Penny Nichols Finds a Clue Part 17

"What is?" Susan demanded. "I don't see what you're about anyway."

Without answering, Penny directed the beam of her spotlight upon the stone structure. Inch by inch she moved it systematically over the high wall.

"Perhaps it's only a silly idea," she acknowledged at last, "but I believe that somewhere in the wall there must be a secret door--one mechanically operated. No doubt the outline of the opening is disguised by the many irregular cracks in the masonry."

"If you're looking for a secret opening, why not come in the daytime when you can see much better?"

"I've been here in the daytime and the door can't be detected--at least not by the eye. I'm hoping to have better luck this time."

"I can't for the life of me see how," Susan began, but ended with a startled gasp.

A portion of the ma.s.sive wall was slowly moving backward.

"Just as I thought!" Penny chuckled in delight. "Now we know how Rap Molberg escaped from the police the other night."

In fascination the girls watched the widening gap in the wall. Soon it was large enough for an automobile to easily drive through into the empty building.

"How did you open it?" Susan asked in awe.

"The beam of my spotlight struck a photo-electric cell which was secreted near the eaves," Penny explained briefly. "You should have read about it at the library."

"I wish I had now. It's almost uncanny."

"Let's drive in and have a look at the inside," Penny suggested daringly.

"Won't it be dangerous?" Susan demurred.

"The place seems to be deserted. But probably it would be wiser if you waited here and I went in alone."

"No, if you're going to risk it, so am I!"

"Then here goes," Penny said.

She drove the roadster through the opening into what appeared to be an empty room. Curiously, the girls glanced about. Suddenly Susan uttered a stifled scream.

"The door! It's closing!"

Already the opening had narrowed to a mere slit. It was too late to retreat.

"Don't lose your nerve," Penny advised, although her own heart was beating at a furious rate. "We'll find some way to open that door."

"Someone may have seen us drive in and closed it deliberately!"

"I don't think so, Susan. It must have closed automatically."

"Anyway, we're prisoners inside this horrible place! We'll starve to death before anyone will suspect we're here!"

"I got you into this and I'll get you out," Penny announced firmly.

"There must be some b.u.t.ton or lever that opens the door from the inside."

Although the headlights of the roadster illuminated a portion of the large room, many of the corners and crannies remained dark. Taking her flashlight from the pocket of the car, Penny moved cautiously about searching for some means of escape. Susan remained huddled in her seat, too terrified to move.

Penny examined the door, but it would not budge when she threw her weight against it. She could find no lock or catch.

There were several windows high overhead but without a ladder she could not hope to reach them. She was growing more disturbed than she cared to admit, when Susan called to her.

"Penny, I think there's some sort of lever over here by the car."

Penny flashed her beam in that direction and was relieved to see that her chum was right.

"It must operate the door, Susan! We should be out of here in a jiffy!"

Confidently, she grasped the long handle and pulled with all her strength upon the iron lever.

From below came the low rumble of moving machinery. Penny and Susan riveted their eyes hopefully upon the door. It did not open.

Instead, a square of floor upon which the roadster was resting, slowly began to sink.

Uttering a frightened scream, Susan tried to open the car door.

"Save me!" she cried frantically.

Penny leaped nimbly down upon the running board.

"It's all right," she laughed shakily. "We're only descending in an elevator."

"We'll be killed before we ever get out of this dreadful place!"

The elevator struck the lower floor with a gentle thud. Penny then climbed into the car and drove it a few feet forward. Relieved of its weight the platform slowly rose again until it had resumed its former position.

"We're worse off now than we were before," Susan moaned.

"I think this must be the way out," Penny comforted.

She indicated a tunnel-like opening directly ahead. Susan who had been looking in the opposite direction had noticed a small room which appeared to be an office. She called her chum's attention to it.

Together, they cautiously peered inside.

Save for a battered desk and several chairs the tiny room was empty.

Cigarette ashes and old papers were scattered over the floor, giving evidence that the office had been used recently. Penny tried the desk and found it locked.

She picked up a few sc.r.a.ps of paper from the floor. They were without interest.

A folded newspaper lying upon one of the chairs drew her attention.

Opening it, she noticed that an article on the front page had been underscored with pencil lines. The headline read:

"AUTO ACCESSORY THEFTS ON STEADY INCREASE HERE"