The Secret of Casa Grande

by Roy J. Snell

  CHAPTER IX THE SEALED DOOR

  The stillness of the night was suddenly shattered as a booming noisevibrated through the silent old house. There it was again. Boom! Boom! Itechoed and re-echoed through the great hall and high-ceilinged rooms.

  "What was that?" whispered Peggy as she and Jo Ann sprang up in thedarkness, wide awake in an instant.

  "I don't know," Jo Ann whispered back. "It sounded like shooting. Do yousuppose someone's starting a revolution? You never know what to expectnext down here."

  "I knew you shouldn't have read those old histories last night, Jo,"murmured Florence drowsily, with a hint of amusement in her voice. "Youseem to have war on the brain."

  "Well, what in the world was that noise, then?" retorted Jo Ann. "I knowperfectly well I did hear something that sounded like a gun or a----"

  Before she could finish her sentence the booming noise sounded again inrapid succession.

  "Now! I suppose I'm imagining things, am I?" she scoffed.

  Florence broke into a peal of laughter as she rose and began hastilyputting on her robe and slippers. "I'm really surprised, Jo, that youcould be fooled by anything about this house--you've studied it sothoroughly," she added over her shoulder as she ran out of the room.

  "Now what do you know about that!" exclaimed Peggy with a quizzicalexpression on her face. "I fail to see the joke, don't you?"

  "Well--I believe--I'm beginning to see it," replied Jo Ann slowly. "Thatwas only someone knocking on the door downstairs, but I can't see whyFlorence had to answer it. I don't believe Dr. Blackwell would expect herto go down there alone--in the middle of the night--to answer the door."

  "No, I'm sure he wouldn't," agreed Peggy, "but why did she rush off likethat, then?"

  A few moments later Florence burst into the room, still smiling. "Well,I've stopped the revolution," she announced, her eyes twinkling. "Iassure you everything is quiet and peaceful, and you won't be disturbedagain. Go back to sleep. You're perfectly safe now."

  "I know I sounded silly, but I was half asleep, and it startled me," JoAnn explained apologetically. "I know now it was someone knocking on thedoor, but why did you have to answer it?"

  "I suppose it did look funny, the way I rushed out there alone," Florencereplied, "but I knew it was only someone coming for Daddy. I always godownstairs with him to bolt the door after he leaves."

  "To bolt the door!" repeated Peggy. "Can't he use a key? I never heard ofthe whole family having to get up in the middle of the night to escortsomeone to the door."

  "Well, I'd much rather bolt the door after him," Florence laughed, "thango along to carry the key for him."

  "How ridiculous!" Peggy retorted. "People usually carry their own keys,don't they?"

  "Yes, that's true--but this is an unusual house, you must remember.You've never seen this key, have you?"

  Peggy and Jo Ann shook their heads.

  "Well, it's solid brass, about that long"--she held up her hands eightinches apart--"and weighs a pound or more. In olden days they took the_mozo_ along just to carry the key--when it was necessary to carry it.We've found that the key makes a better parlor ornament than anythingelse."

  "What's a bozo--or _mozo_, or whatever you call it?" asked Peggy.

  "That's what they call a manservant," explained Florence.

  Peggy then turned to Jo Ann and remarked teasingly, "The key--weren't youhunting for a mysterious key? There you are! Your wish has been granted."

  Disregarding Peggy's remarks, Jo Ann asked eagerly, "Florence, where'sthat key? I want to see it."

  "It'll keep till morning," Florence returned, snuggling into bed. "Comeon--it's 'most four o'clock, but we can get a nice little nap before timeto get up."

  "Tell me where the key is, and I'll get it," persisted Jo Ann. "Icouldn't go to sleep for thinking about it--not that it'll help methough, as Peggy suggested. That's not the kind of key I'm looking for."

  "I don't know exactly where it is," replied Florence. "I'll have to huntfor it, but if you're that anxious to see it, we'll get it."

  With flashlights blinking, the three pajama-clad figures crept across thehall and into the parlor, a room that was seldom used. After searchingamong several other old relics in a cabinet, Florence finally unearthedthe huge key, tarnished and black from disuse.

  "Here you are," she said, handing it to Jo Ann. "You can look at it therest of the night if you want to, but I'm going to bed. Come on, put itunder your pillow or anywhere you wish."

  She led the way back to their room, and she and Peggy quickly crawledinto bed. But Jo Ann sat under the light, turning the key over and overin her hand, musing. "What a key! Who ever heard of a key so large youneeded a servant to carry it--but how typical of the time when this housewas built. Everything--the walls, the windows, the doors--practicallyimpenetrable. What a place of refuge in times of war and strife!"

  "Turn out that light," growled Peggy, startling Jo Ann out of herreverie. "Can't you dream as well in the dark? We want to go to sleep, ifyou don't."

  "Oh, I'm sorry--I didn't mean to disturb you," Jo Ann answered, and,turning out the light, crawled into bed.

  It seemed to Jo Ann that she had scarcely closed her eyes before therewas a knock on the door, and she heard Florence talking to someone. "Whatis it this time?" she thought drowsily. "Such a night--just one thingafter another."

  She turned over and dozed off again, but again a voice broke into herslumbers: "Jo, come on."

  "Why couldn't they leave her alone--or was she dreaming?"

  "It's time to get up, Jo," the voice urged. "Hurry! Juana's not comingtoday, and we've got to do the cooking."

  Forcing one eye open, she saw the room filled with sunlight, and Florenceand Peggy already almost dressed.

  "O-oh, I'm so sleepy!" she mumbled between yawns. "I'll get up in aminute."

  "That's what you get for keeping us awake half the night," scolded Peggy."Now hurry up. We've got to get breakfast."

  "What d'you say?" she asked lazily.

  "Come on, Florence, let's pull her out," put in Peggy. "We'll get evenwith her for last night."

  Without another word Peggy made a grab for Jo Ann's feet. But Jo Ann waswide awake in an instant. Like a flash she reached out, and catchingPeggy around the neck, pulled her down on the bed beside her. Laughingand shrieking, the tussle continued while Florence dropped in a chair,convulsed with laughter. Over and over the two rolled, first this way,then that, till they finally landed on the floor, panting for breath.

  "Well--you're awake--now!" gasped Peggy.

  "Did I dream it or did I hear you say something about Juana not comingtoday?" Jo Ann asked when she could get her breath.

  "I'm sorry to inform you that you were not dreaming," replied Florence."No, she's not coming, and if we eat today we'll have to cook. Herhusband's sister's child died, and she went over there till after thefuneral. Juana's so good I hate to say anything when she misses a day nowand then. The Mexicans have such large families, someone is always dying.That's why black is almost a uniform with the peon women. They're alwaysin mourning for someone."

  "Gracious! I'd hate to wear black all the time," shuddered Peggy.

  "Well, this won't get breakfast or clean up the house," said Jo Ann,dressing rapidly. "Come on, let's get busy. This is just the opportunityI've been waiting for."

  "Why the sudden ambition?" inquired Peggy quizzically. "It's strange Ihave no recollection of your having demonstrated your talent forhousework before."

  "Oh, I don't mind cooking," returned Jo Ann. "But that's not what I'mtalking about. I've been trying to get in that kitchen without Juanathere so I could poke around in all the corners to my heart's content."

  "Oh, I see!" laughed Peggy. "While we work, you search out the mysteriesof----"

  "Girls! Girls! Whatever shall I do with you?" put in Florence, laughing."Which would you rather do?" she added as the trio trooped gaily to thekitchen. "Go to market or have break
fast first? Since Daddy's already hadhis breakfast, it makes no difference which we do."

  "It's all the same to me," replied Peggy. "I'm not the least bit hungry,and I'd rather enjoy the walk."

  "Someone has to stay here to look after the house and answer the door,"Florence went on. "Since you girls can't very well do the marketing, I'llgo with you, and we'll leave Felipe here. This will be one morning youwon't have to be bothered with him, Jo."

  "Wait a minute," cut in Jo Ann. "I have a better plan than that. Let'shave breakfast right now; then, while you and Felipe go to market, Pegand I'll stay here and wash the dishes."

  "I can't let you do that!" exclaimed Florence in dismay. "And, anyway,what'd you do if someone came to see Dad?"

  "Oh, I'd say _en un momento_ [in a minute] and sit them down in theoffice till you got back," Jo Ann answered lightly. "You see, what Ireally want is to get rid of the watchdog for a little while, and thatseems to be the only way of doing it."

  "Well--under--one condition," said Florence hesitantly. "If you'llpromise not to do anything daring or dangerous in any way, then I'll letyou stay here."

  "I'll do my best to keep her straight," promised Peggy.

  "You do have a time with me, don't you?" laughed Jo Ann. "I'll promise tobe good this time."

  As soon as breakfast was over, Florence started off to market, with thefaithful Felipe trailing along behind. At last Peggy and Jo Ann had thehouse to themselves. They stacked and carried the dishes to the kitchen,and then Jo Ann quickly placed her stack on the table and walked to thedoor. From there she started across the room in front of the hugefireplace.

  "One--two--three," she counted, pacing the distance to the wall acrossthe room, "four--five." Then, turning, she measured the distance backagain.

  "I guess that's right," she mumbled to herself.

  "What in the world are you doing now?" asked Peggy disgustedly fromacross the room. "Have you lost your mind?"

  "Don't bother me. Seventeen--eighteen----"

  "Josephine Annette Cutrer, are you going to help with these dishes?"insisted Peggy.

  There was no response from Jo Ann. By that time she had gone out the doorand was pacing the length of the hall.

  "Peg! Oh, Peg! Come here quick!" she called excitedly in another moment."I knew I was on the right track. Look!" Again she paced the length ofthe hall from the door, back. "You see," she explained, "there's abouteight feet difference in the distance on this side of the wall and thatin the kitchen."

  "What do you mean?" asked Peggy in surprise. "It's bound to be the same."

  "But it isn't. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Now, if the wallmeasures less on this side, wouldn't you figure there was some reason forit?"

  "Why--yes, I suppose so."

  "Well, then! What would you call a space eight feet deep--and with awindow in it?"

  Peggy stared, wide-eyed. "Why, Jo! You mean--there's a room back there?"

  "Exactly! It couldn't be anything else," Jo Ann replied, taking the shadeoff the light. "Here, hold this light at this angle so it'll shine on themiddle of this wall."

  "Is that right?" asked Peggy, trying to do as she was told.

  "No, shine it over a little to your left." The next moment Jo Annexclaimed in disgust, "Oh, gee! It's so dark in this corner, even thatdoesn't do much good. Wish I had a light 'way back here."

  "Wait a minute. I'll get my flashlight," called Peggy, running quickly toher room.

  "Now, is that better?" she asked a moment later.

  "Yes, but--here, hand me the flashlight." Jo Ann reached over for theflashlight. "Now you hold the other one. Two lights ought to be betterthan one," she added, gazing intently at the wall from first one anglethen another. "Peg, am I seeing things, or is there a shadow across thewall?" she asked a few minutes later, holding the light close.

  Peggy shook her head. "I can't see a thing."

  "Put that light down and come here! Now, look--right here!" Jo Annpointed, running her hand across the wall. "And over here! I can feel asort of dent in the wall. Don't you see it?"

  "Oh--I--believe--I do," Peggy answered slowly, then, "Yes, I do see itnow. I'm sure I do!"

  "There used to be a narrow door right here!" cried Jo Ann excitedly. "Iknew it! I knew it! I told you the key to the mystery lay behind thatwindow." Grabbing Peggy, she danced her hilariously around the hall.