CHAPTER 15 AFTERGLOW
Penny sprawled on the grass beside the dying embers of the camp fire. Listlessly, and with very bad aim, she hurled acorns at a brown squirrel chattering overhead.
“You’ve been in a bad mood ever since we got back from Crystal Cave,” Louise observed, coming out of the tent. “But why take it out on that poor creature?”
Penny raised herself on an elbow. She scowled and did not reply.
Louise moved over to the fire, seating herself on a log beside her chum.
“Oh, brace up,” she said, slipping an arm about Penny’s shoulders. “In all my life I’ve never seen you act so discouraged.”
“I feel lower than the worms. Nothing’s gone right since we came to Sunset Beach.”
“On the contrary, I can’t see that anything has gone so very wrong.”
“Wasn’t our trip to the Crystal Cave a bust?” Penny demanded.
“Well, it wasn’t a success.”
Louise smiled wryly at the recollection. With Jerry and the Army men, she and Penny had spent the afternoon searching various caves along the water front. Not a trace had been found of the mysterious radio station which so plagued local authorities. The search had been a long and exhausting one. In the end, though the others kept on, she and Penny had been compelled to give up.
“My feet hurt yet from scrambling over the rocks,” Penny declared. “I suppose Jerry and those Army officers will keep searching half the night.”
“And I’ll warrant they never do find the station,” Louise contributed. “This is one mystery I wish you had never stumbled into, Penny.”
“I’m beginning to feel the same way, Lou. This is supposed to be a vacation. I’d like to see Dad and Jerry once in awhile.”
“So that’s what’s bothering you!”
“Well, you know Jerry will be here only a few days at most,” Penny said defensively. “I’ve barely had a chance to say ‘hello’ to him. Dad’s always down at the hotel too.”
“What you crave seems to be male companionship.”
Penny tossed a stick of wood on the fire, making the sparks fly. “I could do with a little,” she admitted. “Life is too dull here.”
“Dull?” Louise gazed at her chum suspiciously.
“It’s no use being surrounded by mystery if one can’t get into the thick of it. So far all the adventure has by-passed us.”
“We might stir up a little excitement by looking for that package Mrs. Deline buried in the sand.”
“Not today,” Penny said with a sigh. “Too tired. Besides, I told Jerry about it and he wasn’t much impressed.”
“So that’s the reason for your gloom,” Louise remarked wisely. “As a detective you don’t rate.”
“Something like that. Jerry met Mrs. Deline at the hotel today and he thought her a very charming lady.”
“Oh!” Louise laughed. “No wonder you’re all smashed to bits!”
Penny got up from the grass and began preparations for supper. She peeled a pan of potatoes and opened a can of corn.
“We need a bucket of water from the spring,” she said suggestively. “Want to help me carry it?”
“I will,” Louise agreed without enthusiasm.
The trail led up a steep path to a rocky ledge from which cool spring water gushed out of a steel pipe. Penny drank deeply and then hung her tin bucket over the outlet to fill.
“It’s starting to get dark,” she observed, noticing how shadowy the woods had grown. “I hope Dad returns to camp soon.”
“Someone’s coming now,” Louise remarked as her keen ears detected the sound of footsteps on the trail below.
“Probably one of the rangers.”
Penny unhooked the water bucket from the pipe, and the girls started down the trail, carrying it between them. Emerging from among the trees, they glimpsed a figure below them. A woman in a dark cloak who carried a picnic hamper, was walking rapidly up the winding trail.
Penny stopped so suddenly that she spilled water on her sandals.
“Lou, that’s Mrs. Deline!” she whispered.
“What of it, pet? She’s evidently going on a picnic.”
“At this time of day? And alone?”
“Well, that part of it does seem a bit odd.”
Penny pulled her chum into the bushes beside the path. Crouching low beside their water bucket, they allowed the woman to pass. Looking neither to the right nor left, she hastened on up the trail.
“She seems to be in a big hurry,” Penny commented, coming out of hiding. “Now where do you suppose she’s going?”
“Probably to the cabin. One of your ranger friends told me about a rustic place farther up the trail. It was built especially for the enjoyment of the public.”
“But why would Mrs. Deline go there alone?”
“Maybe she intends to meet someone.”
“Lou, that’s probably what she is going to do!” Penny exclaimed. “Let’s follow her and find out.”
“What about supper?”
“Who cares for food?” Penny demanded. “If Dad comes home he can rustle a little for himself. It’s more important that we follow Mrs. Deline.”
“Okay,” Louise agreed, “only I’m in no mood to walk very far. Remember, we’ve had one wild chase today.”
Leaving the water bucket behind the bushes, the girls set out in pursuit of Mrs. Deline. Not without admiration they acknowledged that the widow was a better trail climber than they. Though the hamper she carried evidently was heavy, she fairly skimmed up the rough trail. Penny and Louise fell farther and farther behind.
“She’s heading for the cabin all right,” Penny puffed. “Of course she intends to meet someone. Otherwise, she’d have had her picnic on the beach or some place closer to the hotel.”
A clearing opened up through a gap in the trees. Mrs. Deline paused as she came within view of the rustic log cabin and gazed carefully about. The girls saw her look at her wrist watch.
“She has an appointment with someone,” Penny declared.
Mrs. Deline walked to the door of the cabin and tested it to make certain that it was unlocked. She did not go inside. Instead, she set down the hamper and gazed slowly about the clearing. Louise and Penny, at the fringe of woods, saw her start as she looked directly toward them.
“She’s seen us!” Louise gasped.
“We’ll have to go out and meet her,” Penny decided instantly. “Let’s pretend we just happened to be coming this way. But we’ll stick around and see who she’s meeting.”
Mrs. Deline stiffened visibly as the girls sauntered out of the woods toward her.
“Well, this is a surprise meeting you,” she said in a tone none too friendly. “Is your camp located near here?”
“Down the trail a short distance,” Penny replied, thoroughly enjoying the widow’s discomfiture. “Having a picnic?”
“Why, yes. I love the outdoors and thought I’d take a hike this afternoon.”
“It’s rather late for a picnic,” Penny said pointedly.
“It took me longer to get here than I expected.”
In an effort to discourage her young annoyers, Mrs. Deline pushed open the door of the cabin. Before she could pick up the hamper, Penny seized it.
“Let me,” she said quickly. “My how heavy! All this food for one person?”
“Certainly,” Mrs. Deline answered. “Who else?”
Penny set the hamper on the table. Deliberately she raised the lid. The basket was filled with food, enough for a dozen persons, and in the bottom she saw a folded wool blanket. Beneath the blanket were several bulky garments which she took to be men’s clothing. Before she could see plainly, Mrs. Deline jerked the lid of the hamper into place.
“Please!” she said with emphasis.
“I was only trying to be helpful,” Penny said, pretending to look injured. “Don’t you want Lou and me to dust off the table and spread out the picnic things?”
“I do not. If you’ll excuse me for saying so, I came on this picnic to be alone. I enjoy solitude.”
“But it’s getting dark,” Penny argued. “We wouldn’t think of deserting you. The cabin has no light.”
“I don’t mind the dark. Anyway, I brought candles. I really prefer to be alone.”
Thus dismissed, Louise started to leave. Penny lingered, trying to think of some excuse. Just then, from somewhere in the woods, she heard a shrill whistle unlike any bird call.
“What was that?” she asked alertly.
“I heard nothing,” said Mrs. Deline.
Nevertheless, a moment later the woman sauntered to an open cabin window. Deliberately she turned her back to the girls, trying to block their view. Quickly she raised and lowered her handkerchief.
The movement was deftly executed, but swift though it was, Penny saw and understood. Mrs. Deline had signaled to an unseen person beyond the fringe of trees!
