CHAPTER 4 _BEHIND THE BUSHES_
A large, middle-aged woman in rose-colored silk, crossed the roomdirectly toward Salt and Penny. Her pale blue eyes glinted with anger andthere were hard lines about her mouth. She walked haughtily, but withgrim purpose.
"Unless we do some fast talking, out we go!" muttered Salt. "It's Mrs.Kippenberg, all right."
They stood their ground, knowing they had been recognized as intruders.But before the woman could reach them she was stopped by a servant whospoke a few words in a low tone. For a moment Mrs. Kippenberg forgotabout Penny and Salt as a new problem presented itself.
"I can't talk with anyone now," she said in an agitated voice. "Tell themto come back later."
"They insist upon talking with you now, Madam," replied the servant."Unless you see them they say they will look around for themselves."
"Oh!" Mrs. Kippenberg drew herself up sharply as if from a physical blow."Where are they now?"
"In the library, Madam."
Penny did not hear the woman's reply, but she turned and followed theservant.
"Saved by the bell," mumbled Salt. "Now let's get away from here beforeshe comes back."
They pushed through the throng and reached a long hallway. Mrs.Kippenberg had disappeared, but as they drew near an open door theycaught sight of her again. She stood just inside the library, her backtoward them, talking with two men who wore plain gray business suits.
Penny half drew back, fearing discovery, but Salt pulled her along. Asthey went quietly past the door they heard Mrs. Kippenberg say in anexcited voice:
"No, no, I tell you he isn't here! Why should I try to deceive you? Wehave nothing to hide. You are most inconsiderate to annoy me at such atime!"
Penny and Salt did not hear the reply. They reached an outside door andstepped down on a flagstone terrace which overlooked the garden at therear of the grounds.
"Who were those men, do you suppose?" Penny whispered, fearful that hervoice might betray them.
"Officers of the law, I should guess," Salt replied in an undertone.
"Government men?"
"Likely as not. I don't believe the locals would bother her. Anyway she'sgot the wind up and you can tell she's scared silly in spite of all herback talk."
"You know what I think they're after?" Penny said thoughtfully.
"Well, if I had just one guess," Salt replied, "I'd say they are afterMr. Kippenberg."
"I agree with you there."
"Sure, why else would they come sleuthing around at a time like this? Theanswer is simple. Daughter gets married. Papa wants to see his darling doit. Therefore, boys, we'll spread a net for Daddy and he might plumpright into it."
"So that's the way a G man's mind works?" laughed Penny.
"But I would take it that Kippenberg is no fool," Salt went on. "If theyreally have a 'man wanted' sign hung on him he would be too cagey to comearound here today."
They were standing beside the stone balustrade which bounded the terrace.Below them the green foliage of the gardens formed a dark background forthe playing fountains. A cool breeze drifted in from the river andrattled a window awning just over their heads.
"We're in an exposed place here," observed Salt uneasily. "Maybe we oughtto find a hole somewhere."
"We'll never learn anything in a hole," Penny objected. "In fact, we'renot making much progress in running down any sort of story. I do wish wecould have heard more of that conversation."
"And get thrown out on our collective ear before we even have a chance tosnap a picture of the blushing bride!"
"Pictures! Pictures!" exclaimed Penny. "That's all you photographersthink about. How about poor little me and my story? After all, you can'tbring out a paper full of nothing but pictures and cigarette ads. Youneed a little news to go with it."
"You like to work too fast," complained Salt. "Right now the thing to dois to keep out of sight. I'm telling you the minute Mrs. Kippy finisheswith those men she'll be gunning for us."
"Then I suppose we'll have to go into hiding."
"First, let's mosey out into the rose garden," Salt proposed. "I'll takea few shots and then we'll duck under somewhere and wait until theceremony starts."
"That's all very well for you," grumbled Penny, "but I can't write muchof a story without talking to some member of the family."
Salt started off across the velvety green lawn toward the rose arborwhere the service was to be held. Penny followed reluctantly. She watchedthe photographer take several pictures before a servant approached him.
"I beg your pardon," the man said coldly, "but Mrs. Kippenberg gaveorders no pictures were to be taken. If you are from one of the papers--"
"Oh, I saw her in the house just a minute ago," Salt replied carelessly.
"Sorry, sir," the servant apologized, retreating.
Salt finished taking the pictures and slipped the miniature camera backinto his pocket.
"Now let's amble down toward the river and wait," he said to Penny."We'll blossom forth just as the ceremony starts. Mrs. Kippy won't dareinterrupt it to have us thrown off the grounds."
They walked down a sloping path, past a glass-enclosed hothouse and ontoward a grove of giant oak and maple trees.
"It's pleasant here when you're away from the crowd," Penny remarked,gazing up at the leafy canopy. "I wonder where this path leads?"
"Oh, down to the river probably. With water on three sides of us that's afairly safe guess."
"Which rivers flow past the estate, Salt?"
"The Big Bear and the Kobalt."
"The same old muddy Kobalt which is near our town," said Penny insurprise. "I'll always think of it as a river of adventure."
"Because of Mud-Cat Joe and his Vanishing Houseboat?"
Penny nodded and a dreamy look came into her eyes. "So much happened onthe Kobalt, Salt. Remember that big party Dad threw at the Comstock Inn?"
"Do I? Jerry Livingston decided to sleep in Room Seven where so manypersons had disappeared."
"And then he was spirited away almost before our very eyes," added Penny."Days later Mud-Cat Joe helped me fish him out of this same old Kobalt.For awhile we didn't think he'd ever pull through or be able to tell whathad happened to him."
"But as the grand finale you and your friend, Louise Sidell, solved themystery and secured a dandy story for the _Star_. Those were the days!"
"You talk as if they were gone forever," laughed Penny. "Other goodstories will come along."
"Maybe," said Salt, "but covering a wedding is pretty tame incomparison."
"Yet this one does have interesting angles," Penny insisted. "Can't youalmost feel mystery lurking about the place?"
"No, but I do feel a mosquito sinking his stinger into me." Salt slappedvigorously at his ankle.
They followed the path on toward the river, coming soon to a trail whichbranched off to the right. Across it had been stretched a wire barrierand a neatly lettered sign read:
NO ADMITTANCE BEYOND THIS POINT.
"Why do you suppose the path is blocked off?" Penny speculated.
"Let's find out," Salt suggested with a sudden flare of interest. "Maybewe'll run into something worth a picture."
Penny hesitated, not wishing to disregard the sign, yet eager to learnwhat lay beyond the barrier.
"Listen," said Salt, "just put your little conscience on ice. We're hereto get the 'who, when, why and where.' You'll never be a first classnewspaper reporter if you stifle your curiosity."
"Lead on," laughed Penny. "I will follow. Only isn't it getting late?"
Salt looked at his watch. "We still have a safe fifteen minutes."
He started to step over the wire, only to have Penny reach out and grasphis hand.
"Wait!" she whispered.
"What's the idea?" Salt turned toward her in astonishment.
"I think someone is watching us! I'm sure I saw the bushes move."
&
nbsp; "Your nerves are jumpy," Salt jeered. "It's only the wind."
Even as he spoke the foliage to the left moved ever so slightly and adark form could be seen creeping stealthily away along the ground.