Part 35 (2/2)
Few words were spoken during the next twenty minutes. Penny stirred restlessly, and finally went to join Jerry who was maintaining a watch from the belfry.
”See anyone?” she whispered, scanning the street below.
”No sign of anyone yet.”
At intervals automobiles whizzed past the tower, and presently one drew up not far from the building. Immediately, Jerry and Penny focused their attention upon it. The headlights were turned to parking, then a man alighted and came toward the Hubell Tower.
”Who is he?” Jerry whispered. ”Can you tell?”
”I'm not sure,” Penny said uncertainly. ”It may be Hank Holloway.”
As the man stepped into the light, they both saw that her identification had been correct. The man rapped on the door several times. Receiving no answer, he finally entered.
”Charley!” those on the iron stairway heard him call. ”Where are you?”
The brilliantly lighted living room combined with the absence of the caretaker, seemed to mystify the newcomer. Muttering to himself, he moved restlessly about for a few minutes. Finally seating himself, he picked up a newspaper and began to read.
From their post in the belfry, Penny and Jerry soon observed two other men approaching the tower. One they recognized as a workman who had sorted melons at the Davis farm, but his companion was unknown to them.
Without rapping, they too entered the building.
”Where's Charley?” inquired one of the men.
”That's what I was wondering,” Hank Holloway replied, tossing aside his paper. ”For that matter, I can't figure out why this special meeting was called. Something important must have come up.”
Within ten minutes, three other men had arrived. Jerry was able to identify two of them by name, but he dared not risk whispering the information to Mr. Parker who crouched on the stairway.
”There's something mighty queer about this meeting,” Hank Holloway growled. ”Where is the Master? And what's become of Charley?”
From the machinery room in which the caretaker had been imprisoned came a slight thumping sound.
”What was that?” Hank demanded suspiciously.
”I didn't hear anything,” answered one of the other men. ”Maybe it was someone at the door.”
Hank tramped across the room to peer out into the night. As the door swung back, a dark figure moved swiftly along the hedge, crouching low.
”Who's there?” Hank called sharply.
”Quiet, you fool!” was the harsh response.
A man wearing a dark robe and a black hood which completely hid his face, brushed past Holloway, and entered the Tower living room.
”Close the door!” he ordered.
Holloway hastened to obey. An expectant and rather tense silence had fallen upon the men gathered in the room.
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