“Dad, I’m at Blue Hole Lake with Salt,” she explained hurriedly. “Can you drive here right away?”
“I suppose so,” he answered, knowing from her voice that something serious was wrong. “What’s up?”
“We’ve learned plenty about Professor Bettenridge, Dad. Unless something is done quickly, he may sell his fake machine to Mr. Johnson.”
“But what can I do about it?” the publisher asked.
“Can you get hold of the Major and bring him with you?” Penny pleaded. “Professor Bettenridge may be the man he’s after!”
“Maybe I can reach him!” Mr. Parker agreed. “If I have luck I’ll be out there within twenty or thirty minutes. I’ll come as fast as I can.”
Before hanging up the receiver, Penny gave her father detailed instructions for reaching the lake and told him where to park. Leaving a dollar bill to pay for the call, she then hastened back to find Salt.
The photographer was nowhere near the cabin and she was afraid to call his name lest she be overheard by the Bettenridges.
As she stood in the shadow of the building, she heard voices from the beach. Someone with a lighted lantern was coming up the trail, and soon she distinguished two figures—Professor Bettenridge and Webb.
“That’s the story you’ll have to tell Johnson,” she heard the professor say. “Tell him that somehow you got the two mines mixed up as you were loading them onto the boat and dumped one that was never meant to explode.”
“But he saw us load the mine.”
“It was dark and he may not be sure. Anyway, the mine with Johnson’s initials is still in the shack. We’ll show it to him.”
“What bothers me is how did the mistake happen?”Webb muttered. “I know the mine I loaded on the boat had Johnson’s initials. It should have gone off.”
“Someone is onto our game, and tampered with the mines. It may have been a trick of that newspaper pair.”
“In that case, we’re in a dangerous spot. We ought to clear out while the clearing is good. If the authorities get onto what we’re doing—”
“They won’t—at least not tonight,” the professor said confidently. “The sheriff is as dumb as they come, and is convinced I am a genius second only to Thomas Edison. We’ll have to pull off a successful test tonight with Johnson’s mine, collect what we can, and clear out.”
“Okay,” Webb agreed, “but this is my last job. The game is too dangerous. I served one stretch in the pen and I don’t look forward to another.”
“If we can explode Johnson’s mine tonight, we’ll collect the money and be away from here as soon as we cash the check. Can you pull off the job without any blunder?”
“Sure I can unless someone tampers with the mine! This time I’ll make sure they don’t!”
“Okay,” the professor agreed. “Now I want you to talk to Johnson. Put up a good story, and get him to look at the mine that has his initials on it. If he refuses, we’re licked, but it’s worth a final try.”
“I’d like to find the guy who broke into the shack!”Webb muttered.
“We may have time for that later. Just now our most important job is to convince Johnson we have something to sell.”
The two men now were very close. Penny flattened herself against the building wall, fearful of being seen. The light from their lantern illuminated her for an instant, but the men were so absorbed in their discussion, they failed to see her. Going on up the hillside path, they vanished into the farmhouse.
What had become of Salt, Penny did not know. Thinking he might have gone down to the lake, she walked rapidly in that direction. As she approached the shack where the mines were stored, she heard a low whistle.
“Is that you, Salt?” she called softly.
He came from behind a clump of bushes to join her. Quickly they compared notes. Salt had overheard no conversation, but he had watched Professor Bettenridge and Webb as they reexamined the mines in the shack.
“They’re onto our game, and it won’t work twice,” he said. “We’ve got to delay the test, but how?”
“Maybe we could cut the boat loose!”
“A capital idea!” Salt approved, chuckling. “Penny, you really have a brain!”
As they scurried over the stones to the water’s edge, Penny suddenly stopped short.
“Listen!” she commanded.
“I didn’t hear anything,” Salt said.
“An automobile stopped by the roadside. I’m sure of it. Maybe it’s my father!”
“He couldn’t have reached here so soon.”
“You don’t know Dad,” Penny chuckled. “He drives like the wind. It certainly sounded like the engine of our car.”
“Let’s have a look before we cut the boat loose,”Salt said, slipping a knife back into his pocket.
“I’ll go,” Penny offered. “You wait here.”
Before Salt could stop her, she darted away into the darkness. Crawling under a barbed wire fence, she took a short cut to the road. Even before she saw the car, she heard a voice which she recognized as her father’s.
“Dad!” she called softly.
He was with another man whom Penny hoped was Major Bryan. As the two came toward the fence, she saw that it was indeed the Army officer.
“Dad, how did you get here so quickly?” she greeted him. “Salt and I didn’t expect you for at least another twenty minutes.”
“I was lucky enough to get hold of Major Bryan right away,” Mr. Parker answered, climbing over the fence. “Now I hope you haven’t brought us on a wild chase, Penny. What’s up?”
“Come with me and I’ll show you,” she offered. “That’s easier than explaining everything.”
Major Bryan, a well-built man of early middle age, asked Penny several questions about Professor Bettenridge as the three walked hurriedly toward the lake.
“From your description, he seems to be the man I’m after,” he declared grimly. “If he’s the same person, his real name is Claude Arkwright and he’s wanted for impersonating an officer and on various other charges. He pulled a big job in New York three months ago, then vanished.”
Salt was waiting at the lake. “What’s our move?” he asked, after relating everything that had occurred that night. “Shall we cut the boat loose?”
“First, let me examine those mines,” the major requested. “Can we get into the shack?”
“I can pick the lock, but it takes time,” Salt offered.
“We’ll break it,” the major decided. “Those men may return here at any minute, so there’s no time to lose.”
The door was forced open and Penny was placed on guard to watch the hillside for Webb or anyone in the professor’s party.
There was no light in the shack, but both Mr. Parker and the major had brought flashlights. Salt pointed out the mine which had been doctored by Webb. Carefully, the Army officer examined it.
“I can’t tell much by looking at it for the work has been cleverly concealed,” he admitted. “But from what you’ve told me, I am quite certain how the mine is made to explode.”
“How is it done?” Salt demanded.
“After the hole is made, a chemical—probably sodium—is inserted. Then another substance which melts slowly in water is used to seal up the opening.”
“Then that explains why Webb delayed so long in giving the signal after the mine had been dropped into the water!” Penny exclaimed from the doorway. “He was waiting for the substance to melt!”
“Exactly,” agreed the major. “If my theory is correct, only the action of water is required to explode this mine. The professor’s machine, of course, has nothing whatsoever to do with it.”
“Why don’t we explode the mine now?” Penny suddenly proposed. “That would put an end to the professor’s little scheme.”
“It might also prevent us from arresting him,” the major said. He debated a moment. Then he exclaimed:“It’s worth trying! We’ll load the mine on the boat and dump ’er in the lake!”
&nbs
p; The men would not permit Penny to help with the dangerous work. Carefully they transported the mine to the boat. Salt was about to start the motor, but the major stopped him.
“No, we don’t want the sound of the engine to give us away,” he said. “We’ll row out into the lake.”
Penny was eager to accompany the men, but they would not hear of it. To her disappointment, she was compelled to remain on the beach.
Sitting down on the sand, she nervously watched until the boat faded into the black of the night. Presently, she heard a splash which told her that the mine had been lowered overboard. Anxiously, she waited for the boat to return.
“Why don’t they come?” she thought, straining to hear the sound of oars. “If the explosion should go off while they’re still out there—”
Then she heard the boat coming and breathed in relief. Soon the craft grated on sand, and the three men leaped out.
“Perhaps my theory is wrong,” the major commented, as they all huddled together, waiting. “The mine should have gone off by this time.”
Several minutes elapsed and still nothing happened. And then, as the group became convinced their plan had failed, there came a terrific explosion which sent flame and water high above the lake’s surface.
CHAPTER 21
IN SEARCH OF WEBB
“Beautiful! Beautiful!” chuckled the major as the flames began to die away. “That proves our theory. No machine is required to set off the mines—only the action of water.”
“Professor Bettenridge must have heard the explosion!”Penny exclaimed, fairly beside herself with excitement. “What will happen now?”
“If human nature runs true to form, he will soon come here to investigate,” the major predicted.
The four stepped back into the dense growth of trees to wait. Within five minutes they observed two shadowy figures scurrying down the path toward the shack where the mines were stored. As they came closer, Penny recognized the professor and his wife.
“And someone is following them,” she discerned. “It looks like Mr. Johnson.”
Professor Bettenridge and his wife now were near the trees. Their voices, though low, carried to those in hiding.
“That stupid lout, Webb!” the professor muttered. “He has ruined everything now by setting off the mine too soon.”
“But how could it have been Webb?” his wife protested. “He was at the farmhouse only five minutes ago. He wouldn’t have had time.”
“Then it was someone else—” Professor Bettenridge paused, and cast a quick alert glance about the lake shore. He noted that the boat was tied, but that the door of the shack was wide open.
“We’ve been exposed!” he muttered. “Our game is up, and we’ve got to get away from here before the authorities arrest us.”
“But what about Johnson?” his wife demanded, glancing over her shoulder at the man who was following them down the hillside path.
“We can do nothing now. He had begun to catch on even before tonight, and this explosion finishes everything. Don’t even stop to pack your clothes. We’ll get our car and clear out.”
“Webb?”
“He’ll have to look out for himself. We’re traveling alone and traveling fast.”
Those in hiding suddenly stepped forth from the trees, blocking the path. Major Bryan moved directly in front of the professor, flashing a light into his face.
“Good evening, Claude Arkwright,” he said distinctly.
The professor was startled, but recovered poise quickly. “You are mistaken,” he said in a cold voice. “My name is Bettenridge.”
“No doubt that is what you call yourself now. You are wanted by the Federal government for impersonating an officer.”
“Ridiculous!”
“May I see your draft card?” the major requested curtly.
“Sorry, I haven’t it with me. It is in my room.”
“Then we will go there.”
Nettled, Professor Bettenridge could think of no further excuse. Glancing significantly at his wife, he said: “My dear, will you go to the house and get the card for our inquisitors?”
“We will all go,” corrected the major. “Your wife may be wanted as your accomplice in this latest secret ray machine fleece. We prefer that she does not escape.”
“You are very trusting,” sneered the professor.
By this time, Mr. Johnson had reached the hillside. Puffing from having hurried so fast, he gazed in bewilderment at the little group.
“What does this mean?” he inquired. “What caused the mine to explode?”
“It was set off by being dropped in the lake,” explained the major.
“You mean the explosion was not touched off by Professor Bettenridge’s invention?”
“The machine had nothing whatsoever to do with it,” Penny explained. “Professor Bettenridge and his accomplice, Webb Nelson, have been doctoring the mines with a powder and an outer shield which dissolves in water. They hoped to sell the worthless machine to you before you discovered the truth.”
The information stunned Mr. Johnson, but recovering, he turned furiously upon Professor Bettenridge.
“You cheap trickster!” he shouted. “I’ll have you arrested for this!”
“Have you given the man any money?” Mr. Parker inquired.
“A thousand dollars for an option on the machine. The rest was to have been paid tonight.”
“You’re lucky to get off so easily,” Mr. Parker said. “It’s possible too, that we can get part of your deposit back.”
“You can’t hold me on any trumped-up charge,”Professor Bettenridge said angrily. “You have no warrant.”
He started away, but was brought up short as he felt the major’s revolver pressing against his ribs.
“This will hold you, I think,” said the Army man coolly. “Now lead the way up the hill to the other cabin. I want to see your remarkable invention.”
With his wife clinging to his arm, the professor marched stiffly ahead of the group. He unlocked the cabin door and all went inside.
Jerking off the canvas which covered the secret ray machine, Major Bryan inspected it briefly.
“A worthless contraption!” he said contemptuously. “Utterly useless!”
“Where did you meet Webb Nelson?” Penny asked the professor. “And where is he now?”
“You’ll have to find him for yourself,” sneered the professor. “If he has the sense I think, he’s probably miles away from here by now.”
Determined that the man should not escape, Penny, Salt and Mr. Parker started for the farmhouse, leaving the major and Mr. Johnson to question the professor. As they rapped on the screen door, Mrs. Leonard came to let them in.
“What is going on here tonight, may I ask?” she demanded irritably. “People banging in and out of the house at all hours! Explosions! I declare, I wish I never had rented a room to that crazy professor and his wife!”
“Is Webb Nelson here?” Mr. Parker asked.
“The professor’s helper? Why, no, right after the explosion he came, gathered a bag of things from the professor’s room, and went off down the road.”
“In a car?”
“He was afoot when he left here. Is anything wrong?”
“Considerable. Professor Bettenridge has just been exposed as an impostor. Webb must have realized the jig was up when he heard the mine go off.”
“The professor an impostor!” Mrs. Leonard exclaimed. “Well, of all things!”
“Which way did Webb go?” Mr. Parker asked.
“Down the road toward town when I last saw him.”
“Maybe we can catch him!” Mr. Parker cried.
“If he didn’t get a lift,” Salt added.
All piled into the Parker car which had been left a short distance down the road. But in the drive to Newhall, the man was not sighted. Nor did inquiry in the town reveal anyone who had seen him.
“Undoubtedly he expected to be followed, and cut across the fields or took a si
de road,” Mr. Parker declared. “We’ll have to depend upon the authorities to pick him up now.”
Stopping at the sheriff’s office, warrants for the man’s arrest were sworn out, and the party then returned to Mrs. Leonard’s. Professor Bettenridge and his wife had been brought to the farmhouse by Major Bryan who proposed to hold them there pending the arrival of federal authorities from Riverview.
“There’s one thing I want to know,” Penny whispered to her father. “How did Professor Bettenridge meet Webb? Perhaps he can explain the man’s connection with the Snark.”
The question was put to the professor who replied briefly that he knew nothing whatsoever about Webb Nelson.
“I met him only two weeks ago,” he said. “He claimed to be an expert at handling explosives, so I hired him.”
No one believed the professor was telling the truth. However, it was useless to question him further. Determined not to implicate himself, his wife, or his helper, he spoke as seldom as possible.
“The man has a room here,” Mr. Parker suggested. “Suppose we see what we can find.”
Mrs. Leonard led the way upstairs. The professor’s room was locked, but she opened it with a master key.
Two suitcases had been packed as if for a hasty departure and everything was in disorder. All garments had been removed from the closets. The scrap basket was filled with torn letters which Mr. Parker promptly gathered together and placed in an envelope for future piecing together.
In one of the suitcases he found several newspaper clippings. One bore a picture of the professor, but the name beneath it was Claude Arkwright, and the story related that he was wanted in connection with a $10,000 hoax.
“Bettenridge is our man all right,” the publisher declared. “We made no mistake in holding him for the sheriff.”
Penny had been searching the larger of the two suitcases which seemed to contain only clothing. But as she reached the lower layer, she suddenly gave a jubilant cry.
“Salt! Dad!” she exclaimed. “It’s here! See what I’ve found!”
CHAPTER 22
SALT’S MISSING CAMERA
From the suitcase, Penny lifted Salt’s camera. With a cry of pleasure, he snatched it from her hand and eagerly examined it.
The Penny Parker Megapack: 15 Complete Novels Page 158