“I’m beginning to think so myself.”
Jerry glanced at his watch. “I can’t take any more time,” he said. “I’ll have to get back to the office.”
“I’ll watch a few minutes longer,” answered Penny. “If anything develops I’ll try to telephone.”
Jerry walked hurriedly away. Scarcely had he disappeared when the door of the pawnshop opened, and the young man who had entered a half hour earlier, appeared. Penny hastily moved back into the vestibule of an office building.
Without observing her, the stranger crossed the street and walked briskly toward an intersecting boulevard. There was no opportunity for Penny to telephone the Star office. Following, she was hard pressed to keep the man within view.
Not until they reached the entrance of Butternut Lane did it dawn upon her that the Celestial Temple might be their destination. Then, indeed, her pulse stepped up a pace.
“It’s exactly as I guessed!” she thought triumphantly. “He’s connected with Al Gepper and the other mediums!”
Not wishing to attract attention in the deserted lane, Penny took a short cut through the cemetery, emerging at the rear of the Celestial Temple. There was no door on that side of the building but a window had been left raised. Placed beneath it, as if for her particular convenience, was a large rock.
Penny stood on it, peering into the Temple. The room was unoccupied. However, as she waited, the same man she had trailed, quietly let himself in through the front entrance, using a key. He glanced about and called in a low voice: “Pete! Pete! Anyone here?”
There was no answer, which seemed to please the young man. He moved quickly down the aisle, crossed the platform to a door which opened into the bell tower. Kneeling he began to fit keys into the lock, seeking one which would serve.