Mildred A. Wirt

“ For a moment Celeste softened and seemed to hesitate. Lorinda was quick to press the advantage.
“My father and my mother have been very kind to you—”
Mention of her mother’s name proved unfortunate. Celeste’s face hardened into rigid lines again and she said furiously:
“I hate her! May her flesh rot away and her bones be torn asunder!”
“Celeste! And to think we ever trusted you! Mother is ill because you have willed it so—it was you who made the wicked effigy doll—you who kept planting in her mind the idea that she would become ill and die!” ”

“ While Lorinda accompanied the doctor to the front door, Penny remained in the bedroom. No sooner had the physician left than Celeste moved close to the bed, muttering:
“Good! He is gone! Only a fool would believe a doctor could help you. Until the ouange is broken, food will only turn to poison in your body! You will weaken and die. But Celeste will save you—Celeste will find a way to break the evil spell.” ”

“ A gust of wind caught Penny’s felt hat, carrying it cartwheeling down the beach. She and Jerry raced in pursuit, colliding as they pounced on it together. They laughed, and as the reporter pulled the hat over Penny’s flying hair, he kissed her quickly on the cheek.
Then before she could reprimand him, he exclaimed: “Wow! That wind really is getting strong! Let’s get back to the car before we blow away!” ”

“ A great gust lifted off a section of the shed roof and whirled it away. As the full impact of the wind swept around the building, Celeste clung to a dock post for an instant; then her fingers lost their grip, and with a scream, she toppled over the edge into the churning water.
Jerry started toward the door, but Mr. Rhett seized his arm, dragging him back.
“Don’t be a fool! Celeste is beyond help! You’ll only lose your own life if you venture out there now!” ”

“ Jerry inquired in amazement.
“In the jungles I have seen a native die from superficial wounds. If told the spear which struck him had been sung over by an enemy, the native would simply lie down, refuse food and pine away. My wife is in great danger!”
“Can nothing be done?” cried Penny.
Mr. Rhett’s face tightened into hard, grim lines. “A great deal can be done,” he said. “But Celeste must be fought with her own jungle weapons. To turn her over to the police will not be sufficient. She is inside the closet you say—let me talk to her.” ”

“ Rhett, why pretend?” Penny demanded. “We know who you are.”
“Very well,” said the man, smiling faintly. “So I am Mr. Rhett! I assume you two are reporters for the Star.”
“Right,” agreed Jerry.
“And you want a story. Well, there’s no story. Since you have me dead to rights as they say, I’ll not deny I am Hamilton Rhett. However, my identity is my own affair. I stepped out of my old life—the bank and my home—because I was tired of a very boring existence. I never was cut to the cloth of a banker. I dislike being shut up indoors even for an hour. Probably I shall return to South America.” ”

“ Now the red brick exterior had become discolored, and trees and bushes disclosed lack of skilled care. A hedge flanking the walk had been trimmed unevenly. The lawn was badly mowed, with many weeds going to seed.
Nevertheless, the estate was impressive, and Penny walked along a sloping path to a pool of water lilies. Seating herself on the cement rim, she dabbled her hand in the water. A moment later, raising her eyes, she caught a flash of color at one of the mansion windows.
“I’m being watched,” she thought. “Perhaps if I poke around here long enough, Mrs. Rhett will decide to see me.” ”

“ Celeste, in white starched uniform, was hovering anxiously over the bed where Mrs. Rhett lay. Lorinda’s mother looked ten years older than when Penny had last seen her. Her face was pale and shriveled, her eyes listless.
“I don’t want the food!” she said peevishly to Celeste, pushing aside a spoonful of custard which was held to her lips. “It is useless to eat.”
On the other side of the bed stood a stout, middle-aged man whom Lorinda introduced as Doctor Everett, a specialist.
“Mrs. Rhett,” he said sternly, “you are acting very foolish in refusing food. ”

“ Penny’s gaze focused upon the dancing figures. Antón, barefooted and grotesque with a red turban wound about his head, led the procession, beating out a rhythm and shaking the gourd rattle which had been stolen from the thatched cottage. ”

“ Penny went to her own room, but before she could undress, she heard her father’s car on the driveway. He came into the house, locked the doors for the night, then climbed the stairs.
“Hello, Dad!” she called through the half open door of her bedroom. “Any news?”
“There will be by morning,” he answered grimly. “The Star is coming out with front page headlines warning the city to prepare for the worst!”
Penny stepped quickly out into the hall.
“Then Riverview is in the path of the hurricane! Is there danger that the city will be destroyed?”
“Damage to property is almost certain to be extensive. ”

“ My stepfather is queer. Mother and I never liked his interest in weird cult practices. He had so many strange acquaintances and ties with the past. We always were afraid something dreadful might happen.”
“Then he may have met foul play?”
“I don’t know what to think,” Lorinda said miserably. “A ten-day disappearance is not so serious. My stepfather occasionally went away before without telling us, though never for such a long period. If it weren’t for the paper found in his desk, and the missing bonds, I would say it’s much ado about nothing.” ”

“ Lorinda, we spoke of this the other day. While I still have the strength I must revoke my former will and leave all my property to you.”
“Oh, Mother, don’t talk of such things! Why, the doctor says you’re in perfect physical condition. You’ll be up and around in another day or two. It’s only worry about Father that has put you under the weather.”
“I have made up my mind, Lorinda. The will must be changed—now—tonight, while I have the strength.”
“Very well, if it will make you rest easier,” Lorinda said reluctantly. “Celeste, bring ink, a pen and paper.” ”

“ Apparently the bank secretary’s salary had been increased since the disappearance of his employer, Mr. Rhett.
“It seems a queer time to raise the man,” she mused. “If his duties have become so much heavier, I suppose the bank board may have granted a compensating wage increase. But it must have been an enormous one to enable him to buy everything in the stores!”
As Penny waited at the street corner for a home-bound bus, she saw one approaching which was headed for the outlying section near the Rhett estate area. Impulsively, she decided to go there to see Lorinda. ”

“ The doll was carved in her image, and no doubt deadly basiko and dayama incantations were chanted as the string was wrapped tightly about the body.”
“Who told you all this lingo?” Penny demanded suspiciously. “Your stepfather?”
“I learned a little of it from him,” Lorinda admitted, “but most of my knowledge came from Celeste and Antón.”
“Superstitious natives!”
“Laugh if you like, but this form of dark magic which is practiced in the jungles, is a sort of hypnotism. The victim weakens and dies because he believes that he is doomed.” ”

“ In a moment she heard an agitation in the bushes nearby and knew that the person she sought was struggling through a tangle of underbrush.
Soon the bushes parted and a thin girl in blue shirt and slacks stepped out onto the cindered path. In one hand she carried an Indian bow with a quiver of arrows, while with the other, she brushed dry leaves from her long, dark hair.
Having expected to see a man, Penny was startled. As she opened her lips to speak, the girl saw her and was brought up short. She gasped in dismay, turned, and with astonishing speed darted down the path leading to the beach. ”

“ Waiting only until she was certain Celeste, Antón and their converts were out of the passage, Lorinda said excitedly:
“They forgot to gag us! We can shout for help!”
“With a hurricane roaring outside, it’s a waste of breath,” replied Penny. “No one will be on the beach tonight, and our voices wouldn’t carry a dozen yards.”
“Then what are we to do? Antón and Celeste mean to run away now. The police never will be able to find them unless we act quickly.” ”

“ Penny ran back to the loading garage. It was deserted now save for a lone delivery truck which stood directly in front of the paper chute. Although his cargo was loaded, the driver hesitated to try to deliver until the storm abated.
Locking the car, Penny decided she would close the one big double garage door where rain was blowing in.
The hurricane now roared in full fury. Peering out into the deserted street, it seemed to Penny that no person could stand against its strength. ”

“ We will have no stranger in the household!”
“I want Celeste,” agreed Mrs. Rhett, clinging to the servant’s hand. “She is the only one who understands my ailment. Celeste will take care of me—no one else.”
The doctor shrugged. “Very well, it was only a suggestion. I should like to help you, but under the circumstance, there is nothing I can do. Good evening.”
As the doctor reached for his black bag, Lorinda moved quickly across the room. Her eyes pleaded with him to understand.
“Doctor Everett, you’ll come again tomorrow?” she requested. ”

“ The car turned a corner, and directly ahead Penny glimpsed the newspaper truck.
“There it is!” she cried, but Jerry also had seen the vehicle.
He put on speed, and was close behind as the truck pulled up with a jerk at Dock 12. Green water whipped to foam, crashed with heavy impact against the dock posts and flooded out on the slippery planking.
“We won’t have much time!” Mr. Rhett exclaimed. “When the next phase of the storm comes—and it’s close now—the wind will be terrific!”
The men, with Penny close behind, leaped from the car. ”

“ Each day a little of the thread is unwound until finally it all is gone. Then the person dies.”
“Not your mother, Lorinda! Surely, you don’t believe such a crazy superstition!”
“I don’t,” Lorinda answered, her voice barely above a whisper. “But Mother will if she learns about the doll. That is why she will die, unless I can do something to break the spell.”
To Penny the words seemed fantastic, but she realized Lorinda was deadly in earnest and convinced that she was speaking the truth.
“Let’s get to the bottom of this, Lorinda. How did the doll come into the house?” ”

“ Rhett doesn’t appear the type of man to do such a ghastly thing,” broke in Mr. Parker.
“So I did, but we dare not close our eyes to such a possibility. I believe you mentioned two servants, Antón and Celeste, who also are versed in cult practices, no doubt.”
“Celeste is the one I suspect!” cried Penny. “But she has no good reason for hating Mrs. Rhett who seemingly always has been kind to her.”
“Regardless, my advice is that the two servants be watched closely. And when the guilty person is found, as he must be, ordinary threats or punishments are likely to prove useless in dealing with him. ”

“ The car drove into the downtown section where a few vehicles now were moving. Under the glow of the street lights, workmen were clearing the debris away.
As the car approached the First National Bank, Penny chanced to raise her eyes toward the second story balcony fronting the street. The grinning gargoyles stood out in dark relief, and as she gazed at them, she suddenly saw a shadowy figure moving stealthily toward the one nearest the open door leading from Mr. Rhett’s private office. ”

“ Mrs. Rhett shook her head. “I think I shall change it. And soon. However, at this moment, I don’t know how I wish to dispose of some of my property. Nearly everything I own is tied up in real estate.”
The woman arose, and remarking that she had a severe headache, started into the house.
“I’ll lie down for a little while,” she murmured. “I feel so weak and tired.”
Lorinda waited until her mother was well beyond hearing. Then she turned to Penny with stricken eyes.
“You heard what she said! She must have learned about that hideous doll from Celeste!” ”

“ Penny said kindly.
Conversation lagged. Lorinda could not throw aside the deep mood of depression which possessed her. Penny knew she no longer had an excuse to linger, yet she was unwilling to leave without asking a few questions about the thatched roof cottage.
“Lorinda, why did you try to keep me from visiting it the other day?” she inquired.
“Well, I didn’t know you then. My stepfather’s trophies all are kept in the cottage, and I didn’t want anyone prying about.”
“Then actually it’s not a place of evil?”
Lorinda hesitated and answered indirectly: “I almost never go to the cottage myself. ”

“ THE WOODEN DOLL
Mr. Parker studied the bank secretary and his wife with more interest. But he said mildly:
“I see nothing especially significant in Potts coming here, Penny. The club is public.”
“It’s expensive too. The cover charge is two dollars, and you can’t touch a dinner for less than another four! How can Potts afford to pay such prices?”
“He may earn a good salary working for Mr. Rhett—probably does. Anyway, folks don’t always spend their money wisely, even if they have very little of it.”
Potts and his wife swept past the Parker table without noticing Penny or her father. ”

“ Maud Weems, the Parker housekeeper, was reluctant to see the girl she loved so dearly take up a journalistic career. Sadly she declared that Penny’s nose for news and mystery would lead her into serious trouble. Mr. Parker, however, did not worry. “Penny has good horse sense,” he said. “And she was born with printer’s ink in her blood stream!”
The taxi stopped with a jerk in front of a large red brick mansion. Large acreage was enclosed by a wooden rail fence flanked by tall untrimmed bushes. ”

“ Is it Celeste?”
“Celeste is doing her best to help, but there is nothing she can do,” Mrs. Rhett said sadly.
“Mother, snap out of this! You’re worried about Father and it has made you morbid. Nothing will happen to you. The doll has been destroyed, and in any case, we know it’s only a stupid effigy.”
Dropping her head wearily on the chair back, Mrs. Rhett smiled and said nothing. Closing her eyes, she relaxed for a moment. Penny and Lorinda thought she might be dropping off to sleep, so they moved quietly away. ”