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 squirrelchattering 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 thatpoor 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. "Inall my life I've never seen you act so discouraged."
"I feel lower than the worms. Nothing's gone right since we came toSunset 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, sheand Penny had spent the afternoon searching various caves along the waterfront. Not a trace had been found of the mysterious radio station whichso plagued local authorities. The search had been a long and exhaustingone. In the end, though the others kept on, she and Penny had beencompelled to give up.
"My feet hurt yet from scrambling over the rocks," Penny declared. "Isuppose Jerry and those Army officers will keep searching half thenight."
"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 avacation. 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 saiddefensively. "I've barely had a chance to say 'hello' to him. Dad'salways 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 coulddo 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 thickof 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 Jerryabout it and he wasn't much impressed."
"So that's the reason for your gloom," Louise remarked wisely. "As adetective you don't rate."
"Something like that. Jerry met Mrs. Deline at the hotel today and hethought 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 peeleda pan of potatoes and opened a can of corn.
"We need a bucket of water from the spring," she said suggestively. "Wantto help me carry it?"
"I will," Louise agreed without enthusiasm.
The trail led up a steep path to a rocky ledge from which cool springwater gushed out of a steel pipe. Penny drank deeply and then hung hertin bucket over the outlet to fill.
"It's starting to get dark," she observed, noticing how shadowy the woodshad grown. "I hope Dad returns to camp soon."
"Someone's coming now," Louise remarked as her keen ears detected thesound of footsteps on the trail below.
"Probably one of the rangers."
Penny unhooked the water bucket from the pipe, and the girls started downthe trail, carrying it between them. Emerging from among the trees, theyglimpsed a figure below them. A woman in a dark cloak who carried apicnic 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 lowbeside their water bucket, they allowed the woman to pass. Lookingneither 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 rusticplace farther up the trail. It was built especially for the enjoyment ofthe 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'sfollow her and find out."
"What about supper?"
"Who cares for food?" Penny demanded. "If Dad comes home he can rustle alittle 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 pursuitof Mrs. Deline. Not without admiration they acknowledged that the widowwas a better trail climber than they. Though the hamper she carriedevidently was heavy, she fairly skimmed up the rough trail. Penny andLouise fell farther and farther behind.
"She's heading for the cabin all right," Penny puffed. "Of course sheintends to meet someone. Otherwise, she'd have had her picnic on thebeach or some place closer to the hotel."
A clearing opened up through a gap in the trees. Mrs. Deline paused asshe 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 certainthat it was unlocked. She did not go inside. Instead, she set down thehamper and gazed slowly about the clearing. Louise and Penny, at thefringe 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'spretend we just happened to be coming this way. But we'll stick aroundand see who she's meeting."
Mrs. Deline stiffened visibly as the girls sauntered out of the woodstoward her.
"Well, this is a surprise meeting you," she said in a tone none toofriendly. "Is your camp located near here?"
"Down the trail a short distance," Penny replied, thoroughly enjoying thewidow's discomfiture. "Having a picnic?"
"Why, yes. I love the outdoors and thought I'd take a hike thisafternoon."
"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 openthe door of the cabin. Before she could pick up the hamper, Penny seizedit.
"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. Thebasket was filled with food, enough for a dozen persons, and in thebottom she saw a folded wool blanket. Beneath the blanket were severalbulky garments which she took to be men's clothing. Before she could seeplainly, 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 lookinjured. "Don't you want Lou and me to dust off the table and spread outthe picnic things?"
"I do not. If you'll excuse me for saying so, I came on this picnic to bealone. I enjoy solitude."
"But it's getting dark," Penny argued. "We wouldn't think of desertingyou. The cabin has no light."
"I don't mind the dark. Anyway, I brought candles. I really prefer to bealone."
Thus dismissed, Louise started to leave. Penny li
ngered, trying to thinkof some excuse. Just then, from somewhere in the woods, she heard ashrill 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 theirview. Quickly she raised and lowered her handkerchief.
The movement was deftly executed, but swift though it was, Penny saw andunderstood. Mrs. Deline had signaled to an unseen person beyond thefringe of trees!