The Clock Strikes Thirteen

  CHAPTER 13 _AN EXTRA STROKE_

  With all the windows and the door of the shop locked, Penny did not knowhow to free the imprisoned child. However, as she considered the problem,Seth McGuire appeared on the porch of the cottage.

  "Good morning," he greeted her pleasantly.

  "Oh, Mr. McGuire!" Penny exclaimed. "Did you know there is a child lockedinside your shop?"

  "A child!" the old man exclaimed, coming quickly down the steps. "Whybless me! How can that be?"

  "I don't understand how she got inside, but she's there! Officials of theRiverview Orphans' Home have been searching for Adelle Hanover since lastnight."

  "Wait until I get my key," the old man said in an agitated voice. "I hopeyou don't think I locked the child into the shop!"

  Knowing Mr. McGuire as she did, Penny entertained no such thought. Wavingencouragingly to Adelle through the window, she waited for the old man toreturn.

  "I locked the door about eleven o'clock last night," he explained,fumbling nervously with the key. "The little girl must have stolen inthere sometime between six o'clock and that hour."

  The old man's hand shook so that he could not unlock the door. Taking thekey, Penny did it for him. Adelle, her hair flying wildly about her face,stumbled out of the shop.

  "I'm hungry," she sobbed. "It was cold in there, and a big rat keptrunning around. Why did you lock me inside?"

  "Why, bless you," Mr. McGuire murmured, "I never dreamed anyone wasinside the shop! How did you get in there?"

  "I went inside last night and hid," Adelle explained in a calmer voice."It was cold outside and I had to have some place to sleep."

  "You never should have run away from the Home," Penny reproved. "Why didyou do it?"

  "Because I don't like it there," the child answered defiantly. "I'llnever be adopted like the other children."

  "Why, how silly!" Penny answered. "Of course someone will adopt you."

  Adelle shook her head. "Miss Anderson says I won't be--I heard her tellthe matron. It's on account of a nervous 'fliction. I'm afraid of things,'specially cars."

  "That's very natural, everything considered," Penny replied, thinking ofthe story Miss Anderson had told her. "Now I'll take you to the Home."

  Adelle drew away, and as if seeking protection, crowded close beside Mr.McGuire.

  "I'm never going back, even if I freeze and starve!" she announced. "I'llfind me a cave and live on berries. It would be more fun than being anorphan."

  Penny gazed despairingly at the old bell maker. With a chuckle, he tookthe child by the hand and led her toward the cottage.

  "We'll have lunch and talk things over," he proposed. "How will that be?"

  "I'm awful hungry," Adelle admitted, smiling up at him. "But you won'tgive me any old boiled potatoes, will you? We have 'em every single dayat the Home."

  "No potatoes," he laughed. "We'll have the very nicest things I can findin the icebox, and maybe a stick of candy to top it off."

  While Mr. McGuire pottered about the kitchen preparing a warm meal, Pennywashed Adelle and combed her tangled hair. Afterwards, she telephonedofficials of the Home, telling them that the child had been found.

  "I'll bring her there within an hour," she promised. "Just as soon as shehas had her lunch."

  Adelle was ravenous. She was not a pretty child, but her face had anelfin quality when she smiled. Her brown eyes, roving about the spick andspan little dinette, took in every detail.

  "This is almost as nice as it was at our home," she remarked. "I mean myreal home, when Daddy and Mother were alive."

  "You'll have a nice place again when you are adopted," Penny assured herkindly.

  "I'd like to stay here," Adelle said, looking thoughtfully at the oldman. "Would your wife let me?"

  "Why, bless you, I haven't a wife," he answered in embarrassment. "I'm abachelor."

  "Wouldn't you like a little girl?" Adelle persisted. "I could do yourdishes for you and sweep the floor. I'd be real good."

  "Well, now I've often thought I would like a nice little girl," hereplied, smiling.

  "Then you can have me!" Adelle cried, jumping up from her chair. "You cantell the Home I won't be back!"

  "Not so fast, not so fast," Mr. McGuire said hastily. "I'd like a littlegirl, but I am afraid I can't afford one. You see, I don't make muchmoney any more and there are other reasons--"

  "Oh, I won't eat much," Adelle promised. "Please keep me, Mr. McGuire."

  The old man was so distressed that Penny tried to come to his rescue.However, despite repeated explanations, Adelle refused to understand whyshe could not immediately become Mr. McGuire's little girl.

  "If I had my old job back, I'd be tempted, sorely tempted," the old mansaid to Penny. "I've always wanted someone that was near and dear to me."He drew a deep sigh. "As things are, I don't see how it could be workedout."

  "Won't you keep thinking about it?" Adelle pleaded. "Anytime you want me,I'll come right away."

  "Yes, I'll think about it," Mr. McGuire promised soberly. "I reallywill."

  An hour later Penny took a very depressed Adelle back to the RiverviewOrphans' Home. Leaving her there, she drove on into town, chancing to seeher chum, Louise Sidell on the street. Signalling her with a toot of thehorn, Penny swung wide the door.

  "On your way home, Lou?" she inquired.

  "No, just wandering around in a daze trying to do a bit of shopping,"Louise answered, sharing the seat. "The stores here never have anything Iwant."

  "Then why not go to Claymore?" Penny proposed suddenly.

  "I would if I could get there."

  "I'll take you," Penny offered. "I need to go to Claymore on specialbusiness, and I'd like to have someone ride along."

  "Well, I don't know," Louise replied dubiously. "I doubt Leaping Lenawould stand such a long trip."

  "Oh, I'll take the other car."

  "In that case the answer is 'yes,'" Louise replied instantly.

  Penny drove directly home to exchange cars and tell Mrs. Weems where shewas going.

  "Louise and I may not be back until very late," she warned. "It's barelypossible we'll attend the theatre while we're at Claymore. There's a newplay on, and everyone says it's grand."

  "If you drive after night, be very careful," the housekeeper respondeduneasily. "There are so many accidents these days."

  A brief stop was made at the Sidell residence, and then the girls took tothe road. Deliberately, Penny selected the same route which she and Jerryhad followed the previous night.

  "Is that why we're going to Claymore?" Louise inquired curiously, as sheheard the story of what had happened to the Davis truck. "You intend totrace those stolen melons?"

  "I haven't much hope of doing that," Penny answered. "I want to visit thetelegraph office and get an original message which was sent to Dad. Hislife has been made miserable by a pest who keeps sending him telegrams,and I'm out to catch the rascal."

  "You jump around from one thing to another so fast I can't keep track ofyour enterprises," Louise sighed.

  "I concentrate on the ones which offer a prospect of ready cash," Pennyrejoined with a laugh. "If I catch Mr. Ben Bowman it means exactly onehundred dollars to me!"

  Upon reaching Claymore, the girls spent two hours shopping at the largedepartment stores. Penny then made a tour of the telegraph offices,finally locating the one from which Mr. Bowman's message had been sent.After explaining why she wished it, she was allowed to inspect and keepthe original copy which bore the sender's signature.

  "I'll turn this handwriting over to the police," she explained to Louise."They may be able to trace Ben Bowman by means of it."

  "Providing the man ever comes to Riverview," Louise said skeptically. "Itseems like a forlorn hope to me."

  Before leaving the office, Penny inquired of the clerk who had handledthe message if a description of Ben Bowman could be provided.

  "I really don'
t remember him," the young woman answered. "In general Ishould say he was well-dressed--probably about thirty-five years of age."

  "Not much to go on," Penny said regretfully. "Thanks anyhow."

  "Where now?" Louise asked in a weary voice as they finally left thetelegraph office. "Shall we buy tickets to the play?"

  "Not yet," said Penny. "I'd like to wander around the market district abit."

  For the next hour they did exactly that, selecting a section of the citywhere farmers brought their produce to sell in open stalls. Penny wentfrom one counter to another, inspecting cantaloupes, hoping to find onewhich bore the Davis stamp.

  "I'm getting tired of pawing vegetables!" Louise presently complained."When do we eat?"

  "All right, we may as well call it a day," Penny replied reluctantly.

  In the downtown section of the city, the girls found a small cafe whichadvertised a deluxe dinner for one dollar. Treating themselves to thebest, they enjoyed a leisurely meal, and then bought theatre tickets.

  "Penny, do you realize what all this is costing us?" Louise began toworry belatedly.

  "Oh, I'll soon make it up," Penny joked. "Wait until I capture BenBowman! With my profit from him we'll paint the town red!"

  "You're nothing if not optimistic," Louise said pityingly.

  The play was an excellent one and when the curtain fell at eleven,neither girl begrudged the money paid for tickets.

  "It's been a grand day," Louise sighed contentedly as they left thetheatre. "Let's get home now as quickly as we can."

  The drive to Riverview consumed nearly an hour. As the girls approachedthe Hubell Tower, they noted by the illuminated clock face that the handspointed to twelve o'clock.

  "The witching hour of midnight," Louise remarked. "Do you still thinkthat mechanical creature has supernatural powers?"

  "Quiet!" Penny commanded, idling the car as the big clock began tostrike. "I'm going to count the strokes."

  "I'll do it too, just so you can't pull a fast one on me. That's twonow."

  As each slow note sounded, Louise counted it aloud. Reaching twelve, shepaused, but the clock did not. There was a slight break, then anotherstroke.

  "Why, it did strike thirteen!" she gasped. "Or perhaps I became mixedup!"

  "You made no mistake," Penny declared, easing the car to a standstill bythe curb. "It struck thirteen, and that last stroke wasn't like theothers!"

  "It did seem to have a slightly different tone. I wonder why?"

  "Someone may have struck the bell an extra tap!" Penny answered withconviction. "Louise, don't you see! It must be a signal!"