"Then I should think you would have some interest in what became of him.

I can't understand your att.i.tude at all."

"I--I have others to think of besides myself."

"Your mother, you mean?"

"Yes." Sylvia avoided Penny's penetrating gaze.

"Surely your mother wouldn't wish an act of violence to go unpunished. So much time has been lost already."

"We aren't certain anything has happened to Grant," Sylvia responded, her eyes downcast. "If we should bring the police into the case, and then it turns out that he has merely gone away to some other city, I'd be held up to ridicule once more."

"It seems to me you are taking a most foolish att.i.tude."

"There is another reason why we must be very careful," Sylvia said unwillingly.

"And what is that?"

For just an instant Penny dared hope that the young woman meant to answer the question. But Sylvia seemed to reconsider for she said quickly:

"I can't tell you. Please don't ask me any more questions."

"Are you afraid you may be blamed for Mr. Atherwald's disappearance?"

Penny persisted.

"No, no, I a.s.sure you I am not thinking of myself. Please, let's return to the house."

Penny deliberately blocked the path.

"Unless you wish me to notify the police there is a little matter which I must ask you to explain."

Reaching down she picked up a small stone and hurled it into the lily pond. As the ripples died away they both observed a convulsive movement of the water, a churning which had no relation to the missile thrown.

"I think," said Penny evenly, "that you understand my meaning."

CHAPTER 11 _QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS_

Miss Kippenberg watched the concentric circles race each other to the far edge of the lily pool.

"Then you know the reason why this part of the estate is kept closed off?" she murmured, very low.

"I learned about the alligator yesterday," said Penny. "Why is such an ugly brute kept here?"

"It was none of my doing, I a.s.sure you. I hate the horrid thing. Surely you don't mean to suggest--"

"I am not suggesting anything yet," said Penny quietly. "But you must realize that it is rather unusual to keep an alligator on one's estate."

"My father brought it here from Florida," Miss Kippenberg revealed reluctantly. "For some reason the creature seemed to fascinate him. He insisted upon keeping it in the pond."

"Your father is not living here now I am told."

"That is true." Miss Kippenberg quickly switched the subject back to the alligator. "Mother and I would like to get rid of the beast but we've never been able to do it."

"Any zoo should be willing to take it off your hands."

"Mother often spoke of getting in touch with one but for some reason she never did. I suppose she hesitated to give the alligator away upon Father's account."

Penny remained silent, wondering how deeply she dared probe into the private life of the Kippenberg family. After all there were certain inquiries which a person of sensibility could not make. She couldn't very well ask: "Have your parents separated? Why did your father leave home?

Is it true he is wanted by the authorities for evading income tax?"

although these questions were upon the tip of her tongue.

She did say carelessly, "Your father is away, isn't he?"

"Yes," Miss Kippenberg answered briefly. After a moment she went on: "Father was rather peculiar in many ways. He had a decided flare for the unusual. Take this estate for instance. He had it built at great expense to resemble a castle he once saw in Germany."

"I've never visited such an elegant place."

"It is entirely too flamboyant for my taste. But Father loved every tower and turret. If only things had turned out different--"

Her voice trailed away and she stared at the ground, lost in deep thought. Arousing herself, she went on once more.

"If you had known Father you would understand it was not strange for him to have an alligator on the estate. At one time he kept imported peac.o.c.ks. The place was fairly overrun with them."

Penny offered no comment. She moved closer to the edge of the lily pool, gazing down into the now tranquil waters.

"I know what you are trying to imply," Miss Kippenberg said jerkily. "It couldn't be possible. I refuse even to consider such a ridiculous theory."

"It does seem rather far-fetched," Penny admitted. "Of course, tragedies do occur and those foot-prints--"

"Please, not another word or you'll drive me into hysterics!" Sylvia cried. "You are trying to play upon my feelings so that I will tell you things! You are only trying to get a story! I'll not talk with you any longer."

She turned and ran up the path toward the house.

"Overplayed my hand that time," thought Penny ruefully. "As Dad says, I really have too much imagination to make a good reporter. Also too lively a tongue."

Miss Kippenberg had vanished into the house by the time the girl retraced her way to the garden. The black limousine no longer stood at the front door so she knew she was expected to get back to Andover by her own efforts.

"If Jerry is still waiting at the drawbridge, I'll ride home with him,"

she told herself. "Otherwise, I'm out of luck completely."

The path which Penny followed brought her toward the rear of the house.

As she drew near, the kitchen door suddenly opened and a stout woman in a blue uniform came outside. In her arms she carried two large paper sacks which appeared to be filled with garbage for the bottoms were moist.

Just as the woman reached Penny one of the bags gave away, allowing a collection of corn husks, watermelon rinds and egg sh.e.l.ls to fall on the sidewalk.