Part 15 (1/2)
Miss Kippenberg had closed her ears to Penny's words. She turned abruptly and fled in the direction of the powder room.
Penny hesitated, remembering her promise to create no scene. Still, she could not allow Miss Kippenberg to elude her so easily. Determinedly, she followed.
”Please, Miss Kippenberg, you must listen to me,” she pleaded.
Observing that her words had not the slightest effect upon the girl, she suddenly opened her purse and took out the white gold ring. She thrust it in front of Miss Kippenberg.
”I only wish to show you this.”
The young woman stopped short, gazing down at the ring.
”Where did you get it?” she asked in a low tone.
”Then you do recognize it?”
”Of course. Grant showed it to me the night before we were to have been married. Tell me, how did it come into your hands?”
”We can't talk here.”
Miss Kippenberg glanced quickly about and observing that many eyes were focused upon them, led the girl into the deserted powder room. They sat down on a sofa in a secluded corner.
”I didn't mean to be so rude before,” Miss Kippenberg apologized. ”It was only because I must protect myself from reporters and photographers. You have no idea how I have been annoyed.”
”I do understand,” said Penny, ”and I wish to help you. That was why I was so insistent upon talking with you. I think this ring may be a clue to Mr. Atherwald's disappearance.”
”Then you believe as I do that he did not go away purposely?”
”My theory is that Mr. Atherwald was a victim of a plot. Did he have any known enemies?”
”Oh, no, everyone liked Grant. Tell me about the ring. Who gave it to you?”
”No one. I found it while I was exploring a path on the estate, the trail which is blocked off.”
”You shouldn't have gone there, but no matter. Just where did you pick up the ring?”
”I found it near the lily pool.”
Miss Kippenberg stared at Penny with expressionless, half-glazed eyes.
”Oh!” she murmured. Her head dropped low, her body sagged and she slumped down on the sofa in a faint.
CHAPTER 10 _A THROWN STONE_
Penny's first thought was to call for a.s.sistance, but sober reflection made her realize that to do so would likely result in awkward questions.
She felt certain Miss Kippenberg had only fainted and would soon revive.
Stretching the young woman full length upon the sofa, the girl ran to the washroom for a gla.s.s of water. She dampened a towel and folded it across Miss Kippenberg's forehead, at the same time rubbing the limp hands and trying to restore circulation. Noticing the white gold ring which had fallen to the floor, she reached down and picked it up.