Voice from the Cave

GREEN

eline was not there and her clothes were gone from th

mused t

or. Though it had been carefully locked

line's suitcase remained in the closet, but coat and hat were missing. And then Pe

bed!" she told herself in dismay. "Now I wonder if that woman-" As

ing to see the Parker automobile standing where her father had left it earlier that night. But as she stood stari

" she recogni

see that the widow was walking

thought the girl. "Why el

remove her pajamas. She tucked up the unsightly legs of the garment and put on her shoes

e door, she heard the bla

izing the sound of the running motor. "

ly cold, sputtered

raced across the parking lot. Reaching the car just as

line!" s

ed the clutch so suddenly

?" Penny demanded, sliding in

Mrs. Deline. She lost composure, but only for an instant.

r a little ride," she re

t have taken the car without asking Dad," she said stiffl

oing far. I'll just drive

ight? It must be n

rly if I am nervous and unable to sleep.

. Deline ignored her hint that the car was not to be used. More than eve

"I must ask you not to take th

u expect me to rap on your father's door at th

you need to use

ll, let me tell you this! I've already given you as m

ed to go for a little drive-to quie

r cigarette through the open window and step

termined, switche

d furiously upon the girl. "In all my

ude, but I can't allo

nny's side of the seat. She reached a

ages. Obviously he had been listening to the conv

rong here?"

clerks. She began to tell him of the dis

ng about!" the widow declared irritably.

ask him!" Pen

el clerk offered. "Wait here and I'll call M

suddenly. "I've changed my mind anyhow. Afte

fer to call Mr. Parke

n deep satisfaction

" Mrs. Deline announced

session of the car, Penny reparked it and locked the doors.

g to her room, met her father and the hotel clerk. Summoned from bed, Mr. P

?" he inquired. "I can't ge

way, Dad. I awakened and discovered that Mr

. De

ar. But she explained that she only in

wrong ab

her father in b

borrow another person

stop to consider the matter. No doubt

teal the car. Either that or she had a very important appointm

ade a serious mistake in refusing to allow Mrs. Deline to u

t D

ologize to h

e her flapping shoe strings and took her time at

y so, I'll apologize. But

. Suppose you turn the car keys

r eyes, but she brushed them away. She knew she had been unpleasant to Mrs. Deline

turning on the light. Mrs. Deline had und

ke," Penny began awkwardly. "

Her dark eyes flashed and she ma

ell, we will forget the matter.

As she prepared to snap out the light, she noticed that Mrs

e chain?" she asked before she tho

rself on an elbow, fa

airs?" she asked insolently. "I've had ab

t mean anyth

aid Mrs. Deline

felt beaten and hurt. It was easy to understand why Mrs.

her," she reflected. "Perhaps I had no rea

e plainly. The woman had propped herself up in bed and was fingering the jade green elephant charm which hung on its slender ch

e," she ventured, still

Instead she turned her b