  “I’ll get you out of this room somehow,” Penny promised through the peephole. “First, before I go for police, tell me more. Why were you carrying a suitcase that night Louise and I met you on the road?” “I was running away,” Rhoda Hawthorne replied. “Yet you returned here.” “I had to. When I thought about Grandmother alone in the clutches of Father Benedict, I knew I couldn’t desert her. She is putty in his hands!” “But why didn’t you bring police here yourself, Rhoda?” “What could I prove? Until tonight when Father Benedict locked me up, I had no real evidence against him.” “Even now, we haven’t very much,” said Penny. “He’ll deny he imprisoned you unless police take him by surprise and find you here.” “Grandmother will be worrying about me,” Rhoda said anxiously. “She’s in her room now, sick abed. I’m afraid it’s from eating such vile food.” “What does the doctor think?” “No doctor has seen her. Father Benedict won’t allow anyone to call if he can prevent it. He has only one thought—to get his hands on the sapphire and leave here before police catch up with him.” “You’re really convinced he is a crook?” “I’m certain of it! Grandmother and I met him at a Florida resort. As soon as he learned about the star sapphire, he attached himself to us like a leech. Soon he found out Grandmother is superstitious about the gem, so he started playing upon her feelings. He told her about this wretched society of his and painted the monastery in such glowing colors that Grandmother became fascinated.” “So he talked her into coming here?” “Yes,” Rhoda said bitterly, “it was only supposed to be for a day’s visit. But once we were inside the monastery, we became as prisoners. Letters are confiscated and there is no telephone.” “You did get away once.” “With Julia’s help—yes. Only once though. The place is guarded by Winkey and he is very watchful.” “Tell me, have you seen Mr. Ayling, the insurance company investigator?” “Mr. Ayling?” Rhoda was puzzled. “I mean the man who was with me the day you peeped at us from behind the curtain in Father Benedict’s study,” Penny explained. “Oh! No, only on that day.” “Mr. Ayling came here to find you and your grandmother. Then he went to Chicago and hasn’t returned. I’m afraid something has happened to him.” “I’ve seen no one here except members of the society,” Rhoda said. “Sometimes though, I wonder what goes on in the cellar. Once I heard a dreadful commotion! And the way Julia screams when she is upset!” “She’s a simple soul.” “Simple perhaps, but she knows more than anyone else about the real secrets of this house.” “Speaking of secrets,” said Penny hesitantly, “I’m wondering what ever became of the star sapphire?” “It’s safe—at least I think so,” Rhoda replied. “Not even Grandmother knows where I have hidden it.” “Then there’s no chance Father Benedict can get his hands on it while I go for police?” “Not unless he forces me to tell where the gem is hidden. And I’ll die first! But I’m afraid he may torture Grandmother in an attempt to make her reveal what she doesn’t know.” Penny prepared to close the peephole. “I’ll go for the authorities now as fast as I can,” she promised. “Keep up your courage until I return.” “Do be careful,” Rhoda warned nervously. “If Father Benedict should catch you trying to escape, there’s no guessing what he would do!” Penny closed the peephole and stole out of the dark closet. The corridor was deserted. Retracing her way to the cloister, the girl paused beside a wall niche a moment as she considered the safest way to attempt an escape. “I’ll try the kitchen window,” she decided. “It worked well enough coming in.” On tiptoe she approached the kitchen, only to halt as she heard voices. Father Benedict was berating Old Julia again. “There were eleven bowls of soup served!” she heard him insist. “Mrs. Hawthorne and her daughter were not in the dining room. So that makes one extra person unaccounted for. Julia, someone entered this house tonight to spy, and you know who the person is!” “No! No! I dunno nothin’,” the servant moaned. “Even if you strike me and break my bones I can’t tell you no different!” “We’ll see about that,” said the monk harshly. “After a few hours below, perhaps you’ll be willing to talk!” Julia uttered a squeal of terror. “Don’t take me down into that awful place where the tombs are!” she pleaded. “Please!” “Then tell me who entered this house tonight.” “I’ll tell, if you quit twisting my arm,” Julia sobbed. “Only I didn’t want to get her into trouble. She didn’t mean no harm.” “She!” “It was just a girl.” “A blond?” “I dunno. I guess so.” “It was that Parker girl!” Father Benedict muttered. “She represents the Riverview Star, worse luck!” Giving Julia a hard shake, he demanded: “She got in through the window?” “I guess so. I dunno.” “You know nothing, especially when it suits your purpose!” Father Benedict accused her furiously. “Where is the girl now? Did she get away or is she still here?” “I seen her a few minutes ago.” “Where?” Penny’s heart nearly failed her, for she was certain Old Julia would reveal that she had hidden in the closet with the peephole. To her great relief, the woman replied that she had taken part in the cult ceremony and then had supped in the refectory. “I knew that before, stupid!” Father Benedict shouted. “The girl must still be in the building. I’ll find her, and when I do—” Waiting to hear no more, Penny retreated to the cloister. All candles had been blown out and it was very dark. “I must get out of here now or never!” she thought. “Father Benedict will start looking for me and he’ll probably order Winkey to watch the gates.” Starting hurriedly along the cloister, she heard approaching footsteps. Momentarily confused, she started up a short, steep stairway to a balcony overlooking the court. Belatedly, Penny realized she had turned toward the dormitories. Opening from the balcony was a bedroom door which stood partly ajar. After listening for a moment, and hearing no movement inside, she cautiously tiptoed into the room. “A window here may be unlocked,” she thought. “If the drop to the ground isn’t too far, maybe I can get out this way.” As Penny crossed the room, an elderly woman she had failed to see, suddenly sat up in bed. “Rhoda, is that you?” she asked in a whining voice. “Why have you been gone so long? Oh, I’ve been so worried!” Penny hesitated, then went over to the bed. “I’m not Rhoda, but a friend of hers,” she explained. “Do you mind if I crawl out through the window?” “It’s nailed down and there are bars,” the elderly woman replied. “Oh, this is a horrible place! Rhoda tried to tell me. I wouldn’t listen!” Scarcely hearing, Penny ran to the window. As she pulled aside the dusty velvet draperies, she saw for herself that the window was guarded by ancient rusty bars. Everywhere escape seemed cut off! Turning to the bed again, she observed with some alarm that the old lady had fallen back on her pillow. Moonlight flooding in through the diamond-shaped panes of glass accentuated her pallor. “You’re Mrs. Hawthorne, aren’t you?” she inquired gently. The woman nodded. She coughed several times and pulled the one thin coverlet closer about her. “Where is Rhoda?” she asked. “Why doesn’t she come to me?” Penny could not tell her the truth—that her granddaughter had been locked in the chapel bedroom by Father Benedict. Nor could she express the fear that an even worse fate was in store for the girl unless help came quickly to the monastery. As she groped for words, Mrs. Hawthorne suddenly gasped. Her face became convulsed and she writhed in bed. “Oh, those stomach cramps!” she moaned. “They’re starting again! Please—please, a doctor!” Never had Penny felt so helpless as she watched the poor woman suffer. Mrs. Hawthorne’s wrinkled face broke out in perspiration. She gripped the girl’s hand with a pressure that was painful. When the cramp had passed, she lay limp and exhausted. “I’ll get a doctor here as soon as I can,” Penny promised. “Until then, perhaps a hot water bottle will help.” “There’s no hot water in the place,” Mrs. Hawthorne mumbled. “Oh, if I ever get away from here alive—” “Sh!” Penny suddenly interrupted. She placed her fingertips on the woman’s lips. Heavy footsteps warned her that someone approached. “It may be Father Benedict!” Penny whispered. “Whatever you do, don’t give me away! I must hide!” Frantically, she looked about for a safe place. The room had no closet. “Under the bed,” urged Mrs. Hawthorne. Penny wriggled beneath it. Barely had she secreted herself, than Father Benedict stamped into the bedroom. |
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