the bath house," said Penny, her tone implying that +the matter was one of great importance. + +"Really?" Mrs. Deline's voice barely was polite. + +"Wouldn't you like to come with us?" Louise invited cordially. + +The invitation took Mrs. Deline by surprise. "No, thank you," she +declined. "I can't swim." + +"We'll teach you," offered Penny. + +"You're too kind. I don't care for the water. I particularly detest cold +water." + +"The air is warming up," Penny tried to encourage her. "Why not try it +with us?" + +"Nothing could induce me." + +Louise nodded grimly, as much as to say that she had known how it would +be. Penny would not give up. She decided to adopt drastic measures. + +"No, I didn't suppose you would go into the water," she said. "You're +probably afraid you'll get salt water on that lovely skin of yours, or +muss up your hair." + +"Oh!" gasped Mrs. Deline. "The very idea!" + +"Isn't that the reason?" Penny pursued ruthlessly. "You have to protect +your beauty?" + +"No, it's not the reason!" Mrs. Deline snapped. "If I had a bathing suit, +I'd show you!" + +"You can use mine," Penny said promptly. "Louise has an extra one she'll +let me have." + +Mrs. Deline looked trapped and angry. She sprang to her feet. + +"All right, I'll go swimming!" she announced. "If I catch pneumonia I +suppose you'll be satisfied!" + +"Oh, you'll love the water once you're in," Penny said sweetly. "The bath +house is this way." + +Mrs. Deline spent so long getting into the borrowed suit that the girls +began to fear she had outwitted them. But just as they were ready to give +up, the woman came out of the dressing room. Penny's suit was a size too +small for her so that she looked as if she had been poured into it. Her +legs were skinny, her hips bulged. She still wore the elephant charm. + +"Don't I wish Dad could see her now!" Penny muttered. "What a +disillusionment!" + +Ignoring the girls, Mrs. Deline walked stiffly toward the surf. A wave +rolled in, wetting her to the knees. Mrs. Deline shrieked and backed +away. + +"It's freezing!" she complained. + +"You have to get wet all at once," Penny instructed kindly. "This way." + +She seized Mrs. Deline's hand and pulled her toward the deeper water. + +"Let me go!" Mrs. Deline protested, trying to shake free. "Stop it!" + +Penny held fast to her hand. A big roller broke over their heads. Mrs. +Deline sputtered and choked and struggled. + +"Oh, this is dreadful!" she whimpered. + +"You have to watch for the waves and jump just as they strike you," Penny +laughed. "Now!" + +She leaped, but the widow mistimed the roller. It struck her a resounding +whack on her shoulders and head. + +"Oh! Oh!" she moaned. + +"Here comes another!" warned Louise. "A big one too!" + +Mrs. Deline broke away from Penny. She started to run for shore. The big +roller overtook her, sweeping her from her feet. + +This was the opportunity that Penny awaited. Pretending that she too had +lost her balance, she allowed the tide to carry her straight into Mrs. +Deline. For an instant they both were beneath the surface of the water. + +Penny worked fast. Clutching Mrs. Deline as if in terror, she yanked hard +at the slender chain that held the green elephant charm. It snapped and +the jade piece came off into her hands. Deftly she thrust the charm into +the front of her bathing suit. Then she popped up above the water, +winking at Louise. + +Mrs. Deline scrambled to her feet, clutching at the broken chain. + +"See what you've done!" she accused Penny. "You pulled it apart. My +beautiful charm has fallen into the water!" + +"Let me help you look for it," Louise offered, darting forward. + +As the pair were groping about on the sandy floor, another wave rolled +in. Penny neglected to warn Mrs. Deline. It struck her from behind, +toppling her over on her face. Her cap slipped awry and she swallowed +salt water. + +"Oh, I can't stand any more of this!" she spluttered. "It was cruel of +you to get me to come into the surf! Now I've lost my charm, and it was +all your fault, Penny Parker." + +"I'll buy you another ornament," the girl offered. Seeing Mrs. Deline's +distress she felt a bit ashamed of herself. + +"Another ornament!" the widow mocked. "I don't want another! I want the +one I've lost. It's of vital importance to me to keep it." + +Mrs. Deline made another futile search for the charm. + +"It's been washed away," she cried. "I'll never find it now!" + +Glaring furiously at Penny, she turned and fled to the bath house. + +"Did she really lose the charm?" Louise demanded the moment the girls +were alone. "Or did you get it, Penny?" + +Penny answered by producing the green elephant charm from the front of +her bathing suit where she had hidden it. + +"Easy as taking candy from a babe," she chuckled. "My, but was she +hopping mad!" + +"You may not be laughing if your father hears about this," Louise warned. +"He's apt to look at matters from a different angle than we do." + +Penny skipped through the shallow water and sat down on the beach well +beyond the reach of the waves. Louise flopped beside her. Eagerly they +examined the jade green trinket. + +"Looks like any ordinary charm to me," Louise remarked. "No special +carving." + +"It should open," Penny said. "The first night when Mrs. Deline and I +shared a room, I was sure I saw her close it." + +Louise turned the charm over and pried at it with a hairpin. + +"It does have a back lid!" she exclaimed excitedly. "Penny, I think it's +going to open!" + +"I'll say magic words while you work," Penny laughed. "Furthermore, I'll +keep watch of the bath house. We don't want Mrs. Deline to pop out here +and see us." + +Louise pried again at the lid of the charm. It gave suddenly. + +Inside the tiny cavity was a folded piece of paper. While Louise stared +in delighted awe, Penny gained possession. With nervous haste she +unfolded the paper. She gazed at it a moment and her face fell. + +"Why, I can't make anything of the writing!" she declared in +disappointment. "The words don't make sense." + +"Just a mess of letters," Louise agreed, peering over her shoulder. + +The girls were decidedly let-down for they had gone to much trouble and +risk to obtain the jade ornament. But Penny's disappointment did not last +long. As she stared at the paper, its significance dawned upon her. + +"Why, this is important, Lou!" she cried. "Maybe we've stumbled into +something big!" + +"How do you mean?" + +"Don't you see?" Penny demanded triumphantly. "The letters, of this +message must comprise a secret code! If only we can break it down we may +learn all we need to know about Mrs. Deline and her strange friends!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 21 + _THE CARDBOARD BOX_ + + +While Penny and Louise were puzzling over the strange writing found +inside the jade charm, Mrs. Deline appeared in the doorway of the bath +house. Barely in time to escape detection, the girls hid the tiny +elephant and the paper in the sand. + +Mrs. Deline crossed the beach to speak to the girls. Her hair was damp +and stringy, her face pinched and blue from cold. + +"Here's your suit!" she snapped, slapping the wet garment into the sand +at Penny's feet. "I hope you enjoyed the swim! I'm sure I didn't." + +Turning her back, the widow marched to the hotel. + +The moment Mrs. Deline had disappeared into the white brick building, +Penny dug the jade elephant and paper from the sand. + +"Let's get dressed," she urged Louise. "We've no time to waste." + +So thrilled were the girls over what they had accomplished that they +could talk of nothing else. Penny felt that by obtaining the jade +elephant she had proven her case. + +"You thought I was only jealous of Mrs. Deline," she told Louise +triumphantly as they dressed in adjoining booths. "Now what do you say?" + +"That you're a genius!" Louise praised. "Mrs. Deline certainly is mixed +up in some shady business." + +Once dressed, the girls wrapped the jade elephant in a handkerchief and +carried it to the hotel. Jerry was nowhere to be found, and a bellboy +told Penny that her father had gone for a walk. + +"Perhaps we can work the message out ourselves," Penny suggested +hopefully. "Let's try." + +In their hotel room, the girls spent an hour attempting to decipher the +strange jargon of letters appearing on the paper. At the end of that +time. Penny tossed aside her pencil in disgust. + +"This is a job for an expert," she declared. "I certainly don't classify +as one." + +The telephone jingled. Penny answered it and was delighted to hear +Jerry's familiar voice. He was down in the lobby and had been told that +the girls wished to see him. + +"We certainly do!" Penny answered gaily. "Hold everything! We'll be with +you in a jiffy." + +The elevator being entirely too slow, the girls raced down the stairs. +Breathlessly they started to tell Jerry what they had learned. + +"Not here!" he said quickly. "Let's go outside where we won't be +overheard." + +Once out in the open with no one close by, Jerry lent an attentive ear to +Penny's tale of their afternoon adventure. He did not have much to say in +return, but he studied the jade green elephant and the paper with deep +interest. + +"You don't think it's anything?" Penny asked in disappointment. + +"On the contrary, it may be something of very great importance," he +returned soberly. "I'll take this to Headquarters. We have an expert on +codes who should be able to break it in a short while." + +The girls hoped that Jerry would invite them to accompany him, but he did +not do so. Instead he said: + +"Penny, you were telling me that Mrs. Deline had buried a package in the +sand. Any luck in finding it?" + +"Not a bit." + +"You don't think that she went back there and dug it up herself?" + +"We didn't see any footprints." + +"How did you mark the place?" + +"By a stick that someone removed." + +"Not a very reliable way to take observations," Jerry remarked. "Ever try +the clock system?" + +The girls looked blank. + +"For example," Jerry illustrated, "imagine that the landscape is like the +face of a clock. Now what do you see on the hour of two?" + +"I don't get it," Louise complained. + +"Oh, I do!" laughed Penny. "A big tree!" + +"That's right," agreed Jerry. "And at the hour of six?" + +"Why, a signboard!" chuckled Penny. "At the hour of seven there's a big +sand dune!" + +"If you picture things in your mind as if they're on the face of a clock +it's much easier to remember and keep them in proper proportion. Now, +using that same system can you recall anything more about the place where +Mrs. Deline buried the package?" + +"Not very much," Penny admitted. "I didn't take notations at the time." + +"Speaking of signboards, I remember one," Louise said thoughtfully. "It +was a long distance back from the beach, slightly to the right. A +cigarette advertisement." + +"That's right!" agreed Penny. + +"Perhaps that will help some," Jerry said. "We'll have to find the +package." + +"Then you believe Mrs. Deline is an Enemy Agent?" Penny asked eagerly. + +"I've thought so for quite a while now," Jerry admitted. "I didn't say it +for fear of building up your hopes. Anyhow, we've got to work quietly in +this business." + +"Poor Dad," Penny murmured, "I'm afraid it will break him up to learn the +truth. Do you say I should tell him right away, Jerry?" + +"Why not?" Jerry demanded, his eyes amused. "Your father may have a few +things to break to you too, Penny." + +"Meaning what?" + +"I'll let your father do his own talking," Jerry said, getting up from +the hotel bench. "Have to go now." + +"Wait!" Penny pleaded. "You've not told us anything. Do you think Mrs. +Deline has been aiding that flier who escaped from a Canadian prison +camp?" + +Jerry deliberately let the question pass. "Listen!" he said urgently. "I +may not see you girls again until after dinner. Want to help me tonight?" + +"Doing what?" Penny asked. + +"I want you to lead me to the place where Mrs. Deline buried that +package." + +"We'll do our best." + +"Then if I don't see you earlier, meet me here at nine o'clock. It should +be dark by that time." + +"We'll be here," Penny promised, her eyes glowing. + +At dinner that night the girls told Mr. Parker of their appointment to +meet Jerry. Penny would have explained about the package, but before she +could do so, Mrs. Deline joined the group. Mr. Parker immediately invited +her to dine with them. To the annoyance of Penny and Louise she accepted +with alacrity. + +The girls fully expected that Mrs. Deline would make some reference to +the incident of the afternoon. Instead she avoided the subject, talking +of her experiences in China and the Orient. Despite their prejudice, +Penny and Louise were compelled in all honesty to acknowledge to +themselves that the widow was a brilliant, entertaining +conversationalist. + +Over the coffee cups Mrs. Deline spoke casually of a play which was +showing at the local theatre. Before Penny could say a word, Mr. Parker +had suggested that he buy tickets for the night's performance. + +"I'd love to go," Mrs. Deline accepted instantly. + +"Good!" Mr. Parker, approved. "I'll get four tickets." + +"Two," Penny corrected grimly. "Louise and I already have an +appointment." + +"That's so," Mr. Parker recalled belatedly. + +Mrs. Deline looked so pleased that Penny was sorely tempted to abandon +the meeting with Jerry. Only the realization that the task ahead was +vitally important, kept her silent. + +At eight o'clock Mr. Parker and Mrs. Deline left the hotel for the +theatre. With an hour to kill, Penny and Louise were very restless. They +read the evening paper and watched the clock. + +"Here's an interesting news item," Penny remarked, indicating a brief +story on an inner page of the paper. "It says an enemy submarine was +sighted not many miles from here--just off the coast." + +"Did they get it?" Louise inquired absently. + +"I guess not. The story doesn't say, except that the air patrol dropped +bombs." + +"Wonder what a single sub was doing so close here?" Louise speculated. +"Oh, well, we've nothing to fear." + +A clock chimed the hour of nine. On the first stroke, the girls arose and +hastened to keep their appointment with Jerry. The night was closing in +dark. Along the shore no lights were showing for the dim-out was rigidly +enforced at Sunset Beach. + +"Where's Jerry?" Penny asked as they reached the bench where they had +promised to meet him. "Hope he didn't forget." + +Ten minutes elapsed. Penny was examining the luminous dial of her wrist +watch when someone came striding down the gravel path. + +"Hello," Jerry greeted the girls. "Sorry to have kept you waiting. All +set for adventure?" + +"Lead on!" Penny laughed. + +Taking each of them by an elbow, Jerry guided the girls down the deserted +beach. Twice they passed guards who merely stared and allowed them to +pass unchallenged. + +"Any news about that code?" Penny questioned as they walked along. + +"It's a tough one to break," Jerry replied briefly. "Experts have been +trying to take it apart ever since I left you girls this afternoon." + +"Then it really is something?" Penny asked, scarcely daring to hope. + +"It certainly is," Jerry replied heartily. "We're pretty sure now that +Mrs. Deline is mixed up in a bad business. But we can't act until we know +absolutely." + +"This will be a horrible shock to Dad," Penny remarked. "He's at the +theatre with Mrs. Deline now." + +"At least she's out of the way, so there's no chance she'll see us at +work," Jerry commented. "Think you can find the place to dig?" + +Penny had marked it well in her mind, but at night everything looked +different. After some uncertainty, the girls agreed upon the dune where +the package had been buried. + +"With the tide low we'll have plenty of time," Jerry said. "Well, let's +go! Was the package buried deep?" + +"Not more than a foot," Penny supplied. + +"Then if it's here, we'll find it. Let's block this area off and cover it +systematically." + +For an hour the trio toiled. Twice one of the beach guards passed by and +Penny was surprised that he paid no heed to what they were doing. + +"Orders!" Jerry chuckled. "You didn't think we could come out here and +prowl around without questions being asked? The guard was tipped off. +He'll help us by whistling if anyone comes this way." + +Louise, who had been industriously digging, gave a low cry. + +"Find something?" Jerry demanded. + +"I'm not sure. I think so." + +The next instant Louise lifted a small package from its sand tomb. Before +Jerry could warn her, she had torn apart the pasteboard cover. + +"Why, it contains pencils!" she exclaimed in disgust. "Pencils!" + +Jerry leaped to her side. One glance and he took the box from her. + +"Those objects may look like pencils," he drawled. "But take it from me, +they're a bit more deadly." + +Penny had moved close. She and Louise stared in awe at the collection. + +"Bombs," Jerry explained briefly. "One of these little pencils contains +enough explosive to blow us all to Kingdom Come!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 22 + _UNFINISHED BUSINESS_ + + +The cardboard box contained in addition to the pencil bombs a shiny knife +and several grooved, pear-shaped objects. + +"What are those?" Louise asked curiously. "They look like hand grenades." + +"That's what they are," said Jerry, lifting one from the box. "It's a +mighty useful weapon for close fighting. A strong man can throw a grenade +twenty-five to thirty-five yards and it does damage over a large area." + +Penny gingerly inspected one of the grenades. + +"It won't bite you," Jerry laughed. "Nor will it explode in your hand. +When you're ready to throw a grenade you hold it with the lever under +your fingers. Just before you toss it, pull the pin." + +"Isn't it apt to explode while you're holding it?" Penny asked dubiously. + +"Not while the lever is held. When the grenade leaves the hand, the lever +flies off. Then the fuse ignites and in about seven seconds you have your +explosion." + +"Nice little gadgets," Penny said. She replaced the grenade in its box +and ran a finger over the sharp edge of the steel-bladed knife. + +"Mrs. Deline evidently planted these weapons here for someone else to +use," Jerry remarked. "We'll put them back just as they were." + +"Put them back!" Penny echoed. "Why, Jerry, wouldn't that be playing +right into their hands? Shouldn't we destroy these things?" + +"No, it's much wiser to have the place watched." + +Light dawned upon Penny. "Oh, I see!" she exclaimed. "In that way you +hope to learn Mrs. Deline's accomplices!" + +"Exactly." + +Jerry replaced everything in the box which he carefully buried in the +sand. Then he obliterated all freshly made footmarks. + +"It may be necessary to watch this place for days," he said thoughtfully. + +"And what of Mrs. Deline?" Penny asked. "Will she be allowed complete +freedom?" + +"That's for my superiors to decide. It seems to me, though, that more is +to be gained by allowing her to remain at liberty than by arresting her." + +"I'm all for jail myself," said Penny. + +"Just be patient," Jerry smiled. "And whatever you do, don't drop a hint +to Mrs. Deline of what we suspect." + +"She knows I dislike her." + +"That's all right, but don't let her guess that you consider her guilty +of anything more serious than making a play for your father." + +"What about Dad? Shouldn't I warn him?" + +"Let me take care of that part," Jerry smiled. + +"All right," Penny agreed reluctantly. "Just be sure that you don't muff +it. Remember, you're playing with my future!" + +Jerry finished smoothing out the footprints in the sand and then escorted +the girls to the hotel. + +"I must report to Headquarters without delay," he said, pausing at the +hotel entrance. "Don't worry about the package. We'll have the place +watched every minute." + +After Jerry had gone, Penny and Louise entered the hotel. + +"Is my father here yet?" Penny asked the desk clerk. + +"No, Miss. And there's a message for him. As soon as he comes in he's to +call Major Gregg." + +Penny repeated the name thoughtfully. "That's a new one on me," she +remarked. "Dad seems to have friends I know nothing about." + +"Oh, the Major comes to the hotel frequently," the clerk returned, +smiling. "He and your father are well acquainted." + +As the girls crossed the lobby to a drinking fountain, Louise said +teasingly: + +"I'm afraid you've lost track of your father lately, Penny. You've been +so upset about Mrs. Deline that you've scarcely noticed anything or +anyone else." + +"Dad's been holding out on me, that's evident. Wonder what he's to call +Major Gregg about?" + +"Why not wait up and see?" + +"Not a bad idea," Penny approved instantly. "He and Mrs. Deline should be +getting in anytime now." + +"I'm not waiting up," announced Louise with a sleepy yawn. "In fact, I'm +on my way to bed this minute." + +To prove her words she started for the elevator. Penny debated whether or +not to follow and finally decided to remain in the lobby. + +An hour elapsed. Penny was half asleep by the time Mrs. Deline and Mr. +Parker entered the hotel together. They were chatting animatedly and +would not have seen her had she not scrambled from the wing chair. + +Seeing Penny, Mrs. Deline quickly bade Mr. Parker good night and vanished +into an elevator. + +"You shouldn't have waited up," Mr. Parker chided his daughter. "Why, +it's nearly midnight." + +"There's an important message for you, Dad. You're to call Major Gregg." + +Mr. Parker looked disconcerted. "How long ago did that call come, Penny?" + +"About an hour ago. Or that's when I learned of it." + +Mr. Parker went quickly to a telephone booth and was gone for some time. +When he returned his face was animated. + +"Good news?" Penny asked eagerly. + +"Not exactly," Mr. Parker replied, sliding into a chair beside her and +dropping his voice. "A message from Interceptor Headquarters. Monitoring +machines have traced the outlaw radio station again. The broadcast +finished about an hour ago." + +"And where was the station located this time, Dad?" + +"Seemingly at or near the lighthouse." + +"The lighthouse!" Penny exclaimed. She was so startled that her voice +rose to a high pitch, attracting the attention of a passing bellboy. + +"Not so loud, Penny," her father warned. "The strange thing was that the +broadcast seemed to come from a cave, the same as before, although the +monitoring machines charted it as being close to the lighthouse." + +"The only one I know about near the Point is Crystal Cave," Penny said +thoughtfully. "Dad, maybe the broadcast did come from the lighthouse!" + +"That's government property. Penny, and the man in charge is beyond +suspicion. Furthermore, the deep, echo effect couldn't come from anywhere +except a cave." + +"Unless it were a sound effect, Dad." + +"What's that?" Mr. Parker asked, startled. "I don't get you, Penny." + +"I mean, maybe the cave set-up is just a sound effect and nothing more. +Only the other night I heard one in a radio play and it sounded as if the +actors really were in a cave. Isn't it done by an echo chamber or +something of the sort?" + +"That would be possible," Mr. Parker agreed. "At Interceptor Headquarters +it was assumed that a mistake had been made in charting the location of +the station." + +"Then the lighthouse hasn't been investigated?" + +"Not to my knowledge." + +"Well, it should be!" Penny exclaimed. "Louise and I were there today and +we saw--" + +"Yes?" Mr. Parker questioned as she suddenly broke off. + +"We saw a lot that didn't look right," Penny finished, deciding not to +bring Mrs. Deline's name into the discussion. "Mr. McCoy had visitors and +while they were there he kept us locked up." + +"My word! Why didn't you report to the police?" + +"Well, we weren't entirely sure," Penny said lamely. "The door just +closed and locked, and Mr. McCoy let on that it had a trick latch. Then +he released us, but not until after the visitors had gone." + +"Did you see the persons?" + +"No, we only heard their voices. We weren't able to overhear any of the +conversation." + +Without explaining what he intended to do, Mr. Parker again closed +himself into a telephone booth. Not until he returned did he tell Penny +that he had called Interceptor Headquarters and that Army men had been +sent to the lighthouse to make a thorough check-up. + +"Now it's late," he said briskly, "and you're overdue for bed, Penny. +Better fly up." + +"Aren't you coming?" + +"Not just now. I have a little unfinished business." + +Penny hesitated, unwilling to go to bed when she sensed adventure in the +offing. As she groped in her mind for an excuse to remain, the doors at +the front entrance to the hotel began to spin. Jerry came hurrying into +the lobby. Seeing Penny and her father he made a straight line for them. + +"The code's been broken!" he announced, addressing Penny. + +"What did they learn, Jerry?" she asked eagerly. + +"It's just as you thought, Penny." Jerry dropped his bombshell. "Mrs. +Deline definitely is an Enemy Agent. Apparently she was sent to Sunset +Beach to aid that escaped prisoner I told you about!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 23 + _NIGHT ADVENTURE_ + + +As Jerry made the startling announcement, Penny glanced anxiously at her +father. In the excitement of the moment she had not thought how much of a +shock it might be to him to learn that Mrs. Deline was an agent employed +by a foreign country. To her astonishment, he looked neither surprised +nor dismayed. + +"So you have the proof, Jerry!" Mr. Parker exclaimed. "That's fine! But +what's all this about a code? How did you stumble onto it?" + +"No time for details now," Jerry answered tersely. "Penny turned the +trick--she and Louise saw Mrs. Deline bury a package in the sand." + +"And Mrs. Deline brought that package from the lighthouse," Penny +interposed eagerly. "Mr. McCoy must have given it to her." + +"What's the plan of action?" Mr. Parker demanded. "Army men already have +gone to the lighthouse to search that place thoroughly." + +"Our job is to keep watch of the dune where the package was buried. +Naturally we have no way of knowing what time anyone will show up there. +It may be an all night wait." + +"I'll be with you in a minute," Mr. Parker declared. "Just as soon as I +get an overcoat." + +He started toward the elevator, then came back to the group. + +"What about Mrs. Deline?" he asked. "She's here in the hotel. Went to her +room only a few minutes ago." + +"She'll be placed under arrest," Jerry said. "Better call her on the +telephone and get her down here. Don't let her suspect that you think +anything is wrong." + +Mr. Parker vanished into the nearest telephone booth. + +"I can't understand it," Penny murmured to Jerry. "I was sure Dad was +head over heels in love with Mrs. Deline. Why, it didn't even seem to +ruffle him when he learned the truth about her." + +Jerry grinned. "Maybe," he drawled, "that was because he knew all the +time." + +Penny was dumbfounded. "You mean--" she stammered, "You mean that Dad's +been acting a part? Pretending to admire Mrs. Deline while actually he +didn't?" + +"Something like that. You see, your Dad became interested in the outlaw +radio station and the men who operate it. By making inquiries before he +left Riverview, he obtained information that made him think Mrs. Deline +might be involved in some way. He knew she never had been in China but +spent many years in Japan. He learned also that instead of being a +newspaper correspondent, she had carried on secret work for various +governments." + +"Dad knew all that! And he never let on to me!" + +"He couldn't very well, Penny. If you had guessed the truth, you'd have +given it away by your manner--no matter how much you tried to act +natural." + +"What a little nit-wit I've been!" + +"You have not," Jerry denied warmly. "Anyone else would have acted the +same. Without knowing it, you helped your father a lot. You turned up +evidence he never could have obtained alone." + +"Where do you fit into the picture, Jerry? Did Dad send for you?" + +"You don't send for anyone in the Army," Jerry explained, grinning. "By +pure luck I was assigned here on a special mission. Your father learned I +was coming, so we united forces." + +"Then you've both known from the first about Mrs. Deline?" + +"We've had a dark brown suspicion, Penny. But no proof until tonight." + +Penny drew a deep breath. Before she could ask another question, her +father came hurrying down the hotel corridor. + +"Mrs. Deline's not in her room!" he reported. "She doesn't answer." + +"She went upstairs only a few minutes ago," Penny recalled. + +"Yes, she did, but she's not there now." + +"Maybe she's asleep," Jerry said, "and failed to hear the 'phone. We'll +have to check." + +Without explaining why the matter was urgent, Mr. Parker arranged with +the desk clerk to have one of the hotel maids go to Mrs. Deline's room. +While the trio waited in the upstairs corridor, the woman rapped several +times on the bedroom door, and failing to get a response, unlocked it +with her master key. + +"Mrs. Deline!" she called, softly at first, then in a louder voice. + +There was no answer. + +The maid then snapped on the light. "Why, there's no one here!" she +cried. "The bed's not been slept in!" + +"That's what I was afraid of," muttered Mr. Parker. + +With Jerry and Penny, he entered the bedroom. Everything was in perfect +order. However, Mrs. Deline's suitcase was gone and all her belongings +had been removed from the closet. + +"She's skipped without paying her room rent!" the maid exclaimed. "I'll +call the manager!" + +Penny was peering into the waste paper basket beside the desk. + +"Look!" she drew the attention of her father and Jerry. "Burned letters +and papers!" + +Digging into the basket, she brought up several charred sheets of paper. +They were unreadable and crumpled in her hand. + +"This was a bad break for us--Mrs. Deline getting away!" Jerry exclaimed +in disgust. "Evidently her work at Sunset Beach is finished. She's moving +on to another pasture." + +"But she can't be far away," Penny reasoned. "After all, we know when she +came to her room." + +"There still may be a chance to nab her," Mr. Parker said. "We'll notify +the police to guard all the roads and the airport. I'll report to Major +Gregg too." + +Without awaiting the arrival of the hotel manager, the trio hastened to +the lobby. There Jerry and Mr. Parker made several telephone calls. + +"Now let's be on our way up the beach," Jerry urged anxiously. "We've +killed too much time as it is." + +Penny half expected that her father would refuse permission for her to go +along. To her delight he merely said: + +"I suppose there's no keeping you here, Penny. Well, come with us. I +guess you've earned the right by your good work." + +It was a dark night, warm but misty. No lights were showing outside the +hotel, though far up the beach the powerful lighthouse beacon cut swathes +across the black sea. + +"What's the plan?" Mr. Parker asked Jerry. + +"The entire coast for fifty miles is being watched. I thought just on a +chance we might keep vigil at the place where Mrs. Deline buried the +package of explosives. Someone may show up there. On the other hand, +Penny tipped off the fact that she knew where the bundle was buried." + +"Mrs. Deline watched Louise and me through a spy glass," Penny recalled +ruefully. "She knew we didn't find the package though." + +"That's our assignment anyhow," Jerry said. "To keep watch of that +particular place until relieved by Army men." + +The Parker car was on the hotel lot close by. Getting it, the trio took +the beach road but stopped some distance from the lighthouse. Not wishing +the car to attract the attention of any passer-by, it was left parked on +a private driveway. Jerry, Penny and her father then crossed the dunes +afoot and proceeded up the beach until they came to their station. + +"Think this is the place?" Penny asked skeptically. + +"I know it is," Jerry replied. "Remember what I told you about taking +observations? Let's see if the package is still here?" + +He began digging in one of the dunes. Almost at once he came upon the box +of explosives. + +"Exactly as we left it," he reported, replacing the sand. "No one's been +here." + +"I doubt anyone will come," Mr. Parker commented. "Probably afraid." + +High overhead and out of sight, Penny heard the drone of planes on +coastal patrol. She stared up into the dark sky and then toward the sea. +The tide was coming in and long rolling waves washed the beach, dashed +themselves on the shoreline and retreated. + +"We'll have to get down out of sight," Jerry warned. "Mustn't be seen +from the road or the ocean either one." + +"How about this spot?" Mr. Parker suggested, pointing to a hollow between +two giant dunes. + +The place seemed exactly right, so the trio flattened themselves on the +sand. Jerry looked at the luminous dial of his watch. + +"One fifteen," he announced. "No sign of activity." + +"And no sign of any soldiers," Mr. Parker added. "I hope that whoever is +to take over here shows up before long." + +"I don't," Penny said, snuggling close between her father and Jerry. "I'm +having fun!" + +"If anything should develop, it's apt to be serious business," Jerry +warned. "I'm inclined to think that we tipped our hand and nothing will +happen." + +An hour elapsed. During that time there was no sound save the roar of the +restless sea. The warm sand made a comfortable couch, and despite her +best intentions, Penny caught herself dozing. She had all she could do to +keep awake. + +"What time is it now?" she presently asked. + +"Two thirty-five," Jerry answered. "It doesn't look as if there's to be +any activity, but then the night's young." + +"The night may be, but I'm not," Mr. Parker grumbled, shifting into a +more comfortable position. "Wonder when our relief is to show up?" + +"Must be some mix up on orders. We're probably stuck here for the night." + +"In that case, Penny should return to the hotel." + +"Oh, no. Dad! Anyway, if I left now I might attract the attention of +anyone watching this place." + +"You thought that one up!" her father chuckled. "Except for ourselves, +there's no person within a quarter of a mile of this place." + +"You're wrong about that," murmured Jerry, stiffening to alert attention. + +"What's up, Jerry?" Mr. Parker said quickly. "You act as if you were +seeing things!" + +"I am, Chief! Look to the right--between us and the lighthouse!" + +Mr. Parker and Penny gazed intently in the direction indicated. + +"Can't see a thing," Mr. Parker whispered. "Your eyes must be tricking +you, Jerry." + +"Wait just a minute." + +Even as Jerry spoke, a shadowy figure emerged from the mists. The man +came swiftly down the beach, making no sound as he walked. When he was +very close, the revolving beacon of the lighthouse singled him out for a +fleeting instant. Brief as was the moment of illumination, Penny +recognized the man. + +"George Emory!" she whispered tensely. "What's he doing here?" + + + + + CHAPTER + 24 + _OUT OF THE SEA_ + + +The answer to Penny's whispered question soon became obvious. George +Emory looked carefully about the windswept beach. The three tense +watchers thought that he might approach the dune where they lay hidden, +but he did not. + +Instead, the man paused while several yards away and gazed toward the +sea. A moment he stood thus, silhouetted against the sky. Then using a +glowing flashlight, he began making wide sweeps with his arm. + +"A signal!" Jerry whispered. "He's trying to attract the attention of a +boat out at sea!" + +"Shall we go for him?" asked Mr. Parker. + +"Wait!" Jerry advised. "He's not the only one we're after. We're stalking +bigger game." + +At intervals for the next fifteen minutes, George Emory repeated the +flashlight signals. Then he turned off the light and waited. + +Anxiously, Jerry, Penny and Mr. Parker kept their faces turned to the +sea. They sensed that the hour of action was at hand, and it worried them +that Army men had failed to arrive. + +"Look, Dad!" Penny suddenly whispered. She had glimpsed far from shore a +long shadowy object which easily could be a boat. No lights were showing +nor had she heard any sound. + +"I don't see a thing," Mr. Parker whispered back. "Yes! Now I do! Jove! +It looks like a submarine that's surfaced. I can make out the conning +tower!" + +"But why would it dare come here?" Penny speculated. "Won't it be +detected by the patrol planes?" + +"Tonight's a bad night," Jerry pointed out. "Besides, the shore is so +indented at this point of coast that perfect protection is almost +impossible. They're sending a boat, that's sure!" + +A small craft had been launched from the wave-washed deck of the +submarine. Manned by two men who rowed with muffled oars, it slowly +approached the shore. When it was very close the watchers behind the sand +dune saw by its grotesque sausage shape that it was a large, rubber boat. +Like a gray ghost it slid over the water. + +Mr. Parker gripped Penny's hand in an encouraging squeeze. + +"Wish you were safe at the hotel," he whispered. "I was a fool to let you +come." + +Penny's heart pounded but she shook her head vigorously. Not for anything +would she have missed the adventure. However, she was cool headed enough +to realize that the situation was not shaping up well for her father and +Jerry. + +There were two men visible in the rubber boat, unquestionably armed. Then +George Emory must be reckoned with and the arrival of others might be +expected at any moment. Jerry carried a revolver but her father had no +weapon. Already it was too late for any member of the trio to safely go +for help. + +"That sub may intend to land Secret Agents here," Jerry speculated. "But +from the code message we deciphered, it's more likely they plan to take +aboard one or more passengers." + +"Perhaps that escaped flier," Penny supplied. + +"He's a valuable man to them. Well worth the risk they're taking to try +to rescue him." + +"If passengers are to go aboard, where are they?" Penny whispered. +"There's no one here but George Emory." + +"We must wait and watch. We'll soon see enough or I miss my guess." + +The rubber boat had reached the surf and was being churned by the waves. +Two men in full military uniform, leaped out and guided the boat to the +beach. George Emory waded out to meet them. Shaking the hand of each, he +spoke rapidly in German. Though Mr. Parker understood the language, he +was unable to catch a word. + +Tensely, the trio waited and watched. At any moment they feared that the +men from the submarine might seek the cache of explosives hidden not far +away. Soberly Jerry and Mr. Parker considered trying to reach the box in +the sand. To do so they must cross an open, unprotected span of beach +with every likelihood of being seen. + +"Let's wait and see what happens," Mr. Parker advised. "We shouldn't risk +calling attention to ourselves." + +George Emory and his two companions obviously were awaiting someone. +Nervously they paced the beach. Several times Mr. Emory looked at his +watch. Then from far down the road came the sound of a car traveling at +high speed. Tires screamed in protest as the auto came to a sudden halt +on the paved road back from the beach. + +"That's why they've waited!" Jerry whispered. + +Barely a minute elapsed before two figures were seen coming swiftly from +the direction of the road. A man and a woman crawled through the bushes, +under the fence, and walked hurriedly across deep sand to the beach. + +"Mrs. Deline!" Penny identified the woman. "The man with her is the same +fellow who stole food from our camp!" + +"I'd know his face from photographs I've seen," contributed Jerry. "He's +Oscar Kleinbrock, escaped German prisoner. The man I was sent here to +trace!" + +Mrs. Deline and her companion reached the group of men who awaited them. + +"You are five minutes late," George Emory reproved. + +"Can we help it?" Mrs. Deline snapped. "We're lucky to be here at all. Do +you know that the road is being watched?" + +"By whom?" + +"Army men. We were nearly stopped but were able to turn off into the +thicket and wait." + +"Then there's no time to waste in talk," George Emory said curtly. +Turning, he spoke to the German flier in his own language. + +"He's telling him to get aboard the rubber boat," Mr. Parker interpreted +tensely. "Now they're saying goodbye to Emory and Mrs. Deline." + +"Somehow we must hold them all here!" Jerry whispered grimly. + +"It's two against five. And they're armed." + +Mr. Parker and Jerry looked at each other, fully realizing how slim was +their chance of success. They were not thinking of themselves but of +Penny and what could happen to her if they failed. Mr. Parker touched her +arm. + +"Penny," he whispered. "Slip away in the darkness and make a dash for the +hotel. Jerry and I will try to hold them until help comes. Just keep low +as you run or those fiends may take a pot-shot at you." Penny would not +desert her father and Jerry. Stubbornly, she shook her head. + +"We want to know that you are safe," Jerry urged. "Please go while you +still have a chance. You can help us most by bringing help." + +Penny's determination to remain, weakened. Yet reason told her she never +could reach the hotel and return with help in time to do any good. It +dawned upon her that Jerry was only saying what he did to get her safely +away. + +"If only we had the box of explosives!" she whispered. "With it we might +have a chance against those men!" + +"It's too late to dig up the box now," said Jerry. "We probably couldn't +find it without a light. And the noise we'd make--" + +"Let me try," Penny interrupted. + +"All right, see if you can get your hands on the box," her father agreed +suddenly. "Slip back of the dune, and then circle. Don't try to cross the +beach. Be careful! Remember the least sound will bring a hail of +bullets." + +Penny nodded and slipped away into the darkness, crawling on hands and +knees. Barely had she left the shelter of the big sand dune than she +heard two shots fired in quick succession. + +"Those came from Jerry's revolver!" she thought. "Oh, it was a trick to +get me safely away! Now he and Dad are in for fireworks!" + +Raising her head above the protecting sand dune, Penny saw why Jerry had +fired. The rubber boat was being launched. To delay the attack would mean +that the entire party might escape. + +"They'll all get away!" Penny thought in dismay. "How can Jerry and Dad +hold them single handed?" + +George Emory returned Jerry's fire with deadly aim. The bullets bit into +the dune, throwing up little geysers of sand. + +"Launch the boat!" he shouted savagely to the men from the submarine. +"Get away while you can! Be quick!" + +Jerry and Mr. Parker were determined that the party should not escape. As +the men sought to launch the rubber boat, they made a concerted rush for +the German flier who was to be taken aboard the waiting submarine. Caught +by surprise, he went down beneath their blows. + +Fearful of hitting his own man, George Emory dared not fire again. +Instead, he and the crewmen of the submarine fell upon Jerry and Mr. +Parker. In the melee, one person could not be distinguished from another. + +"Fools! Fools!" cried Mrs. Deline as she watched the fierce, uneven +struggle. "There is no time to be lost!" + +Jerry and Mr. Parker were putting up the fight of their lives, but they +were no match for four able bodied, trained men. Penny, desperate with +anxiety, saw that the struggle could end only in one way--disaster for +Jerry and her father. + +"If I had that box of explosives maybe I could help them!" flashed +through her mind. + +Rolling over a dune, she ran to the place near the fence where she +thought the cache was buried. Frantically she clawed and dug at the sand. +She could not find the box. + +"It must be here!" she told herself desperately. "Or was it hidden in the +next dune?" + +She tried another place slightly to the right. As she dug, she heard a +sound behind her. Turning swiftly, she saw Mrs. Deline starting across +the beach toward her. + +"Oh, no, you don't!" the woman shouted. + +Penny's hand encountered something hard and firm. The box of explosives! +Digging wildly, she lifted it from the bed of sand and sprang to her +feet. Her fingers closed upon one of the hand grenades. + +"Get back!" she ordered Mrs. Deline, balancing herself as if to throw. + +The woman stopped short, then retreated a few steps. But only for a +moment was she frightened. + +"Why, you infant, you couldn't throw a grenade!" she jeered. "You don't +know how. Besides, you haven't the nerve!" + +"Get back!" Penny ordered again. "I warn you." + +Mrs. Deline laughed scornfully and came on. + +Even the thought of throwing a hand grenade terrified Penny. She knew +that she could not deliberately harm Mrs. Deline or even the men who were +mercilessly beating her father and Jerry. Yet she had to do something. + +"Maybe I can destroy the rubber boat!" she thought. "It's far enough away +so that no one should be hurt by the explosion." + +Whirling away from Mrs. Deline, Penny faced the sea. Fixing her eyes on +her target, the rubber boat at the water's edge, she hurled the grenade. + +"Idiot!" cried Mrs. Deline, flinging herself flat on the sand to protect +her face from flying fragments. + +Penny did likewise. The grenade dropped with a thud on the sand beside +the rubber boat. Her aim had been perfect. But there was no explosion. +Belatedly, Penny realized that she had forgotten to pull the safety pin. + +Mrs. Deline kept her face buried beneath her arms and did not yet know +what had happened. Sick with the knowledge that she had failed, Penny was +desperate. Her father and Jerry were being cruelly beaten by their +opponents. In another minute they would be overpowered and the Germans +would escape to the waiting submarine. + +"I can't let them get away!" Penny whispered. "I must do something!" + +Remembering the pencil bombs, she groped in the cardboard box for them. +They were not there. Instead, her fingers closed upon the sharp bladed +knife. + +"I'll slash the rubber boat!" she thought. "I'll try to make a hole in +it!" + +Before Mrs. Deline realized what the girl was about, Penny darted down +the beach. The men from the submarine did not see her. Reaching the +rubber boat, she leaped into it. Working with desperate haste, she jabbed +the knife through the bottom. The material was tough and it took all of +her strength to make a long jagged gash. Water seeped in, slowly at +first, then faster. + +"I've done it!" Penny thought jubilantly. "I've done it!" + +Her triumph was fleeting. The next instant the girl was struck a hard +stunning blow from behind. As she collapsed in a limp little heap on the +sand, she dimly saw the cruel, angry face of Mrs. Deline. Then all went +black and she knew no more. + + + + + CHAPTER + 25 + _A SCOOP FOR UNCLE SAM_ + + +Penny opened her eyes and wondered where she was. For a moment she could +remember nothing of what had transpired. Gradually, she realized that she +was lying down, her head pillowed in someone's lap. She seemed to be in a +fast-moving motor boat for she could hear the wash of waves against the +craft. In panic she decided that she must be a prisoner enroute to the +German submarine. She struggled to sit up. + +"Easy there, partner," said a soothing voice. + +Penny twisted sideways to look at the speaker. "Jerry!" she whispered. + +"You're all right," he said, pressing her gently back. "We'll get you to +a doctor in a few minutes." + +"A doctor, my eye!" Penny protested with spirit. + +"That was a nasty blow Mrs. Deline gave you on the head," contributed +another voice. + +Penny turned again and saw her father. His shirt was half torn off and +there was a long gash on his cheek. + +"Dad, you're hurt!" + +"Nothing but a few scratches, Penny. Jerry took worse punishment than I +did. But you should see the other fellows!" + +"What happened?" Penny asked. "Where am I anyhow?" + +"In a patrol boat bound for the hotel." + +"But what happened on the beach? The last I remember was when I tried to +slash the rubber boat." + +"You not only tried, you did!" chuckled Jerry. "Mrs. Deline struck you on +the head with something--maybe a rock--and you went down for the count. +About that time, some of the Army boys arrived. Mrs. Deline and her crowd +tried to make a get-away, but the boat couldn't be launched." + +"Then what happened?" Penny demanded as Jerry paused for breath. + +"The two members of the sub crew tried to swim. They were picked up by a +patrol boat that had been drawn to the locality by the gun fire." + +"And Mrs. Deline?" + +"She and her pal Emory, together with the escaped flier, struck off +across the sand dunes." + +"They didn't get away?" + +"Not on your life. They reached the road and there found a nice reception +awaiting them! Right now the three are lodged at Headquarters." + +Penny took a deep breath. Her head was throbbing but she scarcely felt +the pain. + +"What about Jim McCoy at the lighthouse?" she inquired. + +"He was taken into custody earlier in the evening. A portable +broadcasting outfit was found on the premises." + +"Then Mr. McCoy really was the man responsible for those mysterious +broadcasts--the Voice from the Cave?" + +"No doubt he had helpers," Mr. Parker contributed. "We expect to track +down most of the ring now that the leaders have been captured. At any +rate, we've put an end to the broadcasts. Your other theory was right +too, Penny." + +"What theory, Dad?" + +"That the cave effect was produced by an echo chamber." + +"Then no broadcast ever originated in a cave?" + +"Probably not. We know McCoy shifted locations frequently. Tonight was +the first time he ever dared broadcast from the lighthouse." + +"And what of the old beachcomber, Jake Skagway?" + +"Just a beachcomber," Jerry answered. "He had no connection with Emory or +Mrs. Deline." + +Penny lay perfectly still for a few minutes, gazing up at the dark sky. A +few stars pricked the black canopy above her, and now and then a quarter +moon peeped from behind a cloud screen. + +"How did I get aboard this boat?" she presently inquired. + +"Another patrol boat came by," Jerry explained. "In fact, after all the +fireworks, just about everyone in Sunset Beach arrived on the scene. We +wanted to get you to a doctor so we took the first transportation that +offered." + +"Almost there now too," added Mr. Parker. + +Penny sat up. The shore was dark but she could dimly see the dark Crystal +Inn hotel. + +"I don't need a doctor," she laughed. "I'm feeling better every minute. +My, won't Louise be green with envy when she learns what she missed!" + +"I'd say she was lucky," Mr. Parker corrected. "Penny, you don't seem to +realize what a narrow escape we all had." + +"That's right," added Jerry, "those men were desperate, and they'd have +stopped at nothing. I guess we owe our lives to you, Penny." + +Penny loved the praise. Nevertheless, she replied with a show of modesty: + +"Oh, I didn't do a thing, Jerry. As a matter of record, I nearly messed +up the show. When I threw that hand grenade I forgot to pull the safety +pin." + +"I'm glad you did," chuckled Jerry. "If it had exploded, we might not be +here now." + +Penny sat very still, thinking over what had happened. Events were a bit +hazy in her mind and many questions remained unanswered. + +"The submarine?" she asked after a moment. + +"Sunk," Jerry replied. "One of our patrol planes scored a direct hit." + +"I guess that brings me up to date," Penny sighed, "There's only one +thing that bothers me." + +"What's that?" inquired her father. + +"Did you know who Mrs. Deline was when you invited her to come with us to +Sunset Beach?" + +"No, but I had a healthy suspicion that she might be working against our +country, Penny. I first met Mrs. Deline at the Club. However, she was +rather transparent in making a play for my attention. In checking up I +discovered that she never had been in China and never had written a +newspaper story in her life. When she practically invited herself to ride +with us to Sunset Beach, I thought I'd try to find out more about her +little game." + +"I acted so silly about everything," Penny acknowledged, deeply ashamed. +"I'm sorry, Dad." + +"You needn't be, Penny. At times you were rude to Mrs. Deline which was +wrong. But your actions served a good purpose by keeping the woman so +diverted that she never was on her guard." + +Shore was very close. As the powerful engines of the motor boat became +muted, Penny said wistfully: + +"Now that your work is done here, Jerry, I suppose you'll be winging off +to some far corner of the country." + +"Not for a few days at least," he reassured her. "I'm expecting a +furlough and I'll spend it right here at Sunset Beach. We'll cram those +days full of fun, Penny. We'll swim and golf and dance. We'll make every +minute count." + +The boat grated gently against the dock and a sailor leaped out to make +the craft fast. Mr. Parker and Jerry helped Penny ashore. Though she +tried to stand steady upon her feet, the boards rocked beneath her. + +"Hook on," invited Jerry, offering an arm. + +Mr. Parker supported her on the other side, and thus they walked slowly +toward the hotel. + +"The Three Musketeers!" chuckled the editor. "'One for all, and all for +one.'" + +"We do make a trio," agreed Penny. "Tonight it seems just as it did when +we were together in Riverview working on a big news story. There's one +difference though." + +"What's that?" asked Jerry. + +"Tonight we were actors in a little drama that should be page one on any +newspaper. Yet neither of you news hawks so much as spoke of trying to +get a scoop for the _Riverview Star_." + +"Good reason," rumbled Mr. Parker. "The story of what happened tonight +may never be published." + +"I understand, Dad. If the news were printed now it might give valuable +information to the enemy." + +Penny paused to catch her breath. With Jerry and her father still +supporting her, she turned to face the restless sea. The patrol boat had +slipped away into the darkness. Far up shore, unmindful that her +faithless master had gone, the bright beacon from the lighthouse swept +the water at regular intervals. Nothing seemed changed. + +"Curtain going down on one of the best adventures of my life," Penny said +softly. "Who cares that the _Riverview Star_ missed the story? Why, this +was an A-1 scoop for Uncle Sam!" + + + + + 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. + + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Voice from the Cave, by Mildred A. 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