CHAPTER VIII An Important Communication
Madge flung open the cabin door and burst in upon Enid who was lying uponthe bed, though fully awake.
"Look at this!" she cried. "I found it in your father's cabin just now."
"What is it?" Enid demanded, abruptly rising.
"It's a communication from those men who kidnapped your father. Read it!"
Enid snatched at the paper and eagerly scanned the message. It read:
"Deliver the Zudi Drum Bowl on midnight of the 29th at the white birch onCedar Point if you wish to save your father. Come alone and communicatewith no one. If the police learn of this note, your father's life will bethe forfeit."
The note was signed with three triangles and a strange symbol, unlikeanything the girls had ever seen before.
"How dreadful!" Enid gasped.
"What does it all mean?" Madge demanded. "Did you ever hear of this thingthey call the Zudi Drum Bowl?"
Enid nodded soberly. Her face was very white.
"Oh, Madge, I'm afraid we're dealing with a band of the worst sort ofcriminals," she half whispered. "This isn't an ordinary kidnapping case.It's the Zudi Drum that has caused all the trouble."
"Tell me what it's all about," Madge commanded. "This note is Greek tome."
"You know Father collects antiques and the like," Enid explained. "He hasthings from all over the world. The Zudi Drum Bowl is one of his mostcherished trophies."
"Just what is it?"
"It's a sort of drum used in former times by a primitive tribe of Indiannatives. It looks like a huge jar, elaborately decorated, but the mouthhas an overhanging lip so that when a dried skin is stretched over theopening, it can be used as a drum. It was used only for specialceremonial meetings, I believe."
"How did your father get possession of it?"
"It was during our trip to India, two years ago. He purchased it from anantique dealer and paid a steep price for it too."
"If it is so valuable that may explain why the kidnappers are trying toget it."
"The drum would have slight value to anyone not interested in antiques. Ican't understand how the news leaked out that it was in Father'spossession. He took pains to keep the matter quiet."
"Where is Cedar Point?" Madge questioned next.
"Up the bay about fifty miles, I'd judge. In a most desolate locality."
"You have no intention of going there, of course."
"Oh, but I must!" Enid cried. "It's the only way to save Father. The ZudiDrum is valuable, but I can't consider the cost."
"I was thinking of other things besides the value of the trophy," Madgesaid slowly. "I was thinking of your own safety. You mustn't go to CedarPoint alone, Enid. Turn the note over to the police. They'll know how todeal with the situation."
"Oh, no, I can't do that! For Father's sake we must obey ordersimplicitly. I'll give them the Zudi Drum Bowl--anything they ask."
Madge saw that it was useless to argue with Enid in her presentdistraught state of mind. However, she did not give up the idea of tryingto persuade her chum to her way of thinking at a later time. She believedthat they were dealing with a clever band of criminals, a group of menwho would stop at nothing to further their own schemes. It seemed to herthat if Enid went alone to Cedar Point, she would only invite trouble.Even if the Zudi Drum were turned over to the kidnappers, there was noassurance that Mr. Burnett would be released.
"I wish Jack French were here," she thought, "he would know what to do."
"I'm not sure where the Drum Bowl is," Enid broke in upon her reflection,"but I know it's not here on the yacht. Father must keep it with hisother valuables at home. The place has been closed up for weeks."
"But your home is two hundred miles up the coast, Enid."
"I know, I must find some way to get there."
"Today is the twenty-seventh," Madge reminded.
"Perhaps Rex will take me in his amphibian. I'll get there somehow."
Madge made no further attempt to discourage Enid, for she scarcely knewwhat was the wisest course to follow if they were not to disclose theirinformation to the police. It struck her as most singular that thekidnappers would go to such lengths to secure possession of a trophywhich apparently was highly valued only by collectors. She could haveunderstood a demand for a large sum of money but no such request had beenmade.
"I wonder how the note was left in Father's room?" Enid mused. "I'm sureit wasn't there yesterday."
"No, the detectives surely would have found it for they went over theplace with a fine tooth comb."
"I don't see how it could have been left while we were away this morningeither," Enid went on reflectively. "With the sailors here, it would havebeen impossible."
"My guess is that the note was left by last night's prowler."
"We were in the cabin after that."
"Yes, but we didn't really look around much. We were too frightened. Andnaturally, we never dreamed that he had left a note behind."
Madge was troubled by another thought which she decided not to confide toher chum, lest it worry her unnecessarily. It occurred to her that thekidnappers were in close touch with the situation aboard the yacht, elsethey could not have known of Enid's release. The note obviously had beenaddressed to her, though her name had not been mentioned.
"Someone is keeping close watch here," she reflected uncomfortably."Likely enough, our every action is known."
Enid broke in upon her thoughts to suggest that they both return to Mr.Burnett's cabin, as she was curious to see exactly where the note hadbeen found. They spent perhaps fifteen minutes in the room, finding nofurther evidence of the midnight prowler.
"I'll ask the sailors if they permitted any stranger on deck while wewere gone this morning," Enid announced, "though I'm confident the notewas brought here last night."
She questioned the men in turn, only to learn that Rex had been the soleperson to come aboard.
"I hope he comes back before evening," Enid said anxiously. "If he can'ttake me to my home at Bay City, I must find another means of gettingthere."
"You're still determined to go through with it?" Madge asked.
"Oh, yes, it's the only way of saving Father."
Madge started to speak, then waited as one of the sailors approached. Hepaused to address Enid.
"I beg your pardon, Miss Burnett. While I was swabbin' down the deck, Ifound this here doodad. I thought maybe it belonged to you."
He dropped a tiny trinket into her hand and turned away.
"It doesn't belong to me," Enid said. "Have you lost anything, Madge?"
"Why, no, what is it?"
Enid extended the palm of her hand upon which lay a small jade pin.
"I think I've seen that before, or one just like it," Madge said, a queernote in her voice. "Mind if I borrow it for a little while? I may be ableto find the owner, and if I do, I'll promise interesting developments!"