The Secret of the Sundial Part 16

Miss Swenster's face was hidden by the darkness but the girls saw her figure straighten. She spoke no word and Madge rushed recklessly on:

"Perhaps I ought not to say this, but I discovered that it was he who came here at night."

"The prowler you saw digging here in the garden?" Miss Swenster asked in a tense, unnatural voice.

"Yes."

"Then I think we know what became of the pearls. You should have told me before, Madge."

"I did intend to-but--"

"I understand," Miss Swenster interrupted, "you hoped to spare my feelings. We must try to reach my son at once!"

"He's registered at the hotel, but I'm afraid he may be gone by this time. I heard him say he was checking out early."

"We can't let him get away with the pearls! Come, we'll call a taxi."

They rushed to the house. While Madge and Cara struggled into their wraps, Miss Swenster telephoned the nearest cab agency. In five minutes the taxi was at the door.

"To the Grand Hotel," Miss Swenster directed, "and hurry!"

In the dim light of the cab she looked very pale but determined. She listened quietly as Madge related in detail her experience of the afternoon.

The cab halted in front of the hotel and the doorman a.s.sisted them to alight. Telling the driver to wait, the three hurried inside, going directly to the desk.

"We should like to see Mr. Swenster," Madge said. "Is he here?"

The clerk shook his head regretfully.

"Sorry. He checked out some time ago. He went at least a half hour ago, I'd say."

"You don't know where he was going?" Madge demanded eagerly. "It's very important."

"You might inquire of the starter," the clerk suggested. "I believe Mr.

Swenster called a taxi."

The three hurried outside again, asking the same question of the doorman.

He did not know Mr. Swenster by name but recalled him from Madge's accurate description.

"If I remember rightly, he went to the Union depot," he informed.

They sprang into the waiting cab, directing the driver to take them to the station.

"Step on it!" Madge ordered.

She glanced at her wrist watch. It was exactly nine-thirty and she knew that an express train left for New York at nine-forty.

"Oh, we'll never make it!" she breathed.

Miss Swenster's lips drew down into a tighter line. Her fingers nervously tapped the car window.

They had three minutes to spare as the cab pulled up to the station.

Tumbling out, they started off at a run, unaware of the curious stares directed at them.

Entering the waiting room, they swiftly surveyed it. John Swenster was no where to be seen.

"He's probably on the train by this time!" Cara cried. "And it pulls out in two minutes."

Miss Swenster and Madge dragged her toward the gate. "Tickets!" the gateman said sternly. "You can't go in without-"

The three brushed past him so quickly that he was taken completely by surprise, and could only stare after their retreating backs.

They ran down the platform.

"Look!" Madge cried, pointing to a man ahead. "Isn't that he?"

"Yes, it's John," Miss Swenster murmured.

They touched him on the shoulder just as he was boarding the train. He wheeled and the color drained from his face as he beheld Miss Swenster.

"John-" her voice quavered, then took on a sterner tone. "You must come with me."

He laughed unpleasantly.

"Sorry, but I'm taking this train." He tried to board it but Cara deliberately blocked his way.

"You can't go until you explain a number of things," Miss Swenster said quietly. "And you must give me the pearls!"

"Well, of all the idiotic things! Say, are you trying to create a scene?"

With increasing uneasiness, he surveyed a little group of persons who had gathered on the platform to see what the argument was about. Pa.s.sengers had thrust their heads curiously from the train windows.

"All aboard!" the conductor called.

"Get out of my way!" John Swenster said harshly, thrusting Cara aside.

Madge darted forward, s.n.a.t.c.hing his suitcase from his hand.

"All right, if you go, you go without your suitcase! And what's more, we'll have you arrested at the first stop!"

The man faced Madge with smoldering eyes. He saw that he could not retrieve his suitcase without a struggle and the conductor was not in sufficient sympathy to hold the train a minute. Even now it was slowly pulling from the station.

Frantically, he watched the cars moving by. He seemed undecided what to do. Then with a gesture of angry submission, he abandoned all intention of boarding the train.

"Well, now that you've made me miss my train, just what do you want?" he asked unpleasantly, moving toward Madge as if to recover his suitcase.

She backed away.