“You jump around from one thing to another so fast I can’t keep track of your enterprises,” Louise sighed.
“I concentrate on the ones which offer a prospect of ready cash,” Penny rejoined with a laugh. “If I catch Mr. Ben Bowman it means exactly one hundred dollars to me!”
Upon reaching Claymore, the girls spent two hours shopping at the large department stores. Penny then made a tour of the telegraph offices, finally locating the one from which Mr. Bowman’s message had been sent. After explaining why she wished it, she was allowed to inspect and keep the original copy which bore the sender’s signature.
“I’ll turn this handwriting over to the police,” she explained to Louise. “They may be able to trace Ben Bowman by means of it.”
“Providing the man ever comes to Riverview,”Louise said skeptically. “It seems like a forlorn hope to me.”
Before leaving the office, Penny inquired of the clerk who had handled the message if a description of Ben Bowman could be provided.
“I really don’t remember him,” the young woman answered. “In general I should say he was well-dressed—probably about thirty-five years of age.”
“Not much to go on,” Penny said regretfully. “Thanks anyhow.”
“Where now?” Louise asked in a weary voice as they finally left the telegraph office. “Shall we buy tickets to the play?”
“Not yet,” said Penny. “I’d like to wander around the market district a bit.”
For the next hour they did exactly that, selecting a section of the city where farmers brought their produce to sell in open stalls. Penny went from one counter to another, inspecting cantaloupes, hoping to find one which bore the Davis stamp.
“I’m getting tired of pawing vegetables!” Louise presently complained. “When do we eat?”
“All right, we may as well call it a day,” Penny replied reluctantly.
In the downtown section of the city, the girls found a small cafe which advertised a deluxe dinner for one dollar. Treating themselves to the best, they enjoyed a leisurely meal, and then bought theatre tickets.
“Penny, do you realize what all this is costing us?”Louise began to worry belatedly.
“Oh, I’ll soon make it up,” Penny joked. “Wait until I capture Ben Bowman! With my profit from him we’ll paint the town red!”
“You’re nothing if not optimistic,” Louise said pityingly.
The play was an excellent one and when the curtain fell at eleven, neither girl begrudged the money paid for tickets.
“It’s been a grand day,” Louise sighed contentedly as they left the theatre. “Let’s get home now as quickly as we can.”
The drive to Riverview consumed nearly an hour. As the girls approached the Hubell Tower, they noted by the illuminated clock face that the hands pointed to twelve o’clock.
“The witching hour of midnight,” Louise remarked. “Do you still think that mechanical creature has supernatural powers?”
“Quiet!” Penny commanded, idling the car as the big clock began to strike. “I’m going to count the strokes.”
“I’ll do it too, just so you can’t pull a fast one on me. That’s two now.”
As each slow note sounded, Louise counted it aloud. Reaching twelve, she paused, but the clock did not. There was a slight break, then another stroke.
“Why, it did strike thirteen!” she gasped. “Or perhaps I became mixed up!”
“You made no mistake,” Penny declared, easing the car to a standstill by the curb. “It struck thirteen, and that last stroke wasn’t like the others!”
“It did seem to have a slightly different tone. I wonder why?”
“Someone may have struck the bell an extra tap!”Penny answered with conviction. “Louise, don’t you see! It must be a signal!”
CHAPTER 14
THROUGH THE WINDOW
“You have the craziest ideas, Penny,” Louise scoffed. “I’ll admit the clock struck an extra time, but it must have been because something is wrong with the mechanism. A signal, my eye!”
Lowering the car window, Penny peered curiously up at the tower which was shrouded in fog and mist.
“Lou, there’s someone up there in the cupola! It may be Charley Phelps!”
“You can’t make a mystery out of Charley,” yawned Louise. “Probably he’s trying to repair the clock. Come on, let’s get home.”
Reluctantly, Penny raised the window glass. Before she could drive on, another car pulled up not far from the tower. The driver, a man in an overcoat, swung open the door as if to alight. However, observing Penny’s car parked close by, he seemed to change his mind. Keeping his head lowered so that his face was shadowed, he drove away.
“Who was that man?” Penny demanded suspiciously.
“I’m afraid I neglected to inquire,” Louise retorted. “So careless of me!”
“Whoever he was, he intended to enter the tower! When he saw us here, he became nervous and drove away!”
“Oh, Penny, you’re the limit.”
“Maybe I am, but I know what I think. The striking of the clock was a signal for some sort of meeting at the tower!”
“A board of directors confab perhaps?” teased Louise.
“Listen!” said Penny, ignoring the jibes. “I want to park the car on a side street, and then come back here afoot. Something is up and I mean to find out about it!”
“Oh, Penny,” Louise sighed. “If I don’t get home Mother never will allow me to go anywhere with you again. Don’t you realize what time it is?”
“Thirteen o’clock!” Penny chuckled. “It may never be that again, so I must strike while the clock strikes, so to speak. How about it?”
“Well, it’s your car,” Louise replied with a shrug. “I’m powerless in your hands.”
Penny drove around a block, parking on a well-lighted street. She and Louise then approached the tower afoot. Not wishing to be seen, they took care to keep close to a high hedge which edged the grounds.
“I never felt more silly in my life,” Louise complained. “What are we supposed to do now?”
“Windows were made to look through,” Penny responded coolly. “Let’s see what Charley Phelps is doing inside the tower.”
Circling the building, the girls placed a rock beneath one of the rear windows. From that unstable perch, Penny was able to peer into the living quarters of the tower.
“Well, what do you see, Sherlock?” Louise demanded impatiently.
“Nothing.”
“How perfectly amazing!” Louise taunted mischievously. “What do you make of it?”
“Charley Phelps seems to be reading a newspaper.”
“Baffling! It must have some deep, dark significance.”
With a sigh, Penny stepped down from the rock. “Want to look?” she invited.
“I do not!”
“Then I guess we may as well go home,” Penny said reluctantly.
As she spoke, both girls heard an automobile pull up in front of the tower. With reviving hope, Penny placed a restraining hand on Louise’s arm, forcing her to wait in the shadow of the building. A minute elapsed and then the front door of the tower slammed shut. Without the slightest hesitation, Penny once more moved to her previous position beneath the window.
“Charley has some visitors,” she reported in a whisper. “Four men I never saw before. I wish I could hear what they are saying.”
“Why not smash the window, or saw a hole through the wall?” Louise proposed sarcastically.
Penny stepped from the rock, offering the place to her chum.
“Do look inside,” she urged. “Maybe you’ll recognize those men. It’s really important.”
Louise unwillingly did as requested, but after a moment moved away from the window.
“I never saw any of them either,” she said. “They must be friends of Charley Phelps.”
“It’s a special meeting,” Penny insisted. “I suspect other men may come along within a few minutes.”
&n
bsp; “I know one thing,” Louise announced flatly. “I’ll not be here to see them. If you’re not ready to go home, then I shall walk!”
“Oh, all right, I’ll go,” Penny grumbled. “It seems a pity though, just when we might have learned something important.”
Taking care to remove the stone from beneath the tower window, she hastened after her chum. In silence they drove to the Sidell home where Louise alighted.
“Sorry to have spoiled your fun, Penny,” she apologized as she said goodnight. “If you’ll only arrange to conduct your explorations by daylight I’ll try to cooperate.”
Arriving at her own home a few minutes later, Penny found her father waiting up for her. Mr. Parker had attended a meeting of the Camp Fund board, and upon returning at eleven-thirty, had been disturbed to find his daughter absent.
“Hold it! Hold it!” Penny greeted him before he could speak. “I know it’s late, but I can explain everything.”
“You’re always able to explain—too well,” the editor responded dryly. “Mrs. Weems expected that you would be home not later than eleven o’clock.”
“Well, one thing just seemed to lead to another, Dad. Louise and I saw a wonderful show, I obtained a copy of Ben Bowman’s signature, and then to top it off, the Hubell clock struck thirteen again!”
“Which in your estimation explains everything?”
“I wish it did,” Penny said, neatly changing the subject. “Dad, Louise and I saw a number of men going into the tower tonight. Obviously, they were summoned there by the striking of the clock.”
“Tommyrot!”
“Oh, Dad, you haven’t a scrap of imagination,”Penny sighed. “Has it never occurred to you that Charley Phelps may be connected with the Hoods?”
“Never,” replied Mr. Parker. “And if I were you I shouldn’t go around making such wild suggestions. You might find yourself involved in serious trouble.”
“You’re the only one to whom I’ve confided my theory, Dad. In fact, it only this minute occurred to me.”
“So I thought, Penny. If I were you I would forget the Hubell clock. Why not devote yourself to something worthwhile?”
“For instance?”
“I’ll provide an interesting job. I’ve been asked to select play equipment for the new orphans’ camp. I’ll be happy to turn the task over to you.”
“Do you think I could do it?” Penny asked dubiously.
“Why not? You can learn from the matron of the Home what is needed, and then make your selection.”
“I’ll be glad to do it, Dad. When is the camp to open?”
“The actual date hasn’t been set, but it will be soon. That is, unless a serious disagreement arises about the camp site.”
“A disagreement?” Penny inquired curiously.
“Yes, Mr. Blake is trying to influence the board to buy a track of land which he controls.”
“At a very high price?”
“The price seems to be fair enough. I personally don’t care for the site, however. It’s located on the river, but too close to the swamp.”
“Then why does the board consider it?”
“Mr. Blake gave a very generous donation, you remember. I figured at the time he would expect something in return.”
“He’ll profit by the sale?”
“Obviously. I don’t know who owns the land, but Blake will receive a commission on the sale. The board also is considering a wooded property closer to Riverview, and I favor that site.”
“Will the board listen to you, Dad?”
“I rather doubt it. My objections weren’t especially vigorous. Either property will be satisfactory, and Blake’s price is a trifle more attractive.”
With a yawn, Mr. Parker arose and locked the front door.
“It’s after one,” he said. “Let’s get to bed.”
Penny started up the stairway, only to pause as the telephone rang. While her father answered it, she waited, curiously to learn who would be calling at such a late hour. In a moment he replaced the receiver on its hook.
“That was the night editor of the Star,” he explained briefly.
“Has a big story broken, Dad?”
“Another storage barn was burned to the ground about ten minutes ago. The night editor called to ask how I wanted the story handled.”
“Then the depredation was done by the Hoods!”
“It looks that way.”
Penny came slowly down the stairway to face her father.
“Dad, if the fire was set only a few minutes ago, doesn’t that support my theory?”
“Which theory? You have so many.”
“I mean about the Hubell Tower,” Penny said soberly. “The clock struck thirteen on the night the Preston barn was destroyed! Don’t you see, Dad? The Hoods hold their meetings and then ride forth to accomplish their underhanded work!”
CHAPTER 15
TRACING BEN BOWMAN
“Penny, let’s postpone this animated discussion until morning,” Mr. Parker said wearily, reaching to switch out the bridge lamp.
“Then you don’t agree with me that the caretaker of the Tower may have some connection with the Hoods, Dad?” she asked in an injured tone.
“I certainly do not,” he answered firmly. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to bed.”
Decidedly crestfallen, Penny followed her father upstairs. For several minutes she stood by the window of her room, gazing toward the Hubell Tower whose lights could be dimly seen across the city. Then, with a shrug, she too dismissed the subject from her mind and gave herself to slumber.
Mr. Parker had gone to the office by the time Penny arose the next morning. Finding a discarded newspaper by his plate, she eagerly scanned it for an account of the midnight fire. To her disappointment, only a brief item appeared on the front page. The story merely said that the barn of John Hancock, truck farmer, had been destroyed by a blaze of unknown origin. In the right hand column was another news item to the effect that Sheriff Daniels had made no progress in tracing the missing Clem Davis.
Tossing aside the paper, Penny helped with the breakfast dishes. As gently as possible she broke the news to Mrs. Weems that she might make another trip to Claymore.
“Why bother to remain home even for meals?” the housekeeper said severely. “I declare, I don’t know what your father is thinking about to allow you such liberties! When I was a girl—”
“It was considered very daring to go for a buggy ride without a chaperon,” Penny completed mischievously. “Now, I’m very sorry about last night. Louise and I didn’t intend to remain out so late.”
“It was after one o’clock when you came in,” Mrs. Weems replied, her voice stern. “You know I don’t approve of such hours for a girl of your age.”
“I promise it won’t happen again. Please let me go to Claymore though. I’m expected to buy playground equipment for the Riverview Orphans’ new camp.”
Exerting all her charm, Penny explained the necessity for the trip. Finally convincing Mrs. Weems that the excuse had not been “thought up” on the spur of the moment, she was granted the requested permission.
Penny’s next move was to induce Louise Sidell to accompany her on the excursion. Both girls laid siege to Mrs. Sidell who somewhat dubiously said that her daughter might go, providing she would be home by nightfall.
Recalling her father’s instructions, Penny called at the Riverview Orphans’ Home to talk with the matron. There she obtained a list of playground equipment to be purchased, with suggested prices for each item.
As the girls were leaving the institution they met Miss Anderson and paused to inquire about Adelle.
“The child seems to be nervous and unhappy,” the young woman told them. “Especially so since she ran away. We sincerely hope she will presently become adjusted.”
Penny asked if there was any prospect the little girl would be adopted.
“Not very soon,” Miss Anderson answered regretfully. “In fact, her name is not on the l
ist of eligibles. We never allow a child to leave the Home until we feel that he or she is capable of adapting himself to new conditions.”
The drive to Claymore was an enjoyable one, and by eleven o’clock, the girls had purchased many of the items on their list. To the amusement of the department store salesman, they insisted upon testing teeter-totters, swings, and even the slides.
“All this equipment is for the Riverview Orphans’Home—not for ourselves,” Penny explained. “The committee will pay for it.”
“Very well, we’ll send the merchandise just as soon as a cheque is received,” the salesman promised, giving her an itemized bill.
Feeling very well satisfied with their purchases, Penny and Louise wandered into another department of the store. The delightful aroma of food drew them to a lunch counter, and from there they went to the main floor.
The store was very crowded. As Penny was inspecting a pair of gloves on a counter, a man pushed past her, and ran toward the nearest exit. In surprise she turned around, unintentionally blocking the way of a store detective. Shoving past her, he pursued the first man only to lose him in the milling crowd near the front door.
“That fellow must have been a shoplifter!” Penny remarked to Louise. “I think he got away too!”
The unexpected commotion had drawn the interest of many shoppers. Mingling with the crowd, the girls heard a woman tell a companion that the man who had escaped was wanted for attempting to pass a forged cheque.
A moment later, the store detective came striding down the aisle. Pausing at the jewelry counter he spoke to the floorman, confirming the report.
“Well, the fellow escaped! He tried to pass a bum cheque for fifty dollars.”
“What name did he use?” the floorman inquired.
“Ben Bowman. It will be something else next time.”
Penny had heard the words. Startled by the name, she moved hastily to the detective’s side.
“Excuse me,” she addressed him, “did I understand you to say that a man by the name of Ben Bowman forged a cheque?”
“That’s correct, Miss,” the detective answered, staring at her curiously. “Know anything about the man?”
“I think I may. Would it be possible for me to see the cheque?”
The Penny Parker Megapack: 15 Complete Novels Page 62
