Ghost Beyond the Gate Part 31

"Straight down de road," said Mose, pointing. "But de car's been gone a long time now. If you figures on catchin' dose men, you all bettah be travelin'."

CHAPTER 20 _ACCUSATIONS_

Alarmed and excited by Mose Johnson's revelation, Penny glanced about for the policeman who had been a.s.signed to watch the Deming mansion. The officer had taken cover somewhere and was not to be seen.

"Joe, drive as fast as you can to the airplane spotting station!" she ordered the cabman. "I'll telephone the police station from there."

As the taxi bounced along over the frozen road, the girls kept close watch for the yellow cab Mose Johnson had mentioned. They did not expect to overtake it. If the old colored man's story was accurate, the taxi bearing Mr. Parker had left the mansion at least a half hour earlier.

"Dad must have been spirited away immediately after I talked to him!"

Penny said. "He's been drugged or something! Otherwise he would have known me."

"But according to Mose, your father must have gone willingly with those men," Louise returned.

"That's the queer part."

"Of course, you're not certain the man is your father."

"Yes, I am!" Penny insisted. "I was almost sure of it earlier this evening. Now I know! Oh, Lou, something terrible has happened to Dad!"

Louise drew her chum into the hollow of her arm. "Brace up!" she said sternly. "You're not going to cave in now, are you?"

Penny's slumping shoulders stiffened. She brushed away a tear. "Of course I'm not going to cave in!" she replied indignantly. "I'll find Dad--tonight, too!"

Enroute to the airplane spotting station, the cab neither met nor pa.s.sed any vehicle. Leaving Louise in the taxi, Penny clattered up the tower steps and burst into the overheated room where Salt Sommers was making out a report. Her words fairly tumbled over one another as she told him what had happened.

"Will you notify police for me?" she pleaded.

"Of course," Salt a.s.sured her, reaching for a telephone. "My relief's due in five minutes now, so I'll be free to join in the search."

While the photographer waited impatiently for a connection, Penny asked him if he had seen a yellow taxi pa.s.s the tower.

"Not since I've been on duty. The cab must have taken another road."

Salt completed the call to the Riverview Police Station and was told that every radio-equipped cruiser in the city would be ordered to watch for the yellow cab. As he hung up the receiver, a low humming sound was heard outside the tower.

"Listen!" commanded Salt. "A plane!"

Distinctly they both could hear the roar of a motor to the eastward.

"That's an unidentified s.h.i.+p," Salt declared, reaching for another telephone. Taking down the receiver he said tersely: "Army Flash," and went on to report the position of the pa.s.sing airplane.

Penny had gone to the doorway. She could see the wing lights of the pa.s.sing s.h.i.+p. As she watched, the lights descended in a steep glide.

"Salt!" she called. "The plane is landing!"

The photographer darted to the platform to see for himself. "You're right!" he exclaimed. "It's coming down at the Deming estate!"

"Mr. Deming is due home tonight from the East," Penny added. "That must be his plane."

Salt went inside to complete his report to headquarters. As he rejoined Penny, they saw a man trudging along the road toward the tower.

"My relief," said the photographer. "I'm free to go."

Gathering up his belongings, he followed Penny to the waiting taxicab.

There a brief conference was held. The girls were in favor of searching for the yellow taxi, but Salt pointed out that the chance of finding it was a slim one. He proposed that they return to the mansion and try to force information from Mrs. Botts.

"Detective Fuller had no luck," replied Penny. "She has one story and she sticks to it. Her one fear is that she'll lose her job."

"Then this is the time to make things merry for her!" urged the photographer. "If Mr. Deming just arrived home, we'll toss a few firebrands around and find out what he has to say!"

The suggestion appealed to Penny. From the first she had distrusted Mrs.

Botts and felt that police had been entirely too lenient with her.

"All right, let's go!" she agreed. "If Mrs. Botts loses her job, I'm sure it's no more than she deserves."

Joe drove the party once more to the Deming mansion. No policeman was in evidence near the premises. Actually he had gone to the crossroads store to report to his superiors the arrival of Mr. Deming's airplane, but at the moment Penny a.s.sumed the man was neglecting his duties.

"If this case ever is solved, we must do it ourselves!" she declared, thumping on the front door. "I'm in no mood to take any slippery answers from Mrs. Botts!"

After a long delay the door was opened by the caretaker. Recognizing Penny and her friends, the woman sought to lock them out.

"Oh, no you don't!" said Salt, pus.h.i.+ng her firmly aside. "We want to see Mr. Deming."

"He's not here," Mrs. Botts replied nervously. "Please leave me alone. Go away!"

Ignoring the plea, Penny, Louise, and the photographer walked boldly into the living room. A fire burned in the grate and there were fresh flowers on the table.

"Where is Mr. Deming?" asked Salt in a loud voice.

Footsteps sounded on the circular stairway. A portly, bald-headed man with a pleasant face came heavily down the steps.

"Did someone ask for me?" he inquired.

"You're Mr. Deming?" asked Salt.

"I am. Flew in from New York about ten minutes ago and was just changing my clothes. What may I do for you?"

"I've been trying to tell these folks you can't see them tonight, Mr.

Deming," broke in Mrs. Botts. "You're too tired."

"Nonsense," replied the mansion owner impatiently. "Sit down by the fire, everyone. Tell me what brought you here."

Mrs. Botts began to edge toward the kitchen door. Observing the action, Salt called sharply: