Never, in her whole life, had she felt so alone and helpless. She felt it was her own fault, too, for not calling Peter and telling him where she was going. But wouldn’t Honey tell him? She knew, and so did her father. Didn’t anyone care?
Tears filled Judy’s eyes and ran down her cheeks. But they fell into no enchanted fountain. “It wasn’t enchanted. It was haunted. I wish I’d never seen it. I wish—”
As if in answer to her wish she heard the sound of a twig breaking. Someone was coming along the path from the fountain. Judy’s heart began hammering in anticipation. Even Falco would be better than nobody. But would he? To her dismay, it was the gang leader’s voice she heard.
“We can’t get near it,” he was snarling. “The police have it roped off. They’ll search every inch of it, and we’re helpless, thanks to you!”
“Why me?” asked Mrs. Cubberling. “Why blame everything on me? It’s that redheaded girl. She wasn’t as weak as we thought she was. She’s gone!”
Evidently they hadn’t seen Judy. Maybe it was just as well, but somebody had to see her! She knew now that her strength was not enough, that she would have to attract the attention of the police who had come to rescue Horace and Dick Hartwell. Had they been in time?
“They can’t let me just lie here and die,” thought Judy. She had never thought very much about dying. She had always felt so vibrantly alive. But now, suddenly, it seemed possible. And yet help must be very near. Falco had mentioned the police. He and Edith Cubberling were now hiding inside the tower. If they climbed the stairs and crawled into the big tank it would make an even better hiding place, now that it was empty. But now the voices suddenly sounded nearer.
“Look!” Falco exclaimed. “She didn’t get away. I told you she couldn’t. There she is lying on the ground. Just wait till I get my hands on her!”
He started for Judy, but Mrs. Cubberling screamed at him. “You fool! Don’t you touch her! Do want to get us all sent up for life? The place is surrounded! You have enough crimes to answer for already. If you have any sense you’ll give yourself up and send that man we followed back here. He says he’s a doctor.”
“Yeah? He also says someone found a cat with a note on its collar and telephoned him. I suppose you fell for that, too.”