As each slow note sounded, Louise counted it aloud. Reaching twelve, she paused, but the clock did not. There was a slight break, then another stroke.
“Why, it did strike thirteen!” she gasped. “Or perhaps I became mixed up!”
“You made no mistake,” Penny declared, easing the car to a standstill by the curb. “It struck thirteen, and that last stroke wasn’t like the others!”
“It did seem to have a slightly different tone. I wonder why?”
“Someone may have struck the bell an extra tap!” Penny answered with conviction. “Louise, don’t you see! It must be a signal!”
CHAPTER
14
THROUGH THE WINDOW
“You have the craziest ideas, Penny,” Louise scoffed. “I’ll admit the clock struck an extra time, but it must have been because something is wrong with the mechanism. A signal, my eye!”
Lowering the car window, Penny peered curiously up at the tower which was shrouded in fog and mist.
“Lou, there’s someone up there in the cupola! It may be Charley Phelps!”
“You can’t make a mystery out of Charley,” yawned Louise. “Probably he’s trying to repair the clock. Come on, let’s get home.”