wonder what's delaying him?"
Arriving home a few minutes later, Penny heard the sound of pounding as
she entered the kitchen. Mrs. Weems was scraping carrots at the sink.
"Did you have a good time skiing?" the housekeeper inquired.
"Fair." Penny stripped off her mittens and hung them on a radiator.
"Snow's melting fast today. What's that awful pounding?"
"Jake Cotton finally came. He's building the bookcases in your father's
study."
"Oh, yes," recalled Penny. "I thought from the sound the place was being
torn down!"
After removing her heavy ski suit and putting her skiing equipment away,
the girl wandered into the study.
Jake Cotton, a short, wiry old man, was gathering up his tools
preparatory to leaving. Boards of various length were strewn over the
carpet.
"Well, reckon I'll call it a day," he remarked. "It'll take me all
tomorrow to finish the job. That is, if I can arrange to get back."
"You have another job?" Penny inquired.
"I've been doing a little work for them folks that moved into the
monastery," the carpenter explained. "The man that owns the place pays
well, but he's mighty fussy. Wants the work done the minute he says!"
"I suppose a great deal should be done out there, the building is so
old."
"It's a wreck!" Jake Cotton said, picking up his tool kit. "A dozen
workmen couldn't put it in liveable shape in two weeks! They want such
trivial things done too, while they let more important repairs wait."
"For instance?"
"Well, the first job the monks had me do was fix the old freight lift
into the cellar!"
"I didn't know the building had one," said Penny in surprise. "Is it on
the first floor?"
"In the old chapel room off the cloister," Jake explained. "Least, that's
what I took it to be. They're using it for a bedroom now. I ask you, what
would any sensible person want with a freight lift in a bedroom?"
"It does seem unusual. Why was it originally installed in the chapel?"
"I heard it was done when the building was built," Mr. Cotton told her.
"Years ago, they had burial services in the chapel, and caskets were
lowered to the crypt below."
"How does the lift operate?"
"It's just a section of flooring that lowers when the machinery is turned
on," the carpenter explained. "With a carpet over the boards, you
wouldn't know it was there."
"And for what purpose is it to be used now?"
Mr. Cotton had started for the doorway. Penny trailed him to the front
porch, eager to learn more.
"I couldn't figure out what the new owners aim to do with the lift," the
carpenter replied, pausing on the steps. "Reckon they'll use it to lower
heavy luggage and maybe unwanted furniture into the basement for
storage."
"Did you see the crypt?"
"Didn't get down there. The monk had his own man, a hunchback, oil up the
machinery and put it in working order. I only repaired the flooring."
"So the room is used as a bedroom now?"
"Looked that way to me. Leastwise, I saw a big bed in there. One of them
old fashioned contraptions with a lot of dust-catching draperies over
it."
"Not a canopied bed!"
"Reckon it was," Mr. Cotton answered carelessly. "Well, see you tomorrow
if I'm not called back to the monastery to do another rush job! So long!"
Before the startled Penny could ask another question, he hurried off down
the darkening street.
CHAPTER
15
_FOOTPRINTS IN THE SNOW_
Jake Cotton's careless remark about the canopied bed at the monastery
filled Penny with deep excitement.
"Perhaps Old Julia isn't as crazy as she seems!" she thought. "The place
does have a canopied bed, and she may have been trying to tell me
something about it!"
Now more than ever, Penny was determined to revisit the monastery that
night. Many unanswered questions plagued her. Not only was she curious to
witness a cult ceremony, but also she wished to learn the identity of the
strange girl who lived on the premises. And she hoped to view the chapel
room with the freight lift and if possible, to see the canopied bed of
which Old Julia had prattled so unintelligibly.
Hastening into the house, Penny sought Mrs. Weems in the kitchen.
"Anything I can do to help with dinner?" she inquired.
The housekeeper, in the act of putting a kettle of potatoes on the fire
to boil, eyed her with instant suspicion.
"And where do you plan to go when dinner is over, may I ask?" she
inquired.
"Only out to the monastery."
"Again! You came from there not a half hour ago!"
"Oh, Mr. DeWitt assigned me to cover a cult meeting tonight," Penny
assured her hastily.
"And your father approves?"
"Haven't seen him yet. He ought to be coming home any minute now."
"Your father telephoned he will be detained," Mrs. Weems explained. "I
doubt he'll be home before nine o'clock. So the monastery expedition is
out of the question!"
"Oh, Mrs. Weems!" Penny was aghast. "I promised Mr. DeWitt! He's
depending on the story."
"That's neither here nor there," the housekeeper replied, though she
softened a little. "I simply can't allow you to go to the monastery alone
at night--"
"Oh, I'll start right away--just as soon as I can grab a bite of dinner,"
Penny broke in eagerly. "If Father Benedict refuses me permission to see
the ceremony, then I can come back."
"You can, but will you?"
"Eventually, at least," Penny grinned. "Oh, Mrs. Weems, have a heart!
Can't I telephone Dad somewhere?"
The housekeeper shook her head. "He's in an important meeting and can't
be disturbed until it's over."
"But you will let me go? I won't be gone long."
"Oh, I suppose I'll have to give in," Mrs. Weems sighed. "I usually do.
I'll hurry dinner along so you can get back early."
While the housekeeper fried pork chops, Penny set the table and prepared
a salad. When the meal was ready she ate with a haste that shocked Mrs.
Weems.
"I declare, your table manners become worse every day!" she protested.
"Your mind isn't on what you are doing."
"It's on what I'm about to do!" Penny chuckled, getting up from the
table. "I don't want any dessert tonight. See you later!"
Donning a heavy coat and slipping a flashlight into one of the deep
pockets, she left the house.
The night was dark, for as yet there was no moon. Penny drove rapidly
through Riverview and along the lonely road which led to the monastery.
Despite the speed of her car, she soon noted that another automobile was
overtaking her. The girl pressed her foot a little more firmly on the
gasoline pedal, but still the other car gained.
She was driving forty-five miles an hour when the big black car passed
her traveling at least sixty. On the narrow road, Penny was crowded
dangerously close to the ditch.
"The nerve of some people!" she muttered in disgust. "No wonder there are
so many highway accidents!"
Penny caught only a fleeting glimpse of the black car's driver, a man
hunched low over the steering wheel.
"Why, that looked like Winkey!" she thought. "And another man was with
him in the front seat! I wonder if it was Father Benedict?"
Penny speeded up but found it impossible to keep the car in view. When
she skidded at a curve, she wisely slowed down and abandoned the chase.
Approaching the monastery ten minutes later, the girl decided to park a
short distance from the entrance gate. She left the car at the roadside
beyond view of the gatehouse, and tramped on through the slush and snow.
Coming within sight of the ancient building, she paused.
The big gate stood ajar, and on the driveway stood the black automobile
which had passed her car down the road.
"So it was Winkey!" she thought.
At the gateway Penny gazed carefully about the grounds. The hunchback was
nowhere to be seen and the gatehouse remained deserted.
"So far, so good!" she encouraged herself. "Now if only Father Benedict
doesn't refuse to let me into the house!"
Thinking over what she would say to the monk, Penny walked slowly up the
driveway. Nearly all of the snow had melted, leaving large puddles to be
avoided.
However, near where the black car had been parked, a section of yard was
shadowed from the sun during the day. Here the damp snow remained in deep
banks.
As Penny passed the car, she noticed a double set of men's footprints
leading from the parked automobile toward the rear of the premises.
Also, she observed long marks which indicated the two men had dragged a
heavy object over the snow.
"I suppose it was a sack of potatoes or supplies for the monastery," she
mused. "It must be a job keeping this place in operation. Riverview
stores never would make deliveries so far out."
Windows of the monastery were dark, though far inside the building dim
lights could be seen. With a feeling akin to dread Penny went to the door
and rapped with the brass knocker.
Now that she actually was embarked upon adventure, she rather regretted
she had promised Mr. DeWitt a feature story. By night the monastery
seemed more austere and unfriendly.
Minutes elapsed and no one came to answer the door. Impatiently, Penny
clanged the knocker several times in rapid succession. Only then did she
hear approaching footsteps.
At last the big door swung outward to reveal Father Benedict. His eyes
narrowed with displeasure as he saw her.
"Well?" he inquired. Penny observed that he was a little breathless from
having hastened.
"I don't suppose you expected to see me here again so soon!" she began
with forced gaiety. "Do you mind if I witness the cult ceremony tonight?"
"We discussed that this afternoon. I am very sorry--" Father Benedict
began to close the door.
"I want to write a little story about it for the newspaper," Penny went
on, talking fast. "If you'll only--"
The door closed in her face. Distinctly she heard a key grate in the
lock.
"Well, how do you like that?" Penny muttered angrily. "Who does he think
he is, anyhow?"
She started away, only to pause and gaze thoughtfully back at the
darkened windows. To return to the newspaper office without a story would
be humiliating. A good reporter never failed.
"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 walking _backwards_!
"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.
CHAPTER
16
_THE KITCHEN CUPBOARD_
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!"
CHAPTER
17
_THE CULT CEREMONY_
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 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.