CHAPTER 7 _THE FORBIDDEN POOL_
A wave of relief surged over Penny as she saw that it was the oldgardener who held her fast.
"Oh, it's only you," she laughed shakily, trying to pull away. "For asecond I thought the Bogey Man had me for sure."
The gardener did not smile.
"Didn't I tell you to keep away from here?" he demanded, giving her ahard shake.
"I'm not doing any h-harm," Penny stammered. She kept her hand closedover the white gold ring so that the old man would not see what she hadfound. "I just wanted to learn what was back in here."
"And you found out?"
The gardener's tone warned Penny to be cautious in her reply.
"Oh, the pool is rather pretty," she answered carelessly. "But I've seenmuch nicer ones."
"How long have you been here?"
"Only a minute or two. I really came to search for Grant Atherwald."
"Atherwald? What would he be doing here?"
"He disappeared an hour or so ago," revealed Penny. "The servants havebeen searching everywhere for him."
"He disappeared?" the gardener repeated incredulously.
"Yes, it's very peculiar. Mr. Atherwald arrived at the estate in ampletime for the wedding. But after he read a note which was delivered to himhe walked off in this direction and was seen no more."
"Down this path, you mean?"
"I couldn't say as to that, but he started this way. I know because I sawhim myself."
"Atherwald didn't come here," the gardener said with finality. "I've beenworking around the lily pond all afternoon and would have seen him."
Penny's fingers closed tightly about the white gold ring which she keptshielded from the man's gaze. In her opinion the trinket offered almostconclusive proof that the bridegroom had visited the locality. Becauseshe could not trust the gardener she kept her thoughts strictly toherself.
The man stared down at his feet, obviously disturbed by the informationPenny had given him.
"Do you suppose harm could have befallen Mr. Atherwald?" she asked aftera moment.
"Harm?" he demanded irritably. "That's sheer nonsense. The fellowprobably skipped out. He ought to be tarred and feathered!"
"And you would enjoy doing it?" Penny interposed slyly.
The gardener glared at her, making no attempt to hide his dislike.
"Such treatment would be too good for anyone who hurt Miss Sylvia. Nowwill you get out of here? I have my orders and I mean to enforce them."
"Oh, all right," replied Penny. "I was going anyway."
This was not strictly true, for had the gardener not been there she wouldhave made a more thorough investigation of the locality near the lilypool. But now she had no hope of learning more, and so turned away.
Emerging from among the trees, she glanced toward the rose garden. Nearlyall of the wedding guests had departed. Penny considered whether or notshe should speak to Mrs. Kippenberg about finding the ring. Decidingagainst it, she joined a group of people at the boat dock and was ferriedacross the river.
Salt awaited her at the drawbridge.
"I just about gave you up," he complained. "It's time for us to get backto the office or our news won't be news. The wedding is definitely off?"
"Yes, Atherwald can't be found."
"We'll stop at a drug store and telephone," Salt said, pulling her towardthe car. "Learn anything more after I left?"
"Well, I found a wedding ring and was nearly chewed up by an alligator,"laughed Penny. "It seemed rather interesting at the time."
The photographer gave her a queer look as he started the automobile.
"Imagination and journalism never mix," he said.
"Does this look like imagination?" Penny countered, showing him the plainband ring.
"Where did you find it?"
"Beside a lily pond in the forbidden part of the estate. I feel certainit must have been dropped by Grant Atherwald."
"Thrown away?"
"I don't know exactly what to think," Penny replied soberly.
Salt steered the car into the main road which led back to Corbin. Then heinquired: "Did you notice any signs of a struggle? Grass trampled?Footprints?"
"I didn't have a chance to do any investigating. That bossy old gardenercame and drove me away."
"What were you saying about alligators?"
"Salt, I saw one swimming around in the lily pool," Penny told himearnestly. "It was an ugly brute, at least twelve feet long."
"How long?"
"Well, eight anyway."
"You're joking."
"I am not," Penny said indignantly.
"Maybe it was only a big log lying in the water."
Penny gave an injured sniff. "Have it your own way. But it wasn't a log.I guess I can tell an alligator when I see one."
"If you're actually right," Salt said unmoved, "I'd like to have snappeda picture of it. You know, this story might develop into something big."
"I have a feeling it will, Salt."
"If Atherwald really has disappeared it should create a sensation!"
"And if the poor fellow had the misfortune to fall or be pushed into thelily pool Dad wouldn't have headlines large enough to carry it!"
"Say, get a grip on yourself," Salt advised. "The _Riverview Star_ printsfact, not fancy."
"That's because so many of Dad's reporters are stodgy old fellows,"laughed Penny. "But I'll admit it isn't very likely Grant Atherwald wasdevoured by the alligator."
The car had reached Corbin. Salt drew up in front of a drug store.
"Run in and telephone DeWitt," he said, opening the door for her. "Andremember, stick to facts."
Penny was a little frightened as she entered the telephone booth andplaced a long distance call to the _Riverview Star_. She never failed tofeel nervous when she talked with DeWitt, the city editor, for he was nota very pleasant individual.
She jumped as the receiver was taken down and a voice barked: "Citydesk."
"This is Penny Parker over at Corbin," she began weakly.
"Can't hear you," snapped DeWitt. "Talk up."
Penny repeated her name and DeWitt's voice lost some of its edge.Gathering courage, she started to tell him what she had learned at theKippenberg estate.
"Hold it," interrupted DeWitt. "I'll switch you over to a rewrite man."
The connection was made and Penny began a second time. Now and then therewrite man broke into the narrative to ask a question.
"All right, I think I have it all," he said finally and hung up.
Penny went back to the car looking as crestfallen as she felt.
"I don't know what they thought of the story," she told Salt. "DeWittcertainly didn't waste any words of praise."
"He never does," chuckled the photographer. "You're lucky if you don'tget fired."
"That's one consolation," returned Penny, settling herself for the longride home. "He can't fire me. Being the editor's daughter has itsadvantages."
The regular night edition of the _Riverview Star_ was on the street bythe time they reached the city. Salt signaled a newsboy and bought apaper while the car waited for a traffic light. He tossed it over toPenny.
"Here it is! My story!" she cried, and then her face fell.
"What's the matter?" asked Salt. "Did they garble it all up?"
"They've cut it down to three inches! And not a word about the alligatoror the lost wedding ring! I could cry! Why, I told that rewrite manenough to fill at least a column!"
"Well, anyway you made the front page," the photographer consoled. "Theymay build the story up in the next edition after they get my pictures."
Penny said nothing, remaining in deep gloom during the remainder of theride to the _Star_ office. Salt let her out at the front door. Shedebated for a moment whether or not to go on home, but finally enteredthe building.
DeWitt was busy at his desk as she walked stiffly past. She hoped that
hewould notice how she ignored him, but he did not glance up from the copybefore him.
Penny opened the door of her father's private office and stopped short.
"Why, Dad?" she cried. "What are you doing here? You're supposed to behome in bed."
"I finally persuaded the doctor to let me out," Anthony Parker replied,swinging around in his swivel chair. "How did you get along with yourassignment?"
"I thought I did very well," Penny said aloofly. "But from now on I'llnot telephone anything in. I'll write the story myself."
"Now don't blame DeWitt or the rewrite man," said Mr. Parker, smiling. "Apaper has to be careful in what it publishes, especially about a wedding.Alligators are a bit too--shall we say sensational?"
"You made a similar remark about witch dolls," Penny reminded him.
"I did eat my words that time," Mr. Parker admitted, "but this isdifferent. If we build up a big story about Grant Atherwald'sdisappearance, and then tomorrow he shows up at his own home, we'llappear pretty ridiculous."
"I guess you're right," Penny said, turning away. "Well, I'm happy to seeyou back in the office again."
Mr. Parker watched her speculatively. When she reached the door heinquired: "Aren't you forgetting something?"
"What, Dad?"
"Today is Thursday." The editor took a sealed envelope from the deskdrawer. "This is the first time you have failed to collect your allowancein over a year."
"I must be slipping." Penny grinned as she pocketed the envelope.
"Why don't you open it?"
"What's the use?" Penny asked gloomily. "It's always the same. Anyway, Iborrowed two dollars last week so this doesn't really belong to me."
"You might be pleasantly surprised."
Penny stared at her father with disbelief. "Dad! You don't mean you'vegiven me a raise!"
Eagerly, she ripped open the envelope. Three crisp dollar bills flutteredinto her hand. With a shriek of delight, Penny flung her arms about herfather's neck.
"I always try to reward a good reporter," he chuckled. "Now take yourselfoff because my work is stacked a mile high."
Penny tripped gaily toward the door but it opened before she could crossthe room. An office boy came in with a message for Mr. Parker.
"Man to see you named Atherwald," he announced.
The name produced an electrifying effect upon both Penny and her father.
"Atherwald!" Mr. Parker exclaimed. "Then he hasn't disappeared after all!Show him in."
"And I'm staying right here," Penny declared, easing herself into thenearest chair. "I have a hunch that this interview may concern me."