seized her arm and ordered her to walk toward the exit.
"Where are you taking me?" Penny asked.
"Never mind. You'll find out in good time."
"Wait!" exclaimed Penny, bracing her legs and refusing to be pushed. "If
you'll let me go, I'll tell you something very much worth your while."
Deliberately, she allowed the silken ladder to slip from beneath her
coat. The men would not have heeded her words, but the familiar object
served its purpose.
"Where did you get that ladder?" demanded Al Gepper.
"So you would like to know what became of your friend, Slippery?"
responded Penny evenly. "You'll be surprised when I tell you that he has
double-crossed you both!"
"You're lying," accused Gepper.
Penny shrugged and did not speak.
"What were you going to say?" Gepper prodded in a moment. "Out with it!
How did you get Slippery's ladder?"
"It fell into my hands, literally and figuratively."
"Stalling for time will get you nowhere," snapped Gepper, losing
patience. "If you know anything about Slippery spill it fast or you'll
not have another chance."
"Your friend tried to double-cross you," declared Penny. She decided to
make a shrewd guess. "Tonight, after he robbed the Henley home he came
here intending to loot the bell tower."
"Why, the dirty sneak!" exclaimed Pete.
"Weren't you here on guard all evening?" Gepper demanded, turning to him.
"Sure, I was. I never set foot outside the building."
"Slippery wasn't here?"
"Haven't seen him since yesterday morning."
"Then the girl is lying!"
"Oh, no, the girl isn't," refuted Penny. "If you care for proof you'll
find it in the tower."
"Proof?"
"I mean Slippery. He's hiding in the belfry now, hoping you'll not
discover him there. You see, he scaled the wall by means of this silk
ladder. I removed the ladder, and I assume he's still up there."
"Why, the low-down skunk!" Pete exclaimed wrathfully. "So he planned to
rob us! I'll get him!"
Leaving Al to watch Penny, the guard ran to the tower room door and
unlocked it. Stealthily he crept up the iron stairway which led to the
belfry.
Suddenly those below heard a cry of rage, followed by the sound of
scuffling. Al Gepper listened tensely, yet made no move to join the
fight. He remained standing between Penny and the outside door.
"You were right," he admitted in a stunned voice. "Slippery's up there.
He meant to get all the swag for himself."
The fight increased in intensity as the two men struggled on the belfry
steps. Over and over they rolled, first one delivering a hard blow, and
then the other. Still locked, they finally toppled to the floor, but even
then Al Gepper remained a bystander.
Penny was less concerned with the fight than with thoughts of escape. She
had hoped that Al, too, would join the battle. Apparently, he was taking
no chance of letting her get away.
She considered attempting a sudden break for freedom, but immediately
abandoned it. The outside door had been locked by Pete. Before she could
turn the key, Al would be upon her. As for the windows, none were open.
While they might not be locked, it was out of the question to reach one
quickly enough.
Penny's gaze roved to the tower room once more, and the struggling men.
High above their heads she saw something which previously had not drawn
her attention. It was a loop of rope, hanging from the belfry.
"Why, that must be attached to the old church bell!" thought Penny. "If
only I could reach it, I might be able to bring help here."
However, the rope dangled high overhead. Even if she were able to reach
the room leading to the tower, there was nothing upon which she could
stand to grasp the loop. Obviously the rope had been cut short years
before to prevent anyone from ringing the bell.
Penny glanced toward Al Gepper. The medium's gaze was upon the two
struggling men, not her. A golden opportunity presented itself, if only
she had the wits to make use of it.
Almost at the girl's feet lay the tangle of silken ladder. As she stared
at it, a sudden idea took possession of her. The iron hooks would serve
her purpose, but dared she try it? If she failed--and the chances were
against her--punishment would be certain.
Yet, if she did nothing and merely waited, it was likely that Al Gepper
and his pals never would be brought to justice. She must take the chance,
no matter how great the personal risk.
For a moment Penny remained inactive, planning what she must do. If she
made a single mistake, fumbled at the critical instant, everything would
be lost. Above all, her aim must be accurate. If she missed the loop--
Slippery and Pete were beginning to tire, their blows becoming futile and
ineffective. Further delay in executing her plan only increased the
danger. She must act now or never.
Her mind made up, Penny no longer hesitated. With a quick movement she
seized the silken ladder and darted to the doorway of the bell tower.
"Hey!" shouted Al Gepper, starting after her.
Penny slammed the door in his face. Taking careful aim, she hurled the
silken ladder upward. One of the iron hooks caught in the loop of the
rope. She jerked on it, and to her joy, the bell began to ring.
CHAPTER
24
_THE WOODEN BOX_
Penny pulled the rope again and again, causing the huge bell to sway back
and forth violently. It rang many times before Al Gepper succeeded in
opening the tower room door.
His face was crimson with fury when he seized the girl, hurling her away
from the rope. With one quick toss he released the hooks of the silken
ladder, stuffing the soft strands beneath his coat. The bell made a final
clang and became silent.
Penny retreated against the wall, anticipating severe punishment for her
act. However, Al and his companions were more concerned with thoughts of
escape than with her.
"We've got to get out of here," muttered Al. "Come on!"
The two men on the floor had ceased their struggles. Painfully they
regained their feet. In this sudden emergency they had forgotten their
differences.
"What shall we do about the box in the tower?" Pete demanded, nursing a
swollen eye.
"Leave it here," returned Al. "We can't save anything now. The police are
apt to swoop down on us any minute."
Turning, he fled to the street. Pete and Slippery hesitated, then
followed. Penny heard a key turn in the lock. Even before she tested the
door she knew she had been imprisoned in the tower room.
"They've escaped after all," she thought dismally. "But I may have saved
some of the loot. I'll take a look."
Quickly she climbed the iron stairs to the belfry. From the turret she
obtained a perfect view of the entire Lane. Al Gepper was running down
the street, while Pete and Slippery had turned toward the cemetery.
There were no other persons in the vicinity, Penny thought at first
glance. Then her heart leaped as she saw three men entering the Lane at
its junction with the main street. They, too, were running.
"They must have heard the bell!" she told herself. "Oh, if only I can
make them understand what has happened!"
Her best means of attracting attention was by ringing the bell. She
pushed against it and was rewarded by a deafening clang.
The men stopped short, staring toward the belfry. Penny cupped her hands
and shouted. Her words did not carry plainly, but the newcomers seemed to
gain an inkling of what was amiss, for they wheeled and began to pursue
the two who had taken refuge in the cemetery.
From her high perch, Penny saw Al Gepper nearing the end of the Lane,
unobserved by all save herself. Tapping the bell again, she called:
"Get him, too! At the end of the street!"
One of the pursuers halted, turning toward the tower. In the moonlight
Penny saw his face and recognized Jerry Livingston. He was close enough
now to hear her voice.
"It's Al Gepper!" she shouted. "Don't let him escape!"
The reporter turned, but as he started off in the new direction, both he
and Penny saw the fleeing man climbing into Leaping Lena. With a grinding
of gears, he drove away. Jerry stopped, thinking that he never could
overtake the car.
"Keep after him, Jerry!" encouraged Penny. "The gas tank is almost empty.
He can't possibly go more than three or four blocks!"
As the reporter again took up the chase, she began tolling the bell once
more, determined to arouse everyone within a mile of the Temple.
Her energy was rewarded, for in another minute she heard the familiar
wail of a siren. A police cruiser swerved alongside the tower, stopping
with a lurch.
"What's the idea of ringing that bell?" demanded an officer, leaping to
the ground.
Tersely Penny explained the situation. The two policemen took a short-cut
through a vacant lot, circling the cemetery. Darkness swallowed them, but
presently there came a muffled command to halt, followed by a revolver
shot.
So excited was Penny that she nearly tumbled from the bell tower.
Recovering her balance, she sat on the stone ledge, trying to remain
calm. Her nerves were jumpy and on edge.
"If only Jerry captures Al Gepper--that's all I ask!" she breathed.
As the minutes elapsed, it occurred to her that she had not yet searched
for the loot which she believed to be hidden in the belfry. With questing
fingers she groped beneath the ledge. For a short distance she felt
nothing. Then she encountered a long wooden box.
Before she could open it, she heard shouts from the direction of the
cemetery. Four men, two of them police officers, were marching Slippery
and Pete toward the Temple. As they came nearer she received another
pleasant surprise. The two who had aided in the capture were her father
and Salt Sommers, a photographer for the _Star_.
"Dad!" shouted Penny. "Can you get me down from this pigeon roost?"
Mr. Parker, separating from the others, came to the foot of the bell
tower.
"So it was you who sounded the alarm!" he exclaimed. "I might have known!
How did you get up there?"
"I'm locked in. Dad, send the police to help Jerry. He's after Al Gepper
who rode off in my car."
The police cruiser was dispatched, leaving one officer to guard the two
prisoners. Mr. Parker unlocked the door of the tower room, releasing his
daughter.
"You're all right?" he asked anxiously.
"Of course. Here's a little present for you." Penny thrust the wooden box
into his hands.
"What's this?"
"I don't know yet. I found it hidden in the belfry."
"Penny, if you fell into a river you would come up with a chest of gold!"
exclaimed the publisher admiringly.
"Open it quick, Dad."
Mr. Parker required no urging. The box was locked but he pried off the
cover hinges, exposing the contents.
"A real treasure!" exclaimed Penny.
The box contained several bracelets, one of them set with rubies and
diamonds, countless rings, four watches, and several strings of matched
pearls.
"Stolen loot!" ejaculated the publisher.
"And what a collection!" chuckled Penny as she examined the separate
pieces. "There's enough plunder here to start a jewelry store."
"Likewise sufficient evidence to put this Celestial Temple gang out of
circulation for a long, long time," added her father.
"I learned a lot tonight, Dad. Wait until I tell you!"
"A scoop for the _Star_?"
"You'll be able to use your largest, blackest headlines."
Penny began to tell her story, interrupting only when Slippery and Pete
were brought into the building handcuffed together. Starting again, she
made her charges, accusing Slippery not only of having committed the
Henley burglary, but also of having robbed the Kohls and many prominent
Riverview families.
After inspecting the jewelry found in the wooden box, one of the police
officers definitely identified several of the pieces as stolen goods. He
expressed an opinion that the jewelry had been hidden in the belfry
because it was too "hot" to be disposed of by fences.
"The organization members had an agreement by which all shared in the
loot," added Penny. "That caused trouble. Al Gepper and Slippery thought
they were taking most of the risk without sufficient return. So they
pulled a few extra jobs of their own."
Before she could reveal more, the police car was heard outside the
Temple. From the window Penny saw that Jerry and the policeman were
returning with Al Gepper who had been handcuffed.
"They've caught him!" she cried jubilantly.
The prisoner was brought into the Temple to be identified. He had been
captured when Leaping Lena had stalled for lack of gasoline.
As Gepper was searched, the silken ladder, and various small objects were
removed from his coat. Penny noticed two tiny rubber suction cups no
larger than dimes, and immediately made up her mind that later she would
try to obtain them. She was quite certain she knew their purpose.
Penny told her story and learned, in turn, that after she had telephoned
Jerry, he had traced her father, and with the police both had hastened to
the Hodges' cottage. Arriving there, they discovered that Gepper had
fled. Jerry, Mr. Parker, and Salt Sommers had immediately proceeded to
the Celestial Temple.
"It was lucky you rang that bell, Penny," chuckled Jerry. "If you hadn't,
we never would have arrived here in time."
"It was lucky, too, that Mr. Gepper tried to escape in Lena," she
laughed. "I guess my old rattle-trap has redeemed itself."
One of the officers picked up the silken ladder, examining it with
critical interest. He agreed that it had undoubtedly been used in many
mysterious burglaries committed during the past month.
"It's obvious that Slippery approached the houses on the 'blind' side,
and scaled the wall after hooking his ladder into a window ledge," Penny
remarked. "I suppose he reasoned that second-story windows nearly always
are left unlocked. But how did he learn the houses were deserted? By
telephoning?"
"That would be my opinion," nodded the policeman. "If someone answered,
he could hang up. Otherwise, he would be fairly sure the house was
empty."
"One night at the theatre I saw a man who resembled Slippery noting down
the license number of the Kohl car. But the house was robbed within a few
hours after that. How could he have obtained the name and address?"
"Easily. There are 'information fences' who supply such data to fellow
members of the underworld. It is also possible that Slippery previously
had watched the Kohl house, obtained the car license number, and then
watched for it later at the theatre."
Jerry already had supplied police with the name of the fence whose
establishment Slippery had visited earlier in the day. Later, a raid
staged there brought to light much loot taken from various Riverview
homes.
However, for the moment, police were most interested in gaining complete
information which could be used in rounding up all members of the
Celestial Temple Society who had not fled the city.
Searching Slippery they found, not only jewelry stolen from the Henley
residence, but a booklet containing many names and telephone numbers.
"Sadie Beardsell," Penny read. "She's one of the members, I am sure."
Lest Mr. and Mrs. Hodges might also be arrested, she explained that the
old couple had been an innocent dupe of Al Gepper. Turning to the medium
she said:
"I think I know how you accomplished most of your tricks. Of course, you
were the one who sent Mrs. Hodges a letter with six dollars. Undoubtedly,
you had it mailed by an accomplice from New York at exactly the hour you
specified. Then at that same hour you slipped up to the Hodges' cottage,
and rapped six times on the bedroom wall."
"You seem to have everything figured out," Al Gepper responded
sarcastically. "Clever girl!"
"I saw how you made the spirit painting tonight at the seance," resumed
Penny. "May I ask if that same method was used in regard to Mrs. Weem's
picture of Cousin David?"
She did not dream that the medium would answer her question. With a shrug
which implied that the entire matter was very boring, he replied:
"No, the picture was painted with a solution of sulphocyanid of potassium
and other chemicals, invisible until brought out with a re-agent. During
the seance, an assistant sprayed the back of the canvas with an atomizer,
bringing out the colors one by one."
"And how was the paint made to appear wet?"
"Poppy oil."
"One more question, Mr. Gepper. I never could understand how you were
able to raise the kitchen table at Mrs. Hodges' cottage."
"No?" Al Gepper smiled mockingly. "I assure you I had nothing to do with
that demonstration. It was a true spirit manifestation."
"I'll never believe that," declared Penny.
"Then figure it out for yourself," replied the medium. "You are such a
very brilliant child."
Before the prisoners were led to the police car, Salt Sommers set up his
camera and took a number of flashlight pictures for the _Star_.
"How about it, Mr. Parker?" inquired Jerry eagerly. "Are we putting out
an extra?"
"We are," said the publisher crisply. "This is the big break I've been
hoping we would get! We should beat the _Record_ on the story by at least
a half hour."
The three men hurriedly left the Celestial Temple, with Penny trailing
behind them. At the main street intersection they finally obtained a
taxicab.
"To the _Star_ office," Mr. Parker ordered. "An extra dollar if you step
on it."
"How about my pictures?" Salt Sommers asked, as the cab rocked around a
corner. "They ought to be dandies."
"Rush them through as soon as we get to the office," Mr. Parker
instructed. "If they're any good we'll run 'em on page one. Jerry, you
handle the story--play it for all it's worth."
Jerry glanced at Penny who sat very still between her father and Salt.
Their eyes met.
"Chief," he said, "there's a sort of fraternity among reporters--an
unwritten rule that we never chisel on each other's work."
"What's that?" Mr. Parker asked, startled. "I don't get it."
Then his glance fell upon his daughter, and he smiled.
"Oh, so it's that way! You think Penny should write the story?"
"I do, Chief. It's hers from the ground floor up."
"Please, Dad, may I?" Penny pleaded.
The cab rolled up to the _Star_ office, stopping with a jerk. Mr. Parker
swung open the door, helping her alight.
"The story is yours, Penny," he said. "That is, if you can crack it out
fast enough to make the extra."
"I'll do it or die in the attempt."
"Keep to the facts and write terse, simple English--" Mr. Parker began,
but Penny did not wait to hear his instructions.
With a triumphant laugh, she ran ahead into the _Star_ office. Her entry
into the newsroom was both dramatic and noisy.
"Big scoop, Mr. DeWitt," she called cheerily. "Start the old print
factory running full blast!"
Dropping into a chair behind the nearest typewriter, she began to write.
CHAPTER
25
_EXTRA!_
Penny stood at the window of her father's office, listening to the
newsboys crying their wares on the street.
"_Extra! Extra! Read all about it! Police Capture Three in Raid on
Celestial Temple! Extra! Extra!_"
Mr. Parker rocked back in his swivel chair, smiling at his daughter.
"Your story was first-class, Penny," he said. "Thanks to you we scooped
the _Record_. Tired?"
"I do feel rather washed out," Penny admitted. "Writing at high speed
with a deadline jabbing you in the back is worse than facing a gang of
crooks. But it was exciting."
"You turned in a good story," her father praised again. "In fact, you may
as well take credit for breaking up that outfit of fake spiritualists."
"So far the police have only captured Al Gepper, Slippery and Pete.
There's not much evidence against the others."
"True, but rest assured those who aren't rounded up will leave Riverview.
The backbone of the organization has been smashed."
Penny sank wearily into a chair, picking up a copy of the _Star_ which
lay on her father's desk. Two-inch, black headlines proclaimed the
capture, and opening from the banner was her own story tagged with a
credit line: _by Penelope Parker_. Salt Sommer's photographs had made the
front page, too, and there was a brief contribution by Jerry telling of
Al Gepper's attempted flight in Leaping Lena.
"Dad, you must admit that it was a stroke of genius when I bought back
that old car," remarked Penny. "Why, if it hadn't been for Lena, Al
Gepper surely would have escaped."
"That and the fact you always run your cars on an empty tank," responded
Mr. Parker. "I suppose you foresaw the future when you made your
brilliant purchase?"
"Not exactly. It was just a feeling I had--the same sort of hunch which
came to me when I found the silken ladder at Kano's Curio Shop. If I
depended upon a mere brain to solve mysteries, why I'd be no better than
the police."
"Your modesty overwhelms me," chuckled her father. "I'm thankful my other
reporters aren't guided by their instincts. Otherwise I might have a
scoop a day."
"There's one thing which annoys me," Penny said, frowning.
"And what is that?"
"Two of Al Gepper's tricks haven't been explained. How was he able to
raise a table and read a message in a sealed envelope?"
"I was talking to the Chief of Police about that letter trick only this
morning, Penny. Magicians often employ it. Wasn't the message written on
a pad of paper before it was placed in the envelope?"
"Yes, it was."
"Then very likely Gepper read the message from the pad. He could have
placed carbon paper beneath the second or third sheets. Possibly he
resorted to a thin covering of paraffin wax which would be less
noticeable."
"Now that I recall it, he did glance at the pad! How would you guess he
lifted the table?"
"Were his hands held high above it, Penny?"
"Only an inch or two. However, he never touched the table. I was able to
see that."
"Could he have used sharp, steel pins held between his fingers?"
"I doubt it. But I think I know what he may have used! Did you notice two
small suction cups which were taken from his pockets by the police?"
"Well, no, I didn't, Penny."
"The longer I mull over it, the more I'm convinced he used them to raise
the table. They could be held between the fingers and wouldn't be
observed in a darkened room. Dad, if I can get those rubber cups from the
police, I'll have some fun!"
The telephone rang. It was Mrs. Weems calling to ask if Penny were safe.
Mr. Parker replied in the affirmative and handed the receiver to his
daughter.
"Penny, I just read your story in the paper," the housekeeper scolded.
"You never should have pitted yourself against those dangerous men! I
declare, you need someone to watch you every minute."
"I need you," said Penny. "And so does Dad. Why not promise to stay with
us instead of going away on a trip?"
"Of course, I'll remain," came Mrs. Weems' surprising answer. "I made up
my mind to that two days ago. You and your father never could take care
of yourselves."
"What will you do with your inheritance, Mrs. Weems?"
"I hope your father will invest it for me," replied the housekeeper
meekly. "One thing I know. No medium will tell me what to do with it."
The hour was late. Penny felt relieved when her father locked his desk in
preparation for leaving the office.
They walked through the newsroom, down the stairway to the street. A
middle-aged man in a brown suit and derby hat alighted from a taxi,
pausing as he saw them.
"Mr. Parker!" he called. "May I speak with you?"
The publisher turned, recognizing him. "Mr. Henley!" he exclaimed.
"I have just come from the police station," the advertiser said in an
agitated voice. "I was told that your daughter is responsible for the
capture of the men who robbed our home tonight."
"Yes, Penny managed to have a rather busy evening," smiled Mr. Parker. "I
hope you suffered no loss."
"Everything was recovered, thanks to your daughter. Miss Parker, I
realize I never can properly express my appreciation."
"I was sorry I couldn't prevent the burglary," replied Penny stiffly. "As
it turned out, the capture of the crooks was mostly due to luck."
"You are too modest," protested Mr. Henley. "I've talked with the police,
you know. I am truly grateful."
The man hesitated, evidently wishing to say more, yet scarcely knowing
how to shape his words. Penny and her father started to move away.
"Oh, about that contract we were discussing today," the advertiser said
quickly.
"Yes?" Mr. Parker paused.
"I've been thinking it over. I acted too hastily in deciding to cancel."
"Mr. Henley, please do not feel that you are under obligation," said the
publisher quietly. "Even though Penny accidentally did you a favor--"