The Secret Pact

  CHAPTER 19 _MRS. WEEMS' REPORT_

  Several minutes elapsed before the door was opened by Peter Fenestra. Heglanced alertly about the yard, and then his gaze fell upon the envelope.Penny heard him mutter to himself as he picked it up.

  Fenestra's face became convulsed with rage as he tore open the flap andsaw the message. Still muttering, he crumpled the paper and thrust itinto his pocket. Entering the house, he slammed the door.

  With Peter at home Penny dared not try to see Mrs. Weems. As shehesitated, debating, Anchor Joe came from his hiding place. He did notsee the girl.

  "Joe!" she called softly.

  The sailor turned. Recognizing her, he ran in the opposite directionacross the yard. Keeping low behind a hedge, he started toward the river.

  "Joe! Come back!" Penny called again.

  Paying no heed, the sailor fled through the fields. Soon he was hidden bytall trees and bushes.

  Penny felt deeply disturbed, wondering if Anchor Joe made a practice ofwatching the Fenestra home. She was inclined to believe that this had notbeen his first visit there.

  Unexpectedly the farmhouse door swung open. Penny barely had time to stepbehind a large maple before Peter Fenestra came down the path. He wentdirectly to the barn, and a few minutes later backed out his automobile.

  "Good!" thought Penny. "He's likely driving to Riverview. Now I can talkto Mrs. Weems without fear of interruption."

  As soon as the car had disappeared down the main road, she ran to thekitchen door and knocked. When it was not opened immediately, she thrusther head inside and called the housekeeper's name.

  "Here I am," answered Mrs. Weems, hurrying from the dining room. "I hopeyou've come to take me home, Penny Parker!"

  "No, only to receive your report." Penny sank into a chair beside thestove. "You don't act very pleased with your new job."

  "It's a dreadful place. I was crazy to say I would stay here."

  "Haven't you learned anything?"

  "I've learned that Peter Fenestra is one of the most disagreeable men Iever met in my life! There's no satisfying him. He requires a slave, nota housekeeper!"

  "But what about the storm cave?" Penny asked. "Were you able to find outwhat Fenestra stores in it?"

  "Of course not. The padlock always is locked, and he keeps the key in hispocket."

  "But he does have something hidden there?" Penny questioned eagerly. "Hegoes down into it at night?"

  "I've seen him enter the cave once since I came here."

  "When was that?"

  "Last night after I had gone to bed. I heard the door close, so I went tothe window and watched."

  "How long did he stay there, Mrs. Weems?"

  "About three hours I'd judge. It was after two o'clock when he returnedto his room."

  "What _can_ he have hidden in the cave?"

  "Nothing in my opinion," declared Mrs. Weems. "I think he cookssomething. At least he builds a fire."

  "What makes you think that?"

  "I could see smoke seeping out from the cracks of the cave door."

  Penny frowned. "I can't guess what he could be cooking," she said."Surely he doesn't have a still down there."

  "I doubt it very much. Probably you've built up a great mystery aboutnothing."

  Pouring hot water over the dishes, Mrs. Weems began to wash them. Pennypicked up a towel and automatically wiped and stacked them away.

  "I didn't imagine that this house was being watched," she replied. "Onlya few minutes ago I saw Anchor Joe steal to the door and leave a letterfor Mr. Fenestra."

  "Anchor Joe!"

  "Mr. Moyer never caught him it seems. But why should the fellow comehere? What message did he leave Fenestra?"

  "I heard a knock on the front door," Mrs. Weems admitted. "Fenestraanswered it, and when he came back into the kitchen he was in a dreadfultemper."

  "The letter upset him?"

  "I didn't know he had received one."

  "Yes, Anchor Joe left it on the doorstep. It may have been a threateningnote. I'd give a lot to know."

  "Fenestra has been very nervous since I came here," Mrs. Weemscontributed. "If he hears any unusual sound in the yard he immediatelybecomes alert."

  "As if he were afraid for his life?"

  "Yes, he does act that way. I doubt if he'll stay here much longer. Hisclothes are all packed in suitcases."

  "That _is_ important information," declared Penny. "Oh, dear, if only weknew why he's being threatened, and why he intends to leave! I believeI'll go upstairs and inspect his room."

  "You'll learn nothing there," responded Mrs. Weems. "Fenestra is acareful man. He leaves no papers lying about."

  "It will do no harm to look."

  Penny climbed the creaking stairs and was followed by Mrs. Weems.

  "This is his room," said the housekeeper, opening a door. "I haven't madethe bed yet."

  She busied herself smoothing covers while Penny wandered about. The roomhad no rug. It was furnished with an old fashioned dresser, a wash standand a bed with a high headboard.

  Penny opened the closet door. The hangers were dangling together, withoutclothing. Everything had been packed into two suitcases which stoodagainst the wall.

  "I've already inspected the luggage," said Mrs. Weems as the girl bent toopen one of the bags. "You'll find nothing except clothing. I tell you,Peter Fenestra is a very cautious man."

  "I can believe it," agreed Penny. "This room is as bare of evidence asMother Hubbard's cupboard."

  "Just what do you hope to find?"

  "Well, I don't know. What's this?" Penny picked up a sheet of notebookpaper from the dresser.

  "Don't get excited over that," laughed Mrs. Weems.

  "It's only a grocery list which Fenestra made up. He doesn't trust anyoneto spend his money for him."

  "Is this Fenestra's writing?" Penny studied the paper with intenseinterest.

  "Yes, it is."

  "Mrs. Weems, I've seen this writing before!" Penny exclaimed. "I'm almostcertain of it. There's a marked resemblance!"

  "A resemblance to what, Penny?"

  "Why, to a threatening note I received. I guess I never told you. Someoneleft a message on my desk at the newspaper office, warning me to give upmy paper."

  "And you think Peter Fenestra left it there?" inquired the housekeeper,smiling.

  "This looks like the same writing."

  "Probably you are mistaken, Penny. Why should he have any interest inyour paper?"

  "He came to the office one day, questioning me about a story I ranconcerning John Munn. I shall keep this and compare it with the note."

  Carefully folding the paper, Penny slipped it into her dress pocket. Mrs.Weems had finished making the bed and was ready to leave.

  "I've learned everything I can for you," she said. "Now I hope you'rewilling to let me return home."

  "Please stay another day," pleaded Penny. "I feel in my bones that we'reabout to make an important discovery."

  "Those bones of yours!" complained the housekeeper. "Tell me, how isTillie Fellows getting along?"

  "Well, she tries hard, but I'll admit Dad doesn't like the arrangement."

  "Then I must return. It's nonsense for me to stay here."

  Penny was paying no attention to Mrs. Weems' words. She had picked up thewaste paper basket and was examining the contents. There were a fewadvertising circulars, an unaddressed envelope and a crumpled ball ofpaper. The latter, Penny carefully smoothed.

  "Mrs. Weems!" she exclaimed. "Look at this!"

  The housekeeper hastened to her side. Curiously, she examined the paper.It bore no writing, only a crude drawing of an octopus.

  "This must be the paper which Anchor Joe left on the doorstep only a fewminutes ago!" cried Penny excitedly.

  "You think it may have been intended as a warning to Peter Fenestra?" Thehousekeeper regarded the drawing rather dubiously.

  "I'm sure of it,
Mrs. Weems! Don't you see? The drawing is a copy of thetattoo which both Anchor Joe and John Munn had on their backs!"

  "Yes, it does look the same as Joe's marking," conceded the housekeeper."But what does it mean? Why was it sent to Fenestra?"

  "I wish I knew."

  "One thing is clear. That boatman your father hired is a downrightscamp."

  "He's wanted by the government. We know that. But Fenestra may be arascal, too. Why should Anchor Joe threaten him unless he's donesomething he shouldn't?"

  "Why indeed? This is a case for the police, not one for you or me,"declared Mrs. Weems with finality. "I am ready to leave here whenever youare. I've decided not to bother giving Fenestra notice."

  "You can't go now. You can't!" moaned Penny. "Stay until after Thursday,at least. I'm positive everything will be cleared up by then."

  "Why Thursday?"

  "Well, I have a little matter coming up on that day. Besides, I've sentoff a letter which may help solve the mystery. Please, Mrs. Weems, dothis one favor and I'll never ask another."

  "Until next time, you mean. But to please you I'll stay until Friday. Nota day longer. However, I warn you, if I see Anchor Joe prowling about, Ishall summon the sheriff."

  "That's all right with me," grinned Penny. "I must skip now beforeFenestra gets back from town. Just keep your eye on him and report to meif anything unusual happens."