Mildred A. Wirt

“ 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.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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?” ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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?”
[26]
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. ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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—”
[3]
“You’ll simply explode, won’t you, Dad?” Penny finished mischievously. ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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.” ”

“ 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. ”

“ 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?”
[73]
“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. ”