Voice from the Cave
ly to be home by three o'clock and it's nearly five now. Un
nding on the gravel driveway of the Parker home. Aided by Mrs. Weems, the family housekeeper, she had spent hours pac
eems responded to the girl's question. "
ephone? It's driving me
, had planned a vacation camping trip to the nearby seashore resort, Sunset Beach. Twice the excursion had been postponed. Pen
office this minute!" she dec
that had blown about the yard. She was cramming waste paper
announced. "He left the of
been home before this
ed. Maybe he's been
lk," the housekeeper interrup
automobile last winter.
Weems replied. "Probabl
wouldn't he hav
retting, Penny. Your father
be," Penny
r tennis shoe back and forth in the gravel. Mrs. Weems who had cared
"That's no way to act just because
complained. "We planned on starting early and having
fully to her feet. However, it was not her father who had arrived. Inst
say goodbye to you, Penny!" she
ne myself. Dad hasn't put in an appear
e replied, turning to inspect the over-loaded se
to ask one of her own. "W
eyes sparkled mischievously as she a
re jo
s. Deline. She's a widow, you know, and h
rheard the conversation
she inquired, slightly dis
y, that woman would make the Merry Widow look like a dead
housekeeper re
now what eve
" Mrs. Weems requested. "I'm sure
. "I saw her in action last week-end at the Country Club. Why, she simply went out of h
e housekeeper reproved. "Unfortunately, it
rnet's nest, said hastily: "Maybe it wasn't
package of dynamite than Mrs. Deline. It just
ile where she switched on the radio. She tuned it car
ion Com
he dial, for she realized that she
ouncer commanded again. "This
of words which were in no languag
itedly. "I think I've tuned in an ou
car. Penny tried desperately to tune the station
she asked eagerly. "Most of it I couldn
eems exclaimed
t have been a short wave broadcast beamed at a particular g
e in again?" L
cess. She was still trying when a
father now!" L
Penny added, craning her
emoved her apron. In an undertone she warned
tractively slender, and dressed in an expensive tailored suit. Her face was cold and serene, but so striking tha
t?" she
oss the yard, introducing her first
ch," he explained to Penny. "She intended to
id in an affected drawl. "It was so nice of
y replied. She tried to speak cordially but the word
ine will ride up front. Penny, you'll
le room left in the rear seat for a passenger. Penny's face was very long. For weeks she
g at Sunset Beach?" she
Crystal Inn. I'm sure I couldn't endure a camping trip. Mosquitoes-ha
ill be fu
ed the widow into the front seat. "Penny, why don't
ered Penny
far more sensib
e," Penny argued. "We've planne
gave in willingly enough. "Only I never did care much for
uested. "I have to get my
mmer rain cloud. Mrs. Weems and Louise fol
per cautioned. "Mrs. Deline seems like a very ni
had to invite her! It
ou being
be crammed back with the pots and pans and
ine is yo
corrected. "Furthermore, I
your thoughts to yourself," Mrs. Weems s
d she laughed. Wrapping her arms about the hous
itted. "But don't worry. I'll preten
ou'll not be troubled with her company lon
. She turned to say
she said wistfully. "A vacati
enny that her father and Mrs. Deline were w
kissing her goodbye. "And don't l
certain that Mrs. Wee
Deline's already in my hair. What I'm really worri