The Penny Parker Megapack: 15 Complete Novels (215 page)

“At the Gables Hotel?” Penny pursued the subject.

The professor looked at her sharply, for the first time suspecting that she was inducing him to reveal far too much.

Without answering, he turned his back, and began to talk to Mr. Johnson about technical details of the machine.

“I am convinced it is a wonderful invention,” the latter declared. “But before I invest $200,000, I must be absolutely certain that it will do everything you claim.”

“You shall not be disappointed,” reassured the professor. “Only be patient for a few minutes, and you will witness a demonstration that will convince you beyond a shadow of a doubt.”

Ignored by the professor and his wife, Penny and Salt did not enter the cabin. Instead, they walked a short distance away to discuss their next move.

“The demonstration won’t start for a few minutes,” the photographer said. “Suppose we ankle down to the lake and find out what Webb is doing.”

Proceeding down the path which led around the lake shore, they soon sighted the man’s glowing lantern. He had set it down on the ground while he trundled out one of the heavy mines from the shack. As they watched from a distance, he loaded it into a boat, picked up the lantern, and slowly rowed out into the lake.

“Apparently he’s going to drop it overboard for the test,” Salt said. “While he’s out there, let’s take a look in the shack.”

He tried the door. It was locked.

“I don’t know how it’s done, but I’m sure those mines are doctored in some way,” Penny declared. “Louise and I saw Webb working on one when we were here yesterday, but what he did I couldn’t guess.”

“We’ll learn nothing here,” Salt said. “Let’s go back to the cabin and see how the professor pulls off the demonstration. Apparently he has Mr. Johnson two-thirds convinced already.”

“Whatever you do, don’t get into an argument with the professor about your camera until after the test,” Penny pleaded as they started up the slope again. “I want to watch the demonstration. If you accuse him of deliberately keeping the camera, he may throw us out.”

“Okay, I’ll wait,” Salt promised.

Reaching the cabin, the pair became instantly aware of a tenseness in the attitude of the professor and his wife. Although they did not tell the newcomers they were unwelcome, it was evident by their expressions that they distrusted Penny and Salt.

Professor Bettenridge stood behind his machine, explaining its many parts to the awed spectators. Penny could make nothing of the technical jargon.

“The demonstration will soon start,” the professor declared, looking at his watch. “I will turn on the motors now, as they must heat for several minutes.”

He turned several switches and the room was filled with a low humming sound. Two tiny lights buried deep in the complicated mechanism began to glow a cherry red. The professor bent low over the machine, frowning thoughtfully. He adjusted three of the concave mirrors, and switched on another motor.

Despite a dubious attitude, Penny found herself becoming deeply impressed. Was it possible, she wondered, that she had misjudged the professor and his machine? She dismissed the thought. The mine never would explode unless it had been tampered with—she was certain of that.

“Watch closely now,” the professor directed. “At any moment my assistant will signal with his lantern that he has dropped the mine and is safely away from the area.”

The professor’s wife had gone to the doorway. Tensely she watched the lake. Minutes passed. Then from out on the water, there came a moving circle of red—the signal from Webb.

“Now!” exclaimed the professor’s wife.

Everyone in the little cabin held his breath. Dramatically, Professor Bettenridge took a metal tuning fork and struck it sharply against the crystal ball in the center of his machine.

“It will take a moment for the sound to reach the lake,” he said softly. “But only a moment. Watch closely.”

All persons in the room crowded to the door and the windows. Suddenly a huge burst of flame appeared on the lake, fanning out on the surface of the water. A moment later came the dull boom of a terrific explosion.

CHAPTER 16

SUSPICION

Everyone who witnessed the spectacular demonstration was awed by the sight of the flames rising above the lake. As they died away, Professor Bettenridge, strutting a bit, walked back to his machine and covered it with the canvas hood.

“Now are you satisfied?” he inquired triumphantly. “Is there anyone here who doubts the remarkable possibilities of my invention?”

“It was a fine demonstration! Magnificent!” approved Mr. Johnson, fairly beside himself with excitement. “I am convinced of the machine’s worth and if we can agree upon terms I will write you a check tonight.”

Professor Bettenridge’s expression did not change, but the brief glance he flashed his wife was not lost upon Penny or Salt.

“You understand, of course,” he said smoothly,“that the Navy probably will insist upon ultimate purchase of the machine even if I relinquish ownership?”

“Certainly,” agreed Mr. Johnson. “I should expect to make such a sale. The machine would have no practical use except in warfare.”

Penny was tempted to ask the man if he considered it patriotic to try to obtain control of a machine in the hope of selling it to the government at a high profit to himself. But she wisely remained silent.

Salt, however, had a few pointed remarks to offer.

“How come,” he observed, “that if this invention is so remarkable, the Navy hasn’t already snapped it up?”

Professor Bettenridge froze him with a glance. “Young man,” he said cuttingly, “you evidently do not understand how government business is conducted. Negotiations take months to complete. My wife and I need cash, so for that reason, we are willing to sell the machine quickly.”

“Yesterday I understood you to say that Navy men were ready to complete the deal,” Penny interposed innocently. “Did they change their minds?”

“Certainly not!” Professor Bettenridge’s dark eyes flashed, and only by great effort did he maintain control of his temper. “You understand that while their recommendation would eventually be acted upon, a sale still would take many months to complete.”

“Will your machine explode mines on land as well as in the water?” Salt inquired.

“Of course!”

“Then why not give us a land demonstration?”

“Us!” the professor mocked, his patience at an end. “Young man, you were not invited here, and I might add that your presence irritates me! Are you in any way associated with Mr. Johnson?”

“I am not.”

“Then kindly do not inject yourself into our negotiations.”

“The young man raises an interesting point,” Mr. Johnson interposed, frowning thoughtfully. “Perhaps we should have a land demonstration before I pay over the money.”

“So you doubt my honesty?” the professor demanded.

“Not at all. It’s only that I must be very careful before I purchase such an expensive machine. I must satisfy myself that it will do everything you claim for it.”

“You have just witnessed a successful demonstration. What more do you ask?”

“A successful water test,” Salt remarked softly,“does not necessarily mean a successful land test.”

“I think we should have a land test,” Mr. Johnson decided. “If you convince me that the machine will work equally well under such circumstances, I will write the check instantly.”

“A land test is impossible,” the professor said stiffly.

“But why?” inquired Mr. Johnson.

“The dangers are too great. Windows would be smashed for many miles around. Authorities would not permit such a test. Only with the greater difficulty did I obtain permission to discharge the mines under water.”

“I had not thought of that,” Mr. Johnson acknowledged. He hesitated, and it was evident that in another moment he would decide to purchase the machine without further tests.

“Mr. Johnson, I suppose you have witnessed tests made with your own mines,” Penny interposed. “Or have they all been made with those supplied by the professor?”

The remark infuriated Mr. and Mrs. Bettenridge, as she had expected it would.

“You and this young man are trying to discredit my machine!” he exclaimed wrathfully. “Please leave.”

“Why, certainly,” agreed Penny, but made no move to depart.

Seeds of suspicion already had been implanted in Mr. Johnson’s mind.

“The young lady is right,” he said. “I should request a test on a mine which I provide myself.”

“Ridiculous!” snapped the professor. “The machine will work equally well on any mine.”

“Then surely you should not object to one further test?”

“The delay is unnecessary.”

“I am certain I can provide a mine within two days,” insisted Mr. Johnson. “Suppose we set the next test for Thursday night at this same hour?”

Thus trapped, Professor Bettenridge could not refuse without losing the sale. Scowling, he gave in.

“Very well. But this will be the final demonstration. If you are not satisfied Thursday night, the deal is off.”

“Agreed,” said Mr. Johnson.

Bowing to the Bettenridges, he departed. Others who had witnessed the demonstration began to melt away. Only Salt and Penny remained.

Professor Bettenridge closed the door so that the conversation would not be overheard. Then he turned angrily to the pair.

“Now what’s your little game?” he demanded. “You deliberately tried to queer my sale? Why?”

“Mr. Johnson seems like such an innocent little rabbit, maybe we thought he ought to be protected,”Salt drawled.

“Protected! Why, he’s being given the opportunity of a lifetime! How much is it worth to you to keep out of my affairs?”

“Not a cent,” Salt retorted. “We don’t want any part of your deal. But there’s something I did come here for—my camera.”

“I’ve already told the young lady I know nothing about it. If you were stupid enough to throw it into a passing automobile, then you deserve to lose it. Now get out!”

Salt was tempted to argue the matter, but Penny took his arm, pulling him toward the door. The professor slammed it hard behind them as they went out into the night.

“That fellow is a crook!” Salt exploded. “I’ll bet a cookie he has my camera too!”

“Well, we can’t prove it,” Penny sighed. “After all, we did act in a high-handed way. We may have queered his sale to Mr. Johnson.”

“A good thing if we have.”

“But we have no proof the machine is a fake. With our own eyes we saw the mine explode. Of course, we think Webb tampered with it in some fashion, but we’re not certain of that either.”

“The proof of the pudding will come Thursday night when and if the old boy explodes Mr. Johnson’s mine.”

“He’s just clever enough to do it, too,” Penny said gloomily.

The couple had walked only a short distance up the lane when they were startled to hear a shrill whistle in the darkness. It came from the beach.

Halting, they waited. In a moment the sound was repeated. Then to their surprise, came an answering whistle from inside Professor Bettenridge’s cabin.

“That must be Webb,” Salt whispered, observing a shadowy form approaching. “The whistle evidently is a signal to make certain the coast is clear.”

As they watched, the hunched figure emerged from the darkness, was silhouetted momentarily in the light which came from the cabin, then disappeared inside.

“I wish we knew what they were talking about in there,” Penny said. “It might clear up some of the mystery.”

“Why not see what we can learn?” proposed Salt. “It’s safe enough.”

Taking care to walk softly, the pair stole back to the cabin. Crouching by the window, they could hear a low murmur of voices inside. At first it was difficult to catch the trend of the conversation, but gradually Professor Bettenridge’s voice grew louder.

“I don’t like it any better than you do,” Salt and Penny heard him say, “but that’s the way it is. If we’re to finish the deal, we’ve got to explode one of Johnson’s mines Thursday night. The question is, can we do it?”

“Depends on the type of mine,” Webb replied gruffly. “How soon can we have it ahead of the test?”

“I’ll insist that he deliver it here at least by afternoon. Will that give you time enough?”

“Sure, it won’t take more than a half hour to fix ’er for the test, providing it can be done. But I ain’t makin’ no promises until I see the mine.”

“It’s a chance we have to take,” Professor Bettenridge said. “The deal would have gone through tonight if it hadn’t been for a couple of young newspaper fools who came nosing around here. They may make us trouble Thursday night too.”

“I ain’t aimin’ to get mixed with the police,” Webb said uneasily. “If this deal don’t go through Thursday night, I’m quitting. We’re in a mighty risky business.”

“But we stand to make at least $200,000,” the professor reminded him. “You’ll get a third cut. If Johnson holds off Thursday night, I’ll drop to $100,000. The thing we’ve got to do is to pull off that test okay and clear out.”