Miss Penny

“ Anna said to Miss Penny as she dried the china after tea. “Only you would hardly know it was Ella May. Mr. Langley’s Ella May has been growing all these years until she went to college with Rusty and jumped ahead and graduated and—O dear me! Hers is still a teeny baby [52] three days old. Now, Miss Penny, when those two get to heaven one of them is going to have the surprise of their lives.”
“Why Anna,” murmured Miss Penny reproachfully.
“Meantime, things are at sixes and sevens with both of them. What she needs is another baby, and what he needs is a full grown wife. ”

“ Penny urged: “A sleep will refresh you. I think I’ll go downstairs and see if I can discover what plot is brewing.”
She descended the spiral stairway and paused at the library. It was empty. The house was strangely silent. Penny crossed the hall to the living room. Heavy draperies screened the arched doorway. As Penny pulled them aside to enter, she saw Mrs. Leeds standing at the fireplace, her back to the door. Something about her manner aroused Penny’s suspicions. She waited and watched. ”

“ Penny cried furiously. "It's no use trying to learn a thing from you unless you're in exactly the right mood!"
In desperation she sought solace in the companionship of her chum, Susan. They attended a great many moving picture shows and developed an enviable tan by swimming outdoors and playing tennis for hours at a time.
Although Penny was permitted complete freedom, Mr. Nichols had warned her to use caution whenever she left the house at night. On more than one occasion in going downtown or to the home of a friend, she half suspected that she was being followed. ”

“ Before Penny or Louise could answer, the car door closed firmly in their faces.
“Well, how do you like that?” the latter demanded furiously. “If she isn’t a cool cucumber!”
“She may be running away from home,” Penny said, frowning. “Why otherwise, would she refuse to tell her name?”
“And why did she insist in getting out on this corner, of all places?”
“It’s a bad section of town, Louise. No one seems to be about, but even so, a girl shouldn’t be wandering around here alone.” ”

“ For the greater part of the afternoon, Penny and Rosanna remained in their own room. Toward nightfall they walked about the grounds and later motored to a nearby inn for dinner. At nine o’clock when they returned to the big empty house, the downstairs was dark. They judged that Mrs. Leeds and Max Laponi had already gone to their rooms.
“We may as well turn in too,” Penny suggested. “The mountain air makes one drowsy.”
Both girls were soon sound asleep. However, sometime later Penny was awakened by the sound of footsteps in the hall. ”

“ Parker. Several times Penny called the police station and also talked with Mrs. Weems. The housekeeper, fearful that the girl would become ill, insisted upon bringing a hot evening meal to the office.
[80]
“Penny, you’ve been here all day,” she chided anxiously. “You must come home with me.”
“I can’t just yet,” Penny replied. “There’s too much to do. By tomorrow, if Schirr doesn’t make trouble, things will smooth out.”
“You’re working so hard you’ll be sick abed!”
“I want to work,” Penny said grimly. “It keeps me from thinking. Anyway, Dad would want me to do it.” ”

“ CHAPTER X The Vanishing Car
Penny fully intended to tell her father of her experience, but she retired before he came home. She overslept the next morning. When she descended to the breakfast room at nine o'clock, Mrs. Gallup told her that the detective had been gone for nearly an hour.
"Your father wasn't in a very good mood this morning," the housekeeper informed as she served Penny with a steaming hot waffle. "He complained about the coffee. When he does that it's always because something's gone wrong with his work."
"You mustn't mind Dad," Penny smiled. ”

“ 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!” ”

“ It’s storming hard and she looks about our age.”
Debating no longer, Penny thrust her head through the window opening and called: “Want a ride?”
[18]
The girl with the suitcase had moved into the glare of the headlights. She turned toward the car with a startled expression. Penny and Louise saw that she was thinly clad in a light weight coat, and wore no galoshes.
To their astonishment, the girl shook her head and kept on walking.
“Well, what do you know!” exclaimed Penny. “She’s more afraid to ride with us than we were to pick her up. ”

“ I’ve been waiting for a chance to use that ladder, and here it is!”
“Penny! You actually have the courage to climb down into a well?”
“Why not?” Penny laughed. “But it must be tonight while my enthusiasm is bubbling. Meet me at nine o’clock and bring a good flashlight.”
Louise could only stare. “You’re actually serious!”
“Indeed I am,” Penny replied gaily. “Everything is settled. Now let’s slip away from here before Mrs. Marborough sees us.” ”

“ From him she had learned many details of the newspaper business. In fact, having a flare for reporting, she had written many of the paper’s finest stories.
Penny was a friendly, loveable little person. Not for long could she remain downhearted. As she walked down the long hallway, its great expanse of polished floor suddenly looked as inviting as an ice pond. With a quick little run she slid its length. And at the elevator corner she collided full-tilt with a bent old man who hobbled along on a crooked hickory cane. ”

“ As Penny was starting to drive away, she noticed a lone man near one of the picnic tables. He was dressed in rough, unpressed garments, and seemed to be scavenging food which had been left behind.
“That’s the same man who pulled Adelle from the water!” she thought alertly.
Leaping from the car, Penny ran toward him.
Hearing footsteps, the man turned and saw her. Almost in panic he started for the woods.
“Wait!” Penny shouted. “I won’t turn you over to the police! Please wait!” ”

“ Breaking away, Penny raced ahead of him, along the beach to the suspension bridge. She was halfway across when he overtook her, rocking it so violently that she had to cling to him for support.
“Stop that, Jerry Livingston! You’ll break the bridge!”
“Then don’t try to run away from me. Will you let me show you the moon?”
“No, I know you, Jerry. You show it to all the girls.”
“If I do, it’s just as a rehearsal. You see, Penny, I’ve hoped that someday I might get a chance to show it to you.”
“What a line you have,” laughed Penny. “But I won’t play. As a moon-shower your technique is terrible. ”

“ Masterbrook probably has a job for me. When she can't think of anything else she has me peel potatoes."
"That's her work, not yours," Penny told him. "You're altogether too easy, Michael."
"Your father said that part of my job was to keep Mrs. Masterbrook quiet," the young man grinned as he turned away. "I've discovered that the best way is to do exactly what she wishes with no argument!"
Michael bowed again to the girls and walked on up the path.
"I like him better every day," Susan declared in an undertone. "I think it's a great joke on you, Penny! ”

“ A taxi has already been sent for you. It should be there by this time."
"I'll be waiting," Penny promised.
She hung up the receiver and turned to the housekeeper who was hovering anxiously at her elbow.
"Dad's been hurt," she said tersely to hide her emotion. "I don't know how badly for I couldn't learn the details. I must go to him at once."
"Oh, you poor thing," Mrs. Gallup swept the trembling girl into her arms.
They clung to one another for an instant, then Penny resolutely brushed away her tears.
"It probably isn't as bad as we fear," she said hopefully. ”

“ Penny said nothing more about the matter. Instead, she launched into a highly colored account of her visit to the Celestial Temple. The housekeeper expressed disapproval, remarking that she never would have granted permission had she known in advance where the girls were going. Nevertheless, her eager questions made it evident that she was deeply interested in the demonstration which had been witnessed.
[105]
“I don’t see how you can call it trickery,” she protested. “You have no proof, Penny.”
“Never in the world will I believe that spirits can make tables do a dance, Mrs. Weems! ”

“ Spent by the effort required to speak, the widow closed her eyes, and relaxed. Thinking that she had gone to sleep, Penny left the bedside for a moment. A quick glance assured her that the kitchen window was open, and far more alarming, the screen had been neatly cut from its frame. An empty China teapot stood on the kitchen table.
“It must be true!” Penny thought with a sinking heart. “The pearls have been stolen, and the shock of it nearly killed Mrs. Marborough! But who could have known that she had the necklace here in the house?” ”

“ The séance began in much the same manner as the one Penny had attended. The medium called upon the spirit of a woman named Flora to appear.
“Now concentrate hard—everyone,” he instructed. “Flora, where are you? Can you not show yourself that we may know it is truly your spirit which communicates with us?”
From the cabinet, so close to Al Gepper that she could have touched his hand, Penny was able to see his every move. ”

“ Penny apologized. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ll go to bed.”
Undressing quickly, she crawled beneath the covers. Mrs. Deline smoked still another cigarette and then began to prepare for bed. As she removed the jacket of her suit, Penny noticed that the woman wore a beautiful jade elephant pin.
“Why, what an attractive ornament!” she exclaimed. “Is it a locket or just a pin?”
“I bought it in China,” the widow answered without replying to the question.
“In China! Have you been there?”
“Of course!” Mrs. Deline gave Penny an amused glance. ”

“ Penny responded instantly.
"I'm not much of a cook," Betty confessed modestly, "but I can always scare up a sandwich or so."
Penny welcomed an opportunity to visit the Davis home again for despite Betty's peculiar actions, she felt that the girl really liked her. As they boarded a street car, it occurred to her that she had been invited for a particular purpose. The girl grew increasingly ill at ease. Conversation became difficult although Penny made a special effort to be agreeable. ”

“ Penny turned back the coverlet of the bed and found that it was equipped with clean sheets and blankets. The furniture was massive and all hand carved.
“I guess you can make out here for one night,” Caleb said.
“We’ll be very comfortable,” Penny assured him.
Returning to the lower floor, Caleb lighted his lantern and prepared to leave. With his hand on the door knob he turned to face the girls again.
“Oh, yes, there was something I forgot to mention. If you hear queer noises in the night don’t be upset.”
“Queer noises?” Penny echoed. ”

“ It’s hard to resist such a bride!”
“You are incorrigible, Charles,” Penny reported.
“And you look radiant tonight, Penny.” And off he danced with his partner. It was hard for Penny to get her mind on anything else except Peter. Dear, eager, wonderful Peter. But she had many things to do. The tables in the dining room had to be checked, and then she had to return and take part in the party. She looked around at the guests once more trying to place some of those who did not look familiar. There was one masquerader in particular who caught her eye. ”

“ She busied herself smoothing covers while Penny wandered about. The room had no rug. It was furnished with an old fashioned dresser, a wash stand and a bed with a high headboard.
Penny opened the closet door. The hangers were dangling together, without clothing. Everything had been packed into two suitcases which stood against the wall.
“I’ve already inspected the luggage,” said Mrs. Weems as the girl bent to open one of the bags. “You’ll find nothing except clothing. I tell you, Peter Fenestra is a very cautious man.”
“I can believe it,” agreed Penny. ”

“ Penny laughed. "You don't want to get fat."
"No chance of it around you," Susan retorted.
Penny took the picture and removed the roll of exposed film from her camera. Walking down Knob Hill, the girls left it at one of the drugstores in Kendon.
"How soon may we have the prints?" Penny asked.
"Tomorrow afternoon," the clerk promised.
When the girls had left the drugstore, Penny suggested that they drop in for a moment at Turner's.
"Are you still hopeful that someone will claim the toy lantern?" Susan inquired with a trace of amusement. ”

“ Angrily the medium strode across the room, seizing her arm. She jerked away, but he grasped a fold of the robe. It tore and was left behind.
At that critical instant, Penny’s hand encountered the door. She swung it open, and bounded down the stairway.
[173]
In the séance chamber a light went on, then the hallway became brilliantly illuminated. But by that time the girl was in the dining room.
She could hear Al Gepper clattering down the steps, intent upon capturing her. Penny was determined that he should never learn her identity. ”

“ Penny realized that she had it within her power to expose Mrs. Dillon. Even though she were a guest in the society woman's home, it was really her duty to reveal her findings to the police.
From her hiding place behind the chair, Penny had not been able to secure a very good view of the painting. She was eager to examine it at close range.
Did she dare open the panel? She decided to take the chance. Jerking at the long silken rope as she had seen Mrs. Dillon do, the girl was gratified to observe the sham picture above the mantel swing slowly back to reveal the hidden panel. ”