Danger at the Drawbridge

  CHAPTER 5 _THE MISSING BRIDEGROOM_

  Salt acted instinctively. Leaping over the wire barrier he dived into thebushes. Hurling himself upon the man who crouched there, he pinned him tothe ground. The fellow gave a choked cry and tried to pull free.

  "Oh, no, you don't," Salt muttered, coolly sitting down on his stomach."Snooping, eh?"

  "You let me up!" the man cried savagely. "Let me up, I say!"

  "I'll let you up when you explain what you were doing here."

  "Why, you impudent young pup!" the man spluttered. "You're the one whowill explain. I am Mrs. Kippenberg's head gardener."

  Salt's hand fell from the old man's collar and he apologetically helpedhim to his feet. Penny, who had reached the scene, stooped down andrecovered a trowel which had slipped from the gardener's grasp.

  "It was just a little mistake on my part," Salt mumbled. "I hope I didn'thurt you."

  "No fault of yours you didn't," the old man snapped. "A fine howdydo whena person can't even loosen earth around a shrub without being assaultedby a ruffian!"

  The gardener was a short, stout man with graying hair. He wore coarsegarments, a loose fitting pair of trousers, a dark shirt and batteredfelt hat. But Penny noticed that his hands and fingernails were clean andthere were no trowel marks around any of the shrubs.

  "Salt isn't exactly a ruffian," she said as the photographer offered nodefense. "After all, from where we stood it looked exactly as if you werehiding in the bushes."

  "Then you both need glasses," the man retorted rudely. "A person can'twork without getting down on his hands and knees."

  "Where were you digging?" Penny asked innocently.

  "I was just starting in when this young upstart leaped on my back!"

  "Sorry," said Salt, "but I thought you were trying to get away."

  "Who are you anyway?" the gardener demanded bluntly. "You're not guests.I can tell that."

  "You have a very discerning eye," replied Salt smoothly. "We're from the_Riverview Star_."

  "Reporters, eh?" The old man scowled unpleasantly. "Then you've nobusiness being here at all. You're not wanted, so get out!"

  "We're only after a few facts about the wedding," Penny said. "Perhapsyou would be willing to tell me--"

  "I'll tell you nothing, Miss! If anything is given out to the papers itwill have to come from Mrs. Kippenberg."

  "Fair enough," Salt acknowledged. He glanced curiously down the pathwhich had been blocked off. "What's down there?"

  "Nothing." The gardener spoke irritably. "This part of the estate hasn'tbeen fixed up. That's why it's closed."

  Penny had bent down, pretending to examine a shrub at the edge of thepath.

  "What is the name of this bush?" she inquired casually.

  "An azalea," the gardener replied after a slight hesitation. "Now get outof here, will you? I have my work to do."

  "Oh, all right," Salt rejoined as he and Penny moved away. "No need toget so tough."

  They stepped over the barrier wire and retraced their way toward thehouse. Several times Penny glanced back but she could not see the oldman. He had slipped away somewhere among the trees.

  "I don't believe that fellow was a gardener," she said suddenly.

  "What makes you think not?"

  "Didn't you notice his nice clean hands and fingernails? And then when Iasked him the name of that bush he hesitated and called it an azalea. Isaw another long botanical name attached to it."

  "Maybe he just made a mistake, or said the first thing that came into hishead. He wanted to get rid of us."

  "I know he did," nodded Penny. "Yet, when he found out we were from the_Star_ he didn't threaten to report us to Mrs. Kippenberg."

  "That's so."

  "He was afraid to report us," Penny went on with conviction. "I'll bet acent he has no more right here than we have."

  Salt had lost all interest in the gardener. He glanced at his watch andquickened his step.

  "Is it two o'clock yet?" Penny asked anxiously.

  "Just. After all the trouble we've had getting here we can't afford tomiss the big show."

  Emerging from the grove, Salt and Penny were relieved to see that theceremony had not yet started. The guests were gathered in the garden, theminister stood waiting, musicians were in their places, but the bridalparty had not appeared.

  "We're just in time," Salt remarked.

  Penny observed Mrs. Kippenberg talking with one of the ushers. Even froma distance it was apparent that the woman had lost her poise. Her handsfluttered nervously as she conferred with the young man and a worriedfrown puckered her eyebrows.

  "Something seems to be wrong," said Penny. "I wonder what is causing thedelay?"

  Before Salt could reply, the usher crossed the lawn, and came directlytoward them. Penny and Salt instantly were on guard, thinking that he hadbeen sent by Mrs. Kippenberg to eject them from the grounds. But althoughthe young man paused, he did not look squarely at them.

  "Have you seen Mr. Atherwald anywhere?" he questioned.

  "The bridegroom?" Salt asked in astonishment. "What's the matter? Is hemissing?"

  "Oh, no, sir," the young man returned stiffly. "Certainly not. He merelywent away for a moment."

  "Mr. Atherwald came over on the same boat with us," Penny volunteered.

  "And did you see him enter the house?"

  "No, he spoke to one of the servants and then went toward the garden."

  "Did you notice which path he took?"

  "I believe it was this one."

  "We've just come from down by the river," added Salt. "We didn't see himthere. The only person we met was an old gardener."

  The usher thanked them for the information and hurried on. When the manwas beyond hearing, Salt turned to Penny, saying jubilantly:

  "Say, maybe we'll get a big story after all! Sylvia Kippenberg jilted atthe altar! Hot stuff!"

  "Aren't you jumping to swift conclusions, Salt? He must be around heresomewhere."

  "It's always serious business when a man is late for his wedding. Even ifhe does show up, daughter Sylvia may take offense and call the wholething off."

  "Oh, you're too hopeful," Penny laughed. "He'll probably be here inanother minute. I don't believe he would have come at all if he hadintended to slip away."

  "He may have lost his nerve at the last minute," Salt insisted.

  "Atherwald did act strangely on the boat," Penny said reflectively. "Andthen that message he received--"

  "He may have sent it to himself."

  "As an excuse for getting away?"

  "Why not?"

  "I can't see any reason for going to so much unnecessary trouble," Pennyargued. "If he intended to jilt Miss Kippenberg how much easier it wouldhave been not to come here at all."

  "Well, let's see what we can learn," Salt suggested.

  Their interest steadily mounting, they went on toward the house andstationed themselves where they could see advantageously. It was evidentby this time that the guests suspected something had gone amiss.Significant glances were exchanged, a few persons looked at theirwatches, and all eyes focused upon Mrs. Kippenberg who tried desperatelyto carry off an embarrassing situation.

  Minutes passed. The crowd became increasingly restless. Finally, theusher returned and spoke quietly to Mrs. Kippenberg. They both retired tothe house.

  "It looks as if there will be no wedding today," Salt declared."Atherwald hasn't been located."

  "I won't dare use the story unless I'm absolutely certain of my facts,"Penny said anxiously.

  "We'll get them, never fear."

  Mrs. Kippenberg and the usher had stepped into the breakfast room.Posting Penny at the outside door, Salt followed the couple. From thehallway he could hear their conversation distinctly.

  "But he must be somewhere on the grounds," the matron argued.

  "I can't understand it myself," the young man replied. "Grant'sdisappearanc
e is very mysterious to say the least. Several persons sawhim arrive here and everything seemed to be all right."

  "What time is it now?"

  "Two thirty-five, Mrs. Kippenberg."

  "So late? Oh, this is dreadful! How can I face them?"

  "I know just how you feel," the young man said with sympathy. "If youwish I will explain to the guests."

  "No, no, this will disgrace us," Mrs. Kippenberg murmured. "Wait until Ihave talked with Sylvia."

  She turned suddenly and reached the hall door before Salt could escape.Her eyes blazed with wrath as she faced him.

  "So here you are!" she cried furiously. "How dare you disregard myorders? I will have no reporters on the grounds!"

  "I'm only a photographer," Salt said meekly enough. "Sorry to intrude butI've been assigned to get a picture of the bride. It won't take aminute--"

  "Indeed it won't," Mrs. Kippenberg broke in, her voice rising higher."You'll take no pictures here. Not one! Now get out."

  "A picture might be better than a story that the bridegroom had skippedout," Salt said persuasively.

  "Why, you--you!" Mrs. Kippenberg's face became fiery red. She choked asshe tried to speak. "Get out, I say!"

  Salt did not retreat. Instead he took his camera from his pocket.

  "Just one picture, Mrs. Kippenberg. At least of you."

  Realizing that the photographer meant to take it whether or not she gavepermission, the woman suddenly lost all control over her temper.

  "Don't you dare!" she cried furiously. "Don't you dare!"

  Whirling about, she seized an empty plate from the tall stack on theserving table.

  "Hold that pose!" chortled Salt, goading her on.

  The woman hurled the plate straight at him. Salt gleefully snapped apicture and dodged. The plate crashed into the wall behind him,splintering into a half dozen pieces.

  "Swell action picture!" he grinned.

  "Don't you dare try to use it!" screamed Mrs. Kippenberg. "I'll telephoneyour editor! I'll have you discharged!"

  "See here," offered the usher, taking out his wallet. "I'll give you tendollars for that picture."

  Salt shook his head, still smiling broadly.

  The sound of the crash had brought servants running to the scene.

  "Have this person ejected from the grounds," Mrs. Kippenberg orderedharshly. "And see that he doesn't get back."

  Just outside the house, Penny huddled against the wall, trying to makeherself as inconspicuous as possible. She had heard everything. As Saltbacked out the door he did not glance at her but he muttered for her earsalone:

  "You're on your own now, kid. I'll be waiting at the drawbridge."

  An instant later two servants seized him roughly by the arms and escortedhim down the walk to the boat landing.