Part 6

"I'll leave that job up to you. Furthermore, how do I know she was telling the truth? Maybe she just handed us that story so we wouldn't go on digging in the dunes!"

"That's so!" Louise acknowledged. "Mrs. Deline isn't the type to be doing gracious little jobs for anyone."

"If Jim McCoy asked her to bury a package of garbage, she would have disposed of it long before she did," Penny reasoned. "Instead, she walked quite a distance down shore. Then she seemed to select a particular dune, as if by pre-arrangement."

"You think she may have hidden something there expecting another person to pick it up?"

"That's my theory, Lou. Oh, I wish this rain would let up."

Restlessly Penny walked to a window. The rain showed signs of slackening. And as she watched, a taxi drew up in front of the hotel. Jerry Livingston leaped out.

"Wait for me!" he instructed the driver. "I'll be right back."

Penny and Louise managed to block Jerry's path as he came hurrying into the hotel.

"Hello, girls," he greeted them offhanded. "Want to go for a drive into the country?"

"We certainly do," Penny accepted for both. "What's our destination?"

"Tell you on the way," Jerry answered.

He disappeared into an elevator, but was back in the lobby within a few minutes. Taking Penny and Louise each by an elbow, he escorted them to the waiting cab.

"In a way, this is a secret trip," he said after he had given directions to the driver. "Ever see a radio monitoring truck?"

"Never even heard of one," Penny replied. "What is it?"

"Well, we have a truck equipped so that our instruments pick up the direction from which any short wave broadcast is sent. It's not generally known that the Army's at work here, so whatever you girls see you must keep under your sunbonnets."

The taxi sped along the country road, following a route that was unfamiliar to the girls. By the time it drew up several miles from Sunset Beach the rain had ceased.

"Tumble out," Jerry said, opening the cab door. "This is the end of the line."

He went ahead, breaking a hole in the tall hedge at one side of the road. Eagerly the girls followed him through the gap. In a clearing just beyond a clump of saplings stood what appeared to be an ordinary covered Army truck.

An enlisted man came toward Jerry and the girls, saluting smartly.

"Are you picking up any signals?" Jerry asked him.

"Nothing yet, sir. The weather hasn't been very favorable."

"You've had your equipment set up here two days now?"

"Right, sir."

"It's not likely we'll get anything today or tonight," Jerry replied. "Oh, well, we'll have to have patience. Sooner or later the station will go on the air again, and then we'll learn its location."

Louise and Penny were curious to learn more about the monitoring truck. Jerry took them inside, introduced them to the officers, and showed them the radio apparatus.

"Our truck is equipped with rotating antennae," he explained. "Whenever the unknown station starts to broadcast we'll be able to swing our loops toward the signals. Then we chart the signals and where the lines intercept, the station is located."

"As you explain it, Jerry, finding any radio station is a simple matter."

"It is, providing the station doesn't move in the meantime. Unfortunately, Mr. Voice from the Cave is an elusive fellow."

"You have no idea who the man may be?"

"No, he's known to FBI agents only as B4 which is a code number."

"What is the purpose behind the broadcasts?" Louise inquired. "Enemy propaganda?"

"We know that the station is enemy owned and operated," Jerry replied. "So far that's about all we do know, for we've been unable to break the code. We suspect that persons connected with the station may be aiding German prisoners to escape from the country."

"Prisoners originally held in Canada?" Penny inquired.

"Yes, they've been aided by a ring of very clever spies."

Penny was silent as she thought over the information. There were many questions she longed to ask.

"Jerry--" she began, but just then there came an interruption.

In the Army truck an officer had adjusted his earphones. His attitude as he listened was one of tense expectancy.

"Picking up any signals?" Jerry demanded.

The other man nodded. "Something's coming in! Yes, it's our friend, the Voice. In just a minute we should know exactly where the station is located."

Jerry and the girls remained in the truck, eagerly awaiting a report from the efficient men who manned the radio direction finders.

"Okay, we've got it charted!" came the terse announcement a moment later.

"Where's the station located?" Jerry demanded eagerly. "Let's see the chart."

It was thrust into his hand. Jerry stared at the intercepting lines and then at a map of the district.

"Why, the station seems to be located along the shore!" he exclaimed. "Apparently in one of the caves--Crystal Cave I'd judge."

"That's the cave where Louise and I were!" Penny exclaimed. "But we saw no shortwave radio apparatus. Only crazy old Skagway who was playing a tune on the stalagmites."

"All the same, direction finders don't lie. The broadcast came from Crystal Cave! But that doesn't mean the station will be there fifteen minutes from now."

"What's to be done?" Penny asked. "Can't the Voice be caught before he has a chance to move his portable outfit?"

"A message already has been sent to Headquarters. Army men should be on their way to the cave now."

"Jerry, we're not far from Crystal Cave ourselves!" Penny exclaimed, her eyes dancing with excitement. "Can't we go there too?"

"We can and will!" Jerry laughed. "But if we expect to catch our friend, the Voice, there's no time to lose. Come along, girls, if you're traveling with me."

CHAPTER 15 _AFTERGLOW_

Penny sprawled on the grass beside the dying embers of the camp fire. Listlessly, and with very bad aim, she hurled acorns at a brown squirrel chattering overhead.

"You've been in a bad mood ever since we got back from Crystal Cave," Louise observed, coming out of the tent. "But why take it out on that poor creature?"

Penny raised herself on an elbow. She scowled and did not reply.

Louise moved over to the fire, seating herself on a log beside her chum.

"Oh, brace up," she said, slipping an arm about Penny's shoulders. "In all my life I've never seen you act so discouraged."

"I feel lower than the worms. Nothing's gone right since we came to Sunset Beach."

"On the contrary, I can't see that anything has gone so very wrong."

"Wasn't our trip to the Crystal Cave a bust?" Penny demanded.

"Well, it wasn't a success."

Louise smiled wryly at the recollection. With Jerry and the Army men, she and Penny had spent the afternoon searching various caves along the water front. Not a trace had been found of the mysterious radio station which so plagued local authorities. The search had been a long and exhausting one. In the end, though the others kept on, she and Penny had been compelled to give up.

"My feet hurt yet from scrambling over the rocks," Penny declared. "I suppose Jerry and those Army officers will keep searching half the night."

"And I'll warrant they never do find the station," Louise contributed. "This is one mystery I wish you had never stumbled into, Penny."

"I'm beginning to feel the same way, Lou. This is supposed to be a vacation. I'd like to see Dad and Jerry once in awhile."

"So that's what's bothering you!"

"Well, you know Jerry will be here only a few days at most," Penny said defensively. "I've barely had a chance to say 'hello' to him. Dad's always down at the hotel too."

"What you crave seems to be male companionship."

Penny tossed a stick of wood on the fire, making the sparks fly. "I could do with a little," she admitted. "Life is too dull here."

"Dull?" Louise gazed at her chum suspiciously.

"It's no use being surrounded by mystery if one can't get into the thick of it. So far all the adventure has by-passed us."

"We might stir up a little excitement by looking for that package Mrs. Deline buried in the sand."

"Not today," Penny said with a sigh. "Too tired. Besides, I told Jerry about it and he wasn't much impressed."

"So that's the reason for your gloom," Louise remarked wisely. "As a detective you don't rate."

"Something like that. Jerry met Mrs. Deline at the hotel today and he thought her a very charming lady."

"Oh!" Louise laughed. "No wonder you're all smashed to bits!"

Penny got up from the grass and began preparations for supper. She peeled a pan of potatoes and opened a can of corn.

"We need a bucket of water from the spring," she said suggestively. "Want to help me carry it?"

"I will," Louise agreed without enthusiasm.

The trail led up a steep path to a rocky ledge from which cool spring water gushed out of a steel pipe. Penny drank deeply and then hung her tin bucket over the outlet to fill.

"It's starting to get dark," she observed, noticing how shadowy the woods had grown. "I hope Dad returns to camp soon."

"Someone's coming now," Louise remarked as her keen ears detected the sound of footsteps on the trail below.

"Probably one of the rangers."

Penny unhooked the water bucket from the pipe, and the girls started down the trail, carrying it between them. Emerging from among the trees, they glimpsed a figure below them. A woman in a dark cloak who carried a picnic hamper, was walking rapidly up the winding trail.

Penny stopped so suddenly that she spilled water on her sandals.

"Lou, that's Mrs. Deline!" she whispered.

"What of it, pet? She's evidently going on a picnic."

"At this time of day? And alone?"

"Well, that part of it does seem a bit odd."

Penny pulled her chum into the bushes beside the path. Crouching low beside their water bucket, they allowed the woman to pass. Looking neither to the right nor left, she hastened on up the trail.

"She seems to be in a big hurry," Penny commented, coming out of hiding. "Now where do you suppose she's going?"

"Probably to the cabin. One of your ranger friends told me about a rustic place farther up the trail. It was built especially for the enjoyment of the public."

"But why would Mrs. Deline go there alone?"

"Maybe she intends to meet someone."

"Lou, that's probably what she is going to do!" Penny exclaimed. "Let's follow her and find out."

"What about supper?"

"Who cares for food?" Penny demanded. "If Dad comes home he can rustle a little for himself. It's more important that we follow Mrs. Deline."

"Okay," Louise agreed, "only I'm in no mood to walk very far. Remember, we've had one wild chase today."

Leaving the water bucket behind the bushes, the girls set out in pursuit of Mrs. Deline. Not without admiration they acknowledged that the widow was a better trail climber than they. Though the hamper she carried evidently was heavy, she fairly skimmed up the rough trail. Penny and Louise fell farther and farther behind.

"She's heading for the cabin all right," Penny puffed. "Of course she intends to meet someone. Otherwise, she'd have had her picnic on the beach or some place closer to the hotel."

A clearing opened up through a gap in the trees. Mrs. Deline paused as she came within view of the rustic log cabin and gazed carefully about. The girls saw her look at her wrist watch.

"She has an appointment with someone," Penny declared.

Mrs. Deline walked to the door of the cabin and tested it to make certain that it was unlocked. She did not go inside. Instead, she set down the hamper and gazed slowly about the clearing. Louise and Penny, at the fringe of woods, saw her start as she looked directly toward them.

"She's seen us!" Louise gasped.

"We'll have to go out and meet her," Penny decided instantly. "Let's pretend we just happened to be coming this way. But we'll stick around and see who she's meeting."

Mrs. Deline stiffened visibly as the girls sauntered out of the woods toward her.

"Well, this is a surprise meeting you," she said in a tone none too friendly. "Is your camp located near here?"

"Down the trail a short distance," Penny replied, thoroughly enjoying the widow's discomfiture. "Having a picnic?"

"Why, yes. I love the outdoors and thought I'd take a hike this afternoon."

"It's rather late for a picnic," Penny said pointedly.

"It took me longer to get here than I expected."

In an effort to discourage her young annoyers, Mrs. Deline pushed open the door of the cabin. Before she could pick up the hamper, Penny seized it.

"Let me," she said quickly. "My how heavy! All this food for one person?"

"Certainly," Mrs. Deline answered. "Who else?"

Penny set the hamper on the table. Deliberately she raised the lid. The basket was filled with food, enough for a dozen persons, and in the bottom she saw a folded wool blanket. Beneath the blanket were several bulky garments which she took to be men's clothing. Before she could see plainly, Mrs. Deline jerked the lid of the hamper into place.

"Please!" she said with emphasis.

"I was only trying to be helpful," Penny said, pretending to look injured. "Don't you want Lou and me to dust off the table and spread out the picnic things?"

"I do not. If you'll excuse me for saying so, I came on this picnic to be alone. I enjoy solitude."

"But it's getting dark," Penny argued. "We wouldn't think of deserting you. The cabin has no light."

"I don't mind the dark. Anyway, I brought candles. I really prefer to be alone."

Thus dismissed, Louise started to leave. Penny lingered, trying to think of some excuse. Just then, from somewhere in the woods, she heard a shrill whistle unlike any bird call.

"What was that?" she asked alertly.

"I heard nothing," said Mrs. Deline.

Nevertheless, a moment later the woman sauntered to an open cabin window. Deliberately she turned her back to the girls, trying to block their view. Quickly she raised and lowered her handkerchief.

The movement was deftly executed, but swift though it was, Penny saw and understood. Mrs. Deline had signaled to an unseen person beyond the fringe of trees!

CHAPTER 16 _SUSPICION_

Penny moved swiftly to the open cabin door, gazing toward the darkening woods. No one was visible amid the shadows. Yet she was certain that Mrs. Deline had signaled to someone lurking among the trees.

The widow had turned from the window to unfasten the lid of the picnic hamper.

"Since you girls are here you may as well stay and share my supper," she said without warmth. "There's enough food for all."

Louise's chin tilted proudly. The invitation was grudgingly given, and she meant to decline. Penny forestalled her by saying:

"How nice of you, Mrs. Deline! Of course we'll be delighted to remain."

Mrs. Deline made no reply, though obviously she had not expected an acceptance. Irritably she laid out the picnic dishes--sandwiches, a salad, cake, cookies, and fruit--all carefully prepared and cooked at the hotel kitchen.

"You certainly did bring plenty of food for one person," Penny commented, helping herself to a chicken sandwich. "Isn't that clothing in the bottom of the basket?"

"Only a blanket." Mrs. Deline closed the lid firmly. "I thought I might need it if I should sit on the damp ground."

Hungry as bears, Penny and Louise did not try to curb their healthy, young appetites. Mrs. Deline, on the other hand, scarcely nibbled at the food. Several times she arose and paced nervously to the window.

"It's growing dark and I should return to the hotel," she said the instant the girls had finished eating. "I'll not bother to repack the lunch basket."

"Oh, we'll help you pick up everything," Penny offered.

"Please don't bother. I'll merely pay the hotel for the basket."

Penny was convinced that Mrs. Deline deliberately intended to leave the hamper behind. Despite the deep inroads she and Louise had made, considerable food remained. It occurred to her that the widow hoped to leave what remained so that the person hiding in the woods might come to the cabin for it after the party had gone.

"I can't be bothered with a heavy basket," Mrs. Deline said impatiently. "We'll just leave it on the table."

"Oh, the rangers wouldn't like to have us leave food here," Penny protested. "It will only take a minute to clean up everything."

Disregarding Mrs. Deline's order, she began to repack the remains of the lunch.

"But I don't wish to carry the basket all the way to the hotel!"

"Louise and I will help you."

Tossing her head, Mrs. Deline walked out of the cabin, allowing the door to slam behind her. Louise and Penny finished packing the lunch and hastened down the trail in pursuit.

"Maybe we shouldn't cross her so," Louise whispered uneasily. "I think she intended to meet someone here!"

"I'm sure of it," agreed Penny. "We spiked her little plan. I have an idea who she intended to meet too!"

"Who?"

Penny could not answer, for by this time she and Louise were practically at Mrs. Deline's heels. The widow was walking as fast as she could.

"You'll have to keep the basket," she told the girls irritably. "I'm sure I'll never carry it back to the hotel."

All the way to the Parker camp Mrs. Deline ignored Penny and Louise. And as they bade her goodbye, she barely responded.

"Can't we drive you down to the hotel in the car?" Penny offered, feeling slightly ashamed of her actions.

"Thank you, no," the widow answered icily. "You've done quite enough for one day." She vanished down the darkening road.

After Mrs. Deline was beyond view, the girls retraced their way to the spring for the water bucket. As they approached, they thought for a moment that they heard retreating footsteps. The realization that they were alone in the woods, made them a bit nervous. Hurriedly they recovered the bucket and carried it to camp.

"Now tell me what you think, Penny!" Louise commanded when they were inside the tent.

"Why, it's clear as crystal." Penny struck a match to the wick of the gasoline lantern and hung it on a hook of the tent pole. "Mrs. Deline went to the cabin intending to meet someone. She carried extra food, a blanket, and if I'm not mistaken, clothing for a man."

"You thought she signaled from the window?"

"I'm sure she did, Lou. She warned the person, whoever he was, not to approach. She hoped by leaving the basket behind to get it into his hands after we'd gone."

"You thwarted her in that."

"We did together," Penny chuckled. Her face suddenly became sober. "Lou--"

"Yes?"

"It just occurred to me! Maybe the man she intended to meet was the same fellow who stole food from our camp."

"That's possible. But why should Mrs. Deline be interested in a common tramp?"

"How do we know that fellow was a tramp?" Penny speculated. "Jerry told us about a young soldier that had escaped from a Canadian prison camp. Mrs. Deline may be trying to help him by supplying food and heavy clothing!"

"As usual, Penny, aren't you leaping to hasty conclusions?"

"Maybe I am, but everything fits in beautifully. I've thought from the first that Mrs. Deline was nothing less than a spy or an international crook."

"You've aired that theory before," Louise said, stretching out on the cot. "Wonder when your father will get here?"

"I wish he would come," Penny replied, glancing anxiously toward the road. "At least I have one consolation."

"What's that?"

"I know he's not with Mrs. Deline. Oh, Lou, think how horrible it would be to have a spy for a stepmother!"

"It would be something different anyhow," Louise chuckled. "Want to listen to the radio awhile?"

"Okay," Penny agreed, "maybe we can tune in that outlaw station. It's about time for the regular nightly broadcast."

Closing themselves into the car, the girls tried without success to get the outlaw shortwave station. Tuning instead to a dance orchestra, they discussed the day's happenings and made elaborate plans for the morrow.

"I'm really going to work," Penny announced grimly. "No Mrs. Deline ever will outwit me! Our first job must be to find that package she buried in the sand."

"And what of the person hiding in the woods?"

"The rangers ought to take over that part." Penny peered out through the car window at the dark woods which hemmed in the camp. "Somehow," she admitted, "I don't like the idea of being here at night. I'm not exactly afraid, but--"

"Listen!" Louise ordered sharply, "Someone's coming!"

Penny snapped off the radio. Tensely, the girls watched the road. The next instant they relaxed, for it was Mr. Parker who trudged wearily up the slope. Seeing Penny and Louise in the car, he came over to apologize for being so late.

"I've been with Jerry for the past two hours," he explained. "Time went faster than I realized."

"Any news?" Penny asked eagerly.

"Not about the radio station if that's what you mean. The fellow got away with his portable outfit slick as a whistle."

"The authorities have no idea who the man is, Dad?"

"Not the slightest. So far they've not been able to break the code he uses either. But in time they'll get him."

Having gleaned what information they could from Mr. Parker, the girls related their own adventure. As they fully expected, he made light of the episode at the cabin.

"Why should Mrs. Deline expect to meet anyone there?" he argued. "Penny, I'm afraid you don't understand her and misinterpret her actions."

"I don't understand her, that's certain."

"As to a man loitering about the camp," Mr. Parker resumed, "I've been worried about that ever since food was stolen. As I must be gone so much of the time, why wouldn't it be better for us to move to the hotel?"

Penny stiffened for an argument, and then suddenly changed her mind.

"All right, Dad," she astonished him by saying, "as far as I'm concerned, we can move tomorrow. I've had enough of the lonesome life."

"Why, that's fine!" Mr. Parker said heartily. "Splendid!"

After he had moved on, to sit for awhile by the dying embers of the fire, Louise remarked to Penny that explanations were in order.

"How come you're ready to desert the rough and rugged life?" she demanded. "At first you were dead set against moving into the hotel."

Penny carefully raised the car window so that her father would not overhear.

"I believe in fighting the Enemy on his own territory," she explained elaborately. "Mrs. Deline will bear watching. I intend to devote all my waking hours to the cause."

"So Jerry has nothing to do with it?"

"Jerry?"

"You wouldn't want to move to the hotel so you'd see more of him?"

"What an idea!" Penny scoffed. "Whoever thought of such a thing!"

"You did or I'm no mind reader."

"Well, it may have crossed my mind," Penny acknowledged with a giggle. "In fact, I can see quite a few advantages to hotel life. With luck we'll yet make something of this vacation!"

CHAPTER 17 _VISITORS NOT PERMITTED_

Penny stood before the mirror in the hotel room and struggled to coax a little curl into her damp hair. She and Louise had spent two hours splashing in the surf that morning. The salt water had tightened their skins and produced discouraging results with their tresses.

"This place does have it over a forest camp," Penny said, gazing about the comfortably furnished room she shared with Louise. Her father's room was three doors down the hall. "A shower bath, no meals to cook, no dishes to wash, and the sea at one's elbow."

"I like it better," replied Louise. She had curled up kitten fashion on the bed and was making deep inroads into a box of chocolates. "So far though, we've not done much fancy sleuthing."

"We've only been here a few hours. Where do you suppose Mrs. Deline keeps herself?"

"In her room no doubt. Why do you worry about her so much, Penny?"

Penny twisted a few ringlets over her finger and abandoned the project as hopeless. "Lou, you know all the prize answers without asking me," she said. "I've told you a dozen times why I distrust that woman."