The Clock Strikes Thirteen Part 8

"I suppose he spends most of his time looking after the big clock," Penny remarked, deliberately leading the old man deeper.

"Charley Phelps spends most of his hours smoking that vile pipe of his and entertaining his roustabout friends," Old Seth snapped. "He doesn't know as much as a child about complicated clock machinery. What he can't take care of with an oil can goes unrepaired!"

The conversation had moved in exactly the channel which Penny desired.

"No doubt that explains why the clock hasn't always been striking right of late," she said in an offhand way. "Last night I was almost sure I heard it strike thirteen instead of twelve times. In fact, I had a little argument with my father about it."

"You were correct," the old man a.s.sured her. "I was working late here in the shop and heard it myself."

"There! You see, Louise!" Penny cried triumphantly, turning to her chum.

"Mr. McGuire, what would cause the clock to strike wrong?" the other asked.

"I was wondering myself," he admitted. "In all the ten years I was at the tower, it never once struck an incorrect hour. I think that there must have been something wrong with the striking train."

"Pardon my ignorance," laughed Penny, "but what in the world is the striking train?"

"Oh, we apply that name to the center section of the mechanism which operates the clock. The going train drives the hands, while the quarter train chimes the quarter-hours, sounding four tuned bells."

"Just as clear as mud," sighed Louise who disliked all mechanical things.

"Does the clock strike wrong every night?"

"Last night was the first time I ever heard it add a stroke," Mr. McGuire answered. "I'll be listening though, to see if Phelps gets it fixed."

Penny and Louise had accomplished the purpose of their trip, and so, after looking about the shop for a few minutes, left without trying to sell the old man a camp-benefit tag.

"Why didn't you ask him to take one?" Louise asked as she and her chum climbed into the parked car.

"Oh, I don't know," Penny answered uncomfortably. "It just came over me that Old Seth probably doesn't have much money now that he's out of steady work."

"He must make quite a lot from his bells."

"But how often does he get an order?" Penny speculated. "I'd guess not once in three months, if that often. It's a pity Mr. Blake had to push Mr. McGuire out of the tower job."

Louise nodded agreement, and then with a quick change of subject, reminded her chum that they had had no lunch.

"It's too late to go home," said Penny, who had other plans. "I'll treat you to one of the biggest hamburger sandwiches you ever wrapped your teeth around! How's that?"

"I'll take anything so long as you pay for it," Louise agreed with a laugh.

Driving on to Toni's, the girls lunched there without incident, and then started for Riverview by a different route.

"Say, where are you taking me anyway?" Louise demanded suspiciously.

"I've never been on this road before."

"Only out to the Davis farm," Penny responded with a grin. "We have a little detective work to do."

During the b.u.mpy ride, she gave her chum a vivid account of the adventure she had shared with her father the previous night.

"And just what do you expect to learn?" Louise inquired at the conclusion of the tale. "Are we expected to capture Clem Davis with our bare hands and turn him over to the authorities?"

"Nothing quite so startling. I thought possibly Mrs. Davis might talk with us. She seemed to know a lot more about the fire than she would tell."

"I don't mind tagging along," Louise consented reluctantly. "It doesn't seem likely, though, that the woman will break down and implicate her husband just because you want a story for the _Riverview Star_."

Undisturbed by her chum's teasing, Penny parked Leaping Lena at the entrance to the lane, and the girls walked to the cabin.

"It doesn't look as if anyone is here," Louise remarked, rapping for the second time on the oaken door.

"I'm sure there is," Penny replied in a whisper. "As we came up the lane, I saw the curtains move."

Louise knocked a third time, so hard that the door rattled.

"At any rate, no one is going to answer," she said. "We may as well go."

"All right," Penny agreed, although it was not her nature to give up so easily.

The girls walked down the lane until a clump of bushes screened them from the cabin.

"Let's wait here," Penny proposed, halting. "I have a hunch Mrs. Davis is hiding from us."

"What's to be gained by waiting?" grumbled Louise.

Nevertheless, she crouched beside her chum, watching the house. Ten minutes elapsed. Both Louise and Penny grew very weary. Then unexpectedly, the cabin door opened and Mrs. Davis peered into the yard.

Seeing no one, she took a wooden water bucket and started with it to the pump which was situated midway between cabin and stable.

"Now's our chance!" Penny whispered eagerly. "Come on, Louise, we'll cut off her retreat and she can't avoid meeting us!"

CHAPTER 6 _TALL CORN_

Hastening up the lane, Penny and Louise approached the pump in such a way that Mrs. Davis could not return to the house without meeting them. Not until the woman had filled the water bucket and was starting back did she see the two girls.

"Well?" she demanded defiantly.

By daylight the woman appeared much younger than Penny had taken her to be the previous night. Not more than thirty-two, she wore a shapeless, faded blue dress which had seen many was.h.i.+ngs. Rather attractive brown hair had been drawn back into a tight, unbecoming knot that made her face seem grotesquely long.

"I don't suppose you recognize me," Penny began diffidently. "My father and I were here last night with Sheriff Daniels."

"I remember you very well," the woman retorted. "What do you want?"

"Why, I should like to buy some melons," Penny replied, the idea only that instant occurring to her. "Have you any for sale?"

"Melons," the woman repeated, and the hard line of her mouth relaxed. "I thought you came to pester me with questions. Sure, we've got some good Heart o' Gold out in the patch. How many do you want?"

"About three, I guess."