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diff --git a/34395.txt b/34395.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7502ce0 --- /dev/null +++ b/34395.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6626 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Ghost Beyond the Gate, by Mildred A. Wirt + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Ghost Beyond the Gate + +Author: Mildred A. Wirt + +Release Date: November 22, 2010 [EBook #34395] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GHOST BEYOND THE GATE *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Brenda Lewis and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + Ghost + Beyond the Gate + + + _By_ + MILDRED A. WIRT + + _Author of_ + MILDRED A. WIRT MYSTERY STORIES + TRAILER STORIES FOR GIRLS + + _Illustrated_ + + CUPPLES AND LEON COMPANY + _Publishers_ + NEW YORK + + + + + _PENNY PARKER_ + MYSTERY STORIES + + _Large 12 mo. Cloth Illustrated_ + + + TALE OF THE WITCH DOLL + THE VANISHING HOUSEBOAT + DANGER AT THE DRAWBRIDGE + BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR + CLUE OF THE SILKEN LADDER + THE SECRET PACT + THE CLOCK STRIKES THIRTEEN + THE WISHING WELL + SABOTEURS ON THE RIVER + GHOST BEYOND THE GATE + HOOFBEATS ON THE TURNPIKE + VOICE FROM THE CAVE + GUILT OF THE BRASS THIEVES + SIGNAL IN THE DARK + WHISPERING WALLS + SWAMP ISLAND + THE CRY AT MIDNIGHT + + + COPYRIGHT, 1943, BY CUPPLES AND LEON CO. + + Ghost Beyond the Gate + + PRINTED IN U. S. A. + + + + + _CONTENTS_ + + + CHAPTER PAGE + 1 LOST ON A HILLTOP 1 + 2 AT THE LISTENING POST 11 + 3 AN UNPLEASANT DRIVER 20 + 4 STOLEN TIRES 26 + 5 AN IMPORTANT INTERVIEW 35 + 6 FRONT PAGE NEWS 43 + 7 QUESTIONS WITHOUT ANSWERS 52 + 8 A FEW CHANGES 58 + 9 AN OPEN SAFE 68 + 10 TALE OF A GHOST 75 + 11 BY A CEMETERY WALL 85 + 12 FLIGHT 91 + 13 A BLACK MARKET 100 + 14 A FAMILIAR FIGURE 107 + 15 GHOST IN THE GARDEN 117 + 16 A DOOR IN A BOX 125 + 17 ADVENTURE BY MOONLIGHT 134 + 18 THROUGH THE CELLAR WINDOW 142 + 19 A BAFFLING SEARCH 151 + 20 ACCUSATIONS 157 + 21 MRS. BOTTS' REVELATION 166 + 22 A PARK BENCH 173 + 23 FORGOTTEN EVENTS 180 + 24 TRICKERY 190 + 25 FINAL EDITION 203 + + + + + CHAPTER + 1 + _LOST ON A HILLTOP_ + + +The little iceboat, with two laughing, shouting girls clinging to it, +sped over the frozen surface of Big Bear River. + +"Penny, we're going too fast!" screamed Louise Sidell, ducking to protect +her face from the biting wind. + +"Only about forty an hour!" shrieked her companion gleefully. + +At the tiller of the _Icicle_, Penelope Parker, in fur-lined parka, +sheepskin coat and goggles, looked for all the world like a jolly Eskimo. +Always delighting in a new sport, she had built the iceboat +herself--spars from a wood lot, the sail from an old tent. + +"Slow down, Penny!" pleaded her chum. + +"Can't," shouted Penny cheerfully. "Oh, we're going into a hike!" + +As one runner raised off the ice, the boat tilted far over on its side. +Louise shrieked with terror, and held tight to prevent being thrown out. +Penny, hard pressed, sought to avert disaster by a snappy starting of the +main sheet. + +For a space the boat rushed on, runners roaring. Then as a sudden puff of +wind struck the sail, the steering runner leaped off the ice. Instantly +the _Icicle_ went into a spin from which Penny could not straighten it. + +"We're going over!" screamed Louise, scrambling to free her feet. + +The next moment the boat capsized. Both girls went sliding on their backs +across the ice. Penny landed in a snowdrift at the river bank, her parka +awry, goggles hanging on one ear. + +"Are you hurt, Lou?" she called, jumping to her feet. + +Louise sprawled on the ice some distance away. Slowly she pulled herself +to a sitting position and rubbed the back of her head. + +"Maybe this is your idea of fun!" she complained. "As for me, give me +bronco busting! It would be a mild sport in comparison." + +Penny chuckled, dusting snow from her clothing. "Why, this is fun, Lou. +We have to expect these little upsets while we're learning." + +The sail of the overturned iceboat was billowing like a parachute. +Slipping and sliding, Penny ran to pull it in. + +"Take the old thing down!" urged Louise, hobbling after her. "I've had +enough ice-boating for this afternoon!" + +"Oh, just one more turn down the river and back," coaxed Penny. + +"No! We're close to the club house now. If we sail off again, there's no +telling where we'll land. Anyway, it's late and it's starting to snow." + +Penny reluctantly acknowledged that Louise spoke pearls of wisdom. Large, +damp snowflakes were drifting down, dotting her red mittens. The wind +steadily was stiffening, and cold penetrated her sheepskin coat. + +"It will be dark within an hour," added Louise. Uneasily she scanned the +leaden sky. "We've been out here all afternoon." + +"Guess it is time to go home," admitted Penny. "Oh, well, it won't take +us long to get the _Icicle_ loaded onto the car trailer. Lucky we upset +so close to the club house." + +Setting to work with a will, the girls took down the flapping sail. After +much tugging and pushing, they righted the boat and pulled it toward the +Riverview Yacht Club. Closed for the winter, the building looked cold and +forlorn. Penny, however, had left her car in the snowy parking lot, which +was convenient to the river. + +"Wish we could get warm somewhere," Louise said, shivering. "It must be +ten below zero." + +Pulling the _Icicle_ behind them, the girls climbed the slippery river +bank. Snow now swirled in clouds, half-curtaining the club house. + +"I'll get the car and drive it down here," Penny offered, starting toward +the parking lot. "No use dragging the boat any farther." + +Abandoning the _Icicle_, Louise went with her chum. A dozen steps took +the girls to a wind-swept corner of the deserted building. Rounding it, +they both stopped short, staring. + +On the snow-banked parking lot where the car had been left, there now +stood only one vehicle, an unpainted, two-wheel trailer. + +"Great fishes!" exclaimed Penny. "Where's the coupe?" + +"Maybe you forgot to set the brake and it rolled into a ditch!" + +"In that case, the trailer would have gone with it." Her face grim, Penny +ran on toward the parking lot. + +Reaching the trailer, the girls saw by tire tracks in the snow that the +car had been detached and driven away. + +"I knew it! I knew it!" Penny wailed, pounding her mittens together. "The +coupe's been stolen!" + +"What's that across the road?" Louise demanded. "It looks like an +automobile to me. In the ditch, too!" + +Taking new hope, Penny went to investigate the little ravine. Through a +screen of bare tree branches and bushes, she glimpsed a blur of metal. + +"It's the car!" she cried jubilantly. "But how did it get across the +road?" + +Penny's elation quickly died. Drawing nearer, she was dismayed to see +that the coupe appeared to be lying on its stomach in the ditch. Four +wheels and a spare had been removed. + +"Stripped of every tire!" she exclaimed. "The thief ran the car out here +on the road so we couldn't see him at work from the river!" + +"What are we going to do?" Louise asked weakly. "We're miles from +Riverview. No houses close by. We're half frozen and night is coming on." + +Penny, her face very long, had no answer. She measured the gasoline tank +with a stick. All of the fuel had been siphoned. She lifted the hood, +expecting to find vital parts of the engine missing. However, everything +appeared to be in place. + +Seeking protection from the penetrating wind, the girls climbed into the +car to discuss their situation. + +"Can't we just wait here until someone comes along and gives us a lift to +town?" suggested Louise. + +"Yes, but we're on a side road and few cars travel this way during +winter." + +"Then why not go somewhere and telephone?" + +"The nearest stores are at Kamm's corner, about two miles away." + +Louise gazed thoughtfully at the soft snow which was banking deeper on +the windshield of the car. + +"Two miles in this, facing the wind, will be a hard hike. Think we ought +to try it, Penny?" + +"I'm sure I don't want to. And we needn't either! Do you remember Salt +Sommers?" + +"The photographer who works on your father's newspaper?" + +"Yes, he spends his spare time as an airplane spotter. His station is +over in the hills not more than a half mile from here! Why not tramp over +there and ask him to telephone our folks?" + +"Are you sure you know the way?" + +"I was there once last summer," Penny said confidently. "One follows a +side road through the woods. I'm sure I can find it." + +"All right," Louise consented, sliding from behind the steering wheel. +"If we're going, let's move right along." + +Stiff with cold, the girls trudged past the club house and on down the +road. Snow was falling faster and faster. Several times they paused to +wipe their frosted goggles. + +"This promises to be a man-sized blizzard," Louise observed uneasily. +"It's getting dark early, too." + +Penny nodded, her thoughts on what she would say to her father when she +reached home. The car had been fully insured, but even so it would not be +easy to replace five stolen tires. Ruefully she reflected that Mrs. +Weems, the kindly housekeeper who had looked after her since her mother's +death, had not favored the river trip. + +"Oh, don't take it so hard," Louise tried to cheer her. "Maybe the thief +will be caught." + +"Not a chance of it," Penny responded gloomily. + +A hundred yards farther on the girls came to another side road which +wound upward through the wooded hills. Already there was an ominous dusk +settling over the valley. Penny paused to take bearings. + +"I think this is the way," she said doubtfully. + +"You think!" + +"Well, I'm pretty sure," Penny amended. "Salt's station is up there on +top of one of those hills. If this snow would stop we should be able to +see the tower from here." + +Slightly reassured, Louise followed her chum across a wooden bridge and +up a narrow, winding road. On either side of the frozen ditches, tall +frosted evergreens provided friendly protection from the stabbing, icy +wind. Nevertheless, walking was not easy for the roadbed bore a shell of +treacherous ice. + +Confident that they soon would come to the airplane listening post, the +girls trudged on. Penny, anxious to make the most of the remaining +daylight, set a stiff pace. + +"Shouldn't we be coming to the station?" Louise presently asked. "Surely +we've gone more than a half mile." + +"The post is a little ways off from the road," Penny confessed, peering +anxiously at the unbroken line of evergreens. "We should be able to see +it." + +"In this blinding snow? Why, we may have passed the station without +knowing it." + +"Well, I don't think so." + +"You're not one bit sure, Penny Parker!" Louise accused. "We were crazy +to start off without being certain of the post's location." + +"We always can go back to the car." + +"I'm nearly frozen now," Louise complained, slapping her mittens +together. "There's no feeling in one of my hands." + +Penny paused to wipe the moisture from her goggles. From far down the +road came the sound of a laboring motor. She listened hopefully. + +"A car, Lou!" she cried. "Everything will be all right now! We'll hail it +and ask the driver for a lift." + +Greatly encouraged, the girls waited for the approaching vehicle. They +could hear it climbing a steep knoll, then descending. From the sound of +the engine they decided that it must be a truck and that it might round +the curve at a fast speed. + +Worried lest the driver fail to see them, the girls stepped out into the +middle of the road. As the truck swerved around the bend, they shouted +and waved their arms. + +The startled driver slammed on brakes, causing the big black truck to +slide like a sled. Penny and Louise leaped aside, barely avoiding being +struck. + +As they watched anxiously, the driver recovered control of the machine. +He straightened out and brought the truck to a standstill farther up the +road. + +Penny seized her chum's hand. "Come on, Lou! He's going to give us a +ride!" + +Before they could reach the truck, the driver lowered the cab window. +Thrusting his head through the opening he bellowed angrily: + +"What you tryin' to do? Wreck my truck?" + +Giving the girls no opportunity to reply, he closed the cab window. + +Penny saw that the man was intending to drive on. "Wait!" she called +frantically. "Please give us a ride! We're lost and half frozen!" + +The man heard for he flashed an ugly smile. Shifting gears, he drove +away. + +"Of all the shabby tricks, that's the worst!" Penny said furiously. "It +wasn't our fault his old truck skidded." + +"But it is our fault we're lost on this road," Louise added. "How are we +ever to find the listening post?" + +Penny leaned against the leeward side of a giant pine. Already it was so +dark that she could see only a few feet down the road. There were no +houses, no lights, nothing to guide her. + +"Penny, are we really lost?" Louise demanded, suddenly afraid. + +"We really, truly are," her chum answered in a quavering voice. "The post +must be somewhere near here, but we'll never find it. All we can do is +try to get back to the car." + + + + + CHAPTER + 2 + _AT THE LISTENING POST_ + + +Penny's courage did not long forsake her. She had suggested to Louise +that they return to the stripped car, but she knew that would not solve +their problem. Staring up the dark road, she remarked that they must be +close to the summit of the hill. + +"Then why not keep on?" urged Louise. "We set out to find the listening +post, so let's do it!" + +They trudged on up the winding road. At intervals, in an attempt to +restore circulation to numbed feet, they ran a few steps. Snow fell +steadily, whipping and stinging their faces. + +Gasping, half-winded, they kept doggedly on. Finally they struggled into +a clearing at the top of the hill. Penny wiped her eyes and gazed down +through a gap in the white-coated evergreens. A quarter of the way down +the slope on the other side appeared a glowing dot of light. + +"I'm afraid it's only a cabin," she said dubiously. "It can't be the +airplane listening post." + +"Let's go there anyway," advised Louise. "We can warm ourselves and ask +how to get back to civilization." + +They pushed on, still following the road. Downhill walking was much +easier and at intervals they were encouraged by a glimpse of the light. + +Then, rounding a bend of the road, the girls came to an artistic, newly +constructed iron fence, banked heavily with snow. The fence led to a high +gate, and behind the gate loomed a dark, sprawling house with double +chimneys. + +"The place is deserted!" Louise observed in disappointment. "What became +of the light we've been following?" + +"It must be farther on. This house looks as if it had been closed for the +winter." + +Penny went to the gate and rattled a heavy chain which held it in place. +Peering through the palings, she could see an unshoveled driveway which +curved gracefully to a pillared porch. The spacious grounds were dotted +with evergreens and shrubs, so layered with snow that they resembled +scraggly ghosts. + +"Wonder who owns this place?" speculated Louise. + +"Don't know," Penny answered, turning away. "In fact, I don't recall ever +having seen it before." + +Her words carried special significance to Louise. + +"If you've never seen this house before, then we're on a strange road! +Penny, we never will find the listening post!" + +"I'm beginning to suspect it myself," Penny admitted grimly. "But we must +keep plodding on. That light can't be far ahead." + +Turning their backs upon the gloomy estate, they again braved the +penetrating wind. Soon Louise lost her footing and fell. She remained in +a dispirited little heap until Penny pulled her off the ice. + +"Let's keep going, Lou," she urged. "It won't be long now." + +Louise allowed Penny to pull her along. They rounded a curve in the road, +and there, miraculously, the lighted cabin rose before them. + +"At last!" exulted Louise. "The Promised Land!" + +Staggering up a shoveled path, they pounded on the cabin door. An old +man, who held a kerosene lamp, responded promptly. + +"Come in, come in!" he invited heartily. "Why, you look half frozen." + +"Looks aren't deceitful either," Penny laughed shakily. + +As the girls went into the warm room a little whirlpool of wind and snow +danced ahead of them. Quickly the old man closed the door. He made places +for Penny and Louise at the stove and tossed in a heavy stick of wood. + +"Bad night to be out," he commented cheerfully. + +Penny agreed that it was. "We're lost," she volunteered, stripping off +her wet mittens. "At least we can't find the airplane listening post." + +"Why, it's just a piece farther on," the old man replied. "The tower's +right hard to see in this storm." + +While they thawed out, the girls explained that they had been forced to +abandon their car at the Riverview Yacht Club. The old man, whose name +was Henry Hammill, listened with deep sympathy to their tale of woe. + +"I'll hitch up my horses and take you to Riverview in the sled," he +offered. "That is, unless you'd rather stop at the listening tower." + +"It would save you a long trip," Penny returned politely. "If Salt +Sommers is on duty, I'm sure he'll take us to our homes." + +In the end it was decided that Old Henry should drive the girls as far as +the post. Then, if arrangements could not be made with the photographer, +he would keep on to Riverview. + +Warm at last, Penny and Louise declared that they were ready to start. +Old Henry brought the sled to the door and the team soon was racing down +the icy road. Above the jingle of bells arose occasional squeals of +laughter, for the young passengers enjoyed every minute of the unexpected +ride. + +Presently Old Henry pulled up at the side of the road. + +"There's the tower," he said, pointing to a two-story wooden observatory +rising above the evergreens. "I'll wait until you find out if your +friend's here." + +The girls thanked the old man for his kindly help and scrambled from the +sled. They were sure their troubles were over, for they could see Salt +Sommers seated at a table in the lighted tower. + +A flight of steps led to a narrow catwalk which ran around three sides of +the glass-enclosed house. Before Penny and Louise could hammer on the +door Salt opened it. + +"Well, see what the storm blew in!" the young man exclaimed. "I didn't +expect you girls to pop in on a night like this." + +"Salt, how soon will you be driving to Riverview?" Penny asked +breathlessly. + +"About twenty minutes. As soon as my relief shows up." + +"May we ride with you?" + +"Why, sure." + +Penny called down from the catwalk to tell Old Henry he need not wait. +With a friendly wave of his hand, the cabin owner drove away. The girls +then followed Salt into the drafty tower room. + +Curiously they gazed at their surroundings. In the center of the room +stood a small coal stove. Above it a tacked sign admonished: "Keep this +fire going!" There was a table, two chairs and a telephone. Also a round +clock which indicated seven-forty. + +Before Penny and Louise could explain why they had come, Salt held up a +warning finger. + +"Listen!" he exclaimed. "Wasn't that a plane?" + +He ran out on the catwalk, letting in an icy blast of wind. In a moment +he came back, grinning sheepishly. + +"A passenger airplane is due through here about this time. Sometimes I +listen for it so hard I imagine the sound of the engine." + +"The job must get tiresome at times," Penny ventured, making herself +comfortable by the glowing stove. + +"Oh, it does, but I'm glad to serve my trick. What brings you girls here +on such a wild night?" + +The story was quickly told. Nevertheless, by the time Penny had +telephoned to Mrs. Weems, it was after eight o'clock. Footsteps pounded +on the stairway. An elderly man, his hat and overcoat encrusted with +snow, swept into the room. + +"My relief," said Salt, presenting Nate Adams to the girls. "I'm free to +shove off now." + +"Hope you can start your car," commented the newcomer. "It's mighty cold, +and the temperature is still dropping." + +Salt's battered coupe was parked not far from the tower. Snow blanketed +the windshield. He wiped it away and after several attempts started the +engine. + +"Think I'd better stop at the first garage and have more alcohol put in +the radiator. No use in taking a chance." + +Salt followed the same road over which the girls had trudged an hour +earlier. In passing the estate not far from Old Henry's cabin, Penny +peered with renewed interest at the big house. In the blinding snow storm +she could not be sure, but she thought a light gleamed from an upstairs +window. + +"Salt," she inquired, "who lives in that place?" + +"Can't tell you," he replied, without turning his head. + +"Does anyone live there now?" + +"Haven't seen anyone since I took over as observer at the tower. Nate +Adams tells me the estate has a private air field. No planes have taken +off or landed while I've been on duty." + +"I thought I saw a light just now in an upstairs window." + +"Probably a reflection from the car headlights," Salt answered +carelessly. + +The car passed Old Henry's cabin and crept on until it came to a +crossroad. Several buildings were clustered on either side of the main +highway. + +"Guess I'll stop at Mattie's garage," Salt said. + +As he pulled up on a gravel runway, a masculine looking woman came to the +door of the car. She was in her mid-thirties and wore a man's coat much +too large for her. The girls guessed, and correctly, that she was Mattie +Williams, owner of the garage and filling station. + +"How many will you have?" she asked Salt, briskly clearing the windshield +of snow. + +The photographer replied that he did not require gasoline, but wanted at +least a quart of alcohol. + +"Drive into the garage," the woman instructed, opening a pair of double +doors. "I'll have Sam take care of it." + +As the car rolled into the building, Mattie shouted loudly to a +stoop-shouldered man who was busy in the rear office: "Hey, Sam! Look +after this customer, will you?" + +Sam Burkholder slouched over to the car and began to unscrew the radiator +cap. Penny and Louise assumed that the man must be Mattie's husband, but +a remark to that effect was corrected by Salt. + +"Sam is Mattie's partner," he explained in an undertone. "It's hard to +tell which one of them is boss of the place." + +Losing interest in the pair, Penny and Louise climbed out of the coupe. +They had noticed a cafe next door and thought they might go there for a +cup of hot coffee. + +"Go ahead," Salt encouraged. "I'll stay here until this job is finished, +and join you." + +As the girls let themselves out the garage door, a truck pulled up in +front of the cafe. They would have given it no more than a casual glance +had not the driver alighted. He was a short, ruddy-faced man with a +missing front tooth which made his facial expression rather grotesque. +Without glancing at the girls, he entered the restaurant. + +"That man!" exclaimed Louise. "Haven't we seen him somewhere?" + +"We have indeed," agreed Penny grimly. "He's the same driver who refused +us a ride. Let's march in there and give him a piece of our minds!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 3 + _AN UNPLEASANT DRIVER_ + + +From outside the lighted cafe, the girls could see the truck driver +slouched at one of the counter stools. + +"I'm willing to go inside," said Louise, "but why start a fuss? After +all, I suppose he had a right to refuse us a ride." + +"We might have frozen to death!" + +"Well, he probably didn't realize we were lost." + +"I wish I had your charitable disposition," Penny said with a sniff. "He +heard me shout, and he drove away just to be mean." + +"Anyway, let's forget it." + +Louise took Penny's elbow, steering her toward the cafe. The girls had +been friends since grade school days. They made an excellent pair, for +Louise exerted a subduing effect upon her impulsive chum. + +The only daughter of Anthony Parker, publisher of the _Star_, Penny had a +talent for innocently getting into trouble. Inactivity bored her. When +nothing more exciting offered, she frequently tried her hand at writing +stories for her father's newspaper. Such truly important yarns as _The +Vanishing Houseboat_, _The Wishing Well_, _Behind the Green Door_, and +_The Clock Strikes Thirteen_ had rolled from her typewriter. Penny +thoroughly enjoyed reportorial work, but best of all she loved to take an +active part in the adventures she recounted. + +"Now remember," Louise warned her, "not a word to that truck driver. +We'll just snub him." + +"Oh, all right. I'll try to behave myself." + +Grinning, Penny allowed herself to be guided toward the restaurant. Near +the doorway they came to the parked truck, and noticed that it was loaded +with large wooden boxes. + +"War equipment," commented Penny. + +"How do you know?" + +"Why, the boxes are unmarked except by numerals. Haven't you noticed, +Lou, that's the way machines and materials are transported to and from +factories. It's done so no one can tell what's inside." + +Penny opened the door and they went into the warm, smoky cafe. As they +seated themselves at a table the driver glanced toward them, but +seemingly without recognition. + +"How about a date tonight, Baby?" he asked the waitress. + +Without replying, the girl slapped a menu card on the counter in front of +him. + +"High toned, ain't you?" he chuckled. + +"What will it be?" the waitress demanded impatiently. + +"How about a nice smile, Baby?" + +Turning away, the waitress started to serve another customer. + +"Gimme a cup o' coffee and two sinkers," the driver hurled after her. +"And make it snappy too! I'm in a hurry." + +Once the coffee and doughnuts had been set before him, the man was in no +haste to consume them. He read a newspaper and fed a dollar and a half +into a pin-ball machine. + +Penny and Louise ordered coffee. Knowing that Salt might be waiting for +them, they swallowed the brew scalding hot and arose to leave. + +At the cashier's desk Penny paid the bill. Upon impulse she quietly asked +the man behind the cash register if he knew the driver. + +"Fellow by the name of Hank Biglow," he answered. + +Before Penny could ask another question, a police patrol car screeched to +a standstill just outside the restaurant. The cafe owner turned to stare +as did the driver. + +"What are those cops comin' here for?" Hank Biglow demanded. + +"How should I know?" retorted the cafe owner. "Maybe they want to ask you +a few questions about that cargo you carry!" + +"What do you mean by that crack?" the driver asked harshly. + +As the cashier shrugged and did not reply, Hank allowed the matter to +pass. Although he remained at the counter, he kept watching the police +car through the window. + +The brief interchange between cafe owner and driver had interested Penny. +To delay her departure, she bought a candy bar and began to unwrap it. + +Only one policeman had alighted from the car. Tramping into the cafe, he +pounded his hands together and sought the warmth of a radiator. + +"Mind if I have a little of your heat?" he asked the cafe owner. + +"Help yourself." + +Penny had been watching Hank Biglow. A moment before the man had sat +tense and nervous at the counter. Now he seemed completely relaxed and at +ease as he sipped his coffee. + +"Hello, Hank," the policeman greeted him. "Didn't see you at first. How's +the trucking business?" + +"Okay," the trucker growled. "Workin' me night and day." + +The casual conversation disappointed Penny. Her first thought had been +that Hank Biglow feared a police investigation. Seemingly, she had +indulged in wishful thinking. + +Having no further reason for remaining in the cafe, the girls stepped out +into the storm. + +"A pity that policeman wasn't looking for Hank Biglow," Penny muttered. + +"I thought for a minute he was," responded Louise, stooping to fasten the +buckle of her heavy overshoe. "At least Hank acted peculiar." + +"You heard what the cashier said to him?" + +"About the cargo he carried?" + +"Yes," nodded Penny, "what do you suppose he meant?" + +"Don't you think it was intended as a joke?" + +"It didn't seem that way to me, Lou. Hank took offense at the remark. He +was as nervous as a cat, too." + +Penny stared curiously at the big truck which was parked not far from the +police car. + +"I wonder what can be in those big boxes, Lou?" + +"A few minutes ago you said they contained tools or defense plant +products." + +"That was only my guess. I assumed it from the lack of marking on the +boxes." + +Penny paused beside the big truck. Pressing her face close to an opening +between the slats, she counted ten large crates, all the same size and +shape. + +"Lou, maybe this isn't defense plant merchandise," she speculated. "Maybe +it's some sort of contraband...." + +Penny's words trailed off. Someone had touched her on the shoulder. + +Whirling around, she faced the same policeman who a moment before had +entered the cafe. + +"What do you think you're doing?" he inquired. + +"Why, just looking," stammered Penny. "We were wondering what's inside +these boxes." + +"Machinery," replied the policeman. "Now skidoo! Behave yourselves or +I'll have to speak to your parents." + + + + + CHAPTER + 4 + _STOLEN TIRES_ + + +"We're very sorry," Louise apologized to the policeman. "We didn't +suppose it would do any harm to look at the outside of the boxes." + +"Run along, run along," the officer said impatiently. + +Penny was tempted to make a rather pointed remark, but Louise pulled her +away. + +"Never argue with a policeman," she whispered. "You always lose." + +"We weren't doing any harm," Penny scowled. "What does he think we are, a +couple of female spies?" + +Entering the garage, the girls saw that the car had been serviced. Salt +could be seen inside the little glass-enclosed office. + +"I'm waiting for Sam Burkholder," he explained as they joined him. "He +took care of the radiator and then disappeared." + +Penny and Louise loitered about the office, reading the evening +newspaper. After a little delay, Mattie Williams appeared. + +"Can you give me my bill?" Salt requested. "We're in a hurry to get to +Riverview." + +"I thought Sam was looking after you," Mattie replied, making out the +slip. + +The bill settled, Salt backed the car from the garage. Penny noticed that +Hank Biglow's truck no longer stood in front of the cafe. The police car +also had gone. She would have thought no more of it, had not Louise at +that moment exclaimed: + +"Penny, that truck is parked at the rear of the garage now! And they're +unloading the boxes!" + +Penny twisted around to see for herself. It was true that the big truck +had been backed up close to the rear entrance of the garage. Through the +blinding snow, she could just see Hank Biglow and Sam Burkholder carrying +one of the boxes into the building. + +"Well, that's funny!" she exclaimed. "Those crates can't contain defense +machinery or materials. Otherwise Hank wouldn't be delivering them here." + +"What crates?" inquired Salt, shifting gears. + +Penny told him what had transpired in the cafe, and revealed that she and +Louise had been rebuked by the policeman. Salt, occupied with driving, +did not consider the incident in any way significant. + +"Oh, you know how some cops are," he commented carelessly. + +The car went into a wild skid and Salt thereafter devoted his attention +strictly to driving. + +Without further mishap, the party arrived safely at Riverview. Louise +alighted at her own home, and then Salt took Penny to the Parker +residence. + +"Won't you come in for a cup of chocolate?" she invited. + +"Thanks, not tonight," Salt replied. "I'm dead tired. Think I'll hit the +hay early." + +Only one light burned in the living-room as Penny stomped in out of the +cold. Mrs. Weems, the plump housekeeper who had served the Parkers for +many years, sat beside the hearth, sewing. + +"I'm glad you're home at last!" she exclaimed, getting up quickly. +"You've no idea how worried I've been." + +"But Louise and I telephoned." + +"I couldn't hear you very well. I barely was able to make out that +something had happened to your car." + +"A major catastrophe, Mrs. Weems. Every tire was stolen!" + +While the housekeeper bombarded her with questions, Penny stripped off +overshoes and heavy outer clothing. Pools of water began to form on the +rug. + +"Take everything out to the kitchen," Mrs. Weems said hastily. "Have you +had your supper?" + +"Not even a nibble. And I'm starving!" + +As Mrs. Weems began to prepare a hot meal, Penny perched herself on the +kitchen table, alternately talking, and chewing on a sugared bun. + +"If you ever were lost in an Arctic blizzard you have a good picture of +what Louise and I endured," she narrated grandly. "Oh, it was awful!" + +"Losing five practically new tires is a mere detail in comparison?" + +"It's nothing less than a tragedy! I was thinking--maybe you ought to +break the sad news to Dad." + +"Indeed not. You'll have to tell him yourself. However, he's attending a +meeting and won't be home until eleven." + +"That's much too late for me," Penny said quickly. "I'll see him in the +morning. And I do hope you cooperate by giving him a dandy breakfast." + +"Just see to it that you don't oversleep," suggested the housekeeper +dryly. + +Penny consumed an enormous supper and then slipped off to bed. She did +not hear her father come home a few hours later. In the morning when Mrs. +Weems called her, it seemed advisable to take a long time in dressing. +Her father had gone by the time she strolled downstairs. + +"Did you tell Dad?" she asked the housekeeper hopefully. + +"You knew I would," chided Mrs. Weems. "Your father expects to see you at +his office at nine o'clock." + +"How'd he take the blow?" + +"Naturally one couldn't expect him to be pleased." + +With a deep sigh, Penny sat down to breakfast. Worry over the coming +interview did not interfere with her usual excellent appetite. She had +orange juice, two slices of toast, four pancakes, and then, somewhat +concerned lest she lose her slim figure, debated whether to ask for +another helping. + +"The batter's all gone," Mrs. Weems settled the matter. "Do stop dawdling +and get on to the office. Your father shouldn't be kept waiting." + +With anything but enthusiasm, Penny took herself to the plant of the +Riverview _Star_. Passing through the busy newsroom where reporters +pounded at their typewriters, she entered her father's private office. + +"Hello, Dad," she greeted him with forced cheerfulness. "Mrs. Weems said +you wanted to see me." + +"So you lost five tires last night?" the editor barked. Mr. Parker was a +lean, keen-eyed man of early middle age, known throughout the state as a +fearless newspaper man. At the moment, Penny decided that "fearful" would +prove a more descriptive term. + +"Well, Dad, it was this way--" she began meekly. + +"Never mind a long-winded explanation," he interrupted, smiling. "It +wasn't your fault--the car was stripped." + +Penny wondered if she had heard correctly. + +"Your tires weren't the only ones stolen yesterday," Mr. Parker resumed. +"A half dozen other thefts were reported. In fact, I've known for several +weeks that a professional gang of tire thieves has been operating in +Riverview." + +"Oh, Dad, you're a peach!" Penny cried, making a dive for him. "I'm going +to give you a great big kiss!" + +"You are not," Mr. Parker grinned, pushing her away. "Try to remember, +this is an office." + +Penny resigned herself to a chair. Questioned by her father, she gave a +straightforward account of how the car had been stripped at the Yacht +Club grounds. + +"The tire gang is getting bolder every day!" Mr. Parker exclaimed +wrathfully. "But we'll soon put a stop to their little game!" + +"How, Dad?" + +Mr. Parker hesitated and then said: "I can trust you, can't I, Penny?" + +"Of course." + +"Then I'll tell you this in confidence. For weeks Jerry Livingston, our +star reporter, has been working on the case. He's rounded up a lot of +evidence against the outfit." + +"Then we have a chance to get those tires back!" + +"I'm not thinking about that," Mr. Parker said impatiently. "Jerry's +gathered enough evidence to smash the entire gang. It will be as big a +story as the _Star_ ever published." + +"When are you breaking it, Dad?" + +"Perhaps tomorrow. Depends on the state prosecutor." + +"John Gilmore? What does he have to do with it?" + +"This story is loaded with dynamite, Penny. If we spread it over our +front page before police have a chance to act, the guilty parties are apt +to make a getaway." + +"That's so," nodded Penny. + +"There's another reason I want to consult the Prosecutor before I use the +story," Mr. Parker resumed. "Some of the men involved--" + +A tap sounded on the door. Without completing what he had started to say, +the editor called, "Come in." + +Jerry Livingston entered the office. He was a good-looking young man, +alert and clean-cut. Smiling at Penny, he slapped a folded paper on Mr. +Parker's desk. + +"Here's my story on the tire thefts, Chief," he said. "As far as I'm +concerned, this winds up the case." + +"You've done fine work, Jerry," Mr. Parker praised. "Thanks to your work, +we ought to clean out the gang." + +"I hope so, Chief. Guess you have all the proofs needed to back up the +story." + +"All the evidence is locked in my safe. I have an appointment scheduled +with the Prosecutor. If he Okays the story, we'll publish it tomorrow. By +the way, Jerry, what are your plans?" + +"Well, I have a couple of weeks before I go into the Army Air Corps." + +"Then treat yourself to a vacation, starting right now," said Mr. Parker. +"Can you use it?" + +"Can I?" grinned Jerry. "Know what I'll do? I'll hop the noon train and +head for the Canadian wilds on a hunting trip." + +Mr. Parker wrote out a check which he presented to the young man. + +"We'll be sorry to lose you, Jerry," he said regretfully. "But remember, +a job always will be waiting when you return." + +The reporter shook hands with Mr. Parker and Penny, then left the office. + +"We'll miss Jerry around here," the editor remarked. + +Penny nodded. She and Jerry had shared many an adventure together, and he +was one of her truest friends. The office would not seem the same without +him. + +"My appointment with the Prosecutor is at ten-thirty," said Mr. Parker +briskly. "I'll gather my papers and be on my way." + +The editor placed Jerry's signed story in a leather portfolio. Next he +went to the safe and fumbled with the dial. + +"Want me to open it for you?" Penny asked, after he had tried several +times. + +Without waiting for a reply, she stooped down, twisted the dial a few +times, and opened the heavy door. + +"Young lady, how did you learn the combination?" Mr. Parker demanded in +chagrin. + +"Oh, the numbers are written on the under side of your desk," Penny +grinned. "Not a very good place either! You must trust your office help." + +"Fortunately my reporters aren't quite as observing as a certain +daughter," Mr. Parker retorted grimly. + +The editor removed a fat brown envelope from one of the drawers of the +safe. Glancing at the papers it contained, he added them to the contents +of the portfolio. He then locked the safe. + +"How about letting me see that story?" Penny asked. + +Mr. Parker smiled but shook his head. "Only two persons know the facts of +the case--Jerry and myself." + +"Let's make it a trio." + +"It will be after I've talked to the Prosecutor. I've got to step right +along, too, or I'll be late." + +"But Dad--" + +"You'll read the story in tomorrow's _Star_--I hope," her father laughed. +Picking up the portfolio, he started for the door. "Just contain your +impatience until I get back. And please keep those slippery little +fingers away from my safe!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 5 + _AN IMPORTANT INTERVIEW_ + + +After her father had gone, Penny remained in the private office. Eager to +be off, Mr. Parker had neglected to make any arrangements concerning the +stripped car at the Riverview Yacht Club. + +"Oh, bother!" she thought impatiently. "Now I must wait here until he +comes back to learn what I'm to do. The car should be hauled home." + +Penny wrote a letter on the typewriter. As she searched for a stamp, the +door swung open. A slightly bald, angular man with hard brown eyes, +paused on the threshold. The man was Harley Schirr, an assistant editor, +next in authority to Mr. DeWitt. Of the entire _Star_ staff, he was the +only person Penny actively disliked. + +"Oh, good morning, Miss Parker," he said with elaborate courtesy. "Your +father isn't here?" + +"No, he went away a few minutes ago." + +"And you are taking care of the office in his absence?" Mr. Schirr +smiled. Even so, to Penny's sensitive ears, the words had an insolent +ring. + +"I'm merely waiting for him to return," she answered briefly. "I came to +find out what to do about the car." + +"Oh, yes, I heard that all of your tires were stolen last night." Mr. +Schirr's lips twitched. "Too bad." + +"I may get them back again. Dad says--" Penny checked herself, +remembering that the information given her by her father was to be kept +secret. + +"Yes?" encouraged the assistant editor. + +"Perhaps police will catch the thieves," she completed. + +"I shouldn't count on it if I were you, Miss Parker. Black Markets have +flourished in this city for months. Nothing's been done to stop it." + +"Just what do you mean by a Black Market, Mr. Schirr?" + +"Illegal trading in various scarce commodities. Tires either stolen or +hijacked, are sold by the crooks to so-called honest dealers who serve +the public. It's now a big-time business." + +"What does Dad think about it?" + +"Well, now, I really couldn't tell you. Your father doesn't discuss his +editorial policy with me. If he did, I'd warn him to lay off all those +tire-theft stories." + +Penny gazed quickly at the assistant editor, wondering how much he knew +of her father's plan. + +"Dad usually prints all the news," she said. "Why should he soft-pedal +the tire stories?" + +"For his health's sake." + +"I'm sure I don't know what you mean, Mr. Schirr." + +The assistant editor had closed the door behind him. Warming to his +subject, he replied: "The men who have muscled into the tire theft racket +are ugly lads without scruples. If your father stupidly insists upon +trying to smash the outfit, he may not wake up some morning." + +The suggestion that her father might ruthlessly be done away with shocked +Penny. And a canny corner of her mind demanded to know how Mr. Schirr +could be so well informed. She was quite certain her father had not taken +him into his confidence. + +"Dad is no coward," she said proudly. + +"Oh, no one ever questioned his bravery, Miss Parker. Your father is +courageous to the point of rashness. But if he prints an expose story +about the tire theft gang, it's apt to prove the most foolish act of his +life." + +"How do you know he intends to do such a thing?" + +The question, sharply put, surprised Mr. Schirr. + +"Oh, I don't," he denied hastily. "I merely heard the rumor around the +office." + +Penny made no reply. As the silence became noticeable, the assistant +editor murmured that he would return to see Mr. Parker later and left the +office. + +Penny glared at the man's retreating back. Even more intensely than +before, she disliked Harley Schirr. + +"The old sneak cat!" she thought. "I'll bet a cent he's been listening at +the door or prying in Dad's papers! I'm sure no rumors have been +circulating around the office." + +The telephone rang. Automatically Penny took down the receiver. + +"Mr. Parker?" inquired a masculine voice. + +"He's not here now. This is his daughter speaking. May I take a message?" + +"No message," said the purring voice. "Mr. Parker may hear from me +later." + +"Who is this, please?" asked Penny quickly. + +There was no answer, only the click of a receiver being hung on its hook. + +The incident, although trifling, annoyed Penny. Getting up from the desk, +she walked to the window. Mr. Schirr's intimation had alarmed her, and +now the telephone call added to her uneasiness. + +"Probably the man who telephoned is well known to Dad," she tried to +assure herself. "I'm just imagining that his voice sounded sinister." + +Feeling the need of an occupation, Penny wandered out into the editorial +room. She chatted with the society editor and for a time watched the +world news reports coming in on the noisy teletype machines. + +"Need a job?" inquired Editor DeWitt at the slot of the circular copy +desk. "How about writing a few headlines for me?" + +"No, thanks," Penny declined. "I'm just waiting for Dad. He should be +back any minute now." + +It was eleven-forty by the office clock. Never had time seemed to pass so +slowly. As Penny debated whether or not to wait any longer, there was a +sudden stir in the room. Glancing toward the outside door, she saw that +Jerry Livingston, suitcase in hand, had entered. + +Immediately reporters and editors left their desks to shake his hand. + +"Jerry, you're the best reporter this paper ever had," Mr. DeWitt told +him warmly. "We surely hate to see you go." + +"Oh, I'll be back," the reporter answered. "You can bet on that!" + +Penny crossed the room to say goodbye. Jerry surprisingly tucked her arm +through his. + +"Come along and see me off on the train," he invited, pulling her along. +"Not doing anything special, are you?" + +"Just waiting for Dad." + +"Then come on," Jerry grinned. "I've got a lot to say to you." + +However, once in the taxi, speeding toward the railroad station, the +reporter scarcely spoke. He reached out and captured her hand. + +"I'm going to miss you, little twirp," he sighed. "No telling when I'll +get back to the _Star_. Maybe--" + +"Now don't try to work on my sympathies," laughed Penny, though a lump +came in her throat. "Oh, Jerry--" + +"At your command. Just break down and confess how desolate you'll be +without me." + +The railroad station was close by and Penny had only a moment to talk. + +"Riverview will be a blank without you," she admitted. "But it's that +tire-theft story I want to ask you about. Did you ever tell anyone that +Dad is planning to expose the gang?" + +"Of course not!" + +"I knew you wouldn't give out any information," Penny said in relief. +"But somehow Harley Schirr has learned about it." + +"Schirr! That egg? How could he have found out?" + +"I'd like to know myself. He hinted that something dreadful might happen +to Dad if the story is printed." + +Jerry patted Penny's hand. "Don't give it a thought, kid," he said. +"Schirr does a lot of wild talking. Probably whatever he said to you was +pure bluff. He doesn't know a thing." + +The arrival of the cab at the station put an end to the conversation. +Jerry paid the driver and hustled Penny inside. He barely had time to +purchase a ticket before the train was called. + +"Well, goodbye," Jerry said, squeezing her hand. + +"Have a good time in Canada," Penny replied. "And bring me a nice bear +rug!" + +"Sure, I'll catch him with my bare hands," Jerry rejoined, making a +feeble attempt at a joke. + +The train began to move. The reporter swung himself aboard the last +Pullman. As he waved from the steps, Penny realized that she had +forgotten to ask for his Canadian address. + +Soon the train was only a blur down the frosty tracks. Penny climbed a +steep ramp to the street. She felt lonesome, and for some reason, +discouraged. + +"First I lose my car wheels, and now it's Jerry," she reflected sadly. +"What a week!" + +Penny scarcely knew whether to go home or to the _Star_ office. As she +debated the matter, her ears were assaulted by the shrill scream of a +siren. + +"A fire," thought Penny. + +An ambulance rushed past. It raced to the end of the short street and +pulled up. + +"Probably an accident," amended Penny. + +Curious to learn what had happened, she began to run. At the end of the +street a large crowd had gathered. A car with a smashed fender and +damaged front grillwork, had piled against a street lamp. + +"What happened?" Penny asked a man who stood beside her. + +"Two cars in a smash-up," he answered. "Didn't see the accident myself." + +"But what became of the other automobile?" asked Penny. + +She pushed through the gathering crowd to the curb. Broken glass was +scattered over the pavement. Ambulance men were searching the wreckage of +the car which had struck the lamp post. The other automobile, apparently, +had driven away. + +Suddenly, Penny's gaze riveted on the rear license plate of the smashed +car. In horror she read the number--P-619-10. + +"Dad's car!" she whispered. "He's been hurt!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 6 + _FRONT PAGE NEWS_ + + +Never in her life had Penny been more frightened. Breaking away from the +group of people at the curb, she ran to the parked ambulance. A glance +into the interior assured her that Mr. Parker had not been placed inside +on a stretcher. + +"Where is he?" she asked wildly. "Where's my father?" + +A white-garbed ambulance attendant turned to stare at her. + +"That's my father's car!" Penny cried, pointing to the battered sedan. +"Tell me, was he badly hurt?" + +The attendant tried to be kind. "We don't know, Miss. Someone put in a +call for us. Said we were to pick up an injured man. Evidently he was +taken to a hospital before we could get here." + +"That's what happened," contributed a small boy who stood close by. "A +woman drove by in an auto. She offered to take the man to the hospital +and he went with her." + +"A tall, lean man in a gray suit?" Penny asked quickly. + +"Yes. He had a leather case in his hand." + +"Then it was my father!" Penny cried. "How badly was he hurt?" + +"Oh, he could walk all right," the boy replied. "He seemed kinda dazed +though." + +Greatly relieved to learn that her father had escaped serious injury, +Penny sought more information. The boy who had witnessed the accident, +told her that the car which had caused the smash-up, was a blue sedan. + +"Two men were in it," he revealed. "They started to go around your +father's car and crowded him toward the curb. Next thing I saw, he'd +plowed into the lamp post." + +"The other car didn't stop?" + +"I'll say it didn't! You should have seen 'em go!" + +"Didn't you notice the license number?" Penny asked hopefully. + +The boy shook his head. + +Having learned all she could from him, Penny questioned other persons. +Only one woman in the crowd was able to provide additional information. +Her eye-witness account differed slightly from the boy's, but she +confirmed that a middle-aged woman in a black coupe had taken the +accident victim to a hospital. + +"Which hospital?" asked Penny. + +The woman could not tell her. She did say, however, that the accident +victim seemingly had suffered only minor scratches. + +A police car drove up. Penny, frantic to find her father, did not wish to +be delayed by questions. Without revealing who she was to members of the +investigation squad, she hailed a taxi. Mercy Hospital was only a few +blocks away. It seemed reasonable that her father would be taken there +for treatment. + +A few minutes later, standing anxiously at the information desk of that +institution, she learned that Mr. Parker had not been admitted as a +patient. The nurse in charge, noting the girl's agitation, kindly offered +to telephone other hospitals. After six calls, she reported that she was +unable to trace the accident victim. + +"Are you sure that your father sought hospital treatment?" she asked +Penny. + +"Perhaps not. Dad wasn't badly hurt according to witnesses. He may have +gone elsewhere." + +Thanking the nurse for her help, Penny taxied swiftly home. Mrs. Weems, +in an old coat and a turban, was pouring salt on the icy sidewalk in +front of the house. From the look on her face it was evident she had not +heard the news. + +"Mrs. Weems, Dad's been hurt!" Penny cried, leaping from the cab. "In an +auto accident!" + +"My land!" the housekeeper gasped and allowed the bag of salt to fall +from her gloved hand. "How bad is it?" + +"I think he was more stunned than anything else. But I've not been able +to learn where he was taken. He didn't telephone here?" + +"Not unless it was since I've been outdoors." + +Picking up the bag of salt, Mrs. Weems followed Penny into the house. +Without removing coat or hat, the girl dialed the _Star_ office. Editor +DeWitt answered. + +"Has Dad arrived there?" Penny asked abruptly. + +"No, he hasn't returned. Anything wrong?" + +Tersely Penny revealed what had occurred. The news shocked the editor for +he bore Mr. Parker a genuine affection. + +"Now don't you worry," he tried to cheer her. "Your father can't be badly +hurt or he never would have walked away from that accident. Just sit +tight and our reporters will locate him for you." + +During the next hour Penny and Mrs. Weems remained near the telephone. +Each moment they waited, their anxiety increased. Mr. DeWitt did not +phone. There was no word from the police station. They refused to believe +that Mr. Parker had been seriously injured, yet it seemed strange he +could not be found. + +"It's not like him to allow anyone to worry," declared the housekeeper. +"I simply can't understand why he doesn't call to relieve our minds." + +Just then the telephone bell jingled. Penny snatched the receiver from +its hook. + +"DeWitt speaking," said the familiar voice of the editor. + +"Any news?" Penny asked quickly. "Did you find Dad?" + +"So far we haven't," the editor confessed. "I've personally called the +police station, every hospital and private nursing home in Riverview." + +"Dad may have gone to a doctor's office for treatment." + +"I thought of that," replied DeWitt. "We've checked all the likely ones." + +"What could have become of him?" Penny asked desperately. "Mrs. Weems and +I are dreadfully worried." + +"Oh, he'll show up any minute," comforted Mr. DeWitt. "Probably he +doesn't realize anyone is looking for him." + +Penny asked the editor if he had learned the identity of the hit-skip +driver. + +"No one took down the license number of the car," Mr. DeWitt returned +regretfully. "Our reporters are still working on the story though." + +"The story," murmured Penny faintly. For the first time it occurred to +her that her father's accident and subsequent disappearance would be +regarded as front page news. + +"I don't expect to run an account of the accident until I've talked to +your father," DeWitt said hastily. "Now don't worry about anything. I'll +let you know the minute I have any news." + +Penny hung up the receiver and reported the conversation to Mrs. Weems. A +clock on the mantel chimed one-thirty, reminding the housekeeper that +lunch had not been prepared. + +"No food for me," pleaded Penny. "I don't feel like eating." + +"I've rather lost my own appetite," confessed the housekeeper. "However, +it's foolish of us to worry. Your father must be safe. No doubt he had an +appointment." + +Penny's face brightened. "Why, of course!" she exclaimed. "Don't know why +I've been so dumb! Dad may still be in conference with Prosecutor +Gilmore! I'll call there." + +Darting to the telephone, she waited patiently until she was connected +with the State prosecutor's office. The lawyer himself talked to her. + +"Why, no, Mr. Parker hasn't been here," he replied to her eager inquiry. +"I expected him at ten-thirty. Then he telephoned that he had been +delayed and would see me at eleven-thirty. He failed to keep that +appointment also." + +The information sent Penny's hopes glimmering. She explained about the +accident and listened to the Prosecutor's expression of sympathy. +Replacing the receiver, she turned once more to Mrs. Weems. + +"I'm more worried than ever now," she quavered. "Dad didn't keep his +appointment with Prosecutor Gilmore, and it was a vitally important one." + +"We'll hear from him soon--" + +"Perhaps we won't." Penny took a quick turn across the room. + +"Why, such a thing to say! What do you mean, Penny?" + +"Dad has enemies. Harley Schirr told me today that if any attempt was +made to expose a certain gang of thieves, it would mean real trouble." + +"But your father has had no connection with such persons." + +"He and Jerry worked on a case together," Penny explained. "Today at the +time of the accident, Dad carried a brief case with all the evidence in +it!" + +"Even so, I fail to see--" + +"According to the report, Dad's car was practically forced off the road," +Penny added excitedly. "I think that auto crash was deliberately +engineered! Don't you understand, Mrs. Weems? He's fallen into the +clutches of his enemies!" + +"Now, Penny," soothed the housekeeper. "I'm sure we're making far too +much of the accident. We'll soon hear from your father." + +"You're saying that to comfort me, Mrs. Weems. Something dreadful has +happened! I can _feel_ it." + +Penny ceased pacing the floor and went to the hall closet for her hat and +coat. + +"Where are you going?" asked the housekeeper, her eyes troubled. + +"To the newspaper office. If word comes, I want to be there to get it the +very first minute." + +Mrs. Weems started to protest, then changed her mind. She merely said: +"Telephone me the moment you have any news." + +A brisk walk to the _Star_ office did much to restore Penny's sagging +courage. As she entered the newsroom, brushing snow from her coat, she +saw a group of reporters gathered about Mr. DeWitt's desk. + +"News of Dad!" she thought, her pulse pounding. + +Glimpsing Penny, the men at the desk began to scatter. They gazed at her +in such a kind, sympathetic manner that she became frightened again. + +"What is it, Mr. DeWitt?" she asked the editor. "Has Dad been found?" + +He shook his head. + +"But you must have had some news," she insisted, her gaze on a folded +paper which he held. "Please don't hide anything from me." + +"Very well," DeWitt responded quietly. "We found this letter in your +father's waste-basket." + +Penny took the paper. Silently she read the message which had been typed +in capital letters. + +"MR. PARKER," it warned, "THIS IS TO ADVISE YOU TO LAY OFF ON TIRE THEFT +STORIES IN YOUR PAPER. UNLESS YOU CHANGE YOUR POLICY YOU MAY WAKE UP IN A +DITCH." + + + + + CHAPTER + 7 + _QUESTIONS WITHOUT ANSWERS_ + + +"I'd rather not have shown that note to you," Mr. DeWitt said quietly. +"We found it only a moment ago." + +"How did it get in Dad's waste-basket?" Penny asked. "Do you suppose he +threw it there himself?" + +"That's my guess. Your father never paid any attention to unsigned +letters." + +Penny reread the threatening note, trying not to show how much it +disturbed her. "I wonder if this came by mail?" she remarked. + +"We don't know," DeWitt replied. "There was no envelope in the basket." + +"Dad never mentioned such a note to me," Penny resumed, frowning. +"Probably thought I'd worry about it. This makes the situation look bad, +doesn't it, Mr. DeWitt?" + +The editor weighed his words carefully before he spoke. "It doesn't prove +that your father was waylaid by enemies, Penny. Not at all. According to +reports, Mr. Parker was involved in an ordinary automobile accident, and +left the scene of his own free will." + +"With a woman who drove a black car." + +"Yes, according to eye-witnesses she offered to take him to a hospital +for treatment." + +"What became of that woman?" demanded Penny. "Can't the police find her?" + +"Not so far." + +Before Penny could say more, Harley Schirr came to the desk, spreading a +dummy sheet for the editor to inspect. + +"Here's the front-page layout," he explained. "For the banner we'll give +'em, 'Anthony Parker Mysteriously Disappears,' and beneath it, a double +column story. I dug a good picture out of the morgue--the one with Parker +dedicating the Riverview Orphans' Home." + +DeWitt frowned as he studied the layout. "Parker wouldn't like this, +Schirr. It's too sensational. Bust that banner and cut the story down to +the bare facts." + +"But this is a big story--" + +"I'm expecting Mr. Parker to walk in here any minute," retorted DeWitt. +"A 'disappearance' spread would make the _Star_ look silly." + +"Mr. Parker's not going to show up!" Schirr refuted, his eyes blazing. "I +say we should play the story for all it's worth." + +"I'm sure Dad would hate sensationalism," Penny said, siding with Mr. +DeWitt. + +The assistant editor turned to glare at her. Although he made no reply, +she read anger and dislike in his flashing eyes. + +"Cut the story down," DeWitt ordered curtly. "And try to find a more +suitable picture of Mr. Parker." + +Schirr swept the dummy sheet from the desk, crumpling it in his hand. As +he started for the morgue where pictures were filed, he muttered to +himself. + +"Don't know what's got into that fellow lately," DeWitt sighed. + +The editor sat down rather heavily and Penny noticed that he looked tired +and pale. For fifteen years he had been closely associated with Mr. +Parker, regarding his chief with deep affection. + +"Do you feel well, Mr. DeWitt?" she inquired. + +"Not so hot," he admitted, reaching for a pencil. "Lately I've been +having a little pain in my side--it's nothing though. Just getting old, +that's all." + +"Why not take the day off, Mr. DeWitt? You've been working too hard." + +"Now wouldn't this be a fine time to go home?" the editor barked. "Hard +work agrees with me." + +Reminded that she was keeping Mr. DeWitt from his duties, Penny soon left +the _Star_ office. Debating a moment, she walked to the nearby police +station. There she was courteously received by Chief Jalman, a personal +friend of her father's. + +"We'll find Mr. Parker," he assured her confidently. "His description has +been broadcast over the radio. We've instructed all our men to be on the +watch for him." + +Penny broached the possibility that her father had been waylaid by +enemies. + +"Facts fail to support such a theory," replied Chief Jalman. "It's my +opinion your father will show up any hour, wondering what the fuss is all +about." + +Penny left the police station rather cheered. Almost without thinking, +she chose a route which led toward the scene of the accident. Reaching +the familiar street, she noted that her father's battered car had been +towed away. All broken glass had been swept from the pavement. + +"When I was here before I should have questioned more people," she +thought. "It never occurred to me then that Dad would fail to show up." + +Noticing a candy store which fronted the street close to the bent lamp +post, Penny went inside. A friendly looking woman with gray hair came to +serve her. + +"I'm not a customer," Penny explained. She added that her father had been +injured in the car accident, and that she was seeking information. + +"I've already been questioned by police detectives," replied the owner of +the candy shop. "I'm afraid I can't tell you very much." + +"Did you witness the accident?" + +"Oh, yes, I saw it, but it happened so fast I wasn't sure whose fault it +was." + +"You didn't take down the license number of the blue hit-skip car?" + +"Was it blue?" the woman inquired. "Now I told the police, maroon." + +"My information came from a small boy, so he may have been mistaken. Did +you notice the woman who offered my father a ride?" + +"Oh, yes, she was about my age--around forty." + +"Well dressed?" + +"Rather plainly, I would say. But she drove a fine, late-model car." + +"Would you consider her a woman of means?" + +"Judging from the car--yes." + +Penny asked many more questions, trying to gain an accurate picture of +the woman who had aided her father. She was somewhat reassured when the +candy shop owner insisted that Mr. Parker had entered the car of his own +free will. + +"Did he seem dazed by the accident?" she asked thoughtfully. + +"Well, yes, he did. I saw your father get into the car sort of holding +his head. Then he asked the woman to stop at the curb." + +"Why was that?" + +"He'd forgotten something--a leather carrying case. At any rate, he +returned to his own auto for it. Then he drove away with the woman." + +As puzzled as ever, Penny went out on the street once more. The weather +had turned colder, but she scarcely felt the icy blast which whipped her +face. + +It was silly to worry, she told herself sternly. Why, all the facts +supported Police Chief Jalman's belief that her father soon would return +home. Mrs. Weems was confident he would be found safe--so was Mr. DeWitt. +After all, only five hours had elapsed since the accident. A +disappearance couldn't be considered serious in such a short period. + +But try as she might, Penny could not free her mind of grave misgivings. +She could not forget the mysterious telephone call, the threatening +letter, and Harley Schirr's cocksure opinion that her father would not be +found. + +She stood disconsolate, gazing into the whirling snow storm. At the end +of the street the railroad station loomed as a dark blur, reminding her +of Jerry. If only he hadn't gone away! Jerry was the one person who might +help her, and she knew of no way to reach him. + + + + + CHAPTER + 8 + _A FEW CHANGES_ + + +Next morning, Penny, red-eyed because she had slept little, walked slowly +toward the _Star_ office. Throughout the long night there had been no +word from Mr. Parker. + +At every street corner newsboys shouted the latest headlines--that the +publisher had been missing nearly twenty-four hours. Even the _Star_ +carried a black, ugly banner across its front page. + +Penny bought a copy, reading with displeasure the story of Mr. Parker's +disappearance. + +"I can't understand why Mr. DeWitt let this go through," she thought. "If +Dad were here, he'd certainly hate it." + +Entering the lobby of the _Star_ building, Penny pressed the elevator +button. A long time elapsed before the cage descended. To her surprise +she saw that it was operated, not by Mose Johnson, the colored man, but +by the janitor. + +"Sorry to keep you waiting, Miss Penny," the man apologized. "I'm not +much good at operating this contraption." + +"Where is Mose this morning, Charley?" + +"Fired." + +Penny could not hide her amazement. The old colored man had been employed +ten years at the _Star_ plant. Although not strictly efficient, Mose's +habits were good, and Mr. Parker had taken an affectionate interest in +him. + +"It's a shame, if you ask me," the janitor added. + +"What happened, Charley? Who discharged him?" + +"That guy Schirr." + +"Harley Schirr? But he has no authority." + +"An editor can fire and hire. I think he was just tryin' out his stuff on +poor old Mose." + +"During my father's absence, Mr. DeWitt is in full charge here," Penny +said emphatically. + +"DeWitt _was_ in charge. But they hauled him off to the hospital last +night with a bad pain in his tummy. Seems he had an appendicitis attack. +The doctor rushed him off and didn't even wait until morning to operate." + +The news stunned Penny. She murmured that she hoped Mr. DeWitt was doing +well. + +"Reckon he is," agreed the janitor. "We all chipped in and sent him some +flowers--roses. Mose gave fifty cents, too." + +Penny's mind came back to the problem of the colored man. + +"So Mr. Schirr discharged him," she commented. "I wonder why?" + +The janitor pressed a button and the cage moved slowly upward. + +"Mose was due on at midnight," he explained. "He didn't get here until +after two o'clock." + +"Didn't he have a reason for being so late?" + +The cage stopped with a jerk. "Sure, Mose had a pip this time! Something +about being detained by a ghost! Schirr didn't go for it at all. Swelled +up like a poisoned pup and fired Mose on the spot." + +"I'm sorry," Penny replied. "Dad liked Mose a lot." + +"Any news from your father?" + +Penny shook her head. As far as possible she was determined to keep her +troubles to herself. Turning to leave the cage, she inquired: + +"Where is Mose now? At home?" + +"He's down in the boiler room, sittin' by the furnace. Says he's afraid +to go home for fear his old lady will give him the works." + +"Will you please ask Mose to wait there for me?" Penny requested. "I want +to talk to him before he leaves the building." + +"I'll be glad to tell him," the janitor said. Hesitating, he added: "If +you've got any influence with Schirr, you might speak a good word for +me." + +"Why for you?" smiled Penny. "Surely your job is safe." + +"I don't know about that," the janitor responded gloomily. "This morning +when Schirr was comin' up in the elevator he said to me: 'Charley, +there's going to be a few changes made around here. I'm going to cut out +all the old, useless timber.' He looked at me kinda funny-like too. You +know, I passed my sixty-eighth birthday last August." + +"Now don't start worrying, Charley," Penny cheered him. "We couldn't run +this building without you." + +Deeply troubled, she tramped down the hall to the newsroom. Reporters +were in a fever of activity, pounding out their stories. Copy boys had a +nervous, tense expression as they ran to and fro on their errands. Harley +Schirr, however, was not in evidence. + +"The Big Shot has sealed himself in your father's office!" informed one +of the copy desk men in a muted voice. "Guess you heard about DeWitt?" + +Penny nodded. + +"The Great Genius has taken over, and how! This place is operating on an +efficiency-plus basis now. Why, he's got me so cockeyed, I compose +poetry." + +Penny crossed to her father's office, tapping on the frosted glass door. + +"Who is it?" demanded Schirr, his voice loud and unpleasant. + +Penny spoke her name. In a moment the door opened, and the editor bowed +and smiled. As if she were a guest of honor, he motioned her to a seat. + +"We're doing everything we can to trace your father," he said. "So far, +we've had no luck and the police admit they are baffled. I can't express +to you how sorry I am." + +To Penny's ears the words were words only, lacking sincerity. Determining +to waste no time, she spoke of DeWitt's sudden illness. + +"Oh yes, he'll be off duty for at least a month," replied Mr. Schirr. +"Naturally in his absence I have assumed charge. We put out a real paper +this morning." + +"I saw the front page." + +Penny longed to say that the story about her father had displeased her. +However, she knew it would do no good. The account, once printed, could +not be recalled. Far better, she reasoned, to let the matter pass. + +"I hear Mose Johnson has been discharged," she remarked. + +"Yes, we had to let him go." Mr. Schirr opened a desk drawer, helping +himself to one of Mr. Parker's cigars. "Mose is indolent, +irresponsible--a drag on the payroll." + +"My father always liked him." + +"Yes, he did seem to favor the old coot," agreed Schirr with a shrug. +"Well, thank you for dropping in, Miss Parker. If we have any encouraging +news, I'll see that you are notified at once." + +Well aware that she had been dismissed, Penny left the office. Schirr's +attitude angered her. He had made her feel unwelcome in her own father's +newspaper plant. + +As she closed the door behind her, she realized that nearly every eye in +the apparently-busy newsroom, had focused upon her. Deliberately, she +composed herself. Acting undisturbed, she swept past the rows of desks to +a rear stairway leading to the basement. + +The janitor had delivered her message to Mose Johnson. She found the old +colored man curled up fast asleep on a crate by the warm stove. + +Penny touched Mose on the arm. He straightened up as suddenly as if +someone had set off a fire-cracker. + +"Oh, Miss Penny!" he beamed. "I'se suah su'prised at seein' you down heah +in dis dumpy fu'nace room. But I thanks you just the same fo' wakin' me +up out o' dat ghost dream." + +"Were you having a ghost dream?" echoed Penny. + +"Yes, Miss. Yo' see I was dreamin' about dat same ghost I saw last night +on de way to work." + +Penny, fully aware that Mose was directing the conversation where he +wished it to go, hid a smile. + +"I heard about that, Mose," she commented. "It must have been quite a +lively ghost to make you two hours late." + +"It suah was a lively ghost," Mose confirmed, bobbing his woolly head. +"Why, it walked around jest like a live pu'son." + +"Aren't you being a bit superstitious, Mose?" + +"Deedy not, Miss. You is supe'stitious when you sees a ghost dat ain't +dar. But when you sees one dat is dar you ain't supe'stitious. You is +jest plain scared!" + +"Suppose you tell me about it," Penny invited. + +"Well, Miss Penny, it was like dis," began the old colored man. "At half +past eleven I starts off fo' work same as always. I picks up mah lunch +box de ole lady packed fo' me, an' scoots off toward de bus stop to get +de 11:45. But I nevah get dar. When I was goin' down dat road runnin' +past de old Harrison place, I seen de ghost." + +"The Harrison place?" interrupted Penny. "Where is that?" + +"You know de road that winds up Craig Hill? It's out towa'd de boat +club." + +"You don't mean that big estate house with the fence surrounding it?" + +"Dat's de place! Well, I seed dis heah ghost a cavortin' around behind de +big iron gate dat goes in to de old Harrison place. De ghost nevah sees +me, but I gets a good close-up of him. He was dressed in white and he was +carryin' his own tombstone around in his arms jes' like it doan weigh +nothin'." + +"Oh, Mose!" protested Penny. "And then what happened? Did the ghost +disappear?" + +"No, Miss," grinned the colored man, "but I did! I turns tail an' runs as +fast as a man half mah age could go, an' I nevah stops fo' nuthin' till I +gits back to mah own place. + +"When I tells mah ole lady what was goin' on she says, 'Mose, you sees +white ghosts 'cause you been a drinkin' some mo' o' dat white-eye. It's +twelve o'clock dis minute and you'se missed de last bus. Now you start +walkin'! And if you is fired, don't nevah da'ken dat do' no mo'.'" + +Old Mose drew a deep sigh. "And dat's jest what happened, Miss Penny. I +ain't got no job an' no mo' home than a rabbit. I'se suah bubblin' oveh +with trouble. It all come from seein' dat ghost you says I didn't see." + +"I'm sure you thought you saw one," replied Penny. "If you'll promise to +attend strictly to your duties hereafter, I'll ask Mr. Schirr to +reinstate you on the payroll." + +Old Mose brightened. "I suah nuff will!" he said jubilantly. "I won't +have no mo' truck with dat ghost. No sir!" + +To face Mr. Schirr once more, was a most unpleasant ordeal for Penny. +Nevertheless, she sought his office, apologizing for the intrusion. + +"I _am_ busy," the editor said pointedly. "What is it you want?" + +Penny explained that she had talked with Mose Johnson and was convinced +that his offense would not be repeated. + +"I want you to put him back on his old job," she requested. + +"Impossible!" + +"Why do you take that attitude?" inquired Penny, stiffening for an +argument. "Dad always liked Mose." + +"One can't mix sentiment with business. I have a job to do here and I +intend to do it efficiently." + +"Dad probably will show up before another day." + +"I don't like to dash your hopes," said Mr. Schirr. "We've tried to spare +your feelings. Perhaps your father will be found, but you know I tried to +warn him he was inviting trouble when he mixed with the tire-theft gang." + +"So you believe Dad has fallen into the clutches of those men?" + +"I do." + +"What makes you think so? Have you any evidence?" + +"Not a scrap." + +"And how did you learn Dad intended to expose the higher-ups?" + +"I don't mind telling you I heard him talking to Jerry Livingston about +it." + +"Oh, I see." + +"We're getting nowhere with this discussion," Mr. Schirr said +impatiently. "I really am busy--" + +"Will you reinstate Mose?" Penny asked, reverting to the original +subject. + +"I've already given my answer." + +"After all, this is my father's paper," Penny said, trying to control her +voice. "It's not a corporation. Only Dad's money is invested here." + +"So what?" + +"As a personal favor I ask you to reinstate Mose." + +"You're making an issue of it?" + +"Call it that if you like." + +Mr. Schirr's dark eyes blazed. He slammed a paper weight across the desk +and it dropped to the floor with a hard thud. + +"Very well," he said stiffly, "we'll restore your pet to the payroll." + +"Thank you, Mr. Schirr." + +"But get this, Miss Parker," the editor completed. "We may as well have +an understanding. While your father is absent, I'm in full charge here. +In the future I'll have no interference from you or any other person." + + + + + CHAPTER + 9 + _AN OPEN SAFE_ + + +Rather flattened by the interview with Mr. Schirr, Penny was glad to +leave the _Star_ plant. Going down in the elevator, she requested Charley +to tell Mose Johnson that he had been restored to his old job. + +"That's fine!" the janitor beamed. "Mighty glad to hear it." Opening the +cage door, he inquired: "Will you be going to see Mr. DeWitt?" + +"I thought I would." + +"He's at City Hospital. You might tell him that we all miss him around +here." + +"I'll certainly deliver the message," promised Penny. + +City Hospital was only six blocks away. Penny bought flowers and then +presented herself at the institution. After a brief wait in the lobby, +she was allowed to see Mr. DeWitt for a few minutes. + +"Good morning," she said cheerfully, handing the box of flowers to a +nurse. + +Mr. DeWitt, pale and weak, stirred and turned his head so that he could +see her. + +"What's good about it?" he muttered with a trace of his old spirit. "They +won't even let me sit up!" + +"I should think not," smiled Penny. She sat down in a chair beside the +bed. + +"Of all times to get laid up!" the editor went on. "Heard from your +father?" + +Penny shook her head. A long silence followed, and then she said +brightly: + +"But he'll be found--probably today." + +Mr. DeWitt lay with his eyes closed. "I've been thinking--" he mumbled +drowsily. + +"Yes?" Penny waited. + +"Mind's still fogged with that blamed ether," DeWitt muttered. "About +your father--" His voice trailed off. + +"Do you think he could have been waylaid by enemies?" Penny asked after a +moment. "Mr. Schirr believes his disappearance has a connection with the +tire-theft gang." + +Mr. DeWitt's eyes opened again. "I don't know," he mumbled. "Your father +was planning to break a big story--didn't tell me much about it." + +"You don't know what evidence he carried in the portfolio when he went to +see the State Prosecutor?" + +DeWitt shook his head. "Jerry'll know." + +"But how can I reach him?" + +"Didn't he leave an address at the office?" + +"I don't think so." + +"Then there's no way to reach him." Exhausted from so much talking, +DeWitt fell silent. At length however, he aroused himself and asked: +"Have you tried your father's safe?" + +"For Jerry's address?" + +"No, the names of the tire-theft gang. If the police had something to +work on--" + +"Dad took a lot of papers out just before he started for the Prosecutor's +office," Penny replied thoughtfully. "But some of the evidence may have +been left. It's worth investigating." + +The nurse returned to the room with a vase for the flowers. + +"I'm afraid I can't allow you to remain much longer," she said +regretfully. + +As she arose to go, Penny remembered to deliver Old Charley's message. + +"How's everything at the office?" Mr. DeWitt asked. "Who's in charge?" + +"Harley Schirr." + +Mr. DeWitt's forehead wrinkled. "Now I know I've got to roll out of +here!" he declared. "Things will be in a nice state by the time I get +back." + +Penny did not wish to worry him. "Oh, everything will go along," she +soothed. "Mr. Schirr is very efficient in his methods." + +"And opinionated," muttered DeWitt. "Oh, well, I'll be back on the job in +ten days." + +Penny did not disillusion him. Saying goodbye, she returned to the +newspaper office. Pausing at the downstairs advertising department, she +talked to Bud Corbin, a close friend of Jerry's. + +"This is the only address Jerry gave me," Mr. Corbin said, taking a card +from his billfold. "A wire might reach him. But there's a good chance it +won't. When he left here, he wasn't sure he'd stop at Elk Horn Lodge." + +Grateful for the address, Penny composed a telegram which the advertising +man offered to send for her. In the message she not only told of her +father's strange disappearance, but asked for a complete duplication of +material lost in the portfolio. + +"At least I've started the ball rolling," she thought, with renewed hope +in her efforts. "I believe Jerry can help if only he gets the wire." + +Penny had not forgotten Mr. DeWitt's suggestion that some evidence +against the tire-theft gang might be found in Mr. Parker's safe. + +"I hate to open it while Dad is away," she reflected. "Still, I know the +combination, and I'm sure he would want me to do it." + +To brave Harley Schirr a second time was a duty not to Penny's liking. +She debated waiting until after four o'clock when the editor doubtless +would leave the building. But time was precious and she could not afford +to wait. + +"What am I, a coward?" she prodded herself. "Why should I be afraid of +Harley Schirr? When Dad gets back on the job, he'll bounce him back where +he belongs." + +Penny's reappearance in the newsroom created a slight stir. However, no +one spoke to her as she walked straight to her father's office. The door +was closed. + +"Mr. Schirr isn't in conference?" she asked one of the copy readers. + +"No, just go right on in," the man returned carelessly. + +Without knocking, Penny opened the door. On the threshold, she paused, +startled. Harley Schirr was down on his knees in front of the open safe. +Evidently he had been going through Mr. Parker's private papers in +systematic fashion for he was circled by little piles of manila +envelopes. + +Mr. Schirr was even more startled than Penny. He sprang to his feet, the +picture of guilt. Then, recovering his poise, he scowled and demanded: +"Here again?" + +Penny carefully closed the office door before she spoke. Then her words +were terse. + +"Mr. Schirr, kindly explain what you are doing in my father's safe." + +"Looking for information about the tire-theft gang." + +"A story you say the _Star_ never should print." + +"That's neither here nor there." A deep flush had crept over Schirr's +cheeks but his manner remained confident. "As editor I have to know +what's going on." + +"Who gave you permission to open the safe?" + +"You forget that I am editor here, Miss Parker." + +"At least I've been reminded of it enough times," Penny retorted. "How +did you learn the combination?" + +"I've known it." + +"You saw the numbers written on Dad's desk," Penny accused. + +Mr. Schirr did not deny the charge. Turning his back, he started to +remove a rubber band from a small stack of yellowed letters. The act +infuriated Penny, for she recognized the packet. Years before, the +letters had been written by her own mother, and Mr. Parker always had +treasured them. + +"Don't you touch those!" she cried, darting forward. "They're personal." + +Snatching the packet from Mr. Schirr, she gathered up the other papers +and envelopes from the floor. Thrusting everything into the safe, she +closed and locked the door. + +"Well!" commented the editor scathingly. + +"You're through here!" said Penny, facing him with blazing eyes. "Do you +understand? I'm discharging you." + +Mr. Schirr looked stunned. Then he laughed unpleasantly. + +"So _you're_ discharging me," he mocked. "By what right may I ask?" + +"This is my father's plant." + +"Which doesn't necessarily make you the editor or the owner, Miss +Penelope Parker. You're a minor as well as a nuisance. If your father +proves to be dead, the court will step in--" + +"Get out!" cried Penny, fighting to keep back the tears. "You don't care +about Dad, or anything but your own selfish interests!" + +"Now you're hysterical." + +Penny's anger subsided, to be replaced by a cool determination that +Harley Schirr should not remain in charge of the _Star_ another hour. + +"I meant just what I said," she told him quietly. "Please go." + +Schirr smiled grimly. Seating himself at the desk, his eyes challenged +hers. + +"I remain as editor here," he announced. "If you wish to contest my +right, take your case to court. In the meantime, keep out of my private +office." + + + + + CHAPTER + 10 + _TALE OF A GHOST_ + + +Beaten and close to tears, Penny stumbled out of Harley Schirr's office. +As she paused just beyond the closed door, every eye in the newsroom +focused upon her. Salt Sommers, camera box slung over his shoulder, went +over and spoke to her. + +"Penny, we all heard that row. If you say the word, we'll walk out of +here in a body." + +Penny smiled, touched by the expression of loyalty. "That would do no +good," she replied. "Thanks just the same." + +"We're through taking orders from Schirr!" Salt went on. "He always has +been a pain in the neck, and now that he has authority, there's no +holding him down. How about it, boys?" + +A chorus of approval greeted his words. One of the reporters picked up a +paper weight and would have hurled it against the closed door, had not +another restrained him. + +"I'm sure Dad would want everyone to carry on," Penny said quietly. "The +paper must be published the same as always." + +"We could do our work and do it well, if Schirr would just leave us +alone," growled one of the copy readers. + +"That's right!" added another. "Why don't you take over, Penny?" + +"Mr. Schirr just reminded me that I'm not the editor. I know nothing +about running a newspaper." + +"How about the time you ran the High School weekly?" Salt reminded her. +"Why, you did a bang up job of it, and uncovered _The Secret Pact_ story +to boot! Don't try to tell us you don't know how to run a newspaper!" + +"A weekly high school sheet and the _Star_ are two different +propositions." + +"But your father has a fine organization here," Salt argued. "If Schirr +can be kept from breaking it up, everything will go along. The boys all +know their jobs." + +Penny's eyes began to sparkle. But she said: "I don't see how I could +take over, much as I would like to do it. Schirr has staked out rights in +Dad's office and nothing will move him short of a court order." + +"You don't need a fancy office to run a paper," Salt grinned. "We'll just +take our orders from you. Schirr can sit until he's had enough of it." + +Penny gazed at the eager, loyal faces about her. Nearly all of the men +were old employees, personally trained by her father and Mr. DeWitt. She +knew she could depend on them. + +"We'll do it!" she exclaimed suddenly. "As your new editor, I wish to +issue my first order. Please, let's not publish any more sensational +stories about Dad's disappearance." + +"Okay Chief," grinned one of the desk men. "That suits us all fine." + +Penny was given a seat of honor at the slot of the circular copy desk. +There she was able to read and pass upon every story which flowed from +the typewriters of the various reporters. With the courteous help of one +of the deskmen, she remade the front page of the noon edition. A +particularly sensational story about Mr. Parker, prepared earlier in the +day, was promptly "busted." + +Penny found her new duties exacting, but surprisingly easy. Over the +years it was astonishing how much she had learned about the workings of a +newspaper plant. At different times she had served as reporter, society +editor and special feature writer. As for the editorial policy of the +_Star_, she was thoroughly familiar with it, for her father frequently +aired his views at home. + +Shortly after the noon edition rolled from the press, the buzzer in Mr. +Schirr's office sounded. Mr. Parker's private secretary did not answer. +The buzzer kept on for nearly five minutes. Then the door was flung open. + +"What the blazes is the matter with everyone?" Schirr shouted. + +His gaze fastened upon Penny at the copy desk. + +"Meet our new editor, Mr. Schirr," said Salt, who had that moment come +out of the camera room. + +Schirr ignored Penny. Snatching up one of the noon editions, still fresh +with wet ink, he glanced at the front page. His eyes flashed. + +"Eckert," he said to the head copy man, "come into my office. I want to +talk to you." + +"Oh, sure," said Eckert, but he did not follow Schirr into the adjoining +room. + +Soon the ex-editor came storming out to learn what was wrong. This time +his expression was baffled. + +"Mr. Eckert," he said with exaggerated politeness. "Will you please step +into my office?" + +"Sorry," replied the copy reader. "You may as well know right now that +you're not giving the orders around here!" + +"We'll see about that!" cried Schirr. + +Darting to one of the speaking tubes, he called the foreman of the press +room. + +"Schirr talking!" he said curtly. "Stop the presses! Kill that noon +edition! We're making over the front page!" + +"Can't hear you," was the reply, for word had been passed to the men in +the pressroom. "Louder!" + +Schirr shouted until he was nearly hoarse. Then suddenly conscious that +he was making a spectacle of himself, he slammed into his office. A +minute later he reappeared, hat jammed low over his eyes. + +"This is a very clever scheme, Miss Parker," he said, facing her. "Well, +it won't work. I'm leaving, but I'll be back. With a lawyer!" + +He strode from the newsroom, banging the door so hard the glass rattled. + +"Don't worry about that egg," Salt advised Penny. "He's mostly bluff." + +"I think he does mean to get a court order," she returned soberly. + +"He may try," Salt shrugged. "We can handle him." + +Following Schirr's departure, everything moved smoothly at the _Star_ +plant. One edition after another rolled from the presses. Penny was kept +busy, and frequently she was worried and in doubt. Nevertheless, everyone +made the way easy for her, and as the day wore on she gained confidence. + +Throughout the afternoon, news stories kept pouring into the _Star_ +office, but no encouraging information came in regard to Mr. Parker. +Several times Penny called the police station and also talked with Mrs. +Weems. The housekeeper, fearful that the girl would become ill, insisted +upon bringing a hot evening meal to the office. + +"Penny, you've been here all day," she chided anxiously. "You must come +home with me." + +"I can't just yet," Penny replied. "There's too much to do. By tomorrow, +if Schirr doesn't make trouble, things will smooth out." + +"You're working so hard you'll be sick abed!" + +"I want to work," Penny said grimly. "It keeps me from thinking. Anyway, +Dad would want me to do it." + +Mrs. Weems sighed as she gathered up the lunch basket and thermos bottle. +Penny barely had tasted the food. + +"When will you be home?" the housekeeper asked. + +"I can't say exactly. After the night editions are out. Don't sit up for +me." + +"You know I couldn't go to bed until you are home," Mrs. Weems responded. +"You'll take a taxi?" + +"Of course," promised Penny. + +After the housekeeper had gone, she plunged into her duties once more. +With the force short of two men, DeWitt and Schirr, there really was too +much work for the desk men to do unassisted. Penny wrote headlines, +copy-read stories, and passed on all matters of policy. So busy did she +keep, that when at length she glanced at her watch, it was eleven-thirty. + +"Gracious!" she thought. "And Mrs. Weems will be waiting up for me!" + +Saying goodnight to the men who would carry on in her absence, she went +down the back stairs to the street. As she glanced about for a taxicab, +she saw Old Mose Johnson shuffling toward the loading dock. + +"Good evening," she greeted him. "I'm glad to see you're ahead of time +tonight." + +"Good evenin', Miss Penny," the colored man said, doffing his tattered +hat. "Yas'm. I'se heah, but I seed dat same ghost a-lurkin' behind de +gate!" + +"I hope that ghost isn't becoming a habit with you, Mose." + +"Deed Miss Penny, he's mo' dan a habit," the colored man sighed. "He's a +suah-nuff live ghost. De fust time I seed him I thought he wasn't no +imagination ghost. But when I saw him agin' tonight I was dead suah of +it." + +"What happened this time, Mose?" + +"Well, Miss Penny, I was a walking along dat same road, down by de ole +Harrison place when I seed him again. He was a-cavortin' behind dat same +iron gate. And he was dressed de same too, in a long white robe." + +"And you ran the same too, I suppose?" smiled Penny. + +"Ah made myself scarce around dat gate, but I didn't run home dis time. I +was a-skeered of mah ole woman. I beats it to de restaurant on de co'ner +and waits dere 'till a bus comes. Oh, I'se gettin' good, Miss Penny! I +can see a ghost and git to work on time, all de same evenin'!" + +"Well, keep up the good work," Penny said jokingly as she turned away. + +The meeting with Old Mose had served to divert the girl's mind from her +own difficulties. Riding home by taxi, she caught herself reviewing the +details of the colored man's outlandish tale. + +"Mose couldn't have seen a ghost," she thought, "but he's honest about +being frightened. If I didn't have so many serious troubles, I'd be +tempted to investigate the old Harrison estate myself." + +Penny alighted at her home and walked wearily up the shoveled path. Snow +was falling once more. Already the exposed porch was covered with a +half-inch coating of feathery flakes. + +Inside the house a light flashed on. The bright beam shining through the +window drew Penny's attention to a series of freshly-made footprints +criss-crossing the porch. + +"Mrs. Weems must have had a visitor," she thought, observing that the +heel marks were made by a woman's shoe. + +As Penny reached for the door knob, her glance fell upon a long, narrow +envelope which protruded from the tin mailbox. She removed it, wondering +why the housekeeper had neglected to do so. + +Mrs. Weems opened the door. + +"Thank goodness, you're home at last, Penny. I fell asleep on the +davenport. There isn't any word--" + +"Not a scrap of news," Penny completed. + +Dropping the letter on the center table, she removed her wraps and flung +herself full length on the davenport. + +"You poor child!" Mrs. Weems murmured. "You're practically exhausted. +Please go straight to bed. I'll fix some warm milk and perhaps you can +sleep." + +"I don't feel as if I'd ever sleep again," Penny declared. "I'm tired, +but I feel so excited and tense." + +Mrs. Weems picked up the girl's coat and cap. Shaking them free of snow, +she hung the garments in the closet. + +"Did you have a bad time of it today?" Penny asked after a moment. + +"It wasn't exactly pleasant," Mrs. Weems replied. "Reporters and +photographers came from every paper in Riverview. The police +too--although I was glad to have them. And the telephone! I counted +twelve calls in an hour." + +"You must be dead. You shouldn't have waited up for me." + +"I wanted to, Penny. About an hour ago I thought I heard your step on the +porch, but I was mistaken." + +Penny sat up. "Haven't you had a caller during the last hour, Mrs. +Weems?" + +"No, I've been alone." + +"But I saw footprints on the porch! And I found this in the mailbox!" + +Penny snatched the long envelope from the table. Holding it beneath the +bridge lamp, she noticed for the first time that it bore no stamp. +Strangely, it was addressed to her. + +"Why, where did you get that letter?" cried Mrs. Weems. + +"Found it in the mailbox." Penny's hand trembled as she ripped open the +flap. + +A sheet of writing paper, high quality and slightly perfumed, slid from +the envelope. The message was terse and bore no signature at the end. It +read: + + "Offer a suitable reward and information will be provided as to the + whereabouts of your father. Make your offer known in the _Star_." + + + + + CHAPTER + 11 + _BY A CEMETERY WALL_ + + +Penny and Mrs. Weems reread the anonymous message many times, analyzing +every word. + +"Plainly this note was written by a woman of some means for the paper is +fine quality," Penny commented. "She must have sneaked up on the porch +about an hour ago." + +"Call the police at once," urged Mrs. Weems. "They'll tell us what we +should do." + +"Whoever left the note may be watching the house." + +"We must risk that, Penny. I'll call the station myself." + +While Mrs. Weems busied herself at the telephone, Penny switched off the +living-room light. She could see no one loitering anywhere near the +house. Slipping on her coat, she went outside to inspect the footprints +left on the porch. Only a few remained uncovered by snow. There was no +way to tell in which direction the writer of the anonymous message had +gone. + +Mrs. Weems had completed her telephone call by the time Penny reentered +the house. + +"Two detectives will be here in a few minutes," she revealed. "You keep +watch for them while I run upstairs and get into something more suitable +than a lounging robe." + +Within ten minutes a car drew up in front of the house. Penny already was +acquainted with Detectives Dick Brandon and George Fuller, and had great +confidence in their judgment. Anxiously she and Mrs. Weems waited while +the men scanned the anonymous message. + +"This might be only a crank note," commented Brandon. "Someone who's read +of Mr. Parker's disappearance, and hopes to pick up a little cash." + +"Then you don't think it came from the tire-theft gang?" Penny asked. + +"Not likely. A professional kidnaper never would have sent a note like +this. The handwriting hasn't even been disguised." + +"Will it be possible to trace the person?" + +"It should be if we have a little luck." Detective Brandon pocketed the +letter. "Now this is what you must do, Miss Parker. Offer a reward--say +five thousand dollars--for information about your father." + +"I'll get the story in every edition of the _Star_ tomorrow. And then +what am I to do?" + +"You'll likely hear from the writer of this anonymous message, either by +letter or telephone. If you contact the woman, arrange a meeting. Then +notify us immediately." + +The discussion went on. When at length the two detectives left, Penny and +Mrs. Weems were hopeful that within another twenty-four hours they might +know Mr. Parker's fate. + +In the morning, after only five hours of sleep, Penny was back at her +desk. Her first act was to dictate the story offering a +five-thousand-dollar reward for information about her father. Not even to +Salt Sommers did she confide that she had received an anonymous message. + +"Everything's going well here at the plant," he assured her. "Harley +Schirr hasn't so much as stuck his nose through the door." + +"I hope we're through with him," replied Penny soberly. "However, I don't +feel that we are. By the way, no telegram has come from Jerry?" + +"No message yet. Guess he didn't get your wire." + +Throughout the morning, Penny worked tirelessly at her desk. Although her +father's office now was vacant, she did not take possession. Even when +she occasionally entered to get papers from the file, it gave her a +queer, tight feeling. Her father's old neck-scarf still hung on the +clothes tree. The rubbers he hated to wear stood heel to heel against the +wall. + +"Dad is alive and well," she told herself whenever her courage faltered. +"By tomorrow he'll be back. I know he will." + +At noon Salt brought Penny a sandwich which she ate without leaving her +desk. As she struggled with the last mouthful, the telephone rang. + +"Is this Miss Parker?" inquired a woman's voice. + +Penny gripped the receiver tightly. Her pulse began to pound. Although +she had no real reason for thinking so, she suddenly knew that she was in +contact with the mysterious writer of the anonymous message. + +"Yes," she replied, keeping her voice calm. + +"You offered a reward in your paper today. Five thousand dollars for +information about Mr. Parker." + +"True. Can you tell me anything about his disappearance?" + +"I can if you're willing to pay the money." + +"I'll be glad to do it." + +"And no questions asked?" + +"No questions," Penny promised. "If you actually can provide information +that will help me find my father, I'll be happy to give you the money." + +There was a long silence. Fearful lest the woman had lost her nerve and +was about to hang up, Penny said anxiously: + +"Where shall I meet you? Will you come to my home?" + +"That's too risky." + +"Then where shall I meet you?" + +"Tonight at eight. You know the cemetery out on Baldiff Road?" + +"Baldiff Road?" Penny repeated doubtfully. + +"You'll find it on a county map," the woman instructed. "Meet me at the +cemetery wall promptly at eight. And don't bring anyone with you. Just +the money. I'll guarantee to tell you where you can find your father." + +The receiver clicked. + +Greatly excited, Penny made a futile attempt to trace the telephone call. +Failing, she set off for the police station to talk to Detectives Fuller +and Brandon. + +"The woman must be a rank amateur or she wouldn't have arranged a meeting +in the way she did!" Detective Brandon assured Penny. "Now let's find out +where Baldiff Road is located." + +Using a large map, he circled an area several miles south of Riverview. +Penny was surprised to note that Baldiff Road branched off from the same +deserted thoroughfare which she and Louise had followed on the night of +the blizzard. The cemetery, Oakland Hills, was situated perhaps a mile +from the old Harrison place where Mose Johnson had claimed to have seen a +ghost. + +"It shouldn't be hard to nab the woman when she shows up," Detective +Fuller declared. "Dick and I will get there early and keep watch." + +"Just what am I to do?" Penny inquired. "Shall I take the reward money +with me?" + +"We'll give you a package of fake money," the detective answered. "Drive +to the cemetery alone at the appointed hour. If the woman shows up, talk +to her, try to learn what she knows. We'll attend to the rest." + +Penny returned home to consult with Mrs. Weems. How to reach the cemetery +was something of a problem. Her own car, minus its wheels, remained at +the Yacht Club, and Mr. Parker's automobile had been hauled to a garage +for extensive repairs. + +"Can't you borrow a car from someone at the _Star_ office?" suggested the +housekeeper. "And do take a man with you when you drive to the cemetery." + +"No, I must go alone," insisted Penny. "That part is very important." + +In the end she was able to borrow Salt Sommer's coupe. A little after +seven o'clock she set off for Baldiff Road with the package of fake money +in her possession. The night was not cold, but a stiff wind blew through +the evergreens; whirlwinds of snow chased one another across the +untraveled road. + +"What a dreary place for a meeting," Penny shivered as she glimpsed the +bleak cemetery on a hilltop. + +The area, a full half-mile from any house, was bounded by a high +snow-covered brick wall. Beyond the barrier, starlight revealed a cluster +of rounding tombstones layered with white. No one was visible, neither +the woman nor members of the police force. + +Penny glanced at her watch. It lacked ten minutes of eight o'clock. She +parked not far from the cemetery entrance and switched off the engine. + +Twenty minutes elapsed. Nervous and cold, Penny climbed from the car and +tramped back and forth to restore circulation. She had begun to doubt +that the woman would keep the appointment. + +Then, coming swiftly down the road, she saw a strange looking figure. The +one who approached wore a long, tight-fitting coat. A hat with a dark +veil covered the woman's face. + +"There she is!" thought Penny, every nerve tense. + +The woman came closer. While still some distance from the cemetery +entrance, she suddenly paused. Her head jerked sideways. Then to Penny's +dismay, she turned and fled toward the woods. + +"Wait!" Penny shouted. "Don't be afraid! Wait!" + +The woman paid no heed. Lifting her coat the better to run, she +disappeared among the trees. + + + + + CHAPTER + 12 + _FLIGHT_ + + +As Penny wondered what to do, Detectives Brandon and Fuller leaped from +their hiding place behind the cemetery wall. Their car had been secreted +in a clump of bushes farther down the road. By pure mischance, the woman +in the black veil had seen it as she approached, and fearing treachery, +had fled. + +"Quick, Dick, or she'll get away!" Fuller shouted. + +Penny did not join in the pursuit. Reentering her car, she waited +anxiously. From the crashing of underbrush, she knew the detectives were +having difficulty in following the woman. In the dark forest it would be +very easy for her to elude the officers. + +Three quarters of an hour elapsed before the men returned. + +"We lost her," Detective Brandon reported. "No use searching any longer." + +Sick at heart, Penny drove slowly toward home. Her hopes had been +completely dashed. Not only had she failed to contact the mysterious +woman, but there now seemed little likelihood of doing so. + +"I may receive another telephone message," she thought, "but I doubt it. +That woman probably will be too badly frightened to try to contact me +again." + +At the exit of Baldiff Road, Penny headed down the winding hillside +highway which she and Louise had followed on the night of the blizzard. +The route, although slightly longer, would take her close to the +Riverview Yacht Club. + +"I'll go that way and see if my car is still there," she decided. "Then +tomorrow I can have it hauled home and jacked up. I should have looked +after the matter long ago." + +The coupe rounded a curve and the road dipped between an avenue of +swaying, whispering pines. To the left, shrouded in snow, loomed the old +Harrison house. The estate was picturesque in itself, and Mose Johnson's +tale about a ghost had intensified the girl's interest. + +"Wonder who owns the place now?" she speculated. "Probably not any member +of the Harrison family, as I believe they were old-timers in Riverview." + +Penny slowed the car to idling speed. Deliberately keeping to the left +hand side of the road, she studied with deep interest the long, +snow-frosted fence which bounded the grounds. The barrier was an +unfriendly one, high and spiked at the top. + +Suddenly her attention focused upon a well-beaten path in the snow just +inside the fence. The footprints, plainly visible in the bright +moonlight, extended the full width of the grounds. + +Into Penny's mind flashed the wild yarn told by Mose Johnson. + +"Ghost tracks!" she thought. "At least those prints must have been made +by whatever he saw beyond the gate." + +So interested was Penny in the path that for an instant she completely +forgot her driving. The front left wheel of the car struck a tiny mound +of ice and snow at the road's edge. + +Barely in time to avoid an accident, the girl twisted the steering wheel +and brought the car back on the highway. + +"Another second and I'd have been in the ditch!" she thought shakily. "If +I must look for a ghost, guess I'll do the job right." + +Penny pulled up, this time at the opposite side of the road. Getting out, +she crossed to the iron fence and peered through it. The path which had +attracted her attention had been pounded hard by someone who had walked +just inside the enclosure. + +"Odd!" she reflected. "Maybe Old Mose's ghost has more substance than I +thought." + +Penny glanced toward the big house, dark and majestic in its setting of +evergreens. Obviously the place had been closed for the winter. Walks +were not shoveled, blinds had been drawn, and no tire tracks led to and +from the three-car garage. + +"Wonder who or what could have made that path?" she mused. "Certainly not +an animal." + +Unable to solve the mystery, Penny turned to re-enter the parked coupe. +Before she could cross the road, a light went on in a third floor room of +the estate house. Startled, she stared at it. As she watched, it was +extinguished. + +"Someone must live here!" thought Penny. "Or am I seeing spooks myself?" + +For a long while she watched the upper floor of the house. The light did +not reappear. At length, wearying of the vigil, she returned to the car. + +Penny started the engine and bent down to open the fins of the heater. +Straightening, she cast a last, careless glance toward the old estate. +Her heart did a flip-flop. + +Beyond the iron gate, in the garden area, a white-robed figure slowly +paced back and forth! + +"My Aunt!" whispered Penny. "Am I seeing things or am I seeing things?" + +For a moment she sat very straight, watching. The ghostly figure, white +from head to toe, moved with measured steps toward the high gate. + +"There aren't any ghosts," she encouraged herself. "But if that's not a +spook, it must be someone dressed up like one! And who would play +Hallowe'en games on a cold night like this?" + +Alone, frankly nervous, Penny had no overpowering desire to investigate +the white-robed figure at close range. A large, spreading evergreen +half-blocked her view of the gate. She could not see the ghost plainly, +but she distinctly heard the rattle of a chain as the apparition tested +the lock. + +"Real or imaginary, that spook is trying to get out!" Penny thought with +a shiver. "If Mose were here now I'd challenge him to a race!" + +The white-gowned figure shook the gate chain a second time, then slowly +retreated. Penny watched for a moment, before abruptly swinging open the +car door. She had decided to investigate. + +As she crossed the road, the white figure moved away from her. By the +time she reached the gate, it had disappeared around a corner of the +house. + +"At least Mr. Spook wasn't carrying his own tombstone!" Penny observed to +herself. "Mose exaggerated that part." + +She waited, leaning against the gate post. Within three minutes a light +went on in the upper part of the house. For a fleeting instant before the +blind was pulled, she saw someone standing in front of an old-fashioned +dresser. + +"Mr. Ghost seemingly has turned in for the night," thought Penny. "But is +it a he, she, or it?" + +Soon the bedroom light was extinguished. Cold and tired, Penny decided +that the mystery must remain unsolved. However, as she drove on, she kept +thinking about what she had seen. Of one thing she now was certain. The +estate was not deserted! + +Without stopping at the Yacht Club grounds, Penny made certain that her +stripped car and ice boat remained as she last had seen them. Driving on +to Riverview, she left Salt's car at the _Star_ plant, then taxied home +to tell Mrs. Weems of her failure at the cemetery. + +"Don't feel badly about it," the housekeeper comforted. "Surely the woman +who telephoned will make another attempt to reach you." + +"I doubt it," Penny replied gloomily. "She'll know now that the police +are watching for her." + +"This entire affair is so bewildering," sighed Mrs. Weems. "How could +your father have been kidnaped? If what we've learned is true, he left +the scene of the accident of his own free will." + +"I never was so baffled in my life," Penny returned, throwing herself on +the davenport. "I used to think I was good at solving puzzles. Now I know +I'm just plain dumb." + +"Have you thought about employing a private detective?" + +"It might be a good idea!" Penny agreed, encouraged. "I'll see what I can +do tomorrow." + +As she started wearily up the stairs to bed, Mrs. Weems called after her +to say that Louise Sidell had telephoned earlier in the evening. Penny +nodded absently, assuming that her chum had phoned to express sympathy. +She did not think of the matter again until the next morning at +breakfast. As she was leaving the table, Mrs. Weems came in to report +that Louise once more was on the telephone. + +"Penny, I can't tell you how shocked I was to learn about your father," +her chum began breathlessly. "Is there anything I can do to help?" + +"I'm afraid not, Lou." + +"What are you using for a car? You must need one badly." + +"Salt Sommers let me have his last night. I'll get along." + +"Penny, I know how you can buy tires!" Louise went on. "In fact, that's +what I wanted to talk to you about." + +"How can I buy tires? Rubber is supposed to be scarce." + +"When I was having my hair fixed at the beauty parlor yesterday I heard +two women talking!" Louise declared excitedly. "It seems there's a garage +where you can get them if you pull the right strings!" + +"Oh! A Black Market place?" + +"I suppose that's what you would call it." + +"I don't want to get tires illegally," Penny said. "I'm not interested, +Lou." + +"You don't even care to know the name of the garage?" + +"What good would it do?" + +"None perhaps, but it might give you a surprise." + +"A surprise?" Penny repeated. She glanced at the clock, impatient because +the conversation was being prolonged. A great deal of important work +awaited her. + +"You don't want to know the name of the place?" Louise persisted. + +"Yes, I do. On second thought, it might be well worth while to find out +what I can about Black Market operations in tires." + +The conviction had come suddenly to Penny that all the evidence contained +in her father's lost portfolio must be gathered anew. No word had been +received from Jerry Livingston. In the quest for information, she must +depend upon her own efforts. + +"It's going to give you a real shock to learn the name of the place," +Louise went on. + +"I'm shock proof by this time," answered Penny. "Let 'er fly." + +But Louise was unwilling to divulge the information over the telephone. + +"I don't dare tell you now," she replied. "Just sit tight for ten minutes +and I'll deliver my bombshell in person." + + + + + CHAPTER + 13 + _A BLACK MARKET_ + + +Ten minutes later Louise was at the front door with the Sidell family +car. She tooted the horn until Penny put on her coat and went outside. + +"Jump in and I'll take you to the place of mystery," Louise greeted her. +"On second thought, you'd better drive. I hate icy roads." + +Penny slid behind the steering wheel. "But where are we going?" she +protested. "Honestly, Lou, I haven't much time--" + +"Mattie Williams' garage is the place that sells the tires! Now, are you +interested?" + +"Am I? Why, we stopped there with Salt Sommers!" + +"We did indeed. Remember the big truck?" + +"Lou, you may have stumbled into something really important!" + +"Glad you think so, chum. But you're not interested in Black Markets." + +"I've changed my mind! I want to talk to Mattie Williams right away!" + +Penny started the car. Driving with a mechanical, unthinking efficiency +born of many years' practice, she questioned Louise as to the source of +her information. The girls were deep in a discussion when they heard +someone shout. Salt Sommers had hailed them from the curb. + +"Why, hello," Penny greeted him, stopping the car with a jerk. "Any +trouble at the _Star_?" + +"Not from Schirr," grinned Salt. "I'm hot-footing it to the Ladies Club +to mug some dames pouring tea! For the society page." + +"Poor Salt!" smiled Penny, knowing how he hated trivial assignments. + +"On your way to the office?" the photographer questioned. + +Penny hesitated, then decided to confide in Salt. She repeated what +Louise had told her about the Mattie Williams' garage. + +"Well, can you beat that!" the photographer exclaimed. "I don't know +Mattie and her partner well, but I always supposed they were honest. So +they're dealing in stolen tires!" + +"We don't know for sure," Penny said hastily. "Our information is mostly +founded on rumor." + +"And the tires may not be stolen ones," contributed Louise. "I only heard +they can be bought there." + +Penny added that she would not take time to run down the Black Market +story save that her father's disappearance might have a connection with +the tire-thief gang. + +"I aim to learn the names of those men Dad intended to expose," she said +earnestly. + +Somewhat startled by the grim note of Penny's voice, Salt warned her that +she might be venturing on dangerous ground. + +"We all admire your courage," he said, "but you mustn't take foolish +risks. Your father would turn thumbs down on that idea." + +"It's because of Dad that I must investigate every angle of the +tire-theft racket." + +"Quite an ambitious assignment," Salt said dryly. "Now as soon as Jerry +gets back from Canada--" + +"We can't wait! Something has to be done right away!" + +"I know how you feel," responded Salt, "but there's such a thing as being +too courageous." + +"I'm not courageous," Penny denied. "Last night at the cemetery I was +scared half to death. And then when I saw the ghost--" + +"What ghost?" interrupted Louise. + +Penny had not intended to speak of what she had seen at the Harrison +estate. The slip of tongue made it necessary to tell of the path by the +gate, the retreating figure, and the mysterious light. + +"That's funny," commented the photographer, regarding her with a peculiar +expression. "Since I've been on duty at the observation tower I've never +seen any activity at the estate." + +"I don't believe in ghosts, but I saw one all that same!" Penny insisted. +"Just watch some night and see for yourself!" + +Annoyed by Salt's smile, she shifted gears and drove on down the street. +Turning to Louise, she asked earnestly: "You believe I saw something +wandering about the estate last night, don't you?" + +"Well," Louise hesitated, unwilling to offend her chum. "You must have +been quite upset after failing to meet that woman at the cemetery. Under +the circumstances...." + +"I was as calm as I am now," Penny cried indignantly. "I saw it, I tell +you!" + +"Of course you did, dear," Louise soothed. "Do please watch your driving +more carefully, or I'll have to take over." + +Penny suddenly relaxed. "Okay, have it your own way," she shrugged. "I +wouldn't believe Mose Johnson, so why should you believe me? It's just +one of those things." + +For a long while they rode in silence. Few cars were on the road and +there was little business activity at Kamm's Corner. Penny parked in +front of the Mattie Williams' garage. + +"What excuse will we have for questioning her?" Louise asked dubiously. + +"I'm not going to make an excuse," said Penny. "I'll just come right out +and ask her if she sells tires without a special order." + +The girls entered the warm little office, stamping snow from their +galoshes. + +"Just a minute," called a voice which belonged to Mattie Williams. + +The garage owner was busy with a customer. Soon however, she came in from +the main part of the building, wiping her oily hands on a piece of waste. + +"What can I do for you?" she inquired briskly. + +"You remember us, don't you?" asked Penny, leading into the subject of +tires as gradually as possible. "We're friends of Salt Sommers." + +"Oh, sure!" the woman's face lighted. "You came in with him the night of +the bad storm." + +"My car had been stripped of its tires. Ever since, I've been wondering +how to get new ones." + +A slightly guarded expression came over Mattie Williams' face. She said +nothing. + +"I was told I might obtain some here," Penny plunged on. + +"You can," said Mattie. "Provided you have an order from your Ration +Board." + +"Not without it?" + +Mattie gazed at Penny with undisguised scorn. "What sort of a place do +you think we run here?" she demanded. "Of course we don't sell tires +without an order." + +"But we were told--" + +"Well, you were told wrong," snapped Mattie. "Sorry. I can't help you." + +Picking up a wrench from the desk top, the woman left the office. + +"I guess I didn't approach her the right way," remarked Penny sadly. +"Either that, or our information was incorrect. Louise, are you sure--" + +"Oh, I am!" her chum insisted. "The two women I overheard, distinctly +said Mattie Williams' garage. Of course, they might have been wrong about +it." + +Before Penny and Louise could leave the office, a middle-aged man with +glasses came in through the street door. + +"Sam Burkholder here?" he demanded, warming himself by the stove. + +Penny started to say that she did not know. Just then Mattie Williams' +partner came in the other door. + +"Hi, Sam!" the stranger greeted him. "I've got the car parked around +back. Are you ready to put on that tire?" + +Sam frowned, darting a quick glance at the two girls. + +"Oh, the one I patched for you!" he returned. "Sure, it's fixed. Drive +your car in the back entrance and I'll take care of it." + +Both men went out into the main part of the garage. Just beyond the door +they paused for a whispered conference, then separated. + +"Shall we go?" inquired Louise, glancing at her chum. + +"Not just yet," replied Penny. "I'm curious to see that patched tire. +Let's kill a little more time here." + +Pretending to warm themselves by the stove, they waited ten minutes. +Then, without attracting attention, they sauntered out onto the main +garage floor. Mattie Williams was busy washing a car and did not see +them. + +The garage workroom was divided into sections, separated by a double door +which was closed. Penny strolled over and pushed it open just enough to +see through the crack. + +Sam Burkholder was working on the stranger's car. He had removed an old +tire and wheel, and was replacing it with one whose tread appeared new. + +"A patched tire, my left eye!" Penny whispered to Louise. "It's just as +we thought! This garage must be a Black Market place!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 14 + _A FAMILIAR FIGURE_ + + +Only for a moment did the girls dare remain at the door watching Sam +Burkholder mount the tire. Then, their curiosity satisfied, they moved +quietly away. Without speaking to Mattie Williams, they returned to the +parked automobile. + +"Well, wasn't I right?" Louise demanded triumphantly. "What do you think +we should do?" + +The question plagued Penny. "I don't know," she confessed. "If only we +were absolutely sure the tire was new--" + +"It certainly looked new." + +"Yes, but it could have had some wear. It's possible, too, that the +customer had a legal right to buy a new tire." + +"Then you don't intend to report to the police, Penny?" + +"I want to talk to Salt about it first. We must move carefully, Lou. You +see, my main objective is to learn the names of the higher-ups involved +in the tire-theft racket." + +"And where does this garage fit into the picture?" + +"If it fits at all, my guess is that Sam and Mattie are buying illegal +tires--perhaps from the same men who stripped my car and threatened Dad." + +Driving slowly toward Riverview, Penny reviewed what she had seen. She +was convinced the information was valuable, yet she scarcely knew how to +use it. + +"If Salt suggests that I report to the police, that's what I'll do," she +decided. + +Enroute home, Penny stopped at another garage to make arrangements to +have her stripped coupe hauled into the city. + +"How about the _Icicle_?" Louise asked, thinking her chum had forgotten +the iceboat. + +"It will have to stay where it is for the time being," Penny replied. "If +it's stolen, I won't much care." + +At the Sidell home, the girls separated. Thanking Louise for the use of +the car, Penny returned afoot to the _Star_ office. Salt Sommers was +absent on assignment, so she did not linger long. As she rounded a street +corner on her way home, a newsboy for a rival paper blocked her path. + +"Read all about it!" he shouted. "Anthony Parker Believed Kidnaped! +Paper, Miss?" + +Penny dropped a coin into the lad's hand and hastily scanned the front +page. The story of her father's disappearance was a highly colored +account, but contained not a useful item of information. Tossing the +sheet into a street paper-container, she moved on. + +She was passing the Gillman Department Store when her attention was drawn +to a woman who waited for a bus. + +"I've seen her somewhere before," thought Penny, pausing. "Last night--" + +The woman wore a small black hat and a long, old-fashioned dark coat +which came nearly to her ankles. It was the shape of the garment and its +unusual length which struck Penny as familiar. Why, the woman resembled +the one who had fled from the cemetery! + +Penny pretended to gaze into the store window. Actually she studied the +woman from every angle. She might have been forty-seven years of age and +was large-boned. Her face was heavily lined, and her long hands were +covered by a pair of cheap, black cotton gloves. + +"Can it be the same woman?" thought Penny in perplexity. + +A bus bearing a county placard glided up to the curb. The woman in black +was the only passenger to board it. + +"That bus goes out toward Baldiff Road and the cemetery!" Penny told +herself. "And that's where I'm going too!" + +An instant before the folding doors slammed shut, she sprang aboard. +Paying her fare, she sought a seat at the rear of the bus. + +No sooner was the coach in motion than Penny regretted her hasty action. +What could she hope to gain by pursuing the strange woman? She was not +certain enough of her identification to make a direct accusation. County +buses ran infrequently. In all likelihood, she would find herself +stranded in the country. + +Penny arose to leave the bus. Then changing her mind a second time, she +sat down. Try as she would, she could not rid herself of a conviction +that the woman she followed was the same one who had visited the +cemetery. + +The bus made few stops in the city. Once beyond the city limits, it sped +along at a brisk speed. To Penny's satisfaction, the woman in black soon +began to gather up her packages. She pressed a button and the bus skidded +to a stop at a crossroads. + +With no show of haste, Penny followed the woman from the bus. Pretending +to enter a grocery store at the corner, she waited and watched. + +Apparently the woman lived nearby, for she started off down a narrow, +winding road which ran at right angles to the main highway. + +"Why that's the road that runs past the Harrison place," Penny thought. +"Wonder if she can be going there?" + +Waiting until the woman was nearly out of sight, she trudged after her. +Walking was difficult for the road had not been cleared by a snow plow. +Fortunately for Penny, the woman did not once glance behind her. She kept +steadily on until she came within view of the big estate house on the +hill. Just before she reached the boundary fence, she cut across a field, +approaching the dwelling from the rear. + +Penny remained at the road, watching. The woman took a key from her +pocket, unlocking a small, padlocked gate at the rear of the grounds. She +snapped the lock shut again, and disappeared into the house. + +Penny perched herself on top of an old-fashioned rail fence to think over +what she had seen. The woman, whoever she was, obviously lived at the +estate. Yet the cheap quality of her clothing suggested that she could +not be the owner of such an expensive establishment. + +"Probably a servant or caretaker," Penny reasoned. "But is she the one +who ran away last night?" + +Far over the hills in a lonely grove of pines stood Oakland Cemetery. On +either side of Baldiff Road stretched dense woods, a growth that crept to +the very boundaries of the Harrison estate. Penny instantly noted that it +would be possible for a person to flee from the cemetery to the very door +of the estate without once leaving the shelter of trees. + +"Perhaps it was the same woman!" she thought. "If she lives here, it +would be logical for her to specify Oakland Cemetery as a meeting place! +And escape would be easy for her, too!" + +Penny slid down from the fence. It would do no good to question the +woman. Rather, if she were guilty, questions might serve to place her on +the alert. Far better, she reasoned, to bide her time. + +"I'll learn everything I can about that woman," she thought. "Tonight +I'll watch the house." + +In making her plans, Penny did not take into account Mrs. Weems' +attitude. Upon reaching home late in the afternoon, she found the +housekeeper in a most discouraged mood. No favorable news had been +received from any source. + +"I've been worried about you too, Penny," Mrs. Weems confessed. "Where +did you go after you left the _Star_ office?" + +Penny told of her trip to Mattie Williams' garage and later to the +Harrison estate. In particular she described the mysterious woman she had +followed by bus. + +"I plan to go back there tonight," she concluded. "For the first time +since Dad disappeared, I feel I may have stumbled into a valuable clue!" + +Mrs. Weems looked troubled. "But Penny," she protested, "you can't go to +the estate alone!" + +"I thought perhaps Louise would accompany me." + +"Two girls alone at night! I can't give my consent, Penny. It's not +safe." + +"But I don't wish to call the police just yet, Mrs. Weems. I've no real +evidence. Will you come with me?" + +The housekeeper hesitated. Naturally a timid woman, she had no desire to +stir from her own fireside that night. But she knew where her duty lay. + +"Yes, I'll go with you, Penny," she consented. "Shall we start soon?" + +"Not until after dark. One can't expect a ghost to show up in broad +daylight." + +"A ghost!" Mrs. Weems quavered. "Penny, what are you letting me in for?" + +"Frankly, I don't know. Some strange things have been going on at the +Harrison estate. Tonight I hope to solve part of the mystery at least." + +Pressed for an explanation, Penny repeated Mose Johnson's story and told +of seeing the strange white-robed figure with her own eyes. The tale did +not add to Mrs. Weems' comfort of mind. + +"We're crazy to go out there," the housekeeper protested. "Must we do +it?" + +"I think it may be our one hope of gaining a clue which will lead to +Dad." + +"Then I'm willing to risk it," agreed Mrs. Weems. "However, we'll drive +out in a taxi. And I shall personally select the driver--a man to be +depended on in an emergency." + +So excited was the housekeeper that she had difficulty in preparing the +evening meal. In the end Penny took over, shooing her out of the kitchen. + +"I declare I don't know why I am so nervous," Mrs. Weems shivered. "I +haven't felt so shaky since the time I attended a seance at Osandra's." + +"You saw ghosts a-plenty on that occasion," smiled Penny. "I only hope we +have as much luck tonight." + +By eight o'clock everything was in readiness for the journey into the +country. Dressing warmly and carrying an extra blanket, Penny and Mrs. +Weems walked to a nearby cab station. There the housekeeper selected a +driver, a burly man who looked as if he might have been an +ex-prizefighter. + +"Sure, Ma'am," he said as Mrs. Weems questioned him, "you can depend on +me to look after you." + +"How are you at capturing ghosts?" inquired Penny, climbing into the cab. + +The driver looked a trifle startled. "Swell!" he rejoined. "Bring on your +spook, and if he don't weigh no more than two hundred pounds, I'll nail +him!" + +Penny and Mrs. Weems were satisfied that they were in good hands. They +instructed the man, Joe Henkell, to drive directly to the old Harrison +estate. + +"By the way, do you know who owns the property?" Penny asked as the cab +rolled toward the country. + +"Fellow from the East," Joe flung over his shoulder. "I'm not sure. Think +his name is Deming--George Allan Deming. Wealthy sportsman. Has his own +plane an' everything." + +"Married?" + +"Couldn't tell you. The estate has been closed up this winter." + +The cab soon approached the familiar grounds. Penny directed the driver +to pull up some distance from the dark house. + +"Switch off the headlights," she instructed. "We'll wait here. It may be +a long time too, so make yourself comfortable." + +Joe, taking Penny at her word, began to smoke a vile-smelling cigar which +nearly drove Mrs. Weems to distraction. After an hour had elapsed, the +housekeeper scarcely could endure the stuffy air of the cab. + +"Penny, must we wait any longer?" she asked plaintively. + +"Why, it's early, Mrs. Weems. I expect to stay until midnight at least." + +"Midnight!" The housekeeper quietly collapsed. + +Just then the cab driver turned around, touching Penny's arm. He directed +her attention to the house by saying briefly: "A light just went on." + +Penny and Mrs. Weems focused their attention on the upper floor of the +estate. A single light could be seen burning there, but as they watched +it blinked off. + +"Now if a ghost is to appear this is the time!" announced Penny. "Why +don't we get closer?" + +She sprang from the cab. Mrs. Weems and the taxi driver followed with +less enthusiasm. The housekeeper, quivering and shaking, clutched the +man's arm as she struggled against the wind. + +"Joe, you stay right beside me!" she ordered. + +"Sure, Ma'am," he said soothingly. "I couldn't get away if I had a mind +to." + +Penny, a step ahead, held up her hand as a warning for silence. She had +seen the familiar white figure rounding a corner of the house. + +"There's the ghost!" she whispered. "See! Beyond the gate!" + +Joe whistled softly. + +"A spook, sure's I'm alive!" he muttered. + +"And you promised to nail him," reminded Penny, starting forward along +the fence. "We'll creep a little closer. Then Joe, I shall expect you to +do your stuff!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 15 + _GHOST IN THE GARDEN_ + + +The three investigators moved stealthily along the high fence. Through +the iron palings they could see a white-garbed figure walking with +measured tread amid the shrubs of the frozen garden. Back and forth the +apparition strolled, following a well-trod path between the shrunken +snowdrifts. + +Penny, Mrs. Weems, and the taxi driver crept closer. The ghostly one did +not note their approach. Hooded head bent low, he glided to the gate, +testing chain and padlock. + +"Poor restless soul!" whispered Mrs. Weems. + +Penny gave the housekeeper a tiny pinch to break the spell which had +fallen upon her. "That's no ghost," she whispered. "Don't you see! It's a +man wearing a heavy white bathrobe over his clothing. He's pulled the +wide collar up over his head like a hood!" + +"It's a man all right," added the taxi driver. "You can tell by the way +he walks. Ghosts kinda slither, don't they?" + +"I believe it's someone imprisoned on the grounds!" Penny whispered +tensely. "Watch!" + +The ghost, his face shadowed, rattled the chain again. Then with a +distinct, audible sigh, he turned and tramped back along the fence away +from the gate. + +"Aw, that spook could get out if he wanted to," muttered the taxi driver. +"Why don't he climb over the fence?" + +"Perhaps the man is a sleep walker," suggested Mrs. Weems nervously. +"Whoever he is, the poor fellow should be in his bed." + +Penny was determined to learn the identity of the man. Moving to the +gate, she called softly. The figure in white whirled around, looking +straight toward her. + +Penny caught a fleeting impression of a lean, startled face. Then the man +turned and fled toward the house. No longer could there be any doubt that +he was a man, for as he ran the legs of his woolen pajamas showed beneath +the white robe. + +"Wait!" Penny called. "Please wait!" + +The ghostly one hesitated, and glanced over his shoulder. But the next +moment he was gone, having vanished through a side door into the house. + +Penny, weak from excitement, clung to the gate. "Mrs. Weems!" she cried. +"Did you see him?" + +"Yes, you frightened him away when you shouted." + +"But didn't you notice his face? As he turned toward me, I caught a +glimpse of it. Mrs. Weems, the man looked like Dad!" + +"Oh, Penny," the housekeeper murmured, taking her arm, "you can't be +right. How could it be your father?" + +"It looked like him." + +"Not to me," said Mrs. Weems firmly. "Why, if it had been Mr. Parker, he +would have answered when you called. He wouldn't have run away." + +Penny was compelled to acknowledge the logic of the housekeeper's +reasoning. "I guess that's true," she said reluctantly. "I'll admit I +didn't see his face plainly. I wanted it to be Dad so badly I may have +imagined the resemblance." + +A light was switched on in an upstairs room of the estate house. However, +blinds were lowered, and those on the ground did not obtain another +glimpse of the mysterious man who haunted the snowy garden. Finally Mrs. +Weems induced Penny to return to the taxi. + +Speeding toward Riverview, neither of them had much to say. Penny could +not blot from her mind the vision of a startled, bewildered face. Reason +told her that Mrs. Weems was right--the man could not be her father. Who +then, was he? Why had he refused to talk to her at the gate? + +"The man may have been a sleep walker," she thought. "Possibly the owner +of the estate, Mr. Deming." + +The cab had reached the business section of Riverview. Upon impulse Penny +decided to stop at the _Star_ plant to make sure that everything was +going well. + +"It won't take me long," she assured Mrs. Weems. "Why don't you wait in +the cab?" + +Only a skeleton night force was on duty at the _Star_ office. The +advertising department had been closed, and on the floor above, scrub +women were busy mopping up. A sleepy-eyed desk man greeted Penny as she +entered the deserted newsroom. + +"Everything's Okay," he assured her. "The final edition's out, and most +of the boys have gone home. I was just taking a little cat nap." + +"Any news?" + +"Not about your father. The police have been kept busy chasing down false +rumors. About four hours ago a report came in your father had been seen +in Chicago." + +"Chicago!" + +"Just a fake report." + +"Oh, I see," said Penny weakly. "No word from Jerry, I suppose?" + +The deskman shook his head. "Plenty of mail for you though." + +"Anything important?" + +"Mostly replies to that reward offer you made. A lot of 'em are screwball +letters. Your father's been seen in every section of the city from the +river to the Heights." + +"Where is the mail?" + +"I dumped it on your father's desk." + +"I'll take it home to read," Penny said. "By going through every letter +carefully I may stumble upon a clue." + +She crossed the newsroom and opened the door of her father's office. + +The light was not on. Groping for the wall switch, her keen ears detected +stealthy steps moving away from her. Sensing the presence of someone in +the room she called sharply: "Who's here?" + +There was no reply. Across the room, a door softly opened and clicked +shut. Penny was startled. Although the private office had two entrances, +one leading directly into the hall, the latter had not been used in +years. Usually the door was locked and a clothes tree stood in front of +it. + +Her groping fingers found the switch and she flooded the room with light. +A glance revealed that mail lying on the desk had been disturbed. One of +the top drawers remained open. The clothes tree had been moved from in +front of the hall door. Plainly, someone had just fled from the room! + +Darting to the corridor door, Penny jerked it open. No one was in sight. +However, at the end of the deserted hall, she saw the elevator cage +moving slowly downward. + +"I'll get that fellow yet!" she thought grimly. + +Taking the hall at a run, she plunged down the stairway two steps at a +time. Breathless but triumphant, she reached the lower corridor just as +the cage stopped with a jerk. + +Harley Schirr stepped out, closing the grilled door behind him. + +"Fancy meeting you here!" said Penny, her eyes flashing. "What were you +doing in my father's office?" + +Schirr regarded her coolly. Without answering, he tried to brush past +her. + +"You were looking for something in Dad's desk!" Penny accused, blocking +the way. "I know how you got in too! Through the hall entrance. You're +such a professional snooper you probably have a skeleton key that unlocks +half the doors in the building!" + +"I've had about enough of your insolence!" Schirr retorted. "There's no +law which says I can't come to this plant. And speaking of law, I may sue +you for libel." + +"What a laugh." + +"You'll not be laughing in a few days, Miss Parker! Oh, no! I've hired a +lawyer, and we're preparing our case. You've insulted me, humiliated me +in the eyes of my fellow newspapermen, but you'll have to pay. And pay +handsomely!" + +The threat failed to disturb Penny. Schirr, determined to wound her +deeply, went on with grim satisfaction. + +"You kid yourself you'll see your father again," he jeered. "Well, you +won't! Mr. Parker is dead and you may as well get used to the idea." + +Penny's eyes burned. "You say that only to torture me!" + +"It's the truth. If you weren't so blind you'd acknowledge it. Your +father tried to run a gang of professional tire-thieves out of this town, +and they did for him." + +"You seem very certain of your facts, Mr. Schirr. Perhaps you know some +of the higher-ups personally." + +"How would I?" + +"Your knowledge is so complete," Penny said scathingly. + +"I'm only telling you my opinion," Schirr growled, now on the defensive. +"If you want to ride along in a sweet dream that's Okay with me." + +"I want to get at the truth," said Penny shortly. "Do you have one scrap +of evidence that Dad has fallen into the hands of enemies?" + +Schirr hesitated, knowing well that an affirmative answer might lead to +questioning from the police. + +"I don't have any knowledge of the case," he said. "At least not for +publication!" + +Flashing a superior smile, he pushed past Penny, and went out of the +building. + + + + + CHAPTER + 16 + _A DOOR IN A BOX_ + + +Penny scarcely knew what to think of Harley Schirr's actions. All her +accusations were true, of that she was sure. But she was unable to decide +whether or not he had any information about her father's strange +disappearance. + +"The old snooper may be hand in glove with the tire thieves!" she thought +bitterly. "I wouldn't put it past him. If I could prove anything, +wouldn't I like to turn him over to the police!" + +Climbing the stairs, Penny explained briefly to the _Star_ deskman what +had occurred. + +"Shirr here again!" he exclaimed. "Why, I'm sure he never came through +the newsroom." + +"No, he got into Dad's office by means of that old hall door. Tomorrow I +want a new lock put on." + +"I'll have it taken care of myself," promised the deskman. + +Reentering her father's office, Penny gathered up the mail and carefully +locked both doors. She then returned to the waiting taxicab. During the +ride home she made no mention of Mr. Schirr, preferring not to worry the +housekeeper. + +Later in Mr. Parker's study, she and Mrs. Weems examined every letter +written in response to the reward offer. Not even one of them offered the +slightest promise. + +"I'll turn everything over to the police," Penny said with a sigh. "Maybe +they'll find a clue I've not considered important." + +Both she and Mrs. Weems were feeling the effects of such a long period of +strain. Meals had been irregular, appetites poor. Penny in particular had +lost so much weight that she looked thin and sallow. Yet somehow she +managed to keep up her strength and to face each day with hope. + +"Mrs. Weems," she said the next morning at breakfast, "if you'll advance +me some money, I'm going on another taxi jaunt today." + +"Not to the Harrison place." + +"No, out to Mattie Williams' garage. I'm convinced that place is dealing +in stolen tires. If only I can reconstruct the evidence which disappeared +in Dad's portfolio, I may get a clue that will lead to him." + +Without protest, Mrs. Weems gave Penny the money. Secretly she thought +that the girl would do much better to turn all of her information over to +the police. However, she realized that Penny needed activity to keep her +from brooding, so she wisely did not discourage her. + +"Don't get into any trouble," she warned anxiously. + +"No danger of that, Mrs. Weems. I've not enough pep for it these days." + +Engaging the same cabman who had served her so well the previous night, +Penny motored to the Williams' garage. She had made no plans and scarcely +knew what she would say when she entered the place. As she debated, the +big doors of the building opened, and a tow car drove away with Mattie at +the wheel. + +"There she goes!" thought Penny, disappointed. "I'm afraid my interview +will have to wait." + +Getting out, she sauntered into the garage office. Mattie's partner, Sam, +was nowhere to be seen. Nor did he appear to be working in the main part +of the building. + +Penny waited a few minutes, then wandered about the floor where a number +of cars had been stored. No workmen were in evidence. + +"This might be a good time to do a bit of looking around!" she thought +suddenly. "I'll never have a better chance." + +Penny opened the doors into the room where she had observed Sam +Burkholder mount a new tire on the car of a customer. One wall was +stacked high with large wooden boxes, not unlike those she and Louise had +seen delivered by the truck driver, Hank Biglow, on the night of the +blizzard. + +She thumped one of the boxes with her knuckles. It gave off a hollow, +empty sound. She tried another box with no better luck. Some of the big +crates had been opened. They contained nothing except a little brown +wrapping paper. + +Disappointed, Penny turned away. But as she moved toward the exit, her +eyes flashed upon one of the boxes which had escaped her attention. +Boards were loose at one end, and could be hinged back on their nails +like a door. + +Intrigued, Penny crossed to the crate. As she pulled on one of the +boards, all swung back as a unit. + +"Why, it's like a door!" she thought. "A door in a box!" + +Penny gazed into the box and was further amazed. It had no back wall. +Instead, she saw a long, empty tunnel formed by several crates piled one +in front of the other. And at the very end stood a real door! + +"Maybe this is the pay-off!" thought Penny excitedly. + +Pulling the boards into place behind her, she stooped and made her way +through the tunnel to the door. It was locked. + +"I'll bet a cent stolen tires are stored in that room!" reasoned Penny. +"If only I could get in there!" + +Her mind did not dwell long on the problem. A moment later she was +alarmed to hear a low murmur of voices. Someone was approaching the +storage room from the main part of the garage. Unless she wished to be +trapped in the tunnel of boxes, she must abandon the investigation! + +Penny started hurriedly toward the opening. Before she could get through +the tunnel, the big double doors squeaked open and she heard heavy +footsteps in the room. Peering out through a knothole in one of the +boxes, she saw Mattie Williams and her partner, Sam. They were arguing +and their voices came to her plainly: + +"Guess you didn't look for me back quite so soon, Sam," Mattie +reprimanded her partner. "When I went off in the tow car you figured I'd +be gone a long time. Thought it would give you a good chance to tamper +with the books!" + +"That's not so, Mattie. I was marking up some expenses like I always do." + +"I've been aiming to have a straight talk with you for a long time, Sam," +the woman resumed. "That's why I asked you to step back here in the +storage room. No use having the customers know about our differences." + +"I don't see what you've got to squawk about," Sam retorted. "Ain't you +made more money since I teamed up with you than you ever did before?" + +"Yes." + +"But you're always afraid I'll cheat you out of a penny." + +"I've caught you in some dishonest tricks. About those tires--" + +A loud, insistent tooting of an automobile horn broke up the +conversation. Abandoning the argument, Mattie and Sam went to serve the +impatient customer. + +Penny did not tarry. Crawling from the tunnel, she glanced about for a +means of escape. Fortunately, the room had an outside exit. Making use of +it, she returned to the waiting taxi, without seeing either Sam or Mattie +again. + +"Police station, Joe," she instructed. + +"How do you want to go?" the cab driver inquired. "This road or No. 32?" + +"Let's drive past the old Harrison place." + +"Sure," grinned Joe. "Maybe we'll see that spook again!" + +The cab bumped along the frozen road, soon coming within view of the +hillside estate. Joe slowed down without being requested to do so. + +"I was tellin' the boys about that place last night," he flung over his +shoulder. "They tell me the owner is this guy Deming. He's gone East for +the winter. A big, fat, bald-headed man." + +"Our ghost was a thin person." + +"Yeah, I was thinking that," agreed Joe. "Maybe Deming's got a sick +relative or something." + +The explanation did not satisfy Penny. With troubled eyes she gazed +toward the rambling old house which by daylight looked so deserted. No +smoke curled from the chimneys. Had it not been for a trail of footprints +along the fence, she easily could have convinced herself that she had +imagined the events of the previous night. + +"Say, who's that trackin' through the fields?" Joe suddenly demanded. + +Penny turned to glance in the direction that the cabman pointed. Her +heart did a little flip-flop. A woman in a long black coat, market basket +on her arm, was hastening toward the rear door of the estate house. + +"Stop the cab, Joe!" she cried. + +The car came to a halt with a little sideways skid. Leaping out, Penny +plunged through the drifts and was able to confront the woman at the rear +gate of the premises. + +"How do you do," she greeted her breathlessly. + +The woman was so startled that she nearly dropped her market basket. +Confused, she stammered a reply and started to unlock the gate. + +"Just a moment, please," requested Penny. "May I come inside and talk to +you?" + +"About what?" + +"My father's disappearance. You made an appointment to meet me at the +cemetery. Why did you run away?" + +The bold attack was not without an effect. The woman gasped, and fumbled +nervously with the key to the padlock. + +"I don't know what you're talking about!" she muttered. + +"Unless you tell me everything you know regarding my father's +disappearance, I'll call the police!" + +"The police--" the woman repeated, plainly frightened. + +"Yes," Penny went on relentlessly, "this is a serious matter. It will do +you no good to bluff." + +The woman gave up trying to unlock the gate. Setting her basket down in +the snow she said weakly: "You advertised a reward--" + +"I'll still be glad to pay it for worthwhile information. What do you +know about my father?" + +The woman drew a deep breath. "Well, I picked him up in my car after the +accident." + +"You did?" Penny became jubilant. "Where is he now?" + +"I can't tell you that. Mr. Parker asked me to take him to Mercy +Hospital. I let him off at the entrance to the grounds. That's the last I +saw of him." + +"My father entered the hospital?" + +"I don't know. I didn't remain to watch." + +The story was disappointing. If true, Mr. Parker's disappearance remained +as mysterious as ever. Penny was silent a moment and then she asked the +woman why she had fled from the cemetery. + +"Because I saw a police car parked behind the bushes," the other answered +defiantly. "And those detectives chased me, too! I only intended to be +helpful and maybe win a reward. Now I want nothing to do with the case. +I've told you everything I know." + +The woman unlocked the gate and started to enter the grounds. + +"You're not Mrs. Deming?" Penny asked quickly. + +"Who I am is my own business." + +"I suppose the ghost is your own affair too!" + +"Ghost? What ghost?" + +"You live here, yet you haven't learned that the grounds are haunted?" +Penny inquired significantly. "Nearly every night a man in white wanders +back and forth in the garden." + +"I don't know anything about it!" the woman said nervously. "I'll not +answer any more questions either!" + +Plainly frightened, she snapped shut the padlock of the gate and fled +into the house. + + + + + CHAPTER + 17 + _ADVENTURE BY MOONLIGHT_ + + +A moment Penny stood gazing at the estate house. She considered climbing +the iron fence and trying to gain entrance to the dwelling. Then, +deciding that nothing would be achieved by again accosting the strange +woman, she returned to the waiting taxi. + +"Where to?" asked the cabman. + +"It's still the police station," directed Penny, repeating an earlier +order. "I have twice as much to report now." + +As the cab pulled away, she noticed a movement of curtains at the front +of the estate house. Evidently the woman who had fled, was watching. + +Joe made a quick trip to Riverview, depositing Penny at the doorstep of +Central Station. + +"Will you need me any more?" he asked hopefully. + +"I may." + +"Okay," said Joe, slamming the cab door. "I'll stick around. You know, I +kinda like this job." + +Once inside the police station, Penny inquired for Chief Jalman. Unable +to see him, she asked to speak to the two detectives who had been +assigned to her father's case. Both men were away from the building. + +"Why not talk to Carl Burns?" suggested the desk sergeant. "He's familiar +with the case." + +Penny was sent to see a heavy-set man who warmed himself by a steaming +radiator. Evidently he had spent several hours in an unheated police car +for he stamped his feet to restore circulation. + +"Mr. Burns?" inquired Penny. + +The man turned, staring at her. Penny returned the stare. She had seen +the officer before and the recollection was not entirely pleasant. He was +the same officer she had met near Mattie's garage on the night of the +blizzard. + +"What may I do for you?" he asked. + +Uncomfortably aware of the officer's scrutiny, Penny began to tell of her +visit to the Williams' garage. She stammered a bit and lost confidence. + +"You say you saw some big boxes at the garage," he demanded. "What's so +suspicious about that?" + +Penny tried to explain about the tunnel of boxes which led to a hidden +storage room. Even to her own ears the story had a fantastic sound. + +"What you _think_ or _surmise_ doesn't go in this business!" the officer +said rather rudely. "Did you actually see any stolen tires?" + +"Well, no, I didn't," Penny admitted. "The door was locked." + +"Are you willing to swear out a warrant charging Mattie and her partner +with dealing in stolen merchandise?" + +"I don't suppose I'd dare do that. I thought if police would +investigate--" + +"We can't go on suspicions, Miss Parker. We act only on sound evidence." + +"Well, it doesn't matter so much about the stolen tires," Penny said +desperately. "I have another clue--a really important one. I've found the +woman who eluded Detectives Brandon and Fuller at the cemetery!" + +"Now we may get somewhere," replied the officer. "Who is the woman? Where +did you see her?" + +Penny told everything she knew about the woman who had taken her father +to Mercy Hospital. Word for word she repeated their recent conversation +together. + +"I'll turn this evidence over to Detective Fuller," the policeman +promised. "He'll probably want to question the woman himself." + +"I hope he does it right away," replied Penny. "She may take it into her +head to skip out of town." + +Officer Burns smiled wearily. "Just trust us to handle the case," he +said. "We know our business." + +Penny left the station feeling none too satisfied. Although she had +nothing against Mr. Burns, she sensed that he did not like her. She +wondered if she could depend on him to repeat her story as she had told +it. + +"If that estate house isn't investigated immediately, I'll do something +myself!" she thought. + +Joe, the cabman, still waited. Signaling him, Penny regretfully explained +that she would have no further use for his services. + +"Well, if you change your mind and want to do some more ghost huntin' +tonight, just give me a ring," Joe grinned. "My number's 20476." + +Penny carefully wrote it down. She then walked to the nearby _Star_ +building where many matters awaited her attention. There she worked +without interruption until late afternoon, taking only enough time to +call the police station. Detective Fuller was not available. So far as +she could learn, no investigation had been made of the Harrison estate. + +Thoroughly annoyed, Penny tramped home to dinner. Only a cold meal +awaited her. Mrs. Weems, ill with a headache, had set out a few dishes on +the kitchen table, and gone to bed. + +"It's nothing," the housekeeper insisted as Penny questioned her +anxiously. "I've just worried too much the past few days." + +"Let me call Doctor Barnell." + +"Indeed not," Mrs. Weems remonstrated. "I'll be all right tomorrow." + +Penny brewed a cup of tea and made the housekeeper as comfortable as she +could. By the time she had eaten a snack and washed the dishes it was +eight o'clock. Debating a long while, she went to the telephone and +summoned a cab. + +"Number 20476," she requested. + +Penny was zipping on her galoshes when the doorbell rang. Without giving +her time to answer it, Louise Sidell marched into the kitchen bearing a +freshly baked lemon pie. + +"Mother sent this over," she explained. "I slipped on the ice coming over +and nearly had a catastrophe!" + +Carefully Louise deposited the pie on the kitchen table. Cutting short +Penny's praise of it, she inquired alertly: "Going somewhere?" + +Penny explained that she intended to motor to the Harrison estate. + +"Not alone?" Louise demanded. + +"I'll have to, I guess. Mrs. Weems is sick, so I can't take her along." + +"You could invite me," Louise said eagerly. "I'll telephone mother to +come over and stay with Mrs. Weems while we're gone!" + +The arrangement proved satisfactory to everyone. Mrs. Sidell came +immediately to the house, and very shortly thereafter the girls sped away +in Joe's taxicab. + +The night was a pleasant one, mildly cold, but with a bright moon. + +"Park before you get to the estate," Penny directed the driver. "We don't +want to be seen. It might defeat our purpose." + +Joe drew up in a clump of trees some distance from the Harrison grounds. +He then walked with the girls to the spiked fence. There was no sign of +activity. + +Two hours elapsed. During that time nothing unusual occurred. No lights +were visible inside the house. Even Penny began to lose heart. + +"This is getting pretty boring," she sighed. "I don't believe the ghost +is going to show up tonight." + +"We may have been observed," suggested Louise. "One can see very plainly +tonight." + +After another half hour had elapsed Penny was willing to return to the +cab. The three started away from the fence. Just then they heard a door +slam inside the house. Instantly they froze against the screen of bushes, +waiting. + +"There's the ghost!" whispered Louise. + +A figure had appeared in the garden beyond the gate. But the one who +walked alone was not a ghost. Plainly he was garbed in street clothes +rather than white. Over his suit he wore a heavy overcoat. A snap-brimmed +hat was pulled low on his forehead. + +Penny could not see the man's face, but the silhouette seemed strangely +familiar. + +"That looks like Dad!" she whispered, clutching Louise's hand. "It is he! +I'm sure!" + +"Oh, it can't be--" + +Penny paid no heed to her chum's protest. Breaking away, she ran toward +the gate. + +The man in the garden became suddenly alert. As he heard the approaching +footsteps he gazed toward the road. Upon seeing Penny he started to +retreat. + +"Wait!" she called frantically. "Don't you know me, Dad? It's Penny!" + +The words seemed to convey nothing to the man. He shook his head in a +baffled sort of way, and walked swiftly toward the house. + +Penny ran on to the gate. It was locked, but she vaulted over, landing in +a heap on the other side. By the time she had picked herself up, the man +had vanished into the house. + +"Are you hurt?" Louise cried, hurrying to the gate. + +Penny brushed snow from her coat and did not answer. + +"That man couldn't have been your father," Louise said kindly. "Do come +back, Penny." + +"But it was Dad! I'm sure of it!" + +"You called to him," Louise argued. "If it had been Mr. Parker he +couldn't have failed to recognize your voice." + +"It was Dad," Penny insisted stubbornly. "He's being held a prisoner +here!" + +"But that's ridiculous! Whoever that man is, he could escape from the +grounds just as easily as you climbed the gate." + +Penny did not wish to believe, yet she knew her chum was right. + +"Anyway, I'm going to talk to him," she declared. "Now that I am inside +the grounds, I'll ring the doorbell." + +Leaving Louise and Joe on the other side of the fence, Penny went boldly +to the front door. She knocked several times and rang the bell. There was +no response. + +"Why doesn't someone answer?" she thought impatiently. + +At the rear of the house a door slammed. Suddenly Louise called from the +gate: "Penny! A woman is leaving the estate by the back way!" + +Penny darted to the corner of the house. The same woman she had met +earlier that day had let herself out the rear gate. Holding the skirts of +her long black coat, she fairly ran across the snowy fields. + +"Shall I nab her?" called Joe, eager for action. + +Penny's reply was surprisingly calm. + +"No, let her go," she decided. "While that woman is away, I'll get into +the house. I think Dad is in there alone, and I'm going to find him!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 18 + _THROUGH THE CELLAR WINDOW_ + + +Penny returned to the front porch and rang the doorbell many times. No +one came to admit her. She tested the door, finding it locked. Windows +above the porch level could not be raised. + +"I'll try the back door," she said, refusing to accept defeat. + +Louise and Joe followed her to the rear of the dwelling, but remained on +the outside of the fence. + +As Penny had feared, the back door also was locked. She tested eight +windows. Finally she found one which opened into the cellar. To her +delight the sash swung inward as she pushed on it. + +"Here I go!" she called to Louise. "You and Joe stay where you are and +keep watch." + +Penny crawled through the narrow opening and swung herself down to the +cellar floor. She landed with a thud beside a laundry tub. The room was +dark. Groping her way toward a stairway, she tripped over a box and made +a fearful clatter. + +"I've certainly advertised my arrival!" she thought ruefully. + +At the top of the stairway Penny found a light switch and boldly turned +it on. The kitchen door was not locked. She opened it and stepped out +into another semi-dark room. + +A doorbell at the front of the house began to ring. Penny was +dumbfounded. Then she became annoyed, thinking that Louise and the cab +driver were trying to get in. + +Groping her way through the house, she unlocked the door and flung it +open. + +"For Pity Sakes!" she exclaimed, and then her voice trailed off. + +A uniformed messenger boy stood on the porch. + +"Mrs. Botts live here?" he asked, taking a telegram from his jacket +pocket. + +Penny did not know what to answer. Thinking quickly, she replied: "This +is the Deming estate." + +The messenger boy turned the beam of his flashlight on the telegram. +"Mrs. Lennie Botts, Stop 4, Care of G. A. Deming," he read aloud. "This +is the place all right." + +"But Mrs. Botts isn't at home now." + +"I've had a lot of trouble getting here," the boy complained. "Even had +to climb over the gate. How about signing for the telegram?" + +"Oh, all right," agreed Penny, accepting the pencil. "I don't know why I +didn't think of that idea myself!" + +In return for the telegram she gave the boy a small tip. The moment he +had gone, she closed the front door and switched on a table lamp. + +Penny found herself in a luxuriously furnished living room. The rug +underfoot was Chinese, the furniture solid mahogany, hand carved. +However, she had no interest in her surroundings. Rather tensely, she +examined the telegram. Dared she open it? + +"What's ten years or so of jail in my young life?" she cajoled herself. +"I'm willing to spend it in Sing Sing if only I can find Dad!" + +Penny ripped open the envelope. The message, addressed to Mrs. Lennie +Botts was terse and none too revealing: + +"HAVE CHANGED PLANS. WILL RETURN THE TWENTY-SEVENTH BY PLANE. PLEASE HAVE +EVERYTHING IN READINESS." + +The telegram was signed by the owner of the estate, G. A. Deming. + +"Today is the twenty-seventh of the month," thought Penny. "This message +must have been several hours delayed." + +The telegram had provided little information. Evidently the woman who had +refused to tell her name was Mrs. Lennie Botts. Regretting that she had +opened the message, Penny tossed it carelessly on the table. + +Footsteps sounded on the floor directly above. Penny had taken no pains +to be quiet. Nevertheless, her pulse quickened as she heard someone pad +to the head of the stairway. A muffled voice called: "Who's there?" + +Penny's heart leaped for she was sure she recognized the tones. Fairly +trembling with excitement, she darted to the foot of the circular +staircase. On the top landing in the heavy shadows stood a man whose face +she could not see. + +"Dad!" she cried. "I'm Penny." + +"Penny?" the man demanded impatiently as if the name meant nothing to +him. "Where is Mrs. Botts?" + +"Why, she went away." + +"And how did you get into the house?" + +"Through a cellar window." + +"I thought so! Young lady, I don't know what you're doing here in Mrs. +Bott's absence. Unless you leave at once I'll summon the police." + +Penny was not to be discouraged so easily. She started slowly up the +stairway. + +"Stand where you are!" the man ordered sharply. "I've been sick, but I'm +still a match for any house-breaker. I have a revolver--" + +So dark was the stairway that Penny could not know whether or not the man +was bluffing. His voice, startlingly similar to her father's, sounded +grim and determined. Knowing that a stranger would have good reason to +treat her as a burglar, she was afraid to venture further. + +"Dad--" she began. + +"Don't keep calling me Dad!" he snapped. + +"Who are you?" asked Penny, completely baffled. + +"Who am I?" the man repeated. "Why, I'm Lester Jones, a salesman. I room +here." + +The answer dumbfounded Penny. "Then you're not being held a prisoner by +Mrs. Botts?" she faltered. + +"On the contrary, Mrs. Botts has been very kind to me. Especially since +I've been sick." + +Penny's perplexity increased. "But I've seen you wandering in the garden +at night," she murmured. "Why do you do it?" + +"Because--oh, hang it! Do I have to explain everything to you? My head's +aching again. Unless you go away and stop bothering me, I'll call the +police." + +Penny was completely crushed. She had been so sure that the man was her +father! Seemingly she had made a very stupid mistake. + +"I'll go," she said quietly. + +Retreating down the stairway, she left the opened telegram on the +living-room table and switched off the light. Then unlocking the kitchen +door, she rejoined Louise and Joe. + +"I guess you didn't have any luck," her chum commented, observing her +downcast face. + +Penny ruefully admitted that the man who had been seen in the garden was +Lester Jones. + +"I knew he wasn't your father," Louise replied. "You wouldn't listen to +reason--" + +"All the same, his voice was similar," Penny cut in. "Why, the man even +used one of Dad's pet expressions." + +"What was it?" Louise inquired curiously. + +"'Oh, hang it!' That's the expression Dad uses when he's irritated." + +Louise helped her chum over the back fence and guided her toward the +parked taxi. Midway there Penny paused to stare up at the dark windows of +the second floor. + +"Lou!" she exclaimed. "That man must have been Dad even if he didn't know +me!" + +"Oh, Penny, don't start that all over again," Louise pleaded. "You're +only torturing yourself." + +"I'm going back!" + +"No, we can't let you, Penny." + +Louise held her chum's arm firmly. Joe opened the door of the taxi and +they pushed her in. Penny protested for a moment, then submitted. + +"All right, but we're going straight to the police station!" she +announced. "I'll not be satisfied until that man positively is identified +as Lester Jones." + +A few minutes later, at the police station, Detective Fuller heard the +entire story. It was the first he had learned about Mrs. Botts, for +Penny's earlier message had not been delivered by Policeman Burns. + +"For that matter, I've not seen Burns today," the detective explained. +"I'll go to the estate at once and question the woman." + +Again Penny and Louise taxied to the estate, this time trailed by a +police car. Detective Fuller broke the padlock on the gate and led the +party to the front door. + +A light now burned in the living room. To Penny's astonishment, the door +was opened by Mrs. Botts. + +"Good evening," she greeted the visitors pleasantly. + +Detective Fuller flashed his badge. "We want to ask you a few questions," +he said. "May we come in?" + +With obvious reluctance the woman stepped aside, allowing the party to +enter the living room. Penny's gaze roved to the center table. The +telegram which she had opened no longer was there. + +Mrs. Botts did not offer chairs to the callers. Glaring at Penny with +undisguised dislike, she said coldly: "I suppose I am indebted to you for +this visit. What is it you want?" + +"I understand you have a roomer here," began Detective Fuller. + +"A roomer?" Mrs. Botts echoed blankly. + +"Yes, a man by the name of Lester Jones." + +"Ridiculous! You don't seem to realize that this is the Deming estate." + +"Are you an employee here?" + +"I am the housekeeper. During Mr. Deming's absence I look after the +property. I assure you no one but myself lives in the house at present." + +"No roomer ever has stayed here?" + +Mrs. Botts drew herself up proudly. "Would Mr. Deming be likely to annoy +himself with roomers? He has a very substantial fortune." + +"You might try to pick up a few dollars yourself." + +"Mr. Deming would not hear of such a thing! He pays me well." + +Detective Fuller asked additional questions, trying to learn whether or +not the woman was the one who had fled from the cemetery. Mrs. Botts +frankly admitted that she had taken Mr. Parker to the hospital, but she +denied ever trying to collect a ransom. + +"What you say now doesn't agree with your original story," Penny +protested. "You admitted to me--" + +"I admitted nothing," Mrs. Botts broke in indignantly. "I have no secrets +to hide!" + +"But I'm sure Mr. Jones is living in this house," Penny said stubbornly. +"He's upstairs." + +"Indeed?" mocked Mrs. Botts. "Perhaps you'd like to search the house." + +"Yes, we would," said Detective Fuller. + +Mrs. Botts remained undisturbed. Bestowing upon Penny a look of deep +contempt, she motioned toward the stairway. + +"Very well, search the house," she invited with cool assurance. "I've +told you the truth. You'll find no one here but myself." + + + + + CHAPTER + 19 + _A BAFFLING SEARCH_ + + +In systematic, unhurried fashion, Detective Fuller went through every +room in the Deming house. The bed chambers, nine in number, were in +perfect order. Only Mrs. Botts' suite over the kitchen appeared to have +been used recently. + +As the search progressed, Penny's bewilderment increased. She knew that +Lester Jones had been in the house an hour earlier, yet there was no sign +of him. Personally she inspected clothes closets and bureau drawers. Not +an article could she find that ever had belonged to her father. She did +come upon a white woolen bathrobe. Believing it to be the garment worn by +the "ghost" she called it to Detective Fuller's attention. + +"Oh, that robe belongs to my employer, Mr. Deming," explained Mrs. Botts. + +Penny indicated water stains along the hem which suggested that the +garment had been allowed to trail in the snow. + +"Sometimes I wear the robe when I go outside to bring in the washing," +replied Mrs. Botts. "It is warmer than my coat." + +Try as she would, Penny could not trip the woman into making any damaging +admissions. Mrs. Botts had changed her original story and would not +acknowledge that she had fled from the cemetery. Stubbornly, she +maintained that she had told everything she knew about Mr. Parker's +disappearance. + +"I took him to Mercy Hospital in my employer's car," she repeated to +Detective Fuller. "That's the last I saw of him." + +"In what condition was Mr. Parker when you left him?" questioned the +detective. + +"He seemed all right. Perhaps he was a bit dazed." + +"Why didn't you report to the police?" + +"Because I didn't see the newspapers for a day," Mrs. Botts replied +sullenly. "Later I read Miss Parker's offer of a reward." + +"Then you did write, requesting me to run the ad in the _Star_!" Penny +cried triumphantly. + +"No, of course not," Mrs. Botts retorted, "I merely read the item." + +Penny knew Mrs. Botts was not telling the entire truth, but to prove it +seemed an impossible matter. Neither could she establish that a man who +claimed to be Lester Jones had been living in the house. True, Louise and +the taxi driver would support her story, but it would only be their word +against Mrs. Botts'. The situation had become hopelessly confusing. + +Detective Fuller was not entirely satisfied with the housekeeper's story. +"Guess we'll have to take you along to the station for questioning," he +concluded. + +Only then did Mrs. Botts lose her composure. + +"No, don't take me away!" she pleaded anxiously. "My employer is coming +home tonight. I just received the telegram. If I'm not here when he +arrives, I may lose my job!" + +Actually Detective Fuller had little evidence against Mrs. Botts and +doubted that he could hold her many hours in jail. Far more might be +gained by allowing the woman her freedom and keeping watch of the house. + +"We'll let you stay here," he decided after a moment's thought. "However, +you'll be wanted for questioning a little later. Make no attempt to leave +the premises." + +"I won't try to go away," Mrs. Botts promised. "I want to cooperate with +the police. All I ask is that my employer, Mr. Deming, doesn't hear of +this. I'm innocent and it's not right for me to lose a good job." + +Very shortly the party bade the woman goodbye and left the estate. +Detective Fuller assigned a policeman to keep watch of the property and +then returned to Riverview. Louise and Penny, completely bewildered, left +with their driver, Joe, debated their next action. + +"Where to?" the cabman inquired. "Home?" + +"I suppose so," sighed Penny. "I never was in such a muddle in all my +life. What became of that man I thought was Dad?" + +"He must have left the house while we were at the police station," Louise +declared. "It was a surprise finding Mrs. Botts there too! She must have +returned in a hurry after we went away." + +"Mrs. Botts got rid of Lester Jones somehow," Penny said with conviction. +"Oh, she's a slick one!" + +As Joe shifted gears, the girls observed a dark figure approaching the +estate from down the road. + +"Wait!" Penny instructed the cabman. "Let's see who it is." + +A moment later the figure emerged from the shadow cast by a giant tree. +Penny was surprised to recognize Mose Johnson. The old colored man +carried a basket on his arm and evidently had been doing a little late +marketing at the crossroads store. + +"Good evening, Mose," Penny greeted him as he approached the cab. + +"Evenin', Miss Penny," he beamed, pausing. "I'se suah astonished to see +yo' all out dis way. Has yo' been lookin' for dat ghost?" + +"I'm afraid I have," Penny admitted ruefully. "I've certainly had no +luck." + +Mose shifted the market basket to his other hand. "Dat ole ghost ain't +been around so much lately," he explained. "I comes by dis spot half an +hour ago on my way to de sto' to get some victuals. Dere wasn't no ghost +around den either. If dere had a been I'd have seen him, you kin be suah +o' dat. I was mighty skittish and ready to make mahself absent in about +two shakes." + +"And you didn't see a thing?" inquired Penny. + +"Well now, I can't rightly say dat," Old Mose corrected. "I didn't see no +ghost but I did see a taxicab." + +"Ours, I suppose." + +"Not dis one, Miss. De cab I see was a yelleh one." + +The information interested Penny. "Which way was it going, Mose?" she +asked quickly. + +"It wasn't goin', Miss Penny. It was standin' right at de gate. Den I +sees two dark lookin' white men git out and go into de big house." + +"You did?" Penny demanded eagerly. "Then what happened? Did the cab drive +away?" + +"It waited 'till de two men came back, 'cept when dey comes back dere is +three of 'em!" + +"Three men?" Penny cried, her excitement mounting. "What did the third +man look like, Mose? Think hard! It's very important." + +"Well," said Mose, "he was tall and he had something in his hand. A funny +lookin' little satchel. I guess you calls it a quick-case." + +"You don't mean a brief case?" + +"Yes, dat's it," Mose grinned. "Anyways, dey all gits in de taxicab and +off dey snorts. And dat's all I sees. Dere wasn't no ghost." + +The colored man's rambling information served to confirm Penny's own +suspicions. Mrs. Botts had lied. A roomer known as Lester Jones had been +held at the house and later hustled away. Perhaps the man _was_ her +father! + +"Mose," she cried, "the person you saw may have been Dad! Did it look +like him?" + +"Why, now yo' speaks of it, dere was somethin' about dat man dat look +like Mr. Parker," the colored man agreed. "Kinda de way he walked. I +couldn't see his face cause he kept it sort o' tucked down in his +collar." + +"All the same, it must have been Dad!" Penny exclaimed. "The brief case +practically proves it! Tell me, which way did the cab go?" + +"Straight down de road," said Mose, pointing. "But de car's been gone a +long time now. If you figures on catchin' dose men, you all bettah be +travelin'." + + + + + CHAPTER + 20 + _ACCUSATIONS_ + + +Alarmed and excited by Mose Johnson's revelation, Penny glanced about for +the policeman who had been assigned to watch the Deming mansion. The +officer had taken cover somewhere and was not to be seen. + +"Joe, drive as fast as you can to the airplane spotting station!" she +ordered the cabman. "I'll telephone the police station from there." + +As the taxi bounced along over the frozen road, the girls kept close +watch for the yellow cab Mose Johnson had mentioned. They did not expect +to overtake it. If the old colored man's story was accurate, the taxi +bearing Mr. Parker had left the mansion at least a half hour earlier. + +"Dad must have been spirited away immediately after I talked to him!" +Penny said. "He's been drugged or something! Otherwise he would have +known me." + +"But according to Mose, your father must have gone willingly with those +men," Louise returned. + +"That's the queer part." + +"Of course, you're not certain the man is your father." + +"Yes, I am!" Penny insisted. "I was almost sure of it earlier this +evening. Now I know! Oh, Lou, something terrible has happened to Dad!" + +Louise drew her chum into the hollow of her arm. "Brace up!" she said +sternly. "You're not going to cave in now, are you?" + +Penny's slumping shoulders stiffened. She brushed away a tear. "Of course +I'm not going to cave in!" she replied indignantly. "I'll find +Dad--tonight, too!" + +Enroute to the airplane spotting station, the cab neither met nor passed +any vehicle. Leaving Louise in the taxi, Penny clattered up the tower +steps and burst into the overheated room where Salt Sommers was making +out a report. Her words fairly tumbled over one another as she told him +what had happened. + +"Will you notify police for me?" she pleaded. + +"Of course," Salt assured her, reaching for a telephone. "My relief's due +in five minutes now, so I'll be free to join in the search." + +While the photographer waited impatiently for a connection, Penny asked +him if he had seen a yellow taxi pass the tower. + +"Not since I've been on duty. The cab must have taken another road." + +Salt completed the call to the Riverview Police Station and was told that +every radio-equipped cruiser in the city would be ordered to watch for +the yellow cab. As he hung up the receiver, a low humming sound was heard +outside the tower. + +"Listen!" commanded Salt. "A plane!" + +Distinctly they both could hear the roar of a motor to the eastward. + +"That's an unidentified ship," Salt declared, reaching for another +telephone. Taking down the receiver he said tersely: "Army Flash," and +went on to report the position of the passing airplane. + +Penny had gone to the doorway. She could see the wing lights of the +passing ship. As she watched, the lights descended in a steep glide. + +"Salt!" she called. "The plane is landing!" + +The photographer darted to the platform to see for himself. "You're +right!" he exclaimed. "It's coming down at the Deming estate!" + +"Mr. Deming is due home tonight from the East," Penny added. "That must +be his plane." + +Salt went inside to complete his report to headquarters. As he rejoined +Penny, they saw a man trudging along the road toward the tower. + +"My relief," said the photographer. "I'm free to go." + +Gathering up his belongings, he followed Penny to the waiting taxicab. +There a brief conference was held. The girls were in favor of searching +for the yellow taxi, but Salt pointed out that the chance of finding it +was a slim one. He proposed that they return to the mansion and try to +force information from Mrs. Botts. + +"Detective Fuller had no luck," replied Penny. "She has one story and she +sticks to it. Her one fear is that she'll lose her job." + +"Then this is the time to make things merry for her!" urged the +photographer. "If Mr. Deming just arrived home, we'll toss a few +firebrands around and find out what he has to say!" + +The suggestion appealed to Penny. From the first she had distrusted Mrs. +Botts and felt that police had been entirely too lenient with her. + +"All right, let's go!" she agreed. "If Mrs. Botts loses her job, I'm sure +it's no more than she deserves." + +Joe drove the party once more to the Deming mansion. No policeman was in +evidence near the premises. Actually he had gone to the crossroads store +to report to his superiors the arrival of Mr. Deming's airplane, but at +the moment Penny assumed the man was neglecting his duties. + +"If this case ever is solved, we must do it ourselves!" she declared, +thumping on the front door. "I'm in no mood to take any slippery answers +from Mrs. Botts!" + +After a long delay the door was opened by the caretaker. Recognizing +Penny and her friends, the woman sought to lock them out. + +"Oh, no you don't!" said Salt, pushing her firmly aside. "We want to see +Mr. Deming." + +"He's not here," Mrs. Botts replied nervously. "Please leave me alone. Go +away!" + +Ignoring the plea, Penny, Louise, and the photographer walked boldly into +the living room. A fire burned in the grate and there were fresh flowers +on the table. + +"Where is Mr. Deming?" asked Salt in a loud voice. + +Footsteps sounded on the circular stairway. A portly, bald-headed man +with a pleasant face came heavily down the steps. + +"Did someone ask for me?" he inquired. + +"You're Mr. Deming?" asked Salt. + +"I am. Flew in from New York about ten minutes ago and was just changing +my clothes. What may I do for you?" + +"I've been trying to tell these folks you can't see them tonight, Mr. +Deming," broke in Mrs. Botts. "You're too tired." + +"Nonsense," replied the mansion owner impatiently. "Sit down by the fire, +everyone. Tell me what brought you here." + +Mrs. Botts began to edge toward the kitchen door. Observing the action, +Salt called sharply: + +"Don't go, Mrs. Botts. We want to talk to you in particular." + +"I've nothing to say," the caretaker retorted tartly. + +"Sit down, Mrs. Botts," ordered her employer. "For some reason you have +seemed very nervous since I arrived home tonight." + +"It was upsetting to get your telegram so late," Mrs. Botts mumbled, +sinking down on the sofa. + +"Mr. Deming," began Penny, "a great deal has happened here tonight." + +"I intended to tell you about it myself," interrupted Mrs. Botts, +addressing her employer. "I've not had a chance." + +"Be quiet, please," commanded Mr. Deming. "Do continue, Miss--" + +"Parker," supplied Penny. She introduced Salt and Louise, then resumed +her story. + +As the tale unfolded, Mr. Deming listened with increasing amazement. Now +and then he focused his gaze upon the crestfallen Mrs. Botts, but he did +not speak until Penny had finished. + +"This is a very serious charge you have made against my housekeeper," he +said then. "Mrs. Botts, what have you to say?" + +"There's not a word of truth in it!" the woman cried. "Why, I've worked +for you ten years, Mr. Deming. I've been a loyal, faithful servant. Why +should I deceive you by taking a stranger into the house?" + +"It does seem fantastic," replied the perplexed Mr. Deming. "Miss Parker, +what proof have you that your accusations are true?" + +"The proof of my own eyesight," Penny said quietly. "For that matter, a +number of persons saw the ghost wandering about the grounds." + +Mrs. Botts tossed her head. "I've already explained that part. Frequently +when I go outdoors, I put on your old white bathrobe, Mr. Deming. It's +warmer than my coat." + +"The ghost happened to be a man," Penny said. "And here is something you +don't know, Mrs. Botts. I was in this house earlier this evening while +you were away. I talked with your mysterious roomer, and I'm satisfied it +was my father." + +"So _you_ were here!" Mrs. Botts cried angrily. "Mr. Deming, this girl +opened the telegram you addressed to me!" + +"I did indeed," admitted Penny, unabashed. + +Mr. Deming arose and walking over to the fire, stood with his back to it. +"I confess I don't know what to say," he said. "I've never had reason to +distrust Mrs. Botts." + +"Thank you, sir." The housekeeper smiled triumphantly. + +Penny realized that Mr. Deming was on the verge of swinging to Mrs. +Botts' side. So far the interview had gained nothing. She had told the +entire story. There was no further information she could add. + +"I suppose we may as well go," she said, looking miserably at Salt. + +Penny arose. Suddenly her eyes lighted upon a small object lying half +hidden between the cushions of the sofa. Before Mrs. Botts realized what +she was about, she had pounced upon it. + +"Dad's spectacle case!" she cried triumphantly. + +Opening the lid, she held up a pair of dark horn-rimmed glasses. + +"I'm sure I don't know where the case came from," Mrs. Botts stammered. + +"When Dad reads on the sofa at home, he often loses his case between the +cushions!" Penny went on excitedly. "Mrs. Botts, you thought you were +very clever getting him away from here and removing all the evidence!" + +"A salesman who wore glasses was here last week--" the housekeeper began +weakly. + +"You can't talk yourself out of this," Penny cut her short, "Mr. Deming, +let me show you something." + +She reopened the lid of the case and pointed to the initials "A. P." +engraved in gold letters. + +"Anthony Parker," she said impressively. "Dad had them stamped there +because he lost the case so many times. Does this prove my story?" + +"It does," said Mr. Deming. Sternly he faced the housekeeper. "Mrs. +Botts, you have deeply humiliated me. I shall turn you over to the +police." + +Mrs. Botts began to weep. Stumbling across the room, she clutched her +employer's arm. + +"Please don't turn me away from here," she pleaded. "Just give me a +chance and I'll explain everything. Please, Mr. Deming! This time I +promise to tell the truth!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 21 + _MRS. BOTTS' REVELATION_ + + +"Very well, tell your story," Mr. Deming bade the housekeeper. "What do +you know about Mr. Parker's disappearance?" + +"It was just like I said," Mrs. Botts began in an aggrieved voice. "I was +driving not far from the railroad station when I saw the auto accident." + +"You say you were driving?" Mr. Deming interposed. "In whose car, may I +ask?" + +"I used yours, Mr. Deming. I didn't think you would care." + +"We'll skip that. Go on with your story." + +"Well, I saw the accident. A coupe driven by a young man, crowded Mr. +Parker's car off the road." + +"Purposely?" asked Penny. + +"I don't know. Two men were in the car and they were speeding. I read +part of the license number too. It was F-215 something." + +"Why didn't you give this information to the police immediately?" +demanded Mr. Deming. + +"I'm trying to explain. I stopped my car--your car, I mean. Mr. Parker +seemed stunned so I offered to take him to the hospital. Of course at +that time I didn't know who he was." + +"Dad didn't seem much hurt?" Penny inquired quickly. + +"He had a few scratches, but nothing serious. We started for the +hospital. Before we got there Mr. Parker changed his mind and decided he +didn't want to go. He asked me to take him to a hotel or a rooming +house." + +"How strange!" exclaimed Penny. "Why didn't he ask to go home?" + +"Because he didn't remember he had a home," Mrs. Botts replied. "I guess +the accident must have stunned him. Anyway, he said his name was Lester +Jones. Since he wanted a room and was willing to pay, I figured I could +bring him here." + +"So you turned my home into a hotel," Mr. Deming remarked rather grimly. + +"I--I didn't think you would be back this winter. I wouldn't have done +it, Mr. Deming, only I needed extra money. My sister in Kansas has been +sick and I've had to send her funds." + +"Mrs. Botts, I've always paid you well," her employer responded. "Had you +told me you needed more money, I would have assisted you. But go on." + +"Well, I brought Mr. Parker here and gave him a room. Right off I noticed +how queer he acted. He didn't seem to be sure who he was, and he kept +going through some papers he carried in a portfolio, trying to puzzle +things out." + +"All this while you made no attempt to contact police?" Mr. Deming +questioned severely. + +"I was wondering what to do when I saw a picture of Mr. Parker in the +paper." + +"And then you dropped an unsigned letter in my mailbox?" Penny probed. + +Mrs. Botts knew that the net was closing tightly about her. Although she +tried to slant her story in such a way that she would not appear too much +at fault, the facts remained bald and ugly. + +"Yes, I left a note at your house," she acknowledged reluctantly. "Later +I telephoned and made an appointment to meet you at the cemetery." + +"Why didn't you go through with it?" asked Penny. "Were you afraid?" + +"I began to realize I might be held for something I never intended to do. +Folks started to watch this house. I tried to keep my roomer out of +sight, but he'd do such queer things." + +"Such as stroll in the garden at night," supplied Penny. + +"Yes, I felt sorry for the poor man. He had such dreadful headaches and +was so bewildered." + +"Evidently you weren't sorry enough to tell him who he was," reprimanded +Mr. Deming. "Really Mrs. Botts, I can't understand why you acted as you +did." + +"I just kept getting in deeper and deeper," the housekeeper whined. "Mr. +Parker paid me three dollars a day for his room and board. It didn't seem +wrong to take the money as long as he was satisfied." + +"Where is my father now?" Penny broke in. "That's the important thing." + +Mrs. Botts regarded the girl with a trace of her former arrogance. "I +don't know what became of Mr. Parker after he left here," she said +coldly. + +"You sent him away when you knew Mr. Deming was coming home!" Penny +accused. "You thought you could keep the truth from your employer!" + +"And I would have too, if it hadn't been for you!" Mrs. Botts flared. +"I've not done any harm, but you've made a lot out of it, and now I'll be +discharged." + +"You are quite right about that," agreed Mr. Deming in a quiet voice. +"However, there's far more at stake than a job, Mrs. Botts. Even now you +don't seem to realize the seriousness of your offense." + +"You won't turn me over to the police, will you, Mr. Deming?" + +"It will not be in my hands to decide your fate. I strongly advise you to +tell everything you know. Where did Mr. Parker go when he left here?" + +"I've no idea." Mrs. Botts covered her face. "Oh, leave me alone--don't +ask me any more questions. My head buzzes." + +"A taxicab with two men in it was seen at the door earlier this evening," +Penny went on relentlessly. "What have you to say about that?" + +"They were friends who came for Mr. Parker." + +"Your friends?" + +"Well, no, I found the names and addresses in Mr. Parker's brief case. +They were men in the tire business." + +This latest scrap of information fairly stunned Penny. As she well knew, +her father's portfolio contained only evidence pertaining to the +tire-theft case. + +"Who were the men?" she demanded. + +"One was named Kurt Mollinberg--Ropes Mollinberg his friend called him. I +forget the other." + +"Ropes Mollinberg!" exclaimed Salt Sommers who had listened quietly to +the story. "Why, he's one of the lowest rats in this town! Connected with +the numbers racket and I don't know what else!" + +"Why did you summon those men, of all persons?" Mr. Deming questioned. + +"Well, I found their addresses in the portfolio. I had to get rid of Mr. +Parker before you came and I was afraid to call his house." + +"You're a cruel, heartless woman!" accused Penny. "You sent my father +away with two of the most notorious rascals in Riverview. Why, those men +have been waiting for a chance to waylay him! They wanted to get +possession of vital evidence Dad had in his portfolio." + +"I didn't know," murmured Mrs. Botts. "When they came in the taxi, they +offered me money." + +"And you took it?" + +"I tried not to, but they forced it on me." + +Penny sprang to her feet. Only by the greatest effort of will could she +keep from telling the housekeeper what she thought of her contemptible +actions. + +"You sent Dad away with those men," she repeated mechanically. "Didn't he +realize who they were?" + +"I told him they were his friends. I really thought so. He went willingly +enough." + +Penny was sick with despair. From the first, the situation had been +grave, but now there seemed little hope. From Mrs. Botts' story she could +only conclude that her father suffered from a brain injury. Even if she +were fortunate enough to find him, he would not be likely to recognize +her as his daughter. + +"Oh, Salt," she pleaded, turning to the photographer. "What are we to do? +What can we do?" + +His reply though prompt, was not completely reassuring. + +"We've already put every policeman in Riverview on the trail of those +men!" he answered soberly. "And we'll scour every nook and cranny of this +town ourselves! Chin up, Penny! Why, we've only started to fight!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 22 + _A PARK BENCH_ + + +Penny and her friends were heartsick with the knowledge that Mr. Parker +had fallen into the hands of ruthless members of the tire-theft gang. The +taxi which had borne him away had left the mansion fully an hour earlier. +There seemed little likelihood that the trail could be picked up quickly. + +"I'll telephone the boys at the newspaper office," Salt offered. "The +police too! We'll put a description on the radio. We'll have everybody in +Riverview watching for that yellow taxi." + +"Call the cab companies too," urged Penny. "We may be able to trace it +through the driver." + +Salt made good use of the Deming telephone which had not been +disconnected during the winter months. While he phoned, Penny ran outside +to find the policeman assigned to guard the mansion. She soon returned +with him and placed Mrs. Botts in his custody. + +"Oh, Mr. Deming, don't let them take me to jail," the housekeeper +pleaded. "I didn't mean to do anything wrong." + +"Mrs. Botts, I can't help you," her employer returned coldly. "Your +offense is a very serious one. The court must decide your fate." + +The housekeeper broke into tears again and for several minutes was quite +hysterical. When her act moved no one, she resigned herself to the +inevitable. Packing a few articles in a bag, she prepared to leave the +house in the custody of the policeman. + +"I'm sorry about everything," she said as she bade the girls goodbye. "I +hope Mr. Parker is found. I really do." + +After Mrs. Botts had gone, Penny was too upset to remain quietly in a +chair. She longed to join in an active search for the yellow taxi. Common +sense told her that the cab undoubtedly had reached its destination, yet +she hoped she might pick up a clue. + +"By questioning filling station attendants, we may be able to learn which +way it went from the crossroads," she urged. + +"Come on, then," said Salt. + +Joe, faithful as ever, waited in his cab outside the mansion. Penny chose +to ride beside him, as the front seat offered an unobstructed view of the +road. + +The cab turned away from the mansion and swept down the familiar twisting +highway. At the first bend, the bright headlights illuminated a patch of +snow along the ditch. Penny thought she saw a small, dark object lying on +the ground. + +"Stop the car!" she cried. + +Joe brought the cab to a standstill a little farther down the road. + +Penny leaped out and ran back to the ditch. Lying just at its edge was a +leather portfolio. A glance satisfied her that it had belonged to her +father. + +"Salt! Louise!" she shouted. "I've found Dad's satchel!" + +The others came running. By that time Penny had examined the portfolio. +It was empty. + +"Just as I thought," she muttered. "Those men were after the evidence Dad +carried! And they got it, too!" + +Salt and Joe examined the snowy ditches for a long distance. There were +no footprints. They could only conclude that the portfolio had been +thrown from a window of the moving cab. Evidently Mr. Parker remained a +prisoner. + +"Now that those men have what they want, maybe they'll release Dad," +Penny said hopefully. "Don't you think so, Salt?" + +The photographer glanced at Joe. Neither spoke. + +"You believe they'll harm Dad!" Penny cried, reading their faces. "Maybe +I'll never see him again--" + +"Now Penny," Salt soothed, guiding her toward the taxi. + +The cab rolled on, its tires crunching the hard-packed snow. At the +crossroads, they met a police car and hailed it. Penny turned the empty +portfolio over to one of the officers, explaining where it had been +found. + +"Every road is being watched," she was told in return. "The alarm has +been broadcast throughout the State, too. If that yellow cab still is on +the road, we'll get it." + +For an hour longer, Penny and her party scoured roads in the vicinity of +Riverview. Many times they stopped at filling stations and houses to +inquire if a yellow cab had been seen to pass. Always the answer was in +the negative. + +"Don't you think we ought to go home?" Salt suggested at length. "For all +we know, police may have found Mr. Parker by this time. We'd never learn +about it while we're touring around." + +"All right, let's go home," agreed Penny. + +The taxi turned toward Riverview. Arriving at the outskirts, Joe chose a +boulevard which wound through the park. The trees, each limb and twig +glistening with ice, were very beautiful. + +Penny gazed absently toward the frozen lake where a few boys were +skating. Suddenly her gaze fastened upon a man who sat on a park bench +beneath a street lamp. He wore no hat. His overcoat was unbuttoned. + +"That man!" she cried. "Salt, it looks like Dad! And it is he! It is!" + +The man on the bench had turned slightly so that she was able to see his +face. + +Joe brought the cab to a halt with a jerk. Penny leaped out, followed by +the others. The first to reach the bench, she fairly flung herself +headlong at the disheveled man who sat so dejectedly alone. + +"Oh, Dad, I've found you at last! How thankful I am you're safe!" + +The man on the bench stared blankly at her. + +"Who are you?" he asked in a dazed voice. + +"Why, I'm Penny--your daughter." + +"I have no daughter," the man answered bitterly. "No home. Nothing. Not +even a name." + +Salt, Louise and Joe reached the bench. + +"Who are these people?" the man asked. "Why do they stare at me?" + +"Why, Mr. Parker," said Salt, taking his arm. "You remember me, don't +you?" + +"Never saw you before in my life." + +"You're my father--Anthony Parker," Penny said desperately. "You were in +a bad accident. Don't you remember?" + +"I remember that I was taken by two men in a taxicab. They pretended to +be my friends. As soon as we were well away from Mrs. Botts' home, they +robbed me of my money and portfolio. Then they pushed me out of the cab. +I started walking. I kept on until I came here." + +"You're cold and tired," said Salt, trying to guide him toward the taxi. + +"Who are you?" Mr. Parker demanded suspiciously. "Why should I let you +take me away? You'll only try to rob me--" + +"Oh, Dad, you don't understand," Penny murmured. "You're sick." + +"Come along, sir," urged Salt. "We're your friends. We'll take you to the +doctor." + +Mr. Parker planted his feet firmly on the ground. + +"I'm not going a step!" he announced. "Not a step!" + +"Sorry, sir, but if you're so set about it, we'll have to do it this +way." + +Salt nodded to Joe. Before Mr. Parker knew what was coming, they caught +him firmly by the arms and legs. Although he resisted, they carried him +to the cab. + +"Take us home as fast as you can!" Penny directed Joe. "Then I'll want +you to go for Doctor Greer, the brain specialist. Dad's in very serious +condition." + +"Serious, my eye!" snorted the publisher. He struggled to free himself +from Salt's grip. "Let me out of here!" + +"Dad, everything will be all right now," Penny tried to soothe him. +"You're with friends. You're going home." + +"I'm being kidnaped!" Mr. Parker complained. "Twice in one night! If I +were strong enough to get out of here--" + +Again he tried to free himself. Failing, he edged into a corner of the +seat and averted his face. + + + + + CHAPTER + 23 + _FORGOTTEN EVENTS_ + + +In the upstairs bedroom, Penny moved with velvet tread. Noiselessly she +rearranged a vase of flowers and closed the slat of a Venetian blind. + +"You needn't be so quiet," said Mr. Parker from the bed. "I've been awake +a long time now." + +Penny went swiftly to his side. "How are you feeling this afternoon, +Dad?" + +"Afternoon?" Mr. Parker demanded, sitting up. "How long have I been +sleeping?" + +"Roughly, about two days." + +Mr. Parker threw off the covers. + +"Oh, no, you don't," said Penny, pressing him back against the pillow. +"Doctor Greer says you are to have absolute bed rest for several days. +It's part of the treatment." + +"Treatment for what?" grumbled Mr. Parker. "I feel fine!" + +"That's wonderful," declared Penny, with a deep sigh of relief. "I'll +have Mrs. Weems bring up something for you to eat." + +She called down the stairway to the housekeeper, and then returned to the +bedside. Her father looked more like his former self than at any time +since the strange motor accident which had caused him to lose his memory. +His voice too, was more natural. + +"Guess I must have had a bad dream," Mr. Parker murmured, his gaze roving +slowly about the room. "I seem to recall riding around in a taxi, and +being pushed out into the snow." + +"You know where you are now, don't you?" asked Penny. + +"Certainly. I'm at home." + +Mrs. Weems came into the room bearing a tray of food. Hearing Mr. +Parker's words, she looked at Penny and tears sprang to her eyes. + +"Doctor Greer was right," she whispered. "His memory is slowly coming +back. How thankful I am!" + +"What's all this?" Mr. Parker inquired alertly. "Will someone kindly tell +me why I am being imprisoned in this bed?" + +"Because you've been very, very sick," Penny said, arranging the food in +front of him. "You know who I am now, don't you?" + +"Why, certainly," replied Mr. Parker indignantly. "You're my daughter. +Your name is--now let me think--" + +"Penny." + +"To be sure," agreed Mr. Parker, in confusion. "Fancy forgetting my own +daughter's name!" + +"You've forgotten a number of other things too, Dad. But events gradually +are coming back to you. Suppose you tell me your name." + +"My name?" Mr. Parker looked bewildered. "Why, I don't remember. It's not +Jones. I took that name because I couldn't think of my own. What's wrong +with me?" + +Penny tucked a napkin beneath her father's chin and offered him a +spoonful of beef broth. + +"What's wrong with me?" Mr. Parker demanded again. "Am I a lunatic? Can't +either of you tell me the truth?" + +"You're recovering from a severe case of amnesia," revealed Penny. "The +doctor says it was brought on by overwork in combination with the shock +of being in an auto accident. Since you were hurt you've not remembered +what happened before that time." + +"I do recall the auto mishap," Mr. Parker said slowly. "Another car +crowded me off the road. The crash stunned me, and my mind was a sort of +blank. Then a pleasant woman took me to her home." + +"A pleasant woman, Dad?" + +"Why, yes, Mrs. Botts gave me a nice room and good food. I liked it +there. But one night a girl broke in--could that have been you, Penny?" + +"Indeed, it was." + +"When Mrs. Botts came home she was very excited," Mr. Parker resumed +meditatively. "She said I had to leave. She hustled me out of the house +with two strangers." + +"One of the men was Ropes Mollinberg, a member of the tire-theft gang." + +"Yes, that was his name!" Mr. Parker agreed. "Speaking of tire thieves, +I've been intending to write an editorial for the paper. Penny, please +have my secretary come in. I'll dictate the material while it is fresh in +my mind." + +Mrs. Weems looked slightly distressed. Penny, however, whisked away the +tray of food. Getting pencil and paper she again sat down beside her +father. + +"Your secretary isn't available just now, but I'll take down what you +want to say." + +Penny could not write shorthand so she only pretended to jot down notes. +Mr. Parker led off with a few crisp sentences, then wandered vaguely from +one idea to another. + +"I can't seem to think straight any more," he complained. "Type that up +please and let me see it before it goes to the compositors." + +"How shall I sign the editorial?" Penny inquired. + +"Why, with my name--Anthony Parker." + +Penny jumped up and fairly laughed with joy. + +"Dad, events are coming back to you! You've just recalled your name and +that's a big step forward." + +"Anthony Parker," the publisher murmured. "Yes, that's it! Now there's +another matter that troubles me. I had a brief case--" + +"It was stolen by those men who took you away," Penny supplied eagerly. +"Dad, if only you could remember what those lost papers contained, we'd +expose the entire tire-theft gang!" + +Mr. Parker thought for a long while, then shook his head. + +"Mind's a blank, Penny. What does the doctor say? Is there a chance my +memory ever will return?" + +"Of course," returned Penny heartily. "You've already recalled a number +of important things. Me, for instance! Doctor Greer thinks that with +rest, events will gradually return to mind. Or another shock, perhaps a +blow somewhat similar to the one you had, might bring everything back." + +"Well, what are we waiting for?" Mr. Parker joked. "Go get the sledge +hammer!" + +"It's not that easy, I'm afraid." + +"I'm afraid not, either," sighed Mr. Parker wearily. "Guess I'll sleep +some more now. I feel pretty tired." + +During the days that followed, the publisher made a slow but steady +recovery. At first Penny did not worry him by mentioning how matters had +gone at the _Star_ office. Only after Mr. Parker was well enough to spend +several hours a day at the plant, did she reveal how Harley Schirr had +sought to establish himself as editor of the paper. + +"That fellow!" exclaimed Mr. Parker in annoyance. "Why, I meant to +discharge him and he knew it. I have evidence in my safe showing that +Schirr accepted money from a local politician." + +"You did have evidence," Penny corrected. "While you were away, Mr. +Schirr went through your safe." + +Amazed by the boldness of his former employee, Mr. Parker immediately +examined the contents of both his desk and strongbox. To his chagrin he +found that Penny was right. Every document pertaining to Schirr was +missing. + +"Well, it doesn't matter," the publisher said philosophically. "He'll +never set foot in this office again, nor in any other Riverview +newspaper!" + +"Dad," said Penny, "I've wondered if Schirr may not be hooked up with the +tire-theft gang. What do you think?" + +"My poor thinker isn't much good these days. However, I very much doubt +it, Penny. Schirr always was a snoop and not above taking money for +writing biased stories. My judgment would be that he has no connection +with the Mollinberg outfit." + +"If only you could remember what was in your stolen portfolio!" Penny +sighed. + +"If only I could!" agreed Mr. Parker. "Sometimes I doubt I'll ever fully +recover my memory." + +"Oh, you will, Dad. You're doing better every day." + +Penny seldom spoke of the automobile accident which had caused her +father's trouble for the subject was a painful one to them both. Although +the publisher had been absolved of all blame, police had not succeeded in +tracing the hit-skip driver. + +Mr. Parker seemed well and strong. Each day he went to the office for +longer and longer periods. Gradually his memory was returning, yet he had +been unable to recall data which might bring about the capture of the +tire-theft gang. Strangely, he could remember nothing of his intention to +call at the State Prosecutor's office. Nor could he disclose a scrap of +evidence which had been carried in the stolen portfolio. + +"If only Jerry would wire or return from his vacation!" Penny commented +anxiously. "I can't understand why he doesn't reply to my message." + +The reporter's long absence had caused considerable worry at the _Star_ +office. Jerry was the one person who could divulge the contents of the +stolen portfolio documents, but repeated wires failed to bring any +response. + +"Jerry will show up one of these days," Mr. Parker said confidently. "The +only trouble is, by that time the higher-ups of the tire-theft gang may +have skipped town." + +"Dad, can't you remember the men who took you away in the taxi?" + +"Only vaguely. I've described them to police as best I can. So far, no +action." + +Penny was silent for a moment. In her mind she had been turning over a +way to bring the crooks to justice. It seemed to her that the men might +be identified through Black Market operators with whom they must have +dealings. + +"Now what are you keeping from me?" inquired Mr. Parker lightly. + +"I was thinking about a place known as Mattie Williams' garage," replied +Penny. "I've good reason to suspect it deals in stolen tires." + +She went on to tell of her recent adventure in the storage room of the +garage. The information did not excite Mr. Parker as she had feared it +might. Instead, it fired him with a determination to get at the truth of +the matter. + +"Penny, we'll break our story yet!" he exclaimed, reaching for his hat. +"Let's go to Mattie's place now!" + +"Unless we actually see the inside of the storage room we'll learn +nothing. You may be sure Mattie and her partner won't cooperate." + +"We'll get into that room somehow," returned Mr. Parker grimly. "I'll +take along a few pet skeleton keys just for luck." + +At the Williams' garage an hour later, they found Mattie and Sam busy +with repair work. + +"Be with you in a minute," the woman called to Mr. Parker. + +"No hurry," replied the publisher. "No hurry whatsoever." + +He and Penny wandered aimlessly about. Choosing a moment when both Sam +and Mattie were inside the office, they slipped unnoticed into the room +where the empty boxes had been stored. + +"Now show me the tunnel," urged the publisher. "We'll have to work fast!" + +Penny swung back the hinged boards of the big box. She led her father +between a high aisle of crates to the locked door of the inner room. + +"Now if only I have a key that will unlock it!" muttered Mr. Parker. + +He tried several. At length one did fit the keyhole, the lock clicked, +and he was able to push open the door. + +In the little storage room close to the outside building wall were tires +of all sizes and description. Some were new, still wrapped in clean +paper. Others appeared slightly used. + +"See, Dad!" Penny cried triumphantly. "I was right!" + +"We still have no proof this rubber was illegally obtained." + +Penny darted forward to inspect a stack of tires which rose half way to +the ceiling. + +"Here's one that might have come off my car!" she cried. "See! Mine had a +tiny cut place where I rammed the maple tree backing out of our garage!" + +"All tires look alike, Penny. Without the serial number--" + +"I do remember part of it. One was 8910 something." + +"Then this isn't your tire," replied Mr. Parker, reading the number. +"However, I shouldn't be surprised that these are stolen tires." + +Penny held up her hand as a signal for silence. + +"Quiet, Dad!" she whispered. + +Footsteps had sounded in the tunnel between the boxes. The next instant +the door was flung open. Penny and her father stood face to face with Sam +Burkholder. + + + + + CHAPTER + 24 + _TRICKERY_ + + +"What d'you think you're doing in here?" demanded Sam Burkholder harshly. +"Snoopers, eh?" + +"Call us that if you like," retorted Mr. Parker. "How long have you been +dealing in stolen tires?" + +The shot hit its target. Sam started to speak but no words came. He +looked badly frightened. Convinced that his suspicion was correct, Mr. +Parker added sternly: + +"Naturally, I'll report this to the police. You and your partner will +have to face charges." + +"Keep Mattie out of this," growled Sam. "She had nothing to do with the +tire business." + +"So you carried on crooked operations all by your lonesome?" + +"I've bought and sold a few tires," Sam said sullenly. "All these +government regulations give me a pain. A guy can't make any money these +days." + +"So you admit you've been doing an illegal business?" + +"Maybe," said Sam, watching Mr. Parker craftily. "But what's it to you? I +take it you're not a government agent?" + +"I'm interested in breaking up a gang of leeches--the men who've been +cleaning this town of tires for the past three months." + +"Those guys are crooks all right," agreed Sam. "Why the last time they +sold me a bunch of tires they charged double. When I wasn't going to take +'em they said, 'Either you do, or else!'" + +"Did you deal with Ropes Mollinberg?" + +"He's just one of the little fry. What will you give me to spill?" + +"Nothing." + +"Will you keep Mattie out of this?" + +"If she's innocent." + +"She is," insisted Sam. "Supposin' I tell you how to get the whole gang, +will you forget what you've seen here?" + +"I make no bargains with Black Market dealers," retorted Mr. Parker. +"Either you tell what you know, or I'll have you and Mattie hauled into +court." + +Sam Burkholder was silent a moment. + +"Okay," he said abruptly. "I've had enough of this business anyhow. I'll +tell you what I know, and it won't take me long. I've never seen nor +dealt direct with the big shots." + +"Then how do you get your tires?" + +"A trucker by the name of Hank Biglow delivers them to me." + +"Louise and I know that man!" cried Penny. "For whom does he work?" + +"I've never asked. But from something Hank dropped I kinda suspect the +boys are having a meeting tonight." + +"Where?" Mr. Parker demanded eagerly. + +"I'll tell you on one condition. You've got to keep Mattie out of this. +So far as she knows this garage has been run pretty much on the square." + +Mr. Parker was unwilling to make any sort of agreement with the man. +Nevertheless, he realized that Sam had it within his power to withhold +vital information. + +"Very well," he said, "I'll take your word for it that Mattie is +innocent. Now where is the meeting to be held?" + +"At Johnson's warehouse." + +"Isn't that along the river?" + +"Yeah, about eight miles from here. The boys will be loading some tires +there. If you're willing to take the risk, you may learn something. +Meeting's at seven." + +Penny glanced at her wrist watch. + +"It's after six now!" she exclaimed in dismay. "Dad, if we are to get +there in time, we've got to step!" + +"Right you are," he agreed. + +Before leaving the garage, Mr. Parker telephoned Central Police Station. +Without mentioning Sam's name, he revealed a little of what he had +learned and requested an immediate investigation of the Johnson +Warehouse. Then, intending to meet officers there, he and Penny taxied +along the winding river road. + +Although not yet seven o'clock, it was darkening fast. The driver +switched on headlights, illuminating a long stretch of icy pavement. + +"Can't you go faster?" Mr. Parker urged impatiently. + +"Don't dare, sir," replied the driver. + +Even as he spoke, a crossroads traffic light flashed red. Though the +driver applied the foot brake with quick stabs, the car went into a +disastrous skid. Out of control, it slid crosswise in the narrow road. +The front wheels rolled into a deep, slippery ditch. + +"Just our luck!" muttered Mr. Parker. + +Several times the driver tried to back the car from the ditch. Failing, +he and Mr. Parker pushed while Penny handled the steering wheel. The +tires kept spinning and would not grip the ice. + +"No use," the publisher acknowledged at last. "We're only wasting time. +We need a tow car." + +"The nearest house or filling station is at least a mile up the road," +volunteered Penny. "I'm afraid we're stalled here until the police car +comes along." + +They climbed into the taxi and waited. No vehicle of any description came +by. With increasing impatience, Mr. Parker looked at his watch. + +"It's nearly seven o'clock now!" he exclaimed. "Either the police are +waiting farther down the road, or they've taken a different route!" + +"What are we going to do?" Penny asked helplessly. "If we sit here much +longer we'll miss catching those men at their meeting." + +"I don't see what we can do. Maybe our best bet is to walk to the nearest +filling station." + +Penny suddenly was struck with an idea. "The Riverview Yacht Club is +closer!" she cried. + +"True, but it's closed for the winter." + +"My iceboat is still there," said Penny. "If you're not afraid to ride +with me, I could get you to Johnson's Warehouse in nothing flat." + +"What are we waiting for?" demanded Mr. Parker. + +Leaving the cab driver behind, Penny and her father ran most of the way +to the club. The _Icicle_, covered with snow, runners frozen to the ice, +remained where it had been abandoned. + +"The sail's here too!" Penny declared, burrowing in a box hidden deep in +the cockpit. "In this wind, we'll go places!" + +"Are you sure you can handle the boat?" Mr. Parker asked anxiously. He +had never ridden in the _Icicle_ and from his daughter's vivid +descriptions, had no great desire to do so. + +"I know I can start it going," Penny replied with a quick laugh. "I'll +worry about stopping it when the time comes!" + +They cleared the little boat of snow and pushed it out on the smooth ice +of the river. Penny made certain that all the ropes were free running. + +"Now you get in, Dad," she advised as she hoisted the flapping sail. "I +want to be sure where you are when the fireworks begin." + +The wind filled the big sail like a balloon. Nothing happened. The +iceboat did not move an inch. + +"Why don't we go?" growled Mr. Parker. "Runners dull?" + +Penny gave the boat a hard push. + +"Want me to help?" offered her father. + +"No, thanks," puffed Penny. "When this baby makes up its mind, it will go +so fast you'd be left behind." + +Once more she pushed. The sail filled again and the runners stirred. + +"It's moving!" shouted Penny. + +The _Icicle_ was pulling away from her. She clung fast, trying to +scramble aboard. Her feet went out from under her and she was dragged +over the ice. + +"Hang on!" shouted Mr. Parker. "I can't sail this thing alone!" + +Penny clung desperately. Away flew a mitten. Her scarf flapped in her +face. With a supreme effort, she pulled herself aboard, and took command +of the tiller. + +"Are you hurt?" Mr. Parker shouted anxiously in her ear. + +Penny shook her head and laughed. "Getting started always is quite a +trick," she replied. "Sit tight! We have a stiff breeze tonight." + +Penny and her father wore no protective goggles. The sharp wind stung +their eyes even though they kept their heads low. + +"How'll we know when we get to the warehouse?" Mr. Parker shouted. "I +can't see anything!" + +"Just trust me," laughed Penny. "All I worry about is stopping this +bronco when we get there!" + +The boat was moving with the speed of an express train. Penny made her +decisions with lightning-like rapidity, twice steering to avoid open +stretches of water. She was worried, but had no intention of letting her +father know. + +The boat raced on. Then far ahead loomed the dark outline of a building. + +"That's the warehouse!" shouted Mr. Parker. "Don't go past it!" + +Penny gradually slowed the _Icicle_. Approaching shore, she slacked the +main sheet and shot up into the wind. By using her overshoes for brakes, +she finally brought the boat to a standstill not far from the warehouse. + +"Well done, skipper," praised Mr. Parker. + +Scrambling from the boat, they glanced anxiously about. A dim light shone +from inside the warehouse. Not far from its side entrance stood a truck. +There were no other vehicles, no sign of the expected police car. + +"Is this the place?" Penny asked doubtfully. + +"Yes, it's the only warehouse within a mile. Queer the police aren't here +to meet us." + +The publisher waded through a shrunken snowdrift to a side door of the +building. It was not locked and he pushed it open a crack. Far down a +deserted corridor shone a dim lantern light. + +"Oughtn't we to wait for the police?" Penny whispered uneasily. + +Without answering, Mr. Parker started down the corridor. Penny quickly +overtook him, padding along close at his side. + +The corridor opened into a large storage room used in years past to house +river merchandise. Now the walls were stacked high with tires. + +On the ground floor stood a truck which several men were loading. Two +others watched the work from a balcony overhead. + +"Dad, do you recognize any of those men?" Penny whispered. + +"No, but we've evidently come to the right place," he replied. + +The men did not talk as they loaded the tires into the truck. For many +minutes Penny and her father watched the work. + +"That truck soon will be pulling out," Penny observed. "Why don't the +police come?" + +"I'm going to talk to those men," Mr. Parker decided. "You stay here." + +Before Penny could protest, her father stepped boldly into the lighted +room. Immediately work ceased. Every eye focused upon him. + +"Good evening," said Mr. Parker casually. + +The remark was greeted by a suspicious silence. Then one of the men, a +red-faced fellow with a twisted lower lip, asked: "You lookin' fer +somebody?" + +"Just passing through and noticed the light," replied Mr. Parker. +"Wondered what's going on." + +"You can see, can't you?" growled one of the workmen. "We're trying to +load tires. Now get out of here or I'll bounce one on your head! We got +work to do." + +Mr. Parker did not lack courage. However, the grim faces warned him that +the men would not hesitate to make their promise good. With Penny +unprotected in the corridor he could afford to take no chances. + +"Sorry to have bothered you," he apologized, and retreated. + +Penny waited nervously in the dark hallway. "Now what are we to do?" she +whispered as her father rejoined her. + +"We'll telephone again for the police. Let's get out of here." + +Noiselessly they stole from the building. As they huddled in the lee of a +brick wall, a car came down the road. + +"That may be the police now!" Penny murmured hopefully. + +The car turned in at the warehouse. A lone policeman alighted. As he came +over to the building, Penny recognized him as Carl Burns. + +"Where's the rest of your men?" Mr. Parker demanded. "Surely you don't +expect to handle this tire gang single handed?" + +"Aren't you a bit mixed up?" the policeman drawled. + +"Mixed up?" + +"I'm here on a routine inspection. This is a defense plant, or didn't you +know?" + +"A defense plant!" Mr. Parker echoed. + +"A warehouse for one, I should say," corrected the policeman. "Tires +intended for the Wilson war plant are earmarked and shipped out from +here. A couple of trucks are going out tonight. I'm on the job to see +they're not hijacked." + +Penny gazed blankly at her father. If the policeman's information was +correct, then they had nearly made a serious blunder. + +"Guess we've been tricked," Mr. Parker muttered. "We were told this place +operates in the Black Market." + +"That's a laugh," responded the policeman. "Who told you that yarn?" + +"I can't divulge my source." + +"Well, you sure were taken for a ride!" the policeman taunted. "Mr. +Parker, why not let the police handle the crooks while you look after +your newspaper business? You've not been yourself since you were in that +auto accident." + +Penny and her father resented the implication, but wisely allowed the +remark to pass without comment. Decidedly crestfallen, they bade the +policeman goodbye and returned to the iceboat. + +"We've made ourselves ridiculous!" Mr. Parker commented bitterly as they +shoved off down river. "Taken in by Sam Burkholder!" + +"He probably lied to get rid of us," agreed Penny. "By this time he's +likely removed every tire from Mattie's garage!" + +Mr. Parker nodded and did not speak again. His failure to learn the +identity of the key men associated with Ropes Mollinberg, had been a +bitter disappointment. + +Penny handled the _Icicle_ effortlessly and without much thought. Faster +and faster the little boat traveled, its runners throwing up a powdery +dust. + +Then without warning the _Icicle_ struck something frozen in the ice. +Before Penny could make a move, the runners leaped from the surface. The +boat tilted to a sharp angle, and went over. + +Penny felt herself sliding. Snow filled her mouth, the sleeves of her +coat. Her cap hung over one ear. Laughing shakily, she scrambled to her +feet. + +"Are you all right, Dad?" she called anxiously. + +Then she saw him. Mr. Parker was sprawled flat on the ice a few yards +away. He did not move. Terrified, she ran to him and grasped his arm. + +"Dad! Speak to me!" + +Mr. Parker stirred slightly. He raised a hand and rubbed his head. Slowly +he pulled himself to a sitting position. + +"Penny--" he mumbled, staring at her. + +"Yes, Dad." + +"It's come to me--in a flash!" + +"What has, Dad?" Penny asked, wondering how badly her father had been +stunned. + +"Why, all the evidence I had in my portfolio! Names! Pictures! I know +every man who was mixed up in the tire deal. Jerry gave it all to me." + +"You remember everything?" cried Penny. "Dad, that's wonderful! It's just +like Doctor Greer said. You've regained your memory as the result of a +sudden blow." + +"Things did seem to rush back to me after I hit my head on the ice." + +Gripping Penny's hand, Mr. Parker pulled himself to his feet. Still +giddy, he staggered and caught the iceboat for support. Then recovering, +he exclaimed: + +"We've got to go back there right away!" + +"Where, Dad?" + +"To the warehouse. We were tricked, but not by Sam Burkholder! Policeman +Burns is one of the men I aim to expose!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 25 + _FINAL EDITION_ + + +Penny and her father had no definite plan as they raced toward Johnson's +warehouse in the iceboat. Their only thought was to return and somehow +prevent the escape of the tire thieves. + +"Dad, is Harley Schirr one of the gang?" Penny shouted in Mr. Parker's +ear. + +"Schirr?" he repeated impatiently. "Of course not!" + +"Then why didn't he want you to publish the tire stories in the _Star_?" + +"Oh, Schirr's a natural-born coward," Mr. Parker answered. "He likes to +snoop and give unasked advice. Let's forget him." + +The _Icicle_ slowed to a standstill near the warehouse. Penny and her +father leaped out and climbed the slippery bank. Nearby they saw a loaded +truck about to pull away from the building. + +"We never can stop those men now!" gasped Penny. + +"Yes, we can!" cried her father. "A police car is coming, and this time +it's no fake!" + +As he spoke, an automobile bearing the notation, "Police Department" in +bold letters, skidded into the driveway. Detective Fuller was at the +wheel and at least four policemen were with him. + +"Stop that truck!" Mr. Parker shouted. "Don't let it get away!" + +Detective Fuller and four companions leaped from the police car. As the +loaded truck started off with a roar, they blocked the road. + +"Halt!" shouted Detective Fuller. + +When the order was ignored, he fired twice. The bullets pierced the rear +tires of the truck. Air whistled out and the rubber slowly flattened. + +For a few yards the truck wobbled on, then stopped. Two detectives leaped +for the cab. + +"All right, get out!" ordered Detective Fuller, covering the men. + +The truck driver and two others slouched sullenly out of the cab. As +flashlights swept their faces, Penny recognized one of the men. + +"Hank Biglow!" she identified the driver. + +"And this man is Ham Mollinberg, a brother of Ropes," said Mr. Parker, +indicating a red-faced fellow in a leather jacket. "The man beside him is +Al Brancomb, wanted for skipping parole in California." + +"Any others in the warehouse?" demanded Detective Fuller. + +"There should be," said Penny excitedly. "Where's Mr. Burns?" + +"What Burns do you mean?" questioned one of the detectives. + +"Connected with your police force, unfortunately," informed Mr. Parker. +"That's why I planned to consult the Prosecutor before I spread the story +on the _Star's_ front page. You boys have done good work in Riverview and +I didn't want to make the department look bad." + +"Burns, eh?" Detective Fuller repeated. "We'll find out what he has to +say!" + +The policeman, however, was not to be apprehended so easily. Four men, +including Ropes Mollinberg, were captured inside the warehouse. Burns had +left the building some minutes earlier and had returned to Riverview. + +"Don't worry, we'll get him!" Detective Fuller promised Mr. Parker. "How +about these other eggs? Can you identify them?" + +"They're all members of the outfit," the publisher said without +hesitation. "One of my reporters, Jerry Livingston, spent weeks watching +these men and getting wise to their methods." + +"Then he can testify against them." + +"He can if he gets back," agreed Mr. Parker. "Jerry's in Canada and for +some reason we've been unable to locate him." + +Penny and her father remained at the warehouse until the handcuffed +prisoners had been taken away. They were jubilant over the capture. Not +only would the tire-theft gang be broken up, but the _Star_ had achieved +another exclusive front-page story. + +"The best part of all is that you've recovered your memory!" Penny +declared to her father. "After this, you won't dare fuss when I tell you +I'm going ice-boating!" + +"You're right," agreed Mr. Parker. "The _Icicle_ is the best pal I ever +had!" + +Within an hour after Penny and her father left the warehouse they were +notified that Mr. Burns had been taken into custody. Evidence piled up +rapidly against the policeman. As it definitely was established that he +had accepted money from Ropes Mollinberg, he was stripped of his badge +and put behind bars. + +Police were not compelled to search the Williams' garage. Before they +could act, Sam Burkholder came voluntarily to Central Station, offering +to make a clean breast of his part in the Black Market dealings. Both he +and Mattie were held as witnesses against the tire thieves. + +"Will Mattie be kept in jail long?" Penny asked her father. + +"I doubt it," he replied. "Apparently, Sam acted alone in selling illegal +tires. Since he's showing a disposition to cooperate with police, he'll +probably escape with a heavy fine." + +With the tire theft case soon to come up for trial, Penny was disturbed +lest Jerry Livingston fail to return from Canada in time to testify. For +many days she tormented herself with wild speculations. Then one +afternoon her worries were brought to an end by the arrival of a +telegram. Nothing had happened to the young reporter. He had failed to +reply to messages only because he had been out of touch with +civilization. + +In his wire, Jerry stated that he would return to Riverview at once to +aid in the search for the publisher. + +"Jerry doesn't know yet that you've been found!" Penny said to her +father. "We must wire him right away to set his mind at rest." + +The message was sent, and within a few hours a reply arrived, addressed +to Penny. + +"COMING ANYWAY," it read. "AM BRINGING YOU A BEAR RUG TOGETHER WITH A +NICE BEAR HUG." + +As if pleasant surprises never would end, still another came Penny's way. +Police notified her that among the tires seized at the Johnson Warehouse +was a set of five belonging to her stripped car. + +"You're much better off than I," Mr. Parker teased her. "Your car now is +in running order again. Mine will be in the garage for many a day. I'll +have to pay my own repair bill, too." + +"Unless the hit-skip driver is found." + +"I'm afraid he never will be," sighed Mr. Parker. "I'll always believe +the men who crowded me off the road were hired by the tire-theft gang. No +way to prove it though." + +"The car license number Mrs. Botts gave police didn't seem to be +accurate," Penny replied. "By the way, have you decided what you'll do +about her?" + +"Mrs. Botts?" + +"Yes, so far you've placed no formal charge against her." + +Mr. Parker smiled as he reached for a final edition of the _Star_. The +paper carried not only an account of the round-up at Johnson's Warehouse, +but a full confession from Mrs. Botts. + +"I bear the woman no ill will," he said. "She's already lost her position +as caretaker at the Deming estate. That's punishment enough as far as I'm +concerned." + +Presently Mrs. Weems entered the living-room with a glass of milk. When +she tried to make the publisher take it he complained that he no longer +was an invalid. + +"Now drink your milk like a good lad," Penny scolded. "Why, you're still +as thin as a ghost." + +With a wry face Mr. Parker gulped down the drink. + +"Let's not speak of ghosts," he pleaded. "I'm well now, and I don't like +to be reminded of those disgraceful night-shirt parades." + +"Are you sure you're perfectly well?" teased Penny. + +"Of course I am. My memory is as good as it ever was!" + +"Haven't you forgotten a rather important financial item?" + +Mr. Parker looked puzzled. Then light broke over his face. + +"Your allowance! I've not paid it for a long while, have I?" + +"You certainly haven't," grinned Penny. "The old till is painfully empty. +I can use a little folding money to good advantage." + +Her father smiled and opened his pocketbook. "Here you are," he said. "Go +out and paint the town red!" + +When Penny thumbed over the little stack of "folding money" she drew in +her breath. Then she leaped to her feet in youthful exuberance. + +"Oh, Dad, you're a darling!" she cried. "Why, this will buy a brush and a +whole barrel of red paint! Look out, Riverview, here I come!" + + + + + Transcriber's Notes + + +--Silently corrected a handful of palpable typos. + +--Replaced the list of books in the series by the complete list, as in + the final book, "The Cry at Midnight". + + + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Ghost Beyond the Gate, by Mildred A. 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