Part 27 (1/2)
”Oh, you and your theories! You can't make me believe that gardener didn't mean to harm us. He was a very sinister character.”
”Sinister is a strong word, Lou. But I'll agree he's not any ordinary gardener. Either he's been hired by the Kippenberg family for a very special purpose or else he's gained their confidence and means to bend them to his own ends.”
”His own ends! Why, Penny, what do you mean? Have you learned something you haven't told me?”
”Only this. I'm satisfied Old Peter is no gardener. He's wearing a disguise.”
”Well, what won't you think of next! You've been reading too many detective stories, Penny Parker.”
”Have I? Then there's no need to tell you--”
”Yes, there is,” Louise cut in. ”Your ideas are pretty imaginative, but I like to hear them anyway.”
”Considerate of you, old thing,” Penny drawled in her best imitation of an English accent. ”You don't deserve to be told after that crack, but I'll do it anyhow. When I pulled the gardener's hat down over his eyes, I felt something slip!”
”Maybe it was his skin peeling off.”
”He wore a wig,” Penny said soberly. ”That's why he looked so startled when I jerked the hat.”
”Did you actually see a wig?”
”No, but he must have had one on his head. I felt it give, I tell you.”
”I wouldn't put anything past that fellow. But if he isn't a gardener, then who or what is he?”
”I don't know, but I intend to do some intensive investigation.”
”Just how, may I ask?”
Penny gazed speculatively toward the drawbridge, noting that the old watchman had been deserted by the group of reporters. He sat alone, legs crossed, his camp stool propped against the side of the gearhouse.
”Let's talk with him, Lou. He might be able to tell us something about the different employees of the estate.”
They walked over to where the old man sat, greeting him with their most pleasant smiles.
”Good morning,” said Penny.
The old man finished lighting his pipe before he deigned to notice them.
”Good morning,” repeated Penny.
”Mornin',” said the watchman. He looked the two girls over appraisingly and added: ”Ain't you children a long ways off from your Ma's?”
The remark both startled and offended Penny, but instantly she divined that the old fellow's memory was short and his eyesight poor. He had failed to recognize her in everyday clothes.
”Oh, we're just out for a hike,” she answered. ”You see, we get tired of all the ordinary places, so we thought we would walk by here.”
”We're interested in your bridge,” added Louise. ”We just love bridges.”
”This one ain't so good any more,” the old man said disparagingly.