The Mystery of the Singing Serpent - M. V. Carey [17]
“Terrible!” exclaimed Uncle Titus.
“What’s terrible?” asked Jupiter.
“The things people do on the freeways. Look at that!”
On the television screen, Jupe saw a scene which was all too familiar. A sedan had crashed into a bridge abutment on the Hollywood Freeway. The highway patrol was directing traffic past the wreck.
The voice of the announcer came on over the picture. “The driver of the car, Mrs.
Margaret Compton, was taken to Angel of Mercy Hospital where her condition was reported as fair.”
“Mrs. Margaret Compton!” cried Jupe.
“You know her?” asked Uncle Titus.
“I’ve heard the name, Uncle Titus,” said Jupe. “Excuse me. I have to call a client!”
Chapter 9
A Secret Meeting
AT SEVEN THAT NIGHT, Jupiter left the house and went to The Jones Salvage Yard. He had told his aunt that he had unfinished work in his workshop, and that he might be late. However, when he reached his workshop, Bob and Pete were waiting for him with their bikes.
“We’re to meet Allie at Swanson’s Cove,” said Jupe quickly.
“We exit through Green Gate One?” asked Bob.
Jupe nodded. “We’d better. It’s far enough from the house so Aunt Mathilda won’t see us.”
Pete went to a place in the fence right by the workshop and inserted two fingers into a crack. He pulled, and two boards swung up. Pete put his head out, looked up and down the street, and reported that the coast was clear. Jupe grabbed his bike, which had been leaning against the printing press, and the three boys slipped out through the opening in the fence.
When the boards had swung closed behind them, Bob stopped to stare thoughtfully at the fence. Like the back fence of the yard, the front fence had been decorated by artists of Rocky Beach. Here along the front was a stormy ocean scene, with a sailing ship struggling through huge waves. In the foreground, almost under Bob’s eyes, a fish lifted its head from the sea to stare at the ship.
“Allie caught on to Red Gate Rover,” said Bob sadly. “I hope she hasn’t been snooping around the front of this place. I’d hate to have her know that that fish marks the spot where Green Gate One opens.”
“If she’s discovered that,” said Jupiter Jones, “we’ll have to abandon Green Gate One and construct another entrance. Let’s not worry about it now. This is an emergency.”
“Right,” said Pete. “Let’s go.”
The boys got onto their bikes and pedaled down the street, away from the Jones house and the salvage yard, and then down to the Coast Highway. A five minute ride brought them to Swanson’s Cove. Allie Jamison was already there, leaning against a boulder that jutted out of the sand. Allie’s horse stood nearby, its reins dangling.
“Margaret Compton got hurt on the freeway today,” said Allie.
“I told Bob and Pete about it,” said Jupe. He sat down facing Allie. “How is your aunt?
What’s happened since I talked to you?”
“She’s all upset,” said Allie. “She’s crying. She hasn’t stopped crying since we caught the report on the news.”
Bob leaned against the rock. “Things are moving, aren’t they?” he said.
“And rather quickly,” said Jupe. “Only this morning Hugo Ariel told Miss Osborne that a serpent had been delivered, and that Miss Osborne’s wishes would be carried out tonight.
Mrs. Compton is in the hospital with more serious things to worry about than the auction of the Castillo estate. She won’t be around to outbid Miss Osborne for Ramon Castillo’s crystal ball.”
“This isn’t the way Aunt Pat wanted it,” declared Allie. “When she saw the newscast she yelled, ‘She might have been killed, and it would be my fault!’ Ariel helped her up to her room. They closed the door, but I was out in the hall and I listened.”
“Naturally,” said Pete.
Allie ignored him. “She said something