Part 17 (1/2)
”Then I should think you would have some interest in what became of him.
I can't understand your att.i.tude at all.”
”I--I have others to think of besides myself.”
”Your mother, you mean?”
”Yes.” Sylvia avoided Penny's penetrating gaze.
”Surely your mother wouldn't wish an act of violence to go unpunished. So much time has been lost already.”
”We aren't certain anything has happened to Grant,” Sylvia responded, her eyes downcast. ”If we should bring the police into the case, and then it turns out that he has merely gone away to some other city, I'd be held up to ridicule once more.”
”It seems to me you are taking a most foolish att.i.tude.”
”There is another reason why we must be very careful,” Sylvia said unwillingly.
”And what is that?”
For just an instant Penny dared hope that the young woman meant to answer the question. But Sylvia seemed to reconsider for she said quickly:
”I can't tell you. Please don't ask me any more questions.”
”Are you afraid you may be blamed for Mr. Atherwald's disappearance?”
Penny persisted.
”No, no, I a.s.sure you I am not thinking of myself. Please, let's return to the house.”
Penny deliberately blocked the path.
”Unless you wish me to notify the police there is a little matter which I must ask you to explain.”
Reaching down she picked up a small stone and hurled it into the lily pond. As the ripples died away they both observed a convulsive movement of the water, a churning which had no relation to the missile thrown.
”I think,” said Penny evenly, ”that you understand my meaning.”
CHAPTER 11 _QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS_
Miss Kippenberg watched the concentric circles race each other to the far edge of the lily pool.
”Then you know the reason why this part of the estate is kept closed off?” she murmured, very low.
”I learned about the alligator yesterday,” said Penny. ”Why is such an ugly brute kept here?”
”It was none of my doing, I a.s.sure you. I hate the horrid thing. Surely you don't mean to suggest--”
”I am not suggesting anything yet,” said Penny quietly. ”But you must realize that it is rather unusual to keep an alligator on one's estate.”
”My father brought it here from Florida,” Miss Kippenberg revealed reluctantly. ”For some reason the creature seemed to fascinate him. He insisted upon keeping it in the pond.”