The Cry at Midnight Part 20

"Oh, Penny! Father Benedict denied that she was, didn't he?"

"Yes, but that crystal ball reading he gave for Mr. Ayling's benefit was a strange affair. And Lou! The worst was, _he predicted harm would befall him_! Maybe it has!"

"So you're superst.i.tious! Do you really believe in those crystal ball readings?"

"No, I'm not!" Penny denied hotly. "Not for a minute do I put any faith in that crystal ball! But--"

"Mr. Ayling is delayed in Chicago, so you start to worry," completed Louise. "Penny, you're certainly building up a case!"

"Maybe I am," Penny admitted with a shrug. "However, other things bother me too."

"For instance?"

"That scream we heard at midnight. Mr. Eckenrod and his wife told me they had been awakened by strange noises here."

"Didn't you understand from Father Benedict that Old Julia causes the commotion?"

"Yes, and it's plain to see she is a poor demented creature. Still, there's something about her--when we came in today, I had a feeling that she was trying to tell us something."

"She did warn us away. However, in her condition she might say anything.

So I dismissed it."

"I wish I could talk to Old Julia when Father Benedict isn't around,"

Penny said soberly. "I have a hunch she could tell us interesting things about this place!"

"Then you do distrust Father Benedict!"

"Not exactly," Penny denied. "He's been pleasant enough to us, and I suppose he has a perfect right to start a crazy cult here if he chooses."

"It's not only crazy but profitable," Louise reminded her. "Those contributions listed total up to several thousand dollars!"

"According to Father Benedict, the money goes to charity. But what charity? It's a cinch he isn't spending much in supporting the members of his cult. This building is as barren as a barn, and I've not seen any supplies come into the place while we've been around!"

"And where are the cult members?"

"They must stay in their rooms."

"A fine life!"

"I'm sure there are people in this household who aren't listed in the ledger," Penny resumed thoughtfully. "For instance, that girl I saw when I came here with Mr. Ayling. Who is she, and where does she keep herself?"

"Why not ask Father Benedict--that is, if we ever get out of here."

"I can't quite bring myself to do it, Lou. If ever I started asking questions, I wouldn't know where to stop."

"There's only one that bothers me," Louise said, roving toward the door.

"How are we going to get out of here? Let's call for help!"

"Okay," Penny agreed reluctantly. "I hate to do it though."

First testing the door again to be certain it was locked and not stuck, she pounded with her fists on the heavy oak paneling.

"Let us out!" Louise called loudly. "Let us out! We're locked in!"

"That ought to fetch someone!" chuckled Penny. "Listen! I think I hear footsteps now."

From down the corridor, the girls detected a soft patter and a creaking of boards. To attract attention to their plight, they again pounded on the oaken panel.

The footsteps approached the door and halted. Penny, her ear pressed to the panel, could hear the sound of breathing on the other side.

"Let us out!" she called. "We're locked in here!"

"s.h.!.+" came the loud hiss.

"It must be Old Julia!" Penny whispered to Louise. "Do you suppose she'll have sense enough to help us?"

"I doubt it," Louise muttered, resigning herself to a long wait in the monk's study. "Maybe we can get across to her the idea that she should bring Father Benedict here."

"Listen, Julia," Penny began, speaking slowly and as clearly as she could. "We're locked in here and we need help. Can you bring your master?"

"No! No!" came the sharp answer.

"Then unlock the door," Penny urged.

"Key gone," the old woman mumbled.

"Can't you find it? Don't you know where your master keeps them?"

There was no answer, but the girls heard the old woman scurry away.

"Has she gone to find a key, or has she just gone?" Louise sighed.

"Father Benedict probably still is in the bas.e.m.e.nt with Winkey, so we can expect no help from that quarter."

Impatiently, Penny glanced at her wrist watch. Actually, they had been locked in the room less than twenty minutes, but it seemed three times that long.

"It's useless!" Louise said, seating herself by the fire again. "We're trapped here until Father Benedict gets around to letting us out!"

At the door, Penny's keen ears detected sound. Again the pad, pad of footsteps!

"Old Julia's coming back!" she exclaimed. "Maybe she's not as stupid as we thought!"

Anxiously the girls waited. To their great relief, they heard a key turn in the lock. Then, an inch at a time, the door was pushed open.

Old Julia, her eyes wild, and hair streaming down her face, stared blankly in at them.

"Thanks, Julia!" said Penny. She tried to touch the woman's hand in a gesture of friends.h.i.+p, only to have her shrink back.

"Why, we won't hurt you," Penny attempted to sooth her.