The Secret at the Hermitage by Keene Caroline

Author:Keene, Caroline
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, juvenile, mystery
Publisher: Distributed Proofreaders Canada
Published: 1936-05-15T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XIV

The Masquerader

“Professor Crandall can be more useful back there than at the hermitage,” Louise said, as she and her sister darted through the forest.

They came to the clearing, and halted. The door of the hermitage was open, but neither the vendor nor the child was in sight.

“They must be indoors,” Louise declared. “You wait here, Jean, while I find out.”

“But I want to go, too.”

“Pat Closky already knows me, Jean. If both of us pounce down upon him at the same time he may become suspicious.”

“Yes, that’s true. But what excuse will you offer for coming here?”

Louise paused an instant. “I’ll pretend I want to buy those statues we saw at the festival, and which he took from us.”

“All right, but at the first opportunity call for me to come, too.”

Louise slipped from behind the trees, and walked rapidly toward the hermitage. She decided to enter by the cliff side, so was forced to circle the building.

A child’s cry drew her attention toward a high, rocky ledge adjacent to the cabin. Louise’s heart missed a beat! Left alone only a few minutes, the crippled child had crept on his hands and knees to the very edge of the precipice! Unaware of his danger, the youngster now stretched out its fist to pluck a wild flower which grew just over the edge.

For an instant Louise was too terrified to move. Then she sprang forward to save the babe. As she did so, Pat Closky came to the door of the hermitage. His face blanched as he beheld the scene.

Louise snatched up the child and carried it to safety. At the same time the vendor ran over and relieved the girl of her burden.

“Oh, thank you, thank you,” he murmured brokenly. “I could never have forgiven myself if anything had happened to the baby.”

Louise decided that this was a strategic moment in which to introduce herself, since the rescue of the child had placed her in a most favorable light.

“I am Louise Dana,” she explained. “You doubtless recall that I stayed over night here at your home not long ago.”

“Yes,” said the vendor noncommittally.

“My sister and I are very much interested in the statues which you sell. We thought you might be induced to part with one of them.”

The old man remained silent, and Louise continued:

“My sister is waiting. I’ll call her.” She signaled toward the trees.

Jean, who had been eagerly watching, instantly emerged. As Louise introduced her to the vendor, she stared at him in surprise.

“Why, you bear a marked resemblance to my sister!” she exclaimed.

The comment was as embarrassing to Louise as it was to Pat Closky, yet it was true. There was a decided similarity in their features. Despite the vendor’s clothing and bushy, gray hair, he had a young face and certain feminine characteristics. He fondled the child as a woman would, and his voice was high-pitched.

“You are Nina Regan in disguise!” Jean suddenly cried out, before Louise could speak.

“Nina Regan! You accuse me of being a woman!” The vendor laughed shakily.

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