Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key Part 31

Caleb paused at the head of the stairs to listen for a moment. Then he blew out his lantern.

Sensing that the old man would unlock the panel, Penny stole forward. She was just in time to see a section of the wall drop down. Caleb pa.s.sed through the opening and with a click the panel closed behind him.

"Now what shall we do?" Rosanna demanded. "We're locked in here the same as we were before."

"I think I saw the place where he pressed the wall," Penny whispered. "I was watching closely."

For several minutes she groped about in the dark. At last her fingers touched a small k.n.o.b.

"I believe I've found it," she proclaimed triumphantly.

As she was on the verge of turning the k.n.o.b, she stayed her hand. With Caleb in the organ room he would be certain to see the panel open. There was danger too that he might return at any instant to find them crouching at the head of the stairs.

"Shouldn't we turn back?" Rosanna whispered nervously.

"Let's wait until he begins to play the organ."

They listened expectantly. Minutes pa.s.sed but not a strain of music did they hear.

"That's queer," Penny murmured. "I'm sure Caleb is the one who has been disturbing the household with his ghost music. Why doesn't he play as he's always done before?"

They both knew that the wall was not soundproof. For that matter they could hear old Caleb walking about in the room.

"He must be up to new tricks tonight," Penny whispered.

"He'll be coming back here any minute. Let's get away before he catches us."

Penny was reluctant to leave, for it struck her that Caleb Eckert had come to the Winters' house for a different purpose than that of his usual nightly visit. She was curious to learn what it was.

"Listen!" she warned, as they heard a strange noise from within.

"It sounded like a door closing," Rosanna declared.

"That's exactly what I think it was. Caleb must have gone out of the room. We'll be safe in entering now."

To make certain she listened for a few minutes but there was no sound of movement from within. Convinced that the coast was clear, she groped about for the k.n.o.b which opened the panel.

It turned in her hand. She heard a sharp metallic click, and almost before she was prepared for it, the panel swung open. It closed again before either of the girls could recover from their surprise.

However, Penny turned the k.n.o.b a second time and as the section of wall swung back, both girls stepped through into the room.

As they had expected, it was deserted.

"Where do you suppose he went?" Rosanna murmured.

They tiptoed to the outside door and softly opened it. The hall was dark.

At first they could distinguish nothing. Then Penny noticed that the door opening upon the second floor corridor was ajar.

"He went downstairs," she whispered. "Let's find out what he's up to."

The stairs creaked alarmingly as they crept down to the second floor. On the landing they hesitated an instant and were relieved to hear no unusual sound.

They peered into the long corridor and saw that it was empty. Caleb was nowhere to be seen.

"Perhaps he brought another bat for Mrs. Leeds' room," Rosanna suggested, glancing toward the chamber which the woman shared with her daughter.

The door, however, was tightly closed. The one at the other end of the hall which opened into Max Laponi's room was slightly ajar. Rosanna and Penny failed to notice.

Somewhere on the lower floor a board creaked. The two girls moved noiselessly to the stairway and looked down over the banister.

Even Penny was unprepared for the sight which greeted her eyes. Caleb Eckert was working at the dials of the living room safe!

CHAPTER XVIII A Daring Theft

Old Caleb had relighted his lantern and in its dim yellow glow the girls could make out every detail of the center hall and living room. In astonishment they watched the man spin the tiny dials of the safe. He manipulated them with a speed and skill which was amazing.

"Why, I do believe the scoundrel intends to steal Mr. Winters'

valuables," Rosanna whispered with growing anger. "We can't let him do that."

With one accord they tiptoed down the long spiral stairway to the center hall. For a minute they were exposed to view but Caleb was so absorbed in what he was doing that he did not even glance up.

Hiding behind a heavy velvet curtain which partially screened the arched door of the living room, the girls watched.

Twice Caleb tried without success to open the safe. Although his movements were deft and sure it was obvious that he had made some slight mistake in the combination. Each time he failed he grew more impatient.

They could see his hand shake.

"Drat it all!" they heard him mutter to himself. "That's the right combination. It ought to open."

At length the old man's efforts were rewarded. As he manipulated the dials for the third time there was a significant click from within the safe.

Chuckling to himself, Caleb turned the handle and swung open the steel door.

Save for a long metal box, the safe was empty. In the act of reaching for the container, Caleb suddenly wheeled.

The girls were startled at the action for they had heard nothing.

After looking searchingly about the room the old man apparently was satisfied that he was alone. With an uneasy laugh he again turned his attention to the safe.

"Guess I'm getting a mite jittery," he muttered. "I was positive I heard someone behind me just then."

He thrust his hand into the safe and drew out the box. With fumbling fingers he unfastened the lid. A smile illuminated his wrinkled face as he regarded the contents.

"Still here, safe and sound. I was a little afraid----"

Without finishing, he lifted an object from the box and held it in the light. It was a tiny figure made of purest ivory.