Whispering Walls

ERING

imed in disapproval. "

livery was worn in a sloppy manner, stared at her a

gle drum,

di to Miss Parker," L

in wall safe?"

p with annoyance.

e much better you get rid o

you sa

ntón tell master so when he

u suggest we do

he servant offered eagerly

my stepfather's most cherished possession. He never w

ter never

roved. "You're not t

d from the library doorway Penny fancied she

't seen me put the drum away. Somehow I've never trusted Antón although he

ow until just now whe

as I understand, belonged to another tribe-sworn enemies of Antón's group. He and Celeste helped my stepfather obt

the drum might bring tr

moment, then added: "Of course, there is a possibility members of the Zudi tribe may have

r stepfather's desk?" Penny reminded her.

until I have seen the hand

le up to the front of the mansion. Peering from a window, she saw Sal

r that she was here to

" Lorinda inquired tense

He'll need a picture of you and your

ing more and more friendly

thought you understood. My mother

ut

t ask you to leave

o obtain a picture, Penny followe

f Penny's chin. "It's nothing personal. I really like

latch clicked behind her, Salt, a tall young ma

e late, but I got tied up in a traffic jam at Ful

d him the

the door of the old mansion. "I'll catch the dickens from DeWitt

, but they didn't give me any real information. Mr. Rhett's d

e-I've got to come up with a picture." Salt knocked

y said. "I doubt if

it that he was only wasting his energy. "I might take a s

you can do under t

eWitt'll go for it like a ton o' brick.

s that might be more interesting. It

a look-see," he proposed. "Maybe we can r

he told her. As if taking shots of society women at the Country Club hadn't been bad enough, right on top of it he'd been sent to the airport to

muttered. "I wish someone would tell me

t," Penny supplied. "Remember those shots you took of th

r the advertising department, and without me knowing it, the store closed for the night. I telephoned DeWitt I was locked in, and

l times but did not ruin the pho

ice. I cooled my heels in that place until nine o'clock at night! A fire broke out

of humor," Penny acknowledge

going to tear me apart limb from limb when I come in

on in warning her not to approach the building. However, she felt su

roof cottage through the trees, Salt pause

e genuine product. Mr. Rhett, I've been told, was a world traveler

d Salt stopped again, thi

" he asked. "Le

arning. However, as she trotted along at Salt's heels, she experienced a

ings. Boldly he went to the door and tried to t

e painted plumed serpent

s thing?" h

r design which had been found o

Salt decided. "It will tie in with your s

e tiny cottage. Only one small window provided light. It had been cut in the wall high toward

ze. And at the same instant, something jabbed her ribs

or it was Salt who

year's growth!" she exclaime

see? Anything

burning inside. But the

is a light-an oil flame!" he exclaim

shiver. "It's getting late and

e you?" the pho

oor is locked, and we're

ndow. Surprisingly

ffered. "Up you go! Then you ca

lt, sho

et a story and pictures, weren't we? Wel

ed lightly onto a wooden floor. The interior of the cottage was gloomy, brightened only

ng. Taking no time to look about, Penny scurried to unl

layout," he observed.

n which the cocoanut oil lamp burned. On one wall hung two black

ords attached to the wall. Beneath the table was a small, crude wooden chest,

lness of the room, the clatter of the pebbles se

ase!" sh

like it?"

fascinated gaze, she stared

urns all the time, Salt, or

someone keeps refilling the shell wi

ny, who stood close beside him, suddenly clutche

ething just then-like

d. "That old imagination of yours

s if someone were moving along the

. The queer look that came over his face

walls. At first the stunned pair could not distinguish a word. Bu

voice commanded. "