The Mystery of Sinister Scarecrow - M. V. Carey [27]
He turned and went out, and Jupe hurried down the steps from the terrace to the lawn. He went to the front of the house and watched Malz cross the road and go into the museum.
In the near dark, Bob appeared from around a corner of the Mosby place. He waved silently at Jupe, then ducked back out of sight.
Jupe returned to the terrace. He saw Mrs. Chumley come into the living room in her wheelchair. She had a big suit box in her lap.
“Letitia, dear,” she said, “when you finish your game, perhaps we could sort out these pictures.”
“What pictures are those?” Letitia asked.
“They’re pictures of you, dear,” said Mrs. Chumley. “I’ve been meaning to get them in order for ever so long. I’ve been snapping pictures of you ever since you belonged to the Bluebirds. I have you at every stage. Everything until you started living abroad so much.”
Mrs. Chumley looked thoughtful. “Not that it isn’t lovely to have you here, dear,”
she said, “but perhaps you should be in Europe now. Why don’t you go and join your brother? He’s cruising in the Mediterranean now, isn’t he? It would be so pleasant, and you wouldn’t have to worry about that terrible scarecrow. Chester would look after you. He always knows what to do.”
“Mrs. Chumley, I make my brother nervous and you know it,” said Letitia. “I am not going to let that … that monster drive me out of my own home!”
“Of course not, dear,” said Mrs. Chumley. She took the lid off the box of photographs and began to look through them.
Jupiter tiptoed off the terrace and resumed his patrol of the grounds. He felt uneasy. There was something about the scene in the living room that disturbed him.
There was something wrong. But before he could puzzle out what it might be, he realized that someone was walking in the shadows down under the eucalyptus trees.
Jupe felt his heart give a great jump. The scarecrow! It had to be him! Malz was in the museum and all the occupants of the Radford house were either in the living room or in the servants’ quarters.
Jupiter slipped quietly down toward the trees. He heard the snapping of twigs when he got nearer, and the rustle of leaves as the night prowler went in the direction of the barn.
Jupe stepped into the shadows under the trees just as the creature emerged into the open. It was indeed the scarecrow. It stalked boldly toward the barn, without looking back. But when it reached the barn door, it stopped.
Jupe guessed that there must be a stout padlock on the door. After being assaulted once, and after seeing the scarecrow charge down the hill with the scythe, Woolley had taken steps to protect his lab.
The scarecrow made a noise that was like a wordless growl. It was unbelievably eerie to hear the creature there in the darkness. Instinctively, Jupe stepped back.
His foot came down on something that rolled. His ankle twisted and he fell sideways, crashing into a clump of Manzanita.
The scarecrow spun around. Jupe saw the creature rush toward him. He threw his hands up to cover his face and flung himself to one side.
And then, with a fearful cry, the scarecrow leaped!
Chapter 14
The Killer Ants
JUPE TENSED HIMSELF for the blow that was sure to come. The scarecrow’s boots struck the ground just next to his head. But then the creature pounded away, crashing through brush and dead leaves, and Jupe was alone.
Alone and unharmed!
Shaking, Jupe got to his knees. He groped for the walkie-talkie, which he had dropped. He found it and pressed the button on the side.
“Pete! Bob!” His voice shook with excitement. “He was here. I saw him! Do you hear me?”
Jupe released the button. There was a click, and he heard Bob’s voice.
“Where are you?”
“Down the hill in the eucalyptus grove,” said Jupe. “I think the scarecrow went up toward the house.”
The radio clicked again. “He sure didn’t come this way,” said Pete. His voice sounded strange. “I’ve been watching a suspect, but mine isn’t the scarecrow.
Couldn’t be. He was in the old house until a minute ago. Then he had to chase his runaway truck. I guess