CHAPTER 16 BEHIND THE LILACS
Without disclosing by her actions that she had observed anything amiss, Penny walked steadily on toward the house. Her first thought had been that it was Peter Fenestra who spied upon her. However, as the figure straightened she knew she had been mistaken. The man was not Fenestra.
Before she could see his face, he moved to another clump of bushes, and then was enveloped by darkness.
Entering the house, Penny blew out the kerosene lamp and stood by the window, watching. She could not see the man. He had vanished completely.
“That proves that Tillie was correct,” she thought. “This house is being watched. I wonder why.”
As she waited, Tillie came down the stairway, carrying her luggage. Observing that the kitchen was dark, she paused in alarm.
“It’s all right,” Penny called reassuringly. “I blew the light out so that I wouldn’t be seen from outside.”
“Is anyone there?” Tillie demanded, coming quickly to the window. Her pallid features were rigid with fear and her breathing quickened.
“He’s gone now, I think.”
“There was someone a moment ago?”
“Yes, a man, hiding behind the lilacs. I believe he must have been watching the house—or possibly the storm cellar!”
“Then you see I was right,” Tillie declared. “Oh, this is a dreadful place, and I’ll be glad to leave it.”
“I almost wish you were staying,” said Penny slowly. “You might be able to learn what’s hidden in that cave.”
“Not with Peter Fenestra so suspicious. Anyway, you couldn’t hire me to remain even if he would allow it. I’d rather starve.”
“You have no place to go, Tillie?”
“I’ll find work. If not in Riverview then I can return to the country. Anything will be better than what I’ve had.”
Penny groped in the dark for the lamp, relighting it.
“Tillie,” she said, “how would you like to work at our place for a few days?”
“You don’t mean it.”
“I do if it can be arranged,” Penny affirmed. “We have a housekeeper, but it occurred to me that she might take your place here.”
“She’d be very foolish to give up a good job for this.”
“It would only be temporary. I think I can induce her to make the change for a few days. The question is, can we get Peter Fenestra to accept her?”
“I doubt if he’ll hire anyone now that I am leaving. Why do you want your housekeeper in such a place as this, Penny?”
“Only for one reason. To learn what’s going on here. I confess you’ve made me very curious about the storm cave.”
“Fenestra would watch her every minute, the same as he did me. It won’t work.”
“It will if Mrs. Weems can get the job,” declared Penny confidently. “First of all, we must make Fenestra so uncomfortable he’ll want someone to take care of the house. Is he a good cook?”
“Oh, wretched. And the trick of keeping a good fire going is simply beyond him. Why, if we turned the damper, it never would occur to him to change it.”
“Thanks for the idea,” laughed Penny. “Let’s hide the breakfast supplies, too.”
Tillie was quite certain that her friend did not know what she was doing, but she offered no objection to the plan. Before leaving the house they altered the stove damper, hid the coffee pot, and placed salt in the sugar bowl.
“If Old Peter doesn’t get his coffee in the morning he’ll simply rave,” chuckled Tillie. “Missing it may be the one thing which will make him hire a new housekeeper.”
The girls were watchful as they crossed the yard, but they observed no one lurking about the premises. Evidently the man who had hidden behind the lilacs had taken himself elsewhere.
Penny escorted Tillie to the parked automobile, leaving her there while she went to the cottage for Mrs. Weems. The housekeeper was ready and waiting by the time she arrived.
“Penny, I nearly gave you up,” she sighed. “Why did it take so long?”
“I’ve been busy finding you a new position,” chuckled Penny. “Starting tomorrow morning, you’re to work for Peter Fenestra instead of us.”
In the act of locking the cottage door, Mrs. Weems turned to face the girl.
“Penny,” she said, “I am tired tonight and in no mood for your jokes.”
“This isn’t a joke, Mrs. Weems. I really do want you to change jobs with Tillie Fellows. You remember I told you about her.”
Not giving the housekeeper an opportunity to speak, she rapidly outlined her plan.
“Early tomorrow morning I’ll drive you to Fenestra’s farm,” she ended gleefully. “You’re to knock on the door, and say you’re looking for a job at very low wages. Fenestra will be so desperate he’ll welcome you with open arms. Then as soon as he’s off his guard you learn what is hidden in the storm cave.”
“How lovely,” said Mrs. Weems. “I’ve listened to your crazy schemes for years, Penny, but this one takes the prize!”
“You’ll do it, won’t you?”
“I certainly will not.” The housekeeper spoke with biting emphasis.
“Oh, Mrs. Weems,” Penny moaned. “You don’t realize how much this means to me! If only you’ll go there, I may be able to get a wonderful scoop for the Weekly Times.”
“I wish you never had started that paper. I declare, ever since you took over the old Press plant, you’ve done the wildest things.”
“This isn’t wild,” Penny argued. “It’s absolutely logical. I would try for the job myself only I know Fenestra wouldn’t give it to me. Besides, I am kept busy at the plant.”
“I refuse to play detective for you, Penny. That’s final.”
Completely downcast, Penny followed Mrs. Weems along the river trail. However, she had no intention of giving up so easily.
“Then if you won’t,” she remarked, “I must take Tillie to a charity home. She had intended to start working at our place.”
“The girl may spend the night with us, if you like. We have an extra room.”
“Tillie would never accept such a favor,” insisted Penny. “More than anything else she wants a job. Mrs. Weems, please reconsider—”
“It’s a crazy scheme!”
“No, it isn’t,” Penny refuted, and noting indications of weakening, launched into another lengthy argument.
Mrs. Weems drew a deep sigh. “I don’t know why I allow you to twist me around your finger the way you do.”
“You’ll try for the job?”
“I suppose so. But what will your father say?”
“He’ll call it clever journalism,” chuckled Penny. “Don’t you worry about Dad. Just leave everything to me.”
During the ride to Riverview Mrs. Weems was further influenced by Tillie Fellows’ account of Fenestra’s peculiar actions. Gradually she began to share Penny’s opinion that the man might have reason to fear for his life. However, she could not agree with the girls that anything of great value was hidden in the cave.
“Perhaps we’re wrong,” Penny conceded, “but you must go there with an open mind, Mrs. Weems. Observe everything you can and report to me. Particularly I want to learn what Fenestra knows about John Munn and the octopus tattoo.”
“I shan’t try very hard to get the job,” threatened the housekeeper.
At seven the next morning Penny awakened Mrs. Weems from a sound slumber, reminding her that it was time to start for the Fenestra farm. Protesting that the idea seemed crazier than ever, the housekeeper snuggled down beneath the covers again.
“You promised you would go,” reminded Penny brutally. “Please hurry, because I must get you established before I go to school.”
By the time Mrs. Weems was dressed, breakfast and the car awaited her. She drank the bitterly strong coffee and, still protesting, allowed Penny to drive her within view of the Fenestra farm.
“Is that the place?” she inquired with distaste as the automobile halted.
“Yes, I don’t dare go any closer for fear Fenestra will see me. You know the story you’re to tell him.”
“Which one? You’ve suggested so many that my mind is a-whirl.”
“Then make it simple. Just say you’re a widow, out of work, and that you’re a wonderful housekeeper. I’ll wait here. If you go inside I’ll know you’ve been given the job.”
“When will you come for me?”
“I’ll try to see you tomorrow. But hold the fort until I arrive even if it’s a week.”
A bundle of clothing under her arm, Mrs. Weems trudged on down the road. Penny watched her with misgiving. The adventure was not to the housekeeper’s liking, and it was doubtful that her application for work would be an enthusiastic one.
Turning the car in the road, she pulled to one side and waited. Mrs. Weems had reached the farmhouse. Following instructions, she knocked at the side entrance. In a moment or two the door was opened by Peter Fenestra.
Anxiously, Penny watched. The interview seemed to be taking a long while, but at least Fenestra had not closed the door in the housekeeper’s face.
Then, to her delight, Mrs. Weems followed the man into the house.
“The job is hers!” she thought exultantly. “If she doesn’t fail me, I may yet break an important story in my paper! I feel in my bones that Peter Fenestra’s cave soon will yield its secret!”
