“I only know what Penny told me. Soon after Father disappeared, Albert Potts discovered the bonds also were missing.”
“There can be no connection. Why, even the suggestion that my husband would steal is ridiculous! It’s preposterous!”
“No one has accused your husband,” Penny said quietly. “Perhaps the bonds will be found. Now that the police have stepped into the case, there should be developments.”
“The police,” repeated Mrs. Rhett with a shiver. “Oh, dear, must we suffer their interference!”
A telephone in an adjoining room rang and Lorinda started to answer it. But her mother signalled to her.
“Let it go, Lorinda. It may be the police now, or another reporter. We’ll have nothing to say.”
The telephone rang again. Footsteps were heard down a hallway and a well-built, dark-skinned house-worker of middle age padded into the room. She gazed with intent curiosity at Penny as she started toward the library to answer the phone.
“No, let it ring, Celeste,” Mrs. Rhett directed. “And if anyone comes to the door asking for me, remember, I am not at home.”
“Yes’m,” mumbled the housekeeper. She bent to pick up the paper cutter from the floor and as she did so an object which was tied about her neck with a cord and kept hidden beneath her starched uniform, swung into view.
Penny obtained only a fleeting glimpse of the curious article, for the woman hastily thrust it into her dress front again. However, it appeared to be a tiny packet of cloth.