Ghost Beyond the Gate

  CHAPTER 20 _ACCUSATIONS_

  Alarmed and excited by Mose Johnson's revelation, Penny glanced about forthe policeman who had been assigned to watch the Deming mansion. Theofficer had taken cover somewhere and was not to be seen.

  "Joe, drive as fast as you can to the airplane spotting station!" sheordered the cabman. "I'll telephone the police station from there."

  As the taxi bounced along over the frozen road, the girls kept closewatch for the yellow cab Mose Johnson had mentioned. They did not expectto overtake it. If the old colored man's story was accurate, the taxibearing Mr. Parker had left the mansion at least a half hour earlier.

  "Dad must have been spirited away immediately after I talked to him!"Penny said. "He's been drugged or something! Otherwise he would haveknown me."

  "But according to Mose, your father must have gone willingly with thosemen," Louise returned.

  "That's the queer part."

  "Of course, you're not certain the man is your father."

  "Yes, I am!" Penny insisted. "I was almost sure of it earlier thisevening. Now I know! Oh, Lou, something terrible has happened to Dad!"

  Louise drew her chum into the hollow of her arm. "Brace up!" she saidsternly. "You're not going to cave in now, are you?"

  Penny's slumping shoulders stiffened. She brushed away a tear. "Of courseI'm not going to cave in!" she replied indignantly. "I'll findDad--tonight, too!"

  Enroute to the airplane spotting station, the cab neither met nor passedany vehicle. Leaving Louise in the taxi, Penny clattered up the towersteps and burst into the overheated room where Salt Sommers was makingout a report. Her words fairly tumbled over one another as she told himwhat had happened.

  "Will you notify police for me?" she pleaded.

  "Of course," Salt assured her, reaching for a telephone. "My relief's duein five minutes now, so I'll be free to join in the search."

  While the photographer waited impatiently for a connection, Penny askedhim if he had seen a yellow taxi pass the tower.

  "Not since I've been on duty. The cab must have taken another road."

  Salt completed the call to the Riverview Police Station and was told thatevery radio-equipped cruiser in the city would be ordered to watch forthe yellow cab. As he hung up the receiver, a low humming sound was heardoutside the tower.

  "Listen!" commanded Salt. "A plane!"

  Distinctly they both could hear the roar of a motor to the eastward.

  "That's an unidentified ship," Salt declared, reaching for anothertelephone. Taking down the receiver he said tersely: "Army Flash," andwent on to report the position of the passing airplane.

  Penny had gone to the doorway. She could see the wing lights of thepassing ship. As she watched, the lights descended in a steep glide.

  "Salt!" she called. "The plane is landing!"

  The photographer darted to the platform to see for himself. "You'reright!" he exclaimed. "It's coming down at the Deming estate!"

  "Mr. Deming is due home tonight from the East," Penny added. "That mustbe his plane."

  Salt went inside to complete his report to headquarters. As he rejoinedPenny, they saw a man trudging along the road toward the tower.

  "My relief," said the photographer. "I'm free to go."

  Gathering up his belongings, he followed Penny to the waiting taxicab.There a brief conference was held. The girls were in favor of searchingfor the yellow taxi, but Salt pointed out that the chance of finding itwas a slim one. He proposed that they return to the mansion and try toforce information from Mrs. Botts.

  "Detective Fuller had no luck," replied Penny. "She has one story and shesticks to it. Her one fear is that she'll lose her job."

  "Then this is the time to make things merry for her!" urged thephotographer. "If Mr. Deming just arrived home, we'll toss a fewfirebrands around and find out what he has to say!"

  The suggestion appealed to Penny. From the first she had distrusted Mrs.Botts and felt that police had been entirely too lenient with her.

  "All right, let's go!" she agreed. "If Mrs. Botts loses her job, I'm sureit's no more than she deserves."

  Joe drove the party once more to the Deming mansion. No policeman was inevidence near the premises. Actually he had gone to the crossroads storeto report to his superiors the arrival of Mr. Deming's airplane, but atthe moment Penny assumed the man was neglecting his duties.

  "If this case ever is solved, we must do it ourselves!" she declared,thumping on the front door. "I'm in no mood to take any slippery answersfrom Mrs. Botts!"

  After a long delay the door was opened by the caretaker. RecognizingPenny and her friends, the woman sought to lock them out.

  "Oh, no you don't!" said Salt, pushing her firmly aside. "We want to seeMr. Deming."

  "He's not here," Mrs. Botts replied nervously. "Please leave me alone. Goaway!"

  Ignoring the plea, Penny, Louise, and the photographer walked boldly intothe living room. A fire burned in the grate and there were fresh flowerson the table.

  "Where is Mr. Deming?" asked Salt in a loud voice.

  Footsteps sounded on the circular stairway. A portly, bald-headed manwith a pleasant face came heavily down the steps.

  "Did someone ask for me?" he inquired.

  "You're Mr. Deming?" asked Salt.

  "I am. Flew in from New York about ten minutes ago and was just changingmy clothes. What may I do for you?"

  "I've been trying to tell these folks you can't see them tonight, Mr.Deming," broke in Mrs. Botts. "You're too tired."

  "Nonsense," replied the mansion owner impatiently. "Sit down by the fire,everyone. Tell me what brought you here."

  Mrs. Botts began to edge toward the kitchen door. Observing the action,Salt called sharply:

  "Don't go, Mrs. Botts. We want to talk to you in particular."

  "I've nothing to say," the caretaker retorted tartly.

  "Sit down, Mrs. Botts," ordered her employer. "For some reason you haveseemed very nervous since I arrived home tonight."

  "It was upsetting to get your telegram so late," Mrs. Botts mumbled,sinking down on the sofa.

  "Mr. Deming," began Penny, "a great deal has happened here tonight."

  "I intended to tell you about it myself," interrupted Mrs. Botts,addressing her employer. "I've not had a chance."

  "Be quiet, please," commanded Mr. Deming. "Do continue, Miss--"

  "Parker," supplied Penny. She introduced Salt and Louise, then resumedher story.

  As the tale unfolded, Mr. Deming listened with increasing amazement. Nowand then he focused his gaze upon the crestfallen Mrs. Botts, but he didnot speak until Penny had finished.

  "This is a very serious charge you have made against my housekeeper," hesaid then. "Mrs. Botts, what have you to say?"

  "There's not a word of truth in it!" the woman cried. "Why, I've workedfor you ten years, Mr. Deming. I've been a loyal, faithful servant. Whyshould I deceive you by taking a stranger into the house?"

  "It does seem fantastic," replied the perplexed Mr. Deming. "Miss Parker,what proof have you that your accusations are true?"

  "The proof of my own eyesight," Penny said quietly. "For that matter, anumber of persons saw the ghost wandering about the grounds."

  Mrs. Botts tossed her head. "I've already explained that part. Frequentlywhen I go outdoors, I put on your old white bathrobe, Mr. Deming. It'swarmer than my coat."

  "The ghost happened to be a man," Penny said. "And here is something youdon't know, Mrs. Botts. I was in this house earlier this evening whileyou were away. I talked with your mysterious roomer, and I'm satisfied itwas my father."

  "So _you_ were here!" Mrs. Botts cried angrily. "Mr. Deming, this girlopened the telegram you addressed to me!"

  "I did indeed," admitted Penny, unabashed.

  Mr. Deming arose and walking over to the fire, stood with his back to it."I confess I don't know what to say," he said. "I've never had reaso
n todistrust Mrs. Botts."

  "Thank you, sir." The housekeeper smiled triumphantly.

  Penny realized that Mr. Deming was on the verge of swinging to Mrs.Botts' side. So far the interview had gained nothing. She had told theentire story. There was no further information she could add.

  "I suppose we may as well go," she said, looking miserably at Salt.

  Penny arose. Suddenly her eyes lighted upon a small object lying halfhidden between the cushions of the sofa. Before Mrs. Botts realized whatshe was about, she had pounced upon it.

  "Dad's spectacle case!" she cried triumphantly.

  Opening the lid, she held up a pair of dark horn-rimmed glasses.

  "I'm sure I don't know where the case came from," Mrs. Botts stammered.

  "When Dad reads on the sofa at home, he often loses his case between thecushions!" Penny went on excitedly. "Mrs. Botts, you thought you werevery clever getting him away from here and removing all the evidence!"

  "A salesman who wore glasses was here last week--" the housekeeper beganweakly.

  "You can't talk yourself out of this," Penny cut her short, "Mr. Deming,let me show you something."

  She reopened the lid of the case and pointed to the initials "A. P."engraved in gold letters.

  "Anthony Parker," she said impressively. "Dad had them stamped therebecause he lost the case so many times. Does this prove my story?"

  "It does," said Mr. Deming. Sternly he faced the housekeeper. "Mrs.Botts, you have deeply humiliated me. I shall turn you over to thepolice."

  Mrs. Botts began to weep. Stumbling across the room, she clutched heremployer's arm.

  "Please don't turn me away from here," she pleaded. "Just give me achance and I'll explain everything. Please, Mr. Deming! This time Ipromise to tell the truth!"