The Cry at Midnight Part 19

"Nerves!" chuckled Penny.

Louise paused beside the crystal ball. "What's this thing?" she asked suspiciously.

"Only Father Benedict's crystal globe. Take a look and see what's doing in the cellar!"

"You're joking!"

"Guess I am," Penny agreed. Arising, she joined Louise and for a long moment peered intently into the depths of the crystal ball. Seeing nothing in the gla.s.s she muttered in disgust: "Bunk!"

"How does one reach the bas.e.m.e.nt and crypt?" Louise inquired.

"According to a plan I saw at Mr. Eckenrod's, a stairway leads down from the far end of the cloister. Say! Why not do a little exploring while Father Benedict is away?"

"He wouldn't like it."

"We'll never have a better chance." Crossing the room in long strides, Penny tried to open the door.

The k.n.o.b turned readily, but the door would not open.

"Lou," she exclaimed in dismay, "Father Benedict certainly played a nice trick on us! We're locked in!"

CHAPTER 13 _OLD JULIA'S WARNING_

Badly frightened, Louise came quickly to her chum's side.

"Are you sure the door is locked?" she asked nervously. "Maybe it's only stuck."

"It's locked all right. We'll do no exploring today."

"Let's scream for help! We've got to get out of here!"

"Father Benedict is in the bas.e.m.e.nt and wouldn't hear us," Penny said.

"And he may have locked us in on purpose too! But I heard no key turn in the lock."

"Neither did I."

"The door may have an automatic catch."

"Probably that's so," Penny agreed to keep her chum from worrying.

"Father Benedict should be back soon. Let's not let him know we even noticed the door was locked."

"Do you think he fastened it on purpose?"

"He may have," Penny said slowly. "Perhaps he didn't want us to wander about the monastery while he was gone."

"What if he doesn't come back?"

"He will, my pet. Now do stop worrying! The smart thing for us to do, is to learn what we can while we're here."

"A lot we can learn locked up in this stuffy room!"

Without replying, Penny wandered about the room, scrutinizing art objects and each piece of furniture.

"For a man who professes to live a life of poverty, Father Benedict shows quite a liking for luxury items," she remarked.

Coming to a battered desk cluttered with papers, she paused and eyed it thoughtfully.

"Penny, we wouldn't dare pry!" exclaimed Louise, guessing what was in her chum's mind.

"I suppose not," sighed Penny, "only I'm sure Mr. Ayling would do it if he were here. Those papers in the pigeon holes look as though they're unpaid bills--a whole stack of them too!"

On the desk lay an open account book and the girl gazed at it with keen interest. A long list of names had been written in ink. On one side of the ledger was a column marked "Contributions."

"Penny, you are snooping!" accused Louise, but she added with an excited laugh: "If you find anything worth while, let me know!"

"Then consider yourself officially notified!"

Startled, Louise went quickly to the desk. "What have you found?" she demanded.

Penny showed her the book in which were listed many names.

"This looks like a report covering donations made by cult members to the society!" she declared. "Do you suppose Mrs. Hawthorne's name is here?"

Hurriedly the girls examined the tiny ledger. First on the list was a Mrs. Carl Kingsley, who had contributed two diamond clips at estimated value of $650.

"Ever hear of her?" Penny asked, for the name was unfamiliar.

"Never. She may not be from Riverview."

Rapidly they scanned the entire list. There were many names, all of women. Contributions included cash, pearls, silver bracelets, gold wrist watches, an emerald pin, and other articles of jewelry.

However, the girls could not find Mrs. Hawthorne's name, nor that of her granddaughter.

"This list doesn't prove anything one way or the other," Penny said, carefully replacing the ledger on the desk where she had found it. "Mrs.

Hawthorne could have joined the cult under a different name. Father Benedict might not even know who she is."

"Oh, Penny!" teased her companion. "You want to uncover a mystery so badly! Actually, there's not one bit of evidence that Mrs. Hawthorne ever came here."

"True," Penny acknowledged in a low tone, "but you will admit a lot of queer things have happened. For instance, who sent Mr. Ayling the fake telegram? And why hasn't he returned to Riverview as he said he would?"

"He's hardly had time yet. Anyway, what connection could his absence have with this monastery?"

"None, perhaps. Unless Mrs. Hawthorne should be here--"