CHAPTER 11 _QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS_
Miss Kippenberg watched the concentric circles race each other to the faredge of the lily pool.
"Then you know the reason why this part of the estate is kept closedoff?" she murmured, very low.
"I learned about the alligator yesterday," said Penny. "Why is such anugly brute kept here?"
"It was none of my doing, I assure you. I hate the horrid thing. Surelyyou don't mean to suggest--"
"I am not suggesting anything yet," said Penny quietly. "But you mustrealize that it is rather unusual to keep an alligator on one's estate."
"My father brought it here from Florida," Miss Kippenberg revealedreluctantly. "For some reason the creature seemed to fascinate him. Heinsisted upon keeping it in the pond."
"Your father is not living here now I am told."
"That is true." Miss Kippenberg quickly switched the subject back to thealligator. "Mother and I would like to get rid of the beast but we'venever been able to do it."
"Any zoo should be willing to take it off your hands."
"Mother often spoke of getting in touch with one but for some reason shenever did. I suppose she hesitated to give the alligator away uponFather's account."
Penny remained silent, wondering how deeply she dared probe into theprivate life of the Kippenberg family. After all there were certaininquiries which a person of sensibility could not make. She couldn't verywell ask: "Have your parents separated? Why did your father leave home?Is it true he is wanted by the authorities for evading income tax?"although these questions were upon the tip of her tongue.
She did say carelessly, "Your father is away, isn't he?"
"Yes," Miss Kippenberg answered briefly. After a moment she went on:"Father was rather peculiar in many ways. He had a decided flare for theunusual. Take this estate for instance. He had it built at great expenseto resemble a castle he once saw in Germany."
"I've never visited such an elegant place."
"It is entirely too flamboyant for my taste. But Father loved every towerand turret. If only things had turned out different--"
Her voice trailed away and she stared at the ground, lost in deepthought. Arousing herself, she went on once more.
"If you had known Father you would understand it was not strange for himto have an alligator on the estate. At one time he kept importedpeacocks. The place was fairly overrun with them."
Penny offered no comment. She moved closer to the edge of the lily pool,gazing down into the now tranquil waters.
"I know what you are trying to imply," Miss Kippenberg said jerkily. "Itcouldn't be possible. I refuse even to consider such a ridiculoustheory."
"It does seem rather far-fetched," Penny admitted. "Of course, tragediesdo occur and those foot-prints--"
"Please, not another word or you'll drive me into hysterics!" Sylviacried. "You are trying to play upon my feelings so that I will tell youthings! You are only trying to get a story! I'll not talk with you anylonger."
She turned and ran up the path toward the house.
"Overplayed my hand that time," thought Penny ruefully. "As Dad says, Ireally have too much imagination to make a good reporter. Also too livelya tongue."
Miss Kippenberg had vanished into the house by the time the girl retracedher way to the garden. The black limousine no longer stood at the frontdoor so she knew she was expected to get back to Andover by her ownefforts.
"If Jerry is still waiting at the drawbridge, I'll ride home with him,"she told herself. "Otherwise, I'm out of luck completely."
The path which Penny followed brought her toward the rear of the house.As she drew near, the kitchen door suddenly opened and a stout woman in ablue uniform came outside. In her arms she carried two large paper sackswhich appeared to be filled with garbage for the bottoms were moist.
Just as the woman reached Penny one of the bags gave away, allowing acollection of corn husks, watermelon rinds and egg shells to fall on thesidewalk.
"Now I've done it!" she exclaimed crossly. "Splattered my stockings too."
"Oh, that's too bad," said Penny, pausing.
"This is the only place I ever worked where the cook was expected tocarry out the garbage!" the woman complained. "It makes me good and madevery time I do it."
"I should think a house of this size would have an incinerator so thatthe garbage could be burned," Penny remarked.
"Say, this place doesn't have any conveniences for the servants," thecook went on. "You're expected to work, work, work from morning tonight."
She broke off quickly, regarding Penny with a suspicious gaze. "You'renot one of Miss Sylvia's guests?" she demanded.
"Oh, no, I only came here on an errand. I wouldn't repeat anything to thefamily."
"That's all right then," the woman said in relief. "I liked my job herewell enough until lately. All month it's been one dinner party afteranother. Then we spent days getting ready for the wedding feast and notone scrap of food was touched!"
"But I suppose Mrs. Kippenberg pays you well."
"Listen, she didn't give me one extra cent for all the work I did. Mrs.Kippenberg always has been real close, and she's a heap worse since herhusband went away. Another week like this last one and I quit!"
"Well, I can't say I blame you," Penny said, leading the woman on. "Isuppose Miss Sylvia is as overbearing as her mother?"
"Oh, Miss Sylvia is all right, as sweet a girl as you'll find anywhere. Ifelt mighty sorry for her when that no-account man threw her over."
Penny knew by this time that she must be talking with Mrs. Latch, for thefootman had mentioned the cook's name. As the woman walked on with herbundles of garbage she fell into step with her.
"It was strange about Mr. Atherwald's disappearance," she remarked. "Ihear he came to the house and then went away just before the wedding."
"I can tell you about that," replied Mrs. Latch with an important air."Yesterday morning a boy came to the back door with a letter for Mr.Atherwald. It's my opinion he sent it to himself."
"Didn't the boy tell you where he had obtained the letter?"
"He said it was given to him by one of Mr. Atherwald's friends. A man ina boat."
"Oh, I see," said Penny, making a mental note of the information.Realizing that the cook had told everything she knew about the matter,she quickly switched the subject. "By the way, who is the head gardenerhere?"
"Do you mean Peter Henderson?"
"A fairly old man," described Penny. "Gray hair, stooped shoulders, and Imight add, an unpleasant manner."
"I guess that's Peter. He's not much of a gardener in my opinion. And hefeels too high and mighty to associate with the other servants. Hedoesn't even stay here nights."
"Is he a new man?"
"Mrs. Kippenberg hired him only three days before the wedding. I don'tthink he's done a lick of honest work since he came here."
"And Mrs. Kippenberg doesn't mind?"
"She's been too busy and bothered to pay any attention to him," the cookdeclared. "But she always has time to boss me. I tell you, if dishesaren't prepared perfectly she raves!"
"No wonder Mr. Kippenberg was forced to leave home," Penny interposedslyly. "You can't blame him for running away from a violent temper."
"Oh, the Kippenbergs never had any trouble," Mrs. Latch corrected. "Mr.Kippenberg would just laugh and not say a word when she jumped on him.They were never heard to quarrel."
"Then it seems odd that he went away."
"Yes, it does," agreed the cook, frowning. "I never did understand it.And then the way Mrs. Kippenberg changed all the servants!"
"You mean after Mr. Kippenberg went away?"
"She fired everyone except me. I guess she knew she couldn't get anothercook half as good if she let me go. Right away I struck for more moneyand she gave it to me without a whimper. But since then she works me likea dog."
Mrs. Latch clattered the lid of the garbage can
into place and turnedtoward the house. But as Penny once more fell into step with her, shepaused and regarded the girl with sudden suspicion.
"Say, why am I telling you all this anyway? Who are you? You're not oneof those sneaking reporters?"
"Do I look like a reporter?" countered Penny.
"Well, no, you don't," admitted Mrs. Latch. "But you're as inquisitive asone. You must be the girl who brought Miss Sylvia's new dress from theLaRue Shoppe."
Penny hesitated too long over her reply, and the woman gazed at hersharply.
"You _are_ a reporter!" she exclaimed with conviction. "And you've beendeliberately pumping me! Of all the tricks! I'll tell Miss Kippenberg!"
"Wait, I can explain."
Mrs. Latch paid no heed. With an angry toss of her head she hastened intothe house.
"Overstepped myself again," Penny thought in dismay. "I'll be gettingaway from here while the getting is good."
Turning, she ran down the walk toward the river, only to stop short asshe reached the boat dock. The drawbridge was in open position and theold watchman did not appear to be at his usual post. She had no way ofreaching the mainland.