Part 8 (1/2)

Her eyes blazed with wrath as she faced him.

”So here you are!” she cried furiously. ”How dare you disregard my orders? I will have no reporters on the grounds!”

”I'm only a photographer,” Salt said meekly enough. ”Sorry to intrude but I've been a.s.signed to get a picture of the bride. It won't take a minute--”

”Indeed it won't,” Mrs. Kippenberg broke in, her voice rising higher.

”You'll take no pictures here. Not one! Now get out.”

”A picture might be better than a story that the bridegroom had skipped out,” Salt said persuasively.

”Why, you--you!” Mrs. Kippenberg's face became fiery red. She choked as she tried to speak. ”Get out, I say!”

Salt did not retreat. Instead he took his camera from his pocket.

”Just one picture, Mrs. Kippenberg. At least of you.”

Realizing that the photographer meant to take it whether or not she gave permission, the woman suddenly lost all control over her temper.

”Don't you dare!” she cried furiously. ”Don't you dare!”

Whirling about, she seized an empty plate from the tall stack on the serving table.

”Hold that pose!” chortled Salt, goading her on.

The woman hurled the plate straight at him. Salt gleefully snapped a picture and dodged. The plate crashed into the wall behind him, splintering into a half dozen pieces.

”Swell action picture!” he grinned.

”Don't you dare try to use it!” screamed Mrs. Kippenberg. ”I'll telephone your editor! I'll have you discharged!”

”See here,” offered the usher, taking out his wallet. ”I'll give you ten dollars for that picture.”

Salt shook his head, still smiling broadly.

The sound of the crash had brought servants running to the scene.

”Have this person ejected from the grounds,” Mrs. Kippenberg ordered harshly. ”And see that he doesn't get back.”

Just outside the house, Penny huddled against the wall, trying to make herself as inconspicuous as possible. She had heard everything. As Salt backed out the door he did not glance at her but he muttered for her ears alone:

”You're on your own now, kid. I'll be waiting at the drawbridge.”

An instant later two servants seized him roughly by the arms and escorted him down the walk to the boat landing.

CHAPTER 6 _A RING OF WHITE GOLD_

Penny waited anxiously, but Mrs. Kippenberg did not come to the outside door. Nor had it occurred to the two servants that the girl was connected in any way with the photographer.