In the downtown section of the city, the girls found a small cafe which advertised a deluxe dinner for one dollar. Treating themselves to the best, they enjoyed a leisurely meal, and then bought theatre tickets.
“Penny, do you realize what all this is costing us?” Louise began to worry belatedly.
“Oh, I’ll soon make it up,” Penny joked. “Wait until I capture Ben Bowman! With my profit from him we’ll paint the town red!”
“You’re nothing if not optimistic,” Louise said pityingly.
The play was an excellent one and when the curtain fell at eleven, neither girl begrudged the money paid for tickets.
“It’s been a grand day,” Louise sighed contentedly as they left the theatre. “Let’s get home now as quickly as we can.”
The drive to Riverview consumed nearly an hour. As the girls approached the Hubell Tower, they noted by the illuminated clock face that the hands pointed to twelve o’clock.
“The witching hour of midnight,” Louise remarked. “Do you still think that mechanical creature has supernatural powers?”
“Quiet!” Penny commanded, idling the car as the big clock began to strike. “I’m going to count the strokes.”
“I’ll do it too, just so you can’t pull a fast one on me. That’s two now.”