Voice From the Cave by Mildred A. Wirt

Author:Mildred A. Wirt [Wirt, Mildred A.]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Young Adult, Women detectives, Mystery and detective stories, Parker; Penny (Fictitious character), Adventure and adventurers
Publisher: Cupples and Leon Co.
Published: 1944-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER

15

AFTERGLOW

Penny sprawled on the grass beside the dying embers of the camp fire. Listlessly, and with very bad aim, she hurled acorns at a brown squirrel chattering overhead.

“You’ve been in a bad mood ever since we got back from Crystal Cave,” Louise observed, coming out of the tent. “But why take it out on that poor creature?”

Penny raised herself on an elbow. She scowled and did not reply.

Louise moved over to the fire, seating herself on a log beside her chum.

“Oh, brace up,” she said, slipping an arm about Penny’s shoulders. “In all my life I’ve never seen you act so discouraged.”

“I feel lower than the worms. Nothing’s gone right since we came to Sunset Beach.”

“On the contrary, I can’t see that anything has gone so very wrong.”

[115]

“Wasn’t our trip to the Crystal Cave a bust?” Penny demanded.

“Well, it wasn’t a success.”

Louise smiled wryly at the recollection. With Jerry and the Army men, she and Penny had spent the afternoon searching various caves along the water front. Not a trace had been found of the mysterious radio station which so plagued local authorities. The search had been a long and exhausting one. In the end, though the others kept on, she and Penny had been compelled to give up.

“My feet hurt yet from scrambling over the rocks,” Penny declared. “I suppose Jerry and those Army officers will keep searching half the night.”

“And I’ll warrant they never do find the station,” Louise contributed. “This is one mystery I wish you had never stumbled into, Penny.”

“I’m beginning to feel the same way, Lou. This is supposed to be a vacation. I’d like to see Dad and Jerry once in awhile.”

“So that’s what’s bothering you!”

“Well, you know Jerry will be here only a few days at most,” Penny said defensively. “I’ve barely had a chance to say ‘hello’ to him. Dad’s always down at the hotel too.”

“What you crave seems to be male companionship.”

[116]

Penny tossed a stick of wood on the fire, making the sparks fly. “I could do with a little,” she admitted. “Life is too dull here.”

“Dull?” Louise gazed at her chum suspiciously.

“It’s no use being surrounded by mystery if one can’t get into the thick of it. So far all the adventure has by-passed us.”

“We might stir up a little excitement by looking for that package Mrs. Deline buried in the sand.”

“Not today,” Penny said with a sigh. “Too tired. Besides, I told Jerry about it and he wasn’t much impressed.”

“So that’s the reason for your gloom,” Louise remarked wisely. “As a detective you don’t rate.”

“Something like that. Jerry met Mrs. Deline at the hotel today and he thought her a very charming lady.”

“Oh!” Louise laughed. “No wonder you’re all smashed to bits!”

Penny got up from the grass and began preparations for supper. She peeled a pan of potatoes and opened a can of corn.

“We need a bucket of water from the spring,” she said suggestively. “Want to help me carry it?”

“I will,” Louise agreed without enthusiasm.

The trail led up a steep path to a rocky ledge from which cool spring water gushed out of a steel pipe.

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