The Clock Strikes Thirteen

  CHAPTER 14 _THROUGH THE WINDOW_

  "You have the craziest ideas, Penny," Louise scoffed. "I'll admit theclock struck an extra time, but it must have been because something iswrong with the mechanism. A signal, my eye!"

  Lowering the car window, Penny peered curiously up at the tower which wasshrouded in fog and mist.

  "Lou, there's someone up there in the cupola! It may be Charley Phelps!"

  "You can't make a mystery out of Charley," yawned Louise. "Probably he'strying to repair the clock. Come on, let's get home."

  Reluctantly, Penny raised the window glass. Before she could drive on,another car pulled up not far from the tower. The driver, a man in anovercoat, swung open the door as if to alight. However, observing Penny'scar parked close by, he seemed to change his mind. Keeping his headlowered so that his face was shadowed, he drove away.

  "Who was that man?" Penny demanded suspiciously.

  "I'm afraid I neglected to inquire," Louise retorted. "So careless ofme!"

  "Whoever he was, he intended to enter the tower! When he saw us here, hebecame nervous and drove away!"

  "Oh, Penny, you're the limit."

  "Maybe I am, but I know what I think. The striking of the clock was asignal for some sort of meeting at the tower!"

  "A board of directors confab perhaps?" teased Louise.

  "Listen!" said Penny, ignoring the jibes. "I want to park the car on aside street, and then come back here afoot. Something is up and I mean tofind out about it!"

  "Oh, Penny," Louise sighed. "If I don't get home Mother never will allowme to go anywhere with you again. Don't you realize what time it is?"

  "Thirteen o'clock!" Penny chuckled. "It may never be that again, so Imust strike while the clock strikes, so to speak. How about it?"

  "Well, it's your car," Louise replied with a shrug. "I'm powerless inyour hands."

  Penny drove around a block, parking on a well-lighted street. She andLouise then approached the tower afoot. Not wishing to be seen, they tookcare to keep close to a high hedge which edged the grounds.

  "I never felt more silly in my life," Louise complained. "What are wesupposed to do now?"

  "Windows were made to look through," Penny responded coolly. "Let's seewhat Charley Phelps is doing inside the tower."

  Circling the building, the girls placed a rock beneath one of the rearwindows. From that unstable perch, Penny was able to peer into the livingquarters of the tower.

  "Well, what do you see, Sherlock?" Louise demanded impatiently.

  "Nothing."

  "How perfectly amazing!" Louise taunted mischievously. "What do you makeof it?"

  "Charley Phelps seems to be reading a newspaper."

  "Baffling! It must have some deep, dark significance."

  With a sigh, Penny stepped down from the rock. "Want to look?" sheinvited.

  "I do not!"

  "Then I guess we may as well go home," Penny said reluctantly.

  As she spoke, both girls heard an automobile pull up in front of thetower. With reviving hope, Penny placed a restraining hand on Louise'sarm, forcing her to wait in the shadow of the building. A minute elapsedand then the front door of the tower slammed shut. Without the slightesthesitation, Penny once more moved to her previous position beneath thewindow.

  "Charley has some visitors," she reported in a whisper. "Four men I neversaw before. I wish I could hear what they are saying."

  "Why not smash the window, or saw a hole through the wall?" Louiseproposed sarcastically.

  Penny stepped from the rock, offering the place to her chum.

  "Do look inside," she urged. "Maybe you'll recognize those men. It'sreally important."

  Louise unwillingly did as requested, but after a moment moved away fromthe window.

  "I never saw any of them either," she said. "They must be friends ofCharley Phelps."

  "It's a special meeting," Penny insisted. "I suspect other men may comealong within a few minutes."

  "I know one thing," Louise announced flatly. "I'll not be here to seethem. If you're not ready to go home, then I shall walk!"

  "Oh, all right, I'll go," Penny grumbled. "It seems a pity though, justwhen we might have learned something important."

  Taking care to remove the stone from beneath the tower window, shehastened after her chum. In silence they drove to the Sidell home whereLouise alighted.

  "Sorry to have spoiled your fun, Penny," she apologized as she saidgoodnight. "If you'll only arrange to conduct your explorations bydaylight I'll try to cooperate."

  Arriving at her own home a few minutes later, Penny found her fatherwaiting up for her. Mr. Parker had attended a meeting of the Camp Fundboard, and upon returning at eleven-thirty, had been disturbed to findhis daughter absent.

  "Hold it! Hold it!" Penny greeted him before he could speak. "I know it'slate, but I can explain everything."

  "You're always able to explain--too well," the editor responded dryly."Mrs. Weems expected that you would be home not later than eleveno'clock."

  "Well, one thing just seemed to lead to another, Dad. Louise and I saw awonderful show, I obtained a copy of Ben Bowman's signature, and then totop it off, the Hubell clock struck thirteen again!"

  "Which in your estimation explains everything?"

  "I wish it did," Penny said, neatly changing the subject. "Dad, Louiseand I saw a number of men going into the tower tonight. Obviously, theywere summoned there by the striking of the clock."

  "Tommyrot!"

  "Oh, Dad, you haven't a scrap of imagination," Penny sighed. "Has itnever occurred to you that Charley Phelps may be connected with theHoods?"

  "Never," replied Mr. Parker. "And if I were you I shouldn't go aroundmaking such wild suggestions. You _might_ find yourself involved inserious trouble."

  "You're the only one to whom I've confided my theory, Dad. In fact, itonly this minute occurred to me."

  "So I thought, Penny. If I were you I would forget the Hubell clock. Whynot devote yourself to something worthwhile?"

  "For instance?"

  "I'll provide an interesting job. I've been asked to select playequipment for the new orphans' camp. I'll be happy to turn the task overto you."

  "Do you think I could do it?" Penny asked dubiously.

  "Why not? You can learn from the matron of the Home what is needed, andthen make your selection."

  "I'll be glad to do it, Dad. When is the camp to open?"

  "The actual date hasn't been set, but it will be soon. That is, unless aserious disagreement arises about the camp site."

  "A disagreement?" Penny inquired curiously.

  "Yes, Mr. Blake is trying to influence the board to buy a track of landwhich he controls."

  "At a very high price?"

  "The price seems to be fair enough. I personally don't care for the site,however. It's located on the river, but too close to the swamp."

  "Then why does the board consider it?"

  "Mr. Blake gave a very generous donation, you remember. I figured at thetime he would expect something in return."

  "He'll profit by the sale?"

  "Obviously. I don't know who owns the land, but Blake will receive acommission on the sale. The board also is considering a wooded propertycloser to Riverview, and I favor that site."

  "Will the board listen to you, Dad?"

  "I rather doubt it. My objections weren't especially vigorous. Eitherproperty will be satisfactory, and Blake's price is a trifle moreattractive."

  With a yawn, Mr. Parker arose and locked the front door.

  "It's after one," he said. "Let's get to bed."

  Penny started up the stairway, only to pause as the telephone rang. Whileher father answered it, she waited, curiously to learn who would becalling at such a late hour. In a moment he replaced the receiver on itshook.

  "That was the night editor of the _Star_," he explained briefly.

  "Has a big story bro
ken, Dad?"

  "Another storage barn was burned to the ground about ten minutes ago. Thenight editor called to ask how I wanted the story handled."

  "Then the depredation was done by the Hoods!"

  "It looks that way."

  Penny came slowly down the stairway to face her father.

  "Dad, if the fire was set only a few minutes ago, doesn't that support mytheory?"

  "Which theory? You have so many."

  "I mean about the Hubell Tower," Penny said soberly. "The clock struckthirteen on the night the Preston barn was destroyed! Don't you see, Dad?The Hoods hold their meetings and then ride forth to accomplish theirunderhanded work!"