he and Penny finally left the building. "Naturally one couldn't hope he'd
break down and confess all."
"What did you really think of him, Jerry?"
"Hard to say," the reporter answered. "He's a rough and ready sort, but
that's not against him. There's no real reason to believe he's
crooked--just a hunch of mine."
Having been assigned to cover a board meeting, Jerry hurriedly said
goodbye to Penny. Left to herself, she drove slowly toward Riverview.
"Since I am so near Seth McGuire's place, I may as well stop for a minute
or two," she thought impulsively.
Despite many exciting events, Penny had not lost interest in the Hubell
clock. Although it seemed reasonable that a faulty mechanism had caused
it to strike thirteen, such an explanation did not completely satisfy
her. She was eager to learn from the former caretaker if the difficulty
had been corrected.
Leaving her car by the main road, Penny went directly to the shop. The
door was closed and locked. However, as she turned away, she distinctly
heard a voice inside the building. Although she could not make out the
words, she was certain that a child had called.
"Who is it?" she shouted.
"Help! Let me out!" came the plaintive cry from inside the shop.
Penny ran to the window and peered into the dark interior. She scarcely
was able to believe what she saw. A little girl, her face streaked with
tears and dirt, pounded fiercely on the heavy door, seeking release.
"It's Adelle!" she gasped. "How in the world did she get locked in Mr.
McGuire's shop?"
CHAPTER
13
_AN EXTRA STROKE_
With all the windows and the door of the shop locked, Penny did not know
how to free the imprisoned child. However, as she considered the problem,
Seth McGuire appeared on the porch of the cottage.
"Good morning," he greeted her pleasantly.
"Oh, Mr. McGuire!" Penny exclaimed. "Did you know there is a child locked
inside your shop?"
"A child!" the old man exclaimed, coming quickly down the steps. "Why
bless me! How can that be?"
"I don't understand how she got inside, but she's there! Officials of the
Riverview Orphans' Home have been searching for Adelle Hanover since last
night."
"Wait until I get my key," the old man said in an agitated voice. "I hope
you don't think I locked the child into the shop!"
Knowing Mr. McGuire as she did, Penny entertained no such thought. Waving
encouragingly to Adelle through the window, she waited for the old man to
return.
"I locked the door about eleven o'clock last night," he explained,
fumbling nervously with the key. "The little girl must have stolen in
there sometime between six o'clock and that hour."
The old man's hand shook so that he could not unlock the door. Taking the
key, Penny did it for him. Adelle, her hair flying wildly about her face,
stumbled out of the shop.
"I'm hungry," she sobbed. "It was cold in there, and a big rat kept
running around. Why did you lock me inside?"
"Why, bless you," Mr. McGuire murmured, "I never dreamed anyone was
inside the shop! How did you get in there?"
"I went inside last night and hid," Adelle explained in a calmer voice.
"It was cold outside and I had to have some place to sleep."
"You never should have run away from the Home," Penny reproved. "Why did
you do it?"
"Because I don't like it there," the child answered defiantly. "I'll
never be adopted like the other children."
"Why, how silly!" Penny answered. "Of course someone will adopt you."
Adelle shook her head. "Miss Anderson says I won't be--I heard her tell
the matron. It's on account of a nervous 'fliction. I'm afraid of things,
'specially cars."
"That's very natural, everything considered," Penny replied, thinking of
the story Miss Anderson had told her. "Now I'll take you to the Home."
Adelle drew away, and as if seeking protection, crowded close beside Mr.
McGuire.
"I'm never going back, even if I freeze and starve!" she announced. "I'll
find me a cave and live on berries. It would be more fun than being an
orphan."
Penny gazed despairingly at the old bell maker. With a chuckle, he took
the child by the hand and led her toward the cottage.
"We'll have lunch and talk things over," he proposed. "How will that be?"
"I'm awful hungry," Adelle admitted, smiling up at him. "But you won't
give me any old boiled potatoes, will you? We have 'em every single day
at the Home."
"No potatoes," he laughed. "We'll have the very nicest things I can find
in the icebox, and maybe a stick of candy to top it off."
While Mr. McGuire pottered about the kitchen preparing a warm meal, Penny
washed Adelle and combed her tangled hair. Afterwards, she telephoned
officials of the Home, telling them that the child had been found.
"I'll bring her there within an hour," she promised. "Just as soon as she
has had her lunch."
Adelle was ravenous. She was not a pretty child, but her face had an
elfin quality when she smiled. Her brown eyes, roving about the spick and
span little dinette, took in every detail.
"This is almost as nice as it was at our home," she remarked. "I mean my
real home, when Daddy and Mother were alive."
"You'll have a nice place again when you are adopted," Penny assured her
kindly.
"I'd like to stay here," Adelle said, looking thoughtfully at the old
man. "Would your wife let me?"
"Why, bless you, I haven't a wife," he answered in embarrassment. "I'm a
bachelor."
"Wouldn't you like a little girl?" Adelle persisted. "I could do your
dishes for you and sweep the floor. I'd be real good."
"Well, now I've often thought I would like a nice little girl," he
replied, smiling.
"Then you can have me!" Adelle cried, jumping up from her chair. "You can
tell the Home I won't be back!"
"Not so fast, not so fast," Mr. McGuire said hastily. "I'd like a little
girl, but I am afraid I can't afford one. You see, I don't make much
money any more and there are other reasons--"
"Oh, I won't eat much," Adelle promised. "Please keep me, Mr. McGuire."
The old man was so distressed that Penny tried to come to his rescue.
However, despite repeated explanations, Adelle refused to understand why
she could not immediately become Mr. McGuire's little girl.
"If I had my old job back, I'd be tempted, sorely tempted," the old man
said to Penny. "I've always wanted someone that was near and dear to me."
He drew a deep sigh. "As things are, I don't see how it could be worked
out."
"Won't you keep thinking about it?" Adelle pleaded. "Anytime you want me,
I'll come right away."
"Yes, I'll think about it," Mr. McGuire promised soberly. "I really
will."
An hour later Penny took a very depressed Adelle back to the Riverview
Orphans' Home. Leaving her there, she drove on into town, chancing to see
her chum, Louise Sidell on the street. Signalling her with a toot of the
horn, Penny swung wide the door.
"On your way home, Lou?" she inquired.
"No, just wandering around in a daze trying to do a bit of shopping,"
Louise answered, sharing the seat. "The stores here never have anything I
want."
"Then why not go to Claymore?" Penny proposed suddenly.
"I would if I could get there."
"I'll take you," Penny offered. "I need to go to Claymore on special
business, and I'd like to have someone ride along."
"Well, I don't know," Louise replied dubiously. "I doubt Leaping Lena
would stand such a long trip."
"Oh, I'll take the other car."
"In that case the answer is 'yes,'" Louise replied instantly.
Penny drove directly home to exchange cars and tell Mrs. Weems where she
was going.
"Louise and I may not be back until very late," she warned. "It's barely
possible we'll attend the theatre while we're at Claymore. There's a new
play on, and everyone says it's grand."
"If you drive after night, be very careful," the housekeeper responded
uneasily. "There are so many accidents these days."
A brief stop was made at the Sidell residence, and then the girls took to
the road. Deliberately, Penny selected the same route which she and Jerry
had followed the previous night.
"Is that why we're going to Claymore?" Louise inquired curiously, as she
heard the story of what had happened to the Davis truck. "You intend to
trace those stolen melons?"
"I haven't much hope of doing that," Penny answered. "I want to visit the
telegraph office and get an original message which was sent to Dad. His
life has been made miserable by a pest who keeps sending him telegrams,
and I'm out to catch the rascal."
"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."
"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 list 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.