Penny allowed herself to be pulled from the gate, only to pause and gaze again at the darkened windows of the ancient monastery.
The only daughter of a newspaper owner, she had been trained to inquire the who, when, why, where, and how of anything unusual. Penny never willingly passed up an opportunity to obtain a good news story for the Riverview Star. She knew that if the old monastery were occupied after standing deserted so many years, the readers of her father’s paper would be interested.
Furthermore, she reasoned, a scream from a darkened house, always called for investigation.
“Louise,” she said with sudden decision. “We can’t leave without trying to find out what’s wrong here! I’m going inside!”
“Oh, Penny—please don’t! This place is so far from other houses. If anything should happen—”
“Something has happened,” replied Penny grimly. “You wait here, Lou. I’ll be right back.”
Despite her chum’s protest, she returned to the big iron gate, and pushing it farther open, stepped inside the grounds.
Intuition warned Penny to proceed cautiously. She sensed rather than saw a dark figure crouching in the arched doorway of the circular stone gatehouse to the right of the snow-banked driveway.
Before she could decide whether the form was real or a product of her imagination, a large, savage dog darted from inside the gatehouse. His low growl warned her it might be dangerous to attempt to pass.
“Come back!” Louise called anxiously. “He’ll tear you apart!”
Though no coward, a second glance at the dog convinced Penny that the animal had been trained to guard the property. Rapidly, she backed away.
Her hand was on the latch of the gate, when in the gatehouse doorway, she beheld a grotesque, deformed human figure.
The sight so startled Penny that for an instant she forgot the dog.
Plainly silhouetted against the gray stone was a hulk of a man with large head and twisted back made unsightly by a hump.
Though his eyes were full upon the girl, he remained motionless, speaking no word.
“Call off your dog!” Penny said sharply.
Only then did the figure move from the doorway into the moonlight.
“Quiet, Bruno!” he ordered in a rasping voice. “Lie down!”
As the dog obeyed, Penny caught her first plain glimpse of the deformed man’s face. His skin was heavily lined and fell in deep folds at his stocky neck. But it was the dark, intent eyes which sent a shiver down her spine.
“Good evening,” she said uneasily.
The gateman did not respond to the greeting. Instead, he demanded gruffly:
“What you doin’ on this property?”
“Why, I was only investigating because the gate was unlocked,” replied Penny. “I didn’t know the house was occupied.”
“You know it now. See that sign!” The gateman turned on his flashlight, focusing it upon a freshly painted placard tacked to a nearby tree.
The sign read, “No Trespassing.”
“I’m sorry,” Penny apologized, but stood her ground. “Are you the new owner of this place?”
“No, I ain’t. I’m the gateman.”
“Then who has taken over the building?”
“What’s it to you?” the hunchback demanded unpleasantly.
“I’m interested, that’s all.”
“This place is being turned into an institution,” the hunchback informed her. “The new owner moved in yesterday. Now git along, so I can lock the gate.”
The gateman’s eagerness to be rid of her made Penny all the more determined to remain until her curiosity was satisfied.
“Perhaps I fancied it,” she remarked, “but a moment ago, I thought I heard a shrill scream from inside the building.”
“You may have heard the howl of the wind.”
“What wind?” Penny inquired pointedly. “It’s a comparatively quiet night. I distinctly heard a scream.”
“Then you got better ears than I have,” the gateman muttered. “Will you go now, or do you want me to call the master?”
“I wish you would!”
Grumbling to himself, the hunchback stepped into the gatehouse and pressed a button which rang a bell inside the building.
A light went on in a downstairs room, and a moment later the front door opened. Framed on the threshold stood a very tall man in dark, hooded robe.
“What’s wrong, Winkey?” he called. “You rang?”
“There’s a girl here wants to see you,” shouted the hunchback. “She says she heard a scream and wants to know how-come.”
Treading lightly in the loose snow, the thin man came down the driveway to the gate. His long, brown robes were impressive, his demeanor pious. Penny suddenly felt very foolish indeed.
“Is anything wrong?” he asked in a kindly, silken-smooth voice.
“This girl’s tryin’ to get in,” announced Winkey. “Says she heard a scream.”
The hooded monk studied Penny with an intent gaze.
“You live near here?” he inquired.
“In Riverview. I was out skiing with a few friends when I passed this old building and heard the scream. Your gateman tried to tell me it was only the wind.”
“My child, doubtlessly you did hear a scream,” the monk replied. “It was Old Julia, a poor woman, who unfortunately sometimes becomes disturbed in her mind.”
“This isn’t a mental institution?” gasped Penny, regretting that her curiosity ever had taken her inside the grounds.
“No, my child,” responded the monk. “Winkey should have explained. We have opened up the old monastery for the purpose of restoring an ancient order in which members dedicate themselves to a life of poverty, good will, and charity.”
“The one you call Old Julia—she also is a member?”
The monk sighed deeply. “Old Julia is only an unfortunate whose twisted mind never can be healed by doctors. Because she had no home—no friends, I have taken her beneath my roof.”
“I see,” nodded Penny. “I’m very sorry to have troubled you.”
“A natural mistake, my child. Is there anything else you wish to know? We have no secrets here—only serene faith and hope for a better world.”
“I might inquire your name.”
“Members of my flock call me Father Benedict. My baptismal name is Jay Highland. And yours?”
“Penny Parker. My father owns the Riverview Star.”
“A newspaper?” The monk’s inquiry was sharp.
“One of the best in the city,” Penny said proudly.
“Your father sent you here, perhaps?”
“Oh, no! I was just passing by and noticed the buildings were occupied.”
“To be sure,” murmured the monk. “I trust you will use discretion in mentioning our work here. Should we become too well known, a path will be beaten to our door, and the privacy of our order will be no more.”
“I’ll scarcely mention it,” Penny half-heartedly promised. “Good night.”
Retreating through the gate, she closed it behind her.
A few paces away, Louise, who had heard only part of the conversation, waited in the darkness.
“Who were those men?” she demanded, falling into step with her chum. “What did you learn?”
Penny repeated everything Jay Highland had told her.
“He seemed rather nice,” she added. “But when you sum it up, he didn’t tell much about the order he is founding here.”
“And the scream?”
“Oh, he explained that. It seems an old woman named Julia lives in the institution. She’s demented.”
“Must be a nice place!” The girls now had reached the car and Louise stood aside for her chum to unlock the door. Quickly they stowed their skis and poles in the rear and then Penny started the motor which popped and sputtered in the frosty air.
“It’s snowing again,” she observed, switching on the windshield wiper. “We didn’t get started a minute too soon.”
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Before the girls had traveled a quarter of a mile, huge, wet flakes pelted the glass. Once as the wiper stuck, Penny had to get out and clear the windshield with a handkerchief.
“This is really getting awful!” she exclaimed, as they drove slowly on along the narrow, curving country road. “I can hardly see.”
“Be careful,” Louise warned a moment later. “You’re close to the ditch.”
Penny brought the wheels back onto the main track. But a dozen yards farther on, she saw directly in her path, a bent figure struggling along under the weight of a heavy suitcase. Her head was held low against the wind and snow.
Unaware of the approaching car, the pedestrian was walking almost in the center of the road.
“Look out, Penny!” screamed Louise as she too saw the girl with the heavy burden. “You’ll run her down!”
CHAPTER 3
STRANGER OF THE STORM
Penny swerved the steering wheel, missing the girl by inches. Somewhat shaken by the near-accident, she pulled up at the roadside.
“My, that was close!” exclaimed Louise. Lowering the side window of the coupe, she gazed curiously at the snowy figure, plodding through the drifts.
“Maybe we ought to offer her a lift to Riverview,” said Penny. “Whoever she is, she shouldn’t be walking alone at this time of night—and with a heavy suitcase too.”
“But should we pick up a hitchhiker, Penny? It might not be safe.”
“I don’t like to do it as a rule, but this is different. It’s storming hard and she looks about our age.”
Debating no longer, Penny thrust her head through the window opening and called: “Want a ride?”
The girl with the suitcase had moved into the glare of the headlights. She turned toward the car with a startled expression. Penny and Louise saw that she was thinly clad in a light weight coat, and wore no galoshes.
To their astonishment, the girl shook her head and kept on walking.
“Well, what do you know!” exclaimed Penny. “She’s more afraid to ride with us than we were to pick her up. She may not realize we’re just a couple of school girls.”
“She shouldn’t be out in this storm dressed as she is,” declared Louise, now concerned for the stranger. “Ask her again.”
Penny shifted into low gear and pulled alongside. “Please, can’t we give you a lift into the city?” she urged.
The girl stopped then, resting her suitcase in the roadway. A breath of wind swept a lock of dark hair across her thin face. Impatiently she brushed it aside and murmured: “No, no, thank you.”
Penny would have driven on, but the voice held a hint of tears. It occurred to her that the girl might be running away from home—certainly she was bewildered and in trouble.
“Don’t be foolish!” she exclaimed. “This snow is coming down heavier every minute. Of course, you want a ride.” She flung the car door wide open.
A moment longer the girl hesitated. Then without a word, she swung the suitcase into the automobile and squeezed in beside Louise. However, she scarcely glanced at the girls, but centered her sober gaze on the snowflakes which danced across the windshield.
The car moved ahead. “Going far?” inquired Penny.
“I—I don’t know.”
“You don’t know!” Penny twisted her head sideways to stare at the girl. She started to ask a question, then thinking better of it, remained silent.
Louise, however, could not allow the odd reply to pass unchallenged.
“Why, you must know where you’re going!” she exclaimed. “Do you mean you have no home, or are running away?”
“I have a home,” the girl replied shortly. “I only meant I haven’t decided where I’ll go or what I’ll do when I reach Riverview. That’s the name of the closest place, isn’t it?”
Penny nodded. “Apparently, you come from some distance away,” she remarked.
The girl made no reply.
“May we introduce ourselves?” said Louise, determined to learn the stranger’s name. “This is Penny Parker, and I’m Louise Sidell.”
Only by a brief nod did the girl acknowledge the introduction. She did not volunteer her own name. Her failure to do so, obviously was deliberate.
“Do you live near here?” Louise inquired.
The stranger squirmed uncomfortably. “I’m sorry,” she said. “I don’t feel like answering questions. That’s why I didn’t want to accept a ride.”
Louise took the reply for a rebuke. “I certainly didn’t mean to be personal,” she returned stiffly. “Excuse it, please. Dreadful weather!”
The topic fell flat. No further attempt at conversation was made.
Penny kept close watch of the road, for the heavy, wet snow made visibility very poor. She was greatly relieved when they reached the outskirts of the city and a wide boulevard which followed the curve of the frozen river.
Seeing the lights of Riverview, the strange girl began to watch the streets intently.
“Just let me out anywhere,” she said presently.
“Anywhere?” Penny repeated.
“Will we pass the river docks on this road?”
“Yes, at the next turn.”
“Then let me off there, please.”
“The river docks!” exclaimed Louise. “At this time of night? No boats are running and there are no houses or business places close by. Only deserted fish houses and the like.”
“Please, that’s where I want to get off.”
Penny and Louise gave up trying to figure out their strange passenger. At the next turn in the road, they pulled up near a dimly lighted street corner.
The girl opened the car door and reached for her suitcase.
“Thanks for the ride,” she said in a low voice. “I’m sorry if I seemed rude and unfriendly. There are things I can’t explain.”
Before Penny or Louise could answer, the car door closed firmly in their faces.
“Well, how do you like that?” the latter demanded furiously. “If she isn’t a cool cucumber!”
“She may be running away from home,” Penny said, frowning. “Why otherwise, would she refuse to tell her name?”
“And why did she insist in getting out on this corner, of all places?”
“It’s a bad section of town, Louise. No one seems to be about, but even so, a girl shouldn’t be wandering around here alone.”
“We tried to warn her. She seemed to know what she wanted to do.”
“All the same, I feel sort of responsible,” Penny returned uneasily. “I hope nothing happens to her.”
After leaving the car, the girl walked toward the river. Now at the corner, she paused beneath a street light, and glanced back.
“She’s waiting for us to go on!” Penny guessed shrewdly. “For some reason, she doesn’t want anyone to know where she’s going!”
“Then let’s wait and watch!”
“We’ll learn nothing that way. She can tell we’re keeping our eye on her.” Penny threw in the clutch and the car rolled away from the curb. “Tell you what, Lou! We’ll drive around the block.”
“Good idea!” approved her chum. “That way she’ll think we’ve gone and we can see where she really goes.”
Penny turned at the first corner and made a quick trip around the block. As they again came within view of the ice-locked river, the girls looked quickly up and down the street for a glimpse of their former passenger.
“There she is!” Louise cried. “Why, she’s walking straight to the docks!”
The two girls now were completely mystified and not a little worried. At this late hour, the waterfront was deserted.
Penny watched the retreating figure for a moment, and then swung the car door open.
“That girl can’t know what she’s doing!” she decided. “I’m going after her!”
“For our pains, we may be told to mind our own affairs.”
“That’s beside the point, Lou. Something’s wrong.”
Without taking time to
lock the car, the two girls hurried down the dark street toward the docks. Far ahead they could see the one they pursued walking swiftly. Then in the blinding, whirling snow, they lost sight of her.
Reaching the waterfront, Penny and Louise gazed about in disbelief and bewilderment. The girl had vanished.
“Now where could she have gone—” Penny murmured, only to break off as her gaze fell upon a trail of footsteps.
The prints led along the dock for a short distance, only to end at the river’s edge.
CHAPTER 4
VANISHING FOOTPRINTS
“That crazy girl must have jumped off here!”Louise exclaimed, as she too saw the footprints on the snowy planks.
“The river is solid ice—at least six inches thick,”Penny pointed out. “She couldn’t have crashed through.”
“Then where did she go?”
Far upstream toward the Main Street Bridge, an iceboat could be seen tacking back and forth. Otherwise, the river was a gleaming ribbon of deserted ice.
“The only place she could have gone is under the dock,” Penny said, her eyebrows knitting into a puzzled frown.
“Under it?”
“That’s what she must have done,” Penny insisted. “I suppose the planking would give some protection from the storm.”
The snow was coming down harder now than ever, in huge flakes. Trailing the footprints to the dock’s edge, Penny flattened herself on the planks and peered over the side.
“I can’t see a thing!” she complained. “Dark as pitch!”
“Listen!” commanded Louise.
Both girls became quiet. Distinctly they could hear a faint creak of snow as someone walked beneath the dock, a long distance away.
“Hello, down there!” shouted Penny.
The creaking sound ceased. But no one answered the call.
“If she’s down there, she’ll never answer!” Louise said, thoroughly disgusted. “Should we go after her?”
Penny was sorely tempted. She studied the long, high dock only to shake her head.
“If once we get down there, we couldn’t climb up again without walking a long distance, Lou.”
“Then what should we do?”
“Let’s call the police station,” Penny urged. Scrambling to her feet, she brushed snow from her ski suit. “This is a case for them to investigate.”
The Penny Parker Megapack: 15 Complete Novels Page 188