The Cry at Midnight Part 3

A few paces away, Louise, who had heard only part of the conversation, waited in the darkness.

"Who were those men?" she demanded, falling into step with her chum.

"What did you learn?"

Penny repeated everything Jay Highland had told her.

"He seemed rather nice," she added. "But when you sum it up, he didn't tell much about the order he is founding here."

"And the scream?"

"Oh, he explained that. It seems an old woman named Julia lives in the inst.i.tution. She's demented."

"Must be a nice place!" The girls now had reached the car and Louise stood aside for her chum to unlock the door. Quickly they stowed their skis and poles in the rear and then Penny started the motor which popped and sputtered in the frosty air.

"It's snowing again," she observed, switching on the windshield wiper.

"We didn't get started a minute too soon."

Before the girls had traveled a quarter of a mile, huge, wet flakes pelted the gla.s.s. Once as the wiper stuck, Penny had to get out and clear the windshield with a handkerchief.

"This is really getting awful!" she exclaimed, as they drove slowly on along the narrow, curving country road. "I can hardly see."

"Be careful," Louise warned a moment later. "You're close to the ditch."

Penny brought the wheels back onto the main track. But a dozen yards farther on, she saw directly in her path, a bent figure struggling along under the weight of a heavy suitcase. Her head was held low against the wind and snow.

Unaware of the approaching car, the pedestrian was walking almost in the center of the road.

"Look out, Penny!" screamed Louise as she too saw the girl with the heavy burden. "You'll run her down!"

CHAPTER 3 _STRANGER OF THE STORM_

Penny swerved the steering wheel, missing the girl by inches. Somewhat shaken by the near-accident, she pulled up at the roadside.

"My, that was close!" exclaimed Louise. Lowering the side window of the coupe, she gazed curiously at the snowy figure, plodding through the drifts.

"Maybe we ought to offer her a lift to Riverview," said Penny. "Whoever she is, she shouldn't be walking alone at this time of night--and with a heavy suitcase too."

"But should we pick up a hitchhiker, Penny? It might not be safe."

"I don't like to do it as a rule, but this is different. It's storming hard and she looks about our age."

Debating no longer, Penny thrust her head through the window opening and called: "Want a ride?"

The girl with the suitcase had moved into the glare of the headlights.

She turned toward the car with a startled expression. Penny and Louise saw that she was thinly clad in a light weight coat, and wore no galoshes.

To their astonishment, the girl shook her head and kept on walking.

"Well, what do you know!" exclaimed Penny. "She's more afraid to ride with us than we were to pick her up. She may not realize we're just a couple of school girls."

"She shouldn't be out in this storm dressed as she is," declared Louise, now concerned for the stranger. "Ask her again."

Penny shifted into low gear and pulled alongside. "Please, can't we give you a lift into the city?" she urged.

The girl stopped then, resting her suitcase in the roadway. A breath of wind swept a lock of dark hair across her thin face. Impatiently she brushed it aside and murmured: "No, no, thank you."

Penny would have driven on, but the voice held a hint of tears. It occurred to her that the girl might be running away from home--certainly she was bewildered and in trouble.

"Don't be foolish!" she exclaimed. "This snow is coming down heavier every minute. Of course, you want a ride." She flung the car door wide open.

A moment longer the girl hesitated. Then without a word, she swung the suitcase into the automobile and squeezed in beside Louise. However, she scarcely glanced at the girls, but centered her sober gaze on the snowflakes which danced across the windshield.

The car moved ahead. "Going far?" inquired Penny.

"I--I don't know."

"You don't know!" Penny twisted her head sideways to stare at the girl.

She started to ask a question, then thinking better of it, remained silent.

Louise, however, could not allow the odd reply to pa.s.s unchallenged.

"Why, you must know where you're going!" she exclaimed. "Do you mean you have no home, or are running away?"

"I have a home," the girl replied shortly. "I only meant I haven't decided where I'll go or what I'll do when I reach Riverview. That's the name of the closest place, isn't it?"

Penny nodded. "Apparently, you come from some distance away," she remarked.

The girl made no reply.

"May we introduce ourselves?" said Louise, determined to learn the stranger's name. "This is Penny Parker, and I'm Louise Sidell."

Only by a brief nod did the girl acknowledge the introduction. She did not volunteer her own name. Her failure to do so, obviously was deliberate.

"Do you live near here?" Louise inquired.

The stranger squirmed uncomfortably. "I'm sorry," she said. "I don't feel like answering questions. That's why I didn't want to accept a ride."

Louise took the reply for a rebuke. "I certainly didn't mean to be personal," she returned stiffly. "Excuse it, please. Dreadful weather!"

The topic fell flat. No further attempt at conversation was made.

Penny kept close watch of the road, for the heavy, wet snow made visibility very poor. She was greatly relieved when they reached the outskirts of the city and a wide boulevard which followed the curve of the frozen river.

Seeing the lights of Riverview, the strange girl began to watch the streets intently.