Part 24 (1/2)
”Not much of anything.”
”I can't hold you forever,” Louise said, and released her hold. ”Didn't you see anything at all?”
”Just a lot of machinery.”
”Tools, you mean?”
”No, an electric motor and something which looked like it might be a pump. Oh, I get it now!”
”Get what?” demanded Louise.
”Why, the idea of this tower. It must be used as a pump house. I wondered how the lily pool was ever drained and this must be the answer.”
”You didn't see any prisoners chained inside?” Louise teased.
”Not one. Well, let's be getting on to the lily pond. It must be somewhere close.”
Louise could not understand why her chum was so determined that she should see the pool. But since Penny seldom did anything without a purpose, she speculated upon what might be in store. She knew from the girl's manner that certain facts had been withheld deliberately to make this visit the more impressive.
”Here we are,” said Penny as they came to the clearing. ”What do you think of it?”
Louise was aware of a deep sense of disappointment as she gazed at the lily pool.
”I really don't see anything so remarkable about it, Penny.”
”This was the place where I found the wedding ring. And there were footprints indicating that a struggle probably took place.”
”I read all that in the paper,” Louise said. ”From the hints you've been pa.s.sing out, I thought you brought me here to show me something mysterious.”
”Go close to the pool.”
”What for, Penny? You want to push me in?”
”Oh, you're too suspicious! Go on and look.”
Louise went to the edge of the pool and peered down into the water.
”I don't see anything.”
”You will in just a minute. Keep looking.”
Louise was more than half convinced that Penny meant to play some prank, but she dropped down on her knees so her eyes would be closer to the water.
”Why, I do see some large object on the floor of the tank!” she exclaimed after a moment. ”What is it, Penny?”
”An alligator.”
Louise gave a smothered scream and drew back from the pool's edge.