“That’s right,” Norma agreed, “but have you seen Carl Langer’s estate? It is truly beautiful.”
“Yes, I have seen it. It is attractive. However, Carl Langer did nothing to it. He only bought it.”
“Bought it? He told me he inherited it from his father who lived in Portland.”
“Neither Carl Langer nor his father lived in Portland. I was there for fifty years. I know. He purchased his estate from the heirs of old Judge Clark. Where he got the money I don’t know. But I could make a good guess.”
“Ah!” Norma thought as she walked slowly back to Harbor Bells. “So someone else is suspicious! I wonder why Carl Langer lied to me about his estate.”
She found herself hoping that Lieutenant Warren would go with her to visit that estate and to look at the picture, the masterpiece, very soon. Yet she found herself dreading it and shuddering a little.
CHAPTER XXIV
THE DECOY BEACON
Once again the following night the trio, Norma, Rosa, and Marie, were on duty in the upper room of the Sea Tower, Rosa at the switchboard, Norma before her charts, and Marie at attention for any emergency.
For more than an hour, save for the clock on the wall that ticked loudly, there was silence in the room.