Whispering Walls

ue sweater and swinging skirt sent the heavy ball c

dell, watching the tenpins topple helter skelter and vanish ou

a sandy-gold lock of hair which had dropped over one eye, she suddenly squinted at the wall clock. "

ckly sat down to remove her bowling shoes. "Why

in the city!" Penny shot back proudl

ng that freckled little nose of yours into every big story or mystery that com

on. Off and on for several years she had served in many capacities on t

gain, she was unable to work full time, but on this particular Saturday afternoon she had

e urged, picki

sently listening to a short wave radio. As they paid th

eets. Repeating, First National Bank, Main and Fro

gless jumble of words but Penn

ound the corner! Maybe the

The First National's where I ke

to a quick decision. Doubtless, the Star office would send a reporter to check t

re and see what's d

her dark curls. Penny was already out of the door, walki

at the curb in front of the bank. A police sergeant was at the wheel, but before Penny could hail hi

ing doing?" she inquired in a fr

know," he re

with a press card. "I'm from the Star," sh

want to get any information," he said, rel

to the bank. But the policeman brought her up short

said Penny with c

patrolman dryly. "She can

the darkened building. Curtains had been drawn in the big marble-floored bank, and the place app

d upward to a second story gallery devoted to offices, and saw two p

thought, taking the marble steps two

th glasses and a noticeably nervous manner stood talking to the two p

the policeman said.

tts," the

erk h

veloped which worries me. This afternoon I talked to Mrs. Rhett who gave me no satisfaction whatsoev

Sergeant Gray as

ago at three o'clock he put on his hat, walk

nent and a very wealthy banker. His disappearance

ys ago," Sergeant Gray commented. "Why w

has taken his bank duties very seriously. He comes and goes very much as he pleases. Some days he

s it seem so

band. I suggested notifying the police, but she discouraged it. In fact, she hung up th

yesterday,

husband's absence, it's none of your business.' I should have dismissed

nquired the sergea

ds. At the time of his disappearance, $250,000 in n

uggesting

assumed he had done so, until this morning in making a thorough check, I learned not a single bond had be

ded to notif

h to bring no embarrassment to Mrs. Rhett

his gaze focusing upon P

ou?" he demand

nny introduced herse

"If you overheard what I just said, you're not to

ty. "However, any report to the police is a matter of public recor

ppeared on the verge of ordering the girl from the bank, but with

ight. Mr. Rhett hasn't been seen in nine days and that's

he's been kidnap

There's been no

onded with the $

her, he acquired a fortune when he married a rich widow who set him up here as bank president. But don't q

Mr. Rhett's office," p

w me,

ogany desk rested a picture of an attractive woman in her early forties whom Penny guessed to be Mrs. Rhett. A door

made a thorough inspection of th

er," the secretary volunteered eagerly. "He should have return

examined

considered

habits, and particularly his recent visitors. The secretary, whose fund of information seemed inexhaustible, had ready

last day here," he explained. "So far as

ing, Sergeant Gray inquired if Mr. Rhet

hesitated, then answered with r

e bank the day your em

ame late and they quarreled about Mr. Rhett's wor

conversation

ckly. "Naturally I tried not to l

explain her husband's absen

t was one reason I decided to notify the police. The l

ns the

f they aren't produced soon, there will be trouble. I've worked here

reply as he reexamined the mahogany desk. Finding

lmost at Penny's feet. Evidently it had jarred from the rear side of

ly, and then with a shock of surprise, really studied it. Drawn across the center

s' cold gaze upon her. Was it imaginati

you there?"

ray. Mr. Potts moved quickly forwa

erpent!" he

rds beneath it,"

ped hand, had been scribble