The Secret Pact

  CHAPTER 15 _INFORMATION FROM TILLIE_

  Penny lost no time in telling Mrs. Weems that Anchor Joe had disappeared.

  "Well, of all things!" exclaimed the housekeeper as she saw the desertedbedroom. "He was here a half hour ago. I know because I came in while hewas sleeping."

  "He must have heard Mr. Moyer inquiring about him," declared Penny."Obviously he ran away to avoid the interview."

  "Then that means he's guilty."

  "I'm afraid so, Mrs. Weems. What do you suppose he did to have agovernment man after him?"

  "He may have been a gangster."

  "Anchor Joe?" asked Penny, smiling. "He hardly looked the type."

  "In any event, we're fortunate to be rid of him."

  "I wish we could have questioned him," Penny said gloomily. "Now I maynever learn about that octopus tattoo."

  "You and your tattoo!" scoffed Mrs. Weems, beginning to strip linen fromthe bed. "Anchor Joe certainly deceived me. He seemed such a pleasantsort and I was sorry for him."

  "I still am," said Penny. "The poor fellow is in no condition to bewandering around. I rather hope Mr. Moyer overtakes him soon. Then atleast he'll get the medical attention he requires."

  While Mrs. Weems straightened the bedroom, she wandered to the river'sedge. Only a few stars were pricking the sky, and it was impossible tosee very far. There was no sign either of Mr. Moyer or the man hepursued.

  Penny returned to the cottage to eat supper with Mrs. Weems.

  "Now that Anchor Joe has gone, I may as well go home tonight," declaredthe housekeeper. "I can't leave, though, until I've cleaned the cottageand set it to rights."

  "How much longer will it take?"

  "Oh, an hour or two."

  "While I am waiting I may walk over to Peter Fenestra's place," Pennyremarked. "I shouldn't mind seeing Tillie Fellows again."

  "You'll be cautious in crossing the river?"

  "Of course," laughed Penny. "I won't be gone long."

  She washed the dishes for Mrs. Weems and then set forth for the Fenestrafarmhouse. Frogs croaked as she crossed the swaying bridge, and farupstream she heard the faint chug of a motorboat. Otherwise, the nightwas unusually still.

  Emerging from among the trees, Penny saw a light glowing in the distance.Knowing that it came from the Fenestra house, she used it as a beacon toguide her.

  Passing the barn, she climbed a fence and entered the yard. The house wasdark save for a single light burning in the kitchen. She could see TillieFellows moving about.

  Penny knocked on the side door. Through the window she observed Tilliefreeze into a tense attitude of fear. To reassure the girl she called hername in a loud voice.

  Immediately Tillie ran to open the door.

  "Oh, it's you!" she exclaimed in relief. "I was frightened."

  To Penny's surprise Tillie wore a silk dress. Pocketbook, hat and gloveslay upon the kitchen table.

  "I am afraid I've come at an awkward time," she apologized. "You weregoing somewhere?"

  "I'm leaving here," Tillie answered grimly. She closed the door behindPenny.

  "You mean for good? You've found another job?"

  Tillie shook her head. "I've been discharged. He didn't give me a week'sadvance wages either."

  "Oh, that's too bad," said Penny sympathetically. "But you'll find abetter place. You said you didn't like it here anyway."

  "I've hated it. Peter Fenestra is such a suspicious person. Why do youthink he discharged me?"

  "I can't guess, but I should like to know."

  "He accused me of prying!"

  "How unjust."

  "Well, in a way, I was trying to learn about things I shouldn't," Tillieadmitted honestly. "It was that storm cave."

  "Did you get down into it?" Penny asked.

  "No, but I tried. Old Peter was gone this afternoon and I decided to findout what he keeps hidden underground."

  "The padlock wasn't locked?"

  "Usually it is, but today he forgot. I got the door open. Just as Istarted down the steps he grabbed me by the shoulder. I was scared halfto death."

  "You mean Fenestra had hidden himself in the cave?" Penny questioned inastonishment.

  "Yes, it was a trick to catch me prying. He said so himself, Penny. Heonly pretended to go away, then lay in wait."

  "Did he threaten you?"

  "No, he just told me to get out and never come back. It wouldn't surpriseme if he leaves here himself soon."

  "Why do you say that, Tillie?"

  "Because he's afraid of his own shadow. But I don't blame him for beingnervous. This house is being watched!"

  As if fearing that unfriendly eyes were upon her at that very moment,Tillie went to the window and after peering into the yard, lowered theblind.

  "Twice I've seen men hiding in the wheat field just back of this place,"she confided. "The first time there was only one, but yesterday I sawthree."

  "Are you sure they were watching this house, Tillie?"

  "Oh, yes, they were lying on the ground. For an hour they scarcelymoved."

  "Didn't you tell Fenestra?"

  "I was afraid to do it, but I think he knew. All day he kept inside thehouse, and I saw him at the windows. He was as jumpy as a cat. Anotherthing--I saw him loading his revolver."

  "He must fear for his life."

  "I'm sure of it, Penny. Even if he's only going to the barn he carriesthe revolver with him."

  A clock on the shelf above the stove struck eight times.

  "Mercy!" exclaimed Tillie, "I must hurry or I'll never get away beforeOld Peter returns. Excuse me while I run upstairs for my suitcase."

  "Where is Fenestra now?" Penny inquired before the girl could leave.

  "In Riverview I suppose. He went away right after supper."

  "Run along and get your suitcase," Penny advised. "I'll drive you intotown."

  "Oh, thanks," the girl answered gratefully. "It won't take me long."

  After Tillie had gone, Penny walked to the window and rolled up theblind. Across the yard she could see the disfiguring mound of earth andcement. What secret did the storm cave guard? Why was it always keptpadlocked?

  Abruptly she went to the foot of the stairs and called:

  "Oh, Tillie, I'm going outside for a minute. I'll come back."

  "All right," agreed the girl. "Sorry to keep you waiting but I still havea few things to pick up."

  Leaving by the side door, Penny paused on the porch for a moment.Carefully she glanced about the yard and surrounding fields. A thinquarter moon rising over the pine trees gave dim shape to the barn andsilo. She could see no one, yet Tillie's revelation that strange menspied upon the house, made her attentive to danger.

  Swiftly she crossed the lawn to the storm cave. As she had fullyexpected, the slanting door was padlocked.

  "Oh, shoot!" she exclaimed impatiently. "I want to get down there!"

  She jerked at the padlock several times, and then accepting thesituation, turned toward the house. As she walked, Penny's eyes fastenedabsently upon a clump of lilac bushes some twenty yards from the cave.They were moving gently as if stirred by a wind. Yet there was no wind.

  Penny did not pause, but every sense became alert. Her heart pounded.Distinctly she could see a man crawling on hands and knees behind thelilacs.