The Cry at Midnight

ING FO

here!" Louise exclaimed, as she too

x inches thick," Penny pointed out.

ere did

boat could be seen tacking back and forth. Otherwi

s under the dock," Penny said, her ey

der

insisted. "I suppose the planking woul

lakes. Trailing the footprints to the dock's edge, Penny

ng!" she complaine

commande

uld hear a faint creak of snow as someone w

n there!" s

ceased. But no on

answer!" Louise said, thoroughly

he studied the long, high d

couldn't climb up again without

at shoul

ambling to her feet, she brushed snow from her sk

tly relieved. "I know my parents wouldn't

l blocks away. Penny telephoned Central Police Station, only to be informed a car could not be sent to the r

their car, but no one came to investigate. At las

the suitcase who had been so unwilling to answer questions. Who

over with her father, but Mr

l she fell asleep and it was foremost in

ried any mention of a police inve

to bring the morning paper in from th

in disappointment. "Maybe the police did

ained that a police car had been dispatched to the river shortly after one o'clock. Footprints noted ear

y from the telephone. "I wish now, Lou and I h

tall, lean man with iron gray hair and intell

rself again, Pe

nge juice. "The things I'm thinking about the police department aren't complimentary

plenty of work f

en police are too busy to invest

nd," teased Mr. Parker. "Suppo

range cry at the old monastery and later, the meeting with t

ekeeper, came in bearing a platter of scrambled eggs. Since the death o

o the tale of adventure, a

parties!" she interrupted the story. "I hope you st

of its excited glow. "This wonderful skiing weather

sked the housekeeper. "If I know the signs,

range cult," grinned Penny. "Who knows, I mig

interposed Mr. Parker, winking slyly at his daug

atter down hard on the table. "You two

observed innocently. "Don

now it, Penelope Parker! Oh, dear,

I do say so myself," chuckled Penny. "Do

to take care of herself," added Mr. Parker. "An inquisiti

. Weems retreated to the k

His defense of her conduct meant only one thing! He did no

oud she said. "Dad, don't you think Jay Highland and the mon

up from the table. "Well, I m

ly, Penny spent the morning helping Mrs. Weems with household tasks. However, d

l home. To her disappointment, Louise had gone sh

he thought. "He spends entirely too much

a nearly deserted editorial room to her father's office. For a morning pape

a middle-aged, intelligent looking man she had never seen before. She

igator for the Barnes Mutual Insurance

e to grasp the g

aper owner. He turned to the investigator. "Do y

at

elderly woman whose family jewels a

thaniel Hawthorne, her late husband, insured a $100,000 star sapphire with us. The po

re now?" asked Penn

during her lifetime. Upon her death it passes to t

or Mrs. Hawthorne now?"

len from her or that she will dispose of it for a trifling sum. Mrs. Hawthorne

he gem's history,"

rn by a king who met violent death. Since then, ther

Three times it was stolen. Several o

r. Haw

estigator. "Of course it was an accident, but Mrs. Hawthorne unfortuna

r grandchild when eventually the sapphire is turned over to her. According to terms of the will

ne still has

trip with her granddaughter, taking the sapphire with her. Tha

you to Riverview?

only a week ago she bought two tickets for Rivervie

relatives or

ned, but the truth is, Mrs. Hawthorne is a very foolish, gullible woman. Sho

in the paper," offered Mr. Parker. "If she has a

ing. "Unfortunately, I have no photograph of Mrs. Ha

e story," the publisher promised. "

e. Her hair is white and she weighs about 150 pounds. She's deeply int

ith interest. She knew now why her father had made

er husband died, she has been prey for one sharper after anothe

Mr. Ayling if he thought it possible Mrs. Hawth

d her granddaughter have not registered at any of th

en established there in the last few days. I don't know much about the order yet, b

r a few weeks," the investigator replied. "Then after the novelty w

minutes," Penny told him eagerly.

glanced inquiring

nk it's worth while,

Mr. Ayling said, thinking aloud. "But I can't afford to overlook any

along, Dad?"

ou'll be in good hands. Just let Mr. Ayl

nny protested.

d his desk work. "That's why I feel confident Mr. Ayl