Whispering Walls Page 19

  CHAPTER 19 _RISING WIND_

  The sound of crashing glass brought both Mrs. Weems and Mr. Parker to thebedroom. They found Penny standing at the window, the light off, peeringdown into the yard.

  "What's coming off here?" Mr. Parker demanded, his voice cross because hehad been aroused from sound slumber. "Did something blow against thewindow?"

  "This was thrown," Penny revealed, holding up the packet. "Dad, can yousee anyone hiding in the shrubbery?"

  Mr. Parker moved to the window, gazing intently about the yard.

  "I don't see anyone."

  "Whoever it was, he's probably gone now." Penny carefully drew the blindsbefore snapping on the overhead light. She handed the packet to herfather.

  "What's this, Penny?"

  "It was thrown through the window. I suspect it's intended as a bad luckomen, and to frighten me. Evidently my work on the Rhett case is notappreciated."

  "A jungle charm!" exclaimed Mrs. Weems, horrified. "Oh, Penny, I knew nogood would come of your having anything to do with that queer family!Here, give that horrid thing to me--I'll burn it in the furnace."

  "Not so fast," chuckled Penny. "I intend to keep it as evidence."

  "But it may bring you bad luck."

  "Why, Mrs. Weems, I'm surprised at you," teased Penny. "Surely you're notsuperstitious?"

  "No," the housekeeper denied, "but from what you've told me about thosequeer Rhett servants, I distrust them. I don't want you even to touchthat ugly package!"

  "These objects aren't harmful," Penny insisted, selecting the bit of boneand offering it to Mrs. Weems. "Why attach special significance to them?"

  With a shudder, the housekeeper backed away.

  "Penny is right," declared Mr. Parker. "The packet is silly and has nomeaning unless we build it up in our own minds. That, of course, isexactly what the one who hurled it intends us to do."

  "Penny mustn't go to that dreadful place again!"

  "Oh, Mrs. Weems! Don't you see, that's just what Anton and Celeste hopeto accomplish. If they can keep me away from the mansion merely bythrowing one of their stupid charms through my window, their trick hasbeen successful."

  "I quite agree with Penny," Mr. Parker declared. "In fact, I may call atthe mansion myself! I've become interested in Anton and Celeste--they'rea very successful pair of bluffers."

  "Oh, Dad! Will you go with me tomorrow?"

  "Perhaps," he promised vaguely. "We'll see, when the time comes. Iforesee any number of troubles far more serious than our concern with theRhett family."

  "With both of you against me, I'm only wasting my breath," Mrs. Weemssighed, drawing her robe tightly about her. "I may as well go to bed."

  Penny put the black packet on the dresser after her father had finishedinspecting it. "I intend to wear this charm around my neck the next timeI go to the Rhetts'," she declared. "It will be fun to see how Celesteand Anton react."

  "Don't carry your fun too far," her father advised. "While it's true thischarm has no significance or supernatural power, Anton and Celeste may bedangerous characters. They'll bear watching."

  "And I'm the one to do it," Penny chuckled. "I'm not a bit afraid ofthem, Dad. As you said, they're a couple of bluffers."

  "I may have used the word ill-advisedly," the publisher corrected. "Don'tmake the mistake of underrating them. The case, as you well know, hassinister aspects."

  "I'll be careful," Penny promised soberly.

  After her father had returned to his room, she went back to bed. A chillwind whistled in through the hole in the window, but she burrowed deepbeneath the blankets and soon was sound asleep.

  Next morning, as Mr. Parker had predicted, newspapers carried screamingheadlines, announcing that the hurricane might reach Riverview bynightfall. Householders were advised to take every precaution to protectlife and property.

  School opened and was promptly dismissed at nine o'clock. At home, Pennyhelped Mrs. Weems carry in the porch awning, remove the shutters and allloose objects which were likely to be torn free by the wind.

  By now, papers were blowing wildly, cluttering the yard. Each gustbrought sticks or small limbs crashing down into the street.

  Mrs. Weems, hovering near the radio to hear the last-minute reports,declared that the barometer continued to fall.

  "The storm is steadily getting worse," she said nervously.

  After lunch, Penny went to the newspaper office to inquire if Mr. DeWitthad any special assignment for her.

  "Nothing right now," he said, rapidly scanning a page of copy. "But stickaround. Anything may break."

  Penny waited, growing increasingly restless. She was certain DeWitt hadforgotten all about her, when he slammed down a telephone receiver andglanced in her direction.

  "Go out on the street and see what's doing," he ordered. "Might check thepolice station, too, on your way in."

  Penny nodded and went out through the barrier gate. The feel of theapproaching hurricane was in the air. Walking toward the river, she sawblue-green water boiling into sinister white foam where it vaulted ontothe docks.

  Pedestrians were few in number and all hurrying. Business was at astandstill. Shutters were going up over plate glass windows, and streetsigns were being taken down.

  Penny wandered about for a time and then, as a fine rain began to fall,sought the police station. Checking routine reports, she noted fourinjury cases caused by flying objects, several thefts of property, andmore than the usual number of automobile accidents.

  At the office once more, she wrote an impressionist account of what shehad seen, then waited for another assignment.

  "Penny, you may as well go home while you can get there," DeWitt saidpresently. "City Traction is shutting off service at six o'clock, andafter that you won't be able to take a bus."

  At another time Penny might have been disappointed to be sent home whenexciting news was breaking, but dismissal now fitted neatly into herplans. She was determined to make one last investigation of the thatchedroof cottage at the Rhett mansion. However, to beat the storm, she mustmove fast.

  Going out the door, Penny met Jerry who had just come in from the riverfront. His felt hat was dripping wet.

  "It's getting nasty outside," he remarked. "How are you going home,Penny? By bus?"

  "Eventually, but not just now," she grinned. "First, I have a littleerrand at the Rhetts'."

  "Better skip it," he advised. "This storm is the real McCoy."

  "Can't afford to, Jerry. I want to look over that thatched cottage oncemore. If I don't do it now, it probably won't be there by tomorrow."

  "If you're set on going out there, better make it a speedy trip," Jerryreturned. "The storm is rolling in fast."

  Reaching the mansion twenty minutes later, Penny was surprised to see anunfamiliar automobile parked on the Rhett driveway. As she went up thefront walk, the door opened, and three men came outside. Without noticingthe girl, they entered the car and drove away.

  "Wonder who they are and what brought them here?" Penny mused.

  In response to her knock, Celeste opened the door. Seeing Penny, thewoman tried to close it in her face, but the girl pushed boldly past herinto the hallway.

  Penny purposely had worn the black packet on a string around her neck.While Celeste was closing the door, she pulled it from her dress front,and then opened her raincoat so that the housekeeper could not fail tosee the object.

  Celeste's eyes instantly riveted upon the dangling packet.

  "My good luck charm!" said Penny. "Someone gave it to me last night!"

  Celeste's lips dropped apart to show her uneven teeth.

  "It is an evil packet!" she hissed. "If you wear it, sickness and deathwill pursue you!"

  "Not this cookie," chuckled Penny. "You see, I don't believe suchnonsense. Whoever tossed this thing through my window went to a lot oftrouble for nothing."

  Celeste's face, an interesting study in
mixed emotions, suddenly became ablank mask. Hearing footsteps, the woman mumbled something and scurriedaway.

  Lorinda came down the stairway. "Oh, Penny!" she exclaimed, grasping herhand. "I'm so glad you came! We're in such trouble!"

  "Your mother is worse?"

  "Yes, she is failing rapidly, and the visit of those three bankers upsether dreadfully."

  "The men I met on the walk?"

  "Yes, they're members of the First National Bank board. They told Mothershe must make up the $250,000 bond loss within forty-eight hours, or mystepfather will be exposed as a thief, and the estate sued! It seems Mr.Potts convinced them my stepfather had the bonds when he disappeared."

  "What will your mother do?"

  "What can she do? Nearly all of her property is in real estate. She mightbe able to raise $30,000 cash within the required time, but never theamount they demand."

  "You've heard nothing from your stepfather?"

  "Not a word. The police haven't contributed any worthwhile clues either.They didn't go deeply into the case."

  "Can you blame them? You and your mother withheld facts and discouragedthem at every turn."

  "I know."

  "Why did you do it?"

  "I thought you understood," Lorinda answered in a low voice. "Mother andmy stepfather quarreled violently on that last day at the bank. Shedidn't want the truth to get out, so she tried to keep from answeringquestions."

  "Then your stepfather disappeared as a result of the quarrel?"

  "I don't know. It is a possibility."

  "You believe your stepfather may have stolen the bonds?"

  "Oh, no! Never! He may have had them on his person when he went away orwas spirited off, but I am sure he is no thief!"

  Shutters were flapping in the wind. The porch furniture had not beenbrought into the house, and through the window, Penny saw that manyloose, breakable objects remained in the garden. Abruptly changing thesubject, she said:

  "Lorinda, the storm is getting worse every minute. Can't we bring in theporch furniture?"

  "I told Anton to do it early this morning. He went off somewhere. Celestehas been no help either. They're both acting so independent."

  "We don't need their help. Come! We can do it together."

  Lorinda put on her rain cape and they went out onto the porch. Alreadythe rug was rain soaked. They rolled it up and carried it to thebasement, where they also took the furniture. Deciding it was too late todo anything about nailing down the shutters or taking them off, theybrought in loose objects from the yard.

  In passing the library, Penny noticed that a window was open. The curtainwas drenched and rain was pouring in upon the floor.

  With a cry of dismay, she ran to close it. As she turned around, she sawat once that the wall safe was exposed to view, and open.

  "Lorinda!" she called.

  Her friend came quickly to the doorway. "Anything wrong?" she inquired.

  Penny directed her gaze toward the safe. "Did you leave it open?" sheasked.

  "No!" With a startled exclamation, Lorinda darted across the room. Shethrust her arm into the circular opening, and withdrew it empty.

  "The Zudi drum is gone!" she announced. "It's been stolen!"