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Show - 165 - "You know better than that! This was her home long before it became ours. If Claudine can find peace she'll, leave it to us. You know how we love this old house. We can't give it up now. Once Mama and Papa return, we won't be able to make any headway. Another thing, Chang Lin has agreed to help us. He wouldn't tell Maddie anything, but I've finally convinced him that this is the right thing to do. What he'll say when he sees you, I don't know, but I have no other choice." "Well," said Vicky and her voice was strained with indecision. ''You know I'm at night. deathly afraid of going out in the grove alone Especially, after Maddie told us about Claudine's murder down in the truck gardens." Her voice rose to a wail. "What shall I do. I don't want to go, but on the other hand I can't let you go alone." "Sh, sh, stop snivelling! You've made me late as it is. Hurry and put on your clothes if you're coming along!" said Penny in a sharp voice. A few minutes later, both girls peeked out of the bedroom door and with the flashlight guiding their way went down the stairs, into the living room and out the French doors. "Be careful!, not a sound," cautioned Penny. "We don't want to wake Dixie. If she barks Tom and Maddie will come running." They stepped out into the garden. All was still. The moon was full and cast it rays over the trees and shrubs and they looked like huddled figures. Penny didn't know whether to be pleased or irritated. It lighted their way, but on the other hand it enabled them to be detected very easily. Her mind rushed back to the night when Maddie and Claudine gropped their way down the hill to meet Dirk and she shivered. She prayed silently that no danger would befall them this night. When they had passed the grove, Penny snapped on the flashlight to guide their way down the hill to the bridge. Then she stopped. In her |