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diff --git a/35082.txt b/35082.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b18628 --- /dev/null +++ b/35082.txt @@ -0,0 +1,6501 @@ +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: ASCII + +*** 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 + + + + + + + + + + Saboteurs + on the River + + + _By_ + MILDRED A. WIRT + + _Author of_ + MILDRED A. WIRT MYSTERY STORIES + TRAILER STORIES FOR GIRLS + + _Illustrated_ + + CUPPLES AND LEON COMPANY + _Publishers_ + NEW YORK + + + + + _PENNY PARKER_ + MYSTERY STORIES + + _Large 12 mo. Cloth Illustrated_ + + + TALE OF THE WITCH DOLL + THE VANISHING HOUSEBOAT + DANGER AT THE DRAWBRIDGE + BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR + CLUE OF THE SILKEN LADDER + THE SECRET PACT + THE CLOCK STRIKES THIRTEEN + THE WISHING WELL + SABOTEURS ON THE RIVER + GHOST BEYOND THE GATE + HOOFBEATS ON THE TURNPIKE + VOICE FROM THE CAVE + GUILT OF THE BRASS THIEVES + SIGNAL IN THE DARK + WHISPERING WALLS + SWAMP ISLAND + THE CRY AT MIDNIGHT + + + COPYRIGHT, 1943, BY CUPPLES AND LEON CO. + + Saboteurs on the River + + PRINTED IN U. S. A. + + + + + CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + 1 TROUBLE AFLOAT _1_ + 2 FRONT PAGE NEWS _11_ + 3 STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER _21_ + 4 AN UNWARRANTED ATTACK _28_ + 5 HELD ON SUSPICION _36_ + 6 OLD NOAH _44_ + 7 ARK OF THE MUD FLATS _54_ + 8 THE GREEN PARROT _62_ + 9 A JOB FOR MR. OAKS _70_ + 10 SALVAGE AND SABOTEURS _78_ + 11 PURSUIT BY TAXI _86_ + 12 JERRY'S DISAPPEARANCE _94_ + 13 A VACANT BUILDING _101_ + 14 TEST BLACKOUT _110_ + 15 A DRIFTING BARGE _120_ + 16 DANGER ON THE RIVER _127_ + 17 A STOLEN BOAT _134_ + 18 PENNY'S PLAN _145_ + 19 STANDING GUARD _153_ + 20 A SHACK IN THE WOODS _163_ + 21 THROUGH THE SKYLIGHT _170_ + 22 A SEARCHING PARTY _177_ + 23 HELP FROM NOAH _184_ + 24 A MESSAGE IN THE BOTTLE _193_ + 25 A BOW IN THE CLOUD _201_ + + + + + CHAPTER + 1 + _TROUBLE AFLOAT_ + + +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. + +"Hi, Penny!" called a young man who tinkered with the engine of a +motorboat. "Out to bury the body?" + +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?" + +Before the young sailor could answer, a voice shouted from the darkness, +"Here I am!" + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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 _Star_. + +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. + +"All set?" she asked Louise, casting off the ropes one by one. + +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. + +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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"It's a perfect night to sail," Louise said, snuggling amid the cushions. +"Wish we'd brought the phonograph along." + +"Uh-huh," Penny agreed, her gaze on an approaching motorboat. + +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. + +"It's against the regulations to cruise without lights," Penny commented. +"Wonder who piloted that boat?" + +"Whoever he was, you seemed to frighten him away." + +"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." + +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. + +"Careful, Penny!" Louise called as she saw the mainsail begin to flap in +the wind. "You're luffing!" + +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. + +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. + +"Bother!" she exclaimed in annoyance. "I want that bottle!" + +"Oh, what do you care?" Louise demanded with a shrug. "Someone else will +fish it out." + +"It could do a great deal of damage. Besides, as it floated past, I +thought I saw a piece of paper inside." + +"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?" + +"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. + +"Take the tiller a minute, please," she requested her chum. + +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. + +"Grab that old bottle and don't take twenty years," she urged nervously. + +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. + +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. + +"We're going over!" Louise shrieked, scrambling for the high side. + +"We are over," corrected Penny sadly. + +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. + +"It's a blue pop bottle, Louise," she announced, grasping her chum's +extended hand. "And there _is_ a piece of paper inside!" + +"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." + +"Oh, who minds a little upset?" + +"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." + +"Oh, we can get out of this by ourselves," Penny returned, undismayed. +"Hold my bottle while I try to haul in the sail." + +"I'd like to uncork your precious bottle and drop it to the bottom of the +river!" + +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. + +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. + +"Let's shout for help," Louise proposed, anxiously watching the distant +shore lights. + +"All right," agreed Penny, "but I doubt anyone will hear us. My, we're +drifting down river fast!" + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +Then as they despaired, there came an answering shout from above. A +powerful beam of light played over the water, cutting a bright path. + +"Help! Help!" screamed Louise, waving an arm. + +"Halt or I'll fire!" rang out the terse command from the bridge. + +"Halt?" cried Penny, too exasperated to consider the significance of the +order. "That's what we'd like to do, but we can't!" + +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: + +"Okay, take it easy. I'll heave you a line." + +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. + +"I'll try to pull you in," the watchman shouted. "Just hang on." + +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. + +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. + +"Thanks," Penny gasped, flipping a wet curl from off her freckled nose. +"On second thought, many, many thanks." + +"You've no business to get so close to the bridge," the watchman +retorted. "It's agin' the regulations. I could have you arrested." + +"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!" + +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. + +"Halt!" shouted the watchman, jerking a weapon from a leather holster. +"Halt!" + +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. + +The unpiloted boat, its helm securely lashed, drove straight on its +course. + +"It's going to strike the bridge!" shouted Louise. + +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. + +"Saboteurs!" the watchman cried hoarsely. "They've done it--dynamited the +bridge!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 2 + _FRONT PAGE NEWS_ + + +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. + +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. + +"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. + +"Yes, yes," he muttered, bringing his attention once more to the bridge. +"No chance to catch that saboteur now. We must stop the autos." + +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. + +"You hold the cars at this end!" ordered the watchman as he glimpsed +them. "I'll lower the gate at the other side!" + +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. + +"What's wrong?" demanded one irate driver. "An accident?" + +"Bridge damaged," Penny replied tersely. + +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. + +"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!" + +"Penny!" the newspaper man exclaimed, no less dumbfounded. "What are you +and Louise doing here? And in those wet clothes?" + +"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!" + +"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." + +As calmly as they could, the girls reported how the saboteur had +dynamited the bridge. + +"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 _Star_ 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." + +"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!" + +"So you want a case of pneumonia?" Mr. Parker barked. "How'd you get wet +anyhow?" + +"Sailboat," Penny answered briefly. She took the car keys from her +father, and pressed them upon Louise. + +"But I don't want to go if you don't," her chum argued. + +"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!" + +Thus urged, Louise reluctantly backed Mr. Parker's car to the main +street, and drove away. + +"Now I'll slosh over to the drugstore and call the _Star_ office," Penny +offered briskly. "Lend me a nickel, Dad." + +"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." + +"Let's argue about that tomorrow, Dad. Right now we must work fast unless +we want other newspapers to scoop us on this story." + +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 _Star_. +Tersely she relayed her father's orders. + +"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?" + +"Did I?" echoed Penny. "Why, I practically caused it!" + +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. + +"Now about the saboteur's motorboat," he said as she finished. "Can you +give us a description of it?" + +"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." + +"Then you think the saboteur may have rented his boat from Ottman's?" + +"Well, it's a possibility." + +"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." + +"Dad's on the job full blast," Penny answered. "He'll soon have all the +details for you." + +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. + +"You can't cross, young lady," he said as she sought to pass him. +"Bridge's unsafe." + +"I'm a reporter for the _Star_," Penny replied confidently. + +The man stared at her bedraggled clothing. "A reporter?" he inquired +dubiously. + +Just then a police car, its siren shrilling, sped up to the bridge. Close +behind came another car which bore a printed card "_Star_" on its +windshield. It braked to a standstill nearby and out leaped two young +men, Jerry Livingston and Salt Sommers. + +"Hello, Penny!" Jerry greeted her. "Might have known you'd be here. +Where's the Chief?" + +"Somewhere, sleuthing around," Penny answered. "I lost him a minute ago +when I telephoned the _Star_ office." + +Salt Sommers, a felt hat cocked low over his eyes, began unloading +photographic equipment from the coupe. + +"Where'll I get the best shots?" he asked Penny. "Other side or this?" + +"Under the bridge," she directed crisply. "None of the damage shows from +above." + +Salt slung the heavy camera over his shoulder, and disappeared down the +incline which led to the river bed. + +Before Jerry and Penny could move away, Mr. Parker hurried up with the +watchman in tow. + +"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 _Star_." + +"Not so fast," drawled a voice from behind. "We want to talk to Carl +Oaks." + +One of the policemen, a detective, moved over to the group and began to +question the watchman. + +"It wasn't my fault the bridge was dynamited," the old fellow whined. "I +shouted at the boatman and fired twice." + +"He got away?" + +"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." + +"At what point?" + +"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." + +"And what were _you_ doing on the beach?" questioned the detective +sharply. + +"Ask her," Carl Oaks muttered, eyeing Penny. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"Penny, tell me more about this fellow Oaks," Mr. Parker urged his +daughter. "I suppose he did his best to stop the saboteur?" + +"It seemed so to me," Penny replied slowly. "He was a miserable marksman, +though. I guess he must have been excited when he fired." + +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. + +"This is where the saboteur got away," Penny whispered to her father. "Do +you suppose the fellow is still hiding in the woods?" + +"Not likely," Mr. Parker answered. "A job of this sort would be planned +in every detail." + +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. + +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 _Star_ office. + +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 +_News_ windshield sticker, skidded to a stop nearby. + +"Too bad, boys," Salt taunted the rival photographers. "Better late than +never!" + +Already news vendors were crying the _Star's_ first extra. Once well away +from the bridge, Mr. Parker stopped the car to buy a paper. + +"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." + +"Thanks to whom?" demanded Penny, giving him a pinch. + +"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." + +"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." + +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 _Star_. +But of late she had turned in many of the paper's best scoops and +incidentally, had solved a few mysteries. + +"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." + +"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!" + +"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?" + +"A blue bottle, Dad. It had a piece of paper inside. I was reaching for +it and--oh, my aunt!" + +"Now what?" demanded her father. + +"Turn the car around and drive back to the bridge!" + +"Drive back? Why?" + +"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!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 3 + _STRAIGHT FROM THE SHOULDER_ + + +Mr. Parker did not slacken the speed of the car. Relaxing somewhat, he +edged farther away from Penny, whose sodden garments were oozing water. + +"A bottle!" he exclaimed. "Penny, for a minute you had me worried. I +thought you meant something important." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Oh, all right," Penny accepted the decision with a shrug. "Nevertheless, +I'm curious about that bottle, and I mean to find it tomorrow!" + +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. + +"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!" + +"I guess I _am_ a little bit moist," Penny admitted with a grin. Sitting +down on the davenport, she began to strip off her shoes and stockings. + +"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." + +"But Mrs. Weems--" + +"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." + +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. + +"Drink this," she commanded sternly. "Then get into bed and I'll fix you +up with the hot water bag." + +"But I'm not sick," Penny grumbled. + +"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!" + +"Dad and I are a couple of tough old news hawks," Penny chuckled. "Well, +I suppose I'll have to compromise with you." + +"Compromise?" Mrs. Weems asked suspiciously. + +"I'll drink the lemonade if you'll let me skip the hot water bottle." + +"Indeed not," Mrs. Weems returned firmly. "Now jump into bed, and no more +arguments." + +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. + +"My Aunt!" she exclaimed, leaping out of bed. "All this good time +wasted!" + +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. + +"Is that you or a gazelle escaped from the zoo?" inquired Mrs. Weems who +was washing dishes at the sink. + +"Why didn't you bounce me out of bed two hours ago?" asked Penny. "I have +an important business engagement for this morning." + +"You're not going to the river again, I hope!" + +"Oh, but I must, Mrs. Weems." Penny opened the refrigerator and helped +herself to a bowl of strawberries and a Martha Washington pie. + +"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?" + +"Someone has to salvage the sailboat. Besides, I lost a valuable object +last night--" + +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. + +"Fit as a fiddle and ready to go bottle hunting!" Penny replied promptly. +"And you?" + +"I hurt in all the wrong places," Louise complained. "What a night!" + +"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?" + +"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." + +"Well, never mind, if it's anywhere on the beach I'll find it," Penny +said. "Sure you don't want to tag along?" + +"Maybe I will." + +"Then meet me in twenty minutes at Ottman's dock. Signing off now to +gobble a bowl of oatmeal." + +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. + +"Why did you ask me to meet you at this particular place, Penny?" she +inquired. "It was a block out of my way." + +"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." + +"You think of everything," Louise said admiringly. "But where's the +proprietor of this place?" + +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. + +"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. + +The boat moved beneath her, and an irate voice rumbled: "Would you mind +getting off?" + +Decidedly startled, Penny sprang to her feet. + +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. + +"I'm sorry," said Penny, smiling. "Do you live under that boat?" + +Sara Ottman's dark eyes flashed. Getting to her feet, she regarded the +girl with undisguised hostility. + +"Very clever, aren't you!" she said scathingly. "In fact, quite the +little joker!" + +"Why, I didn't mean anything," Penny apologized. "I had no idea you were +working under that thing." + +"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!" + +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. + +"Are you sure you haven't a fever, Miss Ottman?" Penny demanded, her own +eyes blazing. "I certainly fail to understand such an outburst." + +"Of course you do," the other mocked. "You're not used to talk coming +straight from the shoulder. Why are you here anyhow?" + +"To rent a boat." + +"Well, you can't have one," Sara Ottman said shortly. "And if you never +come around here again, it will be soon enough." + +Glaring once more at Penny, she turned and strode into the boathouse. + + + + + CHAPTER + 4 + _AN UNWARRANTED ATTACK_ + + +"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. + +"Not a single thing," Louise answered loyally. "She just rolled out from +beneath that boat with a dagger between her teeth!" + +"I guess I am a little prig, Lou." + +"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." + +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. + +"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?" + +"Oh, why waste any thought on her?" Louise scoffed. + +"Because it bothers me. She mentioned the bridge dynamiting affair. Maybe +it was my by-line story in the _Star_ that offended her." + +"What did it say?" Louise inquired curiously. "I didn't see the morning +paper." + +"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." + +"Well, I shouldn't worry about the matter if I were you." + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"Is Mr. Oaks around here?" Penny asked the soldier. + +"Oaks? Oh, you mean the bridge watchman. He's been charged with neglect +of duty, and relieved of his job." + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +Together they righted the boat. As the tall mast flipped out of the sand, +Penny caught glimpse of a shiny, blue object. + +"Our bottle!" she cried triumphantly, making a dive for it. + +"Your bottle," corrected Louise. "I'm not a bit interested in that silly +old thing." + +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. + +"Well, what does it say?" Louise inquired impatiently. + +"Oh, so you are interested," teased Penny. + +"Now don't try to be funny! Read the message." + +Penny stared at the paper in her hand. "It's rather queer," she +acknowledged. "Listen: + +"'_The day of the Great Deluge approaches. If you would be saved from +destruction, seek without delay, the shelter of my ark._'" + +"If that isn't nonsense!" Louise exclaimed, peering over her chum's +shoulder. "And the note is signed, '_Noah_.'" + +"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." + +"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." + +"Noah was a bit before our time," laughed Penny. "Suppose we shove off +for home." + +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. + +"We'll have everything snug and dry by the time we reach home," she +declared confidently. "Tired, Lou?" + +"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." + +"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?" + +"How should I know?" yawned Louise. "Probably some prankster." + +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. + +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. + +"Better tack," Louise advised in a low tone. "We don't want to get too +close." + +Penny acted as if she had not heard. She made no move to bring the boat +about. + +"We'll end up right at Ottman's unless you're careful," Louise warned. +"Or is that what you want to do?" + +"I'm thinking about it." Penny watched Sara with thoughtful eyes. + +"Well, if you'll deliberately go there again, I must say you enjoy being +insulted!" + +"I'd like to find out why Sara is angry at me. If it's only a +misunderstanding I want to clear it up." + +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. + +"The air's still chilly," Penny remarked in an undertone. "Well, we'll +see." + +Making "Pop's Worry" fast to a spar, she walked across the float to +confront Sara. + +"Miss Ottman," she began quietly, "if I've done anything to offend you, I +wish to apologize." + +Sara turned slowly to face Penny. "You owe me no apology," she said in a +cold voice. + +"Then why do you dislike me? I always thought I was welcome around here +until today. My father has given you considerable business." + +"I'm sorry I spoke to you the way I did," Sara replied stiffly and with +no warmth. "It was rude of me." + +"But why am I such poison?" Penny persisted. "What have I done?" + +"You _honestly_ don't know?" + +"Why, of course not. I shouldn't be asking if I did." + +Sara stared at Penny as if wondering whether or not to accept her remarks +as sincere. + +"Do you only write for the papers?" she asked, a slight edge to her +voice. "You never read them?" + +"I don't know what you mean." Penny was truly bewildered. "Has this +misunderstanding something to do with the bridge dynamiting?" + +Sara nodded her head grimly. "It has," she agreed. "Didn't you see the +morning paper?" + +"Why, no." + +"Then wait a minute." Sara turned and vanished into the boat shed. A +moment later she reappeared, carrying a copy of the _Star_. + +"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?" + + + + + CHAPTER + 5 + _HELD ON SUSPICION_ + + +Penny gazed at the _Riverview Star's_ front page headline which +proclaimed: + +"BURT OTTMAN ARRESTED AS SUSPECT IN BRIDGE DYNAMITING." + +The opening paragraph of the news story, was even more dismaying. It +began: + +"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." + +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." + +"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." + +"Well, it looked like it to me. Perhaps I was mistaken." + +"You weren't mistaken. The boat definitely was one of ours. It was stolen +from here about a month ago." + +Penny drew a deep breath. "Then in that case, I don't see why suspicion +should fall upon your brother." + +"Didn't you tell police that a young man corresponding to his description +was handling the boat?" + +"Indeed I didn't." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Oh, that was a mistake." + +"Yes, but Burt has a great deal of pride. The police never should have +arrested him." + +"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?" + +"That's just it." Sara looked troubled as she reached to take the +newspaper. "He refuses to offer any alibi." + +"But you must know yourself where your brother spent his time." + +"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." + +"Oh!" + +"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." + +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." + +Sara smiled and in a charming gesture extended her hand. + +"I'm sorry I talked as I did to you," she apologized. "Forget it, will +you?" + +"Of course," Penny agreed generously. "And if there's anything I can do +to help--" + +The float creaked and both girls turned to see Bill Evans coming toward +them. + +"Hi!" he greeted the girls impartially. "Miss Ottman, wonder if I can get +you to help me?" + +"I suppose you're having trouble with that motor of yours again," sighed +Sara. "Or should I say yet?" + +"I've lost it in the river," Bill confessed sheepishly. "Blamed thing +cost me sixty dollars second-hand too!" + +"In the river!" gasped Penny. "What did you do, get peeved and toss it +overboard?" + +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." + +"I hope you buoyed the spot," said Sara. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Thanks," Bill replied gratefully, turning away. "Thanks a lot." + +When the young man was beyond hearing distance, Penny spoke again of Burt +Ottman's unfortunate arrest. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"I don't know what I'm doing or saying today," Sara said miserably. "If +you can forgive me--" + +"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?" + +Sara smiled and nodded. Eager to make amends, she ran into the shed and +returned with the desired article. + +"There's still a little water in my boat," Penny explained. "Thought I'd +sop it up." + +"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. + +"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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"You mean the old fellow actually believes there's going to be another +great flood?" Penny asked incredulously. + +"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." + +"Where is the ark?" Penny inquired curiously. + +Sara squeezed the last drop of water from the sponge and pointed +diagonally upstream toward a gap in the trees. + +"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." + +"Rather a nuisance I should think," commented Penny. + +"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." + +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. + +"Well, perhaps," Louise rejoined without a great deal of enthusiasm. + +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. + +"Why, isn't that Mr. Oaks, the bridge watchman?" she asked her chum. + +"It looks like him." + +From far up the street an approaching bus could be seen, but Penny had +lost all interest in boarding it. + +"Louise, let's talk to Mr. Oaks," she urged, starting toward him. + +"But we'll miss our bus." + +"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." + + + + + CHAPTER + 6 + _OLD NOAH_ + + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Oh, I'm sorry to hear it." + +"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." + +"Perhaps you can find another job as a watchman." + +"No one will take me on after what happened last night." + +"But it wasn't your fault the bridge was dynamited." + +"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." + +Penny was decidedly troubled. "You mustn't take that attitude, Mr. Oaks," +she replied. "Maybe I can help you." + +The watchman looked interested, but amused. "How can you help me?" he +demanded. + +"My father owns the _Riverview Star_. Perhaps he can use an extra +watchman at the newspaper building. If not, he may know someone who will +employ you." + +"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." + +"Well, I don't know," Penny responded. "I'll talk to him. Just give me +your address so I can notify you later." + +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. + +"I suppose the police questioned you about the bridge dynamiting," she +remarked, pocketing the address. + +"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." + +"_Not_ Burt Ottman?" + +"Yeah." + +"You didn't identify him as the saboteur?" Penny inquired in dismay. + +"I told the police he looked like the fellow. And he did." + +"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." + +"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." + +Without giving the girls a chance to ask another question, Mr. Oaks moved +off down the street. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +An early afternoon edition of the _Star_ 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. + +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. + +"Hello, Miss Pop-Eye!" he said affectionately. "How's our little sailor?" + +"Never mind," returned Penny. "What's this I hear about Burt Ottman being +arrested by the police?" + +"That's how it is." The grin faded from the reporter's face. "Tough on +DeWitt too." + +"DeWitt?" Penny inquired. She could not guess what connection the editor +might have with the dynamiting case. + +Jerry glanced about the news room to make certain that DeWitt was not +within hearing. In a low tone he confided: + +"Didn't you know? Burt Ottman is DeWitt's first cousin. It rather puts +him in a spot, being kin to a saboteur." + +"Nothing has been proved against Ottman yet." + +"All the same, it looks bad for the kid. When the story came in it gave +DeWitt a nasty jolt." + +"I should think so," nodded Penny. "Why, I never dreamed that he was +related to the Ottmans." + +"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." + +"Mr. DeWitt is a real newspaper man." + +"Bet your life!" Jerry agreed with emphasis. "He's gone young Ottman's +bail to the tune of ten thousand dollars." + +"Why, that must represent a good portion of his life time savings." + +"Sure, but DeWitt says the kid has been framed, and he's going to stand +by him." + +"I think myself that Burt Ottman was too far away to be properly +identified. I mean to tell the police so, too." + +"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." + +"Circumstantial evidence." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"Unless I'm all muddled, this is Saturday, not Thursday," he greeted his +daughter teasingly. "Aren't you a bit mixed up?" + +"Maybe so," Penny admitted, seating herself on a corner of the desk. + +"You seldom honor me with a call except to collect your Thursday +allowance." + +"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." + +"Stop it, Penny!" Irritably, Mr. Parker squirmed in his chair. "This is +an office, not a child's play room!" + +"Try to give me your undivided attention, Dad. I want you to do me a +favor." + +"How about granting me one first? Please stop playing with the gadgets on +my desk!" + +"Why, of course," grinned Penny, backing away. "Now about this job for +Carl Oaks--" + +"Job?" + +"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." + +"Penny, I am _not_ an employment agency! Anyway, what do I know about the +man?" + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"But we were just there a few hours ago!" Louise protested. "I've had +enough sailing for one day." + +"Oh, I don't care to sail either," Penny corrected hastily. "I thought it +might be interesting to call on Old Noah." + +"That queer old man who has the ark?" + +"What do you say?" + +"Oh, all right," Louise agreed, rather intrigued by the prospect. "But if +we get into trouble, just remember it was your idea." + +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. + +"It looks like rain to me," Louise declared, scanning the fast-moving +clouds. "Just our luck to be caught in a downpour." + +"Maybe we can take refuge in the ark," Penny laughed, leading the way up +the meandering stream. "That is, if we can find it." + +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. + +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. + +"Why, it looks just as if it had rolled out of The Old Testament!" Louise +cried in astonishment. + +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!" + +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." + +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!" + +"Where is Noah?" Penny asked with a nervous giggle. "I certainly must see +him before we leave." + +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. + +"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!" + +Penny fairly hugged herself with delight. + +"Oh, Louise, we can't go now," she whispered. "That must be Old Noah. And +isn't he a darling?" + + + + + CHAPTER + 7 + _ARK OF THE MUD FLATS_ + + +Unaware that he was being observed, Old Noah again rapped the cow smartly +on her flanks. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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.'" + +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. + +"Let's speak to him," Penny urged. Although Louise tried to hold back, +she pulled her along toward the ark. + +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: + +"Why have you come, my daughters?" + +"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." + +"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." + +By this time rain was falling steadily, and Louise huddled against a tree +trunk for protection. "Penny, for Pete's Sake--" she protested. + +"Follow me, my daughters," bade Old Noah, motioning for them to cross the +gangplank into the ark. "Inside you will find food and shelter." + +"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?" + +Louise hesitated, for in truth she was a bit afraid of the queer old man. + +"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.'" + +"We'll drown if we stay outside," laughed Penny, following boldly after +the old man. "Come on, Louise." + +Unmindful of the falling rain, Noah stooped to pick up a bedraggled +kitten from underfoot. + +"It's a very nice boat," Penny remarked, dodging under the shelter of the +roof. Louise huddled close beside her. + +"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." + +"What animals do you keep inside?" Penny inquired curiously. + +"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." + +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!" + +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. + +"What a life Old Noah must lead!" Louise whispered to Penny. "Why, it +must be worse than being a zoo keeper!" + +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. + +"This is my bird room," he said, opening a door. + +"Hello, Noah!" croaked a brilliantly colored parrot, fluttering on her +perch. "You old rascal! Polly wants a slug o' rum!" + +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." + +Placing a drink of water near the parrot, the old man directed attention +to a cage containing a pair of doves. + +"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." + +"How long do you imagine it will rain?" Louise asked absently, staring +out the little round window. + +"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." + +"Our stay here," Louise echoed hollowly. + +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?" + +"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." + +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. + +"Now," he bade, turning again to Penny and Louise, "follow me and I will +show you my humble quarters." + +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. + +"Just sit down and make yourselves comfortable, daughters," Old Noah +invited, waving them toward chairs. "I'll stir up a bite to eat." + +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. + +"He intends to cook that for us," Louise whispered. "I'll not even taste +it! Oh, let's get away from here!" + +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. + +"The storm is almost over," she said encouragingly. "Let's step outside +and see how things look." + +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. + +"Let's say goodbye to Noah and streak for home," Louise suggested, eager +to be off. + +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. + +"I'm Sheriff Anderson," he announced, coming close to the ark. "Is Dan +Grebe aboard?" + +"Do you mean Old Noah?" Penny asked doubtfully. + +"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." + +As the sheriff started to come aboard, Old Noah himself stepped out on +deck. + +"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?" + +"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." + +"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!" + +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. + + + + + CHAPTER + 8 + _THE GREEN PARROT_ + + +Old Noah slapped his thigh and cackled with glee as he watched Sheriff +Anderson splash about in the muddy water. + +"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!" + +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. + +"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!" + +"Be off with you!" ordered Noah arrogantly. "Before _my_ patience is +gone!" + +"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!" + +A sorry figure with his clothing wet and muddy, the official stomped +angrily off into the woods. + +"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?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"Aren't you staying for dinner?" the old man asked in disappointment. +"I'm fryin' up a nice catfish." + +"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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"I suppose police learned everything they could last night." + +"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." + +"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?" + +"Jerry told me police picked up a handkerchief bearing the initial 'O.'" + +"That could stand for Ottman!" + +"Likewise Oscar or Oliver or Oxenstiern," Penny added, frowning. "I'll +admit though, it doesn't look too bright for Sara's brother." + +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. + +"Anything inside?" inquired Louise with interest. + +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. + +"'The Green Parrot--'" she read aloud. "'Tuesday at 9:15.' Now what does +that mean?" + +Beneath the notation appeared another: "The American Protective Society." + +"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." + +"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." + +"Wouldn't the police have picked it up if they had considered it of any +importance?" + +"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." + +"Why not turn it over to the police?" + +"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?" + +"Never did. Nor 'The Green Parrot' either--whatever that is." + +"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." + +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. + +"Mrs. Weems, did you ever hear of a place called The Green Parrot?" she +questioned the housekeeper. + +"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?" + +Penny showed her the billfold and explained where she had found it. + +"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." + +"Not Dad," laughed Penny. "Since I dug up that big story for him about +the old _Wishing Well_, he's been reconciled to my career of news +gathering." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"Oh, by the way, did you ever hear of a place called The Green Parrot?" + +"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." + +"Where is it now?" + +"Couldn't tell you," answered the sergeant. "You'll have to talk to one +of the detectives, Jim Adams or Bill Benson." + +Having no real excuse for seeking the information, Penny decided to +abandon the quest. For want of an occupation, she sauntered on toward the +_Star_ office. Pausing in front of the big plate glass window, she idly +watched a workman who was oiling one of the great rotary presses. + +"Oh, here you are!" exclaimed a voice from behind her. + +Whirling around, Penny saw that her father had just come through the +revolving doors at the main entrance to the building. + +"Hello, Dad," she greeted him eagerly. "What's new in the dynamiting +case?" + +"Nothing so far as I know," he replied, rather indifferently. "Burt +Ottman's been released on bail." + +"Mr. DeWitt put up the money?" + +"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?" + +"Well, not in particular." + +"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." + +"You did? Oh, grand! What sort of work is it?" + +"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." + + + + + CHAPTER + 9 + _A JOB FOR MR. OAKS_ + + +Eager to learn what had been done to help Carl Oaks, Penny took an +elevator to the news room of the _Star_. 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. + +"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." + +"I certainly do. He rides the big engine to the scene, just whiffs at the +smoke, and races back with a column report!" + +Penny hesitated. She very much wished to say something to the editor +about the dynamiting case, yet was reluctant to bring up the subject. + +"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----" + +"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." + +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. + +"Guess I won't wait for Jerry," Penny said, turning away. + +Leaving the newspaper office, she dropped in at Foster's Drugstore to +perch herself on a counter stool. + +"I'll take a deluxe dose of Hawaiian Delight with whipped cream," she +told the soda fountain clerk. + +"No pineapple," he said sadly. "And no whipped cream." + +"Then make it a double chocolate malted." + +"We're out of chocolate. Sorry." + +"Just bring me an empty dish and let me look at it for awhile," Penny +grinned. + +"How about a nice vanilla sundae with crushed walnuts?" the clerk coaxed. + +"Oh, all right," Penny gave in. "And don't spare the walnuts!" + +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. + +"Cup o' Java and make it strong," he ordered carelessly. + +"Sorry, sir, no coffee served without meals," teased Penny from another +stool. "How about a nice vanilla sundae with crushed walnuts?" + +Jerry grinned as he saw her and moved over to an adjoining stool. + +"Where was the fire?" she inquired curiously. + +"At the Fulton Warehouse along the dock. It was deliberately set." + +"By saboteurs?" + +"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." + +"Isn't the _Star_ building across the street?" + +"Sure, but that's a long walk. Besides, I'm due at the airport for my +flying lesson." + +"Your which?" inquired Penny alertly. + +"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." + +"How soon will you be leaving, Jerry?" + +"Not until I've completed my local training. Oh, I'll probably be +grinding out news stories for quite some time yet." + +Penny drew a quick breath and changed the subject. One by one familiar +faces were disappearing from the _Star_ 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. + +"Jerry," she said abruptly, "Dad told me you were able to get Carl Oaks a +job." + +"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." + +"Thanks a lot, Jerry, for going to so much trouble. Mr. Oaks ought to be +quite grateful." + +"Not that fellow! He held out for more pay." + +"Are the duties hard?" + +"Hard? All he has to do is stay aboard the barge and see that no one +tries to make off with it." + +"I can't imagine anyone trying to steal a coal barge," laughed Penny. + +"Oh, it's done now and then," Jerry rejoined carelessly. "These days +they'll even steal the hawsers off a boat." + +"What value would the rope have to a thief?" + +"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." + +"How do the thieves get the ropes, Jerry?" + +"Oh, they wait for a dark or foggy night and then slip up to an unguarded +boat and cut her loose." + +"Why, that's a form of sabotage!" Penny cried indignantly. + +"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." + +"Then Carl Oaks really has an important job," Penny said thoughtfully. + +"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." + +"Then he should like the job," Penny smiled, sliding down from the stool. +"When does he start work?" + +"He took over this morning." + +"Maybe I'll ankle down to Dock 10 and talk to him." + +"Better wrap yourself in cellophane first," Jerry advised. "That is, if +you value your peaches and cream complexion." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"Hey, where you think you're going?" he shouted sternly. + +"I'm looking for Mr. Oaks," Penny explained, hugging the ladder. + +"Oaks? The new watchman?" + +"Yes. He's aboard, isn't he?" + +"He should be. Well, go on up, I guess, but it's against regulations." + +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. + +"Oh, Mr. Oaks!" she called. "Are you here?" + +From the tiny deck house the old man emerged. No smile brightened his +smudged face as he recognized Penny. + +"This is a swell job your father got me!" he greeted her. + +"Why, Mr. Oaks, you don't act as if you like it," Penny replied, walking +toward him. "What seems to be wrong?" + +"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!" + +"It _is_ rather unpleasant," Penny admitted. "But then, the wind can't +always blow in this direction." + +"I want you to ask your father to find me another job," the watchman went +on. "I'd like one on a bridge again." + +"Well, I don't know. After what happened--" + +"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." + +"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. + +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. + +For a moment Penny assumed that Sara's companion was Bill Evans. However, +as the young man turned slightly, she saw his face. + +"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!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 10 + _SALVAGE AND SABOTEURS_ + + +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. + +"Anything we can do for you?" he asked, his manner impersonal. + +"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. + +"A diving apparatus Burt made," Sara explained briefly. "We're using it +to get Bill Evans' motor out of the river." + +"How does it work?" + +"Watch and see," invited Sara. "Burt's going to make the first dive." + +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. + +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. + +"Think you'll get 'er?" he asked Sara. "Doggone if I know how an engine +could be so hard to find." + +Sara did not bother to answer, but kept pumping steadily. + +After many minutes, the metal hood appeared on the surface. Burt Ottman +lifted it from his head and took a deep breath. + +"Any luck?" Bill asked anxiously. + +"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. + +"Oh, say, that's swell!" Bill cried jubilantly. "How can I thank you?" + +"Don't forget the five dollars," Sara reminded him. "Burt and I can use +it." + +"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?" + +"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." + +"I will," promised Bill. "Just dump 'er on the dock for me, will you?" + +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. + +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. + +"Sara, you're in an ugly mood today," her brother observed, smiling. + +"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--" + +"Never mind," Burt interrupted quietly. + +Sara subsided into silence. They moored the boat and Burt, carrying the +diving bell with him, went into the shed. + +"Guess you think I'm a regular old crab," Sara remarked, turning toward +Penny. + +"Oh, I don't know," Penny answered. "I'm sure you have plenty to worry +you." + +"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." + +"Oh, you shouldn't feel so discouraged," Penny said cheerfully. "Burt +will be cleared." + +"I wish I could think so. He's innocent, but to prove it is another +matter." + +"Can't your brother provide an alibi? Where was he at the time of the +dynamiting?" + +"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." + +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. + +"_Saboteur! Saboteur!_" they shouted jeeringly, pointing at Burt. One of +the lads threw a clod of dirt which struck a moored rowboat. + +"You see how it is!" Sara cried wrathfully. + +"Don't take things so seriously," Burt advised, though his own eyes +burned with an angry light. "They're only youngsters." + +"I can't stand much more," Sara cried, running into the shed, and closing +the door. + +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." + +"I'm sorry about everything," said Penny quietly. "Mr. DeWitt believes +you will be cleared." + +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." + +"They can't convict you without evidence. Oh, by the way, did you ever +lose a leather billfold?" + +The question surprised Burt. He hesitated before he answered: "What made +you ask me that?" + +"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.'" + +"The Green Parrot!" + +"You've heard of the place?" + +"Oh, I've heard of it," Burt answered carelessly. "That's all. I never +was there. Sorry I can't claim the billfold." + +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. + +"I'm just a nuisance around there," she thought unhappily. "I'd like to +help, but Sara and Burt won't let me." + +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. + +"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?" + +"Well, it's too dirty." + +"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." + +"In that case, just forget it, Dad. I don't like the man too well +myself." + +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. + +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. + +"We've had enough H_{2}O for one week," Penny declared, gazing at her +splashed stockings. "Well, for screaming out loud!" + +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. + +"Just look at me!" she wailed. "That driver ought to be sent to prison +for life!" + +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. + +"To the Green Parrot," he ordered the driver. + +"Where's that, sir?" + +The passenger mumbled an address the girls could not understand. He then +slammed shut the cab door and the vehicle drove away. + +"Lou, did you hear what I heard?" Penny cried excitedly. + +"I certainly did!" + +Penny glanced quickly about. Seeing another taxicab across the street, +she hailed it. + +"Come on, Louise," she urged, tugging at her chum's hand. + +Louise held back. "What do you intend to do?" + +"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!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 11 + _PURSUIT BY TAXI_ + + +"Keep that green taxi in sight!" Penny instructed her own cab driver as +she and Louise leaped into the rear seat. + +"Sure," agreed the taxi man, showing no surprise at the request. + +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. + +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." + +"I haven't much money with me. Let's trust that The Green Parrot is +somewhere close." + +"More than likely it's miles out in the country," Louise returned +pessimistically. + +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. + +"Don't stop," she directed. "Drive on past and pull up around the +corner." + +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. + +"That leaves me with just thirty-eight cents," Louise said ruefully. "No +picture show tonight. And how are we to get home?" + +"We're not far from a bus line. Come on, we're wasting valuable time." + +"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?" + +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. + +"That's the place, Lou!" she exclaimed. + +"Well, we've learned the address, so let's go home." + +"Wonder what it's like inside?" + +"Don't you dare start that old curiosity of yours to percolating!" Louise +chided severely. "We're _not_ going in there!" + +"Who ever thought of such a thing?" grinned Penny. "Now I wonder what +time it is?" + +"About eight-thirty or perhaps a little later. Why?" + +"Do you remember that card we found in the leather billfold? The notation +read, 'The Green Parrot, Tuesday at 9:15.'" + +"So it did, but the appointment may have been for nine fifteen in the +morning." + +"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." + +"All of which makes him a saboteur, I suppose?" + +"Not necessarily, but don't you think we ought to try to learn more?" + +"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." + +"I shouldn't think of venturing in unescorted," Penny assured her. "Why +not telephone my father and ask him to come here right away?" + +"Well, that might not be such a bad idea," Louise acknowledged +reluctantly. "But where can we find a phone?" + +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. + +"Mrs. Weems went to a meeting tonight, and I suppose Dad must be away," +she commented anxiously. + +"Then let's give it up." + +"I'll try the newspaper office," Penny decided. "If Dad isn't there, I'll +talk to one of the reporters." + +Mr. Parker was not to be contacted at the _Star_ 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. + +"_The Green Parrot!_" 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." + +"We'll be outside the corner drugstore," Penny told him. "You'll know us +by the way we pace back and forth!" + +Within twelve minutes a cab pulled up and Jerry leaped out to greet the +two girls. + +"Where is this Parrot place?" he demanded, gazing curiously at the dingy +buildings. + +Louise and Penny led him down the street to the basement entrance. Music +could be heard from within, but blinds covered all the windows. + +"It must be a cafe," commented Jerry. He turned toward Penny and stared. +"Say, what's the matter with your face?" + +"My face?" + +"You look as if you're coming down with the black measles!" + +"Oh, a taxi splashed me with mud," Penny laughed, sponging at her cheeks +with a handkerchief. "How do I look now?" + +"Better. Let's go." + +Taking the girls each by an elbow, Jerry guided them down the stone +steps. Confronted with a curving door, he boldly thrust it open. + +"Now act as if you belonged here," he warned the girls. + +The trio found themselves in a carpeted, luxuriously furnished foyer. +From a large dining room nearby came laughter and music. + +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. + +"A party of three, sir?" + +"Right," agreed Jerry. + +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. + +The head waiter turned the party over to another waiter. + +"Table thirteen," he instructed, and spoke rapidly in French. + +"Table thirteen," complained Jerry. "Can't you give us something besides +that?" + +"Monsieur is superstitious?" The head waiter smiled in a superior way. + +"Not superstitious, just cautious." + +"As you wish, Monsieur. Table two." + +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. + +"I think they've hung the Indian sign on us," Jerry muttered after the +waiter had gone. "See anyone you know, Penny?" + +"That man over by the door--the one sitting alone," she indicated in a +whisper. "Louise and I followed him here." + +"The one that's wrestling with the lobster?" + +"Yes, don't stare at him, Jerry. He's watching us." + +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. + +"I'm not very hungry," Louise said helpfully. "I'll take a ham sandwich." + +"So will I," added Penny. + +"Three hams with plenty of mustard," ordered Jerry breezily. + +The waiter gave him a long glance. "And your drink, sir?" + +"Water," said Jerry. "Cool, refreshing water, preferably with a small +piece of ice." + +The waiter favored the trio with another unflattering look and went to +the kitchen. + +"This is a gyp place," Penny declared indignantly. "I can't understand +why anyone would come here. The waiters all seem to be French." + +"Oh, all head waiters speak French," Jerry replied. "You can't tell by +that. I'd say they were German myself." + +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. + +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. + +"What time is it, Jerry?" Penny asked anxiously. + +"Ten after nine," he answered, looking at his watch. + +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. + +"Why, it's Burt Ottman!" Penny whispered. + +"And exactly on the dot of nine-fifteen," added Louise significantly. "He +_must_ be the person who lost that billfold!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 12 + _JERRY'S DISAPPEARANCE_ + + +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. + +"Ha! The plot thickens!" commented Jerry in an undertone. "Obviously our +friend and Burt Ottman had an appointment together." + +"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." + +"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." + +"He denied it," replied Penny. "However, when I spoke of The Green Parrot +I noticed that he seemed to recognize the name. Oh, dear!" + +"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." + +"I suppose so," Penny admitted gloomily. "I had hoped to help Sara and +her brother." + +"You wouldn't want to protect a saboteur?" + +"Of course not, Jerry. Oh, dear, it's all so mixed up." + +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. + +"Howling cats!" the reporter muttered after the waiter had discreetly +withdrawn. "Will you look at this!" + +"How much is it?" Penny asked anxiously. "We only had three ham +sandwiches." + +"Two dollars cover charge. Three sandwiches, one dollar and a half. Tip, +fifty cents. Grand total, four dollars, plus sales tax." + +"Why, that's robbery!" Penny exclaimed. "I wouldn't pay it, Jerry." + +"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." + +"Louise and I haven't any money either," Penny said. "Thirty-eight cents +to be exact." + +"Thirty-three," corrected her chum. + +"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." + +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. + +"I'd feel more comfortable under the table," Penny commented. "Why +doesn't Jerry hurry?" + +"Perhaps he can't find a telephone." + +"Something is keeping him. We're going to become conspicuous if we stay +here much longer." + +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. + +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. + +"Louise, I don't want to stay here any longer," Penny said nervously. "I +can't understand what's keeping Jerry." + +"Why not go out to the foyer and look for him." + +"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." + +"Couldn't we just explain?" + +"We can try. Anyway, it will be interesting to see what will happen." + +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. + +"That wasn't half as hard as I thought it would be," chuckled Penny. "But +where's Jerry?" + +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. + +"We're not supposed to be down here," Louise murmured, holding back. + +"Wait!" whispered Penny. + +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. + +"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." + +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?" + +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. + +"So sorry, Mademoiselle, to have frightened you," he said blandly. "You +have taken the wrong stairway." + +"Why, yes," stammered Penny, trying to collect her wits. "We were looking +for the public telephones." + +"This way please. You will find them in the foyer. Just follow me." + +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. + +"We were waiting for our friend," Louise remarked to cover her +embarrassment. + +"The young man who escorted you here?" + +"Yes," nodded Louise. "He went to telephone and we haven't seen him +since." + +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." + +"He left!" Penny exclaimed incredulously. "But the bill wasn't paid." + +"Oh, yes, the young gentleman took care of it." + +"Why, Jerry didn't have enough money," Penny protested, unable to grasp +the situation. "You're sure he left the cafe?" + +"Yes, Mademoiselle." + +"And didn't he leave any message for us?" + +"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." + +"You may be sure we will," said Penny. "I simply can't understand why +Jerry would go off without saying a word to us." + +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. + +"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." + +"Lou," said Penny soberly, "I don't believe that Jerry did desert us." + +"But he disappeared! And the head waiter told us that he left." + +"Something happened to Jerry when he went to telephone--that's certain," +replied Penny, thinking aloud. + +"Then you believe he was forcibly ejected?" + +"No one could have tossed Jerry out of The Green Parrot without a little +opposition." + +"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?" + +"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." + + + + + CHAPTER + 13 + _A VACANT BUILDING_ + + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"Dad, I need a dollar sixty for cab fare!" Penny announced, bursting in +upon him. + +"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?" + +"I'll explain just as soon as I pay the driver. Please, this is an +emergency." + +Mr. Parker gave her two dollars and she ran outside with it. In a moment +she came back with Louise. + +"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?" + +"Dad, Louise and I never went to the Rialto Theatre," Penny said +breathlessly. "We've been at The Green Parrot!" + +"_The Green Parrot!_" + +"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." + +"How did you learn the location of the place?" + +"We heard a man give the address to a taxi driver, and followed in +another cab. Dad, we saw Burt Ottman there!" + +"Interesting, but it hardly proves that he is a saboteur." + +"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." + +"Did he enter?" + +"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." + +"Why didn't Jerry bring you home?" + +"That's what I'm getting at, Dad. Jerry just disappeared." + +"What do you mean, Penny?" + +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. + +"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!" + +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. + +"That was Jerry," he announced dryly. + +"Jerry!" Penny became confused. "But I don't understand, Dad. Is he being +held at The Green Parrot?" + +"Jerry is at home. He called to ask if you and Louise arrived safely." + +"Well, of all the nerve!" Penny cried indignantly. "Just wait until I see +him again!" + +"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." + +"And he told us that Jerry had gone!" Louise cried. "I wonder why?" + +"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?" + +"He was told that he need not settle it--that he could pay later." + +"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." + +"No doubt you were," agreed her father. "I'm curious to see the +cafe--especially that door with the peep hole." + +"I'll take you there," Penny offered eagerly. + +"Not tonight," Mr. Parker declined, yawning. "Tomorrow morning perhaps." + +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. + +"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?" + +"I have no opinion whatsoever," Mr. Parker responded somewhat wearily. + +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. + +"I should be at the office," Mr. Parker said, glancing at his watch. +"Besides, the cafe won't be open at this hour." + +"The manager should be there, Dad. You'll be able to talk to him and +really look over the place." + +"We can ask a few questions--that's all," Mr. Parker corrected. "One +can't walk into an establishment and start searching." + +"Let's go anyway," pleaded Penny. + +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. + +"This is the place," said Penny, pausing before the familiar building. +"Why, what's become of the cafe?" + +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. + +"This place doesn't have the appearance of a cafe," said Mr. Parker. "Are +you sure you have the correct address, Penny?" + +"Why, yes, I know we came here last night. But the sign has been +removed." + +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. + +"It's deserted, Dad!" she exclaimed. + +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. + +"This certainly is strange," he remarked thoughtfully. "Let's inquire +next door." + +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. + +"Good morning," Mr. Parker greeted her, removing his hat. "Can you tell +me what has become of the cafe next door?" + +"Are you from the police?" the woman asked quickly. + +"No, I'm connected with the _Star_." + +"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.'" + +"And did they?" interposed Mr. Parker. + +"Not that I know of. The outfit just moved out. And a queer time to be +doing it too, if you ask me!" + +"When did they leave?" + +"The van pulled up there about two o'clock last night. They were loading +stuff in until almost dawn." + +"Can you tell me where they went or why they moved out?" + +"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." + +"Just what went on there?" + +"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." + +"Foreigners?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"Wonder what's wrong back there?" speculated Mr. Parker, pausing. +"Probably an accident of some sort." + +"Let's find out," proposed Penny. + +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. + +Mr. Parker pushed through the circle of people. "Has anyone called an +ambulance?" he asked. + +"I'll send for one, Mister," offered a boy, hastening away. + +Mr. Parker bent over the prone figure. + +"He ain't dead is he?" the garbage man asked anxiously. + +"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." + +Carefully Mr. Parker rolled over the limp figure. As he beheld the face, +he stared and glanced quickly at Penny. + +"Who is he, Dad?" she asked, and then she saw for herself. + +The young man was Burt Ottman. + + + + + CHAPTER + 14 + _TEST BLACKOUT_ + + +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. + +"Take it easy," Mr. Parker advised. + +"What happened to me?" the young man whispered. + +"That's what we'd like to know. Were you struck?" + +"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." + +The ambulance drew up in the alley. Stretcher bearers carefully lifted +the young man. + +"I'm all right," he insisted, trying to sit up. "Just take me home." + +"Where's that?" asked one of the attendants. + +Burt Ottman mumbled an address which was on a street not far from the +boat dock he operated. + +"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." + +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. + +"What caused the accident?" Mr. Parker asked one of the nurses. "Did the +young man say?" + +"He couldn't seem to remember what happened," she replied. "At least he +wouldn't talk to the doctor about it." + +Overdue at the _Star_ 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. + +"I'll call a taxi for you," the young woman said. "You're really in no +condition to walk far, Mr. Ottman." + +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. + +"I'll be glad to take Mr. Ottman home," she volunteered. + +The young man protested that he did not wish to cause anyone +inconvenience, but allowed himself to be guided to the waiting +automobile. + +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. + +"You took rather a hard blow on the head," she remarked, seeking to lead +him into conversation. + +Burt merely nodded. + +"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?" + +"Mind's a blank." + +"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?" + +"What is this, a third degree?" Burt asked, and only a faint, amused +smile took the edge from his question. + +"I'm sorry," Penny apologized. + +"It doesn't matter what happened to me," Burt said quietly. "I just don't +feel like talking about it--see?" + +"Yes." + +"I don't mean to seem unappreciative," the young man resumed. "Thanks for +taking me home." + +"You're very welcome, I'm sure," Penny responded dryly. + +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. + +As Burt stiffly alighted from the car, the cottage door opened, and Sara +came running to meet him. + +"You're hurt!" she cried anxiously. "Oh, Burt, what happened to you?" + +"Nothing," he answered, moving away from her encircling arms. + +"But your head!" + +"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." + +"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--" + +"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. + +Sara turned frightened eyes upon Penny. "Tell me exactly what happened," +she pleaded. + +"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." + +"I just knew something of the sort would happen," Sara repeated +nervously. + +"What do you mean?" inquired Penny. "Does your brother have enemies who +would harm him?" + +"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." + +"Isn't that work for the police?" + +"The police!" Sara retorted bitterly. "Their only interest is in piling +up more evidence against Burt!" + +"Your brother knows the identity of the saboteur?" + +"He won't tell me, but I think he does have an idea who blew up the +bridge." + +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? + +"If your brother has any clue regarding the real saboteur, he should +present his evidence to the police," Penny advised Sara. + +"He'll never do that until he's ready to appear in court. Not after the +way the police treated him." + +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. + +Later, in repeating the conversation to her father, she declared that she +could not make up her mind regarding Burt Ottman's guilt. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"Not yet. The cafe may not open up again, or if it does, under a new +name." + +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. + +"Did he never tell you how he was struck?" Penny inquired once. + +"Never," Sara returned. "I've given up talking to him about it." + +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. + +"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!" + +"Do you always read the message?" Louise inquired. + +"Not always," Sara replied. "Frequently I do because they're so crazy." + +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. + +"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?" + +"Yes, the twenty-first," her chum nodded. "From all I can gather, he'll +be convicted, too." + +"I feel sorry for Sara." + +"So do I," agreed Penny. "At first I didn't like her very well. Now I +know her brusque manner doesn't mean anything." + +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. + +"That's a personal invitation addressed to me," she remarked. "How about +it, Lou?" + +"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." + +"Well, how about a dish of ice cream then? I'm horribly hungry." + +"That's your natural state," teased Louise, pulling her on. "If we stop +now, we'll be caught in the test blackout." + +"Is there one tonight?" + +"Don't you read the papers? It's to be held between nine and ten o'clock. +And it's ten after nine now." + +"I think it might be fun to be caught out in one--just so long as it's +not the real thing." + +"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." + +"Oh, all right," Penny gave in reluctantly. + +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. + +"Louise!" Penny suddenly exclaimed, stopping short. + +"Now what?" the other demanded. "Don't you dare tell me you've left +something at the library!" + +Penny was staring at a man who only a moment before had come through the +revolving doors of the Hotel Claymore. + +"See that fellow!" she said impressively. + +"Yes, what about him?" + +"He's the head waiter at The Green Parrot." + +"Why, you're right!" Louise agreed. "For a minute I didn't recognize him +in street clothes." + +"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." + +"Oh, Penny, I told Mother I'd come straight home." + +"Then I'll follow him alone. I can't let this opportunity slip." + +Louise hesitated, and then, unwilling to have Penny undertake an +adventure alone, quickly caught up with her. + +"There's no telling where this chase will end," she complained. "That man +may not be going to The Green Parrot." + +"Then perhaps we'll learn where he lives and police can question him." + +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. + +"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!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 15 + _A DRIFTING BARGE_ + + +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. + +"Take shelter!" he ordered sternly. "The closest one is across the +street--the basement of the Congregational Church." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +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. + +"We've lost him," sighed Penny. "I guess we may as well go home." + +"Let's hurry," urged Louise who was glad to abandon the pursuit. "Mother +will be worried about me." + +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?" + +"Isn't the river too high?" + +"It was dropping fast this morning. The current's not so strong now +either. Let's get up bright and early." + +"How early?" Louise asked dubiously. + +"Oh, about seven o'clock." + +"That's practically the middle of the night," Louise complained. + +"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." + +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. + +"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!" + +"The fog will clear away just as soon as the sun gets up. Hurry and climb +into your clothes, lazy bones!" + +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. + +"Think we'll freeze?" she inquired anxiously. + +"You won't," laughed Penny, giving her a thermos bottle to carry. + +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. + +"Shouldn't we wait another hour?" Louise suggested as Penny leaped aboard +the dinghy. + +"Oh, by the time we get the sail up the river will be clear," she +responded carelessly. "Toss me the life preserver cushions." + +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. + +"Well, the river is all ours this morning," Penny remarked, watching the +limp sail. "That's the way I like it." + +"Where's the breeze?" demanded Louise suspiciously. + +"We'll get one in a minute. The headland is cutting it off." + +"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!" + +"We're getting a little now," said Penny as the sail became taut. "Hold +your fire, dear chum." + +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. + +"Don't you wish you had one of my sweaters?" asked Louise, grinning. + +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. + +"Now don't try to argue the right of way with that boat," Louise advised +uneasily. + +"Why, it's a barge!" Penny exclaimed, bringing the dinghy about. "I do +believe it's adrift!" + +"What makes you think so?" Louise asked, staring at the dark hulk. + +Penny maneuvered the dinghy closer before she replied. "You can see it's +out of control. There's no tow boat anywhere near." + +"It does seem to be drifting," Louise acknowledged. "No one appears to be +aboard either." + +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. + +"How do you suppose it got loose?" Louise speculated. + +"Saboteurs may have cut the hawser." + +"The big mooring rope _has_ been severed!" Louise exclaimed a moment +later. "I can see the frayed end!" + +Penny came about again, tacking in closer to the drifting vessel. + +"That certainly looks like the barge Carl Oaks was hired to guard," she +declared with a worried frown. "Can you read the numbers, Lou?" + +"519-9870." + +"Then it is his barge!" + +"He must have deserted his post again." + +"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!" + +"Oughtn't we to notify the Coast Guards?" + +"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." + +"It doesn't look possible to climb aboard." + +"I think I can do it," Penny said, offering the tiller to her chum. +"Here, take the stick." + +"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." + +"Then I'll take down the sail," Penny decided, moving forward to release +the halyard. + +The billowing canvas came sliding down. Penny broke out the oars, and +maneuvered the dinghy until it grated against the hull of the barge. + +"Even a trained monkey couldn't get up there," Louise declared, staring +at the high deck. + +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. + +"You'll fall," Louise predicted. + +"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." + +"Which shouldn't be long," Louise said gloomily. "I expect to hear your +splash any minute now." + +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: + +"Is anyone here?" + +There was no answer, but distinctly she heard a scraping noise, as if +someone were pushing a chair against a wall. + +"Someone _is_ in there!" Penny thought. + +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. + +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. + +The prisoner was Carl Oaks. + + + + + CHAPTER + 16 + _DANGER ON THE RIVER_ + + +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. + +"I'll have you free in a minute, Mr. Oaks," she encouraged him. + +The cords had been loosely tied. Undoing the knots, she next pulled away +the gag which covered his mouth. + +"What happened, Mr. Oaks?" she demanded. "Who did this to you?" + +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. + +"Tell me what happened," Penny urged impatiently. "Don't you feel able to +explain?" + +"I'm disgusted," Mr. Oaks returned. "Plumb disgusted." + +"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." + +"I'm through with this job! I didn't want it in the first place!" + +"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." + +"Well, it was about midnight when they sneaked aboard." + +"The men who attacked you?" + +"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." + +"Did you recognize any of the men, Mr. Oaks?" + +"No." + +"What did they look like?" + +"It was dark and I didn't see their faces." + +"How were they dressed?" + +"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." + +"Saboteurs!" + +"Reckon so," the old watchman nodded. + +"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." + +"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." + +"My father can bear the shock, I think," Penny answered coldly. + +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. + +"Oh, there you are!" her chum cried. "I thought you never were coming!" + +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. + +"I wondered how you got out to this barge," Oaks commented, gazing down +at the dinghy. "You can take me to shore with you." + +"Isn't it your duty to remain here until relieved?" Penny asked. + +"I resigned, takin' effect last night at midnight," Oaks grinned. "I've +had enough of Riverview. I'm getting out of this town." + +Penny faced the watchman with flashing eyes. + +"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." + +"A man's got a right to do as he pleases!" + +"Not always," Penny corrected. "Saboteurs are at work along this +waterfront, and it's your duty to tell police what you know." + +"I didn't see the men, I tell you! They came at me from behind." + +"Even so, you may be able to contribute information to the police. In any +case, you'll have to stay here until relieved--" + +"Penny!" interrupted Louise from below. "There's a boat coming!" + +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. + +"It's the _Eloise III!_" Penny cried, recognizing the craft as one +belonging to Commodore Phillips of the Riverview Marine Club. + +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. + +"Yacht ahoy!" called Penny, cupping hands to her lips. + +"Ahoy!" came the answering shout from Commodore Phillips. "What's wrong +there? Barge adrift?" + +Penny confirmed the observation and requested to be taken aboard. +Although she was not certain of it, she believed that the _Eloise III_ +was equipped with a radio telephone which could be used to notify Coast +Guards of the floating barge. + +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. + +"Come with me," he directed, leading the girls to the radio room. + +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. + +"How do you mean?" inquired Louise, deeply puzzled. + +"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." + +"But you spoke ordinary English into the 'phone," Louise said, still +perplexed. + +"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." + +"I wish our telephone at home was fixed that way!" Penny declared with a +laugh. "Wouldn't some of the neighbors develop a headache!" + +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. + +"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!" + +"I never did like him," said Louise with feeling. "He complains too much. +Was it his fault that the barge was cut adrift?" + +"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." + +"Carl Oaks wouldn't be!" + +"There was one rather peculiar thing," Penny said slowly. "It never +occurred to me until now." + +"What's that?" + +"Why, Mr. Oaks' bonds were very loose. If he had tried, I believe he +could have freed himself." + +"That does seem strange," agreed Louise. "You don't think he allowed +those saboteurs to board the barge?" + +Penny brought the dinghy around, steering to avoid a floating log. + +"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." + + + + + CHAPTER + 17 + _A STOLEN BOAT_ + + +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: + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +Penny glanced about the dock, searching for Burt Ottman. + +"Your brother isn't here?" she remarked absently. + +"No, he isn't," Sara replied, rather defiantly. "If you think he had +anything to do with that barge--" + +"Why, it never entered my mind!" Penny exclaimed. + +"I'm sorry," the older girl apologized. "I shouldn't have said that. I +don't know why I'm so jumpy lately." + +"You have a great deal to worry you," said Louise sympathetically. "And +you work too hard." + +"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." + +Louise and Penny said nothing, though the remark astonished them. + +"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." + +"You mean your brother went away yesterday and failed to return?" Penny +asked after a moment. + +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." + +"Have you talked to the police?" Penny inquired. + +"Indeed, I haven't." + +"Didn't your brother tell you where he was going when he left home?" + +"No, he didn't. He keeps things from me because he says I worry too much +now." + +"I suppose he never explained what happened at The Green Parrot?" + +"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." + +Once more Sara tried to start the balky engine, and this time her efforts +brought success. + +"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." + +"You've not had another boat stolen?" Louise asked in surprise. + +"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." + +"Didn't you report your loss to the Coast Guards?" inquired Penny. + +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." + +"The man might have drowned," Louise offered anxiously. + +"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!" + +"Didn't you know the man who rented the boat?" questioned Penny. + +"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." + +"The man didn't look like a waiter, did he?" Penny asked quickly. + +"You couldn't prove it by me." + +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. + +"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?" + +"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." + +Sara sighed. Placing an oar, a bailer, and a can of gasoline in the boat, +she prepared to leave the dock. + +"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?" + +Penny and Louise wondered if their ears had betrayed them. It seemed +beyond belief that Sara actually would invite them to accompany her. + +"Why, of course, we'd like to go," Penny accepted, before her chum could +find her voice. + +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. + +"You can certainly handle a boat," Penny said admiringly. + +"Been at it since I was a kid," Sara grinned. "I could cruise this river +blindfolded." + +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. + +"Keep close watch of the bushes," she directed the girls. "If you see +anything that looks like a hidden boat, sing out." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"Aren't we near Bug Run?" Penny inquired. + +Sara pointed out the mouth of the stream which was hidden from view by a +clump of willows. + +"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." + +"I'll be around for at least half an hour," Sara replied. "Take your +time." + +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. + +"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." + +"The sheriff could put Old Noah in jail." + +"True, but a great many people would criticize him if he did." + +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. + +"Well, Noah is still here," chuckled Penny. "He's run up the white flag +though! Or should we say the white flags!" + +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. + +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. + +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?" + +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. + +"Good morning, my daughters. I am glad you kept your promise to visit me +again." + +"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." + +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." + +"I hope you didn't mistreat him," Penny said uneasily. + +"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." + +"Likewise, part of his anatomy, I suppose," commented Penny. + +"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!" + +"How will you do that?" inquired Penny, rather amused. + +"With dynamite." + +"Do you have any aboard the ark?" + +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." + +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. + +"Who hid the dynamite?" Penny asked. + +"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." + +"Not officers?" + +"They had no connection with the Law, speaking of it with great +contempt." + +"How many men were there, Noah?" + +"Two." + +"And they came by car?" + +"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." + +"After they talked to you, the men went away again in their boat?" + +"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." + +"Yes, go on!" Penny urged eagerly as Old Noah interrupted the narrative +to wash another shirt. "What did the men do?" + +"Why, nothing," answered the old man. "They just pulled the boat up into +the bushes and went off and left it." + +"The boat is still there?" Penny demanded. + +"So far as I know, my daughter." + +"Will you show us where the boat is hidden?" pleaded Penny. "And the +dynamite cache too!" + +"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." + +"Can't we help you?" offered Louise. + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +"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!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 18 + _PENNY'S PLAN_ + + +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. + +"Say, maybe that hidden motorboat is mine!" the girl exclaimed. "What did +it look like?" + +"We didn't take time to search for it," Penny replied. "We knew you would +be waiting so we came straight here." + +"Let's see if we can find it," Sara said, starting up the engine. + +"Noah's animals don't like motorboats," Louise chuckled. "I suggest we do +our searching afoot." + +"All right," Sara agreed readily, switching the motor off again. "Lead +and I'll follow." + +Penny and Louise guided their companion to the mouth of Bug Run and +thence along its slippery banks to a clump of overhanging willows. + +"According to Old Noah's description, this should be the place," Penny +declared, looking about. "No sign of a boat though." + +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. + +"Old Noah may have been spoofing us," Penny began, but just then Sara +gave a little cry. + +"Here it is! I've found it!" + +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. + +"Is it your boat, Sara?" Penny asked eagerly. + +"It certainly is!" She spoke with emphasis. "The hull has been repainted, +but it takes more than that to fool me." + +"Any positive way to identify it?" + +"By the engine number. Ours was 985-877 unless I'm mistaken. I have it +written down at home." + +"What's the number of this engine?" + +"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." + +"Old Noah spoke of two strangers who came here last night by boat," Penny +said thoughtfully. + +"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?" + +"Wait, Sara!" Penny exclaimed. "Let's leave the boat here." + +"Leave it here! Now that would be an idea! This little piece of floating +wood represents nine hundred and fifty dollars." + +"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." + +"That's true." + +"If we leave the boat here we can keep watch of the place and catch those +scamps when they come back." + +"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." + +"Louise and I could do most of the watching." + +"Well, I don't know," Sara said dubiously. "Something might go wrong. I +never would get over it if I lost the boat." + +"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." + +"What makes you think that?" + +"Because Old Noah found a cache of dynamite somewhere near here." + +"He won't tell us its location," added Louise. + +"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?" + +"I'd be glad to risk the boat if I thought it would help Burt." + +"Then let's leave it here. We can watch the spot night and day." + +"And what will your parents have to say?" + +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." + +"Let's leave them out of it," Sara said feelingly. "If you girls will +remain throughout the day, I'll stand the night watch." + +"Not alone!" Louise protested. + +"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." + +"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." + +"What will you do for lunch?" + +"Maybe we can beg a sandwich or a fried egg from Old Noah," Penny +chuckled. "We'll manage somehow." + +"Well, whatever you do, don't leave the boat unguarded," Sara advised, +starting away. "As soon as it gets dark I'll come back." + +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. + +"Now we're all ready for Mr. Saboteur," Penny said. "He can't come too +soon to suit me." + +"And just what are we going to do when he does arrive?" + +"I forgot to figure that angle," Penny confessed. "We may have to call on +Old Noah for help." + +"Noah will be busy doing a washing or giving the goat a beauty +treatment," Louise laughed. + +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. + +"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." + +"Dare we go away and leave the boat?" + +"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?" + +"This is a fine time to be thinking of that possibility!" + +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." + +"You've got nothing on me, Polly," said Penny. "Where's your master?" + +The old ark keeper was nowhere in evidence. Nor were the girls able to +board the boat, for the gangplank had been removed. + +"Now if this isn't a situation!" Penny exclaimed, exasperated. "It looks +as if we're going to starve to death." + +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. + +"She knew what we were up against staying here!" Penny declared. "Figured +us for a couple of softies, I bet!" + +"While everyone knows we're regular Commandos," Louise retorted +sarcastically. "Why, if necessary we could go an entire day without +eating." + +"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." + +"Don't worry, I will," promised Louise. "In fact, I may not wait that +long!" + +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. + +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. + +"Even my Mother doesn't seem concerned about me any more," Louise moaned, +slapping at a foraging insect. + +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." + +Louise, huddled against a tree trunk, suddenly straightened alertly. +Placing a warning finger on her lips, she listened. + +"Someone's coming, Penny!" + +"Maybe it's Sara with a basket of food. I'd rather see her than a dozen +saboteurs!" + +"Keep quiet, you egg," Louise warned nervously. + +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. + +"That's not Sara," murmured Penny. "She doesn't walk like an elephant. +What'll we do if it should be a saboteur?" + +"I'm scared," Louise chattered, hugging her chum's arm. + +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. + +"Who is he?" whispered Louise. + +"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?" + + + + + CHAPTER + 19 + _STANDING GUARD_ + + +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. + +"Bill Evans, a thief and a saboteur!" Louise whispered. "I'll never get +over it!" + +"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!" + +Before Louise could stop her, she arose from the underbrush to confront +the dumbfounded young man. + +"Bill Evans, what do you think you're doing?" she demanded sternly. + +Bill nearly dropped the gasoline can. "Why, I'm filling this tank," he +replied. "Why are you girls hiding behind that log?" + +"Because we've been waiting to catch a motorboat thief! And you're it!" + +"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?" + +"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." + +"This boat belongs to Sara Ottman?" Bill demanded in amazement. + +"It certainly does." + +"You're kidding. It belongs to a Mr. Wessler." + +"Who's he?" asked Penny. "I never heard of him." + +"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." + +"Now we're getting somewhere," Penny declared with satisfaction. "How did +you meet Mr. Wessler?" + +"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." + +"Didn't you think it a rather peculiar request?" + +"Not the way the fellow explained it. Mr. Wessler is a busy man and +doesn't have time to look after such details." + +"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!" + +"Gee Whiskers!" Bill exclaimed, aghast. "I never thought about him not +owning the boat. What should I do?" + +"First of all, don't fill that tank with gasoline," Penny advised. + +"It's about half full now." + +"Can't you siphon it out?" + +"Not without a tube, and I didn't bring one." + +"You'll never in the world make a G-man," sighed Penny. "Well, at least +you can describe the fellow who hired you." + +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." + +"That can't be the man who originally rented the boat from Sara," Penny +remarked, frowning. + +"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--" + +"I know," interrupted Penny wearily. "Or do I know? I'm so mixed I feel +like a perpetual motion machine running backwards." + +"We've been watching here all day," Louise added, her voice quavering. +"We've had nothing to eat. No wonder our minds are failing." + +"Why don't you go home?" + +"And let a saboteur run off with this boat?" Penny demanded. "We promised +to stay here until Sara comes." + +"Maybe she and her brother are pulling a fast one on you." + +"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?" + +"No, he didn't." + +"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?" + +"I'm aiming to enlist when I get through High School." + +"This would be immediate service. Why not stay here and watch until Sara +comes? It shouldn't be long." + +"And what if those men should show up?" + +"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." + +"Oh, sure," Bill said sarcastically. "With my bare hands?" + +"We won't leave you here long," Penny promised. "Louise and I haven't had +a bite of food all day--" + +"Okay, I'll do it," Bill gave in. "But see to it you're back here in an +hour. Better bring the police too." + +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. + +"No one here," Penny observed as they alighted at the platform. + +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. + +"Now this is a nice dish of stew!" Penny exclaimed. "Where could she have +gone? And why?" + +"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." + +"But what about poor Bill? We can't expect him to stay in the woods all +night." + +"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." + +"Not a bad idea," Penny praised. + +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 _Star_ office, she phoned there. Informed that Mr. +Parker was not in the building, she asked for Mr. DeWitt. + +"DeWitt left the office a half hour ago," came the discouraging response. + +"I wonder where I can reach him?" + +"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." + +"What was that about Burt Ottman?" Penny asked quickly. + +"He's disappeared--skipped town. Due for trial day after tomorrow, too. +Looks like DeWitt is holding the bag." + +Penny hung up the receiver, more bewildered than ever. Without taking +time to repeat the conversation to her chum, she called Sara's home. + +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. + +"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." + +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. + +"Then we have no bus money either!" gasped Louise. + +"Stony broke--that's us." + +"How can you be so cheerful about it?" Louise asked crossly. "We can't +walk home--it would take us all night!" + +"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." + +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. + +"And just wait until I see Sara!" Penny added feelingly. "If I don't tear +into her for playing a shabby trick on us!" + +"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." + +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. + +"Thought you were never coming back! I'm getting out of here, and how!" + +"What happened while we were gone?" Penny asked sympathetically. "Didn't +Sara come?" + +"No one has been here." + +As Bill started away, the girls tried to dissuade him. + +"I wouldn't stay here another hour if you'd give me the boat!" he +retorted. "I'm going home!" + +Jerking free from Louise who sought to hold him by main force, he moved +off. + +"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!" + +"Okay, I'll do that," Bill promised. "So long." + +After the sound of footsteps had died away, Louise and Penny sat down on +the log and took stock of the situation. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"Well, something could have happened to detain Sara." + +"I wish I could think so, but I can't. It would serve her right to lose +this boat--if it actually is hers." + +"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." + +"Even if it means staying here all night?" + +"Well, my trusting nature has a limit," Penny admitted. "But surely our +parents will come to rescue us before long." + +"I wouldn't count on it," Louise returned gloomily. "Bill was in a bad +mood when he left here." + +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. + +"Imagine explaining all this to Mother," Louise murmured once. "Why, it +doesn't even make sense to me." + +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. + +"Listen, Lou!" Penny presently whispered. "I hear something coming!" + +"Maybe it's a bear," Louise shivered. + +"Silly! There aren't any bears in this part of the country." + +"How do you know what sort of animals are around here?" Louise countered. +"Maybe one escaped from Old Noah's zoo." + +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. + +"It's probably my father!" Louise whispered, and started forward. + +Penny jerked her back. "Bill hasn't had time to get to Riverview yet! +This may be the big pay off!" + +"A saboteur?" + +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. + +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. + + + + + CHAPTER + 20 + _A SHACK IN THE WOODS_ + + +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. + +"Now what shall we do?" Louise whispered anxiously. + +"Let's follow and find out where he goes," proposed Penny, stealing from +her hiding place. + +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. + +"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." + +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." + +"What if our folks come searching for us while we're wandering around?" + +"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." + +"That's not the word I'd use," Louise muttered. + +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. + +"Let's do less talking and more watching," Penny said, hastening on. "If +we're not careful we'll lose that fellow." + +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. + +"What time do you suppose it is?" Louise whispered to her chum. + +"Not very late. Probably about nine o'clock." + +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. + +"Whose cabin is it?" whispered Louise. "Do you know?" + +"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." + +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. + +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. + +A moment later, the front door opened, and an old man stepped outside. + +"That you, Jard?" he called softly. + +Without replying, the waiter left the shelter of trees to cross the +clearing. + +"Had any trouble?" he asked the old man. + +"Everything's been going okay. I'll be glad to pull out o' here though." + +The waiter made a reply which the girls could not hear. Entering the +cabin, the men closed the door behind them. + +"Who was that old man the waiter met?" Louise asked curiously. "Did you +know him, Penny?" + +"I couldn't see his face. He stood in the shadow of the door. His voice +sounded familiar though." + +"I thought so, too. What do you suppose those men are up to anyway?" + +"Nothing good," Penny responded grimly. + +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. + +"Why not go for the police?" Louise proposed hopefully. + +"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." + +"How about the stolen motorboat?" + +"We're not even sure about that, Lou. Sara and her brother both have +disappeared. Accusing a man falsely is a very serious offense." + +"Then what are we to do?" Louise asked despairingly. "Just stand here and +wait until they come outside?" + +"That's all we can do--unless--" + +"Unless what?" Louise demanded uneasily as Penny interrupted herself. + +"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!" + +"I don't follow you." + +"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." + +"Let's just wait here." + +"And learn nothing," Penny said impatiently. "How do you expect ever to +be a G woman if you don't start practicing now?" + +"I'm going to be a nurse when I grow up. Climbing trees won't help me at +that." + +"Then wait here until I get back," Penny said, starting across the +clearing. + +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. + +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. + +"So far, so good," Penny whispered jubilantly. "Now to get onto the roof. +And it does have a skylight!" + +"We'll probably tumble through it," Louise muttered. + +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. + +"Put on your velvet shoes," she warned as she swung lightly down from the +lower branch. "The slightest noise and we're finished." + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"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." + +Penny pressed her face closer to the glass. Her pulse pounded. She was +certain she knew the identity of the old man. + +"I wish he'd turn his head," she thought. "Then I'd be sure." + +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. + +"Carl Oaks!" she whispered. "And to think that I ever helped him!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 21 + _THROUGH THE SKYLIGHT_ + + +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: + +"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." + +"That won't do me any good if I end up in jail." + +"Nothing will go wrong. Everything has been planned to the last detail." + +"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." + +"You got your money for the Thompson bridge job, didn't you?" + +"A hundred dollars." + +"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!" + +"I had to make it look as if I was doin' my duty. Those girls were +watching me." + +"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." + +"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." + +"You can leave after tonight. We blast the Seventh Street bridge at one +o'clock." + +"And what about this prisoner I've been nursemaiding?" + +"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." + +"He's apt to remember what happened and spill the whole story." + +"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." + +"What time will you pick me up here?" the watchman asked. + +"Ten minutes till one. The automobile will arrive right on the tick, so +synchronize your watch." + +The two men compared timepieces, and then the waiter arose. + +"Let's look at the prisoner," he said. "Is he still out cold?" + +"He was the last time I looked at him. Hasn't moved since he was brought +here, except once to ask for water." + +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. + +The waiter prodded the prisoner with his foot. The man who was bound, +groaned and muttered, but made no other sign of consciousness. + +"He'll not bother you tonight, Oaks," he said. "One of the boys can help +you lift him into the car." + +"I don't like this business," the watchman complained again. "What if his +skull should be fractured?" + +"He'll be okay by tomorrow," the waiter answered indifferently. "Heflanz +gave him a little too much with the blackjack." + +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. + +"Learn anything?" Louise demanded in a whisper. + +"Did I? Lou, that old man is Carl Oaks! He and our waiter friend have a +prisoner inside the cabin." + +"A prisoner! My gracious! Then they must be saboteurs!" + +"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!" + +"He's not one of the outfit then?" + +"Seemingly not. They have him trussed up inside a closet. Lou, you've got +to hot-foot it to town and bring the police!" + +"Come with me," Louise pleaded, frightened at the mere thought of going +through the dark woods alone. + +"One of us ought to stay and keep watch. I'll go if you're willing to +remain." + +"No, I'll go," Louise decided. + +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: + +"What was that? I hear someone outside!" + +Realizing that her chum was certain to be seen, Penny called to her: +"Run, Lou! As fast as you can!" + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +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. + +"She'll get us both into trouble now," thought Penny anxiously. + +A moment later, Louise, puffing and gasping, came running past. Penny +joined her, grasping her hand to help her over the rough places. + +"That man's right behind!" Louise panted. "Are we almost to the river?" + +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. + +"The ark!" Penny cried, guiding her chum. "We'll be safe there!" + +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. + +"Go on, Penny," Louise gasped, slackening speed. "I can't make it." + +"Yes, you can!" Penny fairly pulled her along. "We're almost there. See!" + +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. + +"Noah! Noah!" called Louise wildly. + +Only the parrot answered, crackling saucily from a porthole: "Hello, +Noah, you old soak! Where are you, Noah?" + +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. + +"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?" + + + + + CHAPTER + 22 + _A SEARCHING PARTY_ + + +"Now we'll have no more nonsense," said the man who held the revolver. +"Stand over there against the tree." + +Penny and Louise were so frightened that they trembled violently. + +"You'll not be harmed if you do exactly as you're told," the waiter +assured them. + +"Why not let us go home?" Penny ventured, recovering her courage. + +"Not tonight, my dear." The man smiled grimly. "Unfortunately, you have +learned too much regarding my affairs." + +"Then what are you going to do with us?" Penny demanded. + +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. + +"So you got 'em, eh?" he demanded with pleasure. + +"The question is what to do with them." + +"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." + +"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." + +"There's no way to cross to it," the watchman said helplessly. + +"Find the gangplank!" his companion ordered irritably. "It must be hidden +somewhere in the bushes." + +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. + +"Well?" called the waiter impatiently. + +"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." + +"That ought to do," decided the waiter. "We won't have to keep 'em here +long." + +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. + +"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?" + +"You seem to have got us," Penny retorted. + +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. + +"Well, well, well," cackled the parrot, tramping up and down on his wide +perch. "Polly wants a slug o' rum." + +"You'll get a slug, period, if you don't keep quiet," Penny said crossly. +"Give me a chance to think, will you?" + +"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." + +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. + +"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." + +"The saboteurs intend to blame Burt Ottman for the job too! Well, at +least we can tell police who the real plotters are." + +"We can if we ever get out of here," Penny said, pacing the floor. "Oh, +I'm as mad as a hornet!" + +"Quiet down, and maybe we can hear something," Louise suggested calmly. +"I think those men are talking." + +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. + +"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." + +"Okay, Jard," the other answered. + +Getting down from the pigeon box, Penny watched Carl Oaks leave the ark. + +"How about taking a chance and shouting for help?" Louise suggested in a +whisper. + +Penny shook her head. "Not now at least. I doubt anyone is within a mile +of this place--that is, anyone friendly to us." + +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. + +"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." + +"I don't care who he is," muttered Louise. "All _I_ think about is +getting out of here." + +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. + +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. + +"Ark ahoy! Are you there, Wessler?" + +"Come aboard," invited the one in command of the boat. "Oaks told you +what happened?" + +"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." + +"In that case--" + +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. + +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. + +"A precautionary measure," Wessler assured them. "You'll be released +soon." + +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. + +"Hello, the ark!" he shouted. + +Wessler responded, his voice casual and friendly. + +"We're looking for two girls lost in the woods. Have you seen them?" + +"Why, yes," Wessler answered. "A couple of girls went past here about an +hour ago. They were on their way to the river." + +"Then they must have started home," Mr. Parker replied, greatly relieved. +"By the way, you're not the one they call Noah, are you?" + +"Just a friend of his." + +"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." + +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. + +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. + + + + + CHAPTER + 23 + _HELP FROM NOAH_ + + +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. + +"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." + +"Not in time to save the bridge, that's certain," her chum agreed +gloomily. + +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. + +"Noah's bottles!" she exclaimed, exasperated. "Where do you suppose the +old fellow has taken himself?" + +"Maybe the sheriff got him." + +"I doubt it," returned Penny. "He probably just went off somewhere." + +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. + +"It's an old man coming," they heard Wessler mutter. "Must be Noah." + +"What'll we do with him?" the other demanded. + +"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." + +A silence ensued and then the girls heard heavy footsteps on the +gangplank. + +"Ho, and who has visited my ark while I've been away?" muttered Old Noah. + +Wessler and his companion, Breneham, stepped from the shadows. + +"Good evening, Noah," the waiter greeted him politely. "Looks like rain, +doesn't it?" + +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. + +"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." + +"The old fellow's sure raving," Wessler remarked to his companion. + +"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." + +"Toddle on, old man," Wessler said, growing irritated. "Where've you been +anyway?" + +"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--" + +"Never mind," Wessler interrupted. "Go into your quarters and stay +there." + +"Bessie, the cow, must be fed." + +"Then go feed her," Wessler snapped. "Just get out of my sight." + +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. + +"I wish he'd come here," said Penny. "Maybe we could get the idea over to +him that we're being held prisoners." + +"Not a chance of it." + +"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!" + +"How?" + +"By stirring up the birds. Then Old Noah would get excited and try to +break in." + +"And what would that accomplish?" + +"Probably nothing," Penny admitted, sighing. "Wessler is armed. Noah +couldn't overpower two men, even if he were inclined to do it." + +"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." + +"Lou! Maybe that's an idea!" + +"What is?" Louise inquired blankly. + +"Why, perhaps we can bring help by means of Old Noah and his message +bottles!" + +"Perhaps you know what you mean, but I am sure I don't!" + +"Do you have a pen or a pencil with you, Lou?" + +"I might have a pencil." Louise searched in the pockets of her jacket, +and finally brought forth a stub with a broken lead. + +"We can fix that so it will write," Penny declared, chewing away the +wood. + +"I still don't understand what you have in mind." + +"This is my idea," Penny explained. "You know that whenever it rains Old +Noah starts tossing message bottles into the river." + +"True." + +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." + +"How do you propose to get the bottles overboard?" + +"I'll think of a scheme." + +"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." + +"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." + +"All right," Louise agreed. + +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. + +"I'm going to put my cameo pin inside this one," Penny said, unfastening +a cherished ornament from her dress. "Someone might see it and open the +bottle." + +"We'll likely hear from it about next Christmas," her chum responded. + +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. + +"Noah! Noah!" the parrot croaked. "Heave out the anchor! Help! Help!" + +"Keep it up, Polly," Penny encouraged, rocking the cage. + +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. + +"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. + +"What's coming off here?" demanded another voice, that of Wessler. "Have +you gone completely crazy?" + +"I want to know why this door is locked!" Noah said wrathfully. "Unlock +it or I will break it down!" + +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. + +"Let me get at my birds!" he cried. "Stand back!" + +"Better humor him," Breneham said uneasily. "Unless you do, he'll arouse +the countryside." + +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." + +"Then open that door!" + +"Go ahead," Wessler directed his companion. "If he makes any more trouble +we'll lock him in with the girls." + +"There are no doors on this ark strong enough to hold me," said Noah. +"Open it I say!" + +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: + +"Good evening, my daughters. I am happy that you have come again to my +ark, but I am afraid you have disturbed my birds." + +Penny chose her words carefully for Wessler and his pal stood in the +cabin doorway. + +"The birds do seem excited for some reason. No doubt they're alarmed by +the approaching storm." + +"Yes, yes, that may be it," Old Noah murmured. "And the porthole is +covered. That should not be. I will fix it." + +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. + +"Upstairs!" Wessler tersely ordered the girls. + +In crossing the room, Penny deliberately stumbled against the box of blue +corked bottles. + +"With another storm coming up, I suppose you'll be throwing out more of +your messages," she said jokingly to Noah. + +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. + +"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." + +Old Noah selected a half dozen bottles and started to heave them through +the porthole. Before he could do so, Wessler blocked the opening. + +"Just a minute, Grandpa," he said. "What's in those bottles?" + +"Messages which I wrote with my own hand," Old Noah replied earnestly. +"Would you like to read them, my son?" + +"That's exactly what I intend to do," said Wessler. + +With a suspicious glance directed at Penny and Louise, he reached into +the box and selected one of the corked bottles. + + + + + CHAPTER + 24 + _A MESSAGE IN THE BOTTLE_ + + +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. + +"'The hour of the Great Deluge approaches,'" he read aloud. "'Come to my +ark and I will provide shelter and comfort.'" + +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. + +"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." + +"Go ahead, Grandpa," Wessler said with a shrug. "Heave out your bottles +if it will keep you happy." + +As Old Noah began to toss the bottles out of the porthole, Wessler again +ordered Penny and Louise from the cabin. + +"Upstairs!" he said, giving them a shove toward the stairway. + +Penny glanced quickly toward shore. The gangplank had been raised, but +the distance was not great. + +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." + +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. + +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. + +"There's a limit to what a guy can stand," he said meaningly to Wessler. + +"It won't be much longer now," the other encouraged, glancing at his +watch. + +"Why can't we pull the job now and get out?" + +"Because the car won't be waiting for us. Everything's got to move on +schedule." + +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. + +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. + +Another hour elapsed. Wessler looked at his watch and spoke to his +companion. + +"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." + +"Good luck, Jard," Breneham responded. + +Wessler went out the door, closing it behind him. The girls heard him +lower the gangplank into place, and then his footsteps died away. + +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. + +Breneham began to pace the floor nervously. Suddenly he halted by a +porthole, listening. The girls too strained to hear. + +"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!" + +Old Noah did as ordered. + +"Hello, the ark!" shouted a voice which Penny thought belonged to Jerry +Livingston. "Are you alone there, Noah?" + +"Tell him yes," prodded the saboteur. "Say that you are just going to +bed." + +"But my son, that would be a base falsehood," Noah argued. "I have no +intention of retiring--" + +Penny, quick to divine that Breneham's attention was diverted, rushed to +another window. In a shrill voice she screamed for help. + +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. + +"Get him! Get him!" shouted Penny to the group of men on shore. + +Breneham swam a few feet and then waded toward the far side of the +stream. + +"Oh, he's going to get away!" Louise murmured, watching anxiously from a +porthole. + +As the saboteur scrambled up the bank, two men rose from their hiding +places in the tall bushes and grasped him by the arms. + +"It's Dad!" cried Penny gleefully. "And your father too, Louise!" + +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. + +"I found your message in the bottle!" she greeted the girls excitedly. + +"Not really?" demanded Penny. + +"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." + +"Old Noah threw out a box full of them," chuckled Louise. "So you read +our message, asking for help, Sara?" + +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." + +"How were you able to bring help here so quickly?" asked Penny. + +"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." + +"I know," nodded Penny. "Dad was here earlier in the evening. The +saboteurs tricked him into leaving." + +"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." + +"Did you capture Jard Wessler?" Penny demanded tensely. "That's the +important thing!" + +"Wessler? You mean the man who stole my motorboat?" + +"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." + +"There's no one watching it now." + +"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!" + +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. + +"That's my boat!" Sara cried. + +"Jard Wessler is getting away!" Penny added. "We must stop him!" + +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. + +"We'll never overtake him now," Sara said despairingly. "That boat is a +fast one." + +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. + +"We haven't a chance to overtake that fellow," Sara repeated again. + +"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." + +"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." + +"Shall we give up the chase?" asked Sara who handled the tiller. + +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 +_Eloise III_. + +"Dad, we still have a chance!" she cried. "By radio telephone!" + +"How d'you mean?" he demanded. + +"The _Eloise_ 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!" + + + + + CHAPTER + 25 + _A BOW IN THE CLOUD_ + + +In the radio room of the _Eloise III_, Mr. Parker, Jerry, and the three +girls hovered at the elbow of Commodore Phillips who sat at the +radio-telephone. + +"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." + +The _Eloise_ 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. + +"It's one fifteen," said Mr. Parker, glancing at his watch. "Any minute +now--" + +A loud report sounded over the water. + +"The bridge!" gasped Louise. "It's been dynamited!" + +"No, no!" exclaimed the Commodore impatiently. "That was gunfire! The +Coast Guard boat has gone into action!" + +A moment later those aboard the _Eloise_ saw a flash of fire and heard +another loud report. + +"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." + +Penny sagged weakly against the railing of the _Eloise_. Now that she +knew the bridge would be saved, she felt completely exhausted from the +long period of suspense. + +"Wessler can't be the only one involved in this plot," she heard her +father say. "There must be others." + +"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!" + +"Burt!" Sara exclaimed in horror. "Oh, why didn't you tell me!" + +"In the excitement it just passed out of my mind," Penny confessed. "I +forgot about everything except saving the bridge!" + +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. + +"Oh, I can't wait to see Burt," Sara declared, anxiously pacing the deck. +"He may be seriously hurt." + +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. + +"What became of Carl Oaks?" the newspaper owner asked a sergeant. "Did +you get him?" + +The policeman indicated a downcast figure who sat handcuffed inside the +patrol car. Oaks, he explained, had been captured without a struggle. + +"And Burt Ottman?" Mr. Parker inquired. + +"They're taking him to the ambulance now." + +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. + +"I'm okay, Sis," he mumbled. "Feelin' swell." + +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. + +"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." + +"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." + +"How many were involved in the dynamiting plot?" Mr. Parker asked. + +"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." + +"But at first the saboteurs tried to throw the guilt on Burt," Penny +protested. + +"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." + +"Then why would they take up with him later?" Penny asked in perplexity. + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +"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." + +Mr. Parker and Jerry asked many more questions, knowing the story would +rate important play in the _Riverview Star_. Turning Penny and Louise +over to Mr. Sidell who belatedly joined the party, the two newspaper men +rushed off to scoop rival papers. + +"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!" + +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 _Star_ should print +an exclusive story, they had very little to say. + +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. + +"Well, the _Star_ 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." + +"How about your daughter?" Penny asked, rumpling his hair. "Aren't you +one speck glad about saving me?" + +"I've been reserving a special lecture for you," he said, pretending to +be stern. "Young ladies who go running about at night--" + +"Never mind," laughed Penny, "If Lou and I hadn't done our prowling, I +guess you wouldn't have any old Seventh Street Bridge!" + +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. + +"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--" + +"Not at all," corrected Penny. "Anyway, I like folks who aren't afraid to +speak their minds." + +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. + +"How did you learn that Jard Wessler was a saboteur?" Mr. Parker asked +him. + +"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." + +"You woke up in the alley," Penny recalled. + +"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." + +Penny and her father were pleased to know that the young man was +recovering from his injuries. + +After chatting with him for a time, they left the hospital and proceeded +toward the ark in the mud flats. + +"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." + +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. + +"Poor Noah!" she sighed. "He'll be unwilling to leave his home or his +animals. This ark never can be floated either." + +"I'll be glad to pay for his lodging elsewhere," Mr. Parker offered. +"Naturally, he'll have to forsake his pets." + +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. + +"Why, Noah!" Penny exclaimed, astonished by his appearance. + +"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." + +"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?" + +"With my animals?" + +"No, you would have to leave them behind." + +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." + +"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!" + +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." + +"Oh, a truck might be arranged," declared Penny, grinning at her father. + +"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--" + +"There will be no flood," interrupted Mr. Parker impatiently. + +"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." + +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. + +"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.'" + +"'And the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh,'" +Noah whispered, his fascinated gaze upon the rainbow. + +"There, you have your sign, your token," Mr. Parker said briskly. + +"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." + +"How about it Noah?" Mr. Parker asked impatiently. "If I make all +arrangements will you leave the ark?" + +The old man did not hesitate. "Yes, I will go," he said. "My mission here +is finished. I am content." + +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. + +"Poor old fellow," said Penny. + +"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?" + +"You don't really mind, do you, Dad?" + +"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 _Star_." + +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. + +"Don't tell me you expect to collect every one of those messages!" +protested Mr. Parker. + +"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!" + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Saboteurs on the River, by Mildred A. 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