Clue of the Silken Ladder

  CHAPTER 22 _SCALING THE WALL_

  The nearest drugstore with a public telephone was two blocks away. Pennyran the distance, and slipping into the booth, she dialed the _Star_office. Informed by the building switchboard operator that neither herfather nor DeWitt was available, she inquired for Jerry Livingston, andto her relief was connected with him.

  "Listen, Jerry, this is Penny!" she began excitedly. "I haven't time toexplain, but the lid is blowing off the fake spiritualist story! Rush thepolice out to the Hodges' cottage and demand Al Gepper's arrest! Sendanother squad or some private detectives to Mr. Henley's home."

  "Henley!" Jerry exclaimed. "Say, have you gone loco?"

  "I'm not making any mistakes," Penny replied tersely. "If you act quicklywe may prevent a robbery. I'm on my way there now to warn Mr. Henley! Oh,yes, try to find Dad or DeWitt and warn them a big story is breaking!"

  "Penny, what's this all about?" the reporter demanded. "I can't go to thepolice unless I know what I am doing."

  "You must, Jerry. I have plenty of evidence against Gepper and his crowd,but unless you take the police to the Hodges' in the next fifteen minutesit will be too late!"

  Without giving Jerry opportunity to delay her with other questions, Pennyhung up the receiver. Hastening to the street, she gazed franticallyabout for a taxi. None was to be had.

  "I'll get to the Henley place quicker in Lena than by waiting for a cabto come along," she thought.

  The battered old car had been parked a short distance from the Hodges'cottage. Hurrying there, Penny jumped into the ancient vehicle andstarted the motor. As usual it made a loud clatter, but she did notsuspect that the sound carried far up the street. Nor did she guess thatAl Gepper stood at the darkened window of his room, watching her.

  Penny drove as fast as she could to the Henley home in the southernsection of Riverview. Lights blazed from the downstairs windows.

  Abandoning her car in the driveway, she rang the doorbell. After a longwait, a maid appeared.

  "Is Mr. Henley here?" Penny asked breathlessly. "Or Mrs. Henley? It'smost important that I talk with them at once."

  "Mrs. Henley has been at the seashore for a month," the maid replied inan agitated voice. "Mr. Henley is somewhere downtown. I've been trying toget him, but the telephone wire has been cut!"

  "The house hasn't been robbed?"

  "Mrs. Henley's jewelry has been taken! I don't know what else."

  "When did it happen?" Penny asked.

  "It must have been during the last half hour. I went to the corner storefor a book of stamps. When I came back five minutes ago I discovered whathad occurred. I ought to call the police, but I am afraid to do it untilI've talked with my employer."

  "The police already have been notified," said Penny. "They'll be here anyminute."

  "But how did you know--?" the maid began in astonishment.

  Penny had turned away. She was convinced that the burglary had beencommitted by Slippery. Perhaps, by this time he had fled town, but shedid not believe he would leave without his pal, Al Gepper.

  Climbing into the car again, Penny debated. It was reasonable to supposethat, having accomplished the burglary, Slippery would return to theHodges' cottage to meet the medium.

  "If he does, the police should be on hand to seize him," she thought. "Atleast, he and Al will be held for questioning. But there's one place Iforgot to cover--the Celestial Temple."

  Like a flash came the recollection that Slippery had been deeplyinterested in something which was guarded in the bell tower. Was it notpossible that he might return there before leaving Riverview?

  Shifting gears, Penny turned the car and headed for Butternut Lane.Anxiously, she glanced at the gasoline gauge. It registered less than agallon of fuel and she had used her last dime in the telephone booth.

  "If I coast on all the downgrades I should just make it," she estimated.

  In starting for the Celestial Temple Penny was acting upon a "hunch."However, it disturbed her that the Henley burglary had been accomplished,and she was afraid she might again be wasting precious time. Now that itwas too late, she wondered if it would not have been wiser to remain atthe Hodges' cottage until the police arrived.

  "I only hope that end of the affair isn't bungled," she thought. "I'llnever get over it if Al and Slippery both escape."

  Penny had reached the entrance to Butternut Lane. Parking at the side ofthe road, she continued afoot toward the Celestial Temple.

  From a distance the building appeared dark. However, as she drew closershe could distinguish a dim light. Inside the Temple, a stout man wearinga hat sat with his chair tilted against the door of the bell tower room.

  "He must be the guard," thought Penny. "Probably the one they call Pete."

  Suddenly she paused, retreating into a clump of elder bushes near thewalk. From the direction of the cemetery a figure emerged. At first, allthat Penny could distinguish was a man carrying a suitcase. As he drewcloser, her pulse quickened. Unmistakably, it was Slippery.

  Without passing the bushes where the girl had taken refuge, the manwalked on toward the Temple. Presently he halted. Glancing carefullyabout to assure himself that he was unobserved, he shoved his suitcaseinto the tall weeds which lined the walk. Then he moved to one of theTemple windows, peering into the gloomy interior.

  "Now what?" thought Penny, watching alertly. "This should proveinteresting."

  Slippery remained beneath the window a minute or two. Instead of enteringthe Temple, he presently returned to the high weeds, stooping to removesome object from his suitcase. Hiding it under his coat, he circled thebuilding and approached the side adjoining the cemetery.

  Thoroughly mystified, Penny cautiously followed, taking care that herbody cast no shadow which would attract Slippery's attention.

  The man seemed deeply engrossed in the task he had set for himself. Fromhis coat he took a collapsible rod which he extended to the approximatelength of a fish pole. To its end he attached a trailing silken ladder.

  Deftly the man raised the ladder until two metal hooks bit into aprojection of the bell tower. He tested the ropes to make certain theywould bear his weight then, with the agility of a cat, mounted the silkenrungs. Penny saw him disappear into the bell tower.

  "Now why did he climb up there?" she asked herself. "He must be aftersomething hidden in the belfry."

  Penny knew that she was a long distance from police aid, but it wasunthinkable that Slippery should be allowed to escape. Impulsively, shemoved from her hiding place to the base of the tower.

  Grasping the silken ladder, she gave it a quick jerk which dislodged thetwo iron hooks. Down it tumbled into her arms, leaving the man trapped inthe turret.

  "He'll never dare call for help when he discovers what has happened,"reasoned Penny. "If he does, the guard, Pete, will have something tosay!"

  Rolling the ladder into a small bundle, she started across the clearing,intending to seek the nearest telephone. With no thought of lurkingdanger, she brushed past a clump of bushes. A hand reached out andgrasped her arm.

  Penny screamed in terror and tried to break free. The hand help her in agrip of steel.

  As she struggled, her captor emerged from the shelter of leaves. It wasAl Gepper.

  "I thought I might find you here, my little one," he said grimly. "Youhave had your fun. Now you must pay, and the entertainment shall bemine!"