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diff --git a/35082-h/35082-h.htm b/35082-h/35082-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..53d0e88 --- /dev/null +++ b/35082-h/35082-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6135 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> +<head> +<title>Saboteurs on the River, by Mildred A. Wirt</title> +<style type="text/css"> + body { margin-left:1.5em; margin-right:1.5em; } + h1, h2, h3, h4, .center { text-align:center; clear:right; } + h2 { margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2.5em; line-height:1.7em; } + h3 { font-style:italic; } + table { clear:right; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + p, blockquote, li { text-align:justify; max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + div.verse { max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + div.bq { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:23em; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:2em; } + .bq p { margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em; } + div.box { border-style:double; margin-bottom:2em; max-width:20em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-top:2em; } + div.subbox { border-style:double; margin:.2em; } + div.img { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:center; margin-top:1em; } + .large { font-size:120%; } + .small { font-size:90%; } + .smaller { font-size:80%; } + .sc { font-variant:small-caps; } + .gsw { margin-left:3em; } + .ws2 { margin-left:1em; } + .ws3 { margin-left:1.5em; } + .tb { margin-top:2em; } + .fndef p { font-size:100%; margin-left:0em; text-indent:0em; } + div.fndef { margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em; text-align:justify; font-size:80%; margin-top:1em; } + a sup { font-size:60%; } + span.pb, div.pb, dt.pb, p.pb /* PAGE BREAKS */ + { text-align: right; float:right; margin-right:-1em; } + div.pb { display:inline; } + .pb { text-align:right; float:right; margin-left: 1.5em; + margin-top:.5em; margin-bottom:.5em; display:inline; + font-size:80%; font-style:normal; font-weight:bold; } + div.index .pb { display:block; } + dt.xx { text-align:justify; margin-left:2em; text-indent: -2em; } + dd { text-align:justify; margin-left:3em; text-indent: -2em; } +dl.toc { clear:both; } + /* CONTENTS (.TOC) */ + .toc dt.center { text-align:center; clear:both; margin-top:3em; margin-bottom:1em; } + .toc dt { text-align:right; clear:left; + margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:20em; } + .toc dt.smaller { max-width:25em; } + .toc dd { text-align:right; clear:both; margin-left:2em; } + .toc dd.t { text-align:right; clear:both; margin-left:4em; text-indent:0em; } + .toc dt a, .toc dd a { text-align:left; clear:right; float:left; } + .toc dt.sc { text-align:right; clear:both; } + .toc dt.scl { text-align:left; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; } + .toc dt.sct { text-align:right; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; margin-left:1em; } + .toc dt.jl { text-align:left; clear:both; font-variant:normal; } + .toc dt.scc { text-align:center; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; } + .toc dt span.lj { text-align:left; display:block; float:left; } + .toc dt a { font-variant:small-caps; } + .poem { margin-bottom:1em; margin-top:1em; max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + p.t0 { margin-bottom:0em; margin-top:0em; margin-left:2em; } + p.t { margin-bottom:0em; margin-top:0em; margin-left:3em; } +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Saboteurs on the River, 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: Saboteurs on the River + +Author: Mildred A. Wirt + +Release Date: January 26, 2011 [EBook #35082] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SABOTEURS ON THE RIVER *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Brenda Lewis and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div id="cover" class="img"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Saboteurs on the River" width="361" height="500" /> +</div> +<div class="box"> +<h1>Saboteurs +<br />on the River</h1> +<p class="center"><i>By</i> +<br />MILDRED A. WIRT</p> +<p class="center"><i>Author of</i> +<br /><span class="small">MILDRED A. WIRT MYSTERY STORIES +<br />TRAILER STORIES FOR GIRLS</span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="small"><i>Illustrated</i></span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="small">CUPPLES AND LEON COMPANY +<br /><i>Publishers</i> +<br />NEW YORK</span></p> +</div> +<div class="box"> +<div class="subbox"> +<p class="center"><span class="large"><b>PENNY PARKER</b></span> +<br />MYSTERY STORIES</p> +<p class="center"><span class="small"><i>Large 12 mo. <span class="gsw">Cloth</span> <span class="gsw">Illustrated</span></i></span></p> +</div> +<p class="center">TALE OF THE WITCH DOLL +<br />THE VANISHING HOUSEBOAT +<br />DANGER AT THE DRAWBRIDGE +<br />BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR +<br />CLUE OF THE SILKEN LADDER +<br />THE SECRET PACT +<br />THE CLOCK STRIKES THIRTEEN +<br />THE WISHING WELL +<br />SABOTEURS ON THE RIVER +<br />GHOST BEYOND THE GATE +<br />HOOFBEATS ON THE TURNPIKE +<br />VOICE FROM THE CAVE +<br />GUILT OF THE BRASS THIEVES +<br />SIGNAL IN THE DARK +<br />WHISPERING WALLS +<br />SWAMP ISLAND +<br />THE CRY AT MIDNIGHT</p> +<div class="subbox"> +<p class="center"><span class="smaller">COPYRIGHT, 1943, BY CUPPLES AND LEON CO.</span></p> +<p class="center">Saboteurs on the River</p> +<p class="center"><span class="smaller">PRINTED IN U. S. A.</span></p> +</div></div> +<div id="front" class="img"> +<img src="images/front.png" alt="“I’M GOING TO PUT MY CAMEO PIN INSIDE THIS ONE,” PENNY SAID." width="400" height="617" /> +<p class="center"><span class="small">“I’M GOING TO PUT MY CAMEO PIN INSIDE THIS ONE,” PENNY SAID. +<br />“Saboteurs on the River” <span class="gsw">(<a href="#Page_189">See Page 189</a>)</span></span></p> +</div> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> +<dl class="toc"> +<dt class="smaller"><span class="lj">CHAPTER</span> PAGE</dt> +<dt><a href="#c1">1 TROUBLE AFLOAT</a> <i>1</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c2">2 FRONT PAGE NEWS</a> <i>11</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c3">3 STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER</a> <i>21</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c4">4 AN UNWARRANTED ATTACK</a> <i>28</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c5">5 HELD ON SUSPICION</a> <i>36</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c6">6 OLD NOAH</a> <i>44</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c7">7 ARK OF THE MUD FLATS</a> <i>54</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c8">8 THE GREEN PARROT</a> <i>62</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c9">9 A JOB FOR MR. OAKS</a> <i>70</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c10">10 SALVAGE AND SABOTEURS</a> <i>78</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c11">11 PURSUIT BY TAXI</a> <i>86</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c12">12 JERRY’S DISAPPEARANCE</a> <i>94</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c13">13 A VACANT BUILDING</a> <i>101</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c14">14 TEST BLACKOUT</a> <i>110</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c15">15 A DRIFTING BARGE</a> <i>120</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c16">16 DANGER ON THE RIVER</a> <i>127</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c17">17 A STOLEN BOAT</a> <i>134</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c18">18 PENNY’S PLAN</a> <i>145</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c19">19 STANDING GUARD</a> <i>153</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c20">20 A SHACK IN THE WOODS</a> <i>163</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c21">21 THROUGH THE SKYLIGHT</a> <i>170</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c22">22 A SEARCHING PARTY</a> <i>177</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c23">23 HELP FROM NOAH</a> <i>184</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c24">24 A MESSAGE IN THE BOTTLE</a> <i>193</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c25">25 A BOW IN THE CLOUD</a> <i>201</i></dt> +</dl> +<div class="pb" id="Page_1">[1]</div> +<h2 id="c1"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">1</span> +<br /><i>TROUBLE AFLOAT</i></h2> +<p>A girl in blue slacks, woolen sweater and tennis +shoes strode jauntily along the creaking boards of the +dark river dock. A large white cotton bag slung +carelessly over one shoulder added to the grace of the +lithe young figure.</p> +<p>“Hi, Penny!” called a young man who tinkered +with the engine of a motorboat. “Out to bury the +body?”</p> +<p>Penny Parker chuckled and shifted the bag to the +opposite shoulder. “Just thought it would be a good +night for a sail, Bill. Have you seen Louise Sidell +sneaking around anywhere?”</p> +<p>Before the young sailor could answer, a voice +shouted from the darkness, “Here I am!”</p> +<p>Turning her head, Penny glimpsed her chum, a +chubby silhouette in the moonlight. Louise, warmly +dressed, already was comfortably established in one +of the small sailing boats tied up at the wharf.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_2">[2]</div> +<p>“Time you’re arriving,” she said accusingly as +Penny tossed the sail bag into her hands. “You promised +to meet me here at eight o’clock. It’s at least +eight-thirty now.”</p> +<p>“Sorry, old dear.” Penny leaped nimbly aboard +and with practiced fingers began to put up the mainsail. +“After I ’phoned you, I got hung up at home. +Dishes and all that sort of thing. Then Dad delayed +me ten minutes while he lectured on the undesirability +of daughter taking a moonlight sail.”</p> +<p>“I gather you gained the better of the argument,” +Louise grinned. “Mother made me agree to wear a +life-preserver. Imagine! And there’s barely enough +wind stirring to whiff us across the river.”</p> +<p>For many years Penny and Louise had been chums. +Students at Riverview High School, they enjoyed the +same sports, particularly swimming and sailing. The +little mahogany dinghy, appropriately named “Pop’s +Worry,” was owned by Penny’s father, Anthony +Parker, editor of Riverview’s most enterprising newspaper, +the <i>Star</i>.</p> +<p>Together with Mrs. Maud Weems, a housekeeper +who had cared for Penny since her mother’s death, he +never felt entirely easy when the girls were on the +river at night. Nevertheless, Penny was an excellent +sailor and rather gloried in the record that her boat +had overturned only once during the past season.</p> +<p>“All set?” she asked Louise, casting off the ropes +one by one.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_3">[3]</div> +<p>As Penny shoved the boat away from the dock, the +flapping sail stiffened to the breeze. Louise ducked +her head to avoid the swinging boom.</p> +<p>Bill Evans, watching from shore, called a friendly +warning: “If you’re planning to sail down river, better +not get too close to Thompson’s bridge! The new +regulations say seventy-five feet.”</p> +<p>“We’ll give it a wide berth,” responded Penny. +She sailed the boat out through the slip into the main +channel of the Big Bear river. When well beyond +the dock she commented sadly: “Poor old Bill. Always +giving advice. Guess he can’t help it.”</p> +<p>“His boat’s just a leaky tub,” replied Louise. “I +hear it sunk twice while tied up to the dock. One +has to feel sorry for him and treat him with kindness.”</p> +<p>Penny steered “Pop’s Worry” in a diagonal course +down stream. On either side of the shore, from +houses, factories, and a nearby amusement park, lights +twinkled and were reflected on the unruffled surface +of the water. The breeze was soft and warm; the +stars seemed very close. Overhead a disc of orange +moon rode lazily, now and then dodging behind a +fleecy cloud.</p> +<p>“It’s a perfect night to sail,” Louise said, snuggling +amid the cushions. “Wish we’d brought the phonograph +along.”</p> +<p>“Uh-huh,” Penny agreed, her gaze on an approaching +motorboat.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_4">[4]</div> +<p>The oncoming craft showed no lights. Uncertain +that the pilot would see Pop’s Worry, she focused the +beam of her flashlight high on the mainsail. The +motorboat altered its course instantly and completely. +Instead of turning only enough to avoid the sailing +craft, it circled in a sharp arc and sped toward the +opposite shore. There it was lost to view amid a dark +fringe of trees.</p> +<p>“It’s against the regulations to cruise without +lights,” Penny commented. “Wonder who piloted +that boat?”</p> +<p>“Whoever he was, you seemed to frighten him +away.”</p> +<p>“He did turn tail when he saw my light,” Penny +agreed, scanning the distant shore. “I imagine the +boat came from Ottman’s. At least it looked like one +of theirs.”</p> +<p>Ottman’s—a nautical supply shop and boat rental +dock—was well known, not only to the girls, but to +all sailors who plied nearby waters. Owned and operated +by a brother and sister, Sara and Burt Ottman, +the establishment provided canoes, sea skiffs and rowboats +to all who were able to pay the hourly rate. +Because many of the would-be boatmen were more +venturesome than experienced, seasoned sailors were +inclined to eye such pilots with distrust.</p> +<p>“Careful, Penny!” Louise called as she saw the +mainsail begin to flap in the wind. “You’re luffing!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_5">[5]</div> +<p>Reminded of her duties as steersman, Penny headed +the little boat on its course once more. As the sail +again became taut, she noticed a small object floating +in the water directly ahead. At first she could not be +certain what it was, and then she decided that it must +be a corked bottle.</p> +<p>Deliberately Penny steered close to the object. +Remarking that a bottle would create a hazard for the +propellers of a motorboat, she reached to snatch it +from the water. The current, however, swung it just +beyond her reach.</p> +<p>“Bother!” she exclaimed in annoyance. “I want +that bottle!”</p> +<p>“Oh, what do you care?” Louise demanded with a +shrug. “Someone else will fish it out.”</p> +<p>“It could do a great deal of damage. Besides, as +it floated past, I thought I saw a piece of paper inside.”</p> +<p>“If you aren’t the same old Penny!” teased Louise. +“Always looking for a mystery. I suppose you think +yonder bottle bears a note telling where pirates buried +their treasure?”</p> +<p>“Probably just a paper requesting: ‘Please write to +your lonely pen pal.’ All the same, I must find out.” +Keeping her eye on the floating bottle, Penny skillfully +brought the boat about.</p> +<p>“Take the tiller a minute, please,” she requested her +chum.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_6">[6]</div> +<p>Not without misgivings, Louise reached for the +long steering stick. Although she occasionally handled +“Pop’s Worry,” she never felt confident of her +ability as a sailor. An unexpected puff of wind or a +sudden tilt of the boat could send her into a state of +panic.</p> +<p>“Grab that old bottle and don’t take twenty years,” +she urged nervously.</p> +<p>Penny leaned far out over the boat in an attempt +to reach the bottle. Her weight tilted the light craft +low into the water. Louise hastily shifted to the opposite +side as a counter-balance, and in so doing, released +the mainsheet. The boom promptly swung +out.</p> +<p>Penny made a wild lunge for the running sheet, but +could not prevent disaster. The end of the boom +dipped into the water. As the sail became wet and +heavy it slowly pulled the boat after it.</p> +<p>“We’re going over!” Louise shrieked, scrambling +for the high side.</p> +<p>“We are over,” corrected Penny sadly.</p> +<p>Both girls had been tossed into the water. Louise, +protected by a life preserver, immediately grasped the +overturned boat and even saved her hair from getting +wet. Penny, however, swam after the bobbing bottle. +A moment later she came back, triumphantly +hugging it against her chest.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_7">[7]</div> +<p>“It’s a blue pop bottle, Louise,” she announced, +grasping her chum’s extended hand. “And there <i>is</i> +a piece of paper inside!”</p> +<p>“You and that stupid old bottle!” Louise retorted. +“I guess it was my fault we upset, but you never +should have turned the tiller over to me.”</p> +<p>“Oh, who minds a little upset?”</p> +<p>“I do,” Louise said crossly. “The water’s cold, and +we’re at least a quarter of a mile from shore. No boats +close by, either.”</p> +<p>“Oh, we can get out of this by ourselves,” Penny +returned, undismayed. “Hold my bottle while I try +to haul in the sail.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to uncork your precious bottle and drop +it to the bottom of the river!”</p> +<p>Nevertheless, while her chum worked with the halyard, +Louise held tightly to the little object which had +caused all the trouble. Neither in shape nor size was +the bottle unusual, but the paper it contained did +arouse her curiosity. Though she never would have +admitted it, she too wondered if it might bear an interesting +message.</p> +<p>After pulling in the heavy, water-soaked sail, the +girls climbed to the high side of the boat, trying by +their combined weight to right it. Time and again +they failed. At last, breathless, cold, discouraged, +they admitted that the task was beyond their strength.</p> +<p>“Let’s shout for help,” Louise proposed, anxiously +watching the distant shore lights.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_8">[8]</div> +<p>“All right,” agreed Penny, “but I doubt anyone +will hear us. My, we’re drifting down river fast!”</p> +<p>Decidedly worried, the girls shouted many times. +There were no boats near, not even the motor craft +they had observed a few minutes earlier. The swift +current seemed to be swinging them directly toward +Thompson’s bridge.</p> +<p>“A watchman always is on guard there night and +day,” Penny commented, scanning the arching structure +of steel. “If the old fellow isn’t asleep he should +see us as we drift by.”</p> +<p>Louise was too cold and miserable to answer. +However, she rather unwillingly held the blue bottle +while Penny swam and tried to guide the overturned +boat toward shore.</p> +<p>When the girls were fairly close to the bridge, they +began to shout once more. Although they could see +automobiles moving to and fro across the great archway, +no one became aware of their plight.</p> +<p>Then as they despaired, there came an answering +shout from above. A powerful beam of light played +over the water, cutting a bright path.</p> +<p>“Help! Help!” screamed Louise, waving an arm.</p> +<p>“Halt or I’ll fire!” rang out the terse command from +the bridge.</p> +<p>“Halt?” cried Penny, too exasperated to consider +the significance of the order. “That’s what we’d like +to do, but we can’t!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_9">[9]</div> +<p>The searchlight came to rest on the overturned +sailboat. The girls were so blinded that for a moment +they could see nothing. Then the searchlight shifted +slightly to the left, and they were able to distinguish +a short, stoop-shouldered man who peered over the +railing of the bridge. Apparently satisfied that their +plight was genuine, he called reassuringly:</p> +<p>“Okay, take it easy. I’ll heave you a line.”</p> +<p>The watchman disappeared into the little bridge +house. Soon he reappeared, and with excellent aim, +tossed a weighted rope so that it fell squarely across +the overturned boat. Penny seized an end and made +it fast.</p> +<p>“I’ll try to pull you in,” the watchman shouted. +“Just hang on.”</p> +<p>Leaving his post on the bridge, the old fellow +climbed down a steep incline to the muddy shore. +By means of the long rope, he slowly and laboriously +pulled the water-logged boat with the clinging girls +toward a quiet cove.</p> +<p>Once within wading depth, the chums aided the +watchman by leading the craft in. Together the +three of them beached “Pop’s Worry” on a narrow +strip of sand.</p> +<p>“Thanks,” Penny gasped, flipping a wet curl from +off her freckled nose. “On second thought, many, +many thanks.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_10">[10]</div> +<p>“You’ve no business to get so close to the bridge,” +the watchman retorted. “It’s agin’ the regulations. +I could have you arrested.”</p> +<p>“But it wasn’t our fault this old sailboat upset,” +Penny returned reasonably. “We were reaching for +a floating bottle—oh, my Aunt! Where is that bottle, +Louise? Don’t tell me we’ve lost it!”</p> +<p>Her chum was given no opportunity to reply, for +at that moment a motorboat roared down the river at +high speed. Its throttle was wide open, and it appeared +to be racing straight toward the bridge.</p> +<p>“Halt!” shouted the watchman, jerking a weapon +from a leather holster. “Halt!”</p> +<p>The pilot did not obey the command. Instead, to +the amazement of the watchers, he leaped from the +cockpit and swam for the opposite shore. Twice the +watchman fired at him, but the bullets were well +above the swimmer’s head.</p> +<p>The unpiloted boat, its helm securely lashed, drove +straight on its course.</p> +<p>“It’s going to strike the bridge!” shouted Louise.</p> +<p>As the boat raced head on into one of the massive +concrete piers, there came a deafening explosion. The +entire steel structure of the bridge seemed to recoil +from the impact. Girders shivered and shook, cables +rattled. On the eastern approach, brakes screamed as +automobiles were brought to a sudden halt.</p> +<p>“Saboteurs!” the watchman cried hoarsely. +“They’ve done it—dynamited the bridge!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_11">[11]</div> +<h2 id="c2"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">2</span> +<br /><i>FRONT PAGE NEWS</i></h2> +<p>Although one of the main concrete piers had +been damaged by the explosion, the approaches to the +bridge remained intact. Several automobiles drew +up at the curbing, but others, their drivers unaware +of what had caused the blast, sped on across.</p> +<p>From their position beneath the bridge, Louise, +Penny, and the watchman could see the entire steel +structure quiver. The underpinning had been weakened, +but whether or not it was safe for traffic to +proceed, only an engineer could determine.</p> +<p>“Oughtn’t we stop the cars?” Penny demanded, for +the watchman seemed stunned by what had happened. +His eyes were fixed on the opposite shore, at a point +amid the trees where the pilot of the motorboat had +crawled from the water.</p> +<p>“Yes, yes,” he muttered, bringing his attention once +more to the bridge. “No chance to catch that saboteur +now. We must stop the autos.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_12">[12]</div> +<p>Shouting as he ran, the watchman scrambled up the +steep slope to the western approach of the bridge. +Realizing that he would be unable to cope with traffic +moving from two directions, the girls hesitated, and +then decided to help him. Their wet shoes provided +poor traction on the hill. Slipping, sliding, clothing +plastered to their bodies, they reached the bridge level.</p> +<p>“You hold the cars at this end!” ordered the watchman +as he glimpsed them. “I’ll lower the gate at the +other side!”</p> +<p>Stationing themselves at the entrance to the bridge, +Louise and Penny forced motorists to halt at the curb. +Within a minute or two, a long line had formed.</p> +<p>“What’s wrong?” demanded one irate driver. “An +accident?”</p> +<p>“Bridge damaged,” Penny replied tersely.</p> +<p>All along the line horns began to toot. A few of +the more curious motorists alighted and came to bombard +the girls with questions. In the midst of the excitement, +one of the cars broke out of line and crept +to the very end of the pavement.</p> +<p>“Listen, Mister,” Penny began indignantly to the +driver. “You’ll have to back up. You can’t cross—” +she broke off as she recognized the man at the wheel. +“Dad! Well, for Pete’s sake!”</p> +<p>“Penny!” the newspaper man exclaimed, no less +dumbfounded. “What are you and Louise doing +here? And in those wet clothes?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_13">[13]</div> +<p>“Policing the bridge. Dad, there’s a big story for +you here! A saboteur just blew up one of the piers +by ramming it with a motorboat!”</p> +<p>“I thought I heard an explosion as I was driving +down Clark Street!” exclaimed Mr. Parker. Opening +the car door, he leaped out and wrapped his overcoat +about Penny’s shivering shoulders. “Now tell me +exactly what happened.”</p> +<p>As calmly as they could, the girls reported how the +saboteur had dynamited the bridge.</p> +<p>“This is a front page story!” the newspaper owner +cried jubilantly. “Penny, you and Louise take my +car and scoot for home. When you get there call the +<i>Star</i> office. Have Editor DeWitt send a reporter to +help me—Jerry Livingston, if he’s around. We’ll +need a crack photographer too—Salt Sommers.”</p> +<p>“I can get the call through much quicker by running +to the drugstore.” Penny jerked her head toward +a cluster of buildings not far from the bridge +entrance. “As for going home at a moment like this, +never!”</p> +<p>“So you want a case of pneumonia?” Mr. Parker +barked. “How’d you get wet anyhow?”</p> +<p>“Sailboat,” Penny answered briefly. She took the +car keys from her father, and pressed them upon +Louise.</p> +<p>“But I don’t want to go if you don’t,” her chum +argued.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_14">[14]</div> +<p>“You’re more susceptible to pneumonia than I am,” +Penny said, giving her a little push. “Dash on home, +and get into warm, dry clothing. And don’t forget +to take off that life preserver before you hop into +bed!”</p> +<p>Thus urged, Louise reluctantly backed Mr. Parker’s +car to the main street, and drove away.</p> +<p>“Now I’ll slosh over to the drugstore and call the +<i>Star</i> office,” Penny offered briskly. “Lend me a +nickel, Dad.”</p> +<p>“I’m crazy as an eel to let you stay,” Mr. Parker +muttered, fumbling in his pocket for a coin. “You +should have gone with Louise.”</p> +<p>“Let’s argue about that tomorrow, Dad. Right +now we must work fast unless we want other newspapers +to scoop us on this story.”</p> +<p>While her father remained behind to direct bridge +traffic, Penny ran to the nearest drugstore. Darting +into the one telephone booth ahead of an astonished +woman customer, she called Editor DeWitt of the +<i>Star</i>. Tersely she relayed her father’s orders.</p> +<p>“Jerry and Salt will be out there in five minutes,” +DeWitt promised. “Now what can you give us on +the explosion? Did you witness it?”</p> +<p>“Did I?” echoed Penny. “Why, I practically +caused it!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_15">[15]</div> +<p>With no further encouragement, she launched into +a vivid, eye-witness account of the bridge dynamiting. +As she talked, a re-write man on another telephone, +took down everything she reported.</p> +<p>“Now about the saboteur’s motorboat,” he said as +she finished. “Can you give us a description of it?”</p> +<p>“Not a very good one,” Penny admitted. “It +looked like one of Ottman’s rented boats with an outboard +attached. In fact, Louise and I saw a similar +craft earlier in the evening which was cruising not far +from the bridge.”</p> +<p>“Then you think the saboteur may have rented his +boat from Ottman’s?”</p> +<p>“Well, it’s a possibility.”</p> +<p>“You’ve given us some good stuff!” the rewrite man +praised. “DeWitt’s getting out an extra. Shoot us +any new facts as soon as you can.”</p> +<p>“Dad’s on the job full blast,” Penny answered. +“He’ll soon have all the details for you.”</p> +<p>Slamming out of the telephone booth, she ran back +to the bridge. Her father no longer directed traffic, +but had turned the task over to a pompous motorist +who thoroughly enjoyed his authority.</p> +<p>“You can’t cross, young lady,” he said as she sought +to pass him. “Bridge’s unsafe.”</p> +<p>“I’m a reporter for the <i>Star</i>,” Penny replied confidently.</p> +<p>The man stared at her bedraggled clothing. “A reporter?” +he inquired dubiously.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_16">[16]</div> +<p>Just then a police car, its siren shrilling, sped up to +the bridge. Close behind came another car which +bore a printed card “<i>Star</i>” on its windshield. It braked +to a standstill nearby and out leaped two young men, +Jerry Livingston and Salt Sommers.</p> +<p>“Hello, Penny!” Jerry greeted her. “Might have +known you’d be here. Where’s the Chief?”</p> +<p>“Somewhere, sleuthing around,” Penny answered. +“I lost him a minute ago when I telephoned the <i>Star</i> +office.”</p> +<p>Salt Sommers, a felt hat cocked low over his eyes, +began unloading photographic equipment from the +coupe.</p> +<p>“Where’ll I get the best shots?” he asked Penny. +“Other side or this?”</p> +<p>“Under the bridge,” she directed crisply. “None +of the damage shows from above.”</p> +<p>Salt slung the heavy camera over his shoulder, and +disappeared down the incline which led to the river +bed.</p> +<p>Before Jerry and Penny could move away, Mr. +Parker hurried up with the watchman in tow.</p> +<p>“This is Carl Oaks, bridge guard,” he announced +without preliminary. “Take him over to the drugstore, +Jerry, and put him on the wire. We want his +complete story for the <i>Star</i>.”</p> +<p>“Not so fast,” drawled a voice from behind. “We +want to talk to Carl Oaks.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_17">[17]</div> +<p>One of the policemen, a detective, moved over to +the group and began to question the watchman.</p> +<p>“It wasn’t my fault the bridge was dynamited,” the +old fellow whined. “I shouted at the boatman and +fired twice.”</p> +<p>“He got away?”</p> +<p>“Yeah. Jumped overboard before the boat struck +the pier. Last I saw of him, he was climbing out of +the river on the other shore.”</p> +<p>“At what point?”</p> +<p>“Right over there.” The watchman indicated a +clump of maples beyond the far side of the bridge. +“I could see him plainly from the beach.”</p> +<p>“And what were <i>you</i> doing on the beach?” questioned +the detective sharply.</p> +<p>“Ask her,” Carl Oaks muttered, eyeing Penny.</p> +<p>“Mr. Oaks helped my friend and me when our sailboat +upset,” she supported his story. “It really wasn’t +his fault that he was away from his post at the time of +the explosion.”</p> +<p>Both Penny and the watchman were questioned at +considerable length by the detective. Meanwhile, +other officers were searching for the escaped saboteur. +Several members of the squad went beneath the bridge +to inspect the damage and collect shattered sections +of the wrecked boat.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_18">[18]</div> +<p>Dismissed at last by the detective, Penny, her father +and Jerry crossed the bridge to join in the search. +Carl Oaks, whose answers did not entirely satisfy +police, was detained for further questioning.</p> +<p>“Penny, tell me more about this fellow Oaks,” Mr. +Parker urged his daughter. “I suppose he did his +best to stop the saboteur?”</p> +<p>“It seemed so to me,” Penny replied slowly. “He +was a miserable marksman, though. I guess he must +have been excited when he fired.”</p> +<p>Following a trail of moving lights, the trio soon +came to a group of policemen who were examining +footprints in the mud of the river bank.</p> +<p>“This is where the saboteur got away,” Penny +whispered to her father. “Do you suppose the fellow +is still hiding in the woods?”</p> +<p>“Not likely,” Mr. Parker answered. “A job of this +sort would be planned in every detail.”</p> +<p>The newspaper owner’s words were borne out a +few minutes later when a policeman came upon a +clump of bushes where an automobile had stood. +Grass was crushed, a small patch of oil was visible, +and the soft earth showed tire imprints.</p> +<p>Penny, her father and Jerry, did not remain long in +the vicinity. Satisfied that the saboteur had made his +get-away by car, they were eager to report their findings +to the <i>Star</i> office.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_19">[19]</div> +<p>Mr. Parker telephoned DeWitt and then joined the +others at the press car. As Salt Sommers climbed +aboard with his camera, an automobile bearing a <i>News</i> +windshield sticker, skidded to a stop nearby.</p> +<p>“Too bad, boys,” Salt taunted the rival photographers. +“Better late than never!”</p> +<p>Already news vendors were crying the <i>Star’s</i> first +extra. Once well away from the bridge, Mr. Parker +stopped the car to buy a paper.</p> +<p>“Nice going,” he declared in satisfaction as he +scanned the big black headlines. “We beat every +other Riverview paper by a good margin. A colorful +story, too.”</p> +<p>“Thanks to whom?” demanded Penny, giving him +a pinch.</p> +<p>“I suppose I should say, to you,” he admitted with +a grin. “However, I see you’ve already received +ample credit. DeWitt gave you a by-line.”</p> +<p>“Did he really?” Penny took the paper from her +father’s hand and gazed affectionately at her own +name in print. “Nice of him. Especially when I +didn’t even suggest the idea.”</p> +<p>To a newspaper reporter, a story tagged with his +own name means high honor. Many times Penny, +ever alert for news, had enjoyed the satisfaction of +seeing her stories appear with a by-line. Early in her +career as a self-made newspaper girl, her contributions +had been regarded as something of an annoyance +to her father and the staff of the <i>Star</i>. But of late she +had turned in many of the paper’s best scoops and incidentally, +had solved a few mysteries.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_20">[20]</div> +<p>“This is the way I like a story written,” Mr. Parker +declared, reading aloud from the account which bore +his daughter’s name. “No flowery phrases. Just a +straight version of how your sailboat upset and what +you saw as it floated down toward the bridge.”</p> +<p>“It’s a pretty drab account if you ask me,” sniffed +Penny. “I could have written it up much better myself. +Why, the re-write man didn’t even tell how +Louise and I happened to upset!”</p> +<p>“A detail of no importance,” Mr. Parker returned. +“I mean, in connection with the story,” he corrected +hastily as Penny flashed him an injured look. “What +did cause you to capsize?”</p> +<p>“A blue bottle, Dad. It had a piece of paper inside. +I was reaching for it and—oh, my aunt!”</p> +<p>“Now what?” demanded her father.</p> +<p>“Turn the car around and drive back to the bridge!”</p> +<p>“Drive back? Why?”</p> +<p>“I’ve lost that blue bottle,” Penny fairly wailed. +“Louise had it, but I know she didn’t take it home with +her. It must be lying somewhere on the beach near +our stranded sailboat. Oh, please Dad, turn back!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_21">[21]</div> +<h2 id="c3"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">3</span> +<br /><i>STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER</i></h2> +<p>Mr. Parker did not slacken the speed of the car. +Relaxing somewhat, he edged farther away from +Penny, whose sodden garments were oozing water.</p> +<p>“A bottle!” he exclaimed. “Penny, for a minute +you had me worried. I thought you meant something +important.”</p> +<p>“But Dad, the bottle is important,” she argued earnestly. +“You see, it contains a folded piece of paper, +and I’m sure it must be a message.”</p> +<p>“Of all the idiotic things! At a time like this when +you should be worried about your health, you plague +me about a silly bottle. We’re going straight home.”</p> +<p>“Oh, all right,” Penny accepted the decision with +a shrug. “Nevertheless, I’m curious about that bottle, +and I mean to find it tomorrow!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_22">[22]</div> +<p>Mr. Parker dropped Jerry and Salt off at the newspaper +plant and then drove on to his home. The +house, a modern two-story dwelling, was situated on +a terrace overlooking the river. Lights glowed from +the living room windows and Mrs. Weems, the stout +housekeeper, could be seen hovering over the radio.</p> +<p>“I was just listening to the news about the dynamiting,” +she remarked as Mr. Parker and his daughter +came in from the kitchen. Turning her head, she +stared at the girl’s bedraggled hair and wet clothing. +“Why, Penny Parker!”</p> +<p>“I guess I <i>am</i> a little bit moist,” Penny admitted +with a grin. Sitting down on the davenport, she began +to strip off her shoes and stockings.</p> +<p>“Not here!” Mrs. Weems protested. “Take a hot +shower while I fix you a warm drink. Oh, I knew +you shouldn’t have gone sailing at night.”</p> +<p>“But Mrs. Weems—”</p> +<p>“Scoot right up to the bathroom and get out of +those wet clothes!” the housekeeper interrupted. +“You’ll be lucky if you don’t come down with your +death o’ cold.”</p> +<p>Carrying a shoe in either hand, Penny wearily +climbed the stairs. By the time she had finished under +the shower, Mrs. Weems appeared with a glass of +hot lemonade.</p> +<p>“Drink this,” she commanded sternly. “Then get +into bed and I’ll fix you up with the hot water bag.”</p> +<p>“But I’m not sick,” Penny grumbled.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_23">[23]</div> +<p>“You will be tomorrow,” the housekeeper predicted. +“Your father told me how he allowed you to +stay at the bridge while police searched for the saboteur. +I declare, I don’t know what he was thinking +of!”</p> +<p>“Dad and I are a couple of tough old news hawks,” +Penny chuckled. “Well, I suppose I’ll have to compromise +with you.”</p> +<p>“Compromise?” Mrs. Weems asked suspiciously.</p> +<p>“I’ll drink the lemonade if you’ll let me skip the +hot water bottle.”</p> +<p>“Indeed not,” Mrs. Weems returned firmly. “Now +jump into bed, and no more arguments.”</p> +<p>Although Penny considered the housekeeper entirely +too thorough in her methods, she enjoyed the +pleasant warmth of the bed. She drank the lemonade, +submitted to the hot water bottle, and then snuggling +down, slept soundly. When she awakened, sunlight +streamed in through the Venetian blinds. Cocking an +eye at the dresser clock, she saw to her dismay that +it was ten o’clock.</p> +<p>“My Aunt!” she exclaimed, leaping out of bed. +“All this good time wasted!”</p> +<p>With the speed of a trained fireman, Penny wriggled +into her clothes. She gave her auburn hair a +quick brush but took time to slap a little polish on her +saddle shoes before bounding down the stairs to the +kitchen.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_24">[24]</div> +<p>“Is that you or a gazelle escaped from the zoo?” +inquired Mrs. Weems who was washing dishes at the +sink.</p> +<p>“Why didn’t you bounce me out of bed two hours +ago?” asked Penny. “I have an important business +engagement for this morning.”</p> +<p>“You’re not going to the river again, I hope!”</p> +<p>“Oh, but I must, Mrs. Weems.” Penny opened the +refrigerator and helped herself to a bowl of strawberries +and a Martha Washington pie.</p> +<p>“You’re not breakfasting on that,” said the housekeeper, +taking the dishes away from her. “Oatmeal +is what you need. Now why must you go to the +river?”</p> +<p>“Someone has to salvage the sailboat. Besides, I +lost a valuable object last night—”</p> +<p>The telephone jingled, and Penny darted off to +answer it. As she had anticipated, the call was from +Louise Sidell, who in a very husky voice asked her +how she was feeling.</p> +<p>“Fit as a fiddle and ready to go bottle hunting!” +Penny replied promptly. “And you?”</p> +<p>“I hurt in all the wrong places,” Louise complained. +“What a night!”</p> +<p>“Why, I enjoyed every minute of it,” Penny said +with sincerity. “If you’re such a wreck I suppose you +won’t care to go with me to the river this morning. +By the way, what did you do with that blue bottle?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_25">[25]</div> +<p>“I haven’t the slightest idea. I’m sure I had it in my +hand when we reached shore, but that’s the last I remember.”</p> +<p>“Well, never mind, if it’s anywhere on the beach +I’ll find it,” Penny said. “Sure you don’t want to tag +along?”</p> +<p>“Maybe I will.”</p> +<p>“Then meet me in twenty minutes at Ottman’s +dock. Signing off now to gobble a bowl of oatmeal.”</p> +<p>Without giving Louise a chance to change her +mind, Penny hung up the receiver and returned to +the kitchen. After fortifying herself with oatmeal, a +glass of orange juice, bacon, two rolls and sundry odds +and ends, she started off to meet Louise. Her chum, +looking none too cheerful, awaited her near Ottman’s +dock.</p> +<p>“Why did you ask me to meet you at this particular +place, Penny?” she inquired. “It was a block out of +my way.”</p> +<p>“I thought we might rent one of Ottman’s boats +and row down to the bridge. It will be easier than +walking along the mud flats.”</p> +<p>“You think of everything,” Louise said admiringly. +“But where’s the proprietor of this place?”</p> +<p>Boats of all description were fastened along the +dock, but neither Burt Ottman nor his sister were +visible. Not far from a long shed which served as +ticket office and canoe-storage house, an empty double-deck +motor launch had been tied to a pier. An +aged black and white dog drowsed on its sunny deck.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_26">[26]</div> +<p>“Guess the place is deserted,” Penny commented. +After wandering about, she sat down on an overturned +row boat which had been pulled out near the water’s +edge.</p> +<p>The boat moved beneath her, and an irate voice +rumbled: “Would you mind getting off?”</p> +<p>Decidedly startled, Penny sprang to her feet.</p> +<p>As the boat was pushed over on its side, a girl in +grimy slacks, rolled from beneath it. Barely twenty +years of age, her skin was rough and brown from constant +exposure to wind and sun. A smear of varnish +decorated one cheek and she held a can of caulking +material in her hand.</p> +<p>“I’m sorry,” said Penny, smiling. “Do you live under +that boat?”</p> +<p>Sara Ottman’s dark eyes flashed. Getting to her +feet, she regarded the girl with undisguised hostility.</p> +<p>“Very clever, aren’t you!” she said scathingly. “In +fact, quite the little joker!”</p> +<p>“Why, I didn’t mean anything,” Penny apologized. +“I had no idea you were working under that thing.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_27">[27]</div> +<p>“So clever, and such a marvelous detective,” Sara +went on, paying no heed. “Why, it was Penny +Parker who not so long ago astonished Riverview by +solving the Mystery of the Witch Doll! And who but +Penny aided the police in trailing The Vanishing +Houseboat? It was our own Penny who learned why +the tower Clock Struck Thirteen. And now we are +favored with her most valuable opinion in connection +with the bridge dynamiting case!”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise were dumbfounded by the sudden, +unwarranted attack. By no stretch of the imagination +could they think that Sara Ottman meant +her words as a joke. But what had her so aroused? +While it was true that Penny had solved many local +mysteries, she never had been boastful of her accomplishments. +In fact, she was one of the most popular +girls in Riverview.</p> +<p>“Are you sure you haven’t a fever, Miss Ottman?” +Penny demanded, her own eyes blazing. “I certainly +fail to understand such an outburst.”</p> +<p>“Of course you do,” the other mocked. “You’re +not used to talk coming straight from the shoulder. +Why are you here anyhow?”</p> +<p>“To rent a boat.”</p> +<p>“Well, you can’t have one,” Sara Ottman said +shortly. “And if you never come around here again, +it will be soon enough.”</p> +<p>Glaring once more at Penny, she turned and strode +into the boathouse.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_28">[28]</div> +<h2 id="c4"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">4</span> +<br /><i>AN UNWARRANTED ATTACK</i></h2> +<p>“Now will you tell me what I did to deserve a +crack like that?” Penny muttered as the door of the +boathouse slammed behind Sara Ottman.</p> +<p>“Not a single thing,” Louise answered loyally. +“She just rolled out from beneath that boat with a +dagger between her teeth!”</p> +<p>“I guess I am a little prig, Lou.”</p> +<p>“You’re no such thing!” Louise grasped her arm +and gave her an affectionate squeeze. “Come along +and forget it. I never did like Sara Ottman anyhow.”</p> +<p>Penny allowed herself to be led away from the +dock, but the older girl’s unkind remarks kept pricking +her mind. Although occasionally in the past she +had stopped for a few minutes at the Ottman place, +she never before had spoken a dozen words to Sara. +Nearly all of her business dealings had been with Burt +Ottman, a pleasant young man who had painted her +father’s sailboat that spring.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_29">[29]</div> +<p>“I simply can’t understand it,” Penny mumbled, +trudging along the shore with Louise. “The last time +I saw Sara she spoke to me politely enough. I must +have offended her, but how?”</p> +<p>“Oh, why waste any thought on her?” Louise +scoffed.</p> +<p>“Because it bothers me. She mentioned the bridge +dynamiting affair. Maybe it was my by-line story in +the <i>Star</i> that offended her.”</p> +<p>“What did it say?” Louise inquired curiously. “I +didn’t see the morning paper.”</p> +<p>“Neither did I. I gave my story to a rewrite man +over the telephone. I meant to read the entire account, +but was in a hurry to get over here, so I +skipped it.”</p> +<p>“Well, I shouldn’t worry about the matter if I were +you.”</p> +<p>“I’m sure the boat used in the dynamiting came from +Ottman’s,” Penny declared, thinking aloud. “Perhaps +Sara is just out of sorts because she and her brother +lost their property.”</p> +<p>Making their way along the mud flats, the girls came +at last to the tiny stretch of sand where the sailboat +had been beached the previous night. It lay exactly +as they had left it, cockpit half filled with water, the +tall mast nosed into the loose sand.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_30">[30]</div> +<p>“What a mess,” sighed Penny. “Well, the first +thing to do is to get the wet sail off. We should have +taken care of it last night.”</p> +<p>Before beginning the task, the girls wandered toward +the nearby bridge to inspect the damage caused +by dynamiting. An armed soldier refused to allow +them to approach closer than twenty yards. All traffic +had been halted, and a group of engineers could +be seen examining the shattered pier.</p> +<p>“Is Mr. Oaks around here?” Penny asked the soldier.</p> +<p>“Oaks? Oh, you mean the bridge watchman. He’s +been charged with neglect of duty, and relieved of +his job.”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise were sorry to hear the news, +feeling that in a way they were responsible for the +old fellow having left his post. Unable to learn +whether or not the watchman was being detained by +police, they returned to the beach to salvage their sailboat.</p> +<p>Without a pump, it was a difficult task to remove +the water from the cockpit of “Pop’s Worry.” By +rocking the boat back and forth and scooping with an +old tin can, the girls finally got most of it out.</p> +<p>“We’ll have to dry the sail somehow or it will +mildew,” Penny decided. “The best thing, I think, +is to put it on again and sail home.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_31">[31]</div> +<p>Together they righted the boat. As the tall mast +flipped out of the sand, Penny caught glimpse of a +shiny, blue object.</p> +<p>“Our bottle!” she cried triumphantly, making a +dive for it.</p> +<p>“Your bottle,” corrected Louise. “I’m not a bit +interested in that silly old thing.”</p> +<p>Nevertheless, as Penny sat down on the deck of +“Pop’s Worry” and removed the cork, she edged +nearer. By means of a hairpin, the folded sheet of +paper contained within was pulled from the narrow +neck. Highly elated, Penny spread out the message +to read.</p> +<p>“Well, what does it say?” Louise inquired impatiently.</p> +<p>“Oh, so you are interested,” teased Penny.</p> +<p>“Now don’t try to be funny! Read the message.”</p> +<p>Penny stared at the paper in her hand. “It’s rather +queer,” she acknowledged. “Listen:</p> +<p>“‘<i>The day of the Great Deluge approaches. If you +would be saved from destruction, seek without delay, +the shelter of my ark.</i>’”</p> +<p>“If that isn’t nonsense!” Louise exclaimed, peering +over her chum’s shoulder. “And the note is signed, +‘<i>Noah</i>.’”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_32">[32]</div> +<p>“Someone’s idea of a joke, I suppose,” Penny replied. +She tossed the paper away, then reconsidering, +retrieved the message and with the bottle, placed it +in the cockpit of the boat. “Well, it’s rained a lot +this Spring, but I don’t think we’ll have to worry +about the Great Deluge.”</p> +<p>“Noah was a Biblical character,” Louise commented +thoughtfully. “I remember that when God told him +it would rain forty days and forty nights, he built an +ark to resist the flood waters. And he took his family +in with him and all the animals, two by two.”</p> +<p>“Noah was a bit before our time,” laughed Penny. +“Suppose we shove off for home.”</p> +<p>By dint of much physical exertion, the girls pushed +“Pop’s Worry” out into the shallow water. Penny, +who had removed shoes and stockings, gave a final +thrust and leaped lightly aboard. Raising the wet +sail, she allowed it to flap loosely in the wind.</p> +<p>“We’ll have everything snug and dry by the time +we reach home,” she declared confidently. “Tired, +Lou?”</p> +<p>“A little,” admitted her chum, stretching out full +length on the deck. “I like to sail but I don’t like to +bail! And just think, if you hadn’t been so crazy to +get that blue bottle, we’d have spared ourselves a lot +of hard work.”</p> +<p>“Well, a fellow never knows. The bottle might +have provided the first clue in an absorbing mystery! +Who do you suppose wrote such an odd message?”</p> +<p>“How should I know?” yawned Louise. “Probably +some prankster.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_33">[33]</div> +<p>Taking a zigzag course, “Pop’s Worry” tacked +slowly upstream. Whipped by a brisk wind, the wet +sail gradually dried and regained its former shape.</p> +<p>As the boat presently approached Ottman’s dock, +both girls turned to gaze in that direction. Sara could +be seen moving about on one of the floating platforms, +retying several boats which banged at their moorings.</p> +<p>“Better tack,” Louise advised in a low tone. “We +don’t want to get too close.”</p> +<p>Penny acted as if she had not heard. She made no +move to bring the boat about.</p> +<p>“We’ll end up right at Ottman’s unless you’re careful,” +Louise warned. “Or is that what you want +to do?”</p> +<p>“I’m thinking about it.” Penny watched Sara with +thoughtful eyes.</p> +<p>“Well, if you’ll deliberately go there again, I must +say you enjoy being insulted!”</p> +<p>“I’d like to find out why Sara is angry at me. If it’s +only a misunderstanding I want to clear it up.”</p> +<p>Louise shook her head sadly but offered no further +protest as the boat held to its course. Not until the +craft grated gently against one of the floats at Ottman’s +did Sara seem to note the girls’ approach. +Glancing up from her work, she stared at them, and +then deliberately looked away.</p> +<p>“The air’s still chilly,” Penny remarked in an undertone. +“Well, we’ll see.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_34">[34]</div> +<p>Making “Pop’s Worry” fast to a spar, she walked +across the float to confront Sara.</p> +<p>“Miss Ottman,” she began quietly, “if I’ve done +anything to offend you, I wish to apologize.”</p> +<p>Sara turned slowly to face Penny. “You owe me +no apology,” she said in a cold voice.</p> +<p>“Then why do you dislike me? I always thought +I was welcome around here until today. My father +has given you considerable business.”</p> +<p>“I’m sorry I spoke to you the way I did,” Sara replied +stiffly and with no warmth. “It was rude of me.”</p> +<p>“But why am I such poison?” Penny persisted. +“What have I done?”</p> +<p>“You <i>honestly</i> don’t know?”</p> +<p>“Why, of course not. I shouldn’t be asking if I +did.”</p> +<p>Sara stared at Penny as if wondering whether or not +to accept her remarks as sincere.</p> +<p>“Do you only write for the papers?” she asked, a +slight edge to her voice. “You never read them?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know what you mean.” Penny was truly +bewildered. “Has this misunderstanding something +to do with the bridge dynamiting?”</p> +<p>Sara nodded her head grimly. “It has,” she agreed. +“Didn’t you see the morning paper?”</p> +<p>“Why, no.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_35">[35]</div> +<p>“Then wait a minute.” Sara turned and vanished +into the boat shed. A moment later she reappeared, +carrying a copy of the <i>Star</i>.</p> +<p>“Read that,” she directed, thrusting the black headlines +in front of Penny’s eyes. “Now do you understand +why I feel that you’re no friend of mine?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_36">[36]</div> +<h2 id="c5"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">5</span> +<br /><i>HELD ON SUSPICION</i></h2> +<p>Penny gazed at the <i>Riverview Star’s</i> front page +headline which proclaimed:</p> +<p>“BURT OTTMAN ARRESTED AS SUSPECT +IN BRIDGE DYNAMITING.”</p> +<p>The opening paragraph of the news story, was even +more dismaying. It began:</p> +<p>“Acting upon information provided by Miss Penelope +Parker, police today arrested Burt Ottman, +owner of the Ottman Boat Dock, charging him with +participation in the Friday night dynamiting of +Thompson’s bridge.”</p> +<p>Penny hastily scanned the remainder of the story +and then protested: “But I never even mentioned your +brother’s name to police, Miss Ottman! Why, I certainly +didn’t think that he had any connection with +the dynamiting.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_37">[37]</div> +<p>“You certainly didn’t think, period,” Sara replied, +though in a less severe tone. “You told police that +the motorboat used in the dynamiting was one of our +boats.”</p> +<p>“Well, it looked like it to me. Perhaps I was mistaken.”</p> +<p>“You weren’t mistaken. The boat definitely was +one of ours. It was stolen from here about a month +ago.”</p> +<p>Penny drew a deep breath. “Then in that case, I +don’t see why suspicion should fall upon your +brother.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t you tell police that a young man corresponding +to his description was handling the boat?”</p> +<p>“Indeed I didn’t.”</p> +<p>“Then it must have been the watchman who provided +the description,” Sara corrected. “At any rate, +police identified the boat as ours, and arrested Burt. +They have him at the station now.”</p> +<p>“It never occurred to me that anyone would suspect +your brother,” Penny said soberly. “Why, +everyone along the river knows him well. It should +be easy for him to prove his innocence.”</p> +<p>“True, it should be,” Sara replied bitterly. “The +arrest angered Burt, and he made matters worse by +refusing to answer questions the police asked him.”</p> +<p>“Oh, that was a mistake.”</p> +<p>“Yes, but Burt has a great deal of pride. The police +never should have arrested him.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_38">[38]</div> +<p>“I certainly agree with you,” declared Penny, for +she could not envision young Ottman as a saboteur. +“Can’t your brother prove where he was last night +at the time of the explosion?”</p> +<p>“That’s just it.” Sara looked troubled as she reached +to take the newspaper. “He refuses to offer any +alibi.”</p> +<p>“But you must know yourself where your brother +spent his time.”</p> +<p>“I wish I did. He left here about seven o’clock +and didn’t return home until early this morning—just +a half hour before the police came to arrest him.”</p> +<p>“Oh!”</p> +<p>“All the same, Burt had no connection with the +dynamiting,” Sara said quickly. “He frequently stays +out late at night. I’ve never questioned him, for it +was none of my affair.”</p> +<p>Penny scarcely knew what to reply. “I can understand +now why you’re provoked at me,” she said after +a moment. “But I assure you I had no intention of +involving your brother with the police. I certainly +never gave them his description.”</p> +<p>Sara smiled and in a charming gesture extended her +hand.</p> +<p>“I’m sorry I talked as I did to you,” she apologized. +“Forget it, will you?”</p> +<p>“Of course,” Penny agreed generously. “And if +there’s anything I can do to help—”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_39">[39]</div> +<p>The float creaked and both girls turned to see Bill +Evans coming toward them.</p> +<p>“Hi!” he greeted the girls impartially. “Miss Ottman, +wonder if I can get you to help me?”</p> +<p>“I suppose you’re having trouble with that motor +of yours again,” sighed Sara. “Or should I say yet?”</p> +<p>“I’ve lost it in the river,” Bill confessed sheepishly. +“Blamed thing cost me sixty dollars second-hand too!”</p> +<p>“In the river!” gasped Penny. “What did you do, +get peeved and toss it overboard?”</p> +<p>The saddened young man shook his head. “Guess +I didn’t have it fastened on very well. Anyhow, just +as I was leaving the dock, off she fell into about ten +feet of water.”</p> +<p>“I hope you buoyed the spot,” said Sara.</p> +<p>“Yes, I marked it with a floating can. Some of the +boys have been trying to get ’er up for me, but no +luck. If you can do it, I’ll pay five dollars.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’m pretty busy,” Miss Ottman said in a +harassed voice. “Burt’s not here and it keeps me +jumping to run the launch and rent the canoes. But +I’ll see what I can do this afternoon.”</p> +<p>“Thanks,” Bill replied gratefully, turning away. +“Thanks a lot.”</p> +<p>When the young man was beyond hearing distance, +Penny spoke again of Burt Ottman’s unfortunate arrest.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_40">[40]</div> +<p>“I’m sorry about everything, Miss Ottman,” she +said earnestly. “If you wish, I’ll talk to the police and +assure them that so far as I know, the saboteur did not +resemble your brother. It was too dark for me to +really see him.”</p> +<p>“I’ll feel very grateful if you will speak a good +word for Burt,” Sara responded. She sank down on +an overturned bucket and pressed a hand to her temple. +“Oh, my head’s splitting! Everything’s been +coming at me so fast. The police were here questioning +me and they twisted my remarks all around. +I’ll have to raise bail for Burt, but where the money is +coming from I don’t know.”</p> +<p>The last of Penny’s resentment toward the girl +faded away. From the jerky way Sara spoke, she +knew that her thoughts were darting from one perplexing +problem to another.</p> +<p>“I don’t know what I’m doing or saying today,” +Sara said miserably. “If you can forgive me—”</p> +<p>“Of course! I don’t blame you a bit for speaking +to me the way you did. May I borrow a sponge for a +minute?”</p> +<p>Sara smiled and nodded. Eager to make amends, +she ran into the shed and returned with the desired +article.</p> +<p>“There’s still a little water in my boat,” Penny explained. +“Thought I’d sop it up.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_41">[41]</div> +<p>“Let me do it,” Sara offered. Without waiting for +permission she went to the sailboat, and with a friendly +nod at the astonished Louise, began to sponge out the +cockpit.</p> +<p>“I see you’ve collected one of Old Noah’s souvenirs,” +she remarked a moment later, noticing the +blue bottle which Penny had tossed into the bottom of +the boat.</p> +<p>“We found it floating in the water,” Louise volunteered. +“The message was such a queer one—an invitation +to take refuge in the ark during the Great +Deluge. Someone’s idea of a joke, I suppose.”</p> +<p>“It’s no joke,” Sara corrected. “Noah is a very +real person. He actually lives in an ark too—a weird +looking boat he built himself.”</p> +<p>“You mean the old fellow actually believes there’s +going to be another great flood?” Penny asked incredulously.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes! Noah is so sure of it that he’s collected +a regular menagerie of animals to live with him on +the ark. He keeps dropping bottles into the water +warning folks that the Great Deluge is coming. I +fish out dozens of them here at the dock.”</p> +<p>“Where is the ark?” Penny inquired curiously.</p> +<p>Sara squeezed the last drop of water from the +sponge and pointed diagonally upstream toward a +gap in the trees.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_42">[42]</div> +<p>“That’s where Bug Run empties into the river,” +she explained. “Noah has his ark grounded not far +from its mouth. The currents are such that whenever +he dumps his bottles in the water most of them +come this way.”</p> +<p>“Rather a nuisance I should think,” commented +Penny.</p> +<p>“Noah’s a pest!” Sara complained, straightening +from her task. “I suppose he’s harmless, but those +bottles of his create a hazard for our boats. Burt has +asked him several times not to throw them in the water. +He just keeps right on doing it.”</p> +<p>The sun now was directly overhead and Penny and +Louise knew that they were expected at their homes +for luncheon. Thanking Sara for her services, they +sailed on to their own dock. As they hastened through +the park to a bus line, Penny remarked that it would +be fun sometime to visit Noah and his ark.</p> +<p>“Well, perhaps,” Louise rejoined without a great +deal of enthusiasm.</p> +<p>The buses were off schedule and for a long while +the girls waited impatiently at the street corner. +Penny was gazing absently toward a cafe nearby +when a short, untidy man with shaggy gray hair, came +out of the building.</p> +<p>“Why, isn’t that Mr. Oaks, the bridge watchman?” +she asked her chum.</p> +<p>“It looks like him.”</p> +<p>From far up the street an approaching bus could +be seen, but Penny had lost all interest in boarding it.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_43">[43]</div> +<p>“Louise, let’s talk to Mr. Oaks,” she urged, starting +toward him.</p> +<p>“But we’ll miss our bus.”</p> +<p>“Who cares about that?” Penny took Louise firmly +by an elbow, pulling her along. “We may not have +another chance to see Mr. Oaks. I want to ask him +why he identified the saboteur as Sara Ottman’s +brother.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_44">[44]</div> +<h2 id="c6"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">6</span> +<br /><i>OLD NOAH</i></h2> +<p>Carl Oaks saw the girls approaching, and recognized +them with a curt nod of his head. He responded +to their cheerful greeting, but with no +warmth.</p> +<p>“I was hoping to see you, Mr. Oaks,” Penny began +the conversation. “Last night Louise and I had no +opportunity to express our appreciation for the way +you helped us.”</p> +<p>“Well, I didn’t help myself any,” the old watchman +broke in. “It was sure bad luck for me when your +sailboat came floatin’ down the river. Now I’ve lost +my job.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m sorry to hear it.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know what I’m going to do,” Mr. Oaks +resumed in a whining tone. “I’ve never been strong +and I can’t do hard work.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps you can find another job as a watchman.”</p> +<p>“No one will take me on after what happened last +night.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_45">[45]</div> +<p>“But it wasn’t your fault the bridge was dynamited.”</p> +<p>“Folks always are ready to push a man down if +they get the chance,” Mr. Oaks said bitterly. “No, +I’m finished in this seedy town! I’d pull out if I had +the price of a ticket.”</p> +<p>Penny was decidedly troubled. “You mustn’t take +that attitude, Mr. Oaks,” she replied. “Maybe I can +help you.”</p> +<p>The watchman looked interested, but amused. +“How can you help me?” he demanded.</p> +<p>“My father owns the <i>Riverview Star</i>. Perhaps he +can use an extra watchman at the newspaper building. +If not, he may know someone who will employ you.”</p> +<p>“I’ve always worked around the waterfront,” Mr. +Oaks returned, brightening a bit. “You know I ain’t +able to do much walkin’ or any heavy lifting. Maybe +your father can get me another job on a bridge.”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t know,” Penny responded. “I’ll talk +to him. Just give me your address so I can notify you +later.”</p> +<p>Mr. Oaks scribbled a few lines on the back of an +old envelope and handed it to her. He did not express +appreciation for the offer Penny had made, accepting +it as his just due.</p> +<p>“I suppose the police questioned you about the +bridge dynamiting,” she remarked, pocketing the +address.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_46">[46]</div> +<p>“Sure, they gave me the works,” he acknowledged, +shrugging. “Kept me at the station half the night. +Then this morning they had me identify one of the +suspects.”</p> +<p>“<i>Not</i> Burt Ottman?”</p> +<p>“Yeah.”</p> +<p>“You didn’t identify him as the saboteur?” Penny +inquired in dismay.</p> +<p>“I told the police he looked like the fellow. And +he did.”</p> +<p>“But how could you see his face?” Penny protested. +“The motorboat traveled so fast! Even when +the man crawled out of the water and ran, one could +only tell that he was tall and thin.”</p> +<p>“He looked like young Ottman to me,” the watchman +insisted stubbornly. “Well, guess I’ll shove on. +You talk to your father and let me know about that +job. I can use ’er.”</p> +<p>Without giving the girls a chance to ask another +question, Mr. Oaks moved off down the street.</p> +<p>“Now if things aren’t in a nice mess,” Penny remarked +as she and Louise retraced their way to the +bus stop. “No wonder the police held Burt Ottman! +I don’t see how Mr. Oaks could have thought he resembled +the saboteur.”</p> +<p>“I’m sure I didn’t get a good look at the fellow,” +Louise returned. “Mr. Oaks must have wonderful +eyes, to say the least.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_47">[47]</div> +<p>After a ten minute wait, a bus came along, and the +girls rode to their separate homes. Penny ate luncheon, +helped Mrs. Weems with the dishes and then +slipped away to her father’s newspaper office.</p> +<p>An early afternoon edition of the <i>Star</i> had just +rolled from the press. Entering the editorial room, +Penny noted that it appeared to have been swept by a +whirlwind. Discarded copy lay on the floor, and +there were more wads of paper around the scrap +baskets than in them.</p> +<p>Jerry Livingston’s battered typewriter served as a +comfortable foot rest for his unpolished shoes. Seeing +Penny, he removed them to the floor, and grinned +at her.</p> +<p>“Hello, Miss Pop-Eye!” he said affectionately. +“How’s our little sailor?”</p> +<p>“Never mind,” returned Penny. “What’s this I +hear about Burt Ottman being arrested by the +police?”</p> +<p>“That’s how it is.” The grin faded from the reporter’s +face. “Tough on DeWitt too.”</p> +<p>“DeWitt?” Penny inquired. She could not guess +what connection the editor might have with the +dynamiting case.</p> +<p>Jerry glanced about the news room to make certain +that DeWitt was not within hearing. In a low tone +he confided:</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_48">[48]</div> +<p>“Didn’t you know? Burt Ottman is DeWitt’s +first cousin. It rather puts him in a spot, being kin +to a saboteur.”</p> +<p>“Nothing has been proved against Ottman yet.”</p> +<p>“All the same, it looks bad for the kid. When the +story came in it gave DeWitt a nasty jolt.”</p> +<p>“I should think so,” nodded Penny. “Why, I never +dreamed that he was related to the Ottmans.”</p> +<p>“Neither did anyone else in the office. But you +have to hand it to DeWitt. He took it squarely between +the eyes. Didn’t even play the story down nor +ask your father to soft pedal it.”</p> +<p>“Mr. DeWitt is a real newspaper man.”</p> +<p>“Bet your life!” Jerry agreed with emphasis. “He’s +gone young Ottman’s bail to the tune of ten thousand +dollars.”</p> +<p>“Why, that must represent a good portion of his +life time savings.”</p> +<p>“Sure, but DeWitt says the kid has been framed, +and he’s going to stand by him.”</p> +<p>“I think myself that Burt Ottman was too far away +to be properly identified. I mean to tell the police so, +too.”</p> +<p>“Well, we all hope for DeWitt’s sake that it is a +mistake,” Jerry said soberly. “But the evidence is +stacking up fast. The motorboat came from Ottman’s. +Carl Oaks said he recognized the saboteur as +young Ottman. Then this morning police found a +handkerchief with an initial ‘O’ lying along the shore +not far from where the fellow crawled out of the +water.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_49">[49]</div> +<p>“Circumstantial evidence.”</p> +<p>“Maybe so,” Jerry agreed with a shrug, “but unless +young Ottman gets a good lawyer, he’s likely to +find himself doing a long stretch.”</p> +<p>Deeply troubled by the information, Penny went +on toward her father’s private office. As she passed +the main copy desk where Editor DeWitt worked, +she noticed that his face was white and tense. Although +he usually had a smile for her, he barely +glanced up and did not speak.</p> +<p>Penny tapped twice and entered her father’s office. +Mr. Parker had just finished dictating a letter to his +secretary who quietly gathered up her notebook and +departed. The newspaper owner pretended to glance +at the calendar on his desk.</p> +<p>“Unless I’m all muddled, this is Saturday, not +Thursday,” he greeted his daughter teasingly. +“Aren’t you a bit mixed up?”</p> +<p>“Maybe so,” Penny admitted, seating herself on a +corner of the desk.</p> +<p>“You seldom honor me with a call except to collect +your Thursday allowance.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m not concerned with money these days,” +Penny said, trying to balance a paper weight on her +father’s head. “It’s this dynamiting case that has me +all tied in a knot.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_50">[50]</div> +<p>“Stop it, Penny!” Irritably, Mr. Parker squirmed +in his chair. “This is an office, not a child’s play +room!”</p> +<p>“Try to give me your undivided attention, Dad. +I want you to do me a favor.”</p> +<p>“How about granting me one first? Please stop +playing with the gadgets on my desk!”</p> +<p>“Why, of course,” grinned Penny, backing away. +“Now about this job for Carl Oaks—”</p> +<p>“Job?”</p> +<p>“Yes, he was relieved of duty at the Thompson +bridge, you know. It was partly my fault. So I +want you to square matters by finding other work for +him.”</p> +<p>“Penny, I am <i>not</i> an employment agency! Anyway, +what do I know about the man?”</p> +<p>“I owe him a job, Dad. He says he likes to work +around the waterfront. Can’t you get him something +to do? Oh, yes, it has to be an easy job because he +can’t walk and he can’t lift anything.”</p> +<p>“How about a nice pension?” Mr. Parker demanded. +He sighed and added, “Well, I’ll see what +I can do for him. Now run along, because I have +work to get out.”</p> +<p>Feeling certain that her father would find a suitable +position for the old watchman, Penny went directly +from the newspaper office to Louise Sidell’s home. +After relating all the latest news, she asked her chum +if she would not enjoy another excursion to the river.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_51">[51]</div> +<p>“But we were just there a few hours ago!” Louise +protested. “I’ve had enough sailing for one day.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t care to sail either,” Penny corrected +hastily. “I thought it might be interesting to call on +Old Noah.”</p> +<p>“That queer old man who has the ark?”</p> +<p>“What do you say?”</p> +<p>“Oh, all right,” Louise agreed, rather intrigued by +the prospect. “But if we get into trouble, just remember +it was your idea.”</p> +<p>By bus the girls rode to a point near the river. +Without approaching Ottman’s Dock, they crossed +the Big Bear over Thompson’s bridge which had just +been opened to pedestrian traffic only. Making their +way along the eastern shore, they came at last to the +mouth of Bug Run.</p> +<p>“It looks like rain to me,” Louise declared, scanning +the fast-moving clouds. “Just our luck to be caught +in a downpour.”</p> +<p>“Maybe we can take refuge in the ark,” Penny +laughed, leading the way up the meandering stream. +“That is, if we can find it.”</p> +<p>Trees and bushes grew thick and green along either +bank of the run. Several times the girls were forced +to muddy their shoes in order to proceed. In one +shady glade, a bullfrog blinked at them before making +a hasty dive into the lilypads.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_52">[52]</div> +<p>There was no sign of a boat or any structure remotely +resembling an ark. And then, rounding a +bend, they suddenly saw it silhouetted against a darkening +sky.</p> +<p>“Why, it looks just as if it had rolled out of The +Old Testament!” Louise cried in astonishment.</p> +<p>The ark, painted red and blue, rose three stories +from the muddy water. A large, circular window +had been built in the uppermost part, and there were +tiny, square openings beneath. From within could +be heard a strange medley of animal sounds—the +cackling of hens, the squeal of a pig, the squawking +of a saucy parrot who kept calling: “Noah! Oh, +Noah!”</p> +<p>Louise gripped Penny’s hand. “Let’s not go any +nearer,” she said uneasily. “It’s starting to rain, and +we ought to make a double dash for home.”</p> +<p>A few drops of rain splashed into the stream. +Dropping on the tin roof of the ark like tiny pellets +of metal, they made a loud drumming sound. The +disturbed hens began to cluck on their roosts. The +parrot screeched loudly, “Oh, Noah! Come Noah!”</p> +<p>“Where is Noah?” Penny asked with a nervous +giggle. “I certainly must see him before we leave.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_53">[53]</div> +<p>As if in answer to her question, they heard a strange +series of sounds from deep within the woods. A cow +mooed, and a man spoke soothing words. Soon there +emerged from among the trees a bewildering assortment +of animals and fowl—a cow, a goat, a pig, and +two fat turkeys. An old man with a long white beard +which fell to his chest, drove the creatures toward +the gangplank of the ark.</p> +<p>“Get along, Bessie,” he urged the cow, tapping her +with his crooked stick. “The Lord maketh the rain +to fall for forty days and forty nights, but you shall +be saved. Into the ark!”</p> +<p>Penny fairly hugged herself with delight.</p> +<p>“Oh, Louise, we can’t go now,” she whispered. +“That must be Old Noah. And isn’t he a darling?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_54">[54]</div> +<h2 id="c7"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">7</span> +<br /><i>ARK OF THE MUD FLATS</i></h2> +<p>Unaware that he was being observed, Old +Noah again rapped the cow smartly on her flanks.</p> +<p>“Get along, Bessie,” he urged impatiently. “The +Heavens will open any minute now, and all the creatures +of the earth shall perish. But this calamity shall +not befall you, Bessie. You are one of God’s chosen.”</p> +<p>None too willing to be saved from impending +doom, Bessie bellowed a loud protest as she was +driven into the over-crowded ark. Next went the +goat and the squealing pig. The turkeys made more +trouble, gobbling excitedly as the old man shooed +them into the confines of the three-storied boat.</p> +<p>His task accomplished, Old Noah wiped his perspiring +brow with a big red handkerchief. He stood +for a moment, gazing anxiously up at the boiling +storm clouds.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_55">[55]</div> +<p>“This is it—the second great flood,” he murmured. +“For the Lord sayeth, ‘I will cause it to rain forty +days and forty nights and every living substance that +I have made will I destroy from off the face of the +earth.’”</p> +<p>As he stood thus, gazing at the sky, Noah made a +striking figure. In his prime, the old man evidently +had been a stalwart physical specimen, and advancing +years had not enfeebled him. His face was that of a +Prophet of old. A certain child-like simplicity shone +from a pair of trusting blue eyes whose direct gaze +bespoke implicit belief.</p> +<p>“Let’s speak to him,” Penny urged. Although +Louise tried to hold back, she pulled her along toward +the ark.</p> +<p>Old Noah heard the girls coming and turned +quickly around. After the first moment of startled +surprise, he leaned on his crooked stick and inquired +with a kind smile:</p> +<p>“Why have you come, my daughters?”</p> +<p>“Well, we were curious to see this fine ark,” Penny +replied. “We picked up one of your floating blue +bottles with a message in it.”</p> +<p>“Blessed are they that heed the warnings of the +Lord,” murmured Old Noah. “I, his servant, have +prepared a place of refuge for all who come.”</p> +<p>By this time rain was falling steadily, and Louise +huddled against a tree trunk for protection. “Penny, +for Pete’s Sake—” she protested.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_56">[56]</div> +<p>“Follow me, my daughters,” bade Old Noah, motioning +for them to cross the gangplank into the ark. +“Inside you will find food and shelter.”</p> +<p>“We could use a little shelter,” said Penny, glancing +questioningly at her chum. “How about it, Lou? +Shall we go inside and meet the animals?”</p> +<p>Louise hesitated, for in truth she was a bit afraid of +the queer old man.</p> +<p>“Come, my daughters,” Noah bade again. “Have +no fear. The Lord sayeth, ‘Noah, with thee will I +establish my covenant, and thou shalt enter into the +ark.’”</p> +<p>“We’ll drown if we stay outside,” laughed Penny, +following boldly after the old man. “Come on, +Louise.”</p> +<p>Unmindful of the falling rain, Noah stooped to +pick up a bedraggled kitten from underfoot.</p> +<p>“It’s a very nice boat,” Penny remarked, dodging +under the shelter of the roof. Louise huddled close +beside her.</p> +<p>“A sturdy ark,” agreed Old Noah proudly. “Many, +many months did I labor building it. The Lord said, +‘make thee an ark of gopher wood.’ But of gopher +wood there was none to be had. Then the Lord came +to me in a dream and said, ‘Noah, use anything you +can find.’ So I gathered timbers from the beaches, +and I wrecked an abandoned cottage I found in the +woods. I felled trees. And I pitched the seams +within and without as the Lord bade me.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_57">[57]</div> +<p>“What animals do you keep inside?” Penny inquired +curiously.</p> +<p>“Well, mostly creatures that aren’t too exacting +in their needs,” said Noah, perching the wet kitten +on his shoulder. “The Lord sayeth two of every +kind, male and female. But it wasn’t practical. Some +of the animals were too big to keep aboard the ark.”</p> +<p>A disturbance from within the boat interrupted the +old man’s explanation. “Excuse me, daughters, I’ve +got to fasten Bessie in her stall,” he apologized. “If +I keep her waitin’ she’s apt to kick the ark to pieces!”</p> +<p>Old Noah disappeared into the lower story of the +boat. Peering in the open door, the girls saw row +upon row of stalls and cages. There was a sty for +the pigs, a pen for the goat, a little kennel for the dog, +low roosts for the fowls. The walls of the room had +been whitewashed and the floor was clean.</p> +<p>“What a life Old Noah must lead!” Louise whispered +to Penny. “Why, it must be worse than being +a zoo keeper!”</p> +<p>In a moment the old fellow reappeared. Beckoning +to the girls, he led them up a little flight of stairs to the +second floor of the ark.</p> +<p>“This is my bird room,” he said, opening a door.</p> +<p>“Hello, Noah!” croaked a brilliantly colored parrot, +fluttering on her perch. “You old rascal! Polly +wants a slug o’ rum!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_58">[58]</div> +<p>Noah glanced quickly at the girls. “I am humble +and ashamed,” he apologized. “But the bird means +no evil. I bought her of a sailor, who, I fear had +wandered from the ways of righteousness.”</p> +<p>Placing a drink of water near the parrot, the old +man directed attention to a cage containing a pair of +doves.</p> +<p>“When the flood waters recede, I shall send these +birds forth from a window of the ark,” he explained. +“If they return with a branch of a bush or any green +thing, then I shall know that the Lord no longer is +angry.”</p> +<p>“How long do you imagine it will rain?” Louise +asked absently, staring out the little round window.</p> +<p>“Forty days and forty nights,” answered Old +Noah. Taking a bag of seed, he began to feed the +chirping birds. “While your stay here may be somewhat +confining, you will find my ark sturdy and +snug.”</p> +<p>“Our stay here,” Louise echoed hollowly.</p> +<p>Penny gave her a little pinch and said to Old Noah, +“We appreciate your hospitality and will be happy +to remain until the rain slackens. But where are your +living quarters?”</p> +<p>“On the third floor. First, before I conduct you +there, I will throw out a few bottles. Although the +fatal hour is near at hand, a number of persons may +yet read my message and seek refuge in time to be +saved.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_59">[59]</div> +<p>While the girls watched with deep interest, Old +Noah moved to the porthole. Opening it, he tossed +into the muddy waters a half dozen corked bottles +which he selected from a basket beneath the window.</p> +<p>“Now,” he bade, turning again to Penny and +Louise, “follow me and I will show you my humble +quarters.”</p> +<p>By this time the girls scarcely knew what to expect, +but the third floor of the ark proved rather a pleasant +surprise. Old Noah had fitted it out with compartments, +a tiny kitchen, living quarters, and a bedroom. +The main room had a rug on the floor, there were +several homemade chairs and a radio. Evidently, the +master of the ark was musically inclined, for a shelf +contained an accordion, a banjo and a mouth organ.</p> +<p>“Just sit down and make yourselves comfortable, +daughters,” Old Noah invited, waving them toward +chairs. “I’ll stir up a bite to eat.”</p> +<p>Entering the tiny kitchen, he poked about among +the shelves. Watching rather anxiously, the girls +next saw him open one of the portholes to test his +fishing lines. Finding one taut, he pulled in a large +catfish which he immediately began to dress.</p> +<p>“He intends to cook that for us,” Louise whispered. +“I’ll not even taste it! Oh, let’s get away from here!”</p> +<p>Penny wandered to the window. The sky had +grown much lighter, and trees which had been blotted +out by the heavy rain, now were visible.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_60">[60]</div> +<p>“The storm is almost over,” she said encouragingly. +“Let’s step outside and see how things look.”</p> +<p>Noah, occupied with his culinary affairs, did not +glance up as the girls quietly slipped away. Descending +the steps to the main deck, they huddled close +against a wall to keep dry. Rain still fell, but even +as they watched it slackened.</p> +<p>“Let’s say goodbye to Noah and streak for home,” +Louise suggested, eager to be off.</p> +<p>Before Penny could reply, both girls were startled +to see a stranger emerge from among the bushes along +the shore. He wore a raincoat, a broad-brimmed hat +which dripped water, and a bright badge gleamed on +his chest.</p> +<p>“I’m Sheriff Anderson,” he announced, coming +close to the ark. “Is Dan Grebe aboard?”</p> +<p>“Do you mean Old Noah?” Penny asked doubtfully.</p> +<p>“Most folks call him that. An old man who’s lost +his buttons, but harmless. He’s been maintaining a +public nuisance here with his ark.”</p> +<p>As the sheriff started to come aboard, Old Noah +himself stepped out on deck.</p> +<p>“So here you be again!” he shouted angrily, grasping +the narrow railing of the gangplank. “Didn’t I +warn you not to trespass on the property of the +Lord?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_61">[61]</div> +<p>“Noah, we’ve been patient with you,” the sheriff +replied wearily. “The last time I was here, you +promised to clean up this dump and move your ark +down stream. Now you’re going with me to talk to +the judge.”</p> +<p>“Stand back! Stand back!” Old Noah shouted as +the officer started across the gangplank. “Beware, or +I’ll call the wrath of the Lord down on your head!”</p> +<p>The sheriff laughed and came on. With surprising +strength and agility, Old Noah jerked the gangplank +loose from the ark and hurled it into the water. +Sheriff Anderson made a desperate lunge for an overhanging +tree branch. Failing to seize it, he fell with +a loud splash into the muddy river.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_62">[62]</div> +<h2 id="c8"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">8</span> +<br /><i>THE GREEN PARROT</i></h2> +<p>Old Noah slapped his thigh and cackled with +glee as he watched Sheriff Anderson splash about in +the muddy water.</p> +<p>“That’ll teach you!” he shouted jubilantly. “You +meddlin’ son of evil! Next time maybe you will +know enough to mind your own business and leave +my ark alone!”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise stood ready to toss the sheriff +a rope, but he did not need it. Clinging to the floating +gangplank, the man awkwardly propelled himself to +shore. As he tried to climb up the steep bank, his +boots slipped and he fell flat on his face in the mud. +Old Noah went off into another fit of laughter which +fairly shook the ark at its mooring.</p> +<p>“Laugh, you old coot!” the sheriff muttered, picking +himself up. “I’ve been mighty patient with you, +but there’s a limit. Tomorrow I’m coming back here +with a detail of deputies. I’ll run you and your ark +out o’ here if it’s the last thing I do!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_63">[63]</div> +<p>“Be off with you!” ordered Noah arrogantly. “Before +<i>my</i> patience is gone!”</p> +<p>“Okay, Noah, you win this round,” the sheriff +muttered furiously. “I’m going, but I’ll be back. +And if this ark isn’t cleaned up or out o’ here, we’ll +put you away!”</p> +<p>A sorry figure with his clothing wet and muddy, +the official stomped angrily off into the woods.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid you antagonized the wrong man that +time, Noah,” Penny remarked as the footsteps died +away. “What will you do when he returns?”</p> +<p>“That time will never come,” Old Noah replied, +undisturbed. “Before the Lord will allow the ark to +be taken from me, he will smite my enemies with +lightning from the Heavens.”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise had their own opinion of what +would happen to the ark and its animals, but wisely +said nothing to further disturb the old fellow. By +this time the rain had entirely ceased and a ray of +sunshine straggled through the ragged clouds.</p> +<p>“Well, guess this isn’t to be the Great Flood after +all,” Penny remarked, studying the sky. “We’re +most grateful for the shelter of your ark, Noah. Now +if we can just reach shore, we’ll be on our way.”</p> +<p>“Aren’t you staying for dinner?” the old man asked +in disappointment. “I’m fryin’ up a nice catfish.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_64">[64]</div> +<p>“I’m afraid we can’t remain today,” Penny answered. +“Another time perhaps.” +Using a long, hooked pole, Old Noah retrieved the +drifting gangplank and refastened it to the ark.</p> +<p>“Farewell, my daughters,” he said regretfully as +he bade them goodbye. “You and your friends always +will be welcome to take refuge in my ark. The +Great Flood is coming soon, but you are among the +chosen.”</p> +<p>Feeling decidedly exhilarated by their meeting with +such a strange character, Louise and Penny followed +the twisting stream to the main river channel. Water +was rising rapidly along the banks and at many places, +bushes and tree branches dipped low in the swirling +eddies.</p> +<p>“You know, if these spring rains keep up, Noah +may get his big flood after all,” Penny remarked. +“Poor old fellow! He certainly sealed the fate of his +ark when he pushed Sheriff Anderson into Bug Run.”</p> +<p>Turning homeward toward the Thompson Bridge, +the girls soon approached the river bank where police +had searched for the escaped saboteur. Curious to +see the locality by daylight, they detoured slightly +in order to pass it.</p> +<p>“This is the place,” Penny said, indicating ground +which had been trampled by many feet. “At the rate +the river rises, the shore here will be under by tomorrow.”</p> +<p>“I suppose police learned everything they could +last night.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_65">[65]</div> +<p>“Yes, they went over the area rather thoroughly,” +Penny nodded. “I know they took photographs and +made measurements of the saboteur’s footprints. +Lucky they did, because the water has washed them +all away.”</p> +<p>“You still can see where the automobile was +parked,” Louise declared, pointing to tire tracks in +the soft earth. “Were any real clues found, Penny?”</p> +<p>“Jerry told me police picked up a handkerchief +bearing the initial ‘O.’”</p> +<p>“That could stand for Ottman!”</p> +<p>“Likewise Oscar or Oliver or Oxenstiern,” Penny +added, frowning. “I’ll admit though, it doesn’t look +too bright for Sara’s brother.”</p> +<p>Having satisfied their curiosity regarding the locality, +the girls started on toward the bridge. Before +they had gone a dozen feet, Penny’s eye was caught by +an object lying half-buried in the mud. She picked it +up gingerly and dangling it in front of Louise was +amazed to discover that it was a man’s leather billfold.</p> +<p>“Anything inside?” inquired Louise with interest.</p> +<p>Penny opened the flap and explored the various +divisions of the money container. To her disappointment +it held nothing save one small card upon which +had been scribbled a few words.</p> +<p>“‘The Green Parrot—’” she read aloud. “‘Tuesday +at 9:15.’ Now what does that mean?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_66">[66]</div> +<p>Beneath the notation appeared another: “The +American Protective Society.”</p> +<p>“I guess it doesn’t mean much of anything,” commented +Louise, digging at the mud which had collected +on her shoes. “Probably an appointment +card.”</p> +<p>“You don’t suppose this billfold was dropped by +the saboteur?” Penny asked thoughtfully. “It’s very +near the place where he crawled out of the river.”</p> +<p>“Wouldn’t the police have picked it up if they +had considered it of any importance?”</p> +<p>“I doubt they ever saw it, Lou. The billfold was +half buried in mud. I’d never have seen it myself if +I hadn’t almost stepped on it.”</p> +<p>“Why not turn it over to the police?”</p> +<p>“Guess I will,” Penny decided, replacing the card +in the billfold and wrapping them both in her handkerchief. +“Did you ever hear of the American Protective +Society, Lou?”</p> +<p>“Never did. Nor ‘The Green Parrot’ either—whatever +that is.”</p> +<p>“I think The Green Parrot is a cafe or a night club +with none too good a reputation,” Penny said +thoughtfully. “I’m sure I’ve heard Dad say it’s a +gambling place.”</p> +<p>Without further adventure, the girls resumed their +trek and soon reached a bus line. Upon arriving +home, Penny’s first act was to consult the telephone +directory. She could find neither The Green Parrot +nor the American Protective Society listed.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_67">[67]</div> +<p>“Mrs. Weems, did you ever hear of a place called +The Green Parrot?” she questioned the housekeeper.</p> +<p>“Isn’t that a restaurant the police closed down a +few months ago?” replied Mrs. Weems. “Now why +should you be bothering your head about The Green +Parrot?”</p> +<p>Penny showed her the billfold and explained where +she had found it.</p> +<p>“Dear me,” sighed the housekeeper. “How you +can get into so many affairs of this kind is a wonder +to me. I’m sure it worries your father too.”</p> +<p>“Not Dad,” laughed Penny. “Since I dug up that +big story for him about the old <i>Wishing Well</i>, he’s +been reconciled to my career of news gathering.”</p> +<p>“Wishing wells and saboteurs are two entirely different +matters,” the housekeeper returned firmly. “I +do hope you turn this billfold over to police and forget +about suspicious characters.”</p> +<p>“I’m only worried about one,” rejoined Penny. +“It bothers me because I involved Burt Ottman in +such a mess. I’m not so sure he’s guilty.”</p> +<p>“And again, the police probably know exactly what +they are about,” replied Mrs. Weems. “Now please +take that billfold to the authorities and let them do +the worrying.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_68">[68]</div> +<p>Thus urged, Penny carried the money container to +the local police station. Unable to talk to any of the +detectives connected with the dynamiting case, she +left the billfold with a desk sergeant. As she turned +to leave, after answering his many questions, she +posed one of her own.</p> +<p>“Oh, by the way, did you ever hear of a place +called The Green Parrot?”</p> +<p>“Sure,” the sergeant responded. “It’s a night club. +Used to be located on Granger Street, but our boys +made it too hot for ’em, so they moved to another +place.”</p> +<p>“Where is it now?”</p> +<p>“Couldn’t tell you,” answered the sergeant. +“You’ll have to talk to one of the detectives, Jim +Adams or Bill Benson.”</p> +<p>Having no real excuse for seeking the information, +Penny decided to abandon the quest. For want of an +occupation, she sauntered on toward the <i>Star</i> office. +Pausing in front of the big plate glass window, she +idly watched a workman who was oiling one of the +great rotary presses.</p> +<p>“Oh, here you are!” exclaimed a voice from behind +her.</p> +<p>Whirling around, Penny saw that her father had +just come through the revolving doors at the main entrance +to the building.</p> +<p>“Hello, Dad,” she greeted him eagerly. “What’s +new in the dynamiting case?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_69">[69]</div> +<p>“Nothing so far as I know,” he replied, rather +indifferently. “Burt Ottman’s been released on bail.”</p> +<p>“Mr. DeWitt put up the money?”</p> +<p>“Yes, he did,” Mr. Parker said, frowning. “I advised +him against it, but DeWitt feels a duty to the +boy. Were you looking for me, Penny?”</p> +<p>“Well, not in particular.”</p> +<p>“I’m on my way to a bank meeting,” Mr. Parker +said, turning away. “Oh, yes, I arranged a job for +that watchman complication of yours, Carl Oaks.”</p> +<p>“You did? Oh, grand! What sort of work is it?”</p> +<p>“Can’t take time to tell you now,” Mr. Parker said +hurriedly, hailing a passing taxi cab. “If you want +all the details, ask Jerry Livingston. He took care of +the matter for me, and can give you the information.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_70">[70]</div> +<h2 id="c9"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">9</span> +<br /><i>A JOB FOR MR. OAKS</i></h2> +<p>Eager to learn what had been done to help Carl +Oaks, Penny took an elevator to the news room of the +<i>Star</i>. Jerry Livingston’s desk was deserted, so she +paused at the slot of the big circular copy desk to ask +Editor DeWitt if the reporter were anywhere in the +building.</p> +<p>“I just sent him to cover a fire,” Mr. DeWitt replied, +glancing up from copy he was correcting. +“He ought to be back any minute. You know how +Jerry covers a fire.”</p> +<p>“I certainly do. He rides the big engine to the +scene, just whiffs at the smoke, and races back with +a column report!”</p> +<p>Penny hesitated. She very much wished to say +something to the editor about the dynamiting case, +yet was reluctant to bring up the subject.</p> +<p>“Mr. DeWitt, I’m sorry about Burt Ottman,” she +began awkwardly. “I hope you don’t think that I +tried to throw suspicion on him by telling police——”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_71">[71]</div> +<p>“Of course not,” he cut in. “It’s just a case of +circumstantial evidence. Burt has a good lawyer +now. I’m not a bit worried.”</p> +<p>The harassed expression of DeWitt’s face belied +his words. He had always been known to fellow +workers as a hard yet just man, but now it seemed to +Penny that the veteran newspaperman was losing his +grip. Though he fancied he disguised his feelings, it +was plain to all that Burt Ottman’s arrest had shaken +him.</p> +<p>“Guess I won’t wait for Jerry,” Penny said, turning +away.</p> +<p>Leaving the newspaper office, she dropped in at +Foster’s Drugstore to perch herself on a counter stool.</p> +<p>“I’ll take a deluxe dose of Hawaiian Delight with +whipped cream,” she told the soda fountain clerk.</p> +<p>“No pineapple,” he said sadly. “And no whipped +cream.”</p> +<p>“Then make it a double chocolate malted.”</p> +<p>“We’re out of chocolate. Sorry.”</p> +<p>“Just bring me an empty dish and let me look at +it for awhile,” Penny grinned.</p> +<p>“How about a nice vanilla sundae with crushed +walnuts?” the clerk coaxed.</p> +<p>“Oh, all right,” Penny gave in. “And don’t spare +the walnuts!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_72">[72]</div> +<p>She ate the ice cream leisurely and had finished the +last spoonful when a young man breezed into the +drugstore. Recognizing Jerry Livingston, Penny +signaled frantically. Without seeing her, he dodged +into a telephone booth. He slammed out again in a +moment and sat down at the counter.</p> +<p>“Cup o’ Java and make it strong,” he ordered +carelessly.</p> +<p>“Sorry, sir, no coffee served without meals,” teased +Penny from another stool. “How about a nice vanilla +sundae with crushed walnuts?”</p> +<p>Jerry grinned as he saw her and moved over to an +adjoining stool.</p> +<p>“Where was the fire?” she inquired curiously.</p> +<p>“At the Fulton Warehouse along the dock. It was +deliberately set.”</p> +<p>“By saboteurs?”</p> +<p>“Looks that way. Workmen discovered the blaze +in time to prevent the whole plant going up in smoke. +Just got through telephoning the story to DeWitt.”</p> +<p>“Isn’t the <i>Star</i> building across the street?”</p> +<p>“Sure, but that’s a long walk. Besides, I’m due at +the airport for my flying lesson.”</p> +<p>“Your which?” inquired Penny alertly.</p> +<p>“I’m training to be an angel,” Jerry laughed. “I +figure it like this. I can’t get along without my six +cups o’ Java a day, so the only place for me is in +Uncle Sam’s Air Corps.”</p> +<p>“How soon will you be leaving, Jerry?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_73">[73]</div> +<p>“Not until I’ve completed my local training. Oh, +I’ll probably be grinding out news stories for quite +some time yet.”</p> +<p>Penny drew a quick breath and changed the subject. +One by one familiar faces were disappearing +from the <i>Star</i> office, but somehow it gave her a special +twinge to think that Jerry soon must go. In the pursuit +of news they had shared many an adventure.</p> +<p>“Jerry,” she said abruptly, “Dad told me you were +able to get Carl Oaks a job.”</p> +<p>“One of sorts. It doesn’t pay much, but it’s soft. +Oaks is hired by the Riverview Coal Company to +guard their barge that’s tied up at Dock 10.”</p> +<p>“Thanks a lot, Jerry, for going to so much trouble. +Mr. Oaks ought to be quite grateful.”</p> +<p>“Not that fellow! He held out for more pay.”</p> +<p>“Are the duties hard?”</p> +<p>“Hard? All he has to do is stay aboard the barge +and see that no one tries to make off with it.”</p> +<p>“I can’t imagine anyone trying to steal a coal +barge,” laughed Penny.</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s done now and then,” Jerry rejoined carelessly. +“These days they’ll even steal the hawsers off +a boat.”</p> +<p>“What value would the rope have to a thief?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_74">[74]</div> +<p>“Hawsers are expensive,” the reporter explained. +“Right now it’s almost impossible to get good grade +hemp. A hawser of any size commands a big price +second hand.”</p> +<p>“How do the thieves get the ropes, Jerry?”</p> +<p>“Oh, they wait for a dark or foggy night and then +slip up to an unguarded boat and cut her loose.”</p> +<p>“Why, that’s a form of sabotage!” Penny cried +indignantly.</p> +<p>“Sure, it is. The boats float free and unless they’re +spotted, they’re likely to collide with other incoming +vessels. Only last week an empty coal barge was cut +loose. She crashed into an oil tanker and rammed a +hole in her.”</p> +<p>“Then Carl Oaks really has an important job,” +Penny said thoughtfully.</p> +<p>“Important in the sense that he’s got to keep his +eyes open. But he’s not required to do any hard +work. All he has to do is sit.”</p> +<p>“Then he should like the job,” Penny smiled, sliding +down from the stool. “When does he start +work?”</p> +<p>“He took over this morning.”</p> +<p>“Maybe I’ll ankle down to Dock 10 and talk to +him.”</p> +<p>“Better wrap yourself in cellophane first,” Jerry +advised. “That is, if you value your peaches and +cream complexion.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_75">[75]</div> +<p>Penny was not certain what the reporter meant, but +a little later, approaching the coal docks, she understood. +Nearby was a private railroad yard and cars +were being loaded from the many mountains of coal +heaped on the ground. With the wind blowing +toward the river, the dust laden air blackened her +hands and clothing.</p> +<p>Penny stood for a moment watching a coal car race +down from a steep switch-back, and then wandered +along the docks in search of Mr. Oaks.</p> +<p>She came presently to the barge for which she +searched. There was no sign of anyone aboard. A +long ladder ascended from the dock to the vessel’s +deck. Penny hesitated and then decided to climb it. +When she was midway up, a man, his face blackened +with coal, stepped from a shed.</p> +<p>“Hey, where you think you’re going?” he shouted +sternly.</p> +<p>“I’m looking for Mr. Oaks,” Penny explained, +hugging the ladder.</p> +<p>“Oaks? The new watchman?”</p> +<p>“Yes. He’s aboard, isn’t he?”</p> +<p>“He should be. Well, go on up, I guess, but it’s +against regulations.”</p> +<p>Penny climbed the remaining rungs of the ladder +and stepped out on the deck of the barge. She was +chagrined to see that she had wiped up a great deal of +coal dust.</p> +<p>“Oh, Mr. Oaks!” she called. “Are you here?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_76">[76]</div> +<p>From the tiny deck house the old man emerged. +No smile brightened his smudged face as he recognized +Penny.</p> +<p>“This is a swell job your father got me!” he greeted +her.</p> +<p>“Why, Mr. Oaks, you don’t act as if you like it,” +Penny replied, walking toward him. “What seems +to be wrong?”</p> +<p>“The pay’s poor,” he said crossly. “I’m expected +to stay on this rotten old tub twenty-four hours a day +with only time off for my meals. It’s so dirty around +here that if a fellow’d take a deep breath he’d get a +hunk o’ coal stuck in his nose!”</p> +<p>“It <i>is</i> rather unpleasant,” Penny admitted. “But +then, the wind can’t always blow in this direction.”</p> +<p>“I want you to ask your father to find me another +job,” the watchman went on. “I’d like one on a +bridge again.”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t know. After what happened—”</p> +<p>“And whose fault was it?” Mr. Oaks interrupted +angrily. “I helped you and that girl friend of yours, +didn’t I? Well, now it’s your turn to do me a little +favor, ’specially since it wasn’t my fault I lost the +bridge job.”</p> +<p>“I’ll talk to Dad,” Penny said. Annoyed by the +watchman’s attitude, she did not prolong the interview, +but quickly climbed down from the barge.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_77">[77]</div> +<p>From the coal yards she followed the river for a +distance, coming presently to more pleasant surroundings. +She was still thinking about Carl Oaks as she +approached the Ottman boathouse. Sara and a young +man were deeply engrossed in examining a large metal +object which appeared to be a homemade diving +hood.</p> +<p>For a moment Penny assumed that Sara’s companion +was Bill Evans. However, as the young man +turned slightly, she saw his face.</p> +<p>“Why, it’s Burt Ottman!” she thought. “He’s +back on his old job after being released from jail. I’m +going to talk to him and see what he’ll say!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_78">[78]</div> +<h2 id="c10"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">10</span> +<br /><i>SALVAGE AND SABOTEURS</i></h2> +<p>Sara Ottman and her brother glanced up from +their work as Penny approached the dock. Burt was +a tall young man of twenty-six, brown of face, with +muscles hardened by heavy, outdoor work. He +nodded to Penny, but his expression did not disclose +whether or not he bore resentment.</p> +<p>“Anything we can do for you?” he asked, his manner +impersonal.</p> +<p>“No, I just happened to be over this way and +thought I’d stop for a minute. What’s this strange +contraption?” Penny indicated the queer looking +metal hood.</p> +<p>“A diving apparatus Burt made,” Sara explained +briefly. “We’re using it to get Bill Evans’ motor out +of the river.”</p> +<p>“How does it work?”</p> +<p>“Watch and see,” invited Sara. “Burt’s going to +make the first dive.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_79">[79]</div> +<p>Though Penny felt that she was none too welcome +at the dock, she nevertheless decided to remain. +Burt disappeared into the shed, reappearing a minute +later in bathing trunks. He and Sara loaded the diving +hood into a boat and rowed to the nearby area +which had been marked with a can buoy.</p> +<p>Burt adjusted the metal helmet over his head and +lowered himself into the water. Once her brother +was beneath the surface, Sara worked tirelessly at the +pump, feeding him air. Soon Bill Evans drifted by in +another boat, watching the salvage operation like a +worried mother.</p> +<p>“Think you’ll get ’er?” he asked Sara. “Doggone +if I know how an engine could be so hard to find.”</p> +<p>Sara did not bother to answer, but kept pumping +steadily.</p> +<p>After many minutes, the metal hood appeared on +the surface. Burt Ottman lifted it from his head and +took a deep breath.</p> +<p>“Any luck?” Bill asked anxiously.</p> +<p>“I’ll have the engine up in a little bit,” Burt replied. +Breasting himself into the boat, he pulled on a rope +tied around his waist. With Sara helping, he gradually +hauled the lost motor from its muddy bed.</p> +<p>“Oh, say, that’s swell!” Bill cried jubilantly. +“How can I thank you?”</p> +<p>“Don’t forget the five dollars,” Sara reminded him. +“Burt and I can use it.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_80">[80]</div> +<p>“Oh, sure,” Bill replied, though the light faded +from his eyes. “I haven’t got it on me right now. +Can you wait a few days?”</p> +<p>“Waiting is the best thing we do,” Sara assured him. +“Better get this mess of junk cleaned and oiled up +right away or it won’t be worth a dime.”</p> +<p>“I will,” promised Bill. “Just dump ’er on the dock +for me, will you?”</p> +<p>Sara and her brother delivered the motor to the +designated place, and then rowed to their own platform +where Penny waited. From the look of their +faces it was evident that they never expected to be +paid for their work.</p> +<p>Alighting from the boat, Sara noticed one of Old +Noah’s floating bottles which had snagged against the +edge of the platform. Rather irritably she fished it +from the water. Without bothering to read the message +inside, she hurled it high on the shore.</p> +<p>“Sara, you’re in an ugly mood today,” her brother +observed, smiling.</p> +<p>“I get tired of seeing those bottles!” she replied. “I +get tired of doing so much charity work too! How +are we to meet our expenses, pay for a lawyer, and—”</p> +<p>“Never mind,” Burt interrupted quietly.</p> +<p>Sara subsided into silence. They moored the boat +and Burt, carrying the diving bell with him, went into +the shed.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_81">[81]</div> +<p>“Guess you think I’m a regular old crab,” Sara remarked, +turning toward Penny.</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t know,” Penny answered. “I’m sure +you have plenty to worry you.”</p> +<p>“I do! Since the papers published the bridge dynamiting +story, our business has shrunk to almost nothing. +Burt’s case is coming up for trial in about ten +days. I don’t know how we’ll pay the lawyer. If +Mr. DeWitt hadn’t put up bail, my brother still would +be in jail.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you shouldn’t feel so discouraged,” Penny +said cheerfully. “Burt will be cleared.”</p> +<p>“I wish I could think so. He’s innocent, but to +prove it is another matter.”</p> +<p>“Can’t your brother provide an alibi? Where was +he at the time of the dynamiting?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” Sara admitted, frowning. “Burt’s +peculiar. I tried to talk things over with him, but he +says it’s a disagreeable subject. He hasn’t told me +where he was Friday night.”</p> +<p>Burt’s appearance in the doorway of the shed +brought the conversation to an abrupt end. Before +Penny could speak to him, a group of small boys ran +along the bank some distance away.</p> +<p>“<i>Saboteur! Saboteur!</i>” they shouted jeeringly, +pointing at Burt. One of the lads threw a clod of dirt +which struck a moored rowboat.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_82">[82]</div> +<p>“You see how it is!” Sara cried wrathfully.</p> +<p>“Don’t take things so seriously,” Burt advised, +though his own eyes burned with an angry light. +“They’re only youngsters.”</p> +<p>“I can’t stand much more,” Sara cried, running into +the shed, and closing the door.</p> +<p>Burt busied himself cleaning the clod of dirt from +the rowboat. “Don’t mind Sara,” he said. “She’s always +inclined to be high strung.”</p> +<p>“I’m sorry about everything,” said Penny quietly. +“Mr. DeWitt believes you will be cleared.”</p> +<p>Burt straightened, staring at the far shore. “Wish +I felt the same way. Unless the real saboteur is caught, +the police intend to tag me with the job.”</p> +<p>“They can’t convict you without evidence. Oh, +by the way, did you ever lose a leather billfold?”</p> +<p>The question surprised Burt. He hesitated before +he answered: “What made you ask me that?”</p> +<p>“I found an old one along the river. No money or +any identification in it. Just a card which said: ‘The +Green Parrot. Tuesday at 9:15.’”</p> +<p>“The Green Parrot!”</p> +<p>“You’ve heard of the place?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’ve heard of it,” Burt answered carelessly. +“That’s all. I never was there. Sorry I can’t claim +the billfold.”</p> +<p>As if uneasy lest he be questioned further, the young +man picked up a coil of rope and walked away. +Penny waited a moment and then left the dock.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_83">[83]</div> +<p>“I’m just a nuisance around there,” she thought unhappily. +“I’d like to help, but Sara and Burt won’t +let me.”</p> +<p>The following two days passed without event so +far as Penny was concerned. There were no developments +regarding the bridge dynamiting case and the +story was relegated to an inside page of the Star. +However, recalling her promise to Carl Oaks, she did +speak to her father about finding him a new job.</p> +<p>“What does that fellow expect?” Mr. Parker rumbled +irritably. “Jerry tells me he’s a ne’er-do-well. +Why doesn’t he like his job as watchman on the coal +barge?”</p> +<p>“Well, it’s too dirty.”</p> +<p>“Carl Oaks is lucky to get any job in this town,” +Mr. Parker answered. “Jerry had a hard time inducing +anyone to take him on. Along the waterfront he +has a reputation for shiftlessness.”</p> +<p>“In that case, just forget it, Dad. I don’t like the +man too well myself.”</p> +<p>Penny promptly forgot about Carl Oaks, but many +times she caught herself wondering what had happened +to Old Noah and his ark. Since she and Louise +had visited the place, it had rained every day. The +water was slowly rising in the river and there was talk +that a serious flood might result.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_84">[84]</div> +<p>On Tuesday night, as Penny and Louise paid their +weekly visit to the Rialto Theatre, it was still raining. +The gutters were deep with water and to cross the +street it was necessary to walk stiffly on their heels.</p> +<p>“We’ve had enough H<sub>2</sub>O for one week,” Penny +declared, gazing at her splashed stockings. “Well, for +screaming out loud!”</p> +<p>A green taxicab, turning in the street to pick up a +fare, shot a fountain of muddy water from its spinning +wheels. Penny, who stood close to the curb, was +sprayed from head to foot.</p> +<p>“Just look at me!” she wailed. “That driver ought +to be sent to prison for life!”</p> +<p>The taxi drew up in front of the Rialto Theatre. A +well-dressed man in brown overcoat and felt hat who +waited at the curb, opened the cab door.</p> +<p>“To the Green Parrot,” he ordered the driver.</p> +<p>“Where’s that, sir?”</p> +<p>The passenger mumbled an address the girls could +not understand. He then slammed shut the cab door +and the vehicle drove away.</p> +<p>“Lou, did you hear what I heard?” Penny cried excitedly.</p> +<p>“I certainly did!”</p> +<p>Penny glanced quickly about. Seeing another taxicab +across the street, she hailed it.</p> +<p>“Come on, Louise,” she urged, tugging at her +chum’s hand.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_85">[85]</div> +<p>Louise held back. “What do you intend to do?”</p> +<p>“Why, we’re going to follow that taxi!” Penny +splashed through the flooded gutter toward the waiting +cab. “This is a real break for us! With luck +we’ll learn the location of The Green Parrot!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_86">[86]</div> +<h2 id="c11"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">11</span> +<br /><i>PURSUIT BY TAXI</i></h2> +<p>“Keep that green taxi in sight!” Penny instructed +her own cab driver as she and Louise leaped into the +rear seat.</p> +<p>“Sure,” agreed the taxi man, showing no surprise at +the request.</p> +<p>Thrilled, and feeling rather theatrical, Penny and +Louise sat on the edge of their seats. Anxiously they +watched the green cab ahead. Weaving in and out of +downtown traffic, it cruised at a slow speed and so, +was not hard to follow.</p> +<p>Louise gazed at the running tape of the taxi meter. +“Do you see that ticker?” she whispered. “I hope +you’re well fortified with spare change.”</p> +<p>“I haven’t much money with me. Let’s trust that +The Green Parrot is somewhere close.”</p> +<p>“More than likely it’s miles out in the country,” +Louise returned pessimistically.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_87">[87]</div> +<p>The green cab presently turned down a narrow, +little-traveled street not many blocks from the river +front. As it halted at the curb, Penny’s driver glanced +at her for instructions.</p> +<p>“Don’t stop,” she directed. “Drive on past and pull +up around the corner.”</p> +<p>The taxi man did as requested, presenting a bill for +one dollar and eighty cents. To pay the sum, Penny +used all of her own money and borrowed a quarter +from her chum.</p> +<p>“That leaves me with just thirty-eight cents,” +Louise said ruefully. “No picture show tonight. +And how are we to get home?”</p> +<p>“We’re not far from a bus line. Come on, we’re +wasting valuable time.”</p> +<p>“Those two words, ‘Come on’ have involved me in +more trouble than all the rest of the English language,” +Louise giggled nervously. “What are we to do now +we’re here?”</p> +<p>Penny did not answer. Rounding the corner, she +saw that the green cab and its passenger had disappeared. +For an instant she was bitterly disappointed. +Then she noticed a creaking sign which swung above +a basement entrance. Although inconspicuous, it +bore the picture of a green parrot.</p> +<p>“That’s the place, Lou!” she exclaimed.</p> +<p>“Well, we’ve learned the address, so let’s go home.”</p> +<p>“Wonder what it’s like inside?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_88">[88]</div> +<p>“Don’t you dare start that old curiosity of yours to +percolating!” Louise chided severely. “We’re <i>not</i> +going in there!”</p> +<p>“Who ever thought of such a thing?” grinned +Penny. “Now I wonder what time it is?”</p> +<p>“About eight-thirty or perhaps a little later. +Why?”</p> +<p>“Do you remember that card we found in the +leather billfold? The notation read, ‘The Green Parrot, +Tuesday at 9:15.’”</p> +<p>“So it did, but the appointment may have been for +nine fifteen in the morning.”</p> +<p>“You dope!” laughed Penny. “Louise, we’re in +wonderful luck finding this place at just this hour! +Why, the man we followed here may be the one who +lost the billfold.”</p> +<p>“All of which makes him a saboteur, I suppose?”</p> +<p>“Not necessarily, but don’t you think we ought to +try to learn more?”</p> +<p>“I knew you’d try to get me into that place,” Louise +complained. “Well, I have more sense than to do it. +It might not be safe.”</p> +<p>“I shouldn’t think of venturing in unescorted,” +Penny assured her. “Why not telephone my father +and ask him to come here right away?”</p> +<p>“Well, that might not be such a bad idea,” Louise +acknowledged reluctantly. “But where can we find +a phone?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_89">[89]</div> +<p>Passing The Green Parrot, the girls walked on a +few doors until they came to a corner drugstore. Going +inside, they closed themselves into a telephone +booth. Borrowing a nickel from Louise, Penny called +her home, but there was no response.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Weems went to a meeting tonight, and I suppose +Dad must be away,” she commented anxiously.</p> +<p>“Then let’s give it up.”</p> +<p>“I’ll try the newspaper office,” Penny decided. “If +Dad isn’t there, I’ll talk to one of the reporters.”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker was not to be contacted at the <i>Star</i> +plant, nor was Editor DeWitt available. Penny asked +to speak to Jerry Livingston and presently heard his +voice at the other end of the wire. Without wasting +words she told him where she was and what she +wanted him to do.</p> +<p>“<i>The Green Parrot!</i>” Jerry exclaimed, copying +down the address she gave him. “Say, that’s worthwhile +information. I’ll be with you girls as soon as I +can get there.”</p> +<p>“We’ll be outside the corner drugstore,” Penny told +him. “You’ll know us by the way we pace back and +forth!”</p> +<p>Within twelve minutes a cab pulled up and Jerry +leaped out to greet the two girls.</p> +<p>“Where is this Parrot place?” he demanded, gazing +curiously at the dingy buildings.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_90">[90]</div> +<p>Louise and Penny led him down the street to the +basement entrance. Music could be heard from +within, but blinds covered all the windows.</p> +<p>“It must be a cafe,” commented Jerry. He turned +toward Penny and stared. “Say, what’s the matter +with your face?”</p> +<p>“My face?”</p> +<p>“You look as if you’re coming down with the black +measles!”</p> +<p>“Oh, a taxi splashed me with mud,” Penny laughed, +sponging at her cheeks with a handkerchief. “How +do I look now?”</p> +<p>“Better. Let’s go.”</p> +<p>Taking the girls each by an elbow, Jerry guided +them down the stone steps. Confronted with a curving +door, he boldly thrust it open.</p> +<p>“Now act as if you belonged here,” he warned the +girls.</p> +<p>The trio found themselves in a carpeted, luxuriously +furnished foyer. From a large dining room +nearby came laughter and music.</p> +<p>As the outside door closed behind the young people, +a bell tinkled to announce their arrival. Almost +at once a head waiter appeared in the archway to the +left. He was tall and dark, with a noticeable scar +across one cheek. His shrewd eyes scrutinized them, +but he bowed politely enough.</p> +<p>“A party of three, sir?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_91">[91]</div> +<p>“Right,” agreed Jerry.</p> +<p>They followed the waiter into a dimly lighted dining +room with more tables than customers. A four-piece +orchestra provided rather dreary music for +dancing. Jerry reluctantly allowed a checkroom girl +to capture his hat.</p> +<p>The head waiter turned the party over to another +waiter.</p> +<p>“Table thirteen,” he instructed, and spoke rapidly +in French.</p> +<p>“Table thirteen,” complained Jerry. “Can’t you +give us something besides that?”</p> +<p>“Monsieur is superstitious?” The head waiter +smiled in a superior way.</p> +<p>“Not superstitious, just cautious.”</p> +<p>“As you wish, Monsieur. Table two.”</p> +<p>Jerry and the girls were guided to the far end of +the room, somewhat apart from the other diners. A +large potted palm obstructed their view.</p> +<p>“I think they’ve hung the Indian sign on us,” Jerry +muttered after the waiter had gone. “See anyone +you know, Penny?”</p> +<p>“That man over by the door—the one sitting +alone,” she indicated in a whisper. “Louise and I followed +him here.”</p> +<p>“The one that’s wrestling with the lobster?”</p> +<p>“Yes, don’t stare at him, Jerry. He’s watching us.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_92">[92]</div> +<p>The waiter arrived with glasses of water and menu +cards. Jerry and the girls scanned the list in secret +consternation. Scarcely an item was priced at less +than a dollar, and even a modest meal would cost a +large sum.</p> +<p>“I’m not very hungry,” Louise said helpfully. “I’ll +take a ham sandwich.”</p> +<p>“So will I,” added Penny.</p> +<p>“Three hams with plenty of mustard,” ordered +Jerry breezily.</p> +<p>The waiter gave him a long glance. “And your +drink, sir?”</p> +<p>“Water,” said Jerry. “Cool, refreshing water, +preferably with a small piece of ice.”</p> +<p>The waiter favored the trio with another unflattering +look and went to the kitchen.</p> +<p>“This is a gyp place,” Penny declared indignantly. +“I can’t understand why anyone would come here. +The waiters all seem to be French.”</p> +<p>“Oh, all head waiters speak French,” Jerry replied. +“You can’t tell by that. I’d say they were German +myself.”</p> +<p>Penny studied the cafe employees with new interest. +She noted that the head waiter kept an alert eye +upon the entire room, but particularly he watched +their table.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_93">[93]</div> +<p>Soon the three orders of ham sandwiches were +brought by the waiter. The young people ate as +slowly as they could so they would have an excuse +for remaining as long as they desired.</p> +<p>“What time is it, Jerry?” Penny asked anxiously.</p> +<p>“Ten after nine,” he answered, looking at his watch.</p> +<p>A bell jingled, and the young people knew that +another customer had arrived. Craning their necks +to see around the palm tree, they watched the dining +room entranceway. In a moment a young man entered +and was greeted by the head waiter. Jerry and +the girls stared, scarcely believing their eyes.</p> +<p>“Why, it’s Burt Ottman!” Penny whispered.</p> +<p>“And exactly on the dot of nine-fifteen,” added +Louise significantly. “He <i>must</i> be the person who +lost that billfold!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_94">[94]</div> +<h2 id="c12"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">12</span> +<br /><i>JERRY’S DISAPPEARANCE</i></h2> +<p>Without noticing Jerry and the girls, Burt +Ottman walked directly to a table at the other side of +the dining room. He spoke to the stranger whom +Penny and Louise had followed, and sat down opposite +him.</p> +<p>“Ha! The plot thickens!” commented Jerry in an +undertone. “Obviously our friend and Burt Ottman +had an appointment together.”</p> +<p>“This is certainly a shock to me,” declared Penny. +“I’d made up my mind that Burt had nothing whatsoever +to do with the dynamiting. Now I don’t know +what to think.”</p> +<p>“He must be the saboteur,” Louise said, speaking +louder than she realized. “We picked up the billfold +along the river and it undoubtedly was his.”</p> +<p>“He denied it,” replied Penny. “However, when I +spoke of The Green Parrot I noticed that he seemed +to recognize the name. Oh, dear!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_95">[95]</div> +<p>“Now don’t take it so hard,” Jerry comforted her. +“The best thing to do is to report what we’ve seen to +police and let them draw their own conclusions.”</p> +<p>“I suppose so,” Penny admitted gloomily. “I had +hoped to help Sara and her brother.”</p> +<p>“You wouldn’t want to protect a saboteur?”</p> +<p>“Of course not, Jerry. Oh, dear, it’s all so mixed +up.”</p> +<p>So intent had the young people been upon their +conversation that they failed to observe a waiter hovering +near. Nor did it occur to them that he might +be listening. As Jerry chanced to glance toward him, +he bowed, and moving forward, presented the bill.</p> +<p>“Howling cats!” the reporter muttered after the +waiter had discreetly withdrawn. “Will you look at +this!”</p> +<p>“How much is it?” Penny asked anxiously. “We +only had three ham sandwiches.”</p> +<p>“Two dollars cover charge. Three sandwiches, +one dollar and a half. Tip, fifty cents. Grand total, +four dollars, plus sales tax.”</p> +<p>“Why, that’s robbery!” Penny exclaimed. “I +wouldn’t pay it, Jerry.”</p> +<p>“I can’t,” he admitted, slightly abashed. “I only +have three dollars in my pocket. Then I’ll have to +buy my hat back from the checkroom girl.”</p> +<p>“Louise and I haven’t any money either,” Penny +said. “Thirty-eight cents to be exact.”</p> +<p>“Thirty-three,” corrected her chum.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_96">[96]</div> +<p>“Tell you what,” said Jerry after a moment of +thought. “You girls stay here and hold down the +chairs. I’ll go outside and telephone one of the boys +at the office. I’ll have someone bring me some cash.”</p> +<p>Left to themselves, the girls tried to act as if nothing +were wrong. However, they were very conscious of +the waiter’s scrutiny. Every time the man entered the +dining room with a tray of food, he gazed suggestively +at the unpaid bill.</p> +<p>“I’d feel more comfortable under the table,” Penny +commented. “Why doesn’t Jerry hurry?”</p> +<p>“Perhaps he can’t find a telephone.”</p> +<p>“Something is keeping him. We’re going to become +conspicuous if we stay here much longer.”</p> +<p>The girls fumbled with their purses and sipped at +their water glasses until the tumblers were empty. +Minutes passed and still Jerry did not return.</p> +<p>After a while, Burt Ottman’s companion left the +dining room. The young owner of the boat dock +waited until the older man had vanished, and then +called for his check. If the bill were unusually large +he did not appear to notice, for he paid it without +protest and likewise left the dining room.</p> +<p>“Louise, I don’t want to stay here any longer,” +Penny said nervously. “I can’t understand what’s +keeping Jerry.”</p> +<p>“Why not go out to the foyer and look for him.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_97">[97]</div> +<p>“A good idea if we can get away with it,” Penny +approved. “I judge though, that if we start off, the +waiter will pursue us with the bill.”</p> +<p>“Couldn’t we just explain?”</p> +<p>“We can try. Anyway, it will be interesting to +see what will happen.”</p> +<p>Before leaving the table, Penny scribbled a hasty +note which she left for Jerry on his plate. It merely +said that the girls would wait for him in the foyer. +Choosing a moment when their own waiter was occupied +at another table, they sauntered across the +room and out into the hall.</p> +<p>“That wasn’t half as hard as I thought it would be,” +chuckled Penny. “But where’s Jerry?”</p> +<p>The foyer was deserted. Noticing a stairway +which led to a lower level, the girls decided that the +telephones must be located below. They started +down, but soon realized their mistake for no light was +burning in the lower hall.</p> +<p>“We’re not supposed to be down here,” Louise +murmured, holding back.</p> +<p>“Wait!” whispered Penny.</p> +<p>At the far end of the dingy hall she had glimpsed a +moving figure. For just a second she thought that +the young man might be Jerry. Then she saw that it +was Burt Ottman.</p> +<p>“What do you suppose he’s doing down here?” she +speculated. “He seems to be familiar with all the +nooks and crannies of this place.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_98">[98]</div> +<p>Burt Ottman had not seen or heard the girls. They +saw him pause at the end of the hall and knock four +times on a closed door. A circular peep-hole shot +open and a voice muttered: “Who is it?”</p> +<p>The girls heard no more. Someone touched Penny +on the shoulder from behind. With a startled exclamation, +she whirled around to face the head waiter.</p> +<p>“So sorry, Mademoiselle, to have frightened you,” +he said blandly. “You have taken the wrong stairway.”</p> +<p>“Why, yes,” stammered Penny, trying to collect +her wits. “We were looking for the public telephones.”</p> +<p>“This way please. You will find them in the foyer. +Just follow me.”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise had no choice but to obey. They +wondered if the head waiter knew how much they +had seen. His expressionless face gave them no clue.</p> +<p>“We were waiting for our friend,” Louise remarked +to cover her embarrassment.</p> +<p>“The young man who escorted you here?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” nodded Louise. “He went to telephone and +we haven’t seen him since.”</p> +<p>The waiter had reached the top of the stairs. He +turned and looked directly at the girls as he said: +“The young man left here some minutes ago.”</p> +<p>“He left!” Penny exclaimed incredulously. “But +the bill wasn’t paid.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_99">[99]</div> +<p>“Oh, yes, the young gentleman took care of it.”</p> +<p>“Why, Jerry didn’t have enough money,” Penny +protested, unable to grasp the situation. “You’re sure +he left the cafe?”</p> +<p>“Yes, Mademoiselle.”</p> +<p>“And didn’t he leave any message for us?”</p> +<p>“I regret that he did not,” the waiter replied. “As +young ladies without escorts are not permitted at The +Green Parrot, I suggest that you leave at once.”</p> +<p>“You may be sure we will,” said Penny. “I simply +can’t understand why Jerry would go off without saying +a word to us.”</p> +<p>The head waiter conducted the girls to the exit, +bowing as he closed the door in their faces. Rather +bewildered, they huddled together on the stone steps. +Rain had started to fall once more and the air was +unpleasantly cold.</p> +<p>“We certainly got out of that place in a hurry,” +Louise commented. “If you ask me, it was a shabby +trick for Jerry to go off and leave us. Especially +when he knew we didn’t have the price of a taxi.”</p> +<p>“Lou,” said Penny soberly, “I don’t believe that +Jerry did desert us.”</p> +<p>“But he disappeared! And the head waiter told us +that he left.”</p> +<p>“Something happened to Jerry when he went to +telephone—that’s certain,” replied Penny, thinking +aloud.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_100">[100]</div> +<p>“Then you believe he was forcibly ejected?”</p> +<p>“No one could have tossed Jerry out of The Green +Parrot without a little opposition.”</p> +<p>“Jerry’s quite a scrapper when he’s aroused,” Louise +agreed. “We didn’t hear any sound of scuffling. +What do you think became of him?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know and I’m worried,” confessed Penny. +Taking Louise’s arm, she guided her up the stone +steps to the street. “The thing for us to do is to get +home and tell Dad everything! Jerry may be in serious +trouble.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_101">[101]</div> +<h2 id="c13"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">13</span> +<br /><i>A VACANT BUILDING</i></h2> +<p>Hastening to a main street, Penny and Louise +waited many minutes for a bus. Finally as a taxi +cruised past they hailed it, knowing they could obtain +cab fare when they reached home.</p> +<p>“Let’s go straight to my house,” Penny said, giving +the driver her address. “Dad should be there by this +time. I know he’ll be as worried about Jerry as we +are.”</p> +<p>A few minutes later the taxi drew up in front of the +Parker home. Lights burned in the living room and +the girls were greatly relieved to glimpse the editor +reading in a comfortable chair by the fireplace.</p> +<p>“Dad, I need a dollar sixty for cab fare!” Penny +announced, bursting in upon him.</p> +<p>“A dollar sixty,” he protested, reaching for his wallet. +“I thought you and Louise went to a picture +show. What have you been doing in a taxicab?”</p> +<p>“I’ll explain just as soon as I pay the driver. Please, +this is an emergency.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_102">[102]</div> +<p>Mr. Parker gave her two dollars and she ran outside +with it. In a moment she came back with Louise.</p> +<p>“Now, Penny, suppose you explain,” suggested Mr. +Parker. “Has walking become an outmoded sport or +are you trying to save wear and tear on rayon stockings?”</p> +<p>“Dad, Louise and I never went to the Rialto +Theatre,” Penny said breathlessly. “We’ve been at +The Green Parrot!”</p> +<p>“<i>The Green Parrot!</i>”</p> +<p>“Oh, we didn’t go alone,” Penny explained hastily +as she saw disapproval written on her father’s face. +“We telephoned Jerry and had him accompany us.”</p> +<p>“How did you learn the location of the place?”</p> +<p>“We heard a man give the address to a taxi driver, +and followed in another cab. Dad, we saw Burt Ottman +there!”</p> +<p>“Interesting, but it hardly proves that he is a +saboteur.”</p> +<p>“He arrived at exactly nine-fifteen,” Penny resumed +excitedly. “After talking with that man we +followed, they both left the dining room, though not +together. We saw Burt go downstairs and knock on +a door which had a peephole.”</p> +<p>“Did he enter?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_103">[103]</div> +<p>“I don’t know,” Penny admitted. “Louise and I +weren’t able to see. Just as things were getting interesting +the head waiter came and politely escorted us +out of the building.”</p> +<p>“Why didn’t Jerry bring you home?”</p> +<p>“That’s what I’m getting at, Dad. Jerry just disappeared.”</p> +<p>“What do you mean, Penny?”</p> +<p>Together the girls told him exactly what had happened +at The Green Parrot. Mr. Parker promptly +agreed that it would not be like Jerry to leave the +cafe without an explanation.</p> +<p>“Something has happened to him!” Penny insisted +soberly. “Dad, why don’t you call the police right +away? It wouldn’t surprise me one bit if The Green +Parrot is a meeting place for saboteurs! There’s no +telling what they may have done to Jerry!”</p> +<p>By this time Mr. Parker had begun to share the +alarm of the girls. Getting abruptly to his feet, he +started toward the telephone. Before he could take +down the receiver, the bell jingled. Answering the +incoming call, a peculiar expression came over the +newspaper owner’s face. After talking for a moment, +he hung up the receiver and turned toward +Penny.</p> +<p>“That was Jerry,” he announced dryly.</p> +<p>“Jerry!” Penny became confused. “But I don’t +understand, Dad. Is he being held at The Green +Parrot?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_104">[104]</div> +<p>“Jerry is at home. He called to ask if you and +Louise arrived safely.”</p> +<p>“Well, of all the nerve!” Penny cried indignantly. +“Just wait until I see him again!”</p> +<p>“Not so fast,” advised her father. “There seems +to have been a little mix-up. After Jerry left the dining +room to telephone, the head waiter told him that +you girls had decided not to wait.”</p> +<p>“And he told us that Jerry had gone!” Louise cried. +“I wonder why?”</p> +<p>“Because he wanted to get rid of our entire party!” +Penny declared. “All the time we were in the cafe +that head waiter seemed to keep his eye on us. Dad, +what did Jerry do about paying the bill?”</p> +<p>“He was told that he need not settle it—that he +could pay later.”</p> +<p>“Well, it’s all very peculiar,” Penny said with a +sigh. “I’m glad Jerry is safe, but I still maintain we +were hustled out of that place.”</p> +<p>“No doubt you were,” agreed her father. “I’m +curious to see the cafe—especially that door with the +peep hole.”</p> +<p>“I’ll take you there,” Penny offered eagerly.</p> +<p>“Not tonight,” Mr. Parker declined, yawning. +“Tomorrow morning perhaps.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_105">[105]</div> +<p>Penny had to be satisfied with the decision, though +she yearned for immediate action. After Louise had +gone to her own home, she mulled over the situation, +discussing every angle of it with her father.</p> +<p>“Why do you think Burt Ottman was at the Parrot?” +she tried to pin him down. “Would you say +he’s one of the plotters?”</p> +<p>“I have no opinion whatsoever,” Mr. Parker responded +somewhat wearily.</p> +<p>Penny did not allow her father to forget his promise +to visit The Green Parrot. The following morning +she awoke early and at the breakfast table reminded +him that they had an important appointment +together.</p> +<p>“I should be at the office,” Mr. Parker said, glancing +at his watch. “Besides, the cafe won’t be open at +this hour.”</p> +<p>“The manager should be there, Dad. You’ll be +able to talk to him and really look over the place.”</p> +<p>“We can ask a few questions—that’s all,” Mr. +Parker corrected. “One can’t walk into an establishment +and start searching.”</p> +<p>“Let’s go anyway,” pleaded Penny.</p> +<p>More to please her than because he hoped to uncover +vital evidence, Mr. Parker agreed to make the +trip. With Penny at the wheel of the family car, +they drove to the street where The Green Parrot was +situated. Parking not far from the entrance to an +alley, they walked the remaining distance.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_106">[106]</div> +<p>“This is the place,” said Penny, pausing before the +familiar building. “Why, what’s become of the +cafe?”</p> +<p>Bewildered, she stared at the doorway where the +painted parrot sign had swung. It was no longer +there and the Venetian blinds had been removed +from the window.</p> +<p>“This place doesn’t have the appearance of a cafe,” +said Mr. Parker. “Are you sure you have the correct +address, Penny?”</p> +<p>“Why, yes, I know we came here last night. But +the sign has been removed.”</p> +<p>Descending the stone steps, Penny pressed her face +against the uncovered windows. Only a large, empty +room confronted her astonished gaze. All of the +tables and chairs had been removed, even the palm +trees and decorations.</p> +<p>“It’s deserted, Dad!” she exclaimed.</p> +<p>Mr. Parker came down the steps to peer through a +window. Bits of colored paper and menu cards still +littered the floor. Testing the door, he found it +locked.</p> +<p>“This certainly is strange,” he remarked thoughtfully. +“Let’s inquire next door.”</p> +<p>Penny and her father chose to enter a bakery which +adjoined the building. A stout woman in a white +apron, who was arranging frosted cakes in a showcase, +favored them with a professional smile.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_107">[107]</div> +<p>“Good morning,” Mr. Parker greeted her, removing +his hat. “Can you tell me what has become of +the cafe next door?”</p> +<p>“Are you from the police?” the woman asked +quickly.</p> +<p>“No, I’m connected with the <i>Star</i>.”</p> +<p>“Oh, a reporter!” assumed the woman, and Mr. +Parker did not correct her. “I thought maybe you +were from the police. Yesterday I saw a man watching +The Green Parrot and I said to my husband, Gus, +‘The cops are going to raid that place.’”</p> +<p>“And did they?” interposed Mr. Parker.</p> +<p>“Not that I know of. The outfit just moved +out. And a queer time to be doing it too, if you +ask me!”</p> +<p>“When did they leave?”</p> +<p>“The van pulled up there about two o’clock last +night. They were loading stuff in until almost +dawn.”</p> +<p>“Can you tell me where they went or why they +moved out?”</p> +<p>“No, I can’t,” the woman replied with a shrug. +“Like as not they were afraid the police were going +to raid ’em. I’m telling you that place deserved to be +closed up.”</p> +<p>“Just what went on there?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_108">[108]</div> +<p>“I never was inside the place, but some mighty +queer acting people seemed to be running it. Why, +I’ve seen men go in and out of there at four o’clock +of a morning, hours after the cafe closed up.”</p> +<p>“Foreigners?”</p> +<p>“I couldn’t rightly say as to that. My husband, +Gus, thinks a lot of gambling went on. Anyway, I’m +glad the outfit’s gone.”</p> +<p>Unable to learn more, Penny and her father left +the bakery and walked toward their parked car. The +information they had gained was not likely to prove +very helpful. Obviously, The Green Parrot had +closed its doors, fearing an investigation. Whether +it had moved elsewhere or gone out of existence, they +could not know.</p> +<p>“The call that Jerry, Louise and I paid there last +night may have had something to do with it,” Penny +remarked. “I know the head waiter was eager to be +rid of us.”</p> +<p>As Mr. Parker and his daughter walked slowly +along, several persons ran past them toward an alley. +Approaching its entranceway, they saw that a throng +of people had gathered not far from the rear exit of +The Green Parrot.</p> +<p>“Wonder what’s wrong back there?” speculated +Mr. Parker, pausing. “Probably an accident of some +sort.”</p> +<p>“Let’s find out,” proposed Penny.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_109">[109]</div> +<p>She and her father joined the group of excited men +and women in the alley. They were startled to see a +young man sprawled face downward on the brick +pavement. A garbage collector jabbered excitedly +that he had found the victim lying thus only a moment +before.</p> +<p>Mr. Parker pushed through the circle of people. +“Has anyone called an ambulance?” he asked.</p> +<p>“I’ll send for one, Mister,” offered a boy, hastening +away.</p> +<p>Mr. Parker bent over the prone figure.</p> +<p>“He ain’t dead is he?” the garbage man asked anxiously.</p> +<p>“Unconscious,” replied the newspaper man, his +fingers on the victim’s wrist. “A nasty head wound. +I’d say he either fell or was struck from behind.”</p> +<p>Carefully Mr. Parker rolled over the limp figure. +As he beheld the face, he stared and glanced quickly +at Penny.</p> +<p>“Who is he, Dad?” she asked, and then she saw for +herself.</p> +<p>The young man was Burt Ottman.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_110">[110]</div> +<h2 id="c14"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">14</span> +<br /><i>TEST BLACKOUT</i></h2> +<p>As Mr. Parker covered Burt Ottman with his +overcoat, the young man stirred and opened his eyes. +He gazed at the newspaper owner with a dazed expression +and for a moment did not attempt to speak.</p> +<p>“Take it easy,” Mr. Parker advised.</p> +<p>“What happened to me?” the young man whispered.</p> +<p>“That’s what we’d like to know. Were you +struck?”</p> +<p>“Don’t remember,” Ottman mumbled. He closed +his eyes again, but aroused as he heard the shrill siren +of an approaching ambulance. “Don’t let ’em take +me to a hospital,” he pleaded. “Take me home.”</p> +<p>The ambulance drew up in the alley. Stretcher +bearers carefully lifted the young man.</p> +<p>“I’m all right,” he insisted, trying to sit up. “Just +take me home.”</p> +<p>“Where’s that?” asked one of the attendants.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_111">[111]</div> +<p>Burt Ottman mumbled an address which was on a +street not far from the boat dock he operated.</p> +<p>“We’ll take you to the hospital for a check up,” +the young man was told. “Then if you’re okay, +you’ll be released.”</p> +<p>Deeply interested in the case, Mr. Parker and +Penny followed the ambulance to City Hospital. +There, after an hour’s wait in the lobby they were +told that Burt Ottman had suffered no severe injury. +A minor head wound had been dressed, and he was +to be released within a short while.</p> +<p>“What caused the accident?” Mr. Parker asked one +of the nurses. “Did the young man say?”</p> +<p>“He couldn’t seem to remember what happened,” +she replied. “At least he wouldn’t talk to the doctor +about it.”</p> +<p>Overdue at the <i>Star</i> office, Mr. Parker could remain +no longer. However, Penny, whose time was +her own, loitered about the lobby for an hour and a +half until Burt Ottman came down in the elevator. +The young man’s head was bandaged and he walked +with an unsteady step as he leaned on the arm of a +nurse.</p> +<p>“I’ll call a taxi for you,” the young woman said. +“You’re really in no condition to walk far, Mr. +Ottman.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_112">[112]</div> +<p>Penny stepped forward to offer her services. Her +father, knowing that she might have use for the car, +had left it parked outside the hospital.</p> +<p>“I’ll be glad to take Mr. Ottman home,” she volunteered.</p> +<p>The young man protested that he did not wish to +cause anyone inconvenience, but allowed himself to +be guided to the waiting automobile.</p> +<p>As the car sped along toward the riverfront, Penny +stole quick glances at Burt. He sat very still, his gaze +on the pavement ahead. She half expected that he +would offer an explanation of the accident, or at least +ask a few questions, but he remained silent.</p> +<p>“You took rather a hard blow on the head,” she +remarked, seeking to lead him into conversation.</p> +<p>Burt merely nodded.</p> +<p>“Dad and I were astonished to find you lying in +the alley at the rear of The Green Parrot,” Penny +went on. “Don’t you remember how you came to +be there?”</p> +<p>“Mind’s a blank.”</p> +<p>“You must have been struck by someone,” Penny +said, refusing to be discouraged. “Can’t you recall +whom you were with just before the accident?”</p> +<p>“What is this, a third degree?” Burt asked, and +only a faint, amused smile took the edge from his +question.</p> +<p>“I’m sorry,” Penny apologized.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_113">[113]</div> +<p>“It doesn’t matter what happened to me,” Burt said +quietly. “I just don’t feel like talking about it—see?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<p>“I don’t mean to seem unappreciative,” the young +man resumed. “Thanks for taking me home.”</p> +<p>“You’re very welcome, I’m sure,” Penny responded +dryly.</p> +<p>The car drew up in front of the home where Burt +and his sister lived. A pleasant, one-story cottage +rather in need of paint, it was situated high on a bluff +overlooking the river.</p> +<p>As Burt stiffly alighted from the car, the cottage +door opened, and Sara came running to meet him.</p> +<p>“You’re hurt!” she cried anxiously. “Oh, Burt, +what happened to you?”</p> +<p>“Nothing,” he answered, moving away from her +encircling arms.</p> +<p>“But your head!”</p> +<p>“Your brother was hurt sometime last night,” +Penny explained to Sara. “Just how, we don’t know. +My father and I found him lying in an alley at the +rear of The Green Parrot.”</p> +<p>“The Green Parrot—that night club!” Sara gazed +at her brother in dismay. “Oh, Burt, I was afraid +something like this would happen. Those dreadful +men—”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_114">[114]</div> +<p>“Now Sara,” he interrupted brusquely. “No theatricals, +please. Everything’s all right.” Giving her +cheek a playful pinch, he wobbled past her into the +cottage.</p> +<p>Sara turned frightened eyes upon Penny. “Tell +me exactly what happened,” she pleaded.</p> +<p>“I honestly don’t know, Sara. My father thought +someone must have struck your brother from behind, +but he’s not told us a thing.”</p> +<p>“I just knew something of the sort would happen,” +Sara repeated nervously.</p> +<p>“What do you mean?” inquired Penny. “Does +your brother have enemies who would harm him?”</p> +<p>“Burt’s been trying to find out who framed him in +the bridge dynamiting. He won’t tell me much +about it, but I know he’s been trailing down a few +leads.”</p> +<p>“Isn’t that work for the police?”</p> +<p>“The police!” Sara retorted bitterly. “Their only +interest is in piling up more evidence against Burt!”</p> +<p>“Your brother knows the identity of the saboteur?”</p> +<p>“He won’t tell me, but I think he does have an idea +who blew up the bridge.”</p> +<p>Penny scarcely knew whether or not to accept +Sara’s explanation of her brother’s activities. Unquestionably, +the girl believed that he was innocent +of all charges against him. For one not prejudiced in +his favor, there were many factors to be considered. +Why had Burt denied losing the leather billfold? +And with whom had he kept the Tuesday night appointment +at The Green Parrot?</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_115">[115]</div> +<p>“If your brother has any clue regarding the real +saboteur, he should present his evidence to the police,” +Penny advised Sara.</p> +<p>“He’ll never do that until he’s ready to appear in +court. Not after the way the police treated him.”</p> +<p>Penny realized that nothing was to be gained by +discussing the matter further with Sara. Offering a +few polite remarks to the effect that she hoped Burt +would soon recover completely from his injury, she +drove away.</p> +<p>Later, in repeating the conversation to her father, +she declared that she could not make up her mind +regarding Burt Ottman’s guilt.</p> +<p>“The case does have interesting angles,” Mr. +Parker acknowledged. “I talked to the Police Commissioner +this morning about The Green Parrot. +The place long has had a reputation for cheating customers, +and lately it’s been under suspicion as a rendezvous +for anti-American groups.”</p> +<p>“That would fit in with what the bakery woman +told us. What became of The Green Parrot, Dad? +Have the police been able to trace it to a new location?”</p> +<p>“Not yet. The cafe may not open up again, or if +it does, under a new name.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_116">[116]</div> +<p>For two days Penny divided her time between +school and the river. As the water remained too +rough for safe sailing, she and Louise spent their spare +hours painting and cleaning their boat. Upon several +occasions they called at the Ottman Boat Dock. Burt +never was there, but Sara assured them that her +brother had completely recovered from his recent +mishap.</p> +<p>“Did he never tell you how he was struck?” Penny +inquired once.</p> +<p>“Never,” Sara returned. “I’ve given up talking to +him about it.”</p> +<p>With the river high, the girls had no opportunity +to visit Old Noah at his ark. However, Sara told +them that she was quite certain Sheriff Anderson had +not succeeded in getting rid of the old fellow and his +animals.</p> +<p>“The ark is still anchored up Bug Run,” she +laughed ruefully. “I know because a steady flow of +blue bottles has been floating down here!”</p> +<p>“Do you always read the message?” Louise inquired.</p> +<p>“Not always,” Sara replied. “Frequently I do because +they’re so crazy.”</p> +<p>Since his arrest and subsequent release from jail, +Burt Ottman had seldom been seen at the boat dock. +Harassed and overburdened, Sara endeavored to do +the work of two people. She ran the motor launch, +taking passengers up and down the river. She rented +canoes and row boats, and looked after repair work +which came to the shop. If she felt that her brother +was shirking his duties, she gave no inkling of it to +the girls.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_117">[117]</div> +<p>“When does Burt’s trial come up?” Louise remarked +to Penny late Thursday night as they walked +home from the Public Library. “Next week, isn’t it?”</p> +<p>“Yes, the twenty-first,” her chum nodded. “From +all I can gather, he’ll be convicted, too.”</p> +<p>“I feel sorry for Sara.”</p> +<p>“So do I,” agreed Penny. “At first I didn’t like +her very well. Now I know her brusque manner +doesn’t mean anything.”</p> +<p>The girls were passing a drugstore. In the window +appeared a colored advertisement, a picture of a giant +chocolate soda, topped with frothy whipped cream. +Penny paused to gaze longingly at it.</p> +<p>“That’s a personal invitation addressed to me,” she +remarked. “How about it, Lou?”</p> +<p>“Oh, that same picture has been in the window for +months,” her chum said discouragingly. “You can’t +get whipped cream unless you steal it from a cow.”</p> +<p>“Well, how about a dish of ice cream then? I’m +horribly hungry.”</p> +<p>“That’s your natural state,” teased Louise, pulling +her on. “If we stop now, we’ll be caught in the test +blackout.”</p> +<p>“Is there one tonight?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_118">[118]</div> +<p>“Don’t you read the papers? It’s to be held between +nine and ten o’clock. And it’s ten after nine +now.”</p> +<p>“I think it might be fun to be caught out in one—just +so long as it’s not the real thing.”</p> +<p>“I want to get home before the street lights are +turned out,” Louise insisted. “In fact, I promised +Mother I’d come straight home when the library +closed.”</p> +<p>“Oh, all right,” Penny gave in reluctantly.</p> +<p>The girls began to walk faster for they were many +blocks from their own street. Now and then they +met an air raid warden and so knew that the time for +the test blackout was close at hand.</p> +<p>“Louise!” Penny suddenly exclaimed, stopping +short.</p> +<p>“Now what?” the other demanded. “Don’t you +dare tell me you’ve left something at the library!”</p> +<p>Penny was staring at a man who only a moment +before had come through the revolving doors of the +Hotel Claymore.</p> +<p>“See that fellow!” she said impressively.</p> +<p>“Yes, what about him?”</p> +<p>“He’s the head waiter at The Green Parrot.”</p> +<p>“Why, you’re right!” Louise agreed. “For a minute +I didn’t recognize him in street clothes.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_119">[119]</div> +<p>“Let’s follow him,” Penny proposed as the man +started down a side street. “Maybe we can learn the +new location of The Green Parrot.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Penny, I told Mother I’d come straight +home.”</p> +<p>“Then I’ll follow him alone. I can’t let this opportunity +slip.”</p> +<p>Louise hesitated, and then, unwilling to have Penny +undertake an adventure alone, quickly caught up +with her.</p> +<p>“There’s no telling where this chase will end,” she +complained. “That man may not be going to The +Green Parrot.”</p> +<p>“Then perhaps we’ll learn where he lives and police +can question him.”</p> +<p>As Penny spoke, a siren began to sound. A car +which was cruising past, pulled up at the curb and its +headlights went off. All along the street, lights +blinked out one by one.</p> +<p>“The blackout!” Louise, gasped. “I was afraid +we’d be caught in it. Now we’ll lose that man, and +what’s worse, I’ll be late in getting home!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_120">[120]</div> +<h2 id="c15"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">15</span> +<br /><i>A DRIFTING BARGE</i></h2> +<p>Upon hearing the shrill notes of the air raid +siren, the man whom Penny and Louise followed, +quickened his step. Hastening after him, the girls +turned a corner and came face to face with an air +raid warden.</p> +<p>“Take shelter!” he ordered sternly. “The closest +one is across the street—the basement of the Congregational +Church.”</p> +<p>Penny started to explain, but the warden had no +time to listen. Waving the girls across the street, he +watched to see that they actually entered the shelter.</p> +<p>“I guess he thought we weren’t very cooperative,” +Louise remarked as they followed a throng of persons +downstairs to the basement. “These blackout tests +really are very important.”</p> +<p>“Of course,” agreed Penny. “It’s a pity though +that our friend, the waiter, couldn’t have been sent +into this same shelter. Now we’ll lose him.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_121">[121]</div> +<p>For nearly twenty minutes the girls remained in +the basement until the All Clear sounded. As they +returned to the street level, lights were going on +again, one by one. Pedestrians began to pour out of +the shelters, but the girls saw no one who resembled +the waiter.</p> +<p>“We’ve lost him,” sighed Penny. “I guess we may +as well go home.”</p> +<p>“Let’s hurry,” urged Louise who was glad to abandon +the pursuit. “Mother will be worried about me.”</p> +<p>At the Sidell home, Penny turned down an invitation +to come in for a few minutes. As she started on +alone, she paused and called to her chum who was on +the porch: “Oh, Lou, how about a sail early tomorrow +morning?”</p> +<p>“Isn’t the river too high?”</p> +<p>“It was dropping fast this morning. The current’s +not so strong now either. Let’s get up bright and +early.”</p> +<p>“How early?” Louise asked dubiously.</p> +<p>“Oh, about seven o’clock.”</p> +<p>“That’s practically the middle of the night,” Louise +complained.</p> +<p>“I’ll come by for you at a quarter to seven,” Penny +said, as if the matter were settled. “Wear warm +clothes and don’t you dare keep me waiting.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_122">[122]</div> +<p>The next morning heavy mists shrouded Riverview’s +valleys and waterfront. Undaunted by the +dismal prospect, Penny proceeded in darkness to the +Sidell home. There, huddling against the gate post, +she whistled several times, and finally tossed a pebble +against the window of Louise’s room. A moment +later the sash went up.</p> +<p>“Oh, is it you, Penny?” her chum mumbled in a +sleepy voice. “You surely don’t expect to go sailing +on a morning like this!”</p> +<p>“The fog will clear away just as soon as the sun +gets up. Hurry and climb into your clothes, lazy +bones!”</p> +<p>With a groan, Louise slammed down the window. +Ten minutes later she appeared, walking awkwardly +because she wore two pair of slack suits and three +sweaters.</p> +<p>“Think we’ll freeze?” she inquired anxiously.</p> +<p>“You won’t,” laughed Penny, giving her a thermos +bottle to carry.</p> +<p>By the time the girls reached the dock, the rising +sun had begun to scatter the mist. Patches of fog still +hung over portions of the river however, and it was +impossible to see the far shore.</p> +<p>“Shouldn’t we wait another hour?” Louise suggested +as Penny leaped aboard the dinghy.</p> +<p>“Oh, by the time we get the sail up the river will +be clear,” she responded carelessly. “Toss me the +life preserver cushions.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_123">[123]</div> +<p>While Penny put up the mainsail, Louise wiped the +seats dry of dew. Her fingers stiff with cold, she cast +off the mooring ropes, and the boat drifted away +from the dock.</p> +<p>“Well, the river is all ours this morning,” Penny +remarked, watching the limp sail. “That’s the way I +like it.”</p> +<p>“Where’s the breeze?” demanded Louise suspiciously.</p> +<p>“We’ll get one in a minute. The headland is cutting +it off.”</p> +<p>“You’re a chronic optimist!” accused Louise. +Wetting a finger, she held it up. “I don’t believe +there is any breeze! We’ll just drift down stream +and then have to row back!”</p> +<p>“We’re getting a little now,” said Penny as the sail +became taut. “Hold your fire, dear chum.”</p> +<p>The boat gradually picked up speed, but the breeze +was so unsteady that the girls did not attempt to cross +the river. Instead, they sailed in midstream, proceeding +toward the commercial docks. The mists did not +entirely clear away and Penny began to shiver.</p> +<p>“Don’t you wish you had one of my sweaters?” +asked Louise, grinning.</p> +<p>Penny shook her head as she reached to pour herself +a cup of steaming coffee from the thermos bottle. +Before she could drink it, a large, flat vessel loomed +up through the mist ahead.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_124">[124]</div> +<p>“Now don’t try to argue the right of way with that +boat,” Louise advised uneasily.</p> +<p>“Why, it’s a barge!” Penny exclaimed, bringing +the dinghy about. “I do believe it’s adrift!”</p> +<p>“What makes you think so?” Louise asked, staring +at the dark hulk.</p> +<p>Penny maneuvered the dinghy closer before she +replied. “You can see it’s out of control. There’s +no tow boat anywhere near.”</p> +<p>“It does seem to be drifting,” Louise acknowledged. +“No one appears to be aboard either.”</p> +<p>Realizing that the large vessel would block off all +the wind if she approached too close to it, Penny kept +the dinghy away. The barge, almost crosswise to the +current, was floating slowly downstream.</p> +<p>“How do you suppose it got loose?” Louise speculated.</p> +<p>“Saboteurs may have cut the hawser.”</p> +<p>“The big mooring rope <i>has</i> been severed!” Louise +exclaimed a moment later. “I can see the frayed +end!”</p> +<p>Penny came about again, tacking in closer to the +drifting vessel.</p> +<p>“That certainly looks like the barge Carl Oaks was +hired to guard,” she declared with a worried frown. +“Can you read the numbers, Lou?”</p> +<p>“519-9870.”</p> +<p>“Then it is his barge!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_125">[125]</div> +<p>“He must have deserted his post again.”</p> +<p>“In any case that barge is a great hazard to other +vessels,” Penny declared, deeply troubled. “Not +even a signal light on the bow or stern!”</p> +<p>“Oughtn’t we to notify the Coast Guards?”</p> +<p>“We should, but while we’re reaching a telephone, +the barge may ram another boat. Why not board +her and put up signal lights first? In this fog one +can’t see a vessel many yards ahead.”</p> +<p>“It doesn’t look possible to climb aboard.”</p> +<p>“I think I can do it,” Penny said, offering the tiller +to her chum. “Here, take the stick.”</p> +<p>“You know what happens when I try to steer,” +Louise replied, shrinking back. “I’ll be sure to upset. +The wind always is tricky around a big boat.”</p> +<p>“Then I’ll take down the sail,” Penny decided, +moving forward to release the halyard.</p> +<p>The billowing canvas came sliding down. Penny +broke out the oars, and maneuvered the dinghy until +it grated against the hull of the barge.</p> +<p>“Even a trained monkey couldn’t get up there,” +Louise declared, staring at the high deck.</p> +<p>Penny rowed around to the other side of the barge. +Discovering a rope which did not give to her weight, +she announced that she intended to climb it.</p> +<p>“You’ll fall,” Louise predicted.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_126">[126]</div> +<p>“Why, I’m the champion rope climber of Riverview +High!” Penny chuckled, thrusting the oars into +her chum’s unwilling hands. “Just hold the dinghy +here until I get back.”</p> +<p>“Which shouldn’t be long,” Louise said gloomily. +“I expect to hear your splash any minute now.”</p> +<p>Penny grasped the dangling rope. With far more +ease than she had anticipated, she climbed hand over +hand to the deck of the barge. Once there she lost +not a moment in lighting signal lamps at bow and +stern. The task accomplished, she was moving amidships +when she thought she heard a slight sound from +within the deck house. Pausing to listen, she called:</p> +<p>“Is anyone here?”</p> +<p>There was no answer, but distinctly she heard a +scraping noise, as if someone were pushing a chair +against a wall.</p> +<p>“Someone <i>is</i> in there!” Penny thought.</p> +<p>Darting across the deck, she tried the door of the +cabin. It had been fastened from the outside. Fumbling +with the bolt, she finally was able to push it +back. The door swung outward.</p> +<p>For a moment Penny could discern no one in the +dark, little room. Then she saw a man lying on the +floor. A gag covered his mouth and his hands and +feet were tied with cord.</p> +<p>The prisoner was Carl Oaks.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_127">[127]</div> +<h2 id="c16"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">16</span> +<br /><i>DANGER ON THE RIVER</i></h2> +<p>Throwing the door open wide to admit more +light, Penny darted into the cabin. Bending over the +prisoner, she began to untie the cords which bound +his wrists.</p> +<p>“I’ll have you free in a minute, Mr. Oaks,” she encouraged +him.</p> +<p>The cords had been loosely tied. Undoing the +knots, she next pulled away the gag which covered +his mouth.</p> +<p>“What happened, Mr. Oaks?” she demanded. +“Who did this to you?”</p> +<p>The old watchman sat up, stretching his cramped +arms. He did not reply, but watched Penny intently +as she loosened the thongs which bound his legs. +Getting up, he walked a step or two across the cabin.</p> +<p>“Tell me what happened,” Penny urged impatiently. +“Don’t you feel able to explain?”</p> +<p>“I’m disgusted,” Mr. Oaks returned. “Plumb disgusted.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_128">[128]</div> +<p>“I don’t doubt you feel that way,” agreed Penny. +“This barge is floating in mid-channel, a hazard to +incoming and outgoing vessels. We’ll have to do +something about it.”</p> +<p>“I’m through with this job! I didn’t want it in the +first place!”</p> +<p>“That’s neither here nor there,” Penny replied, losing +patience. “Suppose you stop grieving over your +bad luck for a minute, and explain what occurred.”</p> +<p>“Well, it was about midnight when they sneaked +aboard.”</p> +<p>“The men who attacked you?”</p> +<p>“Yes, there were three of ’em. I was in the cabin +at the time, reading my newspaper. Before I knew +what was happening, they were on top of me.”</p> +<p>“Did you recognize any of the men, Mr. Oaks?”</p> +<p>“No.”</p> +<p>“What did they look like?”</p> +<p>“It was dark and I didn’t see their faces.”</p> +<p>“How were they dressed?”</p> +<p>“Didn’t notice that either,” Mr. Oaks returned +grumpily. “I was too busy tryin’ to fight ’em off. +They trussed me up and then cut the barge loose.”</p> +<p>“Saboteurs!”</p> +<p>“Reckon so,” the old watchman nodded.</p> +<p>“Well, what will we do?” Penny asked, scarcely +able to hide her growing irritation. “It’s still foggy +on the river. I’ve put up signal lights, but an approaching +freighter might not see them in time to +change her course.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_129">[129]</div> +<p>“There’s nothing more to be done,” Carl Oaks responded +with a shrug. “The Coast Guard boat will +come along after awhile. I’m not going to worry about +it—not me! I’m done with this lousy job, and +you can tell your father so.”</p> +<p>“My father can bear the shock, I think,” Penny +answered coldly.</p> +<p>Thoroughly disgusted at the indifferent attitude of +the watchman, she ran out on deck. Looking down +over the side, she saw Louise waiting anxiously in the +dinghy.</p> +<p>“Oh, there you are!” her chum cried. “I thought +you never were coming!”</p> +<p>Penny explained that she had found Carl Oaks lying +bound and gagged inside the deck house. As the +old watchman himself came up behind her, she could +say nothing about his indifferent attitude.</p> +<p>“I wondered how you got out to this barge,” Oaks +commented, gazing down at the dinghy. “You can +take me to shore with you.”</p> +<p>“Isn’t it your duty to remain here until relieved?” +Penny asked.</p> +<p>“I resigned, takin’ effect last night at midnight,” +Oaks grinned. “I’ve had enough of Riverview. I’m +getting out of this town.”</p> +<p>Penny faced the watchman with flashing eyes.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_130">[130]</div> +<p>“My father obtained this job for you, Mr. Oaks. +You’ll show very little gratitude if you run off just +because you’re in trouble again.”</p> +<p>“A man’s got a right to do as he pleases!”</p> +<p>“Not always,” Penny corrected. “Saboteurs are +at work along this waterfront, and it’s your duty to +tell police what you know.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t see the men, I tell you! They came at me +from behind.”</p> +<p>“Even so, you may be able to contribute information +to the police. In any case, you’ll have to stay +here until relieved—”</p> +<p>“Penny!” interrupted Louise from below. “There’s +a boat coming!”</p> +<p>The steady chug of a motor could be heard, but +for a moment the swirling mists hid the approaching +vessel. Then a pleasure yacht, with pennants flying, +came into view.</p> +<p>“It’s the <i>Eloise III!</i>” Penny cried, recognizing the +craft as one belonging to Commodore Phillips of the +Riverview Marine Club.</p> +<p>Waving their arms and shouting, the girls tried to +attract the pilot’s attention. To their relief, the yacht +veered slightly from her course, and the engines +slackened speed.</p> +<p>“Yacht ahoy!” called Penny, cupping hands to her +lips.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_131">[131]</div> +<p>“Ahoy!” came the answering shout from Commodore +Phillips. “What’s wrong there? Barge adrift?”</p> +<p>Penny confirmed the observation and requested to +be taken aboard. Although she was not certain of it, +she believed that the <i>Eloise III</i> was equipped with a +radio telephone which could be used to notify Coast +Guards of the floating barge.</p> +<p>Leaving Carl Oaks behind, the girls rowed to the +yacht and were helped aboard. Commodore Phillips +immediately confirmed that his vessel did have radio-telephone +apparatus.</p> +<p>“Come with me,” he directed, leading the girls to +the radio room.</p> +<p>The Commodore sat down beside the transmitting +apparatus, quickly adjusting a pair of earphones. +Snapping on the power switch, he tuned to the wave +length of the Coast Guard station. While the girls +hovered at his elbow, he talked into the radio telephone, +informing the Coast Guard of the floating +barge and its position. The message, he explained to +Penny and Louise, would be received in “scrambled +speech” and automatically transformed into understandable +English by means of an electrical device.</p> +<p>“How do you mean?” inquired Louise, deeply +puzzled.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_132">[132]</div> +<p>“Nearly all ship-to-shore radio telephone conversations +are carried on in scrambled speech,” the Commodore +replied. “Otherwise, eavesdroppers could +tune in on them and learn important facts not intended +to be made public.”</p> +<p>“But you spoke ordinary English into the ’phone,” +Louise said, still perplexed.</p> +<p>“The speech scrambler is an electric circuit which +automatically transposes voice frequencies,” the Commodore +resumed. “The words are made unintelligible +until unscrambled by a similar device at the receiving +station. For instance, if I were to say ‘Mary +had a little lamb,’ into this phone, anyone listening in +would hear: ‘Noyil hob e ylippey ylond.’ Yet at the +receiving post, the message would be unscrambled to +its original form.”</p> +<p>“I wish our telephone at home was fixed that way!” +Penny declared with a laugh. “Wouldn’t some of +the neighbors develop a headache!”</p> +<p>Having been informed that a Coast Guard cutter +would proceed at once to the locality, the girls felt +relieved of further responsibility. As Commodore +Phillips said that he would stand by with his yacht +until the cutter reached the scene, they finally decided +to return to shore. Once well away from the +yacht they raised sail and tacked toward their own +dock.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_133">[133]</div> +<p>“I hope the Coast Guard gives Carl Oaks a good +lecture,” Penny remarked, turning to gaze back at +the slowly drifting barge. “Why, he wasn’t one bit +concerned what might happen to other vessels!”</p> +<p>“I never did like him,” said Louise with feeling. +“He complains too much. Was it his fault that the +barge was cut adrift?”</p> +<p>“Not according to his story. Three men attacked +him while he was in the deck house. Of course, he +couldn’t have been too alert.”</p> +<p>“Carl Oaks wouldn’t be!”</p> +<p>“There was one rather peculiar thing,” Penny said +slowly. “It never occurred to me until now.”</p> +<p>“What’s that?”</p> +<p>“Why, Mr. Oaks’ bonds were very loose. If he +had tried, I believe he could have freed himself.”</p> +<p>“That does seem strange,” agreed Louise. “You +don’t think he allowed those saboteurs to board the +barge?”</p> +<p>Penny brought the dinghy around, steering to +avoid a floating log.</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t know,” she replied soberly. “But I’m +glad we forced Mr. Oaks to wait for the Coast +Guard. I hope they question him until they get to the +bottom of this affair.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_134">[134]</div> +<h2 id="c17"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">17</span> +<br /><i>A STOLEN BOAT</i></h2> +<p>The mists were lifting as Penny and Louise sailed +slowly past the Ottman Dock toward their own snug +berth. Sara, in blue slacks, a red bandana handkerchief +over her head, was trying to start a stubborn +outboard motor. Glancing up, she called a greeting, +and then asked abruptly:</p> +<p>“Say, what’s that barge doing out on the river? +It looks to me as if it’s adrift, but I can’t see well +enough to tell.”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise, eager to impart information, +brought the dinghy to a mooring at the floating platform. +Sara listened with interest as they revealed +how they had boarded the barge, released Carl Oaks, +and then notified the Coast Guard.</p> +<p>“Neat work!” she praised. “That Carl Oaks! +He’s one of the most shiftless men I ever knew. He +doesn’t deserve to hold a job.”</p> +<p>Penny glanced about the dock, searching for Burt +Ottman.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_135">[135]</div> +<p>“Your brother isn’t here?” she remarked absently.</p> +<p>“No, he isn’t,” Sara replied, rather defiantly. “If +you think he had anything to do with that barge—”</p> +<p>“Why, it never entered my mind!” Penny exclaimed.</p> +<p>“I’m sorry,” the older girl apologized. “I shouldn’t +have said that. I don’t know why I’m so jumpy +lately.”</p> +<p>“You have a great deal to worry you,” said Louise +sympathetically. “And you work too hard.”</p> +<p>“I’ll be all right as soon as Burt’s trial is over. He’s +not here this morning—” Sara’s voice broke. “In +fact, I don’t know where he is.”</p> +<p>Louise and Penny said nothing, though the remark +astonished them.</p> +<p>“Burt was out all last night,” Sara spoke and then +seemed to realize that her words easily could be misinterpreted. +She added hastily: “He’s been trying to +gain evidence which will prove his innocence.”</p> +<p>“You mean your brother went away yesterday and +failed to return?” Penny asked after a moment.</p> +<p>Sara nodded. “He’s on the trail of the real saboteurs, +and it’s dangerous business. That’s why I’m so +worried. I’m afraid he’s in trouble.”</p> +<p>“Have you talked to the police?” Penny inquired.</p> +<p>“Indeed, I haven’t.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t your brother tell you where he was going +when he left home?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_136">[136]</div> +<p>“No, he didn’t. He keeps things from me because +he says I worry too much now.”</p> +<p>“I suppose he never explained what happened at +The Green Parrot?”</p> +<p>“He said he couldn’t remember. Oh, everything’s +so mixed up. I try not to think about it, because +when I do my head simply buzzes.”</p> +<p>Once more Sara tried to start the balky engine, and +this time her efforts brought success.</p> +<p>“Thank goodness for small favors!” she muttered. +“Now I’ve got to go out on the river and look for +our stolen boat. Hope no one runs off with this place +while I’m gone.”</p> +<p>“You’ve not had another boat stolen?” Louise +asked in surprise.</p> +<p>“I figure that’s what happened to it. Late yesterday +afternoon a man came here and rented our fastest +motorboat. That’s the last I’ve seen of him or it.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t you report your loss to the Coast Guards?” +inquired Penny.</p> +<p>Sara answered with a trace of impatience. “Of +course, I did. They searched the river last night. +No accident reported, and no trace of the boat.”</p> +<p>“The man might have drowned,” Louise offered +anxiously.</p> +<p>“It’s not likely. If he had gone overboard, the boat +would have been found by this time. No, it’s been +pulled up somewhere in the bushes and hidden. Last +year one of our canoes was taken. Burt found it a +month later, painted a different color!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_137">[137]</div> +<p>“Didn’t you know the man who rented the boat?” +questioned Penny.</p> +<p>“Never saw him before. He was tall and thin and +dark. Wore a brown felt hat and overcoat. I noticed +his hands in particular. They were soft and +well manicured. I said to myself, ‘This fellow doesn’t +know a thing about boats,’ but I was wrong. He +handled that motor like a veteran.”</p> +<p>“The man didn’t look like a waiter, did he?” Penny +asked quickly.</p> +<p>“You couldn’t prove it by me.”</p> +<p>Penny groped in her mind to recall a characteristic +which definitely would describe the head waiter of +The Green Parrot. To her chagrin, she could think +of only one unusual facial characteristic, a tiny scar +on his cheek. She did remember that the man had +worn a large, old fashioned gold watch which might +have been of foreign make.</p> +<p>“Why, the fellow who rented the boat did have +such a watch!” Sara cried when Penny mentioned the +timepiece. “I didn’t notice the scar. What is his +name?”</p> +<p>“Louise and I never were able to learn,” Penny replied +with regret. “The Green Parrot has closed its +doors, so I don’t know how you can get in touch +with him.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_138">[138]</div> +<p>Sara sighed. Placing an oar, a bailer, and a can of +gasoline in the boat, she prepared to leave the dock.</p> +<p>“I’ll be lucky if I ever see the fellow again,” she +commented. Hesitating a moment, she asked diffidently: +“Don’t suppose you girls would like to go +along?”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise wondered if their ears had betrayed +them. It seemed beyond belief that Sara actually +would invite them to accompany her.</p> +<p>“Why, of course, we’d like to go,” Penny accepted, +before her chum could find her voice.</p> +<p>Scrambling out of the dinghy, the girls made it fast +to the dock and transferred to the other boat. Sara +opened the throttle, and they shot away, leaving behind +a trail of churning foam. Out through the slip +they raced, rounding a channel buoy at breakneck +speed.</p> +<p>“You can certainly handle a boat,” Penny said admiringly.</p> +<p>“Been at it since I was a kid,” Sara grinned. “I +could cruise this river blindfolded.”</p> +<p>They passed the floating barge, observing that a +Coast Guard cutter was proceeding up river to take +it in tow. Turning upstream, Sara swung the boat +toward shore.</p> +<p>“Keep close watch of the bushes,” she directed the +girls. “If you see anything that looks like a hidden +boat, sing out.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_139">[139]</div> +<p>At low speed they crept along the river, watching +for marks in the sand which might reveal where a +craft had been pulled out of water. Once, venturing +too close in, Sara went aground and had to push off +with the oars.</p> +<p>“It doesn’t look as if we’ll have any luck,” she remarked +gloomily. “The boat’s probably so well hidden, +it would take a ferret to find it.”</p> +<p>They kept on upstream toward the Seventh Street +Bridge, a structure much in use since the more modern +Thompson’s Bridge had been closed to auto traffic. +Penny, watching the stream of vehicles passing +above, remarked that Riverview commerce would be +paralyzed should anything occur to damage it.</p> +<p>“The Seventh Street Bridge now is the only artery +open to the Riverview Munitions Plant,” Sara added. +“I understand it’s being guarded day and night. By +a better watchman than Carl Oaks, I hope.”</p> +<p>Without passing the bridge, the girls turned downstream, +searching the opposite shore. Before they +had gone far, Sara beached the boat on a stretch of +sand.</p> +<p>“It was along here that Burt found our canoe last +year,” she explained. “If you don’t mind waiting, +I’ll get out and prowl around a bit.”</p> +<p>“Aren’t we near Bug Run?” Penny inquired.</p> +<p>Sara pointed out the mouth of the stream which +was hidden from view by a clump of willows.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_140">[140]</div> +<p>“If you expect to be here a few minutes, Louise and +I might pay Old Noah a flying visit,” Penny said +eagerly. “We’re curious to learn what has happened +to him.”</p> +<p>“I’ll be around for at least half an hour,” Sara replied. +“Take your time.”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise set off along the twisting bank +of Bug Run. Approaching the vicinity of the ark, +they noticed many corked blue bottles caught amid +the debris of the sluggish stream.</p> +<p>“I’ll bet a cent and a half that Old Noah still is on +the old stamping grounds!” Penny remarked. “Sheriff +Anderson probably hasn’t found a way to get rid +of him. Why, unless a regular deluge floods this +stream, the ark never could be floated out to the main +river.”</p> +<p>“The sheriff could put Old Noah in jail.”</p> +<p>“True, but a great many people would criticize him +if he did.”</p> +<p>A moment later the girls rounded a bend and saw +the ark in its usual setting. A long clothes line had +been stretched from bow to stern, and wet garments +fresh from the wash tub, flapped in the breeze.</p> +<p>“Well, Noah is still here,” chuckled Penny. “He’s +run up the white flag though! Or should we say the +white flags!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_141">[141]</div> +<p>On the deck of the ark, Old Noah was so busy that +he failed to note the approach of the two girls. He +stood in the center of a ring of soiled clothes, laboring +diligently over a tub of steaming suds.</p> +<p>As the girls reached the gangplank, a dog from inside +the ark began an excited barking. Startled, Old +Noah glanced up. Unnoticed by him, his long white +beard slipped into the soapy water and he rubbed it +vigorously on the washboard.</p> +<p>Scarcely able to control a giggle, Penny followed +her chum aboard the ark. As Old Noah kept on +scrubbing his beard she could not resist asking: “Excuse +me, but aren’t you washing your whiskers by +mistake?”</p> +<p>Surprised, the old man straightened to his full +height. Squeezing the dripping beard, he carefully +wrung it out. Next he produced a comb from his +loose fitting brown pantaloons, and painstakingly unsnarled +the tangles. Then turning to the girls, he +greeted them with his usual dignity.</p> +<p>“Good morning, my daughters. I am glad you kept +your promise to visit me again.”</p> +<p>“Good morning, Noah,” responded Penny, trying +not to laugh. “We thought we would drop by and +see if you were still here. I remember Sheriff Anderson +said he was going to call on you again.”</p> +<p>The old man’s weather beaten face crinkled into +deep wrinkles. “Ho, ho! So he did, but he reckoned +without the Might of the Righteous. I was watching +for him when he came.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_142">[142]</div> +<p>“I hope you didn’t mistreat him,” Penny said uneasily.</p> +<p>“When I observed his approach I untied my two +hounds, Nip and Tuck, and hid myself in the forest. +He was gone when I returned to the ark.”</p> +<p>“Likewise, part of his anatomy, I suppose,” commented +Penny.</p> +<p>“Nip and Tuck did cause a commotion,” Old Noah +acknowledged, “but they did him no harm. When +he went away the sheriff left a cowardly note tacked +to a tree. It said he would return to dispossess me. +Before that happens, I will blow this ark to Kingdom +Come!”</p> +<p>“How will you do that?” inquired Penny, rather +amused.</p> +<p>“With dynamite.”</p> +<p>“Do you have any aboard the ark?”</p> +<p>Old Noah smiled mysteriously. “I know where I +can lay my hands on all I’ll need. When I was hiding +in the woods yesterday, I saw where they keep it.”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise glanced quickly at each other. +While it was possible that Old Noah was talking +wildly, the mention of dynamite made them uneasy. +If it were true that he had come into possession of +such a cache, then obviously it was their duty to report +to the authorities.</p> +<p>“Who hid the dynamite?” Penny asked.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_143">[143]</div> +<p>“I do not rightly know,” replied Old Noah. “It +may have been those strangers who were pestering me +last night. They came to my ark and were very +nosey, asking me about this and that.”</p> +<p>“Not officers?”</p> +<p>“They had no connection with the Law, speaking +of it with great contempt.”</p> +<p>“How many men were there, Noah?”</p> +<p>“Two.”</p> +<p>“And they came by car?”</p> +<p>“Bless you, no,” replied Noah wearily. “They arrived +in a motorboat. Of all the pop-poppin’ you +ever heard! It almost drove my animals crazy.”</p> +<p>“After they talked to you, the men went away +again in their boat?”</p> +<p>“They started off, but as soon as they had turned +the bend they switched out the motor. I wondered +what they were up to, so I sneaked through the bushes +and watched.”</p> +<p>“Yes, go on!” Penny urged eagerly as Old Noah +interrupted the narrative to wash another shirt. +“What did the men do?”</p> +<p>“Why, nothing,” answered the old man. “They +just pulled the boat up into the bushes and went off +and left it.”</p> +<p>“The boat is still there?” Penny demanded.</p> +<p>“So far as I know, my daughter.”</p> +<p>“Will you show us where the boat is hidden?” +pleaded Penny. “And the dynamite cache too!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_144">[144]</div> +<p>“I am very busy now,” Old Noah said, shaking his +flowing locks. “I have this pesky washing to do, and +then, there’s all the animals to feed.”</p> +<p>“Can’t we help you?” offered Louise.</p> +<p>“I thank you kindly, but it would not be fit work +for young ladies. If you will return tomorrow, I +gladly will guide you to the place.”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise tried their powers of persuasion, +but the old man was not to be moved. In the end +they had to be satisfied with a description of the site +where the motorboat had been hidden. Old Noah +stubbornly refused to tell them more about the cache +of dynamite.</p> +<p>Finally, the girls said goodbye to the master of the +ark, and hastened toward the river to join Sara. +They were greatly excited by the information they +had obtained.</p> +<p>“Old Noah may have talked for the fun of it,” +Penny declared as they struggled through the underbrush. +“If not, I think we’ve stumbled into an important +clue—one which may have a bearing on the +bridge dynamiting case!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_145">[145]</div> +<h2 id="c18"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">18</span> +<br /><i>PENNY’S PLAN</i></h2> +<p>Sara was waiting beside her boat when Penny +and Louise came running along the muddy shore. +Without apologizing for being so late, they excitedly +related their conversation with Old Noah.</p> +<p>“Say, maybe that hidden motorboat is mine!” the +girl exclaimed. “What did it look like?”</p> +<p>“We didn’t take time to search for it,” Penny replied. +“We knew you would be waiting so we came +straight here.”</p> +<p>“Let’s see if we can find it,” Sara said, starting up +the engine.</p> +<p>“Noah’s animals don’t like motorboats,” Louise +chuckled. “I suggest we do our searching afoot.”</p> +<p>“All right,” Sara agreed readily, switching the motor +off again. “Lead and I’ll follow.”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise guided their companion to the +mouth of Bug Run and thence along its slippery +banks to a clump of overhanging willows.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_146">[146]</div> +<p>“According to Old Noah’s description, this should +be the place,” Penny declared, looking about. “No +sign of a boat though.”</p> +<p>Sara took off shoes and stockings and waded +through the shallow, muddy water. Whenever she +came to a clump of bushes, she would pull the +branches aside to peer behind them.</p> +<p>“Old Noah may have been spoofing us,” Penny began, +but just then Sara gave a little cry.</p> +<p>“Here it is! I’ve found it!”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise slid down the bank to the water’s +edge. Behind a dense thicket, a motorboat had been +pulled out on the sand. The engine remained attached, +covered by a piece of canvas.</p> +<p>“Is it your boat, Sara?” Penny asked eagerly.</p> +<p>“It certainly is!” She spoke with emphasis. “The +hull has been repainted, but it takes more than that +to fool me.”</p> +<p>“Any positive way to identify it?”</p> +<p>“By the engine number. Ours was 985-877 unless +I’m mistaken. I have it written down at home.”</p> +<p>“What’s the number of this engine?”</p> +<p>“The same!” Sara cried triumphantly after she had +removed the canvas covering and examined it. “This +is my property all right, and I shall take it back with +me.”</p> +<p>“Old Noah spoke of two strangers who came here +last night by boat,” Penny said thoughtfully.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_147">[147]</div> +<p>“The fellow who stopped at the dock probably +picked up a pal later on,” Sara commented, trying to +shove the boat into the water. “My, this old tub is +heavy! Want to help?”</p> +<p>“Wait, Sara!” Penny exclaimed. “Let’s leave the +boat here.”</p> +<p>“Leave it here! Now that would be an idea! This +little piece of floating wood represents nine hundred +and fifty dollars.”</p> +<p>“I don’t mean that you’re to lose the boat,” Penny +hastened to explain. “But if we take it now, we never +will catch the fellow who stole it.”</p> +<p>“That’s true.”</p> +<p>“If we leave the boat here we can keep watch of +the place and catch those scamps when they come +back.”</p> +<p>“They may not come back,” Sara said, without +warming to the plan. “Besides, I’ve no time to do a +Sherlock Holmes in the bushes. I have my dock to +look after.”</p> +<p>“Louise and I could do most of the watching.”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t know,” Sara said dubiously. “Something +might go wrong. I never would get over it if +I lost the boat.”</p> +<p>“You won’t lose the boat,” promised Penny. “It’s +really important that we catch those two men, Sara. +From what Old Noah said, they may be connected +with the bridge dynamiting.”</p> +<p>“What makes you think that?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_148">[148]</div> +<p>“Because Old Noah found a cache of dynamite +somewhere near here.”</p> +<p>“He won’t tell us its location,” added Louise.</p> +<p>“If it should develop that the men are saboteurs, we +might learn something which would help your +brother’s case,” Penny said persuasively. “How +about it, Sara?”</p> +<p>“I’d be glad to risk the boat if I thought it would +help Burt.”</p> +<p>“Then let’s leave it here. We can watch the spot +night and day.”</p> +<p>“And what will your parents have to say?”</p> +<p>Penny’s face fell. “Well, I suppose when it comes +right to it, Dad will set his foot down. But at least +we can watch during the day time. Then if necessary, +we might report to the police.”</p> +<p>“Let’s leave them out of it,” Sara said feelingly. +“If you girls will remain throughout the day, I’ll stand +the night watch.”</p> +<p>“Not alone!” Louise protested.</p> +<p>“Why not?” Sara asked, amused. “I’ve frequently +camped out along the river at night. Once I made a +canoe trip the full length of the river just for the fun +of it.”</p> +<p>“Louise and I will stay here now while you return +to the dock,” Penny declared. “Better call our +parents when you get there and break the news as +gently as possible.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_149">[149]</div> +<p>“What will you do for lunch?”</p> +<p>“Maybe we can beg a sandwich or a fried egg from +Old Noah,” Penny chuckled. “We’ll manage somehow.”</p> +<p>“Well, whatever you do, don’t leave the boat unguarded,” +Sara advised, starting away. “As soon as +it gets dark I’ll come back.”</p> +<p>Left to themselves, Penny and Louise explored the +locality thoroughly. Not far away they found a log +which offered a comfortable seat, and they screened +it with brush.</p> +<p>“Now we’re all ready for Mr. Saboteur,” Penny +said. “He can’t come too soon to suit me.”</p> +<p>“And just what are we going to do when he does +arrive?”</p> +<p>“I forgot to figure that angle,” Penny confessed. +“We may have to call on Old Noah for help.”</p> +<p>“Noah will be busy doing a washing or giving the +goat a beauty treatment,” Louise laughed.</p> +<p>The sun lifted higher, and steam rising from the +damp earth made the girls increasingly uncomfortable. +As the hours dragged by they rapidly lost zest +for their adventure. Long before noon they were +assailed by the pangs of hunger.</p> +<p>“If I could catch a bullfrog I’d be tempted to eat +him raw,” Penny remarked sadly. “How about chasing +up to the ark? Noah might give us a nibble of +something.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_150">[150]</div> +<p>“Dare we go away and leave the boat?”</p> +<p>“Oh, it’s safe enough for a few minutes,” Penny +returned. “The idea of staying here wasn’t such a +good one anyhow. What if those men should never +come back?”</p> +<p>“This is a fine time to be thinking of that possibility!”</p> +<p>Moving quietly through the woods, the girls came +to the ark. They could hear the hens cackling, and +as they called Old Noah’s name, the parrot answered, +squawking: “Polly wants a cracker.”</p> +<p>“You’ve got nothing on me, Polly,” said Penny. +“Where’s your master?”</p> +<p>The old ark keeper was nowhere in evidence. +Nor were the girls able to board the boat, for the +gangplank had been removed.</p> +<p>“Now if this isn’t a situation!” Penny exclaimed, +exasperated. “It looks as if we’re going to starve to +death.”</p> +<p>After lingering about the ark for a few minutes, +they returned to their former hiding place. By this +time they were so sorry for themselves that they +could think of nothing but their discomfort. Belatedly, +they recalled that Sara had smiled as she went +away.</p> +<p>“She knew what we were up against staying here!” +Penny declared. “Figured us for a couple of softies, +I bet!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_151">[151]</div> +<p>“While everyone knows we’re regular Commandos,” +Louise retorted sarcastically. “Why, if +necessary we could go an entire day without eating.”</p> +<p>“That’s exactly what we will do,” announced +Penny with renewed determination. “I’ll stay here +until Sara comes if it kills me. But I hope you slug +me if ever I get another idea like this.”</p> +<p>“Don’t worry, I will,” promised Louise. “In fact, +I may not wait that long!”</p> +<p>The hours dragged slowly on. All amusements +failing them, the girls took turns sleeping. Twice +they went to the ark, but Old Noah had not returned.</p> +<p>At last, as shadows lengthened, Louise and Penny +were confronted with a new worry. It occurred to +them that Sara might not expect to take over her +duties until long after dark. The air had grown +chilly, and hungry mosquitoes were swarming from +their breeding places.</p> +<p>“Even my Mother doesn’t seem concerned about +me any more,” Louise moaned, slapping at a foraging +insect.</p> +<p>Penny glared at the motorboat snugly hidden in +the underbrush. “If that thing weren’t worth so +much money, I’d certainly chuck this job. Even so, +I’m just about desperate.”</p> +<p>Louise, huddled against a tree trunk, suddenly +straightened alertly. Placing a warning finger on her +lips, she listened.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_152">[152]</div> +<p>“Someone’s coming, Penny!”</p> +<p>“Maybe it’s Sara with a basket of food. I’d rather +see her than a dozen saboteurs!”</p> +<p>“Keep quiet, you egg,” Louise warned nervously.</p> +<p>Crouching low behind their shelter, the girls +waited. They could hear a steady tramp, tramp of +feet coming up the stream on their side of the bank.</p> +<p>“That’s not Sara,” murmured Penny. “She doesn’t +walk like an elephant. What’ll we do if it should be +a saboteur?”</p> +<p>“I’m scared,” Louise chattered, hugging her chum’s +arm.</p> +<p>The footsteps came closer. Peering out through +the screen of underbrush, the girls saw a young man +coming straight toward their hiding place. In his +hand he carried a safety-cap gasoline can.</p> +<p>“Who is he?” whispered Louise.</p> +<p>“Can’t tell yet,” Penny responded, straining her +eyes to see. “He looks a little like—oh, my aunt! +That’s who it is—Bill Evans! Now what’s he doing +here?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_153">[153]</div> +<h2 id="c19"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">19</span> +<br /><i>STANDING GUARD</i></h2> +<p>Keeping low amid the underbrush, Penny and +Louise waited and watched. Bill Evans did not see +them although he approached within a few feet of +their hiding place. With no hesitation, he went to +the motorboat and began filling the tank with gasoline.</p> +<p>“Bill Evans, a thief and a saboteur!” Louise whispered. +“I’ll never get over it!”</p> +<p>“Bill hasn’t the pep to be a saboteur,” Penny muttered. +“There’s something wrong with this melodrama, +and I’m going to find out about it right now!”</p> +<p>Before Louise could stop her, she arose from the +underbrush to confront the dumbfounded young +man.</p> +<p>“Bill Evans, what do you think you’re doing?” she +demanded sternly.</p> +<p>Bill nearly dropped the gasoline can. “Why, I’m +filling this tank,” he replied. “Why are you girls +hiding behind that log?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_154">[154]</div> +<p>“Because we’ve been waiting to catch a motorboat +thief! And you’re it!”</p> +<p>“Now listen here!” said Bill, setting down the +gasoline can. “You can’t insult me, Miss Penny +Parker! Just what do you mean by that crack?”</p> +<p>“This motorboat was stolen from Sara Ottman. +You’re filling the tank with gasoline, so you must +expect to make a get-away to parts unknown.”</p> +<p>“This boat belongs to Sara Ottman?” Bill demanded +in amazement.</p> +<p>“It certainly does.”</p> +<p>“You’re kidding. It belongs to a Mr. Wessler.”</p> +<p>“Who’s he?” asked Penny. “I never heard of him.”</p> +<p>“Well, neither did I until this afternoon,” Bill admitted. +“He gave me a dollar to come over here and +fill the tank of this boat with gas. I’m only carrying +out orders.”</p> +<p>“Now we’re getting somewhere,” Penny declared +with satisfaction. “How did you meet Mr. Wessler?”</p> +<p>“I was working on the dock, tinkering with my +engine, when a man came up and started talking to +me. He said he was a friend of Mr. Wessler who was +planning a fishing trip. Then he told me where the +boat was, and said he’d give me a dollar if I’d run over +and fill the tank with gasoline.”</p> +<p>“Didn’t you think it a rather peculiar request?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_155">[155]</div> +<p>“Not the way the fellow explained it. Mr. Wessler +is a busy man and doesn’t have time to look after such +details.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Wessler is afraid this locality is being +watched, and he isn’t taking any chances,” Penny said +soberly. “Bill, you’ve been assisting a thief!”</p> +<p>“Gee Whiskers!” Bill exclaimed, aghast. “I never +thought about him not owning the boat. What +should I do?”</p> +<p>“First of all, don’t fill that tank with gasoline,” +Penny advised.</p> +<p>“It’s about half full now.”</p> +<p>“Can’t you siphon it out?”</p> +<p>“Not without a tube, and I didn’t bring one.”</p> +<p>“You’ll never in the world make a G-man,” sighed +Penny. “Well, at least you can describe the fellow +who hired you.”</p> +<p>Bill’s brow puckered. “I didn’t pay much attention,” +he admitted. “I’d say the fellow was about +thirty-eight, with a little trick moustache.”</p> +<p>“That can’t be the man who originally rented the +boat from Sara,” Penny remarked, frowning.</p> +<p>“Say, are you really sure this boat belongs to the +Ottmans?” Bill asked. “You know they’re pretty +badly tangled with the police. It said in the papers—”</p> +<p>“I know,” interrupted Penny wearily. “Or do I +know? I’m so mixed I feel like a perpetual motion +machine running backwards.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_156">[156]</div> +<p>“We’ve been watching here all day,” Louise added, +her voice quavering. “We’ve had nothing to eat. +No wonder our minds are failing.”</p> +<p>“Why don’t you go home?”</p> +<p>“And let a saboteur run off with this boat?” Penny +demanded. “We promised to stay here until Sara +comes.”</p> +<p>“Maybe she and her brother are pulling a fast one +on you.”</p> +<p>“I might think so, only this was my own idea,” +Penny answered. “Bill, did that man mention when +his friend Wessler intended to go fishing?”</p> +<p>“No, he didn’t.”</p> +<p>“He might intend to use the boat tonight, and then +again, perhaps not for several days. Say, Bill, how +would you like to do your country a great service?”</p> +<p>“I’m aiming to enlist when I get through High +School.”</p> +<p>“This would be immediate service. Why not stay +here and watch until Sara comes? It shouldn’t be +long.”</p> +<p>“And what if those men should show up?”</p> +<p>“Just keep watch and see what they do. Of course, +if they try to get away in the motorboat, you’ll have +to capture them.”</p> +<p>“Oh, sure,” Bill said sarcastically. “With my bare +hands?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_157">[157]</div> +<p>“We won’t leave you here long,” Penny promised. +“Louise and I haven’t had a bite of food all day—”</p> +<p>“Okay, I’ll do it,” Bill gave in. “But see to it +you’re back here in an hour. Better bring the police +too.”</p> +<p>Learning that the young man had crossed the river +in his own motorboat, the girls obtained permission +to borrow it for the return trip. They found the +craft at the mouth of Bug Run, and made a quick +trip to the Ottman Dock.</p> +<p>“No one here,” Penny observed as they alighted +at the platform.</p> +<p>The boat shed was closed and locked. A small boy, +loitering nearby, told the girls that he had not seen +Sara Ottman for several hours.</p> +<p>“Now this is a nice dish of stew!” Penny exclaimed. +“Where could she have gone? And why?”</p> +<p>“I know where I am going,” announced Louise +grimly. “Home! Be it ever so humble, there’s no +place like it when you’re tired and hungry.”</p> +<p>“But what about poor Bill? We can’t expect him +to stay in the woods all night.”</p> +<p>“Well, there’s a hamburger stand at the amusement +park,” Louise suggested after a moment. “We could +go there for a sandwich. Then we might telephone +home and request advice.”</p> +<p>“Not a bad idea,” Penny praised.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_158">[158]</div> +<p>At the hamburger stand they ate three sandwiches +each and topped off the meal with ice cream and pie. +Seeking a public telephone, Penny then used a precious +nickel to call her home. No one answered. +Deciding that her father might be at the <i>Star</i> office, +she phoned there. Informed that Mr. Parker was not +in the building, she asked for Mr. DeWitt.</p> +<p>“DeWitt left the office a half hour ago,” came the +discouraging response.</p> +<p>“I wonder where I can reach him?”</p> +<p>“Can’t tell you,” was the answer. “Burt Ottman +has skipped his bail, and DeWitt’s upset about it. He +may have gone to talk to his lawyer.”</p> +<p>“What was that about Burt Ottman?” Penny asked +quickly.</p> +<p>“He’s disappeared—skipped town. Due for trial +day after tomorrow, too. Looks like DeWitt is holding +the bag.”</p> +<p>Penny hung up the receiver, more bewildered than +ever. Without taking time to repeat the conversation +to her chum, she called Sara’s home.</p> +<p>For a long while she waited, but there was no reply. +At last, hanging up, she eyed the coin box, expecting +her nickel to be returned. Though she jiggled the +receiver many times and dialed to attract the operator’s +attention, the coin was not forthcoming.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_159">[159]</div> +<p>“You’ve had no luck,” said Louise, taking Penny’s +place at the telephone. “Now it’s my turn. I’ll call +home. Mother’s always there.”</p> +<p>She held out her hand, expecting a coin. Penny +had nothing for her, and was forced to admit that +she had used the last nickel on the preceding call.</p> +<p>“Then we have no bus money either!” gasped +Louise.</p> +<p>“Stony broke—that’s us.”</p> +<p>“How can you be so cheerful about it?” Louise +asked crossly. “We can’t walk home—it would take +us all night!”</p> +<p>“There’s only one thing to do, Louise. We’ll have +to go back and talk to Bill. At least he should be able +to loan us bus fare.”</p> +<p>By this time the girls had lost all enthusiasm for +saboteurs and sleuthing. As they recrossed the river +in Bill’s boat, they vowed that never again would they +involve themselves in such a ridiculous situation.</p> +<p>“And just wait until I see Sara!” Penny added +feelingly. “If I don’t tear into her for playing a +shabby trick on us!”</p> +<p>“She probably skipped town along with her +brother,” Louise replied. “I’m beginning to wonder +if that motorboat we guarded so faithfully ever belonged +to the Ottmans.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_160">[160]</div> +<p>Landing not far from the mouth of Bug Run, the +girls proceeded afoot to the site where Bill Evans last +had been seen. To their relief, he had not deserted +his post. Cold, his face swollen by mosquito bites, +he hailed them joyously.</p> +<p>“Thought you were never coming back! I’m +getting out of here, and how!”</p> +<p>“What happened while we were gone?” Penny +asked sympathetically. “Didn’t Sara come?”</p> +<p>“No one has been here.”</p> +<p>As Bill started away, the girls tried to dissuade him.</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t stay here another hour if you’d give +me the boat!” he retorted. “I’m going home!”</p> +<p>Jerking free from Louise who sought to hold him +by main force, he moved off.</p> +<p>“At least telephone our folks when you get to +Riverview!” Penny shouted indignantly. “Tell our +parents that if they’re still interested in their daughters +to come and lift us out of this sink hole!”</p> +<p>“Okay, I’ll do that,” Bill promised. “So long.”</p> +<p>After the sound of footsteps had died away, Louise +and Penny sat down on the log and took stock of the +situation.</p> +<p>“Any way you look at it, we’re just a couple of +goats,” Penny said dismally. “It wouldn’t be so bad +if Old Noah would take us into his ark with the rest +of the animals, but he’s not at home.”</p> +<p>“Sara played a trick on us, our parents went off +and hid, and I don’t think we can trust Bill too far,” +Louise sighed. “Why do we stay here anyway?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_161">[161]</div> +<p>“Well, something could have happened to detain +Sara.”</p> +<p>“I wish I could think so, but I can’t. It would serve +her right to lose this boat—if it actually is hers.”</p> +<p>“Sara always seemed sincere and honest to me,” +Penny said, slapping furiously at a buzzing mosquito. +“Until we have definite proof otherwise, I want to +trust her.”</p> +<p>“Even if it means staying here all night?”</p> +<p>“Well, my trusting nature has a limit,” Penny admitted. +“But surely our parents will come to rescue +us before long.”</p> +<p>“I wouldn’t count on it,” Louise returned gloomily. +“Bill was in a bad mood when he left here.”</p> +<p>The girls fell into a deep silence. They huddled +together to keep warm, and slapped constantly at the +insects. For a time it grew steadily darker, then a +few stars brightened the patches of sky which could +be seen through the treetops.</p> +<p>“Imagine explaining all this to Mother,” Louise +murmured once. “Why, it doesn’t even make sense +to me.”</p> +<p>The noises of the forest began to annoy the girls. +Overhead an owl hooted. Crickets chirped, and at +frequent intervals a frog or a small animal would +plop into the water.</p> +<p>“Listen, Lou!” Penny presently whispered. “I +hear something coming!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_162">[162]</div> +<p>“Maybe it’s a bear,” Louise shivered.</p> +<p>“Silly! There aren’t any bears in this part of the +country.”</p> +<p>“How do you know what sort of animals are +around here?” Louise countered. “Maybe one escaped +from Old Noah’s zoo.”</p> +<p>As the sound grew louder, the girls crouched low +amid the brush. Through the trees they saw the +gleam of a flashlight and distinguished the figure of +an approaching man.</p> +<p>“It’s probably my father!” Louise whispered, and +started forward.</p> +<p>Penny jerked her back. “Bill hasn’t had time to +get to Riverview yet! This may be the big pay off!”</p> +<p>“A saboteur?”</p> +<p>Penny nodded, her gaze on the approaching figure. +The man was tall and muscular and walked with a +cat-like tread. He came directly to the motorboat, +muttering under his breath as he examined the half +empty fuel tank.</p> +<p>Straightening, he turned so that he faced the girls. +For a fleeting instant Penny thought that he was Burt +Ottman, and then she recognized her mistake. The +man was the one who had rented Sara Ottman’s boat—the +head waiter of The Green Parrot.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_163">[163]</div> +<h2 id="c20"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">20</span> +<br /><i>A SHACK IN THE WOODS</i></h2> +<p>Fearing detection, Louise and Penny remained +motionless as the man stared in their direction. +He did not see them, and after puttering about the +boat for a few minutes, started off through the woods.</p> +<p>“Now what shall we do?” Louise whispered anxiously.</p> +<p>“Let’s follow and find out where he goes,” proposed +Penny, stealing from her hiding place.</p> +<p>None too eager for the adventure, Louise nevertheless +kept close beside her chum as they followed the +stranger. Instead of returning to the main river, he +chose a trail which led deeper into the woods. Coming +soon to the ark which loomed dark and mysterious +against a background of trees, he paused for a moment +to gaze at it. Then he veered away from the well-trampled +path, keeping on through the dense thickets.</p> +<p>“Don’t you think we should turn back?” Louise +whispered anxiously. “There’s no guessing where +we’ll end up. We easily could get lost.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_164">[164]</div> +<p>Penny was plagued by the same worry, but she +bantered: “Why, Lou, your Scout leader would +blush with shame to hear you say that! The woods +stretch for only a few miles. We always can find +our way out.”</p> +<p>“What if our folks come searching for us while +we’re wandering around?”</p> +<p>“I try not to think of such unpleasant situations,” +Penny responded cheerfully. “You may be sure we’ll +have to do some tall explaining. But if this fellow +we’re tailing should prove to be a saboteur, everything +will be lovely.”</p> +<p>“That’s not the word I’d use,” Louise muttered.</p> +<p>The girls had fallen many yards behind the head +waiter. Failing to see the flash of his light, they +quickened their pace and for a minute or two feared +they had lost him. But as they paused in perplexity, +they again saw a gleam of light off to the right.</p> +<p>“Let’s do less talking and more watching,” Penny +said, hastening on. “If we’re not careful we’ll lose +that fellow.”</p> +<p>Taking care to make no noise in the underbrush, +the girls soon approached fairly close to the waiter. +Apparently he knew his way through the woods, for +not once did he hesitate. Occasionally he glanced +overhead at dark clouds which were scudding across +the sky. Reaching a small clearing, he paused to +look at a watch which he held close to his flashlight +beam.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_165">[165]</div> +<p>“What time do you suppose it is?” Louise whispered +to her chum.</p> +<p>“Not very late. Probably about nine o’clock.”</p> +<p>Because the waiter had paused, the girls remained +motionless behind a giant oak. They saw the stranger +switch off his light and gaze carefully about the clearing. +In particular his attention centered upon a little +shack, though no light showed there.</p> +<p>“Whose cabin is it?” whispered Louise. “Do you +know?”</p> +<p>“I’m not sure,” returned Penny. “I think it was +built several years ago by an artist who lived there +while he painted the ravine and river. But he moved +out last winter.”</p> +<p>The cabin was a curious structure, picturesquely +situated beneath the low-spreading branches of an +ancient tree. No windows were visible at the front, +but a raised structure on the flat roof gave evidence +of a large skylight.</p> +<p>After gazing at the shack for several minutes, the +waiter raised fingers to his lips and whistled twice. +To the surprise of the girls, an answering signal came +from within the dark cabin.</p> +<p>A moment later, the front door opened, and an old +man stepped outside.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_166">[166]</div> +<p>“That you, Jard?” he called softly.</p> +<p>Without replying, the waiter left the shelter of +trees to cross the clearing.</p> +<p>“Had any trouble?” he asked the old man.</p> +<p>“Everything’s been going okay. I’ll be glad to pull +out o’ here though.”</p> +<p>The waiter made a reply which the girls could not +hear. Entering the cabin, the men closed the door +behind them.</p> +<p>“Who was that old man the waiter met?” Louise +asked curiously. “Did you know him, Penny?”</p> +<p>“I couldn’t see his face. He stood in the shadow +of the door. His voice sounded familiar though.”</p> +<p>“I thought so, too. What do you suppose those +men are up to anyway?”</p> +<p>“Nothing good,” Penny responded grimly.</p> +<p>The girls huddled together at the edge of the clearing, +uncertain what to do. If a light had been put on +inside the shack it did not show from where they +stood.</p> +<p>“Why not go for the police?” Louise proposed +hopefully.</p> +<p>“I have a hunch those men may not stay here long. +By the time we could bring help, the place might be +deserted. Besides, we haven’t a scrap of real evidence +against them.”</p> +<p>“How about the stolen motorboat?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_167">[167]</div> +<p>“We’re not even sure about that, Lou. Sara and +her brother both have disappeared. Accusing a man +falsely is a very serious offense.”</p> +<p>“Then what are we to do?” Louise asked despairingly. +“Just stand here and wait until they come +outside?”</p> +<p>“That’s all we can do—unless—”</p> +<p>“Unless what?” Louise demanded uneasily as +Penny interrupted herself.</p> +<p>“Lou, I have a corking idea! See how those tree +limbs arch over the roof of the shack? Why, that old +maple is built to our order!”</p> +<p>“I don’t follow you.”</p> +<p>“You will in a minute if you’re a good climber!” +chuckled Penny. “We can get up that tree and onto +the roof. Even if it shouldn’t have a skylight we can +see through, at least we can hear what’s being said.”</p> +<p>“Let’s just wait here.”</p> +<p>“And learn nothing,” Penny said impatiently. +“How do you expect ever to be a G woman if you +don’t start practicing now?”</p> +<p>“I’m going to be a nurse when I grow up. Climbing +trees won’t help me at that.”</p> +<p>“Then wait here until I get back,” Penny said, +starting across the clearing.</p> +<p>As she had known, her chum could not bear to be +left alone in the dark woods. Louise hastened after +her and together they crept to the base of the scraggly +old maple.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_168">[168]</div> +<p>The branches were so low that Penny pulled herself +into them without difficulty. She then helped +Louise scramble up beside her. They clung together +a moment, listening to make certain that no sound had +betrayed them.</p> +<p>“So far, so good,” Penny whispered jubilantly. +“Now to get onto the roof. And it does have a +skylight!”</p> +<p>“We’ll probably tumble through it,” Louise muttered.</p> +<p>A dim light, which came from a candle, burned +inside the shack. Nevertheless, from their perch on +the overhanging limb, the girls were unable to see +what was happening below. Penny decided to lower +herself to the roof.</p> +<p>“Put on your velvet shoes,” she warned as she +swung lightly down from the lower branch. “The +slightest noise and we’re finished.”</p> +<p>Dropping on the flat roof, she waited a moment, +listening. Satisfied that the men inside the shack had +not heard her, she motioned for Louise to follow. +Her chum however, held back, shaking her head +vigorously.</p> +<p>Abandoning the attempt to get Louise onto the +roof, Penny crept toward the skylight. Lying full +length, she pressed her face against the thick glass.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_169">[169]</div> +<p>In the barren room below a candle burned on a +table. The head waiter whom Penny first had seen +at The Green Parrot sat with his legs resting on the +fender of a pot-bellied stove. Opposite him was the +older man whose face she could not immediately see.</p> +<p>“I tell you, I’m getting worried,” she heard the old +fellow say. “When the Coast Guards took me off +that coal barge they gave me the third degree. I +can’t risk having anything hung on me.”</p> +<p>Penny pressed her face closer to the glass. Her +pulse pounded. She was certain she knew the identity +of the old man.</p> +<p>“I wish he’d turn his head,” she thought. “Then I’d +be sure.”</p> +<p>As if in response to the unspoken desire, the old +man shifted in his chair. The light of the candle +flickered on his face, and Penny saw it clearly for the +first time.</p> +<p>“Carl Oaks!” she whispered. “And to think that +I ever helped him!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_170">[170]</div> +<h2 id="c21"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">21</span> +<br /><i>THROUGH THE SKYLIGHT</i></h2> +<p>Greatly excited to learn that the old watchman +and the waiter of The Green Parrot were fellow +conspirators, Penny strained to catch their words. +She heard the waiter reply:</p> +<p>“You’ve done good work, Oaks. All you have to +do now is sit tight for a few more hours. We’ll give +you a five hundred dollar bonus if the job comes off +right.”</p> +<p>“That won’t do me any good if I end up in jail.”</p> +<p>“Nothing will go wrong. Everything has been +planned to the last detail.”</p> +<p>“I’m already in bad with the police,” the old watchman +whined. “I wouldn’t have gone in with you if +I’d known just what I was doing.”</p> +<p>“You got your money for the Thompson bridge +job, didn’t you?”</p> +<p>“A hundred dollars.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_171">[171]</div> +<p>“It was more than you earned,” the other replied +irritably. “All you had to do was let me get away +after I dynamited the bridge. You blamed near shot +off my head!”</p> +<p>“I had to make it look as if I was doin’ my duty. +Those girls were watching me.”</p> +<p>“That Parker pest came snooping around at The +Parrot,” the waiter said, letting the tilted chair legs +thud on the floor. “Brought a reporter with her too. +I got rid of ’em in short order.”</p> +<p>“She didn’t act very friendly when she found me +bound and gagged aboard the coal barge,” Carl Oaks +resumed. “I think she may have suspected that it was +a put up job. That’s why I want to get out o’ town +while the getting is good.”</p> +<p>“You can leave after tonight. We blast the Seventh +Street bridge at one o’clock.”</p> +<p>“And what about this prisoner I’ve been nursemaiding?”</p> +<p>“We’ll plant enough evidence around the bridge +to cinch his guilt with the police. Then we’ll dump +him in Chicago where he’ll be picked up.”</p> +<p>“He’s apt to remember what happened and spill +the whole story.”</p> +<p>“Even if he does, the police won’t believe him,” the +waiter said. “They’ll figure he’s only trying to get +out from under. Anyway, we’ll be in another part +of the country by then.”</p> +<p>“What time will you pick me up here?” the watchman +asked.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_172">[172]</div> +<p>“Ten minutes till one. The automobile will arrive +right on the tick, so synchronize your watch.”</p> +<p>The two men compared timepieces, and then the +waiter arose.</p> +<p>“Let’s look at the prisoner,” he said. “Is he still out +cold?”</p> +<p>“He was the last time I looked at him. Hasn’t +moved since he was brought here, except once to ask +for water.”</p> +<p>The watchman went across the room to a closet +and opened the door. A man lay on the floor, his +hands and feet loosely bound. No cloth covered his +face. Peering down from above, Penny was able to +discern his features, and it gave her a distinct shock +as she recognized him.</p> +<p>The waiter prodded the prisoner with his foot. +The man who was bound, groaned and muttered, but +made no other sign of consciousness.</p> +<p>“He’ll not bother you tonight, Oaks,” he said. +“One of the boys can help you lift him into the car.”</p> +<p>“I don’t like this business,” the watchman complained +again. “What if his skull should be fractured?”</p> +<p>“He’ll be okay by tomorrow,” the waiter answered +indifferently. “Heflanz gave him a little too much +with the blackjack.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_173">[173]</div> +<p>Penny waited to hear no more. Creeping cautiously +away from the skylight, she returned to her +chum who remained perched precariously on the +overhanging tree branch.</p> +<p>“Learn anything?” Louise demanded in a whisper.</p> +<p>“Did I? Lou, that old man is Carl Oaks! He and +our waiter friend have a prisoner inside the cabin.”</p> +<p>“A prisoner! My gracious! Then they must be +saboteurs!”</p> +<p>“They’re planning to blow up the Seventh Street +Bridge at one o’clock,” Penny went on tersely. “And +they aim to blame it all on Burt Ottman!”</p> +<p>“He’s not one of the outfit then?”</p> +<p>“Seemingly not. They have him trussed up inside +a closet. Lou, you’ve got to hot-foot it to town and +bring the police!”</p> +<p>“Come with me,” Louise pleaded, frightened at the +mere thought of going through the dark woods alone.</p> +<p>“One of us ought to stay and keep watch. I’ll go +if you’re willing to remain.”</p> +<p>“No, I’ll go,” Louise decided.</p> +<p>With nervous haste she started to descend the tree. +Midway down, her hand loosened its hold, and she +slipped several feet. Although she uttered no cry, +she did make considerable noise. Penny, still on the +roof of the shack, heard Carl Oaks exclaim:</p> +<p>“What was that? I hear someone outside!”</p> +<p>Realizing that her chum was certain to be seen, +Penny called to her: “Run, Lou! As fast as you +can!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_174">[174]</div> +<p>Her own position now had become untenable. It +was too late to regain the tree branch. Darting to the +roof edge, she swung herself down with her hands +and dropped six feet to the ground.</p> +<p>The door of the cabin swung open. Penny had +leaped from the rear side of the building, and so was +not immediately seen. The two men started after +Louise who in panic had run toward the woods.</p> +<p>To divert attention from her hard pressed chum, +Penny gave a wild Indian whoop. Startled, the men +stopped, and turned around. Carl Oaks at once took +after her, while the waiter resumed pursuit of Louise.</p> +<p>Penny did not find it hard to keep well ahead of +the watchman. Darting into the woods, she circled, +hoping to rejoin her chum. She knew that Louise +was not very fleet of foot, and once confused, might +never find her way out of the forest.</p> +<p>By frequently pausing to listen to the crackle of +underbrush, Penny was able to follow the flight of +her chum. Instead of running toward the river, +Louise seemed to be circling back in the direction of +the shack.</p> +<p>“She’ll get us both into trouble now,” thought +Penny anxiously.</p> +<p>A moment later, Louise, puffing and gasping, came +running past. Penny joined her, grasping her hand +to help her over the rough places.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_175">[175]</div> +<p>“That man’s right behind!” Louise panted. “Are +we almost to the river?”</p> +<p>Penny did not discourage her by revealing that +she had been running in the wrong direction. The +chance of escape now was a slim one. Louise was +nearly out of breath, while the man who pursued +them, steadily gained.</p> +<p>“The ark!” Penny cried, guiding her chum. +“We’ll be safe there!”</p> +<p>Unmindful of thorns which tore at their clothing, +the girls raced on. Although Carl Oaks had been left +far behind, the other man was not to be outdistanced. +He kept so close that Louise and Penny had no opportunity +to hide or attempt to throw him off the +trail.</p> +<p>“Go on, Penny,” Louise gasped, slackening speed. +“I can’t make it.”</p> +<p>“Yes, you can!” Penny fairly pulled her along. +“We’re almost there. See!”</p> +<p>The ark loomed up ahead. Encouraged by the +sight, Louise gathered her strength and kept doggedly +on. They reached the bank of the stream and gave +way to despair. The ark was dark and the gangplank +which usually connected it with shore, was +nowhere in evidence.</p> +<p>“Noah! Noah!” called Louise wildly.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_176">[176]</div> +<p>Only the parrot answered, crackling saucily from +a porthole: “Hello, Noah, you old soak! Where are +you, Noah?”</p> +<p>Breathless and bewildered, the girls did not know +what to do. Before they could turn and run on, the +man who so ruthlessly pursued them, dashed out from +among the trees.</p> +<p>“Oh, here you are,” he said, and moonlight gleamed +on the revolver he held in his hand. “A very pretty +race, my dears, but shall we call this the finish line?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_177">[177]</div> +<h2 id="c22"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">22</span> +<br /><i>A SEARCHING PARTY</i></h2> +<p>“Now we’ll have no more nonsense,” said the +man who held the revolver. “Stand over there +against the tree.”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise were so frightened that they +trembled violently.</p> +<p>“You’ll not be harmed if you do exactly as you’re +told,” the waiter assured them.</p> +<p>“Why not let us go home?” Penny ventured, recovering +her courage.</p> +<p>“Not tonight, my dear.” The man smiled grimly. +“Unfortunately, you have learned too much regarding +my affairs.”</p> +<p>“Then what are you going to do with us?” Penny +demanded.</p> +<p>Apparently, the waiter did not himself know. +While he guarded the girls, he cast a quick glance +toward the ark. Just then running footsteps were +heard in the woods, and someone whistled twice. +The waiter answered the signal. A moment later, +Carl Oaks, quite winded, came into view.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_178">[178]</div> +<p>“So you got ’em, eh?” he demanded with pleasure.</p> +<p>“The question is what to do with them.”</p> +<p>“I don’t want ’em at the shack,” the old watchman +complained. “When young Ottman comes around +I may have my hands full with him.”</p> +<p>“This ark should serve my purpose,” the waiter +muttered. “The old coot that lives here has gone off +somewhere. Oaks, get aboard and look around.”</p> +<p>“There’s no way to cross to it,” the watchman said +helplessly.</p> +<p>“Find the gangplank!” his companion ordered irritably. +“It must be hidden somewhere in the bushes.”</p> +<p>Thus urged, Oaks searched along the river bank +and soon came upon the missing plank. Fitting it +into place, he quickly crossed to the ark. A dog +started to bark, but the sound was choked off.</p> +<p>“Well?” called the waiter impatiently.</p> +<p>“No one here except the animals,” Oaks reported, +reappearing on deck. “The only room that can be +locked off is the cabin where the dope keeps his +birds.”</p> +<p>“That ought to do,” decided the waiter. “We +won’t have to keep ’em here long.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_179">[179]</div> +<p>Penny and Louise were compelled to march across +the gangplank, up the steps to the bird room of the +ark. The parrot, arousing from a doze, squawked a +raucous welcome.</p> +<p>“Get in there and don’t make any noise!” the +waiter ordered. “If you shout for help or make any +disturbance, you’ll be bound and gagged. And that’s +not pleasant. Get me?”</p> +<p>“You seem to have got us,” Penny retorted.</p> +<p>The door slammed and a bolt slid into place. +Penny tiptoed at once to the porthole. It was much +too small to permit an escape, but at least it provided +fresh air and a view of the shore.</p> +<p>“Well, well, well,” cackled the parrot, tramping +up and down on his wide perch. “Polly wants a slug +o’ rum.”</p> +<p>“You’ll get a slug, period, if you don’t keep quiet,” +Penny said crossly. “Give me a chance to think, will +you?”</p> +<p>“Thinking won’t get us out of this mess,” murmured +Louise, sitting down with her back to a wall. +“It must be after nine o’clock now. If Bill had notified +our folks, they would be looking for us long +before this.”</p> +<p>In whispers the girls discussed their unfortunate +situation. They were hopeful that eventually they +would be released, but they could not expect freedom +until long after midnight.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_180">[180]</div> +<p>“The Seventh Street Bridge will be blasted at one +o’clock,” Penny said anxiously. “If it goes up, +Riverview traffic will be paralyzed. Work at the +munition plant will stop cold.”</p> +<p>“The saboteurs intend to blame Burt Ottman for +the job too! Well, at least we can tell police who the +real plotters are.”</p> +<p>“We can if we ever get out of here,” Penny said, +pacing the floor. “Oh, I’m as mad as a hornet!”</p> +<p>“Quiet down, and maybe we can hear something,” +Louise suggested calmly. “I think those men are +talking.”</p> +<p>A murmur of voices could be heard from the third +floor of the ark. The partitions were thin. By +standing on one of the pigeon boxes, the girls discovered +they could understand nearly everything that +was being said.</p> +<p>“Carl, you go back to the shack and keep an eye +on Ottman,” the waiter ordered the watchman. “As +soon as Breneham comes, send him here. We’ll pull +the job at one o’clock just as we planned.”</p> +<p>“Okay, Jard,” the other answered.</p> +<p>Getting down from the pigeon box, Penny +watched Carl Oaks leave the ark.</p> +<p>“How about taking a chance and shouting for +help?” Louise suggested in a whisper.</p> +<p>Penny shook her head. “Not now at least. I +doubt anyone is within a mile of this place—that is, +anyone friendly to us.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_181">[181]</div> +<p>The girls were not to enjoy their porthole for long. +Within a few minutes the waiter tacked a strip of +canvas over the opening. He then sat down on deck +directly beneath it, and the odor of his cigar drifted +into the room.</p> +<p>“That man must be Jard Wessler,” Penny whispered +to her chum. “You remember Bill said he was +hired to work for a fellow by the name of Wessler.”</p> +<p>“I don’t care who he is,” muttered Louise. +“All <i>I</i> think about is getting out of here.”</p> +<p>The girls sat side by side, their backs to the wall. +About them in boxes and cages, Noah’s birds stirred +restlessly. Polly, the parrot, kept up such a chatter +that at length Penny covered the cage with a sack.</p> +<p>Time passed slowly. It seemed hours later that +Penny and Louise heard the sound of a man’s voice. +The cry, though low, came from shore.</p> +<p>“Ark ahoy! Are you there, Wessler?”</p> +<p>“Come aboard,” invited the one in command of the +boat. “Oaks told you what happened?”</p> +<p>“Yeah, and I have more bad news.” The newcomer +had reached the ark and his voice could be +heard plainly by Louise and Penny. “A searching +party is out looking for those two girls. Heading this +way too.”</p> +<p>“In that case—”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_182">[182]</div> +<p>The door of the bird room suddenly was thrust +open and a flashbeam focused upon the girls. They +found themselves confronted by Jard Wessler and a +stranger. At least Penny’s first thought was that she +had never seen him before. Then it came to her that +he closely resembled the man with whom Burt Ottman had +dined at The Green Parrot.</p> +<p>Before either of the girls realized what was in store, +they were seized by the arms. Tape was plastered +over their lips, and their limbs were bound.</p> +<p>“A precautionary measure,” Wessler assured them. +“You’ll be released soon.”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise understood perfectly why they +had been bound and gagged. Scarcely fifteen minutes +elapsed before they heard the sound of men’s +voices along shore. Soon thereafter someone hailed +the ark. Penny’s heart leaped for she recognized her +father’s voice.</p> +<p>“Hello, the ark!” he shouted.</p> +<p>Wessler responded, his voice casual and friendly.</p> +<p>“We’re looking for two girls lost in the woods. +Have you seen them?”</p> +<p>“Why, yes,” Wessler answered. “A couple of +girls went past here about an hour ago. They were +on their way to the river.”</p> +<p>“Then they must have started home,” Mr. Parker +replied, greatly relieved. “By the way, you’re not +the one they call Noah, are you?”</p> +<p>“Just a friend of his.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_183">[183]</div> +<p>“I see,” responded Mr. Parker, apparently satisfied +with the answer. “Well, thanks. We’ve been worried +about my daughter and her friend. It’s a relief +to know they’re on their way home.”</p> +<p>In the dark bird room of the ark, Penny and Louise +squirmed and twisted. Though they thumped their +feet on the floor, the sound conveyed no hint of their +plight to those on shore.</p> +<p>Mr. Parker called a cheery good night to Wessler. +For a few minutes the girls heard the sound of retreating +footsteps in the underbrush. Then all was +still save for the restless stirring of the birds.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_184">[184]</div> +<h2 id="c23"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">23</span> +<br /><i>HELP FROM NOAH</i></h2> +<p>A long while later, Jard Wessler and his companion +reentered the cabin where Penny and Louise +were imprisoned. After removing the tape from the +girls’ lips, and freeing them of their uncomfortable +bonds, they went outside again.</p> +<p>“At least they’re not trying to torture us,” Louise +said, close to tears. “Oh, Penny, your father believes +we’ve gone home! Now we’ll never be found.”</p> +<p>“Not in time to save the bridge, that’s certain,” her +chum agreed gloomily.</p> +<p>Getting up from the floor, Penny groped her way +to the covered porthole. She stumbled against a box +and there was a loud tinkle of glass.</p> +<p>“Noah’s bottles!” she exclaimed, exasperated. +“Where do you suppose the old fellow has taken himself?”</p> +<p>“Maybe the sheriff got him.”</p> +<p>“I doubt it,” returned Penny. “He probably just +went off somewhere.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_185">[185]</div> +<p>After testing the cabin door, she sat down again +beside Louise. The girls did not sleep but they fell +into a drowsy, half-stupefied state. Then suddenly +they were aroused by the sound of low voices just +outside the porthole.</p> +<p>“It’s an old man coming,” they heard Wessler mutter. +“Must be Noah.”</p> +<p>“What’ll we do with him?” the other demanded.</p> +<p>“Wait and see how he acts,” Wessler advised. +“He’s such a simple old coot he may not suspect anything. +If he makes trouble we’ll have to lock +him up.”</p> +<p>A silence ensued and then the girls heard heavy +footsteps on the gangplank.</p> +<p>“Ho, and who has visited my ark while I’ve been +away?” muttered Old Noah.</p> +<p>Wessler and his companion, Breneham, stepped +from the shadows.</p> +<p>“Good evening, Noah,” the waiter greeted him +politely. “Looks like rain, doesn’t it?”</p> +<p>The remark concerning the weather was all that +was needed to dull the old man’s perceptions. Forgetting +that the ark had been invaded by strangers +during his absence, he lowered an armload of groceries +to the railing, and peered intently up at the sky.</p> +<p>“No man knoweth the hour, but when the thunder +of the Lord strikes, the rain will descend. All creatures +of the earth shall perish—yes, all except those +who seek refuge here. Therefore, my sons, you do +well to seek the shelter of my ark.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_186">[186]</div> +<p>“The old fellow’s sure raving,” Wessler remarked +to his companion.</p> +<p>“A raven?” inquired Noah, misunderstanding. +“Ah, yes! For one hundred and fifty days the waters +will prevail upon the earth. Then will I send forth +a raven or a dove to search for a sprig of green. And +if the bird returns with such a token, then shall I +know that the waters are receding, no more to destroy +all flesh.”</p> +<p>“Toddle on, old man,” Wessler said, growing irritated. +“Where’ve you been anyway?”</p> +<p>“My burdens are heavy,” Noah replied with a deep +sigh. “All day I have labored, seeking food for my +animals. Greens I cut for Bessie, my cow, and at +the grocery store I bought seed for the birds, crackers—”</p> +<p>“Never mind,” Wessler interrupted. “Go into +your quarters and stay there.”</p> +<p>“Bessie, the cow, must be fed.”</p> +<p>“Then go feed her,” Wessler snapped. “Just get +out of my sight.”</p> +<p>The girls could not hear what Old Noah said in +reply. However, a medley of animal sounds beneath +the deck, led them to believe that the master of the +ark had gone into the lower part of the ship to care +for his animals.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_187">[187]</div> +<p>“I wish he’d come here,” said Penny. “Maybe we +could get the idea over to him that we’re being held +prisoners.”</p> +<p>“Not a chance of it.”</p> +<p>“Those men evidently intend to allow him the run +of the ark so long as he suspects nothing,” Penny +mused. “Say, I know how we might bring him +here!”</p> +<p>“How?”</p> +<p>“By stirring up the birds. Then Old Noah would +get excited and try to break in.”</p> +<p>“And what would that accomplish?”</p> +<p>“Probably nothing,” Penny admitted, sighing. +“Wessler is armed. Noah couldn’t overpower two +men, even if he were inclined to do it.”</p> +<p>“All Noah thinks about is the coming flood. With +another rain in the offing, he’ll confine his worries +to how he can attract more people to his ark.”</p> +<p>“Lou! Maybe that’s an idea!”</p> +<p>“What is?” Louise inquired blankly.</p> +<p>“Why, perhaps we can bring help by means of +Old Noah and his message bottles!”</p> +<p>“Perhaps you know what you mean, but I am sure +I don’t!”</p> +<p>“Do you have a pen or a pencil with you, Lou?”</p> +<p>“I might have a pencil.” Louise searched in the +pockets of her jacket, and finally brought forth a +stub with a broken lead.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_188">[188]</div> +<p>“We can fix that so it will write,” Penny declared, +chewing away the wood.</p> +<p>“I still don’t understand what you have in mind.”</p> +<p>“This is my idea,” Penny explained. “You know +that whenever it rains Old Noah starts tossing message +bottles into the river.”</p> +<p>“True.”</p> +<p>Penny groped her way across the room to the box +which stood by the porthole. “Well, here are the +bottles,” she said triumphantly. “What’s to prevent +us from writing our own messages? We’ll explain +that we are held prisoners here and appeal for help.”</p> +<p>“How do you propose to get the bottles overboard?”</p> +<p>“I’ll think of a scheme.”</p> +<p>“Even if the bottles did reach the water, one never +would be picked up in time to do any good,” Louise +argued. “It’s a bum idea, Penny.”</p> +<p>“I guess it isn’t so hot,” Penny acknowledged ruefully. +“Anyway, why not try it just to keep occupied? +It’s deadly sitting here and brooding.”</p> +<p>“All right,” Louise agreed.</p> +<p>The girls removed corks from several bottles and +by means of a bent hairpin, removed the papers already +inside them. Although they had no light, +Penny and Louise scribbled at least a dozen messages. +Carefully they recorked every bottle, replacing it in +the box.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_189">[189]</div> +<p><a href="#front">“I’m going to put my cameo pin inside this one,” +Penny said</a>, unfastening a cherished ornament from +her dress. “Someone might see it and open the +bottle.”</p> +<p>“We’ll likely hear from it about next Christmas,” +her chum responded.</p> +<p>Becoming weary of writing messages, Penny decided +to stir up a bit of action. Moving from box to +box, she aroused the sleeping birds. Her final act was +to jerk the covering from Polly’s cage and playfully +pluck the tail feathers of the startled creature.</p> +<p>“Noah! Noah!” the parrot croaked. “Heave out +the anchor! Help! Help!”</p> +<p>“Keep it up, Polly,” Penny encouraged, rocking +the cage.</p> +<p>The parrot squawked in righteous rage and the +other birds chirped excitedly. In the midst of the +commotion, a heavy step was heard on deck. Noah, +finding the door to the bird room locked, shook it violently.</p> +<p>“Unbolt this door!” he shouted. “Unlock it, I +say, or I will break it down!” And he banged with +his fists against the flimsy panel.</p> +<p>“What’s coming off here?” demanded another +voice, that of Wessler. “Have you gone completely +crazy?”</p> +<p>“I want to know why this door is locked!” Noah +said wrathfully. “Unlock it or I will break it down!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_190">[190]</div> +<p>Completely aroused, the old man backed away as +if to make a running attack. Wessler drew his revolver, +but Noah paid not the slightest heed.</p> +<p>“Let me get at my birds!” he cried. “Stand back!”</p> +<p>“Better humor him,” Breneham said uneasily. “Unless +you do, he’ll arouse the countryside.”</p> +<p>Wessler returned the revolver to its holster beneath +his coat. “Calm down, Grandpa, calm down,” he +tried to soothe the old man. “No one is going to hurt +your precious birds.”</p> +<p>“Then open that door!”</p> +<p>“Go ahead,” Wessler directed his companion. “If +he makes any more trouble we’ll lock him in with the +girls.”</p> +<p>“There are no doors on this ark strong enough to +hold me,” said Noah. “Open it I say!”</p> +<p>The command was obeyed. The old man stumbled +across the threshold and began to murmur soothing +words to the birds. At first he did not see Penny and +Louise. Finally observing them, he spoke rather absently:</p> +<p>“Good evening, my daughters. I am happy that +you have come again to my ark, but I am afraid you +have disturbed my birds.”</p> +<p>Penny chose her words carefully for Wessler and +his pal stood in the cabin doorway.</p> +<p>“The birds do seem excited for some reason. No +doubt they’re alarmed by the approaching storm.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_191">[191]</div> +<p>“Yes, yes, that may be it,” Old Noah murmured. +“And the porthole is covered. That should not be. +I will fix it.”</p> +<p>Pushing past the two men, Old Noah went outside +the cabin to jerk away the canvas covering. He came +back in a moment, bearing a sack of bird seed.</p> +<p>“Upstairs!” Wessler tersely ordered the girls.</p> +<p>In crossing the room, Penny deliberately stumbled +against the box of blue corked bottles.</p> +<p>“With another storm coming up, I suppose you’ll +be throwing out more of your messages,” she said +jokingly to Noah.</p> +<p>Penny had hoped that the suggestion might presently +cause the old man to dump the contents of the +box into the water. She neither expected nor desired +that he would attempt the task in the presence of the +two saboteurs. However, Old Noah immediately +dropped the sack of bird seed and strode over to the +box of bottles.</p> +<p>“Yes, yes, I have been neglectful of my duty,” he +murmured. “With the Great Flood coming, I must +warn the good people of Riverview. I shall bid them +seek refuge here before their doom is sealed.”</p> +<p>Old Noah selected a half dozen bottles and started +to heave them through the porthole. Before he could +do so, Wessler blocked the opening.</p> +<p>“Just a minute, Grandpa,” he said. “What’s in +those bottles?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_192">[192]</div> +<p>“Messages which I wrote with my own hand,” Old +Noah replied earnestly. “Would you like to read +them, my son?”</p> +<p>“That’s exactly what I intend to do,” said Wessler.</p> +<p>With a suspicious glance directed at Penny and +Louise, he reached into the box and selected one of +the corked bottles.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_193">[193]</div> +<h2 id="c24"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">24</span> +<br /><i>A MESSAGE IN THE BOTTLE</i></h2> +<p>Failing easily to retrieve the message in the +bottle, Jard Wessler smashed it against a wall of the +ark. Picking up the folded paper, he flashed his light +across the writing.</p> +<p>“‘The hour of the Great Deluge approaches,’” he +read aloud. “‘Come to my ark and I will provide +shelter and comfort.’”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise relaxed. The message was one +that Old Noah had written. Unless Wessler opened +another bottle he would not suspect that they were +the authors of other messages pleading for help.</p> +<p>“Stand back and allow me to throw my bottles into +the stream!” Old Noah cried angrily. “Even though +you are a guest aboard my ark, your actions are not +pleasing.”</p> +<p>“Go ahead, Grandpa,” Wessler said with a shrug. +“Heave out your bottles if it will keep you happy.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_194">[194]</div> +<p>As Old Noah began to toss the bottles out of the +porthole, Wessler again ordered Penny and Louise +from the cabin.</p> +<p>“Upstairs!” he said, giving them a shove toward +the stairway.</p> +<p>Penny glanced quickly toward shore. The gangplank +had been raised, but the distance was not great.</p> +<p>As if reading her mind, Wessler said: “I wouldn’t +try to make a leap for it if I were you, little lady. +Behave yourself, and you’ll be set free before morning.”</p> +<p>Penny and Louise were forced to go upstairs to +the third floor of the ark. Although Old Noah’s living +quarters were more comfortable than the bird +room, they provided less privacy. Wessler and his +companion remained on the floor, and not a word +could the girls speak without being overheard.</p> +<p>Old Noah soon appeared. In a much better mood, +he chatted with the two men. Finding them uncommunicative, +he picked up his banjo and began to sing +spirituals to its accompaniment. His voice, as cracked +as the fingers which strummed the strings, drove +Breneham into a near frenzy.</p> +<p>“There’s a limit to what a guy can stand,” he said +meaningly to Wessler.</p> +<p>“It won’t be much longer now,” the other encouraged, +glancing at his watch.</p> +<p>“Why can’t we pull the job now and get out?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_195">[195]</div> +<p>“Because the car won’t be waiting for us. Everything’s +got to move on schedule.”</p> +<p>As the night wore on, a light rain began to fall. +Wessler and his companion went frequently to the +windows, seemingly well pleased by the change of +weather.</p> +<p>The ordeal of waiting was a cruel one for Louise +and Penny. Although they knew that Old Noah had +tossed their messages into the water, they held scant +hope that any of the bottles would be found that +night. While searching parties might continue to seek +them, it was unlikely that they would be released in +time to prevent the destruction of the Seventh Street +Bridge.</p> +<p>Another hour elapsed. Wessler looked at his watch +and spoke to his companion.</p> +<p>“Well, I’m shoving off! When you hear the explosion, +lock ’em up in the bird room, and make for +the shack. The car will pick you up.”</p> +<p>“Good luck, Jard,” Breneham responded.</p> +<p>Wessler went out the door, closing it behind him. +The girls heard him lower the gangplank into place, +and then his footsteps died away.</p> +<p>Penny gazed at Louise in despair. They both knew +that Jard Wessler had gone to dynamite the Seventh +Street Bridge. Although they were not certain of the +plan, they believed that he intended to use Sara Ottman’s +boat which doubtlessly would be loaded with +explosives.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_196">[196]</div> +<p>Breneham began to pace the floor nervously. Suddenly +he halted by a porthole, listening. The girls too +strained to hear.</p> +<p>“Someone’s out there in the trees!” Breneham muttered. +“This ark is being watched! Noah, stick your +head out the window and ask who it is! And no +tricks!”</p> +<p>Old Noah did as ordered.</p> +<p>“Hello, the ark!” shouted a voice which Penny +thought belonged to Jerry Livingston. “Are you +alone there, Noah?”</p> +<p>“Tell him yes,” prodded the saboteur. “Say that +you are just going to bed.”</p> +<p>“But my son, that would be a base falsehood,” +Noah argued. “I have no intention of retiring—”</p> +<p>Penny, quick to divine that Breneham’s attention +was diverted, rushed to another window. In a shrill +voice she screamed for help.</p> +<p>Breneham sprang toward Penny, intending to fell +her with a blow. Louise began to shout. Realizing +that he had been betrayed, Breneham jerked open the +door and leaped from the high deck into the stream.</p> +<p>“Get him! Get him!” shouted Penny to the group +of men on shore.</p> +<p>Breneham swam a few feet and then waded toward +the far side of the stream.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_197">[197]</div> +<p>“Oh, he’s going to get away!” Louise murmured, +watching anxiously from a porthole.</p> +<p>As the saboteur scrambled up the bank, two men +rose from their hiding places in the tall bushes and +grasped him by the arms.</p> +<p>“It’s Dad!” cried Penny gleefully. “And your +father too, Louise!”</p> +<p>Thrilled by the manner in which their release had +been accomplished, the girls ran out of the cabin. +Crossing the gangplank, they saw that the rescue +party was comprised of Mr. Parker, Mr. Sidell, Jerry +Livingston, several men who were strangers, and Sara +Ottman.</p> +<p>“I found your message in the bottle!” she greeted +the girls excitedly.</p> +<p>“Not really?” demanded Penny.</p> +<p>“I was in the little cove just below here, guarding +my boat,” explained Sara. “I intended to get back +earlier to relieve you girls, but I was detained at the +police station. Anyway, while I waited at the bend, +wondering what to do, a swarm of corked bottles +came floating downstream.”</p> +<p>“Old Noah threw out a box full of them,” chuckled +Louise. “So you read our message, asking for help, +Sara?”</p> +<p>The older girl nodded. “Yes, one of the bottles +drifted ashore. Usually I don’t bother to read the +message, but this time I did.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_198">[198]</div> +<p>“How were you able to bring help here so +quickly?” asked Penny.</p> +<p>“Actually I didn’t. Although I didn’t realize it +until a few minutes ago, your parents have been +dreadfully worried about you girls. When Bill Evans +telephoned them, they came here to search.”</p> +<p>“I know,” nodded Penny. “Dad was here earlier +in the evening. The saboteurs tricked him into leaving.”</p> +<p>“I didn’t see him at the time,” Sara resumed her explanation. +“Penny, your father returned home, but +when he learned you were not there, he organized a +searching party. Just as the men reached Bug Run +once more, I found your message. I gave it to Mr. +Parker and—well, you know the rest.”</p> +<p>“Did you capture Jard Wessler?” Penny demanded +tensely. “That’s the important thing!”</p> +<p>“Wessler? You mean the man who stole my motorboat?”</p> +<p>“Yes, he went away from the ark about five minutes +ago. I’m sure he intended to use the hidden boat, +Sara! You left it well guarded, I hope.”</p> +<p>“There’s no one watching it now.”</p> +<p>“Then we’ve got to move fast!” Penny cried, looking +anxiously about for her father. “Jard Wessler +plans to destroy the Seventh Street Bridge! He’s +probably close by now, waiting for a chance to make +his get-away!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_199">[199]</div> +<p>The three girls ran to meet Mr. Parker who at that +moment had crossed the stream with the prisoner. +Just then the engine of a motorboat was heard to sputter. +Sara stopped short, listening. Unmistakably, +the sound came from around the bend.</p> +<p>“That’s my boat!” Sara cried.</p> +<p>“Jard Wessler is getting away!” Penny added. +“We must stop him!”</p> +<p>Leaving others to guard the prisoner, Mr. Parker +and Jerry ran toward the mouth of Bug Run. Not +to be left behind, Penny, Sara, and Louise, followed +as fast as they could. By the time they reached the +river, Wessler’s boat had disappeared. However, the +popping of its engine could be heard far out on the +water.</p> +<p>“We’ll never overtake him now,” Sara said despairingly. +“That boat is a fast one.”</p> +<p>A slower craft, one the girl had used earlier in the +evening to cross the river, was beached nearby. Even +though pursuit seemed useless, the men launched it. +Overloaded with five passengers, the boat made slow +progress against the current.</p> +<p>“We haven’t a chance to overtake that fellow,” +Sara repeated again.</p> +<p>“If only we could notify Coast Guards!” Penny +murmured hopelessly. “Their station is up river. +They still might be able to intercept Wessler before +he reaches the bridge.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_200">[200]</div> +<p>“No way to contact them,” Mr. Parker responded, +his voice grim. “If there were any houses along +shore, we could telephone. As it is, the situation is +pretty hopeless.”</p> +<p>“Shall we give up the chase?” asked Sara who +handled the tiller.</p> +<p>As Mr. Parker hesitated, Penny suddenly grasped +his arm. To the starboard she had glimpsed an approaching +yacht. Its contour was so well known +along the waterfront that she had no doubt as to its +identity—the <i>Eloise III</i>.</p> +<p>“Dad, we still have a chance!” she cried. “By +radio telephone!”</p> +<p>“How d’you mean?” he demanded.</p> +<p>“The <i>Eloise</i> has a radio telephone!” Penny explained. +Excitedly, she began to signal with Sara’s +flashlight. “Dad, if only they see us in time, we still +may save the bridge!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_201">[201]</div> +<h2 id="c25"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">25</span> +<br /><i>A BOW IN THE CLOUD</i></h2> +<p>In the radio room of the <i>Eloise III</i>, Mr. Parker, +Jerry, and the three girls hovered at the elbow of +Commodore Phillips who sat at the radio-telephone.</p> +<p>“I’ve done all I can,” the Commodore said, putting +aside the instrument. “The Coast Guard station has +acknowledged our message. Now we must wait.”</p> +<p>The <i>Eloise</i> which had picked up Mr. Parker’s +party, was heading at full steam toward the Seventh +Street Bridge. Unmindful of the rain, the young +people went out on deck. Huddling in the lee of the +cabin, they anxiously watched and listened.</p> +<p>“It’s one fifteen,” said Mr. Parker, glancing at his +watch. “Any minute now—”</p> +<p>A loud report sounded over the water.</p> +<p>“The bridge!” gasped Louise. “It’s been dynamited!”</p> +<p>“No, no!” exclaimed the Commodore impatiently. +“That was gunfire! The Coast Guard boat has gone +into action!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_202">[202]</div> +<p>A moment later those aboard the <i>Eloise</i> saw a flash +of fire and heard another loud report.</p> +<p>“You may rest easy now,” said the Commodore, +relaxing. “With the Coast Guard on the job, that +saboteur hasn’t a chance. If he escapes with his life +he’ll be lucky.”</p> +<p>Penny sagged weakly against the railing of the +<i>Eloise</i>. Now that she knew the bridge would be +saved, she felt completely exhausted from the long +period of suspense.</p> +<p>“Wessler can’t be the only one involved in this +plot,” she heard her father say. “There must be +others.”</p> +<p>“Oh, there are!” Penny cried, recovering her +strength. “Carl Oaks is a member of the outfit! He’s +waiting at a shack not far from the ark. And Burt +Ottman is held a prisoner there!”</p> +<p>“Burt!” Sara exclaimed in horror. “Oh, why didn’t +you tell me!”</p> +<p>“In the excitement it just passed out of my mind,” +Penny confessed. “I forgot about everything except +saving the bridge!”</p> +<p>Once more Commodore Phillips busied himself on +the radio telephone, this time contacting Riverview +police. Before he left his desk he learned that a squad +had been dispatched to the shack in the woods. Likewise, +a message soon came from the Coast Guard +station, informing him that Jard Wessler had been +captured.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_203">[203]</div> +<p>“Oh, I can’t wait to see Burt,” Sara declared, anxiously +pacing the deck. “He may be seriously hurt.”</p> +<p>To ease the girl’s mind, Commodore Phillips put +the entire party ashore not far from the entrance to +Bug Run. Hastening through the woods, Mr. Parker +and the young people reached the shack only a few +minutes after the arrival of police.</p> +<p>“What became of Carl Oaks?” the newspaper +owner asked a sergeant. “Did you get him?”</p> +<p>The policeman indicated a downcast figure who +sat handcuffed inside the patrol car. Oaks, he explained, +had been captured without a struggle.</p> +<p>“And Burt Ottman?” Mr. Parker inquired.</p> +<p>“They’re taking him to the ambulance now.”</p> +<p>Four men came out of the shack bearing the injured +young man on a stretcher. Pale but conscious, he +grinned as Sara tearfully bent over him.</p> +<p>“I’m okay, Sis,” he mumbled. “Feelin’ swell.”</p> +<p>Sara was allowed to ride with her brother to the +hospital. Remaining behind, Mr. Parker, Jerry and +the girls, tried to learn from police officers if Burt +had made any statement.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_204">[204]</div> +<p>“Sure, he was able to spill the whole story,” one of +the men told them. “Seems he set out to prove that +he was innocent of any association with the saboteurs. +Instead of cooperating with police, he went to work +on his own. He investigated an organization known +as the American Protective Society. That put him on +the trail of a head waiter at The Green Parrot, a foreigner +by the name of Jard Wessler.”</p> +<p>“I understand now why Burt acted so queer about +that billfold he lost along the river,” Penny commented. +“He didn’t want me to know that he was +meeting one of the saboteurs at the Parrot.”</p> +<p>“How many were involved in the dynamiting +plot?” Mr. Parker asked.</p> +<p>“Twelve or thirteen. According to Ottman, Jard +Wessler is the brains of the group. By pretending to +go along with them, the kid gathered a lot of evidence.”</p> +<p>“But at first the saboteurs tried to throw the guilt +on Burt,” Penny protested.</p> +<p>“True,” nodded the policeman. “They used a boat +stolen from the Ottman dock, and they planted evidence +to make it appear that Burt was the guilty one.”</p> +<p>“Then why would they take up with him later?” +Penny asked in perplexity.</p> +<p>“They never did. One of the saboteurs met him at +The Green Parrot to try to learn how much the kid +knew. Young Ottman was slugged over the head +when he tried to get into a basement room where the +gang held their meetings.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_205">[205]</div> +<p>“I guess that explains why we found Burt lying +outside in the alley,” Mr. Parker remarked. “It’s a +pity he couldn’t have told us what he was attempting +to do.”</p> +<p>“The kid did get a lot of evidence,” resumed the officer. +“With the information he’s given us, we expect +to mop up the entire gang.”</p> +<p>“Louise and I found him a prisoner here at the +shack,” Penny remarked slowly. “I suppose in seeking +evidence, he tangled with the saboteurs again.”</p> +<p>“Yes, young Ottman was foolhardy. He was +caught spying a second time and they slugged him. +Lucky for him his injuries aren’t likely to prove serious.”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker and Jerry asked many more questions, +knowing the story would rate important play in the +<i>Riverview Star</i>. Turning Penny and Louise over to +Mr. Sidell who belatedly joined the party, the two +newspaper men rushed off to scoop rival papers.</p> +<p>“Dad didn’t even take time to say he was glad we +escaped from those saboteurs!” Penny complained to +Louise. “Isn’t that a newspaper man for you!”</p> +<p>Before another hour had elapsed, reporters and +photographers from other papers swarmed the woods. +Louise and Penny were quizzed regarding the capture +of the three saboteurs. Determined that the <i>Star</i> +should print an exclusive story, they had very little to +say.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_206">[206]</div> +<p>Hours later, at home, Penny learned that police +had lost no time in acting upon information provided +by Burt Ottman. The entire group of men known to +be associated with Jard Wessler had been arrested at +a Fourteenth Street club. A complete confession had +been signed by Carl Oaks who claimed that he was +not a member of the gang, but had been hired to do as +instructed.</p> +<p>“Well, the <i>Star</i> scooped every paper in town,” Mr. +Parker remarked, as he put aside the front page. +“That’s not important, however, compared to saving +the Seventh Street Bridge.”</p> +<p>“How about your daughter?” Penny asked, rumpling +his hair. “Aren’t you one speck glad about saving +me?”</p> +<p>“I’ve been reserving a special lecture for you,” he +said, pretending to be stern. “Young ladies who go +running about at night—”</p> +<p>“Never mind,” laughed Penny, “If Lou and I +hadn’t done our prowling, I guess you wouldn’t have +any old Seventh Street Bridge!”</p> +<p>Actually Mr. Parker was very proud of his daughter +and showed it in many ways. He would not allow +Mrs. Weems to scold her for the night’s escapade. +Learning that she was worried about Old Noah, he +promised to talk to Sheriff Anderson and do what he +could for the old fellow. The next morning, he and +Penny started off to see Noah, stopping enroute at the +hospital.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_207">[207]</div> +<p>“Oh, I’m so glad you came!” Sara Ottman greeted +them at her brother’s bedside. “Burt and I owe you +so much. I’ve been very unpleasant—”</p> +<p>“Not at all,” corrected Penny. “Anyway, I like +folks who aren’t afraid to speak their minds.”</p> +<p>From Burt Ottman, Mr. Parker and his daughter +heard a story much like the one previously told them +by the police. The young man rapidly had gained in +strength and was much cheered because he had been +cleared in connection with the bridge dynamitings.</p> +<p>“How did you learn that Jard Wessler was a saboteur?” +Mr. Parker asked him.</p> +<p>“Accident,” admitted Burt. “Even before the +bridge was blasted, I had seen the fellow around the +docks. One day I overheard him talking to Breneham, +and what they said made me suspicious. After +getting involved in the mess myself, I made it my business +to investigate. I managed to meet one of the +saboteurs at the Parrot, but he proved too shrewd +for me.”</p> +<p>“You woke up in the alley,” Penny recalled.</p> +<p>“Yes, after that I watched a place I’d learned about +on Fourteenth Street. Figured I had all the dope. +But as I started for the police, someone hit me with a +blackjack. That’s the last I remember until I came +to at the woods shack.”</p> +<p>Penny and her father were pleased to know that +the young man was recovering from his injuries.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_208">[208]</div> +<p>After chatting with him for a time, they left the +hospital and proceeded toward the ark in the mud +flats.</p> +<p>“I confess I don’t know what to say to Noah,” Mr. +Parker declared as they approached the gangplank. +“Sheriff Anderson insists the ark is a nuisance and +must go.”</p> +<p>Penny paused at the edge of the stream. It had +started to rain once more, and drops splattered down +through the trees, rippling the quiet water.</p> +<p>“Poor Noah!” she sighed. “He’ll be unwilling to +leave his home or his animals. This ark never can be +floated either.”</p> +<p>“I’ll be glad to pay for his lodging elsewhere,” Mr. +Parker offered. “Naturally, he’ll have to forsake his +pets.”</p> +<p>Crossing the gangplank, Penny called Old Noah’s +name. There was no answer. Not until she had +shouted many times did the old fellow come up from +the ark’s hold. His arms were grimy, his clothing +wet from the waist down.</p> +<p>“Why, Noah!” Penny exclaimed, astonished by his +appearance.</p> +<p>“All morning I have labored,” the old fellow said +wearily. “The commotion last night excited Bess, my +cow. The critter kicked a hole in the ark. Water +has poured in faster than I can pump it out.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_209">[209]</div> +<p>“Well, why not abandon this old boat?” Mr. Parker +proposed, quick to seize an opportunity. “Wouldn’t +you like to live in a steam-heated apartment?”</p> +<p>“With my animals?”</p> +<p>“No, you would have to leave them behind.”</p> +<p>Old Noah shook his head. “I could not desert my +animals. At least not my dogs and cats, or my birds +or fowls. As for cows and goats, they are a burden +almost beyond my strength.”</p> +<p>“A little place in the country might suit you,” suggested +Penny brightly. As Noah showed no interest, +she added: “Or how would you like a big bus? You +could take your smaller pets and tour the United +States!”</p> +<p>Old Noah’s dull blue eyes began to gleam. “I had +a truck once,” he said. “They took it away from me +after I had made a payment. I’ve always hankered to +see the country. But it’s not to be.”</p> +<p>“Oh, a truck might be arranged,” declared Penny, +grinning at her father.</p> +<p>“It’s not that.” Old Noah leaned heavily on the +railing of the ark. “You might say I made a covenant +to keep this place of refuge. The Great Flood soon +will be upon us—”</p> +<p>“There will be no flood,” interrupted Mr. Parker +impatiently.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_210">[210]</div> +<p>“I’d be happy to leave this ark if only I could believe +that,” sighed Noah. “I’m getting older, and it’s +a great burden to care for so many animals. But I +must not shirk my duty because I am tired.”</p> +<p>Penny knew that the old man could not be influenced +by mere words. Glancing at the sky, she +saw that although rain still fell, the sun had straggled +through the clouds. Above the trees arched a beautiful +rainbow.</p> +<p>“Noah!” she cried, directing his attention to it. +“Don’t you remember the Bible quotation: ‘And I do +set my bow in the cloud and it shall be for a token of +a covenant between me and the earth.’”</p> +<p>“‘And the waters shall no more become a flood to +destroy all flesh,’” Noah whispered, his fascinated +gaze upon the rainbow.</p> +<p>“There, you have your sign, your token,” Mr. +Parker said briskly.</p> +<p>“Yes, yes,” whispered the old man. “This is the +hour for which I long have waited! Behold the rainbow +which rolleth back the scroll of destiny! Never +again will the flood come. Never again will destruction +envelop the earth and all its creatures.”</p> +<p>“How about it Noah?” Mr. Parker asked impatiently. +“If I make all arrangements will you leave +the ark?”</p> +<p>The old man did not hesitate. “Yes, I will go,” he +said. “My mission here is finished. I am content.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_211">[211]</div> +<p>Penny and her father did not annoy the old man +with material details, but slipped quietly away from +the ark. Glancing back, they saw that Noah still +stood at the railing, his face turned raptly toward the +fading rainbow. As the last trace of color disappeared +from the sky, he bowed his head in worshipful +reverence. A moment he stood thus, and then, turning, +walked with dignity into the ark.</p> +<p>“Poor old fellow,” said Penny.</p> +<p>“I suppose you mean Noah,” chuckled Mr. Parker. +“But I deserve sympathy too. Haven’t I just been +knicked to the tune of an expensive truck?”</p> +<p>“You don’t really mind, do you, Dad?”</p> +<p>“No, it’s worth it to have the old fellow satisfied,” +Mr. Parker responded. “And then, the ark brought +me a big story for the <i>Star</i>.”</p> +<p>Penny walked silently beside her father. With the +saboteurs in jail, Burt Ottman free, and Old Noah’s +future settled, she had not a worry in the world. +Rounding a bend of the stream, she glimpsed a shining +blue bottle caught in the backwash of a fallen log. +Eagerly she started to rescue it.</p> +<p>“Don’t tell me you expect to collect every one of +those messages!” protested Mr. Parker.</p> +<p>“Every single one,” laughed Penny, raking in the +bottle. “You see, last night I lost a very pretty cameo +pin. Until I find it, I’ll never admit that the case of +the saboteurs is closed!”</p> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Saboteurs on the River, by Mildred A. 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