The Cry at Midnight Part 11

Scarcely aware of Penny and Mr. Ayling, who followed him to the gate, Mr.

Eckenrod stomped off with easel and palette.

"They can't get away with it!" he stormed, addressing no one in particular. "I'll come back here with the sheriff!"

"I'm afraid Father Benedict is within his rights," remarked Mr. Ayling.

"He's taken over the property."

"What's that?" the artist became aware of his presence. "Oh yes," he admitted grudgingly, "legally he is within his rights, I suppose. But what of justice?"

"It would seem only decent of him to allow you to complete your paintings."

"I've been coming to the monastery for months, off and on," the artist revealed in an aggrieved tone. "Always figured I'd buy the place. The owner, Peter Holden, picked it up at a foreclosure sale for a mere nothing. He'd have sold to me too, if this fellow hadn't come along. Who is he, anyhow?"

"I wonder myself," said Mr. Ayling.

"His gateman looks like a thug!"

"I'm afraid your unfortunate encounter with Winkey prejudiced you,"

smiled the investigator. "After all, the man apparently was acting under orders."

"I didn't like that monk either!" the artist scowled. "He acted as religious as my Aunt Sara!"

"His real name is Jay Highland," Penny contributed. "He's a crystal gazer."

"Humph! A fine calling! If the authorities are smart, they'll look into his business here!"

The trio now had reached the roadside where Penny's car was parked.

Politely, she offered to give the artist a lift to his home.

"Thanks, but I'll walk," he declined the offer. "I live only a short distance. I'll just cut through the fields."

His dark eyes still snapping like firebrands, the artist strode off through the snow.

"Quite a character!" remarked Mr. Ayling, once he and Penny were in the car. "An eccentric!"

"I've heard Mr. Eckenrod really is a fine artist," Penny replied. "Too bad Father Benedict wouldn't let him complete his paintings. By the way, what did you think of him?"

"Well, if I'm any judge of character, he'll soon be back to make more trouble."

"No, I mean Father Benedict."

"He seemed pleasant enough," Mr. Ayling said slowly. "However, I can't say I went for the crystal ball demonstration."

"Oh, anyone could tell that was the bunk!"

"Frankly, it gave me quite a jolt."

"Oh, you mean the monk's warning!"

"Not that," replied Mr. Ayling. "His description of Mrs. Hawthorne and her daughter. Of course, I've never seen either of them, but the picture he conjured up seemed to fit them."

"Oh, he probably made it up." Penny started the car which rolled with creaking tires over the hilly, snow-packed road toward the city. "You described Mrs. Hawthorne to him earlier, you know."

"So I did. Except for one small detail, the reading would not have impressed me."

"And that detail?"

"In describing the girl on the beach, Father Benedict said she was wearing a black cameo ring."

"So he did! You certainly never mentioned that to him!"

"It rather jarred me," admitted Mr. Ayling. "Because, when Rhoda Hawthorne last was seen, she was wearing just such a cameo ring!"

CHAPTER 8 _INTO THE CREVa.s.sE_

Enroute to Riverview, Penny and Mr. Ayling discussed all phases of their strange interview with Father Benedict.

"The man may be all right," the investigator said. "Nevertheless, as a matter of routine I'll check on him. Where was he before he came to Riverview?"

"I never heard."

"And who are the members of his mysterious cult? Riverview people?"

"Not so far as I know. The only persons I've seen on the premises are Winkey, the one they call Julia, and a girl."

"A girl? Who is she?"

"I don't know. She peeped from behind a door while Father Benedict was giving the crystal ball reading. I started to speak and she motioned me to keep quiet. Then she slipped away."

"Odd."

"Yes, it was. For just a minute I thought she might be a girl I picked up on the road the other night in my car. The room was shadowy though, so I got no clear impression of her face."

"I'd like to meet the girl--also the other members of the cult."

"So would I! Why not visit there again soon?"

"We might try it tomorrow, say about this same time," proposed Mr.

Ayling. "I don't plan to remain in Riverview longer than another twenty-four hours unless I obtain a clue to Mrs. Hawthorne's whereabouts."

"Maybe Winkey won't let us in," commented Penny dubiously.

"We'll worry about that when the time comes. Perhaps if he makes trouble, we can find ways to persuade him."

"Shall I pick you up at your hotel?" Penny offered.