Part 37 (1/2)

”Which dock?” the man rasped.

”It was just at the edge of Riverview. Dock Fourteen.”

”At least you remember the number!” he snapped. ”If I fail to find the gem, I'll come back here and make you pay! You may be certain of that!”

”I hope you do come back and that the police are waiting at the gate!”

Rhoda retorted. ”I hope they put you in prison for the rest of your life!”

Picking up the lantern, Jay Highland started toward the stairway where Penny crouched. She moved hurriedly behind the door which opened into the crypt.

Slight as was the sound she made, Highland detected it.

”Who is there?” he called, holding his lantern high. ”Answer or I'll shoot!”

Penny did not doubt that the man would carry out his threat. Her hand closed on a stone which lay on a ledge directly behind her.

”Don't shoot,” she said, exposing herself to view.

”So it's you again!” hissed Highland. ”I might have known!”

Penny let fly the stone. It struck the lantern. The light went out and oil and flame splattered over the stone floor.

Knowing it was her only chance to escape, Penny made a wild dash up the stairs. But she could not climb swiftly enough.

Jay Highland pounded hard after her. As she neared the top of the circular steps, he seized her arm and pulled her backwards.

Penny fought like a tiger to free herself. Together they stumbled and rolled down the wide stones to the floor of the crypt. There the man pressed his revolver hard into the girl's ribs, and she knew the game was up.

”Get in there!” he said, giving her a hard push. ”This time you'll stay!”

As Penny reeled backwards into a wall, she heard the door of the crypt close and lock. With despair she realized that she too was a prisoner in the chamber of the dead.

CHAPTER 24 _CHAMBER OF THE DEAD_

Furious at herself because she had been so careless, Penny quickly tested the door. Finding it securely fastened as she had known it would be, she reached for her flashlight. It was missing from her pocket.

Though she groped about in the darkness, she could not find it. Giving up, she next turned her attention to Rhoda Hawthorne.

Thongs about the girl's wrists and ankles had been loosely tied. In a minute, Penny had set her free.

”Now to find a way out of here!” she exclaimed. ”Highland and Winkey probably are driving to the river dock by this time!”

”It's no use trying to get out,” Rhoda said despairingly as she rubbed her bruised wrists. ”I'm sure this door is the only exit. Look in the adjoining room and you'll see what I mean.”

Even as Penny started for the inner doorway, she heard a low moan of pain from someone imprisoned there.

”Who is it?” she asked tensely.