The Secret Pact Part 14

Still gazing at Penny and Louise, she slowly retreated. However, as Peter Fenestra went to the window, turning his back, she made strange signs to the girls which they were unable to understand. Obviously she did not wish them to speak to her for she raised a finger to her lips, indicative of silence.

A gate was wrenched from its hinges and carried across the yard. From across the road came the crash of an uprooted tree. With a stifled scream Tillie fled to the kitchen.

"That stupid girl drives me crazy," Fenestra muttered. "I don't know why I ever hired her."

"You can't blame her for being frightened," declared Louise quickly.

"This is a dreadful storm."

"The worst is over now," said Fenestra. "You'll be able to go in a few minutes."

Penny and Louise glanced at each other. Peter Fenestra's remark made it very clear that he did not wish them to linger after the storm had pa.s.sed. Without inviting them to sit down, he nervously went from window to window, watching the clouds.

Rain began to fall. At first it came in a heavy downpour, then slackened somewhat. The wind no longer tore at the doors.

"You'll be able to go any time now," said Fenestra. "I can let you have an umbrella."

"It's still rather bad," answered Penny. "If you don't mind, I believe we'll wait a few minutes longer."

The decision displeased the man. Frowning, he turned to gaze at the girls somewhat critically.

"Who sent you here?" he demanded. "Why did you come?"

His manner was so suspicious that Penny sensed it was no time to reveal the real purpose of the visit. Instead she said:

"My father has a cottage along the river. We were returning from there when the storm broke."

Her explanation seemed to satisfy the man. He shrugged and fell to pacing the floor restlessly.

The rain presently ceased. Penny and Louise felt that they no longer could delay their departure. Saying good-bye to Fenestra, they left the house.

Rounding a corner of the building, they were startled to hear a light tap on the window. Glancing up, they saw Tillie Fellow's face pressed against the pane.

"She's signaling for us to wait," observed Penny. "I guess she wants to talk with us."

The girls stepped into the doorway of a woodshed. In a moment Tillie slipped from the house, a coat thrown over her head.

"I hope old Fenestra doesn't see me," she greeted the girls nervously.

"Let's get out of sight."

Penny and Louise followed her into the woodshed, closing the door.

"How long have you worked here?" the latter inquired curiously.

"Ever since I met you girls on the boat. I answered an advertis.e.m.e.nt the next morning and got this job."

"Do you like it?" asked Penny. "I imagine farm work is hard."

"The work is easy enough. But I hate the place! That's why I wanted to talk with you. Do you know of anyone who needs a girl? I'll work for very small wages."

"I don't know of anyone at the moment," responded Penny.

"I can't stay here much longer," Tillie said, a note of desperation in her voice. "Mr. Fenestra is so overbearing and mean! He can't bear noise either. If I as much as rattle a dish he berates me."

"Does he pay you a decent wage?" inquired Louise.

"Ten dollars a week. I can't complain on that score. But there's something about him--I can't explain--it gives me the creeps."

"Fenestra is a peculiar type," admitted Penny. "He didn't act very friendly toward Louise and me. By the way, why does he keep the storm cellar padlocked?"

"That's something I wish you would tell _me_."

"He wouldn't allow us to enter it even when the storm was coming."

"Fenestra always keeps the cave padlocked," revealed Tillie. "He goes there every day, too. Sometimes he spends hours beneath ground. It rather frightens me."

"What do you think he does there?"

"I don't know. Once I asked him about the cave and he flew into a violent rage. He said if he ever caught me near it he would discharge me."

"He told us that the cave was half filled with water."

"I don't believe that," said Tillie. "He has something hidden down there."

"Haven't you any idea what it is?"

"No, and I don't care very much," returned Tillie. "All I want to do is get away from this place. If you hear of a job anywhere will you let me know?"

"Of course," promised Penny. "Mrs. Weems, our housekeeper, may know of a vacancy. If she does, I'll telephone."

"We haven't a telephone. Mr. Fenestra had it taken out because the ringing of the bell made him jumpy. He said the neighbors always listened to his conversations, too. He's very suspicious of everyone."

"Then I can run out in the car," said Penny. "I don't blame you for not liking this place. I shouldn't either."

"Thanks for everything," replied Tillie gratefully. "You've been awfully good to me. I must run back now or old Fenestra will ask me a million questions."

Hastily saying good-bye, she darted away. Walking slowly toward the road, Penny and Louise discussed Peter Fenestra's strange actions. They were inclined to agree with Tillie that he had hidden something of value beneath ground.

Across the road from the farmhouse a giant elm tree had been uprooted.

They saw overturned chicken houses, fences laid flat, tangles of telephone and electric wires.

"Even more damage must have been done farther down the river," remarked Penny anxiously. "I hope our new cottage hasn't blown away."

"Shall we go there and see?"

"I wish we could."

For several hundred yards the girls followed the road, then once more they cut across the fields toward the winding river. As they approached the Parker property their misgivings increased. All along the water front, trees had been toppled and split. In sections there were wide paths cut as if by a scythe.