“Guess we’ve learned all we can,” Salt remarked. “We may as well get a little shut-eye ourselves.”
Penny, however, was unwilling to leave so soon.
“I wish we could find out what is in that big container, Salt! After those Hawkins’ boys leave, maybe we could sneak a peek.”
“And get caught!”
“We can be careful. Salt, we’ve stumbled into a lot of information tonight that may prove very valuable. We’ll never have another chance like it. Come on, Salt, it’s worth a try.”
Despite his better judgment, Salt allowed himself to be persuaded. For ten minutes the pair waited near the fence. Finally they saw Hod and Coon Hawkins emerge from the shed and enter the house.
Another ten minutes they waited. By that time the light had been extinguished inside the house.
“Everyone’s abed now,” Penny said in satisfaction. “Now for the woodshed!”
Crossing the field, the pair approached the tumbledown building from the side away from the house. The woodshed door was closed.
Penny groped for the knob and instead, her hand encountered a chain and padlock.