“There must be some way to see that ceremony!” she reasoned. “Perhaps I can slip in through a rear door.”
Penny circled the building, taking care to avoid snow patches where revealing footprints would be left behind. She crossed through the old church-yard with its toppled, weather-stained stones, passing close along the church wall.
Coming to a small arching door, she tried the knob.
“Locked!” she muttered in disgust. “One would think this place were a jail!”
Half way around the building Penny found another door which evidently opened into the kitchen. It too was locked.
“I’m out of luck!” she decided, losing heart.
As she turned away intending to return to her car, she noticed a window at shoulder level, opening from a kitchen wall. A ventilator screen had been inserted to permit free circulation of outside air.
Penny carefully studied the window. A crack between the screen and window frame encouraged her to hope that the mesh might be removed.
Obviously, the plan had disadvantages. In removing the screen, she might make too much noise and be detected.
Furthermore, a wide patch of snow separated her from the window. She could not reach the wall without leaving a trail of telltale footprints.
Then an idea flashed into Penny’s mind. How easy it would be to make deceptive prints in the snow merely by walkingbackwards!
“If Father Benedict discovers my shoetracks, he’ll think someone from inside the building crawled out the window!” she chuckled. “At least I hope he will!”
Now completely dedicated to the adventure, the girl carefully backed toward the window. She took each step slowly to make a distinct print.
Reaching the window, she tried the ventilator screen. To her delight, it folded like an accordian when she pushed one side against the edge of the window. Making no sound, she removed it.
Listening a moment to make certain no one was close by, Penny raised the window higher. Then on strong arms she swung herself up and over the ledge.
The girl found herself in a large kitchen lighted only by a smoldering log in a great cavern of a fireplace.
Rows of copper pans hung on the smoke-stained walls. In a huge black kettle, watery soup simmered over the fire.
Penny turned to close the window and stepped squarely on the tail of a drowsing cat.
“Ye-eow!” screeched the frightened animal.
Penny huddled against the wall, listening. Her heart sank as she heard heavy footsteps in the passageway. The howling cat had brought someone to investigate!
Frantically, the girl glanced about the room. Huge cupboards which rose from the floor to the ceiling offered the only possible hiding place in the otherwise barren kitchen.
Pulling open one of the doors, she saw an interior cluttered with greasy pans and dishes. With desperate haste, she tried the adjoining door. This cupboard was empty except for a few dusty newspapers.
Penny stepped inside, softly closing the door. Only then, as she heard someone enter the kitchen, did she realize that in her haste to hide, she had forgotten to close the window.
Into the kitchen lumbered Old Julia. She picked up the whimpering cat and began to croon endearments.
Penny breathed easier. The next instant she became tense again as she heard another person enter the room.
“What was that noise, Julia?” a man demanded harshly.
Penny recognized Father Benedict’s voice.
“Only the cat, Father.”
“Why is the room so cold? Oh, I see! Against my orders you opened the window again!”
“No, I didn’t!” Old Julia defended herself. “I hain’t been near a door or window since you told me not to talk to nobody nor let ’em in. I don’t talk to nobody—only Patsy, the cat. Nice Patsy!”
“You’re a stupid old woman! What made the cat howl?”
“I dunno. She must’ve seen a mouse.”
“Cats don’t howl unless they are hurt! You opened the window!”
“No! No! I didn’t!” the old woman cried. “Don’t strike me! I’m telling you the truth.”
Penny heard the monk walk to the window. Her heart skipped a beat when he said: “Perhaps you are, Julia! I can see footprints in the snow! Someone crawled out through this window! You helped that girl get away!”
“I didn’t! I didn’t!” whimpered Julia. “I dunno how the window got open.”
The monk seemed to be talking to himself as he went on: “I knew that girl would make trouble the minute I set eyes on her! If it hadn’t been for her interference, everything would have gone just as planned! Now she’ll have to pay for her folly!”
For a moment Penny thought Father Benedict was speaking of her. Then it came to her that he must be referring to the dark-haired girl she had seen briefly on the day of her first visit to the monastery.
“This isn’t the only time she’s slipped out of here!” the monk went on angrily. “But it will be the last!”
Father Benedict rang a bell. While waiting for it to be answered, he slammed down the kitchen window.
Soon Winkey, the hunchback, appeared. “You called me, boss?” he inquired.
“I did,” said the monk. “And kindly remember not to call me ‘boss.’ Father Benedict is a more respectful term.”
“That’s a laugh,” rejoined Winkey rudely. “What did you call me for?”
“Look out the window and see for yourself.”
“Footprints!”
“Going away from the monastery,” Father Benedict added. “That girl has run off again! This time when she gets back, see that she is punished.”
The command seemed to startle the gateman for he asked dubiously: “You don’t mean—”
“I do.” The monk’s words dropped like chips of steel. “The usual punishment.”
“But ain’t it a little harsh for a girl? She’s only a kid—”
“Only a kid!” Father Benedict’s voice rose in mockery. “From the hour we came here she has been a thorn in my side. If it hadn’t been for her interference, we would have been away from here yesterday!”
“Okay, if those are your orders. Are you sure the girl has skipped?”
“Certainly I am. I found the window open, and there are the footprints in the snow!”
“Maybe she won’t be back.”
“She will,” Father Benedict said grimly. “You see, so long as we have her—”
He broke off to listen intently. From the direction of the cloister a silver bell had chimed.
“The signal for the processional!” Father Benedict exclaimed, interrupting himself. “I must go!”
In the doorway he apparently paused, for Penny heard him say to Julia:
“Start dishing up the soup ready to serve as soon as the ceremony is over! A bowl and four crackers to each person!”
“Is that all they’re getting to eat?” Winkey inquired. “We’re in for a lot of squawks!”
“You forget that the members of our sect have taken a vow of poverty and abstinence,” retorted the monk with heavy sarcasm. “If there are any complaints, I know how to handle them.”
“You sure do,” agreed Winkey, his laughter crackling. “I’ll hand you the gold plated medal for that!”
Voices of the two men died away, informing Penny that they had gone. As she huddled in the cramped quarters, she could hear Julia moving about the kitchen. The woman sighed heavily and once muttered: “Woe is me! Wisht I was dead, I do!”
Minutes elapsed and the girl became increasingly uncomfortable and impatient. Old Julia showed no inclination to leave the kitchen.
“I’ve got to get out of here or I’ll miss the entire ceremony!” Penny told herself. “Well, here goes! If Julia screams, I’m a cooked goose!”
Opening the cupboard door a tiny crack, she peered out.
Old Julia had lighted candles. In their flickering light she could be seen with her back to Penny, stirring the soup. On the table beside her were ten wooden bowls.
“It’s now or never!” the girl thought. “Julia may give me away, but I’ll have to chance it!”
Opening the door wider, she moved noiselessly out and glided across the floor. A board creaked. But as Julia turned her head, Penny reached out and covered her mouth with her hand.
Seeing her, the old woman’s eyes dilated with fear, but she could not speak.
“Don’t try to scream! Don’t say a word!” Penny warned. “I won’t hurt you! I’m here to help you.”
The old woman tried to break from the girl’s grasp. Penny kept talking to her in a soothing tone until gradually she relaxed.
“Will you keep quiet if I release you?” she finally demanded.
The old woman’s head bobbed up and down.
Penny removed her hand, expecting the worst. But Julia did not scream. Instead, she stared fixedly at the girl.
“Julia, I must see the ceremony, and Father Benedict isn’t to know I am here,” Penny whispered. “Will you keep my secret?”
Again Julia’s head inclined, but the look of terror remained in her eyes.
“Go!” she whispered, pointing to the window. “Leave while there is time!”
“Not until I’ve seen the ceremony. Julia, I need a robe. Where can I find one?”
So stupidly did Julia stare at her that Penny was certain the woman did not understand. However, after a moment she shuffled to one of the storage cupboards where linen was kept. Returning with a white cotton robe, she placed it in the girl’s hands.
Penny put the garment on over her coat, pulling the hood well down over her blond curls.
Then, with another whispered warning to Julia not to reveal her presence, she left the kitchen. The disguise gave her renewed confidence, for in the shadowy halls she felt that only at close range would anyone recognize her.
Three stone steps led up to the cloister. Approaching with great caution, Penny observed that it too had been lighted with candles.
In the center of the cloister near the old fountain, Father Benedict’s crystal globe had been set up. On either side stood stately rows of tall candles.
Impressive as was the sight, Penny had no time to admire it, for a door had opened. Winkey came in, dragging a girl by the wrist.
With a shock Penny recognized her as the same girl she had seen while visiting the monastery with Mr. Ayling.
“And she’s the same one Louise and I picked up in our car!” she thought.
The girl struggled to free herself from the hunchback’s firm grasp.
“Let me go!” she cried, kicking at him. “Let me go!”
“Oh, no, you don’t!” he taunted her. “This time you’ll have to pay for sneaking out of the house and coming back!”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” the girl retorted. “I’ve not been out of this house tonight! If I could get away, I’d bring the police and have you arrested! You can’t mistreat me! Let go my wrist!”
Before Winkey could answer, another door opened to admit Father Benedict. Walking straight toward the hunchback he exclaimed harshly:
“Fool! Don’t bring her in here! The ceremony is starting! Lock her up and be quick about it!”
As Penny watched from behind a pillar in the cloister, Winkey pulled the struggling girl through a doorway and out of sight.
Father Benedict then adjusted his long robe and rang a silver bell. With stately tread he retired to a position behind the crystal globe.
An instant later from the far side of the cloister, a door was flung open. A procession of ten persons in white robes moved slowly into the shadowy room.
As far as Penny could tell, all who participated were women, many of advanced age. Leaders of the strange procession carried banners embroidered in silver and gold symbols.
The white robed figures moved slowly along the passageway, and Penny saw that they would pass the pillar where she stood.
Fearing detection, she shifted position slightly to avoid being seen.
But as the mumbling, chanting group passed her, she was overcome with a sudden impulse to join the procession.
“If I can get up close, I’ll be able to hear what is said!” she thought. “Maybe I’ll learn the secret of Father Benedict’s strange power over these people!”
As the procession passed the pillar, Penny attached herself to the rear. With bowed head, she followed the others who formed a semicircle about the fountain.
The monk began a chant in Latin which Penny could not understand. However, his gestures were eloquent, and despite herself, she was impressed.
Presently he spoke in English, quoting the White Lady of Sir Walter Scott’s “The Monastery.”
“Mortal warp and mortal woofCannot brook this charmed roof;All that mortal art hath wroughtIn our cell returns to naught.The molten gold returns to clay,The polish’d diamond melts away;All is alter’d, all is flown,Naught stands fast but truth alone.Not for that thy quest give o’er;Courage! prove thy chance once more.”
“Mortal warp and mortal woof
Cannot brook this charmed roof;
All that mortal art hath wrought
In our cell returns to naught.
The molten gold returns to clay,
The polish’d diamond melts away;
All is alter’d, all is flown,
Naught stands fast but truth alone.
Not for that thy quest give o’er;
Courage! prove thy chance once more.”
Eloquently, the monk then praised the frugal life, assuring his listeners that those who gave of their treasure to the cult society would receive untold spiritual values.
“As you file past the fountain cast your jewels into the basin,” he bade the group. “You will be rewarded three-fold.”
Slowly the robed women circled the fountain. The one leading the procession dropped a bracelet. The woman following fumbled beneath her robe and reluctantly gave a cameo broach.
“It was the last gift of my dear departed husband,” she whispered tearfully. “I do so dislike to part with it—”
“You shall have your reward,” the monk assured her. “Later, in the crystal globe, you will see the face of your husband!”
“So that’s how he rules them!” thought Penny. “He plays upon their emotions and then pretends to conjure up visions of departed relatives!”
Another woman stripped a diamond ring from her finger, and cast it into the bowl of the fountain. The one who followed her, stood empty handed.
“Where is your contribution?” demanded the monk.
“I have none, O Master! At the last ceremony, I gave all!”
“Those who have no gift for the celestial spirits receive no rewards,” Father Benedict said sharply.
“Please—”
“Pass on!” ordered the monk.
Realization now came to Penny that in another moment she too would be expected to drop her contribution into the fountain. What could she give?
On her third finger the girl wore a silver colored ring with a red glass stone. She had won it several days before at a church party fish pond, and despite the fact that it obviously had been bought in a dime store, had kept it.
As Penny’s turn came she removed the cheap ring and let it fall into the basin of the fountain. Keeping the hood well over her face, she mumbled in a disguised voice: “I give my precious ruby ring!”
“Blessings upon you, my good woman!” said the monk approvingly. “The celestial spirits will remember your generosity.”
Father Benedict now led the procession to the refectory where supper was to be served.
The room was drafty and barren except for one long table and benches. Old Julia had set out the wooden bowls of soup, and crackers, thoughtfully remembering to set an extra one for Penny. No other food was in evidence.
“Soup again?” asked one of the cult members in bitter disappointment. “We are hungry!”
“We’ve had little more than soup since we came here!” exclaimed another old lady plaintively.
“Are you so soon forgetting your vows?” chided Father Benedict. “Material things have no true meaning.”
Grumbling a little, the women sat down at the table and began to eat. Penny took an empty place near the door. She tasted the soup and nearly gagged.
Father Benedict did not join the group. After lingering a few minutes he quietly slipped away. This offered Penny an opportunity to leave without arousing the monk’s suspicions.
“I must learn more about that girl who is locked up here somewhere!” she thought. “Perhaps I can help her escape!”
Still wearing the white robe, Penny started back to the cloister. The cult ceremony which she had witnessed greatly disturbed her.
“Father Benedict is taking unfair advantage of these people,” she told herself. “He accepts their jewels and gives nothing in return. Furthermore, he is cruel!”
Voices in the cloister directly ahead warned the girl to proceed cautiously. Keeping close to the wall and holding her robe tightly about her, she crept closer to the fountain.
The candles had all been extinguished. However, Father Benedict and Winkey were there, working by the light of a lantern.
“Fish out the jewels and be quick about it!” the monk ordered his servant. “We must be finished before they’re through in the refectory.”
The hunchback scrambled down into the bowl of the fountain, and groped with his hands for the trinkets the cult members had thrown away.
“Did the old lady kick in with the sapphire tonight?” Winkey asked as he worked.
“No!” the monk answered. “She sent word that she was too sick to leave her room! I suspect that girl put her up to it!”
“You goin’ to let her get by with it?”
“I’ll talk with her later tonight,” Father Benedict said. “If she doesn’t come across by tomorrow, we’ll find ways to persuade her.”
“You been saying that ever since she came here! If you ask me, we won’t never have any luck with her until we get rid of the girl! She’s been a wrench in the machinery from the start.”
“I’m afraid you are correct, Winkey,” sighed the monk. “But I do so dislike violence. Well, if it must be, so be it. You assigned her to the room with the canopied bed?”
“I locked her in like you said.” Winkey, having gathered all of the trinkets, scrambled out of the stone basin onto the tiled cloister floor.
“What have we here?” asked the monk eagerly.
Winkey spread the contributions on a handkerchief. Father Benedict held the lantern closer to inspect the articles.
“Junk! Trash!” he exclaimed. “Only the diamond has any value.”
“How about this ring?” demanded Winkey, picking up Penny’s dime store contribution.
“Glass!” In fury, the monk hurled the ring across the cloister.
Penny suppressed a giggle. But Father Benedict’s next words sent a shiver down her spine.
“This settles it!” he said. “I’ll talk to the old lady now! If she refuses to give up the sapphire, then you know what to do with the girl!”
“I’m waiting for the chance!” growled the hunchback. “Just say when!”
“Once the girl is where she can’t influence the old lady, we’ll have no trouble,” the monk continued. “However, we must work fast. After tonight, I have a feeling we will do well to move our institution elsewhere.”
“The newspapers are sending reporters around to ask a lot of questions,” agreed Winkey. “I don’t like it! If anyone should find out about the crypt—”
“Let me do the worrying,” interrupted Father Benedict. “We’ll get the sapphire and be away before anyone even sets foot inside the place.”
“What about that Parker girl?”
“She’s only a child!” the monk scoffed. “A very annoying, nosey one, I grant you.”
Taking the lantern with them, Father Benedict and Winkey disappeared in the direction of the monk’s study. Left in darkness, Penny debated her next action.
If only she could telephone her father or Mr. DeWitt at theStaroffice! This, of course, was out of the question, for the ancient building obviously had no phone service.
“I might go for help,” she reasoned, “but a full hour would be needed for me to reach Riverview and return with anyone. And what can I prove?”
Though Penny was convinced Father Benedict and Winkey were fleecing cult members, she knew the women voluntarily had given up their jewelery. In the event police tried to arrest Father Benedict, the cult members might rise to his defense.
“I’ll have to have more evidence!” she decided. “The one person who should be able to tell me what goes on here is that girl who is locked in the chapel bedroom!”
Stealing across the dark cloister, Penny listened a moment at the passageway leading to the refectory. An undercurrent of conversation and the clatter of tin spoons told her that cult members had not yet finished the evening repast.
From the map Mr. Eckenrod had shown her, the girl knew the location of the chapel bedroom. Tiptoeing down a corridor opening from the cloister, she came to a massive oaken door.
“This must be the one,” she decided.
Softly she tapped on the panel.
“Who is there?” called a startled voice. The words were so muffled, Penny barely could distinguish them.
“A friend,” replied Penny.
Footsteps pattered across the room. “Help me get out!” the imprisoned girl pleaded.
Penny tried the door. As she had expected, it was locked.
“Where is the key?” she called through the panel. “If I can find it, I may be able to get you out of here.”
“Speak louder!” the girl protested. “I can’t hear you.”
Penny dared raise her voice no higher. She realized that the heavy paneling deadened sound and made it impossible to carry on a satisfactory conversation.
“The key!” she called again. “Where is it?”
As she spoke the words, a board snapped directly behind her. Penny’s heart jumped. Before she could turn to look over her shoulder, a bony hand reached out of the darkness and grasped her wrist.
Smothering a scream, Penny twisted around to see that it was Old Julia who had seized her arm.
“Oh!” she gasped in relief. “I thought it was Winkey or Father Benedict!”
“You go now!” the old woman urged her. “Please!”
“I can’t until I’ve helped whoever is locked in here,” Penny replied, gently prying away Julia’s fingers which were cutting into her flesh. “Tell me, where is the key?”
Old Julia shook her head in a stupid sort of way.
“The key to this door,” Penny explained patiently. “Where is it kept?”
“Father Benedict,” Julia mumbled. “No other.”
“Then it’s impossible to help the girl without bringing police!” Penny exclaimed. “I’ll have to get out of here and drive to Riverview! But can I prove anything?”
Old Julia stared blankly at Penny as if not understanding a word. But she reached out, and taking hold of the girl’s hand, pulled her along the corridor.
Believing that the servant meant to show her a quick means of exit from the building, Penny willingly followed.
However, Old Julia led her only a few yards before pausing beside another door. Opening it, she motioned for Penny to step inside.
The girl saw with some misgiving that Old Julia expected her to enter what appeared to be a rather large, empty storage closet.
“Oh, I don’t want to hide,” Penny explained thinking that the old woman had misunderstood. “I must leave here now.”
“Inside!” bade Julia insistently. “You see! Talk!”
She gave Penny a little shove into the room and closed the door.
Only then did the girl realize that she barely had escaped detection. For, in the corridor, heavy footsteps now were heard. Standing motionless against the closet door, she recognized Father Benedict’s voice as he spoke to Julia:
“What are you doing here?” he asked the servant harshly. “Have I not told you never to come into this section of the building?”
Julia’s reply was inaudible. The monk’s next remark warned Penny that she courted detection if she remained longer in the building.
“I have just come from the refectory,” he said. “I counted the soup bowls. There were ten empty and one barely touched.Who was the eleventh person in this household that was served tonight?”
“Don’t ask me,” moaned Old Julia. “I dunno nothing.”
“Sometimes,” said the master coldly, “I am inclined to think you know far more than you let on. Get to the dishes now! Go!”
Evidently Father Benedict struck or kicked the woman, for Old Julia uttered a sharp cry of pain. Her sobs died away as she retreated down the corridor.
After the old woman had gone, Father Benedict unlocked the door of the bedroom and stepped inside. By pressing her ear against the closet wall, Penny was able to hear every word of the ensuing conversation.
“Well, my dear,” said Father Benedict to the imprisoned girl. “Are you ready to come to your senses?”
“If you mean, am I willing to sit quietly by and see you rob my grandmother, the answer is ‘No!’”
“I do not care for your choice of words, my dear,” replied the monk. “You are an impertinent child who must be disciplined.”
“Wait until I get away from here!” the girl challenged. “People will learn exactly what’s going on in this place!”
“Will they indeed? So you propose to make trouble?”
“I’ll tell what I’ve seen. You’re only a cheap trickster! Furthermore, you can’t keep me a prisoner in this room.”
“No?” Father Benedict’s voice crackled with amusement. “In this houseI am the law! Since you are in no mood to discuss matters reasonably, I shall leave you here. Your grandmother, I trust, will display a more sensible attitude.”
“You leave my grandmother alone!” the imprisoned girl cried furiously. “You’re only after her gems!”
“If you were to cooperate—”
“I’ll never fall in with your schemes!” the girl exclaimed. “Let me out of here!”
Penny heard a scuffle and knew that an unsuccessful attempt had been made to reach the door. As her own hand groped along the closet wall, it suddenly encountered a small, circular panel of wood. As she pushed against it, a crack of light showed through.
“A peephole!” Penny thought. “Julia knew it was here! That was what she meant when she said I could see and listen!”
Stealthily, so as to make no sound, she slid the piece of wood aside.
Gazing into the semi-dark bedroom, she saw Father Benedict push the struggling girl backwards onto the canopied bed.
“You have settled your own fate!” he said angrily. “Now you’ll stay here until I find a better place! Sweet dreams, my little wildcat!”
Quitting the room, he locked the heavy door. The girl on the bed buried her head in the dusty, scarlet draperies and began to cry.
Penny waited only until she was certain Father Benedict was far down the corridor. Then she rapped softly on the closet wall.
Through the peephole, she saw the girl start violently and look about the room.
“Hist!” Penny whispered. “Over here!”
She rapped again, and this time the girl saw the tiny hole in the wall. Leaping from bed, she came across the room.
“Who are you?” she demanded, unable to see Penny’s face.
“A friend! I’m here to help you.”
“Can you get me out of this room?”
“Father Benedict seems to have the only key,” Penny told her. “I’ll sneak out of here and telephone the police. But first, I must know exactly what case we have against Father Benedict.”
“He’s mean and cruel! He half starves the people who live here and takes all their money and jewels!”
“Why did he shut you up here?”
“Because I’ve opposed him. Though I tried hard to prevent it, he coaxed my grandmother to come to this horrible place.”
“Have either of you been mistreated?” Penny asked.
“Until tonight, Father Benedict favored us above the other cult members. Of course, that was only because as yet he hasn’t been able to get his thieving hands on the star sapphire!”
At mention of the gem, Penny’s pulse leaped. No longer did she doubt that the girl was the missing Hawthorne heiress sought by Mr. Ayling.
“You’re the one I picked up on the road,” she said. “But you’ve never told me your name. Is it possible you’re Rhoda—”
“Rhoda Hawthorne,” the girl completed for her. “I refused to answer your questions before because I distrusted everyone.”
“And now?”
“I realize you’re a true friend—the only one I have. Oh, you must get me out of this room quickly! Please bring police at once!”
“I’ll get you out of this room somehow,” Penny promised through the peephole. “First, before I go for police, tell me more. Why were you carrying a suitcase that night Louise and I met you on the road?”
“I was running away,” Rhoda Hawthorne replied.
“Yet you returned here.”
“I had to. When I thought about Grandmother alone in the clutches of Father Benedict, I knew I couldn’t desert her. She is putty in his hands!”
“But why didn’t you bring police here yourself, Rhoda?”
“What could I prove? Until tonight when Father Benedict locked me up, I had no real evidence against him.”
“Even now, we haven’t very much,” said Penny. “He’ll deny he imprisoned you unless police take him by surprise and find you here.”
“Grandmother will be worrying about me,” Rhoda said anxiously. “She’s in her room now, sick abed. I’m afraid it’s from eating such vile food.”
“What does the doctor think?”
“No doctor has seen her. Father Benedict won’t allow anyone to call if he can prevent it. He has only one thought—to get his hands on the sapphire and leave here before police catch up with him.”
“You’re really convinced he is a crook?”
“I’m certain of it! Grandmother and I met him at a Florida resort. As soon as he learned about the star sapphire, he attached himself to us like a leech. Soon he found out Grandmother is superstitious about the gem, so he started playing upon her feelings. He told her about this wretched society of his and painted the monastery in such glowing colors that Grandmother became fascinated.”
“So he talked her into coming here?”
“Yes,” Rhoda said bitterly, “it was only supposed to be for a day’s visit. But once we were inside the monastery, we became as prisoners. Letters are confiscated and there is no telephone.”
“You did get away once.”
“With Julia’s help—yes. Only once though. The place is guarded by Winkey and he is very watchful.”
“Tell me, have you seen Mr. Ayling, the insurance company investigator?”
“Mr. Ayling?” Rhoda was puzzled.
“I mean the man who was with me the day you peeped at us from behind the curtain in Father Benedict’s study,” Penny explained.
“Oh! No, only on that day.”
“Mr. Ayling came here to find you and your grandmother. Then he went to Chicago and hasn’t returned. I’m afraid something has happened to him.”
“I’ve seen no one here except members of the society,” Rhoda said. “Sometimes though, I wonder what goes on in the cellar. Once I heard a dreadful commotion! And the way Julia screams when she is upset!”
“She’s a simple soul.”
“Simple perhaps, but she knows more than anyone else about the real secrets of this house.”
“Speaking of secrets,” said Penny hesitantly, “I’m wondering what ever became of the star sapphire?”
“It’s safe—at least I think so,” Rhoda replied. “Not even Grandmother knows where I have hidden it.”
“Then there’s no chance Father Benedict can get his hands on it while I go for police?”
“Not unless he forces me to tell where the gem is hidden. And I’ll die first! But I’m afraid he may torture Grandmother in an attempt to make her reveal what she doesn’t know.”
Penny prepared to close the peephole. “I’ll go for the authorities now as fast as I can,” she promised. “Keep up your courage until I return.”
“Do be careful,” Rhoda warned nervously. “If Father Benedict should catch you trying to escape, there’s no guessing what he would do!”
Penny closed the peephole and stole out of the dark closet. The corridor was deserted.
Retracing her way to the cloister, the girl paused beside a wall niche a moment as she considered the safest way to attempt an escape.
“I’ll try the kitchen window,” she decided. “It worked well enough coming in.”
On tiptoe she approached the kitchen, only to halt as she heard voices. Father Benedict was berating Old Julia again.
“Therewereeleven bowls of soup served!” she heard him insist. “Mrs. Hawthorne and her daughter were not in the dining room. So that makes one extra person unaccounted for. Julia, someone entered this house tonight to spy, and you know who the person is!”
“No! No! I dunno nothin’,” the servant moaned. “Even if you strike me and break my bones I can’t tell you no different!”
“We’ll see about that,” said the monk harshly. “After a few hours below, perhaps you’ll be willing to talk!”
Julia uttered a squeal of terror. “Don’t take me down into that awful place where the tombs are!” she pleaded. “Please!”
“Then tell me who entered this house tonight.”
“I’ll tell, if you quit twisting my arm,” Julia sobbed. “Only I didn’t want to get her into trouble. She didn’t mean no harm.”
“She!”
“It was just a girl.”
“A blond?”
“I dunno. I guess so.”
“It was that Parker girl!” Father Benedict muttered. “She represents theRiverview Star, worse luck!” Giving Julia a hard shake, he demanded: “She got in through the window?”
“I guess so. I dunno.”
“You know nothing, especially when it suits your purpose!” Father Benedict accused her furiously. “Where is the girl now? Did she get away or is she still here?”
“I seen her a few minutes ago.”
“Where?”
Penny’s heart nearly failed her, for she was certain Old Julia would reveal that she had hidden in the closet with the peephole.
To her great relief, the woman replied that she had taken part in the cult ceremony and then had supped in the refectory.
“I knew that before, stupid!” Father Benedict shouted. “The girl must still be in the building. I’ll find her, and when I do—”
Waiting to hear no more, Penny retreated to the cloister. All candles had been blown out and it was very dark.
“I must get out of here now or never!” she thought. “Father Benedict will start looking for me and he’ll probably order Winkey to watch the gates.”
Starting hurriedly along the cloister, she heard approaching footsteps. Momentarily confused, she started up a short, steep stairway to a balcony overlooking the court.
Belatedly, Penny realized she had turned toward the dormitories.
Opening from the balcony was a bedroom door which stood partly ajar.
After listening for a moment, and hearing no movement inside, she cautiously tiptoed into the room.
“A window here may be unlocked,” she thought. “If the drop to the ground isn’t too far, maybe I can get out this way.”
As Penny crossed the room, an elderly woman she had failed to see, suddenly sat up in bed.
“Rhoda, is that you?” she asked in a whining voice. “Why have you been gone so long? Oh, I’ve been so worried!”
Penny hesitated, then went over to the bed.
“I’m not Rhoda, but a friend of hers,” she explained. “Do you mind if I crawl out through the window?”