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diff --git a/34552.txt b/34552.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6f97165 --- /dev/null +++ b/34552.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6776 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Danger at the Drawbridge, 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: Danger at the Drawbridge + +Author: Mildred A. Wirt + +Release Date: December 3, 2010 [EBook #34552] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DANGER AT THE DRAWBRIDGE *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Brenda Lewis and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + Danger + at the + Drawbridge + + + _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, 1940, BY CUPPLES AND LEON CO. + + Danger at the Drawbridge + + PRINTED IN U. S. A. + + + + + CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + 1 AN ASSIGNMENT FOR PENNY _1_ + 2 REPORTERS NOT WANTED _9_ + 3 GIFT TO THE BRIDE _19_ + 4 BEHIND THE BUSHES _28_ + 5 THE MISSING BRIDEGROOM _35_ + 6 A RING OF WHITE GOLD _45_ + 7 THE FORBIDDEN POOL _54_ + 8 PARENTAL PROTEST _63_ + 9 A SOCIETY BAZAAR _72_ + 10 A THROWN STONE _79_ + 11 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS _88_ + 12 FISHERMAN'S LUCK _96_ + 13 TWO MEN AND A BOAT _105_ + 14 THE STONE TOWER _113_ + 15 A CAMEO PIN _122_ + 16 GATHERING CLUES _129_ + 17 A SEARCH FOR JERRY _140_ + 18 OVER THE DRAWBRIDGE _149_ + 19 A DARING RESCUE _158_ + 20 AN IMPORTANT INTERVIEW _164_ + 21 THE WHITE CRUISER _171_ + 22 TRAPPED IN THE CABIN _177_ + 23 AT THE HIDE-OUT _184_ + 24 SECRET OF THE LILY POOL _192_ + 25 VICTORY FOR PENNY _203_ + + + + + CHAPTER + 1 + _AN ASSIGNMENT FOR PENNY_ + + +Penny Parker, leaning indolently against the edge of the kitchen table, +watched Mrs. Weems stem strawberries into a bright green bowl. + +"Tempting bait for Dad's jaded appetite," she remarked, helping herself +to the largest berry in the dish. "If he can't eat them, I can." + +"I do wish you'd leave those berries alone," the housekeeper protested in +an exasperated tone. "They haven't been washed yet." + +"Oh, I don't mind a few germs," laughed Penny. "I just toss them off like +a duck shedding water. Shall I take the breakfast tray up to Dad?" + +"Yes, I wish you would, Penny," sighed Mrs. Weems. "I'm right tired on my +feet this morning. Hot weather always did wear me down." + +She washed the berries and then offered the tray of food to Penny who +started with it toward the kitchen vestibule. + +"Now where are you going, Penelope Parker?" Mrs. Weems demanded +suspiciously. + +"Oh, just to the automatic lift." Penny's blue eyes were round with +innocence. + +"Don't you dare try to ride in that contraption again!" scolded the +housekeeper. "It was never built to carry human freight." + +"I'm not exactly freight," Penny said with an injured sniff. "It's strong +enough to carry me. I know because I tried it last week." + +"You walk up the stairs like a lady or I'll take the tray myself," Mrs. +Weems threatened. "I declare, I don't know when you'll grow up." + +"Oh, all right," grumbled Penny good-naturedly. "But I do maintain it's a +shameful waste of energy." + +Balancing the tray precariously on the palm of her hand she tripped +lightly up the stairway and tapped on the door of her father's bedroom. + +"Come in," he called in a muffled voice. + +Anthony Parker, editor and owner of the _Riverview Star_ sat propped up +with pillows, reading a day-old edition of the newspaper. + +"'Morning, Dad," said Penny cheerfully. "How is our invalid today?" + +"I'm no more an invalid than you are," returned Mr. Parker testily. "If +that old quack, Doctor Horn, doesn't let me out of bed today--" + +"You'll simply explode, won't you, Dad?" Penny finished mischievously. +"Here, drink your coffee and you'll feel less like a stick of dynamite." + +Mr. Parker tossed the newspaper aside and made a place on his knees for +the breakfast tray. + +"Did I hear an argument between you and Mrs. Weems?" he asked curiously. + +"No argument, Dad. I just wanted to ride up in style on the lift. Mrs. +Weems thought it wasn't a civilized way to travel." + +"I should think not." The corners of Mr. Parker's mouth twitched slightly +as he poured coffee from the silver pot. "That lift was built to carry +breakfast trays, but not in combination with athletic young ladies." + +"What a bore, this business of growing up," sighed Penny. "You can't be +natural at all." + +"You seem to manage rather well with all the restrictions," her father +remarked dryly. + +Penny twisted her neck to gaze at her reflection in the dresser mirror +beyond the footboard of the big mahogany bed. + +"I won't mind growing up if only I'm able to develop plenty of glamour," +she said speculatively. "Am I getting any better looking, Dad?" + +"Not that I've noticed," replied Mr. Parker gruffly, but his gaze +lingered affectionately upon his daughter's golden hair. She really was +growing prettier each day and looked more like her mother who had died +when Penny was a little girl. He had spoiled her, of course, for she was +an only child, but he was proud because he had taught her to think +straight. She was deeply loyal and affectionate and those who loved her +overlooked her casual ways and flippant speech. + +"What happened to the paper boy this morning?" Mr. Parker asked between +bites of buttered toast. + +"It isn't time for him yet, Dad," said Penny demurely. "You always expect +him at least an hour early." + +"First edition's been off the press a good half hour," grumbled the +newspaper owner. "When I get back to the _Star_ office, I'll see that +deliveries are speeded up. Just wait until I talk with Roberts!" + +"Haven't you been doing a pretty strenuous job of running the paper right +from your bed?" inquired Penny as she refilled her father's cup. +"Sometimes when you talk with that poor circulation manager I think the +telephone wires will burn off." + +"So I'm a tyrant, am I?" + +"Oh, everyone knows your bark is worse than your bite, Dad. But you've +certainly not been at your best the last few days." + +Mr. Parker's eyes roved about the luxuriously furnished bedroom. Tinted +walls, chintz draperies, the rich, deep rug, were completely lost upon +him. "This place is a prison," he grumbled. + +For nearly a week the household had been thrown completely out of its +usual routine by the editor's illness. Overwork combined with an attack +of influenza had sent him to bed, there to remain until he should be +released by a doctor's order. With a telephone at his elbow, Mr. Parker +had kept in close touch with the staff of the _Riverview Star_ but he +fretted at confinement. + +"I can't half look after things," he complained. "And now Miss Hilderman, +the society editor, is sick. I don't know how we'll get a good story on +the Kippenberg wedding." + +Penny looked up quickly. "Miss Hilderman is ill?" + +"Yes, DeWitt, the city editor, telephoned me a few minutes ago. She +wasn't able to show up for work this morning." + +"I really don't see why he should bother you about that, Dad. Can't Miss +Hilderman's assistant take over the duties?" + +"The routine work, yes, but I don't care to trust her with the Kippenberg +story." + +"Is it something extra special, Dad?" + +"Surely, you've heard of Mrs. Clayton Kippenberg?" + +"The name is familiar but I can't seem to recall--" + +"Clayton Kippenberg made a mint of money in the chain drug business. No +one ever knew exactly the extent of his fortune. He built an elaborate +estate about a hundred and twenty-five miles from here, familiarly called +_The Castle_ because of its resemblance to an ancient feudal castle. The +estate is cut off from the mainland on three sides and may be reached +either by boat or by means of a picturesque drawbridge." + +"Sounds interesting," commented Penny. + +"I never saw the place myself. In fact, Kippenberg never allowed +outsiders to visit the estate. Less than a year ago a rumor floated +around that he had separated from his wife. There also was considerable +talk that he had disappeared because of difficulties with the government +over income tax evasion and wished to escape arrest. At any rate, he +faded out of the picture while his wife remained in possession of _The +Castle_." + +"And now she is marrying again?" + +"No, it is Mrs. Kippenberg's daughter, Sylvia, who is to be married. The +bridegroom, Grant Atherwald, comes from a very old and distinguished +family." + +"I don't see why the story should be so difficult to cover." + +"Mrs. Kippenberg has ruled that no reporters or photographers will be +allowed on the estate," explained Mr. Parker. + +"That does complicate the situation." + +"Yes, it may not be easy to persuade Mrs. Kippenberg to change her mind. +I rather doubt that our assistant society editor has the ingenuity to +handle the story." + +"Then why don't you send one of the regular reporters? Jerry Livingston, +for instance?" + +"Jerry couldn't tell a tulle wedding veil from one of crinoline. Nor +could any other man on the staff." + +"I could get that story for you," Penny said suddenly. "Why don't you try +me?" + +Mr. Parker gazed at his daughter speculatively. + +"Do you really think you could?" + +"Of course." Penny spoke with assurance. "Didn't I bring in two perfectly +good scoops for your old sheet?" + +"You certainly did. Your Vanishing Houseboat yarn was one of the best +stories we've published in a year of Sundays. And the town is still +talking about Tale of the Witch Doll." + +"After what I went through to get those stories, a mere wedding would be +child's play." + +"Don't be too confident," warned Mr. Parker. "If Mrs. Kippenberg doesn't +alter her decision about reporters, the story may be impossible to get." + +"May I try?" Penny asked eagerly. + +Mr. Parker frowned. "Well, I don't know. I hate to send you so far, and +then I have a feeling--" + +"Yes, Dad?" + +"I can't put my thoughts into words. It's just that my newspaper instinct +tells me this story may develop into something big. Kippenberg's +disappearance never was fully explained and his wife refused to discuss +the affair with reporters." + +"Kippenberg might be at the wedding," said Penny, thinking aloud. "If he +were a normal father he would wish to see his daughter married." + +"You follow my line of thought, Penny. When you're at the estate--if you +get in--keep your eyes and ears open." + +"Then you'll let me cover the story?" Penny cried in delight. + +"Yes, I'll telephone the office now and arrange for a photographer to go +with you." + +"Tell them to send Salt Sommers," Penny suggested quickly. "He doesn't +act as know-it-all as some of the other lads." + +"I had Sommers in mind," her father nodded as he reached for the +telephone. + +"And I have a lot more than Salt Sommers in _my_ mind," laughed Penny. + +"Meaning?" + +"Another big story, Dad! A scoop for the _Star_ and this for you." + +Penny implanted a kiss on her father's cheek and skipped joyously from +the room. + + + + + CHAPTER + 2 + _REPORTERS NOT WANTED_ + + +In the editorial room of the _Riverview Star_ heads turned and eyebrows +lifted as Penny, decked in her best silk dress and white picture hat, +clicked her high-heeled slippers across the bare floor. Jerry Livingston, +reporter, stopped pecking at his typewriter and stared in undisguised +admiration. + +"Well, if it isn't our Bright Penny," he bantered. "Didn't recognize you +for a minute in all those glad rags." + +"These are my work clothes," replied Penny. "I'm covering the Kippenberg +wedding." + +Jerry pushed his hat farther back on his head and grinned. + +"Tough assignment. From what I hear of the Kippenberg family, you'll be +lucky if they don't throw the wedding cake at you." + +Penny laughed and went on, winding her way through a barricade of desks +to the office of the society editor. Miss Arnold, the assistant, was +talking over the telephone, but in a moment she finished and turned to +face the girl. + +"Good morning, Miss Parker," she said stiffly. An edge to her voice told +Penny more clearly than words that the young woman was nettled because +she had not been trusted with the story. + +"Good morning," replied Penny politely. "Dad said you would be able to +give me helpful suggestions about covering the Kippenberg wedding." + +"There's not much I can tell you, really. The ceremony is to take place +at two o'clock in the garden, so you'll have ample time to reach the +estate. If you get in--" Miss Arnold placed an unpleasant emphasis upon +the words--"take notes on Miss Kippenberg's gown, the flowers, the +decorations, the names of her attendants. Try to keep your facts +straight. Nothing infuriates a bride more than to read in the paper that +she carried a bouquet of lilies-of-the-valley and roses while actually it +was a bouquet of some other flower." + +"I'll try not to infuriate Miss Kippenberg," promised Penny. + +Miss Arnold glanced quickly at her but the girl's face was perfectly +serene. + +"That's all I can tell you, Miss Parker," she said shortly. "Bring in at +least a column. For some reason the city editor rates the wedding an +important story." + +"I'll do my best," responded Penny, and arose. + +Salt Sommers was waiting for her when she came out of the office. He was +a tall, spare young man, with a deep scar down his left cheek. He talked +nearly as fast as he walked. + +"If you're all set, let's go," he said. + +Penny found herself three paces behind but she caught up with the +photographer as he waited for the elevator. + +"I'm taking Minny along," Salt volunteered, holding his finger steadily +on the signal bell. "May come in handy." + +"Minny?" asked Penny, puzzled. + +"Miniature camera. You can't always use the Model X." + +"Oh," murmured Penny. Deeply embarrassed, she remained silent as the +elevator shot them down to the ground floor. + +Salt loaded his photographic equipment into a battered press car which +was parked near the loading dock at the rear of the building. He slid in +behind the wheel and then as an afterthought swung open the car door for +Penny. + +Salt seemed to know the way to the Kippenberg estate. They shot through +Riverview traffic, shaving red lights and tooting derisively at slow +drivers. In open country he pressed the accelerator down to the floor and +the car roared down the road, only slackening speed as it raced through a +town. + +"How do you travel when you're in a hurry?" Penny gasped, clinging to her +flopping hat. + +Salt grinned and lifted his foot from the gasoline pedal. + +"Sorry," he said. "I get in the habit of driving fast. We have plenty of +time." + +As they rode, Penny gathered scraps of information. The Kippenberg estate +was located six miles from the town of Corbin and was cut off from the +mainland on three sides by the joining of two wide rivers, one with a +direct outlet to the ocean. Salt did not know when the house had been +built but it was considered one of the show places of the locality. + +"Do you think we'll have much trouble getting our story?" Penny asked +anxiously. + +"All depends," Salt answered briefly. He slammed on the brake so suddenly +that Penny was flung forward in the seat. + +Another car coming from the opposite direction had pulled up at the side +of the road. Penny did not recognize the three men who were crowded into +the front seat, but the printed placard, _Ledger_ which was pasted on the +windshield told her they represented a rival newspaper in Riverview. + +"What luck, Les?" Salt called, craning his neck out the car window. + +"You may as well turn around and go back," came the disgusted reply. "The +old lady won't let a reporter or a photographer on the estate. She has a +guard stationed on the drawbridge to see that you don't get past." + +The car drove on toward Riverview. Salt sat staring down the road, +drumming his fingers thoughtfully on the steering wheel. + +"Looks like we're up against a tough assignment," he said. "If Les can't +get in--" + +"I'm not going back without at least an attempt," announced Penny firmly. + +"That's the spirit!" Salt cried with sudden approval. "We'll get on the +estate somehow if we have to swim over." + +He jerked the press card from the windshield, and reaching into the back +seat of the car, covered the Model X camera with an old gunny sack. The +miniature camera he placed in his coat pocket. + +"No use advertising our profession too early in the game," he remarked. + +Twelve-thirty found Penny and Salt in the sleepy little town of Corbin. +Fortifying themselves with a lunch of hot dog sandwiches and pop, they +followed a winding, dusty highway toward the Kippenberg estate. + +Presently, through the trees, marking the end of the road, an iron +drawbridge loomed up. It stood in open position so that boats might pass +on the river below. A wooden barrier had been erected across the front of +the structure which bore a large painted sign. Penny read the words +aloud. + + "'DANGEROUS DRAWBRIDGE--KEEP OFF.'" + +Salt drew up at the side of the road. "Looks as if this is as far as +we're going," he said in disgust. "There's no other road to the estate. +I'll bet that 'dangerous drawbridge' business is just a dodge to keep +undesirables away from the place until after the wedding." + +Penny nodded gloomily. Then she brightened as she noticed an old man who +obviously was an estate guard standing at the entrance to the bridge. He +stared toward the old car as if trying to ascertain whether or not the +occupants were expected guests. + +"I'm going over to talk with him," Penny said. + +"Pretend that you're a guest," suggested Salt. "You look the part in that +fancy outfit of yours." + +Penny walked leisurely toward the drawbridge. Appraisingly, she studied +the old man who leaned comfortably against the gearhouse. A dilapidated +hat pulled low over his shaggy brows seemed in keeping with the rest of +his wardrobe--a blue work shirt and a pair of grease-smudged overalls. A +charred corn-cob pipe, thrust at an angle between his lips, provided sure +protection against the mosquitoes swarming up from the river below. + +"Good afternoon," began Penny pleasantly. "My friend and I are looking +for the Kippenberg estate. We were told at Corbin to take this road but +we seem to have made a mistake." + +"You ain't made no mistake, Miss," the old man replied. + +"Then is the estate across the river?" + +"That's right, Miss." + +"But how are guests to reach the place? I see the sign says the bridge is +out of commission. Are we supposed to swim over?" + +"Not if you don't want to," the old man answered evenly. "Mrs. Kippenberg +has a launch that takes the folks back and forth. It's on the other side +now but will be back in no time at all." + +"I'll wait in the car out of the hot sun," Penny said. She started away, +then paused to inquire casually: "Is this drawbridge really out of +order?" + +The old man was deliberate in his reply. He blew a ring of smoke into the +air, watched it hover like a floating skein of wool and finally +disintegrate as if plucked to pieces by an unseen hand. + +"Well, yes, and no," he said. "It ain't exactly sick but she sure is +ailin'. I wouldn't trust no heavy contraption on this bridge." + +"Condemned by the state, I suppose?" + +"No, Miss, and I'll tell you why. This here bridge doesn't belong to the +state. It's a private bridge on a private road." + +"Odd that Mrs. Kippenberg never had it repaired," Penny remarked. "It +must be annoying." + +"It is to all them that don't like launches. As for Mrs. Kippenberg, she +don't mind. Fact is, she ain't much afraid of the bridge. She drives her +car across whenever she takes the notion." + +"Then the bridge does operate!" Penny exclaimed. + +"Sure it does. That's my job, to raise and lower it whenever the owner +says the word. But the bridge ain't fit for delivery trucks and +such-like. One of them big babies would crack through like goin' over +sponge ice." + +"Well, I rather envy your employer," said Penny lightly. "It isn't every +lady who has her own private drawbridge." + +"She is kind of exclusive-like that way, Miss. Mrs. Kippenberg she keeps +the drawbridge up so she'll have more privacy. And I ain't blamin' her. +These here newspaper reporters always is a-pesterin' the life out of +her." + +Penny nodded sympathetically and walked back to make her report to Salt. + +"No luck?" he demanded. + +"Guess twice," she laughed. "The old bridgeman just took it for granted I +was one of the wedding guests. It will be all right for us to go over in +the guest launch as soon as it arrives." + +Salt gazed ruefully at his clothes. + +"I don't look much like a guest. Think I'll pass inspection?" + +"Maybe you could get by as one of the poor relations," grinned Penny. +"Pull your hat down and straighten your tie." + +Salt shook his head. "A business suit with a grease spot on the vest +isn't the correct dress for a formal wedding. You might get by but I +won't." + +"Then should I try it alone?" + +"I'll have to get those pictures somehow," stated Salt grimly. + +"Maybe we could hire a boat of our own," Penny suggested. "Of course it +wouldn't look as well as if we arrived on the guest launch." + +"Let's see what we can line up," Salt said, swinging open the car door. + +They walked to the river's edge and looked in both directions. There were +no small boats to be seen. The only available craft was a large motor +boat which came slowly downstream toward the open drawbridge. Penny +caught a glimpse of the pilot, a burly man with a red, puffy face. + +Salt slid down the bank toward the water's edge, and hailed the boat. + +"Hey, you, Cap'n!" he called. "Two bucks to take me across the river." + +The man inclined his head, looked steadily at Salt for an instant, then +deliberately turned his back. + +"Five!" shouted Salt. + +The pilot gave no sign that he had heard. Instead, he speeded up the boat +which passed beneath the drawbridge and went on down the river. + + + + + CHAPTER + 3 + _GIFT TO THE BRIDE_ + + +"Perhaps he didn't hear you," said Penny, peering after the retreating +boat. + +"He heard me all right," growled Salt as he scrambled back up the high +bank. + +Noticing a small boy in dirty overalls who sat at the water's edge +fishing, he called to him: "Say, sonny, who was that fellow, do you +know?" + +"Nope," answered the boy, barely turning his head, "but his boat has been +going up and down the river all morning. That's why I can't catch +anything." + +The boat rounded a bend of the river and was lost to view. Only one other +craft appeared on the water, a freshly painted white motor launch which +could be seen coming from the far shore. + +"That must be the guest boat now," remarked Penny, shading her eyes +against the glare of the sun. "It seems to be our only hope." + +"Let's try to get aboard and see what happens," proposed the +photographer. + +They walked leisurely back toward the guard at the drawbridge, timing +their arrival just as the launch swung up to the landing. With a cool +assurance which Penny tried to duplicate, Salt stepped aboard, nodded +indifferently to the wheelsman, and slumped down in one of the leather +seats. + +Penny waited uneasily for embarrassing questions which did not come. +Gradually she relaxed as the boatman took no interest in them and the +guard's attention was fully occupied with other cars which had driven up +to the drawbridge. + +A few minutes later, two elderly women, both elegantly gowned, were +helped aboard the boat by their chauffeur. One of the women stared +disapprovingly at Salt through her lorgnette and then ignored him. + +"We'll get by all right," Salt whispered confidently. + +"Wait until Mrs. Kippenberg sees us," warned Penny. + +"Oh, we'll keep out of her way until we have our story and plenty of +pictures. Once we're across the river it will be easy." + +"I hope you're right," muttered Penny. + +While Salt's task of taking pictures might prove relatively simple, she +realized that her own work would be anything but easy. She could not hope +to gather many facts without talking to a member of the family, and the +instant she admitted her identity she likely would be ejected from the +grounds. + +"I boasted I'd bring in a front page story," she thought ruefully. "I'll +be lucky if I get a column of routine stuff." + +The boat was moving slowly away from the landing when the guard at the +drawbridge called in a loud voice: "Hold it, Joe!" + +Penny and Salt stiffened in their chairs, fearing they were to be +exposed. But they were both greatly relieved to see that a long, black +limousine had drawn up at the end of the road. The launch had been +stopped so that additional passengers might be accommodated. + +Salt nudged Penny's elbow. + +"Grant Atherwald," he contributed, jerking his head toward a tall, +well-built young man who had stepped from the car. "I've seen his picture +plenty of times." + +"The bridegroom?" Penny turned to stare. + +"Sure. He's one of the blue-bloods, but they say he's a little short on +ready cash." + +The young man, dressed immaculately in formal day attire, and accompanied +by two other men, came aboard the launch. He bowed politely to the +elderly women and his gaze fell questioningly upon Penny and Salt. But if +he wondered why they were there, he did not voice his thought. + +As the boat put out across the river Penny watched Grant Atherwald +curiously. It seemed to her that he appeared nervous and preoccupied. He +stared straight before him, clenching and unclenching his hands. His face +was colorless and drawn. + +"He's nervous and worried," thought Penny. "I guess all bridegrooms are +like that." + +A sharp "click" sounded in her ear. Penny did not turn toward Salt, but +she caught her breath, knowing what he had done. He had dared to take a +picture of Grant Atherwald! + +She waited, feeling certain that the sound must have been heard by +everyone in the boat. A full minute elapsed and no one spoke. When Penny +finally glanced at Salt he was gazing serenely out across the muddy +water, his miniature camera shielded behind a felt hat which he held on +his knees. + +The boat docked. Salt and Penny allowed the others to go ashore first, +and then followed a narrow walk which wound through a deep lane of +evergreen trees. + +"Salt," Penny asked abruptly, "how did you get that picture of +Atherwald?" + +"Snapped it through a hole in the crown of my hat. It's an old trick. I +always wear this special hat when I'm sent out on a hard assignment." + +"I thought a cannon had gone off when the shutter clicked," Penny +laughed. "We were lucky you weren't caught." + +Emerging from behind the trees, they obtained their first view of the +Kippenberg house. Sturdily built of brick and stone, it stood upon a +slight hill, its many turrets and towers commanding a view of the two +rivers. + +"Nice layout," Salt commented, pausing to snap a second picture. "Wish +someone would give me a castle for a playhouse." + +They crossed the moat and found themselves directly behind Grant +Atherwald again. Before the bridegroom could enter the house a servant +stepped forward and handed him a sealed envelope. + +"I was told to give this to you as soon as you arrived, sir," he said. + +Grant Atherwald nodded, and taking the letter, quickly opened it. A +troubled expression came over his face as he scanned the message. Without +a word he thrust the paper into his pocket. Turning, he walked swiftly +toward the garden. + +"Salt, did you notice how queerly Atherwald looked--" Penny began, but +the photographer interrupted her. + +"Listen," he said, "we haven't a Chinaman's chance of getting in the +front door. That boy in the fancy knickers is giving everyone the once +over. Let's try a side entrance." + +Without attracting attention they walked quickly around the house and +located a door where no servant had been posted. Entering, they passed +through a marble-floored vestibule into a breakfast room crowded with +serving tables. Salt nonchalantly helped himself to an olive from one of +the large glass dishes and led Penny on toward the main hall where many +of the guests had gathered to admire the wedding gifts. + +"Now don't swipe any of the silver," Salt said jokingly. "I think that +fellow over by the stairway is a private detective." + +"He seems to be looking at us with a suspicious gleam in his eyes," Penny +replied. "I hope we don't get tossed out of here." + +"We'll be all right if Mrs. Kippenberg doesn't see us before the +ceremony." + +"Do you suppose Mr. Kippenberg could be here, Salt?" + +"Not likely. It's my guess that fellow will never be seen again." + +"Dad doesn't share your opinion." + +"I know," Salt admitted. "We'll keep watch for him, but it would just be +a lucky break if it turns out he's here." + +Mingling with the guests, they walked slowly about a long table where the +wedding gifts were displayed. Penny gazed curiously at dishes of solid +silver, crystal bowls, candlesticks, jade ornaments, tea sets and service +plates encrusted with gold. + +"Nothing trashy here," muttered Salt. + +"I've never seen such an elegant display," Penny whispered in awe. "Do +you suppose that picture is one of the gifts?" + +She indicated an oil painting which stood on an easel not far from the +table. So many guests had gathered about the picture that she could not +see it distinctly. But at her elbow, a woman in rustling silk, said to a +companion: + +"My dear, a genuine Van Gogh! It must have cost a small fortune!" + +When the couple had moved aside, Penny and Salt drew closer to the easel. +One glance assured them that the painting had been executed by a master. +However, it was the subject of the picture which gave Penny a distinct +start. + +"Will you look at that!" she whispered to Salt. + +"What about it?" he asked carelessly. + +"Don't you notice anything significant?" + +"Can't say I do. It's just a nice picture of a drawbridge." + +"That's just the point, Salt!" Penny's eyes danced with excitement. "A +drawbridge!" + +The photographer glanced again at the painting, this time with deeper +interest. + +"Say, it looks a lot like the bridge which was built over the river," he +observed. "You think this picture is a copy of it?" + +Penny shook her head impatiently. "Salt, your knowledge of art is +dreadful. This Van Gogh was painted ages ago and is priceless. Don't you +see, the drawbridge has to be a copy of the picture?" + +"Your theory sounds reasonable," Salt admitted. "I wonder who gave the +painting to the bride? There's no name attached." + +"Can't you guess why?" + +"I never was good at kid games." + +"Why, it's clear as crystal," Penny declared, keeping her voice low. +"This estate with the drawbridge was built by Clayton Kippenberg. He must +have been familiar with the Van Gogh painting, and had the real bridge +modeled after the picture. For that matter, the painting may have been in +his possession--" + +"Then you think the picture was presented to Sylvia Kippenberg by her +father?" Salt broke in quickly. + +"Yes, I do. Only a person very close to the bride would have given such a +gift." + +"H-m," said Salt, squinting at the picture thoughtfully. "If you're right +it means that Clayton Kippenberg's whereabouts must be known to his +family. His disappearance may not be such a deep mystery to Mamma +Kippenberg and daughter Sylvia." + +"Oh, Salt, wouldn't it make a grand story if only we could learn what +became of him?" + +"Sure. Front page stuff." + +"We simply must get the story somehow! If Mrs. Kippenberg would just +answer our questions about this drawbridge painting--" + +"I'm afraid Mamma Kippenberg isn't going to break down and tell all," +Salt said dryly. "But buckle on your steel armor, little girl, because +here she comes now!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 4 + _BEHIND THE BUSHES_ + + +A large, middle-aged woman in rose-colored silk, crossed the room +directly toward Salt and Penny. Her pale blue eyes glinted with anger and +there were hard lines about her mouth. She walked haughtily, but with +grim purpose. + +"Unless we do some fast talking, out we go!" muttered Salt. "It's Mrs. +Kippenberg, all right." + +They stood their ground, knowing they had been recognized as intruders. +But before the woman could reach them she was stopped by a servant who +spoke a few words in a low tone. For a moment Mrs. Kippenberg forgot +about Penny and Salt as a new problem presented itself. + +"I can't talk with anyone now," she said in an agitated voice. "Tell them +to come back later." + +"They insist upon talking with you now, Madam," replied the servant. +"Unless you see them they say they will look around for themselves." + +"Oh!" Mrs. Kippenberg drew herself up sharply as if from a physical blow. +"Where are they now?" + +"In the library, Madam." + +Penny did not hear the woman's reply, but she turned and followed the +servant. + +"Saved by the bell," mumbled Salt. "Now let's get away from here before +she comes back." + +They pushed through the throng and reached a long hallway. Mrs. +Kippenberg had disappeared, but as they drew near an open door they +caught sight of her again. She stood just inside the library, her back +toward them, talking with two men who wore plain gray business suits. + +Penny half drew back, fearing discovery, but Salt pulled her along. As +they went quietly past the door they heard Mrs. Kippenberg say in an +excited voice: + +"No, no, I tell you he isn't here! Why should I try to deceive you? We +have nothing to hide. You are most inconsiderate to annoy me at such a +time!" + +Penny and Salt did not hear the reply. They reached an outside door and +stepped down on a flagstone terrace which overlooked the garden at the +rear of the grounds. + +"Who were those men, do you suppose?" Penny whispered, fearful that her +voice might betray them. + +"Officers of the law, I should guess," Salt replied in an undertone. + +"Government men?" + +"Likely as not. I don't believe the locals would bother her. Anyway she's +got the wind up and you can tell she's scared silly in spite of all her +back talk." + +"You know what I think they're after?" Penny said thoughtfully. + +"Well, if I had just one guess," Salt replied, "I'd say they are after +Mr. Kippenberg." + +"I agree with you there." + +"Sure, why else would they come sleuthing around at a time like this? The +answer is simple. Daughter gets married. Papa wants to see his darling do +it. Therefore, boys, we'll spread a net for Daddy and he might plump +right into it." + +"So that's the way a G man's mind works?" laughed Penny. + +"But I would take it that Kippenberg is no fool," Salt went on. "If they +really have a 'man wanted' sign hung on him he would be too cagey to come +around here today." + +They were standing beside the stone balustrade which bounded the terrace. +Below them the green foliage of the gardens formed a dark background for +the playing fountains. A cool breeze drifted in from the river and +rattled a window awning just over their heads. + +"We're in an exposed place here," observed Salt uneasily. "Maybe we ought +to find a hole somewhere." + +"We'll never learn anything in a hole," Penny objected. "In fact, we're +not making much progress in running down any sort of story. I do wish we +could have heard more of that conversation." + +"And get thrown out on our collective ear before we even have a chance to +snap a picture of the blushing bride!" + +"Pictures! Pictures!" exclaimed Penny. "That's all you photographers +think about. How about poor little me and my story? After all, you can't +bring out a paper full of nothing but pictures and cigarette ads. You +need a little news to go with it." + +"You like to work too fast," complained Salt. "Right now the thing to do +is to keep out of sight. I'm telling you the minute Mrs. Kippy finishes +with those men she'll be gunning for us." + +"Then I suppose we'll have to go into hiding." + +"First, let's mosey out into the rose garden," Salt proposed. "I'll take +a few shots and then we'll duck under somewhere and wait until the +ceremony starts." + +"That's all very well for you," grumbled Penny, "but I can't write much +of a story without talking to some member of the family." + +Salt started off across the velvety green lawn toward the rose arbor +where the service was to be held. Penny followed reluctantly. She watched +the photographer take several pictures before a servant approached him. + +"I beg your pardon," the man said coldly, "but Mrs. Kippenberg gave +orders no pictures were to be taken. If you are from one of the papers--" + +"Oh, I saw her in the house just a minute ago," Salt replied carelessly. + +"Sorry, sir," the servant apologized, retreating. + +Salt finished taking the pictures and slipped the miniature camera back +into his pocket. + +"Now let's amble down toward the river and wait," he said to Penny. +"We'll blossom forth just as the ceremony starts. Mrs. Kippy won't dare +interrupt it to have us thrown off the grounds." + +They walked down a sloping path, past a glass-enclosed hothouse and on +toward a grove of giant oak and maple trees. + +"It's pleasant here when you're away from the crowd," Penny remarked, +gazing up at the leafy canopy. "I wonder where this path leads?" + +"Oh, down to the river probably. With water on three sides of us that's a +fairly safe guess." + +"Which rivers flow past the estate, Salt?" + +"The Big Bear and the Kobalt." + +"The same old muddy Kobalt which is near our town," said Penny in +surprise. "I'll always think of it as a river of adventure." + +"Because of Mud-Cat Joe and his Vanishing Houseboat?" + +Penny nodded and a dreamy look came into her eyes. "So much happened on +the Kobalt, Salt. Remember that big party Dad threw at the Comstock Inn?" + +"Do I? Jerry Livingston decided to sleep in Room Seven where so many +persons had disappeared." + +"And then he was spirited away almost before our very eyes," added Penny. +"Days later Mud-Cat Joe helped me fish him out of this same old Kobalt. +For awhile we didn't think he'd ever pull through or be able to tell what +had happened to him." + +"But as the grand finale you and your friend, Louise Sidell, solved the +mystery and secured a dandy story for the _Star_. Those were the days!" + +"You talk as if they were gone forever," laughed Penny. "Other good +stories will come along." + +"Maybe," said Salt, "but covering a wedding is pretty tame in +comparison." + +"Yet this one does have interesting angles," Penny insisted. "Can't you +almost feel mystery lurking about the place?" + +"No, but I do feel a mosquito sinking his stinger into me." Salt slapped +vigorously at his ankle. + +They followed the path on toward the river, coming soon to a trail which +branched off to the right. Across it had been stretched a wire barrier +and a neatly lettered sign read: + + NO ADMITTANCE BEYOND THIS POINT. + +"Why do you suppose the path is blocked off?" Penny speculated. + +"Let's find out," Salt suggested with a sudden flare of interest. "Maybe +we'll run into something worth a picture." + +Penny hesitated, not wishing to disregard the sign, yet eager to learn +what lay beyond the barrier. + +"Listen," said Salt, "just put your little conscience on ice. We're here +to get the 'who, when, why and where.' You'll never be a first class +newspaper reporter if you stifle your curiosity." + +"Lead on," laughed Penny. "I will follow. Only isn't it getting late?" + +Salt looked at his watch. "We still have a safe fifteen minutes." + +He started to step over the wire, only to have Penny reach out and grasp +his hand. + +"Wait!" she whispered. + +"What's the idea?" Salt turned toward her in astonishment. + +"I think someone is watching us! I'm sure I saw the bushes move." + +"Your nerves are jumpy," Salt jeered. "It's only the wind." + +Even as he spoke the foliage to the left moved ever so slightly and a +dark form could be seen creeping stealthily away along the ground. + + + + + CHAPTER + 5 + _THE MISSING BRIDEGROOM_ + + +Salt acted instinctively. Leaping over the wire barrier he dived into the +bushes. Hurling himself upon the man who crouched there, he pinned him to +the ground. The fellow gave a choked cry and tried to pull free. + +"Oh, no, you don't," Salt muttered, coolly sitting down on his stomach. +"Snooping, eh?" + +"You let me up!" the man cried savagely. "Let me up, I say!" + +"I'll let you up when you explain what you were doing here." + +"Why, you impudent young pup!" the man spluttered. "You're the one who +will explain. I am Mrs. Kippenberg's head gardener." + +Salt's hand fell from the old man's collar and he apologetically helped +him to his feet. Penny, who had reached the scene, stooped down and +recovered a trowel which had slipped from the gardener's grasp. + +"It was just a little mistake on my part," Salt mumbled. "I hope I didn't +hurt you." + +"No fault of yours you didn't," the old man snapped. "A fine howdydo when +a person can't even loosen earth around a shrub without being assaulted +by a ruffian!" + +The gardener was a short, stout man with graying hair. He wore coarse +garments, a loose fitting pair of trousers, a dark shirt and battered +felt hat. But Penny noticed that his hands and fingernails were clean and +there were no trowel marks around any of the shrubs. + +"Salt isn't exactly a ruffian," she said as the photographer offered no +defense. "After all, from where we stood it looked exactly as if you were +hiding in the bushes." + +"Then you both need glasses," the man retorted rudely. "A person can't +work without getting down on his hands and knees." + +"Where were you digging?" Penny asked innocently. + +"I was just starting in when this young upstart leaped on my back!" + +"Sorry," said Salt, "but I thought you were trying to get away." + +"Who are you anyway?" the gardener demanded bluntly. "You're not guests. +I can tell that." + +"You have a very discerning eye," replied Salt smoothly. "We're from the +_Riverview Star_." + +"Reporters, eh?" The old man scowled unpleasantly. "Then you've no +business being here at all. You're not wanted, so get out!" + +"We're only after a few facts about the wedding," Penny said. "Perhaps +you would be willing to tell me--" + +"I'll tell you nothing, Miss! If anything is given out to the papers it +will have to come from Mrs. Kippenberg." + +"Fair enough," Salt acknowledged. He glanced curiously down the path +which had been blocked off. "What's down there?" + +"Nothing." The gardener spoke irritably. "This part of the estate hasn't +been fixed up. That's why it's closed." + +Penny had bent down, pretending to examine a shrub at the edge of the +path. + +"What is the name of this bush?" she inquired casually. + +"An azalea," the gardener replied after a slight hesitation. "Now get out +of here, will you? I have my work to do." + +"Oh, all right," Salt rejoined as he and Penny moved away. "No need to +get so tough." + +They stepped over the barrier wire and retraced their way toward the +house. Several times Penny glanced back but she could not see the old +man. He had slipped away somewhere among the trees. + +"I don't believe that fellow was a gardener," she said suddenly. + +"What makes you think not?" + +"Didn't you notice his nice clean hands and fingernails? And then when I +asked him the name of that bush he hesitated and called it an azalea. I +saw another long botanical name attached to it." + +"Maybe he just made a mistake, or said the first thing that came into his +head. He wanted to get rid of us." + +"I know he did," nodded Penny. "Yet, when he found out we were from the +_Star_ he didn't threaten to report us to Mrs. Kippenberg." + +"That's so." + +"He was afraid to report us," Penny went on with conviction. "I'll bet a +cent he has no more right here than we have." + +Salt had lost all interest in the gardener. He glanced at his watch and +quickened his step. + +"Is it two o'clock yet?" Penny asked anxiously. + +"Just. After all the trouble we've had getting here we can't afford to +miss the big show." + +Emerging from the grove, Salt and Penny were relieved to see that the +ceremony had not yet started. The guests were gathered in the garden, the +minister stood waiting, musicians were in their places, but the bridal +party had not appeared. + +"We're just in time," Salt remarked. + +Penny observed Mrs. Kippenberg talking with one of the ushers. Even from +a distance it was apparent that the woman had lost her poise. Her hands +fluttered nervously as she conferred with the young man and a worried +frown puckered her eyebrows. + +"Something seems to be wrong," said Penny. "I wonder what is causing the +delay?" + +Before Salt could reply, the usher crossed the lawn, and came directly +toward them. Penny and Salt instantly were on guard, thinking that he had +been sent by Mrs. Kippenberg to eject them from the grounds. But although +the young man paused, he did not look squarely at them. + +"Have you seen Mr. Atherwald anywhere?" he questioned. + +"The bridegroom?" Salt asked in astonishment. "What's the matter? Is he +missing?" + +"Oh, no, sir," the young man returned stiffly. "Certainly not. He merely +went away for a moment." + +"Mr. Atherwald came over on the same boat with us," Penny volunteered. + +"And did you see him enter the house?" + +"No, he spoke to one of the servants and then went toward the garden." + +"Did you notice which path he took?" + +"I believe it was this one." + +"We've just come from down by the river," added Salt. "We didn't see him +there. The only person we met was an old gardener." + +The usher thanked them for the information and hurried on. When the man +was beyond hearing, Salt turned to Penny, saying jubilantly: + +"Say, maybe we'll get a big story after all! Sylvia Kippenberg jilted at +the altar! Hot stuff!" + +"Aren't you jumping to swift conclusions, Salt? He must be around here +somewhere." + +"It's always serious business when a man is late for his wedding. Even if +he does show up, daughter Sylvia may take offense and call the whole +thing off." + +"Oh, you're too hopeful," Penny laughed. "He'll probably be here in +another minute. I don't believe he would have come at all if he had +intended to slip away." + +"He may have lost his nerve at the last minute," Salt insisted. + +"Atherwald did act strangely on the boat," Penny said reflectively. "And +then that message he received--" + +"He may have sent it to himself." + +"As an excuse for getting away?" + +"Why not?" + +"I can't see any reason for going to so much unnecessary trouble," Penny +argued. "If he intended to jilt Miss Kippenberg how much easier it would +have been not to come here at all." + +"Well, let's see what we can learn," Salt suggested. + +Their interest steadily mounting, they went on toward the house and +stationed themselves where they could see advantageously. It was evident +by this time that the guests suspected something had gone amiss. +Significant glances were exchanged, a few persons looked at their +watches, and all eyes focused upon Mrs. Kippenberg who tried desperately +to carry off an embarrassing situation. + +Minutes passed. The crowd became increasingly restless. Finally, the +usher returned and spoke quietly to Mrs. Kippenberg. They both retired to +the house. + +"It looks as if there will be no wedding today," Salt declared. +"Atherwald hasn't been located." + +"I won't dare use the story unless I'm absolutely certain of my facts," +Penny said anxiously. + +"We'll get them, never fear." + +Mrs. Kippenberg and the usher had stepped into the breakfast room. +Posting Penny at the outside door, Salt followed the couple. From the +hallway he could hear their conversation distinctly. + +"But he must be somewhere on the grounds," the matron argued. + +"I can't understand it myself," the young man replied. "Grant's +disappearance is very mysterious to say the least. Several persons saw +him arrive here and everything seemed to be all right." + +"What time is it now?" + +"Two thirty-five, Mrs. Kippenberg." + +"So late? Oh, this is dreadful! How can I face them?" + +"I know just how you feel," the young man said with sympathy. "If you +wish I will explain to the guests." + +"No, no, this will disgrace us," Mrs. Kippenberg murmured. "Wait until I +have talked with Sylvia." + +She turned suddenly and reached the hall door before Salt could escape. +Her eyes blazed with wrath as she faced him. + +"So here you are!" she cried furiously. "How dare you disregard my +orders? I will have no reporters on the grounds!" + +"I'm only a photographer," Salt said meekly enough. "Sorry to intrude but +I've been assigned to get a picture of the bride. It won't take a +minute--" + +"Indeed it won't," Mrs. Kippenberg broke in, her voice rising higher. +"You'll take no pictures here. Not one! Now get out." + +"A picture might be better than a story that the bridegroom had skipped +out," Salt said persuasively. + +"Why, you--you!" Mrs. Kippenberg's face became fiery red. She choked as +she tried to speak. "Get out, I say!" + +Salt did not retreat. Instead he took his camera from his pocket. + +"Just one picture, Mrs. Kippenberg. At least of you." + +Realizing that the photographer meant to take it whether or not she gave +permission, the woman suddenly lost all control over her temper. + +"Don't you dare!" she cried furiously. "Don't you dare!" + +Whirling about, she seized an empty plate from the tall stack on the +serving table. + +"Hold that pose!" chortled Salt, goading her on. + +The woman hurled the plate straight at him. Salt gleefully snapped a +picture and dodged. The plate crashed into the wall behind him, +splintering into a half dozen pieces. + +"Swell action picture!" he grinned. + +"Don't you dare try to use it!" screamed Mrs. Kippenberg. "I'll telephone +your editor! I'll have you discharged!" + +"See here," offered the usher, taking out his wallet. "I'll give you ten +dollars for that picture." + +Salt shook his head, still smiling broadly. + +The sound of the crash had brought servants running to the scene. + +"Have this person ejected from the grounds," Mrs. Kippenberg ordered +harshly. "And see that he doesn't get back." + +Just outside the house, Penny huddled against the wall, trying to make +herself as inconspicuous as possible. She had heard everything. As Salt +backed out the door he did not glance at her but he muttered for her ears +alone: + +"You're on your own now, kid. I'll be waiting at the drawbridge." + +An instant later two servants seized him roughly by the arms and escorted +him down the walk to the boat landing. + + + + + CHAPTER + 6 + _A RING OF WHITE GOLD_ + + +Penny waited anxiously, but Mrs. Kippenberg did not come to the outside +door. Nor had it occurred to the two servants that the girl was connected +in any way with the photographer. + +"On my own," she repeated to herself. "On my own with a vengeance." + +Salt had his picture and it was up to her to get a good story. Until now +she had depended upon his guidance. With all support withdrawn she +suddenly felt uncertain and incompetent. + +Penny waited a few minutes before gathering sufficient courage to enter +the long hallway. One glance assured her that the breakfast room was +deserted. + +"Mrs. Kippenberg probably went upstairs to talk with her daughter," she +reasoned. "I'd like to hear what they say to each other." + +With the guests assembled in the garden, only a few persons lingered in +the house. No one paid heed to Penny as she moved noiselessly up the +spiral stairway. + +A bedroom door stood slightly ajar. Hearing a low murmur of voices, Penny +paused. Framed against the leaded windows she saw Sylvia Kippenberg +talking with her mother. Despite a tear-streaked face the girl was very +lovely. She wore a long flowing gown of white satin and the flowers at +the neckline were outlined with real pearls. Her net veil had been +discarded. A bouquet of flowers lay on the floor. + +"How could Grant do such a cruel thing?" Penny heard her sob. "I just +can't believe it of him, Mother. Surely he will come." + +Mrs. Kippenberg held the girl in her arms, trying to comfort her. + +"It is nearly three now, Sylvia. The servants have searched everywhere. A +man of his type isn't worthy of you." + +"But I love him, Mother. And I am sure he loves me. It doesn't seem +possible he would do such a thing without a word of explanation." + +"He will explain, never fear," Mrs. Kippenberg said grimly. "But now, we +must think what has to be done. The guests must be told." + +"Oh, Mother!" Sylvia went into another paroxysm of crying. + +"There is no other way, my dear. Leave everything to me." + +Before Penny realized that the interview had ended, Mrs. Kippenberg +stepped out into the hall. Her eyes focused hard upon the girl. + +"You are a reporter!" she accused harshly. "I remember, you were with +that photographer!" + +"Please--" began Penny. + +"I'll tell you nothing," the woman cried. "How dare you intrude in my +home and go about listening at bedroom doors!" + +"Mrs. Kippenberg, if only you will calm yourself, I may be able to help +you." + +"Help me?" the woman demanded. "What do you mean?" + +"I may be able to give you a clue as to what became of Grant Atherwald." + +The anger faded from Mrs. Kippenberg's face. She came close to Penny, +grasping her arm with a pressure which hurt. + +"You have seen him? Tell me!" + +"He came over in the same boat." + +"How long ago was that?" + +"Shortly after one o'clock. He was stopped at the front door by a servant +who handed him a note. Mr. Atherwald read it and walked down toward the +garden." + +"I wonder which one of the servants spoke to him? It was at the front +door, you say?" + +"Yes." + +"Then it must have been Gregg. I'll talk with him." + +Forgetting Penny, Mrs. Kippenberg hastened down the stairway. She jangled +a bell and asked that the manservant be sent to her. Unnoticed, Penny +lingered to hear the interview. + +The man came into the room. "You sent for me, Mrs. Kippenberg?" he +inquired. + +"Yes, Gregg. You were at the door when Mr. Atherwald arrived?" + +"I was, Madam." + +"I understand you handed him a note which he read." + +"Yes, Madam." + +"Who gave you the note?" + +"Mrs. Latch, the cook. She told me it was brought to the kitchen door +early this morning by a most disreputable looking boy." + +"He had been hired to deliver it for another person, I suppose?" + +"Yes, Madam. The boy told Mrs. Latch that the message came from a friend +of Mr. Atherwald's and should be given to him as soon as he arrived." + +"You have no idea what the note contained?" + +"No, Mrs. Kippenberg, the envelope was sealed." + +Sensing that when the interview ended Mrs. Kippenberg's wrath might again +descend upon her, Penny decided not to tempt fate. While the woman was +still talking with the servant, she slipped out of the house. + +"Atherwald might have had that note sent to himself, but I doubt it," she +told herself. "Either he is still on the estate, or the boatman would +have had to take him back across the river." + +She walked quickly down to the dock and was elated to find the guest +launch tied up there. The boatman answered her questions readily. He had +not seen Grant Atherwald since early in the afternoon. Salt was the only +person he had taken back across the river. + +"Have you noticed any other boat leaving the estate?" inquired Penny. + +"Boats have been going up and down the river all day," the man answered +with a shrug. "I didn't notice any particular one." + +Penny glanced across the water. She could see Salt perched on the +drawbridge waiting for her. But she was not yet ready to leave the +estate. + +Ignoring his shout to "come on," she turned and walked back toward the +house. Deliberately, she chose the same path which she and Salt had +followed earlier in the afternoon. + +A swift walk brought her to the forbidden trail with the barrier sign. +Penny glanced around to be certain she was not under observation. Then +she stepped boldly over the wire. + +Passing the place where she and Salt had talked with the gardener, she +noticed his trowel lying on the ground. There was no evidence that he had +done any work. + +However, all along the path flowering shrubs were well trimmed and +tended. + +"So this part of the estate isn't fixed up," Penny mused. "It's much +nicer than the other section in my opinion. I wonder why that gardener +told so many lies?" + +The path led deeper into the woods. Rustic benches invited one to linger, +but Penny walked rapidly onward. + +Unexpectedly, she came to a little clearing, and saw before her a large, +circular pool. From a gap in the trees, warm sunshine poured down upon +the bed of flowers which flanked the cement sides, making a circle of +brilliant color. + +"So this is where the path leads," thought Penny. "No mystery here after +all." + +She was at a loss to understand why this portion of the estate had been +closed to visitors for certainly it was the most beautiful part. Yet +there was a quality to the beauty which the girl did not like. + +As she stood staring at the pool, she was fully aware of an uneasy +feeling which had taken possession of her. It was almost as if she stood +in the presence of something sinister and unknown. The gentle rustling of +the tree leaves, the cool river air blowing against her cheek, only +served to heighten the feeling. + +She drew closer and peered down into the blue depths of the pool. She +could not see the bottom plainly for the water was choked with a tangle +of feathery plants. A few yellow lilies floated on the surface. + +Penny absently reached out to pluck one. But as the stem snapped off, she +gave a little scream and dropped the flower. She had seen a large, +shadowy form slithering through the water beneath her. + +Penny backed a step away from the pool. From among the lily pads an ugly +head emerged and a broad snout was raised above the surface for an +instant. Powerful jaws opened and closed, revealing jagged teeth set in +deep pits. + +"An alligator!" Penny exclaimed aloud. "Such a horrid, ugly creature! And +to think, I nearly put my hand in that water." + +She shivered and watched the movements of the alligator. Its head scooted +smoothly over the water for a short distance. Then with a swish of its +tail, the reptile submerged and the pool was as placid as before. + +"Eight feet long if it's an inch," estimated Penny. "Why would any person +in his right mind keep such a creature here? Why, it's dangerous." + +She felt enraged, thinking how close she had come to touching the +alligator. Yet justice compelled her to admit that she had only herself +to blame. Deliberately, she had disregarded the warning not to explore +the forbidden trail. + +"The Kippenbergs keep nice pets," she thought ironically. "If anyone fell +into that pool it would be just too bad." + +Now that her curiosity was satisfied, Penny had not the slightest desire +to linger near the lily pool. With another glance down into the murky +depths she turned away, but she had taken less than a dozen steps when +she paused. Her attention was held by a bright and shiny object which lay +in the dust at her feet. + +With a low cry of surprise she reached down and picked up a plain band of +white gold. Obviously, it was a wedding ring. + +"Now where did this come from?" Penny turned it over on the palm of her +hand. + +Startled thoughts leaped into her mind. She felt certain Grant Atherwald +had taken this same path earlier in the afternoon. It was logical to +believe that the ring had been his, intended for Sylvia Kippenberg. Had +he lost the band accidentally or deliberately thrown it away? + +Slowly, Penny's gaze roved to the lily pond. She noted that the coping +was so low that one who walked carelessly might easily stumble and fall +into the water. It made her shudder to think of such a gruesome +possibility, yet she could not avoid giving it consideration. For that +matter, Grant Atherwald might have been lured to this isolated spot. The +mysterious message-- + +Penny delved no deeper into the problem for suddenly she felt someone +grasp her arms. With a terrified cry she whirled about to face her +assailant. + + + + + CHAPTER + 7 + _THE FORBIDDEN POOL_ + + +A wave of relief surged over Penny as she saw that it was the old +gardener who held her fast. + +"Oh, it's only you," she laughed shakily, trying to pull away. "For a +second I thought the Bogey Man had me for sure." + +The gardener did not smile. + +"Didn't I tell you to keep away from here?" he demanded, giving her a +hard shake. + +"I'm not doing any h-harm," Penny stammered. She kept her hand closed +over the white gold ring so that the old man would not see what she had +found. "I just wanted to learn what was back in here." + +"And you found out?" + +The gardener's tone warned Penny to be cautious in her reply. + +"Oh, the pool is rather pretty," she answered carelessly. "But I've seen +much nicer ones." + +"How long have you been here?" + +"Only a minute or two. I really came to search for Grant Atherwald." + +"Atherwald? What would he be doing here?" + +"He disappeared an hour or so ago," revealed Penny. "The servants have +been searching everywhere for him." + +"He disappeared?" the gardener repeated incredulously. + +"Yes, it's very peculiar. Mr. Atherwald arrived at the estate in ample +time for the wedding. But after he read a note which was delivered to him +he walked off in this direction and was seen no more." + +"Down this path, you mean?" + +"I couldn't say as to that, but he started this way. I know because I saw +him myself." + +"Atherwald didn't come here," the gardener said with finality. "I've been +working around the lily pond all afternoon and would have seen him." + +Penny's fingers closed tightly about the white gold ring which she kept +shielded from the man's gaze. In her opinion the trinket offered almost +conclusive proof that the bridegroom had visited the locality. Because +she could not trust the gardener she kept her thoughts strictly to +herself. + +The man stared down at his feet, obviously disturbed by the information +Penny had given him. + +"Do you suppose harm could have befallen Mr. Atherwald?" she asked after +a moment. + +"Harm?" he demanded irritably. "That's sheer nonsense. The fellow +probably skipped out. He ought to be tarred and feathered!" + +"And you would enjoy doing it?" Penny interposed slyly. + +The gardener glared at her, making no attempt to hide his dislike. + +"Such treatment would be too good for anyone who hurt Miss Sylvia. Now +will you get out of here? I have my orders and I mean to enforce them." + +"Oh, all right," replied Penny. "I was going anyway." + +This was not strictly true, for had the gardener not been there she would +have made a more thorough investigation of the locality near the lily +pool. But now she had no hope of learning more, and so turned away. + +Emerging from among the trees, she glanced toward the rose garden. Nearly +all of the wedding guests had departed. Penny considered whether or not +she should speak to Mrs. Kippenberg about finding the ring. Deciding +against it, she joined a group of people at the boat dock and was ferried +across the river. + +Salt awaited her at the drawbridge. + +"I just about gave you up," he complained. "It's time for us to get back +to the office or our news won't be news. The wedding is definitely off?" + +"Yes, Atherwald can't be found." + +"We'll stop at a drug store and telephone," Salt said, pulling her toward +the car. "Learn anything more after I left?" + +"Well, I found a wedding ring and was nearly chewed up by an alligator," +laughed Penny. "It seemed rather interesting at the time." + +The photographer gave her a queer look as he started the automobile. + +"Imagination and journalism never mix," he said. + +"Does this look like imagination?" Penny countered, showing him the plain +band ring. + +"Where did you find it?" + +"Beside a lily pond in the forbidden part of the estate. I feel certain +it must have been dropped by Grant Atherwald." + +"Thrown away?" + +"I don't know exactly what to think," Penny replied soberly. + +Salt steered the car into the main road which led back to Corbin. Then he +inquired: "Did you notice any signs of a struggle? Grass trampled? +Footprints?" + +"I didn't have a chance to do any investigating. That bossy old gardener +came and drove me away." + +"What were you saying about alligators?" + +"Salt, I saw one swimming around in the lily pool," Penny told him +earnestly. "It was an ugly brute, at least twelve feet long." + +"How long?" + +"Well, eight anyway." + +"You're joking." + +"I am not," Penny said indignantly. + +"Maybe it was only a big log lying in the water." + +Penny gave an injured sniff. "Have it your own way. But it wasn't a log. +I guess I can tell an alligator when I see one." + +"If you're actually right," Salt said unmoved, "I'd like to have snapped +a picture of it. You know, this story might develop into something big." + +"I have a feeling it will, Salt." + +"If Atherwald really has disappeared it should create a sensation!" + +"And if the poor fellow had the misfortune to fall or be pushed into the +lily pool Dad wouldn't have headlines large enough to carry it!" + +"Say, get a grip on yourself," Salt advised. "The _Riverview Star_ prints +fact, not fancy." + +"That's because so many of Dad's reporters are stodgy old fellows," +laughed Penny. "But I'll admit it isn't very likely Grant Atherwald was +devoured by the alligator." + +The car had reached Corbin. Salt drew up in front of a drug store. + +"Run in and telephone DeWitt," he said, opening the door for her. "And +remember, stick to facts." + +Penny was a little frightened as she entered the telephone booth and +placed a long distance call to the _Riverview Star_. She never failed to +feel nervous when she talked with DeWitt, the city editor, for he was not +a very pleasant individual. + +She jumped as the receiver was taken down and a voice barked: "City +desk." + +"This is Penny Parker over at Corbin," she began weakly. + +"Can't hear you," snapped DeWitt. "Talk up." + +Penny repeated her name and DeWitt's voice lost some of its edge. +Gathering courage, she started to tell him what she had learned at the +Kippenberg estate. + +"Hold it," interrupted DeWitt. "I'll switch you over to a rewrite man." + +The connection was made and Penny began a second time. Now and then the +rewrite man broke into the narrative to ask a question. + +"All right, I think I have it all," he said finally and hung up. + +Penny went back to the car looking as crestfallen as she felt. + +"I don't know what they thought of the story," she told Salt. "DeWitt +certainly didn't waste any words of praise." + +"He never does," chuckled the photographer. "You're lucky if you don't +get fired." + +"That's one consolation," returned Penny, settling herself for the long +ride home. "He can't fire me. Being the editor's daughter has its +advantages." + +The regular night edition of the _Riverview Star_ was on the street by +the time they reached the city. Salt signaled a newsboy and bought a +paper while the car waited for a traffic light. He tossed it over to +Penny. + +"Here it is! My story!" she cried, and then her face fell. + +"What's the matter?" asked Salt. "Did they garble it all up?" + +"They've cut it down to three inches! And not a word about the alligator +or the lost wedding ring! I could cry! Why, I told that rewrite man +enough to fill at least a column!" + +"Well, anyway you made the front page," the photographer consoled. "They +may build the story up in the next edition after they get my pictures." + +Penny said nothing, remaining in deep gloom during the remainder of the +ride to the _Star_ office. Salt let her out at the front door. She +debated for a moment whether or not to go on home, but finally entered +the building. + +DeWitt was busy at his desk as she walked stiffly past. She hoped that he +would notice how she ignored him, but he did not glance up from the copy +before him. + +Penny opened the door of her father's private office and stopped short. + +"Why, Dad?" she cried. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to be +home in bed." + +"I finally persuaded the doctor to let me out," Anthony Parker replied, +swinging around in his swivel chair. "How did you get along with your +assignment?" + +"I thought I did very well," Penny said aloofly. "But from now on I'll +not telephone anything in. I'll write the story myself." + +"Now don't blame DeWitt or the rewrite man," said Mr. Parker, smiling. "A +paper has to be careful in what it publishes, especially about a wedding. +Alligators are a bit too--shall we say sensational?" + +"You made a similar remark about witch dolls," Penny reminded him. + +"I did eat my words that time," Mr. Parker admitted, "but this is +different. If we build up a big story about Grant Atherwald's +disappearance, and then tomorrow he shows up at his own home, we'll +appear pretty ridiculous." + +"I guess you're right," Penny said, turning away. "Well, I'm happy to see +you back in the office again." + +Mr. Parker watched her speculatively. When she reached the door he +inquired: "Aren't you forgetting something?" + +"What, Dad?" + +"Today is Thursday." The editor took a sealed envelope from the desk +drawer. "This is the first time you have failed to collect your allowance +in over a year." + +"I must be slipping." Penny grinned as she pocketed the envelope. + +"Why don't you open it?" + +"What's the use?" Penny asked gloomily. "It's always the same. Anyway, I +borrowed two dollars last week so this doesn't really belong to me." + +"You might be pleasantly surprised." + +Penny stared at her father with disbelief. "Dad! You don't mean you've +given me a raise!" + +Eagerly, she ripped open the envelope. Three crisp dollar bills fluttered +into her hand. With a shriek of delight, Penny flung her arms about her +father's neck. + +"I always try to reward a good reporter," he chuckled. "Now take yourself +off because my work is stacked a mile high." + +Penny tripped gaily toward the door but it opened before she could cross +the room. An office boy came in with a message for Mr. Parker. + +"Man to see you named Atherwald," he announced. + +The name produced an electrifying effect upon both Penny and her father. + +"Atherwald!" Mr. Parker exclaimed. "Then he hasn't disappeared after all! +Show him in." + +"And I'm staying right here," Penny declared, easing herself into the +nearest chair. "I have a hunch that this interview may concern me." + + + + + CHAPTER + 8 + _PARENTAL PROTEST_ + + +In a few minutes the office boy returned, followed by a distinguished, +middle-aged man who carried a cane. Penny gave him an astonished glance +for she had expected to see Grant Atherwald. It had not occurred to her +that there might be two persons with the same surname. + +"Mr. Atherwald?" inquired her father, waving the visitor into a chair. + +"James Atherwald." + +The man spoke shortly and did not sit down. Instead he spread out a copy +of the night edition of the _Star_ and pointed to the story which Penny +had covered. She quaked inwardly, wondering what error of hers was to be +exposed. + +"Do you see this?" Mr. Atherwald demanded. + +"What about it?" inquired the editor pleasantly. + +"You are holding my family up to ridicule by printing such a story! Grant +Atherwald is my son!" + +"Is the story incorrect?" + +"Yes, you imply that my son deliberately jilted Sylvia Kippenberg!" + +"And actually he didn't?" Mr. Parker inquired evenly. + +"Certainly not. My son is a man of honor and had a very deep regard for +Sylvia. Under no circumstance would he have jilted her." + +"Still, the wedding did not take place." + +"That is true," Mr. Atherwald admitted. + +"Perhaps you can explain why it was postponed?" + +"I don't know what happened to Grant," Mr. Atherwald said reluctantly. +"He left our home in ample time for the ceremony, and I might add, was in +excellent spirits. I believe he must have been the victim of a stupid, +practical joke." + +"Well, that suggests a new angle," Mr. Parker remarked thoughtfully. "Did +your son have friends who might be apt to play such a joke on him?" + +"No one of my acquaintance," Mr. Atherwald answered unwillingly. "Of +course, he had many young friends who were not in my circle." + +Penny had listened quietly to the conversation. She now arose and came +over to the desk. From her pocket she took the white gold wedding ring. + +"Mr. Atherwald," she said, "I wonder if you could identify this." + +The man studied the trinket for a moment. + +"It looks very much like a ring which Grant purchased for Sylvia," he +declared. "Where did you get it?" + +"I found it lying on the ground at the Kippenberg estate," Penny replied +vaguely. She had no intention of divulging the exact locality where she +had picked up the ring. + +"You see," said Mr. Parker, "we have supporting facts in our possession +which were not published. All in all, I think the story was handled +discreetly, with due regard for the feelings of those involved." + +"Then you refuse to retract the story?" + +"I should like to oblige you, Mr. Atherwald, but you realize such a story +as this is of great interest to our readers." + +"You care only for sensationalism!" + +"On the contrary, we try to avoid it," Mr. Parker corrected. "In this +particular case, we deliberately played the story down. If it develops +that your son actually has disappeared--" + +"I tell you it was only a practical joke," Mr. Atherwald interrupted. "No +doubt my son is at home by this time. The wedding has merely been +postponed." + +"You are entitled to your opinion," said Mr. Parker. "And I sincerely +hope that you are right." + +"At least do not use that picture which your photographer took of Mrs. +Kippenberg. I'll pay you for it." + +Mr. Parker smiled and shook his head. + +"I might have expected such an attitude!" Mr. Atherwald exclaimed +angrily. "Good afternoon." + +He left the office, slamming the door behind him. + +"Well, you've lost another subscriber, Dad," said Penny flippantly. + +"He's not the first," returned her father. + +"I intended to give Mr. Atherwald the wedding ring, but he went off in +too big a hurry. Should I go after him?" + +"No, don't bother, Penny. You might take it around to the picture room +and have it photographed. We may use it as Exhibit A if the story +develops into anything." + +"How about the alligator?" Penny asked. "Would you like to have me bring +that to the office, too?" + +"Move out of here and let me work," her father retorted. + +Penny went to the photographic department and made her requirements +known. + +"I'll wait for the ring," she announced. "You don't catch me trusting you +boys with any jewelry." + +While the picture was being taken Salt came by with several damp prints +in his hand. + +"Take a look at this one, Penny," he said proudly. "Mrs. Kippenberg +wielding a wicked plate. Will she burn up when she sees it on the picture +page?" + +"She will, indeed," agreed Penny. "Nice going." + +When the ring had been returned to her she slipped it into her pocket and +left the newspaper office. Her next stop was at a corner hamburger shop +where she fortified herself with two large sandwiches. + +"That ought to hold me until the dinner bell rings," she thought. "And +now to pay my honest debts." + +A trolley ride and a short walk brought Penny to the home of her chum, +Louise Sidell. As she came within sight of the front porch she saw her +friend sitting on the steps, reading a movie magazine. Louise threw it +aside and sprang to her feet. + +"Oh, Penny, I'm glad you came over. I telephoned your house and Mrs. +Weems said you had gone away somewhere." + +"Official business for Dad," Penny laughed. She dropped two dollars into +Louise's hand. "Here's what I owe you. But don't go spend it because I +may need to borrow it back in a couple of days." + +"Is Leaping Lena running up huge garage bills again?" Louise inquired +sympathetically. + +Penny's second-hand car was a joke to everyone save herself. She was a +familiar figure at nearly every garage in Riverview, for the vehicle had +a disconcerting way of breaking down. + +"I had to buy new spark plugs this time," sighed Penny. "But then, I +should get along better from now on. Dad raised my allowance." + +"Doesn't that call for a celebration? Rini's have a special on today. A +double chocolate sundae with pineapple and nuts, cherry and--" + +"Oh, no, you don't! I'm saving my dollar for the essentials of life. I +may need it for gasoline if I decide to drive over to Corbin again." + +"Again?" Louise asked alertly. + +"I was over there today, covering the Kippenberg wedding," Penny +explained. "Only it turned out there was no ceremony. Grant Atherwald +jilted his bride, or was spirited away by persons unknown. He was last +seen near a lily pool in an isolated part of the estate. I picked up a +wedding ring lying on the ground close by. And then as a climax Mrs. +Kippenberg hurled a plate at Salt." + +"Penny Parker, what are you saying?" Louise demanded. "It sounds like one +of those two-reel thrillers they show over at the Rialto." + +"Here is the evidence," Penny said, showing her the white gold ring. + +"It's amazing how you get into so much adventure," Louise replied +enviously as she studied the trinket. "Start at the beginning and tell me +everything." + +The invitation was very much to Penny's liking. Perching herself on the +highest porch step she recounted her visit to the Kippenberg estate, +painting an especially romantic picture of the castle dwelling, the moat, +and the drawbridge. + +"Oh, I'd love to visit the place," Louise declared. "You have all the +luck." + +"I'll take you with me if I ever get to go again," promised Penny. "Well, +I'll see you tomorrow." + +And with this careless farewell, she sprang to her feet, and hastened on +home. + +The next morning while Mrs. Weems was preparing breakfast, Penny ran down +to the corner to buy the first edition of the _Star_. As she spread it +open a small headline accosted her eye. + + "NO TRACE OF MISSING BRIDEGROOM." + +Penny read swiftly, learning that Grant Atherwald had not been seen since +his strange disappearance from the Kippenberg estate. Members of the +family refused to discuss the affair and had made no report to the +police. + +"This story is developing into something big after all," she thought with +quickening pulse. "Now if Dad will only let me work on it!" + +At home she gave the newspaper to her father, remarking rather pointedly: +"You see, your expert reporters haven't learned very much more than I +brought in yesterday. Why wouldn't it be a good idea to send me out there +again today?" + +"Oh, I doubt if you could get into the estate, Penny." + +"Salt and I managed yesterday." + +"You did very well, but you weren't known then. It will be a different +matter today since we antagonized the family by using the story. I'll +suggest that Jerry Livingston be assigned to it." + +"With Penny as first assistant?" + +Mr. Parker smiled and shook his head. "This isn't your type of story. Now +if you would like to cover a lecture at the Women's Club--" + +"Or a nice peppy meeting of the Ladies Sewing Circle," Penny finished +ironically. "Thank you, no." + +"I am sure you wouldn't have a chance of getting into the estate," her +father said lamely. "We must have good coverage." + +"What does Jerry have that I haven't got?" Penny demanded in an aggrieved +voice. + +"Eight years of experience for one thing." + +"But I really should go out there," Penny insisted. "I ought to show Miss +Kippenberg the ring I found." + +"The ring might provide an entry," Mr. Parker admitted thoughtfully. +"I'll tell you, why don't you telephone long distance?" + +"And if I'm able to make an appointment, may I help Jerry cover the +story?" + +"All right," agreed Mr. Parker. "If Sylvia Kippenberg talks with you +we'll be able to use anything she says." + +"I'm the same as on my way to the estate now, Dad." + +With a triumphant laugh, Penny left the breakfast table and hastened to +the telephone. + +"Long distance," she said into the transmitter. "The Kippenberg estate at +Corbin, please." + +She hovered anxiously near the telephone while she waited for the +connection to be made. Ten minutes elapsed before the bell jingled +several times. Eagerly, she jerked down the receiver. She could hear a +faint, far-away voice saying, "hello." + +"May I speak with Sylvia Kippenberg?" Penny requested. + +"Who is this, please?" + +"Miss Parker at Riverview." + +"Miss Kippenberg is not at home," came the stiff response. + +"Then let me speak with Mrs. Kippenberg," Penny said quickly. "I have +something very important to tell her. Yesterday when I was at the estate +I found a ring--" + +The receiver had clicked at the other end of the line. The connection was +broken. + + + + + CHAPTER + 9 + _A SOCIETY BAZAAR_ + + +"You see, Penny," said Mr. Parker sympathetically, "wealthy people have a +way of being inaccessible to the press. They surround themselves with +servants who have been trained to allow no invasion of their privacy. +They erect barriers which aren't easily broken down." + +"If only I could have reached Miss Kippenberg I feel sure she would have +wished to learn about the ring," returned Penny. "Oh, well, let Jerry +cover the story. I've lost interest." + +All that morning the girl went about the house in a mood of deep +depression. She felt completely out of sorts and would scowl at her own +reflection whenever she passed a mirror. Nothing seemed to go right. + +"I declare, I wish you would forget that silly wedding," Mrs. Weems said +wearily. "Why don't you try working out your resentment on a tennis +ball?" + +"Not a bad idea," admitted Penny. "Only I have no partner. Louise is +going away somewhere today to a charity bazaar." + +"Here in Riverview?" inquired Mrs. Weems with interest. + +"No, it's to be held at Andover, twenty miles from Corbin. Louise is +going with an aunt of hers. She invited me several days ago, but I didn't +think it would be any fun." + +"You might enjoy it. Why don't you go?" + +"I wonder if it isn't too late?" Penny glanced at the clock. + +A telephone call to the Sidell home assured her that she would have ample +time to get ready for the trip. She quickly dressed and was waiting when +Louise and her aunt, Miss Lucinda Frome, drove up to the door. + +"What sort of an affair is it?" Penny inquired as they traveled toward +the distant town. + +Miss Frome explained that the bazaar was being sponsored by members of +the D.A.R. organization and would be held at one of the fashionable clubs +of the city. As Miss Frome belonged to the Riverview chapter she and her +guests would have an entry. + +"I look forward to meeting a number of prominent persons today," the +woman declared. "The Andover chapter has a very exclusive membership." + +Louise winked at Penny, for it was a source of amusement to her that her +aunt stood in awe of society personages. Neither she nor her chum +suffered from social ambition or a feeling of inferiority. + +At Andover, Miss Frome drove the car to the City Club and parked it +beside a long row of other automobiles, many of which were under the +charge of uniformed chauffeurs. + +"Oh, dear," remarked Miss Frome nervously, "I didn't realize how shabby +my old coupe looks. I do hope no one notices." + +"Now don't start that, Aunty," Louise said, taking her by the arm. "Your +car is perfectly all right. And so are you." + +They went up the steps of the stone building and mingled with the other +women. So many persons were present that the three newcomers attracted no +attention. Miss Frome was reassured to see that she was as well dressed +as anyone in the room. + +Several long tables were covered with various articles offered for sale. +Penny and Louise wandered about examining objects which struck their +fancy. Miss Frome bought a vase and an imitation ivory elephant, but the +girls considered the prices too high for their purses. + +Presently, Penny's gaze was drawn to a young woman who stood behind one +of the tables at the far end of the room. She stopped short and stared. + +"See someone you know?" inquired Louise. + +"Why, that young woman with the dark hair and the lace dress, Louise! She +is Sylvia Kippenberg!" + +"Really? I must say she has courage to come here today after all that +happened!" + +The young woman did not realize that she was being subjected to scrutiny. +However, she seemed fully aware that she was a general object of +curiosity, for her lips were frozen in a set smile and her face was pale +despite the rouge on the smooth cheeks. + +"I suppose she must be on the bazaar committee," Louise went on. "But my, +if anyone had jilted me, I would not have come here today." + +"Jerry must have missed his interview after all," Penny murmured, half to +herself. + +"Jerry?" + +"Yes, Dad assigned him to the Kippenberg story. I suppose he drove to +Corbin today in the hope of seeing Miss Sylvia." + +"And she may have come here just to escape reporters." + +"For two cents I'd try to interview her myself," Penny said. + +"Do you think she would talk with you?" + +"Not if she realizes I am a reporter. But at least I can try." + +"Don't create a scene whatever you do," Louise warned uneasily. "Not that +I would mind. But Aunt Lucinda would die of mortification." + +"I'll try to be careful," Penny promised. + +She sauntered forward, gradually working toward the table where the young +woman served. Selecting an article at random from the display, she +inquired its price. + +"Ten dollars," Miss Kippenberg answered mechanically. + +Penny loitered at the table until two elderly women had moved on. She was +now alone with Sylvia Kippenberg. She would have no better opportunity to +speak with her. + +"Miss Kippenberg," she began. + +"Yes?" The young woman really gazed at the girl for the first time. Penny +saw that her eyelids were red and swollen from recent tears. + +"I should like to talk with you alone, please." + +"Do I know your name?" Miss Kippenberg asked coldly. + +"Penny Parker." + +"Parker--Parker," the young woman repeated and her eyes hardened. "Oh, +yes, you are the girl who came to our place yesterday with that +photographer! And you telephoned again this morning." + +"Yes," Penny admitted reluctantly, "but--" + +The young woman did not allow her to finish. + +"I'll not talk with you or any other reporter. You have no right to come +here and annoy me." + +"Please, I'm not really a reporter, Miss Kippenberg. I have something to +show you." + +Miss Kippenberg had closed her ears to Penny's words. She turned abruptly +and fled in the direction of the powder room. + +Penny hesitated, remembering her promise to create no scene. Still, she +could not allow Miss Kippenberg to elude her so easily. Determinedly, she +followed. + +"Please, Miss Kippenberg, you must listen to me," she pleaded. + +Observing that her words had not the slightest effect upon the girl, she +suddenly opened her purse and took out the white gold ring. She thrust it +in front of Miss Kippenberg. + +"I only wish to show you this." + +The young woman stopped short, gazing down at the ring. + +"Where did you get it?" she asked in a low tone. + +"Then you do recognize it?" + +"Of course. Grant showed it to me the night before we were to have been +married. Tell me, how did it come into your hands?" + +"We can't talk here." + +Miss Kippenberg glanced quickly about and observing that many eyes were +focused upon them, led the girl into the deserted powder room. They sat +down on a sofa in a secluded corner. + +"I didn't mean to be so rude before," Miss Kippenberg apologized. "It was +only because I must protect myself from reporters and photographers. You +have no idea how I have been annoyed." + +"I do understand," said Penny, "and I wish to help you. That was why I +was so insistent upon talking with you. I think this ring may be a clue +to Mr. Atherwald's disappearance." + +"Then you believe as I do that he did not go away purposely?" + +"My theory is that Mr. Atherwald was a victim of a plot. Did he have any +known enemies?" + +"Oh, no, everyone liked Grant. Tell me about the ring. Who gave it to +you?" + +"No one. I found it while I was exploring a path on the estate, the trail +which is blocked off." + +"You shouldn't have gone there, but no matter. Just where did you pick up +the ring?" + +"I found it near the lily pool." + +Miss Kippenberg stared at Penny with expressionless, half-glazed eyes. + +"Oh!" she murmured. Her head dropped low, her body sagged and she slumped +down on the sofa in a faint. + + + + + CHAPTER + 10 + _A THROWN STONE_ + + +Penny's first thought was to call for assistance, but sober reflection +made her realize that to do so would likely result in awkward questions. +She felt certain Miss Kippenberg had only fainted and would soon revive. + +Stretching the young woman full length upon the sofa, the girl ran to the +washroom for a glass of water. She dampened a towel and folded it across +Miss Kippenberg's forehead, at the same time rubbing the limp hands and +trying to restore circulation. Noticing the white gold ring which had +fallen to the floor, she reached down and picked it up. + +"Miss Kippenberg must have fainted because of what I told her about the +lily pond," thought Penny. "I should have used more tact." + +She watched the young woman anxiously, fearing that what she had assumed +to be an ordinary faint might really be a heart attack. A wave of relief +surged over her as Miss Kippenberg stirred slightly. Her long dark +eyelashes fluttered open and she stared blankly about her. + +"Where am I?" she asked, moistening her dry lips. + +"Here, drink this," Penny urged, offering the glass of water. "You'll +feel much better in a few minutes." + +"Now I remember," Miss Kippenberg murmured. "You were saying--" + +"Don't think about that now. Just lie still and relax." + +Miss Kippenberg did not try to speak again for some little time. Then, +despite Penny's protests, she raised herself to a sitting position. + +"I feel quite all right now," she insisted. "How stupid of me to faint." + +"I am afraid I was very tactless." + +"On the contrary, our conversation had nothing to do with it." + +"I thought--" + +"It was the heat," Miss Kippenberg insisted. "I had a sunstroke once and +since then I can't bear even an overheated room." + +"But it really isn't very warm in here," protested Penny. "I don't notice +it at all." + +"You might not but I am very sensitive to it." + +"Well, I'm glad your faint wasn't caused by anything I said," Penny +declared, although she continued to regard the young woman dubiously. "I +thought you seemed shocked by what I told you about the ring." + +"You were saying that you picked it up near the lily pond?" Miss +Kippenberg questioned in a low tone. + +"Yes," replied Penny, watching her closely. + +"I wish I knew the exact place." + +"If we could go to your estate together I could show you," Penny said +eagerly. + +Miss Kippenberg hesitated in her reply, obviously still prejudiced +against the girl because of her connection with the _Riverview Star_. + +"Very well," she agreed. "Will you please ask that my car be sent to the +door?" + +"Gladly," said Penny, trying not to show her jubilance. + +Leaving Miss Kippenberg in the powder room she returned to the main hall. +Louise separated from the crowd and hurried to meet her. + +"Oh, Penny, I saw you go off with Miss Kippenberg," she began. "Would she +talk with you?" + +"She did," answered Penny, "and now I'm going with her to the estate." + +"But Aunt Lucinda expects to start home in a few minutes," protested +Louise. "How long will you be gone?" + +"I haven't the slightest idea. If I'm not back here by the time you are +ready to leave don't wait for me." + +"But how will you get home?" + +"Oh, I'll find a way. The important thing now is to learn everything I +can from Miss Kippenberg. She's in a mood to talk." + +"I'd love to visit the estate," Louise said wistfully. + +"I wish I could take you," Penny told her sincerely, "but I don't see how +I can this time." + +"Of course not, Penny. It would be very foolish of you to try. You might +lose your own chance to gain an exclusive news story." + +"Will you explain to your aunt about my sudden disappearance?" + +"Yes, she'll understand," Louise replied. "We'll wait here for you at +least an hour." + +Penny left a call for Miss Kippenberg's car and then went back to the +powder room. The young woman walked a bit unsteadily even with aid. +However, no one paid attention to them as they crossed the main hall and +made their way to the waiting automobile. + +With Penny and Miss Kippenberg as passengers the big limousine rolled +away from the clubhouse and sped toward Corbin. During the ride the young +woman scarcely spoke. She sat with her head against the cushion, eyes +half closed. As they came within view of the drawbridge she made an +effort to arouse herself. + +"I see you have visitors at the estate," Penny commented, noticing a +number of cars parked near the river's edge. + +"Reporters, always reporters," returned Miss Kippenberg impatiently. +"They may try to board as we pass." + +Penny wondered how the limousine would be taken across the river. The old +watchman had noted their approach. Before the car reached the end of the +road he had lowered the creaking drawbridge into position. + +"Is the bridge really safe?" Penny inquired of her companion. + +"For light traffic only," Miss Kippenberg answered briefly. + +The arrival of the car had created a stir of interest among the group of +men gathered near the bridge. Penny caught sight of Jerry Livingston and +could not resist rolling down the side window so he would be sure to +obtain a clear view of her. It gave her a very pleasant feeling to see +him stare as if he could not believe his own eyes. + +Several of the reporters attempted to stop the limousine but without +success. The car clattered over the drawbridge which was pulled up again +before anyone could follow. + +Penny and Miss Kippenberg alighted at the front door of the great house. + +"Now show me where you found the ring," requested the young woman. + +Penny led her down the winding path into the grove. + +"I hope we don't meet your head gardener," she said significantly. "He +seems to be such an unpleasant individual." + +Miss Kippenberg glanced at her queerly. + +"Why, how do you mean?" + +"Oh, yesterday he ordered me away from here in no uncertain terms." + +"He only meant to do his duty." + +"Then the man has been ordered to keep persons away from this part of the +estate?" + +"I really couldn't tell you," Miss Kippenberg answered aloofly. "Mother +has charge of the servants." + +"Has the man been in your employ long?" + +"I can't tell you that either." Miss Kippenberg's voice warned Penny that +she did not care to be questioned. + +There was no sign of the old gardener as they came presently to the lily +pool. Penny searched about in the grass for a few minutes. + +"Here is where I found the ring," she revealed. "And see this!" + +"What?" Miss Kippenberg drew in her breath sharply. + +"Footprints." + +"That doesn't seem so remarkable." The young woman bent to examine them. +"They probably were made by Grant's own shoe." + +"But it looks as if there might have been a struggle here," Penny +insisted. "From those marks wouldn't you say a body had been dragged +across the ground toward the pool?" + +"No!" cried Miss Kippenberg. "The grass is trampled, but I can't believe +Grant has met with violence. I refuse to think of such a thing! The +pool--" she broke off and a shudder wracked her body. + +"It is best to know the truth. Have you notified the police about Mr. +Atherwald's disappearance?" + +Miss Kippenberg shook her head. "Until today I thought he would return. +Or at least I hoped so." + +"It seems to me an expert should be called into the case," Penny urged. +"Why don't you telephone the police station now?" + +"I couldn't," returned Sylvia looking very miserable. "Not without +consulting Mother." + +"Then let's talk with her now." + +"She isn't at home this afternoon." + +"But something should be done, and at once," Penny protested. "The first +rain will destroy all these footprints and perhaps other important +evidence. Do you really love Grant Atherwald?" + +"With all my heart," answered the young woman soberly. + +"Then I should think you would have some interest in what became of him. +I can't understand your attitude at all." + +"I--I have others to think of besides myself." + +"Your mother, you mean?" + +"Yes." Sylvia avoided Penny's penetrating gaze. + +"Surely your mother wouldn't wish an act of violence to go unpunished. So +much time has been lost already." + +"We aren't certain anything has happened to Grant," Sylvia responded, her +eyes downcast. "If we should bring the police into the case, and then it +turns out that he has merely gone away to some other city, I'd be held up +to ridicule once more." + +"It seems to me you are taking a most foolish attitude." + +"There is another reason why we must be very careful," Sylvia said +unwillingly. + +"And what is that?" + +For just an instant Penny dared hope that the young woman meant to answer +the question. But Sylvia seemed to reconsider for she said quickly: + +"I can't tell you. Please don't ask me any more questions." + +"Are you afraid you may be blamed for Mr. Atherwald's disappearance?" +Penny persisted. + +"No, no, I assure you I am not thinking of myself. Please, let's return +to the house." + +Penny deliberately blocked the path. + +"Unless you wish me to notify the police there is a little matter which I +must ask you to explain." + +Reaching down she picked up a small stone and hurled it into the lily +pond. As the ripples died away they both observed a convulsive movement +of the water, a churning which had no relation to the missile thrown. + +"I think," said Penny evenly, "that you understand my meaning." + + + + + CHAPTER + 11 + _QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS_ + + +Miss Kippenberg watched the concentric circles race each other to the far +edge of the lily pool. + +"Then you know the reason why this part of the estate is kept closed +off?" she murmured, very low. + +"I learned about the alligator yesterday," said Penny. "Why is such an +ugly brute kept here?" + +"It was none of my doing, I assure you. I hate the horrid thing. Surely +you don't mean to suggest--" + +"I am not suggesting anything yet," said Penny quietly. "But you must +realize that it is rather unusual to keep an alligator on one's estate." + +"My father brought it here from Florida," Miss Kippenberg revealed +reluctantly. "For some reason the creature seemed to fascinate him. He +insisted upon keeping it in the pond." + +"Your father is not living here now I am told." + +"That is true." Miss Kippenberg quickly switched the subject back to the +alligator. "Mother and I would like to get rid of the beast but we've +never been able to do it." + +"Any zoo should be willing to take it off your hands." + +"Mother often spoke of getting in touch with one but for some reason she +never did. I suppose she hesitated to give the alligator away upon +Father's account." + +Penny remained silent, wondering how deeply she dared probe into the +private life of the Kippenberg family. After all there were certain +inquiries which a person of sensibility could not make. She couldn't very +well ask: "Have your parents separated? Why did your father leave home? +Is it true he is wanted by the authorities for evading income tax?" +although these questions were upon the tip of her tongue. + +She did say carelessly, "Your father is away, isn't he?" + +"Yes," Miss Kippenberg answered briefly. After a moment she went on: +"Father was rather peculiar in many ways. He had a decided flare for the +unusual. Take this estate for instance. He had it built at great expense +to resemble a castle he once saw in Germany." + +"I've never visited such an elegant place." + +"It is entirely too flamboyant for my taste. But Father loved every tower +and turret. If only things had turned out different--" + +Her voice trailed away and she stared at the ground, lost in deep +thought. Arousing herself, she went on once more. + +"If you had known Father you would understand it was not strange for him +to have an alligator on the estate. At one time he kept imported +peacocks. The place was fairly overrun with them." + +Penny offered no comment. She moved closer to the edge of the lily pool, +gazing down into the now tranquil waters. + +"I know what you are trying to imply," Miss Kippenberg said jerkily. "It +couldn't be possible. I refuse even to consider such a ridiculous +theory." + +"It does seem rather far-fetched," Penny admitted. "Of course, tragedies +do occur and those foot-prints--" + +"Please, not another word or you'll drive me into hysterics!" Sylvia +cried. "You are trying to play upon my feelings so that I will tell you +things! You are only trying to get a story! I'll not talk with you any +longer." + +She turned and ran up the path toward the house. + +"Overplayed my hand that time," thought Penny ruefully. "As Dad says, I +really have too much imagination to make a good reporter. Also too lively +a tongue." + +Miss Kippenberg had vanished into the house by the time the girl retraced +her way to the garden. The black limousine no longer stood at the front +door so she knew she was expected to get back to Andover by her own +efforts. + +"If Jerry is still waiting at the drawbridge, I'll ride home with him," +she told herself. "Otherwise, I'm out of luck completely." + +The path which Penny followed brought her toward the rear of the house. +As she drew near, the kitchen door suddenly opened and a stout woman in a +blue uniform came outside. In her arms she carried two large paper sacks +which appeared to be filled with garbage for the bottoms were moist. + +Just as the woman reached Penny one of the bags gave away, allowing a +collection of corn husks, watermelon rinds and egg shells to fall on the +sidewalk. + +"Now I've done it!" she exclaimed crossly. "Splattered my stockings too." + +"Oh, that's too bad," said Penny, pausing. + +"This is the only place I ever worked where the cook was expected to +carry out the garbage!" the woman complained. "It makes me good and mad +every time I do it." + +"I should think a house of this size would have an incinerator so that +the garbage could be burned," Penny remarked. + +"Say, this place doesn't have any conveniences for the servants," the +cook went on. "You're expected to work, work, work from morning to +night." + +She broke off quickly, regarding Penny with a suspicious gaze. "You're +not one of Miss Sylvia's guests?" she demanded. + +"Oh, no, I only came here on an errand. I wouldn't repeat anything to the +family." + +"That's all right then," the woman said in relief. "I liked my job here +well enough until lately. All month it's been one dinner party after +another. Then we spent days getting ready for the wedding feast and not +one scrap of food was touched!" + +"But I suppose Mrs. Kippenberg pays you well." + +"Listen, she didn't give me one extra cent for all the work I did. Mrs. +Kippenberg always has been real close, and she's a heap worse since her +husband went away. Another week like this last one and I quit!" + +"Well, I can't say I blame you," Penny said, leading the woman on. "I +suppose Miss Sylvia is as overbearing as her mother?" + +"Oh, Miss Sylvia is all right, as sweet a girl as you'll find anywhere. I +felt mighty sorry for her when that no-account man threw her over." + +Penny knew by this time that she must be talking with Mrs. Latch, for the +footman had mentioned the cook's name. As the woman walked on with her +bundles of garbage she fell into step with her. + +"It was strange about Mr. Atherwald's disappearance," she remarked. "I +hear he came to the house and then went away just before the wedding." + +"I can tell you about that," replied Mrs. Latch with an important air. +"Yesterday morning a boy came to the back door with a letter for Mr. +Atherwald. It's my opinion he sent it to himself." + +"Didn't the boy tell you where he had obtained the letter?" + +"He said it was given to him by one of Mr. Atherwald's friends. A man in +a boat." + +"Oh, I see," said Penny, making a mental note of the information. +Realizing that the cook had told everything she knew about the matter, +she quickly switched the subject. "By the way, who is the head gardener +here?" + +"Do you mean Peter Henderson?" + +"A fairly old man," described Penny. "Gray hair, stooped shoulders, and I +might add, an unpleasant manner." + +"I guess that's Peter. He's not much of a gardener in my opinion. And he +feels too high and mighty to associate with the other servants. He +doesn't even stay here nights." + +"Is he a new man?" + +"Mrs. Kippenberg hired him only three days before the wedding. I don't +think he's done a lick of honest work since he came here." + +"And Mrs. Kippenberg doesn't mind?" + +"She's been too busy and bothered to pay any attention to him," the cook +declared. "But she always has time to boss me. I tell you, if dishes +aren't prepared perfectly she raves!" + +"No wonder Mr. Kippenberg was forced to leave home," Penny interposed +slyly. "You can't blame him for running away from a violent temper." + +"Oh, the Kippenbergs never had any trouble," Mrs. Latch corrected. "Mr. +Kippenberg would just laugh and not say a word when she jumped on him. +They were never heard to quarrel." + +"Then it seems odd that he went away." + +"Yes, it does," agreed the cook, frowning. "I never did understand it. +And then the way Mrs. Kippenberg changed all the servants!" + +"You mean after Mr. Kippenberg went away?" + +"She fired everyone except me. I guess she knew she couldn't get another +cook half as good if she let me go. Right away I struck for more money +and she gave it to me without a whimper. But since then she works me like +a dog." + +Mrs. Latch clattered the lid of the garbage can into place and turned +toward the house. But as Penny once more fell into step with her, she +paused and regarded the girl with sudden suspicion. + +"Say, why am I telling you all this anyway? Who are you? You're not one +of those sneaking reporters?" + +"Do I look like a reporter?" countered Penny. + +"Well, no, you don't," admitted Mrs. Latch. "But you're as inquisitive as +one. You must be the girl who brought Miss Sylvia's new dress from the +LaRue Shoppe." + +Penny hesitated too long over her reply, and the woman gazed at her +sharply. + +"You _are_ a reporter!" she exclaimed with conviction. "And you've been +deliberately pumping me! Of all the tricks! I'll tell Miss Kippenberg!" + +"Wait, I can explain." + +Mrs. Latch paid no heed. With an angry toss of her head she hastened into +the house. + +"Overstepped myself again," Penny thought in dismay. "I'll be getting +away from here while the getting is good." + +Turning, she ran down the walk toward the river, only to stop short as +she reached the boat dock. The drawbridge was in open position and the +old watchman did not appear to be at his usual post. She had no way of +reaching the mainland. + + + + + CHAPTER + 12 + _FISHERMAN'S LUCK_ + + +Penny looked anxiously about for a means of crossing the river. There +were no small boats available and the only person who stood on the +opposite shore was Jerry Livingston. The other reporters and +photographers, evidently tiring of their long vigil, had gone away. + +She cupped her hands and shouted to Jerry: "How am I going to get over +there? Can you lower the bridge?" + +"The mechanism is locked," called back the reporter. "And the watchman +won't be back for an hour." + +Penny walked a short distance up the shore searching for a boat. The only +available craft was the large launch which she could not hope to operate. +She might return to the house and appeal to Miss Kippenberg but such a +course was not to her liking. + +As she considered whether or not to ruin her clothing by swimming across, +Jerry called her attention to a small boat some distance up the river. +The boy who was fishing from it obligingly rowed ashore after Penny had +signaled him. + +"I'll give you fifty cents to ferry me across," she offered. + +"I'll be glad to do it," he agreed. + +Penny stepped into the boat and then asked: "Aren't you the same lad I +saw here yesterday?" + +The boy nodded as he reached for the oars. "I remember you," he answered. + +"You seem to fish here nearly every day." + +"Just about. I caught some nice ones today." Proudly he held up two large +fish for her to see. + +"Beauties," praised Penny. "I take it the motor boats haven't been +bothering you as much as they were." + +"It's been pretty quiet on the river today," the boy agreed. "Want to see +something else I fished up?" + +"Why, yes. What did you hook, a mud turtle?" + +The boy opened a large wooden box which contained an assortment of rope, +fishing tackle and miscellaneous articles. He lifted out a man's high +silk hat, bedraggled and shapeless. + +"You fished that out of the water?" Penny demanded, leaning forward to +take the article from him. "Where did you find it?" + +"Up there a ways." The boy motioned vaguely toward a point on the +Kippenberg estate. + +Penny turned the hat over in her hand, examining it closely. She found no +identifying marks, yet she believed that it had belonged to Grant +Atherwald for he had worn similar headdress. The point indicated by the +boy was not far distant from the Kippenberg lily pool. + +"How would you like to sell this hat?" she asked. + +"Why, it's not worth anything." + +"I'd like to have it," said Penny. "I'll give you another fifty cents." + +"It's a deal." + +Penny offered the boy a dollar bill, and a moment later he beached the +boat. Jerry was waiting to help her ashore. His alert gaze fastened upon +the hat which she hugged close, but he withheld comment. To the boy he +said: + +"Son, how would you like to earn five dollars?" + +The boy's eyes brightened. "Say, this is my lucky day!" he exclaimed. +"What doin'?" + +"It's easy," Jerry told him. "All you need to do is to be here for a +couple of days with your boat. You're not to allow anyone to use it +except me." + +"And me," added Penny. "I'll need taxi service myself if I come back +here." + +"That's all right," agreed the boy. + +"Here's a dollar on deposit," Jerry said. "Now remember, be here tomorrow +from eight o'clock on, and don't hire out to any other person." + +"I won't," the boy promised. + +Jerry took Penny's elbow and escorted her to the press car. + +"So you found Atherwald's hat?" he asked without preliminaries. + +"It resembles the one he wore. The boy fished it out of the river." + +"Then that looks as if the fellow really was the victim of a plot!" + +"I've thought so all along," Penny declared soberly. + +"What else did you learn? You seemed to be very chummy with Miss +Kippenberg." + +"I'll not be from now on," Penny returned ruefully. + +As Jerry backed the car around in the dusty road, she told of her meeting +with Sylvia Kippenberg and the ensuing conversation. + +"So Miss Kippenberg doesn't like questions?" Jerry asked. "And she +refuses to notify the police? Well, after we publish our story in the +_Star_ it won't be necessary. The police will come to do their own +investigating." + +"I can't really believe she is trying to deceive the authorities," Penny +said thoughtfully. "She seems to have a sincere regard for Grant +Atherwald." + +"It may be pretense." + +"She wasn't pretending the day of the wedding. Atherwald's disappearance +was a great shock to her." + +"Well, even so, she may know a lot more than she's putting out." + +"I think that myself. She closed up like a clam when I talked about her +father." + +The car came to the main road and a short time later entered the town of +Corbin. As they stopped for a red light, Penny touched Jerry's arm. + +"Look over there," she directed. "See those two men standing in front of +the drugstore?" + +"What about them?" + +"They're G men who attended the Kippenberg wedding. Salt pointed them out +to me." + +"You don't say! Maybe we can learn a fact or two from them." + +Jerry parked the car at the curb and sprang out. Penny saw him walk over +to the men, introduce himself and show his press credentials. She was too +far away to hear the conversation. + +In a few minutes Jerry returned to the car looking none too elated. + +"You didn't learn anything, did you?" Penny inquired as they drove on +again. + +"Not very much. Government men never will talk. But they did admit they +were here trying to locate James Kippenberg." + +"Then they think he is in the locality." + +"They had an idea he would show up at his daughter's wedding. But it +didn't turn out that way." + +"Did you say anything to them about Grant Atherwald's disappearance?" + +"Yes, but they wouldn't discuss it. They said they had nothing to do with +the case." + +Penny lapsed into reflective silence as the car went on toward Andover. +Mentally she sorted over the evidence which she had gathered that day, +trying to fit it into a definite pattern. + +"Jerry," she said at last. + +"Yes?" + +"You'll probably laugh at this, but I have a theory about Grant +Atherwald's disappearance." + +"Go ahead, spill it." + +"Yesterday when Salt and I were waiting at the drawbridge we saw a +motorboat cruise down the river. It was driven by a burly looking fellow +who paid no heed when we tried to hail him." + +"You're not suggesting that the man may have had something to do with +Atherwald's disappearance?" Jerry questioned, mildly amused. + +"I knew you would laugh." + +"Your theory sounds pretty far-fetched to me, I'll admit. It happens +there are any number of burly, tough looking boatmen on the Kobalt. You +can't arrest a man for a crime just because of his appearance." + +"All the same, there is supporting evidence. Mrs. Latch told me that +Atherwald's note had been handed to her by a boy who in turn received it +from someone in a boat." + +"Boats are rather common too. Your theory is interesting, but that's all +I can say for it." + +"All right," said Penny. "I was about to tell you another idea of mine. +Now I won't do it." + +No amount of coaxing could induce her to reveal her thought, and the +remainder of the drive to Andover was made in silence. It was well after +five-thirty when the car finally drew up in front of the City Club. + +Penny was not surprised to find the doors locked and no sign of Louise or +Miss Frome. + +"I thought they would go home without me," she said to Jerry. "I only +wanted to make certain." + +For many miles the road led through pleasant countryside and then swung +back toward the Kobalt river. The sun had dropped below the horizon by +the time the automobile sped through the town of Claxton. + +"Thirty miles still to go," Jerry sighed. "I'm getting hungry." + +"Two souls with but a single thought," remarked Penny. + +Directly ahead they noticed an electric sign which drew attention to a +roadside gasoline station with an adjoining restaurant. Jerry eased on +the brake. + +"How about it, Penny? Shall we invest a few nickels?" + +"I could do with a sandwich," Penny agreed. "Several, in fact." + +Not until Jerry had parked the car did they notice the dilapidated +condition of the building. It stood perhaps fifty yards back from the +main road, its rear porch fronting on the Kobalt. + +"Strange how one is always running into the river," Penny remarked +absently. "It seems to twist itself over half the state." + +Jerry had not heard her words. He was gazing at the restaurant with +disapproval. + +"This place doesn't look so good, Penny. If you say the word we'll drive +on." + +"Oh, I'd brave anything for a beef barbecue," she laughed. + +Through the screen door they caught a discouraging glimpse of the cafe's +interior--dingy walls, cigarette smoke, a group of rough looking men +seated on stools at the counter. Upon the threshold Penny hesitated, +losing courage. + +"Let's not go in," Jerry grunted in an undertone. "They'll probably serve +cockroaches in the sandwiches." + +Penny half turned away from the door only to stop short. Her attention +focused upon two men who were sitting at the far end of the cafe drinking +coffee from heavy mugs. In the indistinct light she could not be +absolutely sure, yet she was instantly convinced that the heavy-set +fellow in shirt sleeves was the same boatman who had been seen near the +Kippenberg estate. + +To Jerry's surprise, Penny resisted the tug of his arm as he sought to +lead her toward the car. + +"This place isn't half bad," she said. "Let's try it and see what +happens." + +Boldly she reached for the knob of the screen door and entered the cafe. + + + + + CHAPTER + 13 + _TWO MEN AND A BOAT_ + + +Penny ignored several empty tables at the front of the dreary restaurant +and selected one not far from where the two men sat. As they glanced at +her with insolent, appraising eyes, her pulse quickened. She was almost +certain that the heavy-set man was the same fellow she had noticed near +the Kippenberg estate. + +A waiter in a soiled white apron shuffled up to take their order. + +"Hot roast beef sandwich and coffee," said Jerry. "With plenty of cream." + +"Make mine the same," added Penny without looking at the menu. + +All her attention centered upon the two men who were now talking together +in low tones. After the first glance they had taken no interest in her +and were unaware of her scrutiny. The heavy-set man bent nearer his +companion and with the point of his knife drew a pattern on the +tablecloth. + +"What do you think of this route, Joe?" he asked. + +"Too risky," the other muttered. "Once we start we got to make a quick +shoot to the sea." + +"Any way we take we might run into trouble. Y'know, I wish we had never +agreed to do the job." + +"You and me both!" + +"Dietz ain't to be trusted," the heavy-set man said and his shaggy +eyebrows drew together in a scowl. "He's thinking first and last of his +own skin. We've got to watch him." + +"And the girl, too. She's a dumb one and plenty apt to talk if the going +gets rough." + +Penny lost the remainder of the conversation as Jerry spoke to her. + +"We couldn't have picked a worse place," he complained. "Look at all the +breakfast egg on the tablecloth. I'm in favor of walking out even now." + +"I'm not," replied Penny. + +"Say, what's got into you anyway?" Jerry demanded. "You're acting mighty +funny." + +"Notice those two men at the last table," she indicated. + +"What about them?" + +"See that heavy-set fellow with the tattooed anchor on his arm? Well, I'm +satisfied he is the same boatman who cruised near the Kippenberg estate +yesterday afternoon." + +"It might be," Jerry agreed, unimpressed. "The Kobalt is only a stone's +throw away. And this place seems to be frequented by rivermen." + +"You didn't hear what they were saying?" whispered Penny. "Listen!" + +Jerry immediately fell silent, centering his attention upon the two men. +But by this time they had lowered their voices so that only an occasional +word could be distinguished. + +"What were they saying anyway?" Jerry asked curiously. + +Before Penny could answer, the proprietor came from the kitchen bearing +two plates of food which he set down before them. The sandwiches were +covered with a dark brown, watery gravy, potatoes bore a heavy coating of +grease and the coffee looked weak. + +"Anything more?" the man inquired indifferently. + +"That's all," Jerry replied, with emphasis. "In fact, it's too much." + +At the adjoining table the two men abruptly hauled to their feet. Paying +their bill they quitted the restaurant. + +"Let's leave, too," suggested Penny. "I should like to see where they +go." + +Jerry pushed his plate aside. "Suits me," he agreed. "Even my cast-iron +stomach can't wrestle with such food as this." + +He paid at the cash register and they went out into the night. Penny +looked about for the two men and saw them walking toward the river. + +"Hold on," said Jerry as she started to follow. "Tell me what all the +excitement is about." + +Tersely, Penny repeated the conversation she had overheard. + +"They're tough looking hombres all right," Jerry admitted. "Likely as not +mixed up in some dirty business. But to say they're involved in the +Kippenberg affair--" + +"Oh, Jerry," Penny broke in impatiently, "we'll never learn anything if +we take that attitude. We must run down every possible clue. Please, +let's see if they go down to the river." + +"We ought to be getting our story back to the office," Jerry reminded +her. "If we miss the last edition there will be fireworks." + +"It will only take a minute," Penny insisted stubbornly. "If you won't +come with me, then I'm going alone!" + +She started away and the reporter had no choice but to follow. A narrow, +well-trod path led down a steep slope toward the river. Long before they +came within sight of it they could hear the croak of bullfrogs and feel +the damp, night mists enveloping them like a cloak. + +Drawing closer to the two men, Penny and Jerry slackened pace and moved +with greater care. But if they hoped to learn anything from the +conversation of the pair ahead they were disappointed. The talk concerned +only the weather. + +Reaching the banks of the river, the two men boarded a sturdy cabin +cruiser which had been moored to a sagging dock. + +"It's the very same boat," Penny whispered jubilantly. "I knew I wasn't +mistaken." + +"Even so, what does that prove?" demanded Jerry. "It's no crime to run a +motorboat near the Kippenberg estate. The river is free." + +"But you must admit there _is_ other evidence. Oh, why can't we follow +them? We might learn something really important." + +"We're not going off on any wild chase tonight," stated Jerry sternly. +"Come on, it's home for us before your father sends a police squad to +search for his missing daughter." + +"You're losing a golden opportunity, Jerry Livingston." + +"Listen, by the time we located a boat those men would be ten miles from +here. They're leaving now. Use your head." + +"Oh, all right," Penny gave in. "We'll go home, but I'll bet a cent +you'll be sorry later on." + +She waited until the cruiser was lost to view in the darkness and then +allowed the reporter to guide her back up the steep path. + +"At least let's try to find out who the men are," Penny urged as they +came near the cafe. "The restaurant owner might know." + +More to please her than for any other reason, Jerry said that he would +inquire. He re-entered the cafe, returning in a few minutes to report +that the proprietor had never seen either of the men before. + +"And now let's be traveling," he urged. "We've killed enough time here." + +During the remainder of the ride back to Riverview, Penny had little to +say. But long after she knew Jerry had forgotten the two boatmen she kept +turning their conversation over in her mind. She only wished she might +prove that her theories were not ridiculous. + +Presently, the automobile drew up in front of the Parker residence. + +"Won't you come in, Jerry?" Penny invited. "Dad may wish to talk with you +about the case." + +"I might stop a minute. I have a question or two to ask him." + +The door of the house swung open as Penny and the reporter crossed the +front porch. Anthony Parker stood framed in the bright electric light, a +tall, imposing figure. + +"That you, Penny?" + +"Yes, Dad." + +"I'm glad you're home safe," he said, not trying to hide his relief. +"Mrs. Weems and I have both been worried. It's going on nine o'clock." + +"So late? Didn't Louise telephone you?" + +"Yes, she said you had gone on to the Kippenberg estate. Knowing you, I +worried all the more. What mischief did you get into this time, Penny?" + +"None. Jerry took care of that!" + +Mr. Parker held the door open for his daughter and Jerry to pass through. +"Have you had your dinners?" he asked. + +"We stopped at a roadside cafe, Dad. But the food was horrible. We didn't +even try to eat it." + +"Mrs. Weems can find something for you, I'm sure. She's upstairs." + +"Don't call her just yet," said Penny. "First, we want to tell you what +we've learned." + +Mr. Parker listened attentively as Penny gave a detailed account of her +visit to the estate, the finding of the silk hat, and finally of her +encounter with the two boatmen at the river cafe. + +"I might have learned a lot more if only Jerry hadn't played +grandmother," she said crossly. "He refused to follow the boat down the +river--said it would only be a wild chase." + +"Jerry, I'm glad you had will power enough to overrule her," declared Mr. +Parker. "The possibility of those men being connected with the Atherwald +case seems very vague to me." + +"Dad, you should have heard what they were saying! The one man drew a +design on the tablecloth and asked his companion what he thought of the +route. They talked about a quick get-away to the sea." + +"The men may have been fugitives," Mr. Parker commented. "But even that +isn't very likely." + +"They spoke of being uneasy about a certain job they had agreed to do," +Penny went on earnestly. "They mentioned a girl and said that a fellow +named Dietz would bear watching." + +Mr. Parker leaned forward in his chair. "Dietz?" he questioned. "Are you +certain that was the name?" + +"Yes, I heard it clearly." + +"I don't see how there could be any connection," Mr. Parker mused. "And +yet--" + +"Where did you hear the name before, Dad?" Penny asked, all eagerness. + +"Well, DeWitt has been digging up all the facts he can about James +Kippenberg. As it happens, the man once had a business associate named +Aaron Dietz who was dismissed because of alleged dishonesty." + +"Then there must be a relationship!" Penny cried. She whirled +triumphantly to face the crestfallen reporter. "You see, Mr. Jerry +Livingston, my theory wasn't so crazy after all! Now aren't you sorry?" + + + + + CHAPTER + 14 + _THE STONE TOWER_ + + +Louise Sidell was washing the breakfast dishes when Penny walked boldly +in at the back door. + +"Don't you ever answer doorbells, Lou?" she demanded. "I stood around +front for half an hour, ringing and ringing." + +"Why, hello, Penny. I didn't hear you at all," apologized Louise. "The +radio is on too loud. I see you reached home last night." + +Penny picked up a towel and began to dry dishes. "Oh, yes, and did I have +a day!" + +"What happened after you left Andover?" + +"It's a long story, so I'll begin at the end. Last night, coming home +with Jerry we stopped at a cafe along the river. Guess whom we saw!" + +"Knowing your luck, I'd say Charlie Chaplin, or maybe the Queen of +England." + +"This particular cafe wasn't quite their speed, Lou. Jerry and I saw that +same boatman I told you about!" + +"The fellow you saw cruising about the Kippenberg estate? What's so +remarkable about that?" + +"It just happens I've dug up other evidence to show he may know something +about Grant Atherwald's disappearance," Penny revealed proudly. "Jerry +and I overheard a conversation. It seems this man and a companion of his +are mixed up with another fellow named Aaron Dietz." + +"Which doesn't make sense to me," complained Louise, scrubbing hard at a +sticky plate. + +"Aaron Dietz was a former associate of James Kippenberg. Dad said he +probably knew more about the Kippenberg financial affairs than any other +person. Oh, I tell you, Jerry feels pretty sick because we didn't follow +the men last night! Dad assigned him to try to pick up the trail today. +He's chartered a motor boat and will patrol the river." + +"If you don't mind," said Louise patiently, "I'd like to hear the first +part of the story now. Then I might know what this is all about." + +Talking as fast as she could, Penny related everything which had happened +since she had taken leave of her chum at Andover. + +"Which brings me to the point of my visit," she ended her tale. "How +about going out there with me this morning?" + +"To the Kippenberg estate?" Louise asked eagerly. + +"Yes, we may not be able to get across the river, but I mean to try." + +"You know I'm wild to visit the place, Penny!" + +"How soon can you start?" + +"Just as soon as these stupid dishes are done. And I ought to change my +dress." + +"Wear something dark which won't attract attention in the bushes," +advised Penny. "Now get to working on yourself while I finish the +dishes." + +Louise dropped the dishcloth and hurried upstairs. When she returned ten +minutes later, her chum was swishing the last of the soapsuds down the +sink drain. Another five minutes and they were in Penny's battered car, +speeding toward Corbin. + +The sun rode high in the sky by the time they came within view of the +drawbridge. Noticing that a press car from a rival newspaper was parked +at the end of the road, Penny drew up some distance away. She could see +two reporters talking with the old watchman. + +"Evidently, they're having no luck in getting over to the estate," she +remarked. + +"Then what about us?" + +"Oh, we have our own private taxi service," Penny chuckled. "At least I +hope so." + +Taking a circuitous route so they would not be noticed by the bridgeman, +the girls went down to the river's edge. Far up the stream Penny saw the +familiar rowboat drifting with the current. At her signal the small boy +seized his oars and rowed toward shore. + +"I was here at eight o'clock just as you said," he declared. "That fellow +up there by the bridge offered me a dollar to take him across the river. +I turned him down." + +"Good," approved Penny. + +"Do you want to go across the river now?" the boy asked. + +"Yes, please." Penny stepped into the boat and made room for Louise. +"Keep close to the bank until we are around the bend. Then I'll show you +where to land." + +"I guess you're afraid someone will see you," the boy commented. + +"Not exactly afraid," corrected Penny. "But this way will be best." + +The boat moved quietly along the high bank, well out of sight of those +who stood by the drawbridge. + +"The cops were here this morning," volunteered the boy as he pulled at +the oars. + +"You saw them visit the estate?" Penny questioned. + +"Sure, there were four of 'em. They drove up in a police car and they +made old Thorndyke let the bridge down so they could go across." + +"Are the policemen at the estate now?" + +"No, they left again in about an hour. What do you suppose they wanted +over there?" + +"Well, now, I couldn't guess," replied Penny. "Like as not they only +wished to ask a few questions. Are the Kippenbergs at home?" + +"I saw Mrs. Kippenberg drive away right after the police left." + +"And her daughter?" + +"I guess she must be still there. Anyway, she wasn't in the car." + +The boat rounded the bend, and Penny pointed out a place on the opposite +shore where she wished to land. + +"Shall I wait for you?" the boy asked as the girls stepped from the +craft. + +"Yes, but not here," directed Penny. "You might row back to the opposite +shore and keep watch from there. We ought to be ready to leave within at +least an hour." + +The roof top of the Kippenberg house could be seen towering above the +tall trees. But as the two girls plunged into the bushes which grew +thickly along the shore they lost sight of it entirely. + +"I hope," said Louise uneasily, "that you know where you are going. It +would be easy to lose one's self in this jungle." + +"Oh, I have my directions straight. We should come out near the lily pool +at any minute." + +"What do you hope to gain by coming here, Penny?" Louise inquired +abruptly. + +"I thought I would try to talk with Miss Kippenberg again. There's an +important question I forgot to ask her yesterday. Then I wanted to show +you the estate, especially the lily pond." + +"Is there anything unusual about it?" + +"I'll let you be the judge," Penny answered. "We're almost there now." + +They came in a moment to a path which made walking much easier. Penny +went in advance of her chum. Suddenly she halted. + +"See what is ahead, Lou! I never saw that thing before." + +She stepped to one side so that Louise might see the tall stone tower +which loomed up against a background of scarlet maples. + +"How curious!" murmured Louise. + +"This isn't the only queer thing I've found on the estate." + +"What purpose could the tower have?" speculated Louise. + +"Decoration, perhaps," replied Penny, moving forward again. "Or it might +have been built for a prison." + +"Listen, you have too many different theories about Grant Atherwald," +laughed Louise. "Why don't you get one and stick to it?" + +"My mind is always open to new possibilities and impressions." + +"I'll say it is," agreed Louise. "I suppose you think Mrs. Kippenberg is +keeping young Atherwald a prisoner in yonder tower?" + +"Well, no, but you must admit it would make a lovely one. So romantic." + +"Are you trying to kid me?" Louise demanded. + +Penny smiled broadly as she stared up at the tower which rose perhaps +twelve feet. Like every other building on the estate it had been built to +resist the ages. High above her head a circular window had been cut in +the wall and there was a heavy oaken door. + +Reaching for the knob, Penny turned it. Then she pressed her shoulder +against the door and pushed with her entire strength. + +"Locked!" she announced. + +"Then we won't learn what is inside after all." + +"Yes, we will," declared Penny. "You lift me up and I'll peep in the +window." + +"You only weigh a ton," complained Louise. + +She obligingly raised Penny up as high as she could. + +"Look fast," she panted. "What do you see?" + +"Not much of anything." + +"I can't hold you forever," Louise said, and released her hold. "Didn't +you see anything at all?" + +"Just a lot of machinery." + +"Tools, you mean?" + +"No, an electric motor and something which looked like it might be a +pump. Oh, I get it now!" + +"Get what?" demanded Louise. + +"Why, the idea of this tower. It must be used as a pump house. I wondered +how the lily pool was ever drained and this must be the answer." + +"You didn't see any prisoners chained inside?" Louise teased. + +"Not one. Well, let's be getting on to the lily pond. It must be +somewhere close." + +Louise could not understand why her chum was so determined that she +should see the pool. But since Penny seldom did anything without a +purpose, she speculated upon what might be in store. She knew from the +girl's manner that certain facts had been withheld deliberately to make +this visit the more impressive. + +"Here we are," said Penny as they came to the clearing. "What do you +think of it?" + +Louise was aware of a deep sense of disappointment as she gazed at the +lily pool. + +"I really don't see anything so remarkable about it, Penny." + +"This was the place where I found the wedding ring. And there were +footprints indicating that a struggle probably took place." + +"I read all that in the paper," Louise said. "From the hints you've been +passing out, I thought you brought me here to show me something +mysterious." + +"Go close to the pool." + +"What for, Penny? You want to push me in?" + +"Oh, you're too suspicious! Go on and look." + +Louise went to the edge of the pool and peered down into the water. + +"I don't see anything." + +"You will in just a minute. Keep looking." + +Louise was more than half convinced that Penny meant to play some prank, +but she dropped down on her knees so her eyes would be closer to the +water. + +"Why, I do see some large object on the floor of the tank!" she exclaimed +after a moment. "What is it, Penny?" + +"An alligator." + +Louise gave a smothered scream and drew back from the pool's edge. + +"I--I might have fallen in. You ought to be ashamed of yourself!" + +"I only wanted you to get a nice thrill," Penny grinned. "Pretty fellow, +isn't he?" + +"I didn't really see him," Louise admitted. + +Overcoming her fear, she again leaned over the edge of the pool but with +great caution. This time she could make out the alligator's form +distinctly. + +"Horrible!" she shuddered. "I wish you hadn't brought me--" + +Her words ended in a little wail as a tiny object splashed into the water +directly beneath her. + +"My cameo pin!" she cried. "Oh, Penny, it slipped from my dress and now +it's gone!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 15 + _A CAMEO PIN_ + + +In dismay, the two girls watched the trinket settle slowly to the bottom +of the pool. + +"Oh, my beautiful pin," moaned Louise. "Aunt Lucinda gave it to me for my +birthday. I wouldn't have lost it for anything in the world." + +"I guess it was my fault," Penny said self-accusingly. + +"No, it wasn't. I must have been careless about fastening the clasp. When +I leaned over it slipped off. Well, it's gone, and that's that." + +The cameo pin had fallen into the deepest part of the pool not far from +where the alligator lay. The girls were unable to see it plainly because +of the lily pads and plants which cluttered the water. + +"If that old alligator would just behave himself we could wade in and get +it easy," Penny said. + +"Fancy trying it!" + +"I'm afraid he would take special delight in snapping off an arm or a +leg. And we don't dare ask anyone to help us get the pin or we'll be +ejected from the grounds as trespassers." + +"We may as well forget about it, Penny. Come along, I'm sick of this +place." + +"No, wait, Louise. We might be able to fish it out with a stick." + +"I don't think we'd have a chance." + +"Anyway, it will do no harm to try." + +Penny searched the woods until she found a long stick with a curve at the +end. Lying flat on the flagstones at the edge of the pool she prodded for +the pin. + +"I can touch it all right!" she cried. "I'll pull it over to the side." + +"Be careful you don't tumble in," Louise warned, anxiously holding her +chum by the waist. "If you should lose your balance--" + +Penny hooked the cameo pin in the curve of the stick and began raising it +inch by inch up the side of the pool. + +"If I can get it up high enough reach down and snatch it," Penny advised +her chum. "Oh, shoot, there it goes!" + +The pin had slipped away from the stick and settled once more on the +bottom of the pool. + +"You can't get it, Penny," Louise insisted. "You're making the alligator +all excited by prodding around." + +"I don't care about _him_. I'll try once more if I can locate the pin. It +seems to be hiding from me now." + +The water was so disturbed that Penny could not see the pin or the bottom +of the pool. She waited several minutes for the dirt to settle and then +gazed down once more. + +"There it is!" she exclaimed. "It moved over quite a ways to the right." + +Louise flattened herself beside Penny. "Oh, let the pin go," she said. + +"No, I think I can get it. Say, there seems to be something else on the +bottom of the pool." + +"Where?" + +Penny pointed, and then, as her chum still could not distinguish +anything, parted the lily pads with her stick. + +"Yes, I do see something now," Louise declared. "What can it be?" + +"Doesn't it look like a metal ring?" Penny asked. She had lost all +interest in the cameo pin. + +"Yes, it does. Someone probably threw it into the pool." + +"But it looks to me as if it's attached to the bottom of the tank, +embedded in the cement," Penny said. She bent closer to the water, trying +to see. + +"Be careful," Louise warned nervously. "That alligator might come up and +snap off your nose." + +Penny paid no heed. + +"It is attached!" she announced in an excited voice. "Louise, do you know +what I think?" + +"What?" + +"It's the ring of a trapdoor!" + +"A trapdoor!" Louise echoed incredulously. + +"You can see for yourself that it's an iron ring." + +"It does look a little like one from here," Louise admitted. "But whoever +heard of a trapdoor in a lily pool? No one but you would even think of +such a thing. It doesn't make sense." + +"Does anything on this estate make sense?" + +"The ring might have something to do with draining the pool," Louise said +without replying to her chum's question. "I suppose a section of the pool +could be lifted up and removed. But I'd never call it a trapdoor." + +"I wish we could tell for sure what it is." Penny tried to prod the ring +with her stick but it was well beyond her reach. "Maybe the alligator has +a room down under the pool where he spends his winters!" + +"You're simply filled with ideas today," Louise declared. "What about my +pin? Shall we let it go?" + +Reminded of her original task, Penny set to work once more, trying to +draw the cameo to the edge of the tank. She was so deeply engrossed, that +she jumped as her chum touched her on the arm. + +"Listen, Penny, I think someone is coming!" + +From the path at the right they could hear approaching footsteps and the +low murmur of voices. + +Penny struggled to her feet, dropping the stick. + +"We mustn't be caught here," she whispered. + +Taking Louise's hand, she drew the girl into the dense bushes directly +behind the pool. Scarcely had they secreted themselves when Sylvia +Kippenberg and the head gardener came into view. They seated themselves +on a rustic bench not far from where the two girls stood. + +"I had to talk with you," Sylvia said to the old man. "The police came +this morning and asked so many questions. Mother put them off but they'll +be back again." + +"They didn't learn about the alligator?" the gardener asked gruffly. + +"No, they came here but only stayed a few minutes. I don't think they +noticed anything wrong." + +"Then that's all right." + +"Their investigation is only beginning," Sylvia said nervously. "Mother +and I both believe it would be wise to get rid of the alligator." + +"Wise but not easy," the gardener replied. + +"You'll see what you can do about it?" + +"Yes. I'll try to get rid of him." + +"Then I guess that's all," Sylvia said, but she made no move to leave. +She sat staring moodily at the pool. + +"Anything else on your mind?" asked the gardener. + +"I--I wanted to ask you something, but I scarcely know how." + +The gardener waited, watching the girl's face intently. + +"You never liked Grant Atherwald," she began nervously. + +"Say, what are you driving at?" the man asked quickly. "You're not trying +to hint that I had anything to do with Grant Atherwald's disappearance?" + +The two faced each other and Sylvia's gaze was the first to fall. + +"No, no, of course not," she said. + +"I don't know any more about his disappearance than you do," the man told +her angrily. "I didn't even see him on the day of the wedding." + +"But he came here. The wedding ring was found near the pool. Surely you +must have heard some sound for I know you were in this part of the +garden." + +"Well, I didn't," the man said sullenly. "The only persons I saw were a +newspaper photographer and a girl." + +"Please don't take offense," Miss Kippenberg murmured, getting up from +the bench. "I've been terribly upset these past few days." + +She walked slowly to the edge of the pool. There she stopped short, +staring down at an object which lay on the flagstones at her feet. It was +the stick which Penny had dropped only a moment before. + +"What have you found?" the gardener cried. + +He went quickly to her side and took the damp stick from her hand. + +"Someone has been here prying around," he said in a harsh voice. "This +was used to investigate the water in the pool." + +"And whoever it was must be close by even now. Otherwise the stick would +have dried out in the sun." + +"You go back to the house," the man commanded. "I'll look around." + +In their hideout amid the bushes, Penny and Louise gazed at each other +with chagrin. No word was spoken for even a whisper might have been +heard. With a common desire for escape, they glided with cat-like tread +toward the river. + + + + + CHAPTER + 16 + _GATHERING CLUES_ + + +The girls could hear no movement behind them as they darted down the +path. They dared to hope that they had eluded the old gardener. + +Then as they came within sight of the river, Louise stumbled over a vine. +Although she stifled an outcry the dull thud of her body against the +ground seemed actually to reverberate through the forest. A black crow on +the lower limb of an oak tree cawed in protest before he flew away. + +Penny pulled Louise to her feet and they went on as fast as they could, +but they knew the sound had betrayed them. Now they could hear the man in +pursuit, his heavy shoes pounding on the hard, dry path. + +"Run!" Penny commanded. + +They reached the river bank and looked about for the boat which would +take them across. As they had feared it was on the opposite shore. + +Penny gestured frantically, but the boy did not understand the need for +haste. He picked up his oars and rowed toward them at a very deliberate +pace. + +"Oh, he'll never get here in time," Louise murmured fearfully. "Shall we +hide?" + +"That's all we can do." + +They realized then that they had waited too long. Before they could dodge +into the deeper thicket the gardener reached the clearing. + +"So it's you again!" he cried wrathfully, glaring at Penny. + +"Please, we didn't mean any harm. We can explain--" + +"This stick is explanation enough for me!" the man shouted, waving it +above his head. "You were trying to find out about the lily pool!" + +"We were only trying to get a pin which I dropped into the water," Louise +said, backing a step away. + +"I don't believe you!" the man snapped. "You can't fool me! I know why +you came here, and you'll pay for your folly! You'll never take the +secret away with you!" + +With a swift, animal-like spring which belied his age, the gardener +hurled himself toward the girls. He seized Penny's arm giving it a cruel +twist. + +"You're coming along with me," he announced harshly. + +"Let me go!" Penny cried, trying to free herself. + +"You're going with me to the house. You've been altogether too prying. +Now you'll take your punishment, both of you." + +The gardener might have managed Penny alone, but he was no match for two +athletic girls. As he tried to seize Louise, Penny twisted free. + +Quick as a flash, she grasped the man's felt hat, jamming it down on his +head over his eyes. While he was trying to pull it off, Louise also +wriggled from his grasp. + +The two girls ran to the water's edge. Their boat had drawn close to +shore. Without waiting for it to beach they waded out over their shoetops +and climbed aboard. + +"Don't either of you ever come here again!" the gardener hurled after +them. "If you do--" + +The rest of the threat was carried away by the wind. However, Penny could +not resist waving her hand and calling back: "Bye, bye, old timer! We'll +be seeing you!" + +"What's the matter with that man anyhow?" asked the boy who rowed the +boat. "Didn't he want you on the estate?" + +"On the contrary, he invited us to remain and we declined," grinned +Penny. "Just temperament, that's all. He can't make up his mind which way +he would like to have it." + +Allowing the boy to puzzle over the remark, she busied herself pouring +water from her sodden shoes. The visit to the estate had not turned out +at all as she had planned. She had failed to talk with Miss Kippenberg, +and it was almost certain that from now on servants would keep a much +closer watch for intruders. + +The only vital information she had gleaned resulted from overhearing the +conversation between Sylvia Kippenberg and the gardener. + +"She talked with him as if they were well acquainted," mused Penny. "Miss +Kippenberg must have thought he knew more about Grant Atherwald's +disappearance than he would tell. And she seems to be afraid the Law will +ask too many questions. Otherwise, she wouldn't have suggested getting +rid of the alligator." + +One additional observation Penny had made, but she decided not to speak +of it until she and Louise were alone. + +The boat reached shore and the two girls stepped out on the muddy bank. + +"Will you need me again?" inquired the boy. + +"I may," said Penny, "and I can't tell you exactly when. Where do you +keep your boat?" + +"Up the river just beyond that crooked maple tree. I hide it in the +bushes and I keep the oars inside a hollow log close by. You won't have +any trouble finding it." + +Penny and Louise said goodbye to the lad and scrambled up the bank. + +"I'm sure I'll not be going back to _that_ place," the latter declared +emphatically. "I just wonder what would have happened if we hadn't broken +away." + +"We might have been locked up in the stone tower," Penny laughed. "Then +another one of my theories would have proven itself." + +"Oh, you and your theories! You can't make me believe that gardener +didn't mean to harm us. He was a very sinister character." + +"Sinister is a strong word, Lou. But I'll agree he's not any ordinary +gardener. Either he's been hired by the Kippenberg family for a very +special purpose or else he's gained their confidence and means to bend +them to his own ends." + +"His own ends! Why, Penny, what do you mean? Have you learned something +you haven't told me?" + +"Only this. I'm satisfied Old Peter is no gardener. He's wearing a +disguise." + +"Well, what won't you think of next! You've been reading too many +detective stories, Penny Parker." + +"Have I? Then there's no need to tell you--" + +"Yes, there is," Louise cut in. "Your ideas are pretty imaginative, but I +like to hear them anyway." + +"Considerate of you, old thing," Penny drawled in her best imitation of +an English accent. "You don't deserve to be told after that crack, but +I'll do it anyhow. When I pulled the gardener's hat down over his eyes, I +felt something slip!" + +"Maybe it was his skin peeling off." + +"He wore a wig," Penny said soberly. "That's why he looked so startled +when I jerked the hat." + +"Did you actually see a wig?" + +"No, but he must have had one on his head. I felt it give, I tell you." + +"I wouldn't put anything past that fellow. But if he isn't a gardener, +then who or what is he?" + +"I don't know, but I intend to do some intensive investigation." + +"Just how, may I ask?" + +Penny gazed speculatively toward the drawbridge, noting that the old +watchman had been deserted by the group of reporters. He sat alone, legs +crossed, his camp stool propped against the side of the gearhouse. + +"Let's talk with him, Lou. He might be able to tell us something about +the different employees of the estate." + +They walked over to where the old man sat, greeting him with their most +pleasant smiles. + +"Good morning," said Penny. + +The old man finished lighting his pipe before he deigned to notice them. + +"Good morning," repeated Penny. + +"Mornin'," said the watchman. He looked the two girls over appraisingly +and added: "Ain't you children a long ways off from your Ma's?" + +The remark both startled and offended Penny, but instantly she divined +that the old fellow's memory was short and his eyesight poor. He had +failed to recognize her in everyday clothes. + +"Oh, we're just out for a hike," she answered. "You see, we get tired of +all the ordinary places, so we thought we would walk by here." + +"We're interested in your bridge," added Louise. "We just love bridges." + +"This one ain't so good any more," the old man said disparagingly. + +"Doesn't it get lonely here?" ventured Louise. "Sitting here all day +long?" + +"It did at first, Miss. But I got used to it. Anyway, it beats leanin' on +a shovel for the gov'ment. I got a little garden over yonder a ways. You +ought to see my tomatoes. Them Ponderosas is as big as a plate." + +"Do you ever operate the bridge?" Louise inquired, for Penny had not told +her that the structure was still in use. + +"Oh, sure, Miss. That's what I'm here for. But it ain't safe for nothin' +heavier than a passenger car." + +"I'd love to see the bridge lowered." Louise stared curiously up at the +tall cantilevers which pointed skyward. "When will you do it next time, +Mr.--?" + +"Davis, if you please, Miss. Thorny Davis they calls me. My real name's +Thorndyke." + +The old man pulled a large, silver watch from his pocket and consulted +it. + +"In about ten minutes now, Mrs. Kippenberg will be comin' back from town. +Then we'll make the old hinge bend down agin'." + +"Let's wait," said Louise. + +Penny nodded and then as Thorny did not seem to object, she peeped into +the gear house, the door of which stood half open. A maze of machinery +met her eye--an electric motor and several long hand-levers. + +Presently Thorny Davis listened intently. Penny thought he looked like an +old fox who had picked up the distant baying of the pack. + +"That's _her_ car a-comin' now," he said. "I can tell by the sound of the +engine. Well, I reckon I might as well let 'er down." + +Thorny arose and knocked the ashes from his corn-cob pipe. He opened the +door of the gear house and stepped inside. + +"May I see how you do it?" asked Penny. "I always was interested in +machinery." + +"The women will be runnin' locomotives next," Thorny complained +whimsically. "All right, come on in." + +The old watchman pulled a lever on the starting rheostat of the motor +which responded with a sudden jar and then a low purr. It increased its +speed as he pushed the lever all the way over. + +"Now the power's on. The next thing is to drop 'er." + +Thorny grasped one of the long hand-levers and gently eased it forward. +There was a grind of gears engaging and the bridge slowly crept down out +of the sky. + +Penny did not miss a single move. She noted just which levers the +watchman pulled and in what order. When the platform of the bridge was on +an even keel she saw him cut off the motor and throw all the gear back +into its original position. + +"Think you could do 'er by yourself now?" Thorny asked. + +"Yes, I believe I could," Penny answered gravely. + +The old watchman smiled as he stepped to the deck of the bridge. + +"It ain't so easy as it looks," he told her. "Well, here comes the Missuz +now and we're all ready for her. Last time she came along I was weedin' +out my corn patch and was she mad?" + +As the black limousine rolled up to the drawbridge Penny turned her face +away so that Mrs. Kippenberg would not recognize her. She need have had +no uneasiness, for the lady gazed neither to the right nor the left. The +car crept forward at a snail's pace causing the steel structure to shiver +and shake as if from an attack of ague. + +"Dear me, I think this bridge is positively dangerous," Louise declared. +"I shouldn't like to drive over it myself." + +As the old watchman again raised the cantilevers, Penny studied his every +move. + +"For a girl you're sure mighty interested in machinery," he remarked. + +"Oh, I may grow up to be a bridgeman some day," Penny said lightly. "I +notice you keep the gear house locked part of the time." + +"I have to do it or folks would tamper with the machinery." + +The old man snapped a padlock on the door. + +"Now I'm goin' to mosey down to my garden and do a little hoein'," he +announced. "You girls better run along." + +Thus dismissed, Louise started away, but Penny made no move to leave. She +intended to ask a few questions. + +"Thorny, are you any relation to the Kippenberg's head gardener?" she +inquired with startling abruptness. + +"Am I any relation to that old walrus?" Thorny fairly shouted. "Am I any +relation to _him_? Say, you tryin' to insult me?" + +"Not at all, but I saw the man this morning, and I fancied I noticed a +resemblance. Perhaps you don't know the one I mean." + +"Sure, I know him all right." Thorny spat contemptuously. "New man. He +acts as know-it-all and bossy as if he owned the whole place." + +"Then you don't like him?" + +"There ain't no one that has anything to do with him. He's so good he +can't live like the rest of the servants. Where do you think I seen him +the other night?" + +"I haven't the slightest idea. Where?" + +"He was at the Colonial Hotel, eatin' in the main dining room!" + +"The Colonial is quite an expensive hotel at Corbin, isn't it?" + +"Best there is. They soak you two bucks just to park your feet under one +of their tables. Yep, if you ask me, Mrs. Kippenberg better ask that +gardener of hers a few questions!" + +Having delivered himself of this tirade, Thorny became calm again. He +shifted his weight and said pointedly: "Well, I got to tend my garden. +You girls better run along. Mrs. Kippenberg don't want nobody hangin' +around the bridge." + +The girls obligingly took leave of him and walked away. But when they +were some distance away, Penny glanced back over her shoulder. She saw +Thorny down on his hands and knees in front of the gear house. He was +slipping some object under the wide crack of the door. + +"The key to the padlock!" she chuckled. "So that was why he wanted us to +leave first. We'll remember the hiding place, Lou, just in case we ever +decide to use the drawbridge." + + + + + CHAPTER + 17 + _A SEARCH FOR JERRY_ + + +After leaving the Kippenberg estate, Penny and Louise motored to Corbin. +More from curiosity than for any other reason they dined at the Colonial +Hotel, finding the establishment as luxurious as the old watchman had +intimated. A full hour and a half was required to eat the fine dinner +which was served. + +"Our friend, the gardener, does have excellent taste in food," remarked +Louise. "What puzzles me is where does he get the money to pay for all +this?" + +"The obvious answer is that he's not a gardener." + +"Maybe he has rooms here too, Penny." + +"I've been wondering about it. I mean to investigate." + +Louise glanced at her wristwatch. "Do you think we should take the time?" +she asked. "It will be late afternoon now before we reach home." + +"Oh, it won't take a minute to inquire at the desk." + +Leaving the dining room, the girls made their way to the lobby. When the +desk clerk had a free moment Penny asked him if anyone by the name of +Peter Henderson had taken rooms at the hotel. + +"No one here by that name," the man told her. "Wait, I'll look to be +sure." + +He consulted a card filing system which served as a register, and +confirmed his first statement. + +"The man I mean would be around sixty years of age," explained Penny. "He +works as a gardener at the Kippenberg estate." + +"Perhaps you have come to the wrong hotel," said the clerk aloofly. "We +do not cater to gardeners." + +"Only to people who employ gardeners, I take it." + +"Our rates start at ten dollars a day," returned the clerk coldly. + +"And does that include free linen and a bath?" Penny asked with pretended +awe. + +"Certainly. All of our rooms have private baths." + +"How wonderful," giggled Penny. "We thought this might be one of those +places with a bath on every floor!" + +Suddenly comprehending that he was being made an object of sport, the +clerk glared at the girls and turned his back. + +Penny and Louise went cheerfully to their car, very much pleased with +themselves for having deflated such a conceited young man. They drove +away, and late afternoon brought them to Riverview, tired and dusty from +their long trip. + +After dropping her chum off at the Sidell home, Penny rode directly to +the newspaper office. Finding no parking place available on the street, +she ran her car into the loading area at the rear of the building, nosing +into a narrow space which had just been vacated by a paper-laden truck. + +"Hey, you lady," shouted an employee. "You can't park that scrap iron +here. Another paper truck will be along in a minute." + +Penny switched off the engine. + +"I guess you're new around here," she said, climbing out. "The next truck +isn't due until five-twenty-three." + +"Say, who do you think you are, tellin' me--?" + +The employee trailed off into silence as another workman gave him a sharp +nudge in the ribs. + +"Pipe down," he was warned. "If the boss' daughter wants to park her +jitney in the paper chute it's okay, see?" + +"Sure, I get it," the other mumbled. + +Penny grinned broadly as she crossed the loading area. + +"After this, you might mention my automobile in a more respectful tone," +she tossed over her shoulder. "It's not scrap iron or a jitney either!" + +Riding up the freight elevator, Penny passed a few remarks with the +smiling operator and stepped off at the editorial floor. She noticed as +she went through the news room that Jerry Livingston's desk was vacant. +And because the waste basket was empty, the floor beside it free from +paper wads, she knew he had written no story that day. + +Penny tapped lightly on the closed door of her father's private office +and went in. + +"Hello," he said, glancing up. "Just get back from Corbin?" + +"Yes, Louise and I had plenty of excitement, but I didn't dig up any +facts you'll dare print in the paper." + +"Did you meet Jerry anywhere?" + +"Why, no, Dad." + +"The young cub is taking a vacation at my expense, running up a big +motorboat bill! He should have been back here three hours ago." + +"Oh, be reasonable, Dad," said Penny teasingly. "You can't expect him to +trace down those men just in a minute." + +"It was a wild chase anyway," the editor growled. "I let him do it more +to please you than for any other reason. But that's beside the point. He +was told to be back here by four o'clock at the latest, even if he had +nothing to report." + +"Jerry is usually punctual, Dad. But I suppose being on the river he +couldn't get here just when he expected." + +"He's probably gone fishing," Mr. Parker declared. + +He slammed down the roll top on his desk and picked up his hat. + +"Will you ride home with me?" Penny invited. "Leaping Lena would be +highly honored." + +"It's a mighty sight more comfortable on the bus," her father replied. +"But then, I can stand a jolting." + +As they went out through the main room he paused to speak with DeWitt, +leaving an order that he was to be called at his home as soon as Jerry +Livingston returned. + +Mr. Parker raised his eyebrows as he saw where Penny had left the car. + +"Haven't I told you that the trucks need this space to load and unload?" +he asked patiently. "There is a ten cent parking lot across the street." + +"But Dad, I haven't ten cents to spare. The truth is, I spent almost +every bit of my allowance today over at Corbin." + +"NO!" said Mr. Parker firmly. "NO!" + +"No what?" + +"Not a penny will you get ahead of time." + +"You misjudge me, Dad. I had no intention of even mentioning such a +painful subject." + +They drove in silence for a few blocks and then Penny indicated the +gasoline gauge on the dashboard. + +"Why, it's nearly empty!" she exclaimed. "We won't have enough to reach +home!" + +"Well, get some," said Mr. Parker automatically. "We don't want to stall +on the street." + +A flip of the steering wheel brought the car to a standstill in front of +a gasoline pump. + +"Fill it up," ordered Penny. + +While Mr. Parker read his newspaper, the attendant polished the +windshield and checked the oil, finding it low. At a nod from Penny he +added two quarts. + +"That will be exactly two fifty-eight." + +Penny repeated the figure in a louder tone, giving her father a nudge. +"Wake up, Dad. Two fifty-eight." + +Absently, Mr. Parker reached for his wallet. Not until the attendant +brought the change did it dawn upon him that Penny had scored once more. + +"Tricked again," he groaned. + +"Why, it was your own suggestion that we stop for gasoline," Penny +reminded him. "I shouldn't have minded taking a chance myself. You see, +the gauge is usually at least a gallon off." + +"Anyway, I would rather pay for it than have you siphon it out of my +car." + +"Thanks for the present," laughed Penny. + +Dinner was waiting by the time they reached home. Afterwards, Penny +helped Mrs. Weems with the dishes while her father mowed the lawn. +Hearing the telephone ring he came to the kitchen door. + +"Was that a call for me?" he asked. + +"No, Dad, it was for Mrs. Weems." + +"Strange DeWitt doesn't call," Mr. Parker said. "I believe I'll telephone +him." + +After Mrs. Weems had finished with the phone he called the newspaper +office only to be told that Jerry Livingston had not put in an +appearance. + +"At least he might have communicated with the office," Mr. Parker said as +he hung up the receiver. + +He went back to lawn mowing but paused now and then to stare moodily +toward the Kobalt river which wound through the valley far below the +terrace. Penny finished drying the dishes and went outside to join him. + +"You're worried about Jerry, aren't you?" she asked after a moment. + +"Not exactly," he replied. "But he should have been back long ago." + +"He never would have stayed away without good reason. We both know Jerry +isn't like that." + +"No, he's either run into a big story, or he's in trouble. When I sent +him away this morning, I didn't look upon the assignment as a +particularly dangerous one." + +"And yet if he met those two seamen anything could have happened. They +were tough customers, Dad." + +"I could notify the police if Jerry isn't back within an hour or two," +Mr. Parker said slowly. "Still, I hate to do it." + +"Where did Jerry rent his boat, Dad?" + +"I told him to get one at Griffith's dock at twenty-third street." + +"Then why don't we go there?" suggested Penny. "If he hasn't come in we +might rent a boat of our own and start a search." + +Mr. Parker debated and then nodded. "Bring a heavy coat," he told her. +"It may be cold on the river." + +Penny ran into the house after the garments and also took a flashlight +from her father's bureau drawer. When she hurried outdoors again her +father had backed his own car from the garage and was waiting. + +At the twenty-third street dock, Harry Griffith, owner of the boat house, +answered their questions frankly. Yes, he told them, Jerry Livingston had +rented a motor boat early that morning but had not returned it. + +"I been worryin' about that young feller," he admitted, and then with a +quick change of tone: "Say, you're not Mr. Parker, are you?" + +"Yes, that's my name." + +"Then I got a letter here for you. I reckon maybe it explains what became +of the young feller." + +The boatman took a greasy envelope from his trousers pocket and gave it +to the editor. + +"Where did you get this, Mr. Griffith?" + +"A boy in a rowboat brought it up the river about two hours ago. He said +the young feller gave him a dollar to deliver it to a Mr. Parker. But the +kid was mixed up on the address, so I just held it here." + +"Dad, it must be from Jerry," said Penny eagerly. + +As her father opened the envelope, she held the flashlight close. In an +almost illegible scrawl Jerry had written: + +"Following up a hot tip. Think I've struck trail of key men. Taking off +in boat. Expect to get back by nightfall unless Old Man Trouble catches +up with me." + +Mr. Parker looked up from the message, his gaze meeting the frightened +eyes of his daughter. + +"Oh, Dad," she said in a tone barely above a whisper, "it's long after +dark now. What do you think has become of Jerry?" + + + + + CHAPTER + 18 + _OVER THE DRAWBRIDGE_ + + +Wasting no moments in useless conversation, Mr. Parker rented a fast +motor boat and prevailed upon Harry Griffith to operate it for him. +Guided by the stars and a half moon which was slowly rising over the +treetops, the party swung down the river. + +Riding with the current, they came before long to the locality where +Penny and Jerry had first sighted the two seamen's cruiser. But now there +was no sign of a boat, either large or small. + +At a speed which enabled the occupants to scrutinize the shoreline, the +searching craft swept on. The river had never seemed more deserted. + +"Jerry might have stopped anywhere along here," Mr. Parker observed. "If +he drew the boat into the bushes we haven't a chance of finding him." + +They went on, coming presently to the Kippenberg estate. As they passed +beneath the open drawbridge Penny noted how low it had been swung over +the water. A boat with a high cabin could not possibly go through when +the cantilevers were down. + +Gazing upward, she saw a swinging red light at the entrance to the +bridge. A lantern, no doubt, hung there to give warning to any motorist +who might venture upon the private road. + +"Thorny probably isn't on duty at this hour," Penny reflected. "But I +should think an open drawbridge might prove more dangerous at night than +in the daytime." + +As the bridge was lost to view beyond a bend in the river, she gave all +her attention to watching the coves and inlets. Her father sat hunched +over in the seat beside her, slapping at mosquitoes. Now and then he +would switch on the flashlight to look at his watch. + +Gradually the river had widened, so that it was possible to cover only +one shore. + +"We'll search the other side on our return trip," Mr. Parker said. "But +it looks to me as if we're not going to have any luck." + +As if to add to the discouragement of the party, dark clouds began to +edge across the sky. One by one the stars were inked out. Penny's light +coat offered scant protection from the cold wind. + +And then, Harry Griffith throttled down the motor and spun the wheel +sharply to starboard. He leaned forward, trying to pierce the black void +ahead of the boat's bright beam. + +"Looks like something over there," he said pointing. "Might be a log. No, +it's a boat." + +"I can't see anyone in it!" Penny cried. "It's drifting with the +current." + +"That looks like one of my boats, sure as you're born," Griffith +declared, idling the engine. "The same I rented the young feller this +morning." + +"But where is Jerry?" cried Penny. + +Griffith maneuvered his own boat close to the one which drifted with the +current. Mr. Parker was able to reach out and grasp the long rope +dangling in the water. + +"The flashlight, Penny!" he commanded. + +She turned the beam on, and as it focused upon the floor of the boat, +drew in her breath sharply. On the bottom, face downward, lay a man. + +"It's Jerry!" Penny cried. "Oh, Dad, he's--" + +"Steady," said her father. "Steady." + +While Griffith held the two boats together, he stepped aboard the smaller +one. He bent over the crumpled figure, feeling Jerry's pulse, gently +turning him upon his back. + +"Is he alive, Dad?" + +"His pulse is weak, but I can feel it. Yes, he's breathing! Hold that +light steady, Penny." + +"Dad, there's blood on his head! I--I can see it trickling down." + +"He's been struck with a club or some blunt object," Mr. Parker said +grimly. "He may have a fractured skull." + +"Oh, Dad!" + +"Keep a grip on yourself," her father ordered sternly, "It may not be as +bad as I think, but we'll have to rush him to the nearest doctor." + +"If it was me, I wouldn't try to move him out of there," advised Harry +Griffith. "Leave him where he is. I'll get aboard and we'll take this +boat in tow." + +Penny helped the man make their craft fast to the other boat, and then +they both climbed aboard. Griffith started the engine and turned around +in the river. + +"I'll head for Covert," he said. "That's about the closest place. There +ought to be a good doctor in a town that size." + +While Griffith handled the boat, Penny and her father did what they could +to make Jerry comfortable. They stripped off their coats, using one for a +pillow, and the other to cover his body. + +"Those two men he was sent to follow must be responsible for this!" Penny +murmured. "How could they do such a brutal thing?" + +"I'll notify the police as soon as we touch shore," her father said +grimly. "We'll search every cove and inlet until we find the ones +responsible!" + +As he spoke Mr. Parker bent lower to examine the wound on Jerry's head. +Blood had nearly stopped flowing and he was hopeful that it came from a +flesh wound. He pressed a clean handkerchief against it and the young man +stirred. + +"How long do you suppose he's been like this, Dad?" + +"Hard to tell. An hour, maybe two hours." + +Presently, as the boat made full speed up the river, Jerry stirred once +more. His lips moved but the words were indistinguishable. + +"How far to Covert?" Mr. Parker asked anxiously. + +"About four miles from this point," Griffith flung over his shoulder. +"It's the next town above the Kippenberg estate. I'm making the best time +I can." + +Jerry moved restlessly, his hands plucking at the coat which covered him. + +"Flaming eyes," he muttered. "Looking at me--looking at me--" + +Penny and her father gazed at each other in startled dismay. + +"He's completely out of his head," whispered Penny. + +"He's gone back to that other accident which happened last year," nodded +Mr. Parker. "The Vanishing Houseboat affair." + +"Jerry's had more than his share of bad luck, Dad. Twice now on this same +river, he's met with disaster. And this time he may not come through." + +"I think he will if his skull hasn't been fractured," Mr. Parker told her +encouragingly. "Listen!" + +Jerry's lips were moving again, and this time his words were more +rational. + +"Got to get word to the Chief," they heard him mutter. "Got to get +word--" + +A long while after that Jerry remained perfectly quiet. Suddenly +arousing, his eyes opened wide and he struggled to sit up. Mr. Parker +gently pressed him back. + +"Where am I?" Jerry muttered. "Let me out of here! Let me out!" + +"Quiet, Jerry," soothed Mr. Parker. "You're with friends." + +The reporter's tense grip on the editor's hand relaxed. "That you, +Chief?" + +"Yes, Jerry. Just lie quiet. We'll have you to a doctor in a few more +minutes." + +"Doctor! I don't need any doctor," he protested, trying once more to sit +up. "What happened anyway?" + +"That's what we would like to know." + +"Can't you remember anything, Jerry?" Penny asked. "You went out on the +river to try to trace those two men in the cruiser." + +"Oh, it's coming back to me now. I ran into their boat down by Cranberry +Cove. They tied up there." + +"And then what happened?" Penny demanded, as Jerry paused. + +"I saw 'em walk ashore. Thought I would follow so I tied up my boat, too. +They started off through the trees. Pretty soon they met a third man, a +well dressed fellow, educated too." + +"Did you hear any of their conversation?" Mr. Parker questioned. + +"I heard Kippenberg's name mentioned. That caught my interest so I crept +closer. Must have given myself away because that's about the last I +remember. A ton of dynamite seemed to explode in my head. And here I am." + +"Obviously, you were struck from behind with some heavy object," Mr. +Parker said. "They probably dumped you back in your own boat and set it +adrift. You never saw your attacker?" + +"No." + +Jerry rested for a moment, and then as it dawned upon him that he was +being speeded to a doctor, he began to protest. + +"Say, Chief, I'll be all right. I don't need any doc. Head's clear as a +bell now." + +"That's fine, Jerry. But you'll see a doctor anyway and have X-rays. +We're taking no chances." + +"Then at least let me go back to Riverview," Jerry grumbled. "I don't +want to be stuck in any hick town hospital." + +"If you feel equal to the trip, I guess we can grant you that much. You +seem to be all right, but I want to make sure. Can't take chances on the +paper being sued later on, you know." + +"Oh, I get the idea," said Jerry with a grimace. "Thinking of the old +cash register, as usual." + +Penny drew a deep sigh of relief. If Jerry were able to make jokes he +couldn't be seriously injured. She still felt weak from the fright she +had received. + +"The police will find those men who attacked you," she told him. "I hope +they're put in prison for life, too!" + +"The police?" Jerry repeated. He stared up into Mr. Parker's face. "Say, +Chief, you're not aiming to spill the story, are you?" + +"I was." + +"But see here, if you notify the police, we'll show our hand to the rival +paper. If we keep this dark we could do our own investigating, and maybe +land a big scoop." + +"Justice is more important than a scoop, Jerry," returned Mr. Parker. "If +those men had anything to do with Atherwald's disappearance, and it looks +as if they did, then we are duty bound to hand our clues over to the +police. By trying to handle it alone, we might let them escape." + +"Guess maybe you're right at that," Jerry acknowledged. + +As she saw that the reporter was rapidly recovering strength, Penny left +him to the care of her father and went forward to speak with Harry +Griffith. + +"Where are we now?" she inquired. + +"Just comin' to the Kippenberg estate," he told her. + +"Only that far? We don't seem to be making very fast time." + +"We're buckin' the current, Miss. And there's a right stiff wind +blowing." + +She had not noticed the wind before or how overcast the sky had become. +One could not see many yards in advance of the boat. + +Ahead loomed the drawbridge in open position as usual. But Penny could +not see the red lantern which she had noticed upon the trip down. Had the +light been blown out by the wind? + +In any case, it would not greatly matter, she reflected. Few cars +traveled the private road. And any person who came that way would likely +know about the bridge. + +And then, above the steady hum of the motor boat engine, Penny heard +another roar which steadily increased in intensity. A car was coming down +the road at great speed! + +"The lantern must be there," Penny thought. "It's probably hidden by a +tree or the high bank. Of course it's there." + +She listened with a growing tension. The car was not slowing down. Even +Harry Griffith turned his head to gaze toward the entrance ramp of the +drawbridge. + +It was all over in an instant. A scream of brakes, a loud splintering of +the wooden barrier. The speeding automobile struck the side of the steel +bridge, spun sideways and careened down the bank to bury itself in the +water. + + + + + CHAPTER + 19 + _A DARING RESCUE_ + + +Those in the motor boat who had witnessed the disaster were too horrified +to speak. They could see the top of the car rising above the water into +which it had fallen, but there was no sign of the unfortunate driver or +other possible occupants. + +Penny began to kick off her shoes. + +"No!" shouted her father, divining her purpose. "No! It's too dangerous!" + +Penny did not heed for she knew that if the persons in the car were to be +saved it must be by her efforts. Her father could not swim well and Harry +Griffith was needed at the wheel of the motor boat. + +Scrambling to the gunwale, the girl dived into the water. She could see +nothing. Groping her way to the overturned coupe, she grasped a door +handle and turned it. All her strength was required to pull the door +open. Her breath was growing short now. She worked faster, with frantic +haste. + +A hand clutched her own. Before she could protect herself she felt the +man upon her, clawing, fighting, trying to climb her shoulders, upward to +the blessed air. + +His grasp was loose. Penny ducked out of it but held fast to his hand. +She braced her feet against the body of the car and pushed. They both +shot upward to the surface. + +Griffith and her father lifted the man out of the water into the motor +boat. + +"Have to go down again," Penny gasped. "There may be others." + +She dived once more, doubling herself into a tight ball, and giving a +quick, upthrust of her feet which sent her straight to the bottom. She +swam into the car and groped about on the seat and floor. Finding no +bodies, she quickly shot to the surface again. Her father pulled her over +the side, saying curtly: "Good work, Penny." + +The victim she had saved seemed little the worse for his ducking. With +Griffith's help he had divested himself of his heavy coat and was +wringing it out. + +Penny had obtained no clear view of the man, nor did she ever, for just +at that moment, Jerry raised himself to a sitting position. He stared at +the bedraggled one and pointed an accusing finger. + +"That's the fellow!" he cried in an excited voice. "The one I was telling +you about--" + +The man took one look at Jerry and gazed quickly about. By this time the +motor boat had drifted close to shore. Before anyone could make a move to +stop him, the man hurled himself overboard. He landed on his feet in +shallow water. Splashing through to the shore, he scuttled up the steep +bank and disappeared in the darkness. + +"Don't let him get away!" shouted Jerry. "He's the same fellow I saw in +the woods!" + +"You're certain?" asked Mr. Parker doubtfully. + +"Of course! If you think I'm out of my head now, you're the one who's +crazy! It's the same fellow! Oh, if I could get out of this boat!" + +Griffith brought the craft to shore. "I'll see if I can overtake him," he +said, "but he's probably deep in the woods by this time." + +The boatman was a heavy-set man, slow on his feet. Penny and her father +were not surprised when he came back twenty minutes later to report he +had been unable to pick up the trail. + +"The overturned car may offer a clue to his identity," Mr. Parker said, +as they started up the river once more. "The police will be able to check +the license plates." + +"I wonder what the man was doing at the estate?" Penny mused. + +She groped her way toward the cabin, thinking that she would divest +herself of some of her wet garments. Suddenly she stopped short. + +"Dad, that fellow took off his coat!" she exclaimed. "He must have left +it behind!" + +"It's somewhere on the floor," Harry Griffith called to her. + +Penny found the sodden garment lying almost at her feet. She straightened +it out and searched the pockets. Her father moved over to her side. + +"Any clues?" he asked. + +Penny took out a water-soaked handkerchief, a key ring and a plain white +envelope. + +"That may be something!" exclaimed Mr. Parker. "Handle it carefully so it +doesn't tear." + +They carried the articles into the cabin. Mr. Parker turned on the light +and took the envelope from his daughter's hand. They were both elated to +see that another paper was contained inside. + +Mr. Parker tore off the envelope and flattened the letter on the table +beneath the light. The ink had blurred but nearly all of the words could +still be made out. There was no heading, merely the initials: "J. J. K." + +"Could that mean James Kippenberg?" Penny asked. + +The message was brief. Mr. Parker read it aloud. + +"Better come through or your fate will be the same as Atherwald's. We +give you twenty-four hours to think it over." + +"How strange!" Penny exclaimed. "That man I pulled out of the water +couldn't have been James Kippenberg!" + +"Not likely, Penny. My guess would be that he had been sent here to +deliver this warning note. Being unfamiliar with the road, and not +knowing about the dangerous drawbridge, he crashed through." + +"But James Kippenberg isn't supposed to be at the estate," Penny argued. +"It doesn't make sense at all." + +"This much is clear, Penny. Jerry saw the man talking with the two +seamen, and they all appear to be mixed up in Grant Atherwald's +disappearance. We'll print what we've learned, and let the police figure +out the rest." + +"Dad, this story is developing into something big, isn't it?" + +He nodded as he moved a swinging light bulb slowly over the paper, +hastening the drying process. + +"After the next issue of the _Star_ is printed, every paper in the state +will send their men here. But we're out ahead, and when the big break +comes, we may get that first, too." + +"Oh, Dad, if only we can!" + +"Count yourself out of the case from now on, young lady," he said +severely. "You scared the wits out of me tonight, risking your life to +save that no-good. Now shed those wet clothes before you come down with +pneumonia." + +He tossed her an overcoat, a sweater and a crumpled pair of slacks which +Griffith had found under one of the boat seats. Leaving the cabin, he +closed the door behind him. + +Penny did not change her clothes at once. Instead, she sat down at the +table, studying the warning message. + +"'Better come through,'" she read aloud. "Does that mean Kippenberg is +supposed to pay money? And what fate did Atherwald meet?" + + + + + CHAPTER + 20 + _AN IMPORTANT INTERVIEW_ + + +Those same questions were pounding through Penny's mind the next morning +when she read the first edition of her father's paper. Propped up in bed +with pillows, she perused the story as she nibbled at the buttered +muffins on her breakfast tray. + +"Is there anything else you would like?" Mrs. Weems inquired, hovering +near. + +"No, I'm quite all right," smiled Penny. "Not even a head cold after my +ducking. Have you heard about Jerry?" + +"Your father said he was doing fine." + +"Did he leave any message for me before going to the office?" + +"He said he thought you should stay in bed all day." + +"Dad would," Penny pouted. "Well, I feel just fine. I'm getting up right +away." She heaved aside the bed clothes. + +Then, because she couldn't get the Kippenberg case out of her head, she +dressed quickly and went downstairs. She was going out the front door +when Mrs. Weems stopped her. + +"Now where are you going, Penny?" + +Penny's bright eyes twinkled and she flashed the housekeeper an arch, +provocative smile. + +"Not sure just where I'm going," she replied, her smooth forehead +creasing with thought. "But if Dad should get curious, you can tell him +he shouldn't be surprised if he finds me visiting with the Kippenbergs." + +"Penny! You're not going there again?" + +"Why not? I'm after a story for the _Riverview Star_ and I mean to get +it. See you later." + +With a wave of her hand Penny walked jauntily off. A few moments later +Mrs. Weems heard the clatter of Penny's Leaping Lena careening down the +street in the direction of Corbin. First, however, she called for her +chum, Louise, who was eager to accompany her on the long ride. + +"I won't be able to stay long, Penny," said Louise. "Mother wants me to +go shopping with her later this afternoon." + +"That's all right," responded Penny as the old car bolted along the road. +"If I get delayed, you can take Leaping Lena back home, and I'll follow +later on." + +With both girls keeping up a steady run of conversation they soon reached +their destination. + +Penny wondered if she would be able to enter the Kippenberg estate +without being challenged by the bridgeman or a servant. Her anxiety +increased upon approaching the river, for she saw that a large group of +persons had gathered by the drawbridge. + +No one paid the slightest attention to the two girls as they abandoned +the car and proceeded to the water's edge. Penny was pleased to find the +youthful boatman at his usual haunt on the river. He rowed the girls +across to the estate, promising to await their return. + +Penny escorted Louise through the trees to the Kippenberg house. Boldly +she rang the doorbell which was answered by a butler. + +"I should like to speak with Mrs. Kippenberg," she requested. + +"Madam will see no one," began the man. + +Footsteps sounded behind him in the hallway and Mrs. Kippenberg stood in +the door. + +"So it is you?" she asked in an icy voice. "Julius, see that this person +is ejected from the grounds." + +"One moment please," interposed Penny. "If I leave now, I warn you that +certain facts will be published in the _Star_, facts which will add to +your embarrassment." + +"You can print nothing which will humiliate us further." + +"No? You might like to have me mention the alligator in your lily pool. +And the reason why you and your daughter are so anxious to be rid of it +before the police ask questions." + +Mrs. Kippenberg's plump face flushed a deep red. But for once she managed +to keep her temper. + +"What do you wish of me?" she asked frigidly. + +"First, tell me about that painting, 'The Drawbridge' which was presented +to your daughter as a wedding gift. Was it not given to her by your +husband?" + +"I shall not answer your question." + +"Then you prefer that I print my own conclusions?" + +"You are an impudent, prying young woman!" Mrs. Kippenberg stormed. "What +if the picture was given to Sylvia by her father! Is that any crime?" + +"Certainly not," said Penny soothingly. "It merely proves that you both +know the whereabouts of Mr. Kippenberg." + +"Perhaps I do. But I'll tell you nothing, absolutely nothing!" + +"I have a few questions to ask about your new gardener," Penny went on, +unmoved. "For instance, why does he wear a wig?" + +The door slammed in her face. + +"That certainly was a very cold reception," remarked Louise as the girls +walked away, the sound of the slamming door still ringing in their ears. + +Penny shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "That's nothing. When you're a +reporter you have to expect those things." She looked about the deserted +estate. "Well, I think I'll do some more sleuthing in the vicinity of the +pool." + +Louise looked at her wristwatch. "Goodness, it's getting late," she +stated. "I'd like to stay, Penny, but I think I'd better be getting home +to meet Mother." + +"Go ahead," said Penny. "You take Leaping Lena. The boy in the boat will +row you across." + +"But how will you get home, then?" + +"Don't worry about me. I'll find a way. You just go on. I only hope the +old bus holds up all the way home." + +Louise laughed and then the two girls walked to the boat dock. In a few +moments the boy in the rowboat appeared and took Louise across. +Afterward, Penny turned back through the trees and went on to the +forbidden part of the estate. + +She spent a long time about the pool, examining the earth all about it, +but she failed to learn anything new. Finally, she retraced her steps to +the river. She expected to find the boy waiting for her, but he had +disappeared. She walked through the trees to the boat dock and stood +there until the old watchman on the other side observed her predicament. + +He obligingly lowered the drawbridge and she crossed the river, pausing +at the gear house to chat with him. + +Penny listened without comment to his story of the automobile accident. +Thorny had his own version of how it had occurred and she did not correct +any of the details. + +"I wish I had a way to get into Corbin," she remarked when he had +finished his lengthy account. + +"If you walk down to the main road you kin catch the county bus," he told +her. "It runs every hour." + +A long hike along a dusty highway, an equally tedious wait at a +crossroad, and finally Penny arrived in Corbin. She went directly to the +Colonial Hotel, placing a telephone call to her father's office. + +"What are you doing in Corbin, Penny?" her father demanded as he +recognized her voice. + +Penny answered him eagerly. "I've made an important discovery which may +blow your case higher than a kite. No, I can't tell you anything over the +telephone. The reason I am calling is that I may need help. Is Jerry +still in the hospital?" + +"He never was there," responded her father. "I couldn't make him go. He +and Salt are out on the river looking for the men who cracked him over +the head. I expect they'll call in any time now." + +"If you do get in touch with Jerry, ask him to meet me at the Colonial +Hotel," urged Penny. "I have a hunch the big story is about to break. In +any event I'll need a ride home." + +There was a great deal more to the conversation, with Mr. Parker +delivering a long lecture upon the proper deportment for a daughter. +Penny closed her ears, murmuring at regular intervals, "Yes, Dad," and +finally went back to her post in the lobby. + + + + + CHAPTER + 21 + _THE WHITE CRUISER_ + + +For at least an hour she waited. She watched the clock until the hands +pointed to six o'clock. Tantalizing odors came to her from the dining +room, but she resolutely downed her hunger. She did not wish to give up +her vigil even for a few minutes. + +Finally Penny's patience was rewarded. She saw a man moving across the +lobby toward the desk. He wore well-cut tailored clothes and a +low-brimmed felt hat, yet the girl recognized him at a glance. He was the +Kippenberg gardener. + +The man paused at the desk and asked for a key. + +"Good evening, Mr. Hammil," said the clerk, handing it over. + +Penny had noted that the key was taken from a mailbox which bore the +number, 381. + +"So my friend, the gardener, has an alias," she mused. "Several of them, +perhaps." + +Another half hour elapsed while the girl waited patiently in her chair. +Each time the elevator descended she watched the people alight. At +exactly six forty-five Mr. Hammil stepped out of the lift, and without +glancing toward the girl, dropped his key on the desk and went into the +dining room. + +The clerk, busy with several newcomers at the hotel, did not notice. +Thinking that she saw her chance, Penny slipped from her chair, sidled +toward the desk and picked up the key. Her heart pounded as she walked +toward the elevator, but no one called to her. Her action had passed +unobserved. + +"Third floor," said Penny, and the elevator shot upward. + +She located room 381 at the far end of the hall, and with a quick glance +in both directions, unlocked the door and entered. + +An open suitcase lay upon the luggage rack by the dresser. In systematic +fashion Penny went through it, finding an assortment of interesting +articles--a revolver, and two wigs, one of gray hair, the other black. +There were no letters or papers, nothing to positively identify the owner +of the luggage. But in the very bottom of the case Penny came upon a +photograph. It was a picture of Sylvia Kippenberg. + +Penny slipped the picture into the front of her dress, hastily replaced +everything as she had found it, relocked the door, and returned to the +lobby. As she went toward the desk intending to rid herself of the key, +she stopped short. + +Jerry Livingston stood there talking earnestly with the clerk. + +"But I was told to come here," she heard him protest. + +"There was a girl in the lobby a few minutes ago," the clerk replied. +"She went off somewhere." + +"No, here I am, Jerry!" Penny cried. + +The reporter turned around and his face lighted up. + +"Come outside, Jerry," Penny said before he could speak. "I have a great +deal to tell you." + +"And I have some news of my own," returned the reporter. + +They left the hotel together. Once beyond hearing, Penny made a complete +report of her afternoon adventure, and showed Jerry the picture of Sylvia +Kippenberg which she had taken from room 381. + +"Now for my story," said Jerry. "I've located a place not far from here +where those two seamen buy supplies. The owner of the store told me they +tie their boat up there nearly every night." + +"Where is Salt now, Jerry?" + +"He's keeping watch at the place. I came into town to telephone the +_Star_ office. Your father said I was to stop here and take you in tow." + +"You're not starting back to Riverview?" Penny asked in dismay. + +"I don't want to, Penny. I have a feeling our big story is just about +ready to break!" + +"So have I, Jerry. Let's stay with it. I'll explain to Dad when we get +home." + +"Then let's be on our way," the reporter said crisply. "No telling what +has developed while I've been in town." + +In the press car, the couple took the river road which led east from the +Kippenberg estate. As they bounced along, making all possible speed, +Jerry told Penny how he and Salt had traced the two seamen. They had made +inquiry all along the river, and quite by chance had encountered a +fisherman who had given them a valuable tip. + +"But so many rumors are false, Jerry," Penny said. + +"This tip was straight. Salt and I found the white cruiser tied up at the +dock not far from this store I was telling you about. We've been watching +it for the past two hours, and Salt is still there." + +"Why didn't you call the police?" + +"Wouldn't have done any good. The men we're after haven't been there all +day. The only person on board is a girl." + +"A girl?" + +"Well, maybe you would say a young woman. About twenty-two, I'd guess." + +"Jerry, you must be watching the wrong boat." + +Jerry shook his head as he drove the car into the bushes at the side of +the road. "It's the right one, I'm sure of it. Well, we're here." + +Penny was hard pressed to keep up as the reporter led her through the +trees down to the winding Kobalt river. They found Salt in his hiding +place, behind a large boulder. + +"Anything happen since I left?" Jerry demanded. + +Salt scarcely noticed Penny's presence save to give her a quick nod of +welcome. + +"You got back just in time," he replied to the question. "The girl went +away a minute ago. Took a basket and started for the store." + +"Then why are we waiting?" asked Jerry. "Come on, we'll take a look +inside that boat." + +"Someone ought to stay here and keep watch," Salt returned. "She may come +back any minute." + +"You're elected guard then. Penny and I will look the boat over and see +what we can find. If the girl starts back, whistle." + +Darting across the muddy shore, Penny and Jerry reached the dilapidated +boat which had been tied up at the end of a sagging dock. They jumped +aboard and after a hasty glance over the deck, dived down into the cabin. + +The room was dirty and in great disorder. Boots lay on the floor, +discarded garments were scattered about, and a musty odor prevailed. + +"Nothing here," said Jerry. + +"Let's look around carefully," insisted Penny. "We may find something." + +Crossing the cabin she opened a closet door. Save for a pair of oilskins +which hung from a nail, it was quite empty. + +"Listen!" commanded Penny suddenly. + +Jerry stood absolutely still, straining to hear. A long, low whistle +reached his ears. + +"The warning signal!" he exclaimed. "Come on, Penny, we're getting out of +here." + + + + + CHAPTER + 22 + _TRAPPED IN THE CABIN_ + + +Penny opened the door of the cabin only to close it quickly. She and +Jerry both had heard men's voices very close to the boat. + +"It's too late," she whispered. "Those men have come back." + +"Not the girl?" + +"No, they're alone. But we're in a trap. What shall we do?" + +"We could make a dash for it. If we have to fight our way out, Salt will +be there to help." + +"Let's stick and see what happens, Jerry. We're after information. We +must expect to take a chance in order to get it." + +Jerry had been thinking more of Penny's safety than his own. But thus +urged, he turned the key in the lock, bolting the door from the inside. + +A low rumble of voices reached the couple as they stood with ears pressed +against the panel. But they were unable to distinguish words. Then +presently, one of the seamen moved close to the companionway. + +"I'll get it, Jake," he called. "It's down in the cabin." + +Jerry and Penny kept quiet as the man turned the door knob. He heaved +angrily against the panel with his shoulder. + +"Hey, Jake," he shouted, "what's the idea of locking the door?" + +"I didn't lock it." + +"Then Flora did." Muttering under his breath, the seaman tramped back up +on deck. + +Perhaps ten minutes elapsed before Penny and Jerry heard a feminine voice +speaking. + +"That must be Flora," whispered Penny. "What will happen when she tells +them that she didn't lock the door?" + +The voices above rose louder and louder until the two prisoners were able +to distinguish some of the words. Jake berated the girl as stupid while +his companion showered abuse upon her until she broke down and wept. + +"I never had the key," they heard her wail. "I don't know what became of +it. You always blame me for everything that goes wrong, and I'm good and +sick of it. If I don't get better treatment I may tell a few things to +the police. How would you like that?" + +Jerry and Penny did not hear the response, but they recoiled as a loud +crashing sound told them the girl had been given a cruel push into a +solid object. Her cry of pain was drowned out by another noise, the +sudden clatter of the motor boat engine. + +Penny and Jerry gazed at each other with startled eyes. + +"We're moving," she whispered. + +Jerry started to fit the key into the door lock, only to have Penny +arrest his hand. + +"Let's stay and see it through," she urged. "This is our chance to learn +the hide-out and perhaps solve the mystery of Atherwald's disappearance." + +"All right," the reporter agreed. "But I wish you weren't in on this." + +From the tiny window of the cabin, he and Penny observed various +landmarks as the boat proceeded downstream. Perhaps half an hour elapsed +before the cruiser came to the mouth of a narrow river which emptied into +the Kobalt. From that point on progress became slow and often the boat +was so close to shore that Penny could have reached out and touched +overhanging bushes. + +"I didn't know this stream was deep enough for a motor boat," Jerry +whispered. "We must be heading for a hide-out deep in the swamp." + +"I hope Salt has sense enough to call Dad and the police," Penny said +with the first show of nervousness. "We're going to be a long way from +help." + +The boat crept on for perhaps a mile. Then it stopped, and Penny assumed +they had reached their destination. Gazing out of the window again, she +saw why they were halted. A great tree with finger-like branches had +fallen across the river, blocking the way. + +"Look, Jerry," she whispered. "We'll not be able to go any farther." + +"Guess again," the reporter muttered. + +Penny saw then that one of the men had left the boat and was walking +along shore. He seemed not in the least disturbed by the great tree and +for the first time it dawned upon her that it served a definite purpose. + +"Lift 'er up, Gus," called the man at the wheel of the boat. + +His companion disappeared into the bushes. Several minutes elapsed and +then Penny heard a creaking sound as if ropes were moving on a pulley. + +"The tree!" whispered Jerry, his eyes flashing. "It's lifting!" + +Very slowly, an inch at a time, the great tree raised from the water, its +huge roots serving as a hinge. When it was high enough, the motor boat +passed beneath the dripping branches and waited on the other side. + +Slowly, the tree was lowered into place once more. + +"Clever, mighty clever," Jerry muttered. "Anyone searching for the +hide-out would never think of looking beyond this fallen tree. To all +purposes nature put it here." + +"Nature probably did," Penny added. "But our dishonorable friends adapted +it to their own use." + +Through the window Penny saw the man called Gus reboard the boat. + +Once more the cruiser went on up the narrow stream, making slow but +steady progress. Long shadows had settled over the water. Soon it became +dark. + +Then a short distance ahead, Jerry and Penny observed a light. As the +boat drifted up to a wharf, a man could be seen standing there with a +glowing lantern. They were unable to see his face, and quickly dodged +back from the cabin window to avoid being noticed. + +"Everything all right, Aaron?" the man at the wheel asked, jumping +ashore. He looped a coil of rope about one of the dock posts. + +"Aaron!" whispered Penny, gripping Jerry's hand. + +"It must be Aaron Dietz, Kippenberg's former business associate. So he's +the ringleader in this business!" + +They listened, trying to hear the man's reply to the question which had +been asked. + +"Yeah, everything's all right," he responded gruffly. + +"You don't sound any too cheerful about it." + +"Atherwald still won't talk. Keeps insisting he doesn't know where the +gold is hidden. What bothers me, I am beginning to think we made a +mistake. He may be telling the truth." + +"Say, this is a fine time to be finding it out!" + +"Oh, keep your shirt on, Gus. You and Jake will get your pay anyhow. And +even if Atherwald doesn't know the hiding place we'll make Kippenberg +come through." + +"You'll have to find him first," the other retorted. "If you ask my +opinion, you've made a mess of the whole affair." + +"No one asked your opinion! We'll make Atherwald tell tonight or else--" + +The man with the lantern started away from the dock but paused before he +had taken many steps. + +"Get those supplies up to the shack," he ordered. "Then I want to talk +with you both." + +"All right," was the reply, "but we have to get the cabin door open +first. Flora locked it and lost the key." + +"I didn't," the girl protested shrilly. "Don't you try to blame me." + +Jerry and Penny knew that their situation now was a precarious one. If +they were found in the cabin they would be taken prisoners and the +exclusive story which they hoped to write never would be theirs. + +"We've trapped ourselves in this cubby-hole," the reporter muttered. "All +my doing, too." + +"We can hide in the closet, Jerry. The men may not think to search +there." + +Noiselessly, they opened the door and slipped into the tiny room. The air +was hot and stuffy, the space too narrow for comfort. + +Jerry and Penny did not have long to wait before there came a loud crash +against the cabin door. The two seamen were trying to break through the +flimsy panel. + +"Bring a light, Flora," called one of the men. + +Penny and Jerry flattened themselves against the closet wall, waiting. + +A panel splintered on the outside cabin door, and a heavy tramping of +feet told them that the men had entered the room. + +"No one in here, Gus." + +"It's just as we thought. Flora locked the door and lied out of it." + +"I didn't! I didn't!" cried the girl. "Someone else must have done it +while I was at the store. The door was unlocked when I went away." + +"There's no one here now." + +"I--I thought I heard voices while we were coming down the river." + +"In this cabin?" + +"Yes, just a low murmur." + +"You imagined it," the man told her. "But I'll take a look in the closet +to be sure." + +He walked across the cabin toward the hiding place. Penny and Jerry +braced themselves for the moment when the door would be flung open. They +had trapped themselves and now faced almost certain capture. + + + + + CHAPTER + 23 + _AT THE HIDE-OUT_ + + +Before the man could pull open the closet door, a booming voice called +impatiently from shore: + +"Say, are you coming? We have plenty of work ahead of us tonight." + +Distracted from his purpose, the searcher turned aside without glancing +into the closet. With his companion and the girl, he left the cabin. + +Penny and Jerry waited at least five minutes. When all was silent above, +they stole from their hiding place. From the window they assured +themselves that the wharf was deserted. + +"What do we do now, start after the police?" Penny questioned. + +"Let's make certain Atherwald is here first. We can't afford to be +wrong." + +A path led through the timber. As they followed it, Jerry and Penny saw a +moving lantern some distance ahead. They kept it in sight until the three +men and Flora disappeared into a cabin. + +Stealing on through the darkness, Penny and Jerry crept to the screen +door. Peering in, they saw a barren room containing a table, a cook stove +and double-deck bunks. + +"Get supper on, Flora," one of the men ordered curtly. + +"Am I to cook anything for the prisoner?" she asked in a whining voice. + +"Not unless he decides to talk. I'll find out if he's changed his mind." + +The man who had been called Aaron crossed the cabin to an adjoining room. +He unlocked the door which had been fastened with a padlock, and went +inside. + +"Atherwald must be in there," whispered Penny. + +With one accord, she and Jerry tiptoed across the sagging porch and +posted themselves under a high window. Glancing up they saw it contained +no glass, but had narrow iron bars in keeping with a prison chamber. + +Jerry lifted Penny up so that she could peep into the room. By the light +of the oil lantern she saw a haggard young man sitting on the bed. +Despite a stubble of beard and unkempt hair, she instantly recognized him +as the missing bridegroom. She made another observation, one which +shocked her. The man's wrists were handcuffed. + +"It's Grant Atherwald," she told Jerry as he lowered her to the ground. +"They've treated him shamefully." + +Jerry held up his hand as a signal for silence. In the room above the men +were speaking and he wished to hear every word. + +"Well, Atherwald, have you changed your mind? How about a little supper +tonight?" + +"How can I tell you something I don't know?" the bridegroom retorted +wearily. "Kippenberg never confided any of his secrets to me." + +"You know where his gold is hidden!" + +"I don't think he ever had any!" + +"Oh, yes, he did. When the government passed a law that it was illegal to +keep gold, Kippenberg decided to defy it. He had over half his fortune +converted into gold which he expected to re-convert into currency at a +great profit to himself. His plans went amiss when government men listed +him for investigation." + +"You seem to know all about his private affairs," Grant Atherwald said +sarcastically. "Strange that you haven't learned the hiding place of the +gold--if there ever was any!" + +"It will do you no good to pretend, Atherwald! Either you tell the hiding +place, or we'll bring your bride here to keep you company!" + +"You wouldn't dare touch her, you fiend!" + +"No? Well, unless you decide to talk, she'll share your fate, and I +promise you it won't be a pretty one. Now I'll leave you to think it +over." + +The door closed with a bang. + +"We'll have to get the police here right away," Jerry advised Penny in a +whisper. "No telling what those scoundrels may try to do to Atherwald. We +haven't a moment to waste." + +"It would take us hours to bring help here," reasoned Penny. "And if we +try to use the motorboat the gang will be warned and flee while we're on +our way down the river." + +"That's so, but we have to do something. Any ideas?" + +"Yes, I have one," Penny answered soberly. "It may sound pretty crazy. +Still, I really believe it would work!" + +Hurriedly, she outlined what she had in mind. Jerry listened +incredulously, but as the girl explained and elaborated certain details +of her plan, his doubts began to clear away. + +"It's dangerous," he protested. "And if your hunch about the pool is +wrong, we will be in a fix." + +"Of course, but we'll have to take a chance in order to save Atherwald." + +"If everything went exactly according to plan it might work!" + +"Let's try it, Jerry. Lift me up so I can attract Atherwald's attention." + +The reporter did as she requested. Penny tapped lightly on the iron bars +with her signet ring. She saw Grant Atherwald start and turn his head. +Penny repeated the signal. + +The man arose from the bed and stumbled toward the window. + +"Who is it?" he whispered hoarsely. + +"A friend." + +"Can you get me out of here?" + +"We're going to try. You are handcuffed?" + +"Yes, and my captor keeps the key in his pocket. The room outside is +always guarded. Did you bring an implement to saw through the bars?" + +"No, we have another scheme in mind. But you must do exactly as we tell +you." + +"Yes, yes!" the bridegroom whispered eagerly, his pale cheeks flooding +with color. + +"Listen closely," Penny instructed. "When your captor comes back tell him +you have decided to talk." + +"I know nothing about the cache of gold," the man protested. + +"Tell your captor that the hiding place is on the Kippenberg estate." + +"That would only involve Sylvia and Mrs. Kippenberg. I'll do nothing to +get them into trouble." + +"You'll have to obey instructions or no one can help you," Penny said +severely. "Would you prefer that those cruel men carry out their threat? +They'll spirit Sylvia away and try to force the truth from her." + +"I'll do as you say." + +"Then tell your captor that the gold is hidden in a specially constructed +vault lying beneath the lily pool." Penny had resolved to act upon her +hunch that there was a trapdoor on the bottom of the pool. Now as she +issued instructions she wished that she might have found some way of +examining the pool to see if she were right. However, she had to take a +chance on there being a vault beneath the pool. + +Atherwald protested mildly. "He would never believe such a fantastic +story." + +"It is not as fantastic as it sounds," replied Penny. "You must convince +him that it is true." + +"I will try." + +"Make the men understand that to get the gold they must drain the pool +and raise a trapdoor in the cement bottom. Ask to be taken with the men +when they go there tonight and demand that you be given your freedom as +soon as the gold is found." + +"They will never let me go alive. An identification from me would send +them all to prison for life." + +"Do you know the men?" + +"The ringleader is Aaron Dietz. At one time he was employed by Mr. +Kippenberg." + +"Just as I thought." + +"The other two call themselves Gus and Jake. I don't know their last +names. Then there is a girl who seems to be a sister to Gus." + +"How did they get you here?" + +"On the day of the wedding I was handed a note just as I reached the +estate. It requested me to come at once to the garden. While I waited +there, two ruffians sprang upon me from behind. Before I could cry out +they dragged me to their boat at the river's edge. I was handcuffed, +blindfolded and brought to this cabin." + +The slamming of an outside door warned Penny that she was wasting +precious time in talk. + +"You understand your instructions?" she whispered hurriedly. + +"Yes." + +"Then goodbye. With luck we'll have you free in a few hours." + +"With luck is right," Jerry muttered as Penny slid to the ground. + +Aaron Dietz stood on the front porch staring out into the night. Seeing +him there, Penny and Jerry circled widely before attempting to return to +the river. Satisfied that they had not been observed, they boarded the +boat and descended to the cabin. + +For possibly an hour they sat in the dark, waiting anxiously. + +"Looks as if my little plan didn't work," Penny remarked. "I might have +known it would be too simple." + +Jerry had risen to his feet. He went to the window and listened. + +"Hear anything?" Penny whispered hopefully. + +"Sounds like someone coming down the path. We ought to get into our +cubby-hole." + +They tiptoed to the closet and closed the door. + +Within a few minutes they heard a confusion of voices and the shuffle of +feet as men boarded the cruiser. Penny wondered if the group included +Grant Atherwald and was greatly relieved when she heard him speak. + +"I don't see why you think I would double-cross you," he said distinctly. +"I am considering my own welfare. You promised that if the gold is found +you'll give me my freedom." + +"Sure, you'll get it. But if you're lying about the hiding place--" + +The words were drowned out by the roar of the motor boat engine. Penny +and Jerry felt the floor beneath them quiver and then gently roll. The +cruiser was under way. + +"We're heading for the Kippenberg estate!" Penny whispered. "Oh, +everything is starting out beautifully!" + +"I only hope it ends the same way," said Jerry morosely. "I only hope it +does." + + + + + CHAPTER + 24 + _SECRET OF THE LILY POOL_ + + +The moon rode high in the heavens as the cabin cruiser let go its anchor +in a cove off the Kippenberg estate. Penny who had been dozing for the +past hour in her self-imposed prison started up in alarm as Jerry nudged +her in the ribs. + +"Wake up," he whispered. "We're here." + +"At the estate?" + +"I think so." + +On the deck above their heads they could hear the men talking together. + +"You'll come along with us, Atherwald," Aaron Dietz said. "Flora, you +stay here and guard the boat. If you see anyone watching or acting +suspiciously, blow the whistle two short blasts." + +"I don't want to stay here alone," the girl whimpered. "I'm afraid." + +"You'll do as I say," the man ordered harshly. "Get started, Gus. It's +two o'clock now. We won't have many hours before daylight." + +In making her plans Penny had not once considered that the men might +leave a guard on the cruiser. With the girl posted as a lookout they were +still prisoners in the cabin. + +"We have to get out of here now or never," she whispered. "What shall we +do about Flora?" + +"We'll rush her and take a chance on the whistle." + +They slipped out of their hiding place and crawled noiselessly up the +steep stairway. Pausing there, they watched the shadowy figure of the +girl in the bow of the boat. She was quite alone, for her companions had +disappeared into the woods. + +"Now!" commanded Jerry in a whisper. + +With a quick rush he and Penny were across the deck. They approached +Flora from behind and were upon her before she could turn her head. Jerry +grasped her arms while Penny clapped a hand over her mouth to prevent a +scream. Although the girl fought fiercely, she was no match for two +persons. + +Stripping off her sash, Penny gave it to Jerry to use as a gag. They +bound the girl's wrists and ankles, then carried her down into the cabin. + +"I hate to leave her like that," said Penny as they went back on deck. + +"Don't waste your sympathy," replied Jerry. "She doesn't deserve it. +Anyway, we'll soon set her free. We must bring the police now." + +"The nearest house with a telephone is about a half mile away." + +"It won't take us long to cover the distance," Jerry said, helping her +down from the boat. + +"You go alone," urged Penny. "I'll stay here and keep watch." + +"I don't like to leave you." + +"Go on." Penny gave him a little push. "And hurry!" + +After Jerry had reluctantly left, she plunged into the trees, carefully +picking her way along the path which led to the lily pool. A short +distance brought her to the clearing. Halting, she saw the three men and +Grant Atherwald silhouetted in the bright moonlight. The latter was still +handcuffed, guarded by Aaron Dietz who allowed his companions to do the +hard labor. + +Gus and Jake had broken open the door of the stone tower. The soft purr +of a motor told Penny that they had started draining the pool. She +wondered what the men would do when they discovered that the tank +contained a very live alligator. + +"It ought to put a crimp in their work," she chuckled. "Mr. Kippenberg +couldn't have chosen a more effective guard for his gold." + +But gradually as the pool drained lower and lower, it struck Penny as odd +that the men did not notice the alligator. Belatedly, it occurred to her +that the Kippenberg gardener had probably succeeded in getting rid of the +monster since her visit to the garden earlier in the day. + +"Something like that _would_ happen," she thought. "Oh, well, even so +Jerry ought to get here with the police in ample time." + +Only the waning of the moon gave indication of how swiftly the night was +passing. Penny became alarmed as she observed how fast the pool emptied. +Jerry would not have as long as she had anticipated. But surely, he would +bring help before it was too late. + +Presently, one of the men shut off the motor in the stone tower, saying +with quiet jubilance: + +"There, she's empty!" + +He jumped down into the tank, and almost at once uttered a cry of +discovery. + +"Here it is, just as he said! The ring to the trap! Give us some help, +Gus." + +With Aaron Dietz and the bewildered bridegroom watching from above, the +two men raised the heavy block of cement. Penny drew closer for she did +not wish to miss anything. She stood in the shadow of a tree scarcely +fifteen yards from where the men worked. + +"A stairway leads down into an underground vault!" Jake cried exultantly. +"We've found the hiding place of the gold." + +"Toss me your flashlight, Aaron," called Gus. "We'll soon have all of the +treasure out of here." + +The next ten minutes brought a confused whirl of impressions. Penny's +thoughts were in turmoil. Why didn't Jerry come with the police? As soon +as the men carried the burden of gold to the boat they would discover +Flora, bound and gagged. Then they would suspect that a trap had been +laid. Oh, why didn't Jerry hurry? + +Gus and Jake had descended into the underground vault. As the light +reappeared, Penny was dumbfounded to see that the men were empty handed. + +"Nothing down there," Gus reported in disgust. "Nothing!" + +"Then we've been tricked!" Aaron Dietz turned furiously upon his +prisoner. "You'll pay for this!" + +"I thought the gold was here," answered Grant Atherwald. + +"Lock him up in the vault and start the water running," advised Jake +harshly. "It's a good way to be rid of him." + +The suggestion appealed to Aaron Dietz. At a nod from him, Atherwald was +seized and dragged down into the pool. He was shoved into the vault, but +before the two men could lower the heavy cement block into place, a +signal from Dietz arrested their action. + +"Wait!" + +In her anxiety over Grant Atherwald, Penny had moved closer to the pool. +Without realizing that she was exposing herself, she stood so that her +shadow fell clearly across the open space. Before she comprehended her +danger, Dietz hurled himself upon her, seizing her roughly by the arms. + +Penny struggled to free herself but could not. The man's grip was like +steel. + +"So you were spying!" he exclaimed harshly. + +"I--I was just watching," Penny stammered. "Don't you remember me? I am +the girl who pulled you out of the river when your car went over the +drawbridge." + +The man looked closely at her, and for an instant she dared hope that he +would recall her with gratitude. But his face hardened again and he said +unfeelingly: + +"You know entirely too much, my little girl. This is one story you will +never write for your father's paper. Your curiosity has proven your +undoing. You share the fate of your very good friend." + +With a sinking heart Penny realized by the man's words that he knew her +to be the daughter of a newspaper publisher, and that he had guessed her +part in the trick played upon him. + +"Down you go!" Dietz said harshly. + +As he dragged her toward the pool, Penny screamed at the top of her +lungs. A hand was clapped over her mouth. She bit it savagely, but her +efforts to free herself were of no avail. + +The men shoved her headlong down the stone stairway into the pit. + +"Now scream as much as you like," Aaron Dietz hurled after her. "No one +will hear you." + +The heavy stone slab dropped into place. + +Penny picked herself up from the steps. Terror gripped her, and with a +sob she called frantically: + +"Mr. Atherwald! Mr. Atherwald!" + +"Here at the bottom of the steps," he answered with a groan. + +"Are you hurt?" + +"Only bruised. But my hands are still in cuffs." + +Penny limped down the stairway and helped the man to his feet. + +"We're done for now," he said. "No one will ever look for us down in this +vault. And our cries will never be heard." + +"Don't give up," Penny murmured encouragingly. "We may be able to lift +the stone. Come let's try." + +Mounting the stairs, they applied their shoulders to the massive door, +but their best efforts did not raise it an inch. + +"Listen!" cried Atherwald suddenly. + +They both could hear the sound of water running into the empty pool. + +"In an hour's time no one will ever guess that a hidden vault lies +beneath the tank!" Atherwald groaned. "We're doomed!" + +"If we can hear the water splashing above us, our voices might carry!" +Penny reasoned. "Let's cry out for help. Now, together!" + +They shouted over and over until their voices failed them. Then, +completely discouraged, they sagged down on the stairway to rest. + +"Nothing went as I planned," Penny said dismally. "I really thought the +gold was hidden in this vault. If the men had found it, they would have +spent hours removing the loot to their boat. Jerry would have come with +the police and everything would have been all right." + +Grant Atherwald was not listening to the girl's words. He struggled to +his feet, pressing his ear against the trapdoor. + +"The water has stopped running!" + +"Are you sure?" Penny sprang up and stood beside him, listening. + +"Yes, and I hear voices!" + +With one accord, they shouted for help. Could it be imagination or did +they hear an answering cry? As they repeated their frantic call, there +was a scraping on the stone above their heads. + +"Stand away," ordered a muffled voice. + +Before Penny and the bridegroom could obey, the great door lifted. A +deluge of water poured in, its force nearly washing them from the steps. +But in another moment the passage was clear and they stumbled up through +the rectangular opening. + +Jerry grasped Penny's hand, helping her out of the vault. One of the +blue-coated policemen aided Atherwald, unfastening the handcuffs which +held him a prisoner. + +"You're all right, Penny?" the reporter asked anxiously. + +"I--I feel like a drowned rat," she laughed, shaking water out of her +hair. Then, with a quick change of mood she asked: "Did you get Aaron +Dietz and his men?" + +"No," Jerry answered in disgust. "When we crossed the river five minutes +ago, the cruiser was still there. No sign of anyone around. I brought the +police here, and now I suppose they've made their get-away." + +"Oh, Jerry, we can't let them escape! Send the police--" + +"Now don't get worked up," the reporter soothed. "A squad started back +just as soon as we found out what had happened here." + +"Dietz and his men must have seen the police crossing the river," +speculated Penny. "They may have hidden in the bushes, biding their time. +By now they've slipped away in their boat." + +"I'm afraid of it," Jerry admitted. "I traveled as fast as I could." + +As one of the policemen lifted Penny out of the pool, a noise which +sounded like the back-firing of an automobile, broke the stillness of the +night. It was followed by a volley of similar sounds. + +"Gunfire!" exclaimed Penny. + +The policemen started at a run through the woods toward the place where +the white cruiser had last been seen. Penny hesitated, and then took the +opposite direction, coming out of the woods at a point directly opposite +the drawbridge. + +Gazing far up the river she could see the white cruiser, flashes of fire +coming from the cabin window as the desperadoes exchanged shots with the +police, who were concealed in the woods. + +"That boat will try to run for it in another minute," Penny thought. "If +only the drawbridge were down!" + +Kicking off her shoes, she dived into the water, swimming diagonally +across the river to take advantage of the swift current. Her powerful +strokes brought her to shallow water and she waded ashore through +ankle-deep mud. As she scrambled up the slippery bank, her wet clothing +plastered to her body, she heard the roar of the cruiser's motor. + +"They've started the engine!" she thought. "In another minute the boat +will be at the bridge. Hurry! Hurry!" + +Penny could force herself to no greater effort. Breathless, she reached +the gearhouse and groped frantically under the door. Had Thorny failed to +hide the key there? No, her fingers seized upon it. + +Trembling with excitement, she turned it in the lock. The door of the +gearhouse swung open. Now could she remember how to lower the bridge? Any +mistake would be costly, for by this time she could hear the cruiser +racing down the river at full speed. If only it were light enough so that +she could see the gears! + +She pulled a lever and her heart leaped as the motor responded with a +pleasant purr. The power was on! + +"Now to lower the bridge!" thought Penny. "But which lever is the right +one? I'm not sure." + +With a prayer in her heart she grasped the one closest at hand and eased +it forward. There was a grinding of gears as the tall cantilevers began +to move. They were coming down, but oh, so slowly! + +"Hurry! Hurry! Hurry!" Penny whispered, as if her words could speed the +bridge on its journey. + +The white cruiser drove onward at full speed. Lower came the bridge. +Penny held her breath, knowing it would be a matter of inches whether or +not the boat would clear. The man at the wheel, aware of the danger, did +not swerve from his course. + +The bridge settled into place. As the crash came, Penny closed her eyes. + +"_I did it! I've stopped them!_" she thought, and sagged weakly against +the gear house. + + + + + CHAPTER + 25 + _VICTORY FOR PENNY_ + + +Minutes later Penny was still leaning limply against the building when a +car drove up to the bridge. Her father, Salt, and a bevy of policemen and +government representatives sprang out and ran to her side. + +"Penny, what happened?" Mr. Parker clasped his daughter in his arms. +"You're soaking wet! Didn't we hear gunfire as we turned in here?" + +Penny waved her hand weakly toward the river below. + +"There's your story, Dad. Pictures galore. Boat smashes into dangerous +drawbridge. Police pursue and shoot it out with desperadoes, taking +what's left of 'em into custody. I'm afraid to look." + +"And what were you doing while all this was going on?" demanded her +father. + +"Me? I was just waiting for the drawbridge to go down." + +Mr. Parker, Salt, and the policemen he had brought to the scene, rushed +to the edge of the bridge. A police boat had drawn up beside the badly +listing cruiser, and three men prisoners and a girl were being taken off. + +"How bad is it?" Penny called anxiously. + +"All captured alive," answered her father. "Salt, get that camera of +yours into action! Where's Jerry? He would be missing at a time like +this! What happened anyhow? Can't someone tell me?" + +Penny had fully recovered the power of speech, and with a most flattering +audience, she recounted her adventures. + +"Excuse me just a minute," she interrupted herself. + +Turning her back, she pulled a sodden photograph from the front of her +dress and handed it to her father. + +"This picture is in pretty bad shape," she said, "but it's clue number +one. You see, it's a photograph of Miss Kippenberg, and on the back is +written, 'To Father, with all my love.' I found the picture this +afternoon in Room 381 at the Colonial Hotel." + +"Then you've located Kippenberg?" one of the G men demanded. + +"I have. He's been masquerading as the Kippenberg gardener, coming back +here no doubt to witness the marriage of his daughter." + +"We'll arrest him right away," said the government man, turning to leave. +"Thanks for the tip." + +"I am confident Miss Kippenberg and her mother had nothing to do with +Grant Atherwald's disappearance," Penny went on. "Aaron Dietz plotted the +whole affair himself. I guess he must have learned about Kippenberg's +cache of gold while he worked for the man. He believed that Grant +Atherwald shared the secret and could tell where the money was hidden." + +"You've located the gold, too, I suppose," Mr. Parker remarked +whimsically. + +"No, Dad, I slipped up there. I thought the gold was in a secret vault +under the alligator pool, but I was wrong. I don't know where it is." + +"We'll let the G men solve that mystery when they take Kippenberg into +custody," replied her father. "Our work is cut out for us now. We'll find +Jerry, talk with young Atherwald, and rout Miss Kippenberg and her mother +out of bed for an exclusive interview." + +"And this time I am sure they'll answer questions," declared Penny. + +During the next hour the "story" was taken entirely from her hands. +Jerry, her father and Salt, knew exactly how to gather every fact of +interest to the readers of the _Star_. Sylvia Kippenberg, overjoyed to +find her fiance alive, posed for pictures with him, and answered all +questions save those which concerned her father. + +Not until a telephone call came from the Colonial Hotel, saying that Mr. +Kippenberg had been taken into custody, would either Sylvia or her mother +admit that the man had posed as the gardener. + +"Very well, it is true," Mrs. Kippenberg acknowledged at last. "James has +been trying to avoid government men for over a year. Wishing to return +for Sylvia's wedding, he disguised himself as a gardener. Then after +Grant's disappearance, he remained here trying to help." + +"And it was your husband who managed to get rid of the alligator?" Penny +interposed. + +"Yes, we were afraid police might ask embarrassing questions. James +disposed of it to a zoo late yesterday afternoon." + +"And the cache of gold under the lily pool," said Mr. Parker. "What +became of that?" + +"There is no gold." + +"None at all?" + +"None." + +"And there never was any?" questioned Penny incredulously. "Then why was +the vault ever built?" + +"Tell her the truth, Mother," Sylvia urged. "She deserves to know. +Anyway, it can do Father no harm now." + +"At one time my husband did have a considerable supply of gold," Mrs. +Kippenberg admitted. "Since he could not trust a bank he constructed his +own vault under the pool and placed the alligator there as a precaution +against prying persons." + +"My father really did nothing so very wrong," Sylvia broke in. "The gold +was bought with his own money. If he chose to sell it later at a profit +it was his own affair." + +"Not in the opinion of the government," Mr. Parker said with a smile. "He +held the gold illegally. So your father disposed of it?" + +"Yes, he shipped it out of the country months ago. And no one will ever +be able to prove anything against him." + +"My husband is a very clever man," added Mrs. Kippenberg proudly. + +"That remains to be seen," said Mr. Parker. "I know a number of very +clever government men, too." + +Later, in dry clothing loaned to her by Miss Kippenberg, Penny motored +back to Corbin with her father, Jerry, and Salt. There they learned that +the three prisoners had been locked up in jail, while James Kippenberg +was being questioned by government operatives. He readily admitted that +he had disguised himself as the gardener but defied anyone to prove he +ever had disposed of illegal gold. + +Mr. Parker did not wait to learn the outcome of the interview. Instead he +telephoned the big story to DeWitt and arranged for complete coverage on +every new angle of the case. Satisfied that no more could be learned that +night, the party sped back toward Riverview. + +"Aaron Dietz and his confederates ought to get long prison sentences," +Penny remarked as they drove through the night. "But what will happen to +Mr. Kippenberg, Dad? Do you think he will escape punishment as his wife +believes?" + +"He'll get what is coming to him," replied Mr. Parker. "A government man +told me tonight that Kippenberg's income tax reports have been falsified. +And Kippenberg knew they had evidence against him or he never would have +gone into hiding. No, even if it can't be proven that he held gold +illegally, he'll certainly be fined and given a year or so in prison for +tax evasion." + +"I hope he receives a light sentence for Sylvia's sake," said Penny. +After a moment she added: "Sylvia and Grant Atherwald are going to be +married tomorrow. They told me so." + +"There's a fact we missed," declared Jerry. "Penny always is showing us +up." + +"Oh, I didn't prove myself so brilliant tonight," responded Penny. "When +I was down in that vault I decided I was just plain dumb. If you hadn't +had sense enough to guess where Grant Atherwald and I were being +held--well, Dad would have had to adopt a new daughter." + +"It was easy enough to tell what had happened," said Jerry. "You had told +me you thought there was a secret vault beneath the pool. Then, too, I +found your handkerchief floating in the bottom. The water had only been +running in a few minutes." He fished in his pocket and brought out a pin +which he handed to Penny. "I also found this." + +"Thanks, Jerry," said Penny. "That's Louise's cameo pin. She dropped it +the day we were on the Kippenberg estate together." + +"The police gave you full credit for the capture of those men, Penny," +said her father with pride. "You yanked the drawbridge just in time to +trap them." + +"Salt did his share, too," mentioned Penny generously. "He went for the +police just as soon as he realized Jerry and I had been carried away on +the cruiser." + +"The only trouble was that the cops wasted too much time searching for +you down river," the photographer drawled. "We finally went back to +Corbin and ran into Mr. Parker who suggested we come to the estate." + +"How did you happen to be in Corbin, Dad?" asked Penny curiously. + +"You might know--I was looking for you. Isn't that my usual occupation?" + +"You're not provoked at me, Dad?" + +"No, of course not," the publisher answered warmly. "You've all done fine +work tonight. This is the biggest story we've run into in over a year! +We'll score a beat on the rival papers." + +"Then don't you think Jerry and Salt have earned a raise?" suggested +Penny. + +"Yes," agreed her father absently, "I'll take care of it tomorrow." + +"And you might tack on another dollar to my allowance, Dad. I'll also +have a small bill to present. There will be several dollars for gasoline, +lunches going and coming from Corbin, two ruined dresses, a pair of torn +silk stockings, and--" + +"That's enough," broke in Mr. Parker with a laugh. "If you keep on +listing your expenses, I'll be broke. You turned out to be an expensive +reporter." + +"It was worth it, wasn't it?" Penny demanded, placing her hands on her +hips. + +Her father agreed heartily. "It certainly was, Penny. The _Riverview +Star_ obtained a smashing story to scoop all the other newspapers, and +I've got my elusive daughter back again safe and sound." + +Penny moved closer to her father. She grasped the lapels of his coat in +her slender fingers and tipped her weary but still lovely face toward +him. + +"Dad, will you promise me one thing?" + +"That depends on what you are after," Mr. Parker told her gravely. + +"Whenever the _Riverview Star_ has a baffling mystery to be run down to +earth, will you promise to call in your ace sleuth?" + +"And who would that be?" demanded Mr. Parker with a puzzled frown. Then +as Penny laughed gaily, he also started to grin. "So you are the ace +sleuth? I guess I was a little slow in understanding. But you seem to be +right. This is the third mystery you've solved. Maybe we will use you on +the next mystery." + +"Thanks, Dad," said Penny. "I just hope I won't have to wait too long for +the next mystery to come along." + + THE END + + + + + Transcriber's Notes + + +--Replaced the list of books in the series by the complete list, as in + the final book, "The Cry at Midnight". + +--Silently corrected a handful of palpable typos. + +--Conforming to later volumes, standardized on "DeWitt" as the name of + the city editor. + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Danger at the Drawbridge, by Mildred A. 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