But before the woman could reach them she was stopped by a servant who spoke a few words in a low tone. For a moment Mrs. Kippenberg forgot about Penny and Salt as a new problem presented itself.

"I can't talk with anyone now," she said in an agitated voice. "Tell them to come back later."

"They insist upon talking with you now, Madam," replied the servant.

"Unless you see them they say they will look around for themselves."

"Oh!" Mrs. Kippenberg drew herself up sharply as if from a physical blow.

"Where are they now?"

"In the library, Madam."

Penny did not hear the woman's reply, but she turned and followed the servant.

"Saved by the bell," mumbled Salt. "Now let's get away from here before she comes back."

They pushed through the throng and reached a long hallway. Mrs.

Kippenberg had disappeared, but as they drew near an open door they caught sight of her again. She stood just inside the library, her back toward them, talking with two men who wore plain gray business suits.

Penny half drew back, fearing discovery, but Salt pulled her along. As they went quietly past the door they heard Mrs. Kippenberg say in an excited voice:

"No, no, I tell you he isn't here! Why should I try to deceive you? We have nothing to hide. You are most inconsiderate to annoy me at such a time!"

Penny and Salt did not hear the reply. They reached an outside door and stepped down on a flagstone terrace which overlooked the garden at the rear of the grounds.

"Who were those men, do you suppose?" Penny whispered, fearful that her voice might betray them.

"Officers of the law, I should guess," Salt replied in an undertone.

"Government men?"

"Likely as not. I don't believe the locals would bother her. Anyway she's got the wind up and you can tell she's scared silly in spite of all her back talk."

"You know what I think they're after?" Penny said thoughtfully.

"Well, if I had just one guess," Salt replied, "I'd say they are after Mr. Kippenberg."

"I agree with you there."

"Sure, why else would they come sleuthing around at a time like this? The answer is simple. Daughter gets married. Papa wants to see his darling do it. Therefore, boys, we'll spread a net for Daddy and he might plump right into it."

"So that's the way a G man's mind works?" laughed Penny.

"But I would take it that Kippenberg is no fool," Salt went on. "If they really have a 'man wanted' sign hung on him he would be too cagey to come around here today."

They were standing beside the stone bal.u.s.trade which bounded the terrace.

Below them the green foliage of the gardens formed a dark background for the playing fountains. A cool breeze drifted in from the river and rattled a window awning just over their heads.

"We're in an exposed place here," observed Salt uneasily. "Maybe we ought to find a hole somewhere."

"We'll never learn anything in a hole," Penny objected. "In fact, we're not making much progress in running down any sort of story. I do wish we could have heard more of that conversation."

"And get thrown out on our collective ear before we even have a chance to snap a picture of the blushing bride!"

"Pictures! Pictures!" exclaimed Penny. "That's all you photographers think about. How about poor little me and my story? After all, you can't bring out a paper full of nothing but pictures and cigarette ads. You need a little news to go with it."

"You like to work too fast," complained Salt. "Right now the thing to do is to keep out of sight. I'm telling you the minute Mrs. Kippy finishes with those men she'll be gunning for us."

"Then I suppose we'll have to go into hiding."

"First, let's mosey out into the rose garden," Salt proposed. "I'll take a few shots and then we'll duck under somewhere and wait until the ceremony starts."

"That's all very well for you," grumbled Penny, "but I can't write much of a story without talking to some member of the family."

Salt started off across the velvety green lawn toward the rose arbor where the service was to be held. Penny followed reluctantly. She watched the photographer take several pictures before a servant approached him.

"I beg your pardon," the man said coldly, "but Mrs. Kippenberg gave orders no pictures were to be taken. If you are from one of the papers--"

"Oh, I saw her in the house just a minute ago," Salt replied carelessly.

"Sorry, sir," the servant apologized, retreating.

Salt finished taking the pictures and slipped the miniature camera back into his pocket.

"Now let's amble down toward the river and wait," he said to Penny.

"We'll blossom forth just as the ceremony starts. Mrs. Kippy won't dare interrupt it to have us thrown off the grounds."

They walked down a sloping path, past a gla.s.s-enclosed hothouse and on toward a grove of giant oak and maple trees.

"It's pleasant here when you're away from the crowd," Penny remarked, gazing up at the leafy canopy. "I wonder where this path leads?"

"Oh, down to the river probably. With water on three sides of us that's a fairly safe guess."

"Which rivers flow past the estate, Salt?"

"The Big Bear and the Kobalt."

"The same old muddy Kobalt which is near our town," said Penny in surprise. "I'll always think of it as a river of adventure."

"Because of Mud-Cat Joe and his Vanishing Houseboat?"

Penny nodded and a dreamy look came into her eyes. "So much happened on the Kobalt, Salt. Remember that big party Dad threw at the Comstock Inn?"

"Do I? Jerry Livingston decided to sleep in Room Seven where so many persons had disappeared."

"And then he was spirited away almost before our very eyes," added Penny.

"Days later Mud-Cat Joe helped me fish him out of this same old Kobalt.

For awhile we didn't think he'd ever pull through or be able to tell what had happened to him."

"But as the grand finale you and your friend, Louise Sidell, solved the mystery and secured a dandy story for the _Star_. Those were the days!"