Part 41 (1/2)

One of the policemen reached out, and with a quick jerk, ripped the artificial hump from beneath the man's s.h.i.+rt.

”Interesting,” he commented. ”This hump has made a safe carryall for the loot!”

As Penny, her friends, and cult members gathered close, the pouch was opened. Inside were found the diamond necklace stolen from Mrs. Merkill, several valuable brooches, a black cameo, pearl earrings, an emerald-cut diamond, and other items.

Eagerly, cult members identified their stolen property.

”This sews up our case,” declared one of the officers in satisfaction.

”We'll not need a confession now to send these two up for a long stretch!”

The prisoners were hustled into the police car, which set off at top speed for the Riverview Safety Building. Ambulances began to arrive to remove cult members deemed in need of medical attention.

”What about Old Julia?” Penny inquired. ”Where is she to be sent?”

”She must be committed to a mental inst.i.tution for treatment,” Mr. Ayling said regretfully. ”Perhaps with proper care, she will fully recover.”

”Who is she, I wonder?”

”One of Highland's victims in an earlier deal, I judge,” replied the investigator. ”Obviously her mind became unhinged from the cruelty she witnessed and experienced. Apparently, she has no friends or relatives.”

”I'll never forget how she screamed at night,” said Rhoda with a s.h.i.+ver.