The Cry at Midnight Part 40

Rhoda's tense face relaxed into a little smile. "Has that been worrying you?" she asked.

"Naturally."

"But I tried to tell you--you were in such a hurry you wouldn't listen!"

"You tried to tell me what?"

"Why, the sapphire wasn't in the suitcase. It's here in the house."

"But I thought you said you took it with you when you ran away!"

"I did. Then when I decided to leave my suitcase under the dock for a quick getaway should I try to escape from this place later on, I brought the sapphire back with me. I was afraid to leave it, even sewed up in a dress hem, for fear someone would find the suitcase."

"Yet you subst.i.tuted a fake gem for the real one."

"I did," Rhoda agreed, "because I was certain Highland sooner or later would attempt to steal the gem."

"Then what became of the real sapphire? Is it safe?"

"I hope so," Rhoda said earnestly. "Let's see if we can find it."

Taking Penny by the hand, she led her down the hall to the cloister. At a niche in the wall, she abruptly paused.

"It should be here, beneath this broken statuette," she declared. "I found a tiny crack in the stone, just large enough to insert the gem.

Lend me a hairpin, please."

Penny gave her a bobbypin. Rhoda pried beneath the statuette and presently found the small object for which she searched.

"It's here!" she announced triumphantly. "See!"

Into Penny's hand she dropped a star-shaped gem which under artificial light had taken on a violet hue.

"By daylight it's even more beautiful," Rhoda explained. "It looks sky blue then."

"Never have I seen anything so gorgeous," Penny murmured in awe. "And to think Jay Highland nearly made off with it! How clever of you to let him believe it was hidden in the suitcase!"

"I was desperate," Rhoda chuckled. "Grandfather willed the sapphire to me, and I intend to keep it always."

"Then you're not afraid of the old superst.i.tion, that harm will befall the owner?"

"I should say not!" grinned Rhoda. "That was only Grandmother's idea. If ordinary precautions are taken, the gem always will be safe. After all, it's highly insured."

"As Mr. Ayling now realizes to his sorrow," added Penny. "Let's see if he and Mr. Merkill are out of the crypt."

Before the girls could find the stairway leading down, policemen appeared, a.s.sisting the two men to the first floor of the monastery. Mr.

Ayling, who had been imprisoned only a short time, was able to walk.

However, it was necessary for officers to carry Mr. Merkill.

"Save my wife," he pleaded. "She is here somewhere. That crook stole a diamond necklace from her too!"

"Your wife is safe and in good health," the officer a.s.sured him. "We've found no jewelry though. Describe the necklace."

While he was being carried outside on an improvised stretcher, Mr.

Merkill gave police a detailed description of the missing jewelry.

Other persons, members of the cult, also gathered around to press claims for articles Mr. Highland had taken from them.

Under guard, the former master of the monastery and Winkey, were removed from the patrol car to be confronted with victims they had fleeced. Jay Highland arrogantly denied he had accepted or stolen any object of value.

"You have no evidence against me," he defied the group. "True, I established a cult here, but entirely within the law. Not even the sapphire was found in my possession! These people lie if they say I took jewelry from them. They were not charged a penny, even for room and lodging."

"You say you took nothing from them?" Penny inquired. "Look at this!"

From her pocket, she removed the charred sheet of paper rescued from the fireplace. Taking care that Highland should not get his hands on it, she gave it to one of the policemen.

"This is good evidence!" the officer declared. "These birds will talk all right after we get them to the station!"

Highland and Winkey were escorted back to the police car.

Before they could enter it, Mr. Eckenrod hobbled down the street. He walked with a cane and under his arm carried a large painting which he was bringing home from the nearby art museum where it had been on display.

"Well, what goes on here?" he demanded, pausing to stare at the prisoners. "Winkey and the great master under arrest!"

Told of the events that had led to the apprehension of the two crooks, he grinned with undisguised delight. "Excellent! Excellent!" he chortled. "I always knew these two were criminals! Once they are convicted in court, I may be able to buy this property and convert it into a real show place."

"At least you'll be allowed to complete your paintings without sneaking into the monastery through the secret pa.s.sageway!" laughed Penny.

"Showing me that building map certainly paid dividends!"

"I hope they give Winkey twenty years," said the artist. Purposely he spoke so that the hunchback could hear. "The little weasel deserves it!"

"Oh, I do, eh?" snarled Winkey. Breaking away from two policemen who were shoving him into the police car, he hurled himself upon the startled artist.

Before the vicious little man could be pulled off, he had pummeled Mr.

Eckenrod severely.

"Are you hurt?" Penny asked anxiously as the artist was helped to his feet.

"No!" he snapped. "Hold this cane and let me at that treacherous jailbird!"

Officers restrained the excited man as he would have attacked Winkey.

Handcuffs were snapped on the hunchback's wrists. Just then, Penny uttered a startled cry.

"Look at Winkey's hump!" she exclaimed. "It's all out of shape!"

Indeed, the fellow presented a ludicrous appearance as he stood there, his large hump far over on one shoulder.

"It's a fake!" the girl cried. "He's not a real hunchback!"