Part 6

"I wonder myself. I've thought from the first that he's up to something. So far I've not been able to figure out his little game."

"Well, you're on the board too," Penny declared, undisturbed. "If he starts any monkey business you can put a quick stop to it."

"I fear you overestimate my talents," Mr. Parker responded. "However, I do intend to see that Blake doesn't profit too much by his donation."

The hour was late and Penny soon went to bed. Disturbed by Adelle's disappearance, she did not sleep well. Arising early, she telephoned the Orphans' Home, hoping to learn that the child had been found. No such good news awaited her.

"Searchers have looked everywhere between here and the Davis farm," Miss Anderson revealed. "Unless the child is found by noon, it will be necessary to broadcast a general alarm. And that's certain to bring unfavorable attention to the Home."

"Is there any chance she could have been kidnaped?" Penny asked thoughtfully.

"Not the slightest," was the prompt reply. "Adelle took most of her clothes with her. It's a plain case of a runaway, but most annoying at this time."

Penny ate a hasty breakfast, and then remembering her appointment with Jerry, drove to the Holloway Cooperative. The buildings were of modern concrete construction, located three and a half miles from Riverview in the heart of the truck farming district.

Jerry Livingston had not yet arrived, so Penny waited in the car. Soon his coupe swung into the drive and pulled up alongside Leaping Lena.

"Sorry to be late," he apologized. "I was held up at the office."

Knowing that her father would have told Jerry about Adelle's disappearance, Penny inquired regarding the latest news.

"So far there's not a trace of the child," the reporter answered. "Your father's sore at himself for promising not to carry the story. It may develop into something big."

Penny walked beside Jerry to the entrance of the cooperative plant.

"No one seems to worry much about Adelle," she remarked. "The institution people are afraid of unfavorable publicity, Dad's alarmed about his story, while you and I are just plain indifferent."

"I'm not indifferent," Jerry denied. "In a way I feel responsible for that kid. But what can we do?"

"Nothing, I guess," acknowledged Penny unwillingly. "Miss Anderson said they had enough searchers."

Opening the door of the building, they stepped into a huge room which hummed with activity. Girls in uniforms stood at long tables inspecting melons which moved on an endless belt arrangement before them. Sorted as to quality and size, each cantaloupe was stamped and packed in a crate which was then borne away.

"Hank Holloway around here?" Jerry asked one of the workers.

"Over there," the girl responded, pointing to a burly, red-faced man who stood at the opposite end of the room.

Jerry and Penny approached the manager of the cooperative.

"Good morning," the man said gruffly, gazing at them critically. "What can I do for you?"

"We're from the _Star_," Jerry informed. "Do you mind answering a few questions?"

"I'm pretty busy," Hank Holloway responded, frowning. "What do you want to know?"

"There's a rumor going the rounds that this cooperative has been forcing farmers to market their melons through your organization."

"It's a lie!" the manager retorted. "Why they come here begging us to take their stuff! We get better prices than anyone in this section of the state, and we pass the profit right back to the farmers."

"How do you account for the depredation that's been going on around here lately? Who would you say is behind it?"

"What d'you mean, depredation?" Hank Holloway demanded.

"The destruction of the Preston barn just as their melons were ready for market. Then last night a truck of cantaloupes was stolen from the Davis place."

"That so?" the manager asked. "Hadn't heard about it. Clem Davis always was a worthless, no-good. It wouldn't surprise me that he covered his harvest with plenty of insurance, and then arranged the snatch so he could collect."

"That hardly seems reasonable," Jerry said dryly.

"You asked for my opinion and I'm giving it to you. The Davis melons were so inferior we wouldn't handle them at the cooperative."

"Why, I thought their cantaloupes were particularly fine ones!" Penny protested.

"I don't know what you two are trying to get at!" Hank Holloway said with sudden anger. "The Cooperative does business in a fair and square way. Our books are open for inspection at any time. Now you'll have to excuse me, for I've got work to do."

With a curt nod, he turned away.

Penny and Jerry wandered about the room for a few minutes, watching the packers. They did not much blame Hank Holloway for showing irritation. Their questions had been very pointed and the man had immediately guessed that their purpose was to uncover facts detrimental to the Cooperative.

"We learned about as much as I expected to," Jerry said with a shrug, as 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?"