The Mystery of the Monster Mountain - M. V. Carey [32]
“You are now a social director?” asked Anna.
“I don’t want them in the way,” said Havemeyer. “I’m going up the slope for one last try, but I’m not hopeful. If we’re stymied, we’ll have to bluff it at the bank and you’d better be good. So do your homework.”
“I do not want to do it,” protested Anna.
“You’ll do it.” Havemeyer’s voice was rough. “You’ve done harder things, and for less money. You got some stuff for sandwiches for the kids?”
“I have ham.” Anna’s tone was sulky.
“That’ll do.”
Jupiter Jones backed away from the porch, then cleared his throat loudly and stomped up the steps.
“Good morning,” called Cousin Anna.
Jupiter greeted her brightly and put up only token resistance when she invited him to breakfast. He went upstairs to wash. When he came down again, Bob and Pete had appeared, still tousled from sleep. Jensen and Smathers sat at the table waiting for their breakfast.
The meal was quiet. Each person seemed busy with private thoughts. Cousin Anna was clearing away cups and saucers afterward when she seemed struck by a happy idea.
“You had a good hike yesterday,” she said to the boys. “You should go again today. It is your holiday, and you should have a nice time. I will make you some sandwiches and you can go. There is a good trail from the campground to the fire tower, and I think you should go that way.”
“The fire tower!” said Bob. “Oh, that abandoned one we saw the other day. That must be three or four miles from here.”
Anna nodded. “And high up. From the tower you can see all the valley.
Sometimes, when I am not too busy, I go there to be alone and think.”
“Sounds great!” said Jupiter quickly.
Pete opened his mouth to say something, but Jupe kicked him under the table.
Anna carried the dishes to the kitchen and quickly put together a picnic lunch.
“You can carry it in your knapsack,” she suggested.
The boys thanked her, and Jupe got his knapsack from the tent and stowed the food in the pack.
“Be careful,” warned Havemeyer. “We’ll expect you back sometime this afternoon.
Okay?”
Havemeyer, Konrad, and Hans were setting to work on the swimming pool when the boys started down the road to the camp-ground.
As soon as they were around the first bend, Pete stopped.
“Am I too suspicious, or is there some special reason we’re being shipped off on a hike today?” he asked. “Why did you kick me at breakfast?”
“I overheard Anna and Havemeyer talking this morning,” said Jupe. “Havemeyer wants us out of the way so he can go to the high meadow and Anna can do her homework.”
“Homework?” echoed Bob.
“Don’t ask me what it is,” Jupe told them.
“It has something to do with the bank. Havemeyer is going up the slope for one last try at something, and if he doesn’t succeed this morning he and Anna intend to bluff at the bank. I think it has to do with that safe deposit key Anna wants so desperately to find.”
“Shouldn’t one of us stay at the inn and find out what she’s doing?” asked Pete.
“I don’t see how we can,” Jupiter said.
“She and Havemeyer are determined that she won’t be interrupted. They are also determined that we will not be in the high meadow today. We have been very much concerned with protecting Anna, but I begin to wonder whether she needs protection.
Whatever Havemeyer is doing, she is his partner, and they’re both being extremely secretive. It’s ironic that she suggested a hike to that old fire tower. I can’t be sure,-
but I should think you could see not only the valley from that tower, but a lot of the high country. Let’s hurry, and we may be in time.”
“In time for what?” Bob wanted to know.
“In time to see Joe Havemeyer climb the ski slope,” said Jupe. “I’ve got my binoculars in the bottom of the knapsack. Havemeyer goes to the meadow every day with his tranquilizer gun and a knapsack. What does he do there?”
“He’s on a monster hunt,” said Pete.
“No, there’s something else,” Jupe said. “Those trips have something to do with the bank, and hence with the missing key. I want to see what Havemeyer does up there.”
“Okay,” said Bob quickly. “Let’s move.”
They hurried down