Part 28 (1/2)

agreed Winkey. ”I don't like it! If anyone should find out about the crypt--”

”Let me do the worrying,” interrupted Father Benedict. ”We'll get the sapphire and be away before anyone even sets foot inside the place.”

”What about that Parker girl?”

”She's only a child!” the monk scoffed. ”A very annoying, nosey one, I grant you.”

Taking the lantern with them, Father Benedict and Winkey disappeared in the direction of the monk's study. Left in darkness, Penny debated her next action.

If only she could telephone her father or Mr. DeWitt at the _Star_ office! This, of course, was out of the question, for the ancient building obviously had no phone service.

”I might go for help,” she reasoned, ”but a full hour would be needed for me to reach Riverview and return with anyone. And what can I prove?”

Though Penny was convinced Father Benedict and Winkey were fleecing cult members, she knew the women voluntarily had given up their jewelery. In the event police tried to arrest Father Benedict, the cult members might rise to his defense.

”I'll have to have more evidence!” she decided. ”The one person who should be able to tell me what goes on here is that girl who is locked in the chapel bedroom!”

Stealing across the dark cloister, Penny listened a moment at the pa.s.sageway leading to the refectory. An undercurrent of conversation and the clatter of tin spoons told her that cult members had not yet finished the evening repast.

From the map Mr. Eckenrod had shown her, the girl knew the location of the chapel bedroom. Tiptoeing down a corridor opening from the cloister, she came to a ma.s.sive oaken door.

”This must be the one,” she decided.

Softly she tapped on the panel.

”Who is there?” called a startled voice. The words were so m.u.f.fled, Penny barely could distinguish them.

”A friend,” replied Penny.

Footsteps pattered across the room. ”Help me get out!” the imprisoned girl pleaded.

Penny tried the door. As she had expected, it was locked.

”Where is the key?” she called through the panel. ”If I can find it, I may be able to get you out of here.”

”Speak louder!” the girl protested. ”I can't hear you.”

Penny dared raise her voice no higher. She realized that the heavy paneling deadened sound and made it impossible to carry on a satisfactory conversation.

”The key!” she called again. ”Where is it?”

As she spoke the words, a board snapped directly behind her. Penny's heart jumped. Before she could turn to look over her shoulder, a bony hand reached out of the darkness and grasped her wrist.

CHAPTER 18 _ELEVEN BOWLS_

Smothering a scream, Penny twisted around to see that it was Old Julia who had seized her arm.

”Oh!” she gasped in relief. ”I thought it was Winkey or Father Benedict!”