PRINTED IN U. S. A.
The floor beneath her feet suddenly gave way.
“Whispering Walls” ([See Page 167])
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE [1 THE PLUMED SERPENT] 1 [2 AN UNEXPLAINED DISAPPEARANCE] 11 [3 A THATCHED ROOF COTTAGE] 19 [4 BEHIND THE BUSHES] 26 [5 AN EVIL CHARM] 35 [6 MATCHES AND STRING] 44 [7 WHISPERING WALLS] 51 [8 GHOST OF THE DARK CORNERS] 61 [9 JERRY ENTERS THE CASE] 68 [10 CHEAP LODGING] 79 [11 THE WOODEN DOLL] 90 [12 SUPERSTITION] 98 [13 MISSING FROM THE CHEST] 106 [14 STORM WARNINGS] 114 [15 MRS. RHETT’S ILLNESS] 123 [16 AN OPEN WINDOW] 133 [17 THE STOLEN WILL] 139 [18 THROUGH THE WINDOW] 147 [19 RISING WIND] 154 [20 TWELVE STEPS DOWN] 164 [21 CEREMONIAL CAVE] 172 [22 STRANGER IN THE STORM] 180 [23 IN THE PRESSROOM] 188 [24 THE GRINNING GARGOYLE] 196 [25 ON THE BALCONY] 206
CHAPTER
1
THE PLUMED SERPENT
Smoothly and with accurate aim, the slim girl in blue sweater and swinging skirt sent the heavy ball crashing down the polished floor of the bowling alley.
“Another strike, Penny!” cried her school companion, Louise Sidell, watching the tenpins topple helter skelter and vanish out of sight. “You’re certainly going like a house afire today!”
“Lucky, that’s all.” Penny Parker’s friendly grin widened as she chalked up the score. Brushing aside a sandy-gold lock of hair which had dropped over one eye, she suddenly squinted at the wall clock. “Ten minutes until four o’clock!” she exclaimed. “Lou, unless we call it a day, I’ll be late for work!”
“You and your work!” scoffed Louise, but she quickly sat down to remove her bowling shoes. “Why spend all your spare time at that old newspaper?”