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diff --git a/34592-h/34592-h.htm b/34592-h/34592-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b10e179 --- /dev/null +++ b/34592-h/34592-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6272 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?> +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> +<html> +<head> +<title>Behind the Green Door, by Mildred A. Wirt</title> +<style type="text/css"> + body { margin-left:1.5em; margin-right:1.5em; } + h1, h2, h3, h4, .center { text-align:center; clear:right; } + h2 { margin-top:4em; margin-bottom:2.5em; line-height:1.7em; } + h3 { font-style:italic; } + table { clear:right; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + p, blockquote, li { text-align:justify; max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + div.bq { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:25em; } + .bq p { margin-left:1em; margin-right:1em; } + div.box { border-style:double; margin-bottom:2em; max-width:20em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; margin-top:2em; } + div.subbox { border-style:double; margin:.2em; } + div.img { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:center; margin-top:1em; } + .large { font-size:120%; } + .small { font-size:90%; } + .smaller { font-size:80%; } + .sc { font-variant:small-caps; } + .gsw { margin-left:3em; } + .tb { margin-top:2em; } + .fndef p { font-size:100%; margin-left:0em; text-indent:0em; } + div.fndef { margin-left:1em; text-indent:-1em; text-align:justify; font-size:80%; margin-top:1em; } + a sup { font-size:60%; } + span.pb, div.pb, dt.pb, p.pb /* PAGE BREAKS */ + { text-align: right; float:right; margin-right:-1em; } + div.pb { display:inline; } + .pb { text-align:right; float:right; margin-left: 1.5em; + margin-top:.5em; margin-bottom:.5em; display:inline; + font-size:80%; font-style:normal; font-weight:bold; } + div.index .pb { display:block; } + dt.xx { text-align:justify; margin-left:2em; text-indent: -2em; } + dd { text-align:justify; margin-left:3em; text-indent: -2em; } +dl.toc { clear:both; } + /* CONTENTS (.TOC) */ + .toc dt.center { text-align:center; clear:both; margin-top:3em; margin-bottom:1em; } + .toc dt { text-align:right; clear:left; + margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; max-width:20em; } + .toc dt.smaller { max-width:25em; } + .toc dd { text-align:right; clear:both; margin-left:2em; } + .toc dd.t { text-align:right; clear:both; margin-left:4em; text-indent:0em; } + .toc dt a, .toc dd a { text-align:left; clear:right; float:left; } + .toc dt.sc { text-align:right; clear:both; } + .toc dt.scl { text-align:left; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; } + .toc dt.sct { text-align:right; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; margin-left:1em; } + .toc dt.jl { text-align:left; clear:both; font-variant:normal; } + .toc dt.scc { text-align:center; clear:both; font-variant:small-caps; } + .toc dt span.lj { text-align:left; display:block; float:left; } + .toc dt a { font-variant:small-caps; } + .poem { margin-bottom:1em; margin-top:1em; max-width:25em; margin-right:auto; margin-left:auto; } + p.t0 { margin-bottom:0em; margin-top:0em; margin-left:2em; } +</style> +</head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Behind the Green Door, 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: Behind the Green Door + +Author: Mildred A. Wirt + +Release Date: December 7, 2010 [EBook #34592] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR *** + + + + +Produced by Stephen Hutcheson, Brenda Lewis and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div id="cover" class="img"> +<img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="Behind the Green Door" width="362" height="500" /> +</div> +<div class="box"> +<h1>Behind +<br />the Green +<br />Door</h1> +<p class="center"><i>By</i> +<br />MILDRED A. WIRT</p> +<p class="center"><i>Author of</i> +<br /><span class="small">MILDRED A. WIRT MYSTERY STORIES +<br />TRAILER STORIES FOR GIRLS</span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="small"><i>Illustrated</i></span></p> +<p class="center"><span class="small">CUPPLES AND LEON COMPANY +<br /><i>Publishers</i> +<br />NEW YORK</span></p> +</div> +<div class="box"> +<div class="subbox"> +<p class="center"><span class="large"><b>PENNY PARKER</b></span> +<br />MYSTERY STORIES</p> +<p class="center"><span class="small"><i>Large 12 mo. <span class="gsw">Cloth</span> <span class="gsw">Illustrated</span></i></span></p> +</div> +<p class="center">TALE OF THE WITCH DOLL +<br />THE VANISHING HOUSEBOAT +<br />DANGER AT THE DRAWBRIDGE +<br />BEHIND THE GREEN DOOR +<br />CLUE OF THE SILKEN LADDER +<br />THE SECRET PACT +<br />THE CLOCK STRIKES THIRTEEN +<br />THE WISHING WELL +<br />SABOTEURS ON THE RIVER +<br />GHOST BEYOND THE GATE +<br />HOOFBEATS ON THE TURNPIKE +<br />VOICE FROM THE CAVE +<br />GUILT OF THE BRASS THIEVES +<br />SIGNAL IN THE DARK +<br />WHISPERING WALLS +<br />SWAMP ISLAND +<br />THE CRY AT MIDNIGHT</p> +<div class="subbox"> +<p class="center"><span class="smaller">COPYRIGHT, 1940, BY CUPPLES AND LEON CO.</span></p> +<p class="center">Behind the Green Door</p> +<p class="center"><span class="smaller">PRINTED IN U. S. A.</span></p> +</div></div> +<div id="front" class="img"> +<img src="images/front.png" alt="PENNY’S TRAILING BODY, ACTING AS A BRAKE, SLOWED DOWN THE SLED." width="380" height="593" /> +<p class="center"><span class="small">PENNY’S TRAILING BODY, ACTING AS A BRAKE, SLOWED DOWN THE SLED. +<br />“<i>Behind the Green Door</i>” <span class="gsw">(<a href="#Page_124">See Page 124</a>)</span></span></p> +</div> +<h2><i>CONTENTS</i></h2> +<dl class="toc"> +<dt class="smaller"><span class="lj">CHAPTER</span> PAGE</dt> +<dt><a href="#c1">1 TROUBLE FOR MR. PARKER</a> <i>1</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c2">2 A RIVAL REPORTER</a> <i>12</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c3">3 TRAVELING COMPANIONS</a> <i>21</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c4">4 PINE TOP MOUNTAIN</a> <i>30</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c5">5 OVER THE BARBED WIRE</a> <i>38</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c6">6 PENNY TRESPASSES</a> <i>47</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c7">7 THE GREEN DOOR</a> <i>55</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c8">8 A CODED MESSAGE</a> <i>63</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c9">9 A CALL FOR HELP</a> <i>72</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c10">10 LOCKED IN THE CABIN</a> <i>79</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c11">11 A NEWSPAPER MYSTERY</a> <i>89</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c12">12 THE GREEN CARD</a> <i>97</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c13">13 AN UNKIND TRICK</a> <i>105</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c14">14 A BROKEN ROD</a> <i>115</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c15">15 IN THE TOOL HOUSE</a> <i>123</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c16">16 A PUZZLING SOLUTION</a> <i>129</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c17">17 STRANGE SOUNDS</a> <i>138</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c18">18 QUESTIONS AND CLUES</a> <i>146</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c19">19 PETER JASKO SERVES NOTICE</a> <i>152</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c20">20 VISITORS</a> <i>162</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c21">21 OLD PETER’S DISAPPEARANCE</a> <i>173</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c22">22 THE SECRET STAIRS</a> <i>182</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c23">23 RESCUE</a> <i>189</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c24">24 HENRI’S SALON</a> <i>197</i></dt> +<dt><a href="#c25">25 SCOOP!</a> <i>206</i></dt> +</dl> +<div class="pb" id="Page_1">[1]</div> +<h2 id="c1"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">1</span> +<br /><i>TROUBLE FOR MR. PARKER</i></h2> +<p>“Watch me coming down the mountain, Mrs. +Weems! This one is a honey! An open christiana turn +with no brakes dragging!”</p> +<p>Penny Parker, clad in a new black and red snowsuit, +twisted her agile young body sideways, causing +the small rug upon which she stood to skip across the +polished floor of the living room. She wriggled her +slim hips again, and it slipped in the opposite direction +toward Mrs. Weems who was watching from +the kitchen doorway.</p> +<p>“Coming down the mountain, my eye!” exclaimed +the housekeeper, laughing despite herself. “You’ll be +coming down on your head if you don’t stop those +antics. I declare, you’ve acted like a crazy person ever +since your father rashly agreed to take you to Pine +Top for the skiing.”</p> +<p>“I have to break in my new suit and limber up my +muscles somehow,” said Penny defensively. “One +can’t practice outdoors when there’s no snow. Now +watch this one, Mrs. Weems. It’s called a telemark.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_2">[2]</div> +<p>“You’ll reduce that rug to shreds before you’re +through,” sighed the housekeeper. “Can’t you think +of anything else to do?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” agreed Penny cheerfully, “but it wouldn’t +be half as much fun. How do you like my suit?” She +darted across the room to preen before the full length +mirror.</p> +<p>A red-billed cap pulled at a jaunty angle over her +blond curls, Penny made a striking figure in the well +tailored suit of dark wool. Her eyes sparkled with +the joy of youth and it was easy for her to smile. She +was an only child, the daughter of Anthony Parker, +editor and publisher of the <i>Riverview Star</i>, and her +mother had died when she was very young.</p> +<p>“It looks like a good, practical suit,” conceded the +housekeeper.</p> +<p>Penny made a wry face. “Is that the best you can +say for it? Louise Sidell and I shopped all over Riverview +to get the snappiest number out, and then you +call it <i>practical</i>.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you know you look cute in it,” laughed Mrs. +Weems. “So what’s the use of telling you?”</p> +<p>Before Penny could reply the telephone rang and +the housekeeper went to answer it. She returned to +the living room a moment later to say that Penny’s +father was in need of free taxi service home from the +office.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_3">[3]</div> +<p>“Tell him I’ll be down after him in two shakes of +a kitten’s tail!” Penny called, making for the stairway.</p> +<p>She took the steps two at a time and had climbed +halfway out of the snowsuit by the time she reached +the bedroom. A well aimed kick landed the garment +on the bed, and then because it was very new and very +choice she took time to straighten it out. Seizing a +dress blindly from the closet, she wriggled into it and +ran downstairs again.</p> +<p>“Some more skiing equipment may come while I’m +gone,” she shouted to Mrs. Weems who was in the +kitchen. “I bought a new pair of skis, a couple of +poles, three different kinds of wax and a pair of red +mittens.”</p> +<p>“Why didn’t you order the store sent out and be +done with it?” responded the housekeeper dryly.</p> +<p>Penny pulled on her heavy coat and hurried to the +garage where two cars stood side by side. One was a +shining black sedan of the latest model, the other, a +battered, unwashed vehicle whose reputation was as +discouraging as its appearance. “Leaping Lena,” as +Penny called her car, had an annoying habit of running +up repair bills, and then repaying its long suffering +owner by refusing to start on cold winter days.</p> +<p>“Lena, you get to stay in your cozy nest this time,” +Penny remarked, climbing into her father’s sedan. +“Dad can’t stand your rattle and bounce.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_4">[4]</div> +<p>The powerful engine started with a blast. While +Mrs. Weems watched anxiously from the kitchen +window, Penny shot the car out backwards, wheeling +it around the curve of the driveway with speed and +ease. She liked to handle her father’s automobile, and +since he did not enjoy driving, she frequently called +at the newspaper office to take him home.</p> +<p>The <i>Star</i> building occupied a block in the downtown +section of Riverview. Penny parked the car beside +the loading dock at the rear, and took an elevator +to the editorial rooms. Nearly all of the desks were +deserted at this late hour of the afternoon. But Jerry +Livingston, one of the best reporters on the paper, +was still pecking out copy on a noisy typewriter.</p> +<p>“Hi, Penny!” he observed, grinning as she brushed +past his desk. “Have you caught any more witch +dolls?”</p> +<p>“Not for the front page,” she flung back at him. +“My newspaper career is likely to remain in a state of +<i>status quo</i> for the next two weeks. Dad and I are +heading for Pine Top to dazzle the natives with our +particular brand of skiing. Don’t you envy us?”</p> +<p>“I certainly would, if you were going.”</p> +<p>“If!” exclaimed Penny indignantly. “Of course +we’re going! We leave Thursday by plane. Dad needs +a vacation and this time I know he won’t try to wiggle +out of it at the last minute.”</p> +<p>“Well, I hope not,” replied Jerry in a skeptical +voice. “Your father needs a good rest, Penny. But I +have a sneaking notion you’re in for a disappointment +again.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_5">[5]</div> +<p>“What makes you say that, Jerry? Dad promised +me faithfully—”</p> +<p>“Sure, I know,” he nodded, “but there have been +developments.”</p> +<p>“An important story?”</p> +<p>“No, it’s more serious than that. But you talk with +him. I may have the wrong slant on the situation.”</p> +<p>Not without misgiving, Penny went on to her +father’s private office and tapped on the door.</p> +<p>“Come in,” he called in a gruff voice, and as she +entered, waved her into a chair. “You arrived a little +sooner than I expected, Penny. Mind waiting a few +minutes?”</p> +<p>“Not at all.”</p> +<p>Studying her father’s lean, tired-looking face, +Penny decided that something <i>was</i> wrong. He seemed +unusually worried and nervous.</p> +<p>“A hard day, Dad?” she asked.</p> +<p>Mr. Parker finished straightening a sheaf of papers +before he glanced up.</p> +<p>“Yes, I hadn’t intended to tell you until later, but +I may as well. I’m afraid our trip is off—at least as +far as I’m concerned.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Dad!”</p> +<p>“It’s a big disappointment, Penny. The truth is, I’m +in a spot of trouble.”</p> +<p>“Isn’t that the usual condition of a newspaper publisher?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_6">[6]</div> +<p>“Yes,” he smiled, “but there are different degrees +of trouble, and this is the worst possible. The <i>Star</i> +has been sued for libel, a matter of fifty odd thousand.”</p> +<p>“Fifty thousand!” gasped Penny. “But of course +you’ll win the suit!”</p> +<p>“I’m not at all sure of it.” Anthony Parker spoke +grimly. “My lawyer tells me that Harvey Maxwell +has a strong case against the paper.”</p> +<p>“Harvey Maxwell?” repeated Penny thoughtfully. +“Isn’t he the man who owns the Riverview Hotel?”</p> +<p>“Yes, and a chain of other hotels and lodges +throughout the country. Harvey Maxwell is a rather +well known sportsman. He lives lavishly, travels a +great deal, and in general is a hard, shrewd business +man.”</p> +<p>“He’s made a large amount of money from his +hotels, hasn’t he?”</p> +<p>“Maxwell acquired a fortune from some source, +but I’ve always had a doubt that it came from the +hotel business.”</p> +<p>“Why is he suing the <i>Star</i> for libel, Dad?”</p> +<p>“Early this fall, while I was out of town for a day +DeWitt let a story slip through which should have +been killed. It was an interview with a football player +named Bill Morcrum who was quoted as saying that +he had been approached by Maxwell who offered him +a bribe to throw an important game.”</p> +<p>“What would be the reason behind that?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_7">[7]</div> +<p>“Maxwell is thought by those in the know to have +a finger in nearly every dishonest sports scheme ever +pulled off in this town. He places heavy wagers, and +seldom comes out on the losing end. But the story +never should have been published.”</p> +<p>“It was true though?”</p> +<p>“I’m satisfied it was,” replied Mr. Parker. “However, +it always is dangerous to make insinuations +against a man.”</p> +<p>“Can’t the story be proven? I should think with +the football player’s testimony you would have a +good case.”</p> +<p>“That’s the trouble, Penny. This boy, Bill Morcrum, +now claims he never made any such accusation +against Maxwell. He says the reporter misquoted him +and twisted his statements.”</p> +<p>“Who covered the story, Dad?”</p> +<p>“A man named Glower, a very reliable reporter. +He swears he made no mistake, and I am inclined to +believe him.”</p> +<p>“Then why did the football player change his +story?”</p> +<p>“I have no proof, but it’s a fairly shrewd guess that +he was approached by Maxwell a second time. Either +he was threatened or offered a bribe which was large +enough to sway him.”</p> +<p>“With both Maxwell and the football player standing +together, it does rather put you on the spot,” +Penny acknowledged. “What are you going to do?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_8">[8]</div> +<p>“We’ll fight the case, of course, but unless we +can prove that our story was accurate, we’re almost +sure to lose. I’ve asked Bill Morcrum to come to my +office this afternoon, and he promised he would. He’s +overdue now.”</p> +<p>Anthony Parker glanced at his watch and scowled. +Getting up from the swivel chair he began to pace to +and fro across the room.</p> +<p>A buzzer on his desk gave three sharp, staccato +signals.</p> +<p>“Morcrum must be here now!” the editor exclaimed +in relief. “I’ll want to see him alone.”</p> +<p>Penny arose to leave. As she went out the doorway +she met the receptionist, accompanied by an +awkward, oversized youth who shuffled his feet in +walking. He grinned at her in a sheepish way and +entered the private office.</p> +<p>While Penny waited, she entertained herself by +reading all the comic strips she could find in the out-of-town +exchange papers. In the adjoining room she +could hear the rhythmical thumping, clicking sound +of the <i>Star’s</i> teletype machines. She wandered aimlessly +into the room to read the copy just as the machines +typed it out, a story from Washington, one +from Chicago, another from Los Angeles. It was +fascinating to watch the print appear like magic upon +the long rolls of copy paper.</p> +<p>Presently, the teletype attendant, young Billy +Stevens, came dashing into the room.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_9">[9]</div> +<p>“Oh, hello, Miss Parker,” he said with a bashful +grin.</p> +<p>“Hello, Billy,” Penny answered cordially. She +studied the keyboard of the sending teletype machine, +running her fingers over the letters. “I wish I +could work this thing,” she said.</p> +<p>“There’s nothing to it if you can run a typewriter,” +answered Billy. “Just a minute, I’ll throw it off the +line on to the test position. Then you can try it.”</p> +<p>At first Penny’s copy was badly garbled, but under +Billy’s enthusiastic coaching she was soon doing accurate +work.</p> +<p>“Say, this is fun!” she declared. “I’m coming in +again one of these days and practice. Thanks a lot, +Billy!”</p> +<p>As Penny went back into the editorial room she +saw the Morcrum boy leaving her father’s office. His +head was downcast and his face was flushed to the +ears. Obviously, he had not had a comfortable time +with Mr. Parker.</p> +<p>The moment the boy had vanished, Penny hurried +into her father’s office to learn the outcome of the +interview.</p> +<p>“No luck,” reported Mr. Parker, reaching for his +hat and overcoat.</p> +<p>“He wouldn’t change his story?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_10">[10]</div> +<p>“No. He seemed like a fairly decent sort of boy, +but he kept insisting he had been misquoted. I couldn’t +get anywhere with him. He’ll testify for Maxwell +when the case comes to trial.”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker put on his overcoat and hat, and opened +the door for Penny. As they left the building he told +her more about the interview.</p> +<p>“I asked the boy point-blank if he hadn’t been hired +by Maxwell. Naturally, he denied it, but he acted +rather alarmed. Oh, I’m satisfied he’s either been +bought off or threatened.”</p> +<p>“When does the case come to trial?”</p> +<p>“The last of next month, unless we gain a delay.”</p> +<p>“That gives you quite a bit of time. Don’t you +think you could take two weeks off anyhow, Dad? +We both planned upon having such a wonderful time +at Mrs. Downey’s place.”</p> +<p>Penny and her father had been invited to spend the +Christmas holidays at Pine Top, a winter resort which +attracted many Riverview persons. They especially +had looked forward to the trip since they were to +have been the house guests of Mrs. Christopher Downey, +an old friend of Mr. Parker’s who operated a +skiing lodge on the slopes of the mountain overlooking +Silver Valley.</p> +<p>“There’s not much chance of my getting away,” +Mr. Parker replied regretfully. “That is, not unless +important evidence falls into my hands, or I am able +to make a deal with Maxwell.”</p> +<p>“A deal?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_11">[11]</div> +<p>“If he would make reasonable demands I might be +willing to settle out of court.”</p> +<p>Penny gazed at her father in blank amazement.</p> +<p>“And admit you were in the wrong when you’re +certain you weren’t?”</p> +<p>“Any good general will make a strategic retreat if +the situation calls for it. It might be more sensible to +settle out of court than to lose the case. Maxwell has +me in a tight place and knows it.”</p> +<p>“Then why don’t you see him? He might be fairly +reasonable.”</p> +<p>“I suppose I could stop at the Riverview Hotel on +our way home,” Mr. Parker said, frowning thoughtfully. +“There’s an outside chance Maxwell may come +to terms. Drop me off there, Penny.”</p> +<p>While the car threaded its way in and out of dense +traffic, the editor remained in a deep study. Penny +had never seen him look so worried. Her own disappointment +was keen, yet she realized that far more than +a vacation trip was at stake. Fifty thousand dollars +represented a large sum of money! If Maxwell won +his suit it might even mean the loss of the <i>Riverview +Star</i>.</p> +<p>Sensing his daughter’s alarm, Mr. Parker reached +out to pat her knee.</p> +<p>“Don’t worry,” he said, “we’re not licked yet, +Penny! And if there’s any way to arrange it, you shall +have your trip to Pine Top just as we planned.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_12">[12]</div> +<h2 id="c2"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">2</span> +<br /><i>A RIVAL REPORTER</i></h2> +<p>Penny presently edged the sedan into a parking +space across the street from the Riverview Hotel. +As she switched off the ignition her father said:</p> +<p>“Better come along with me and wait in the lobby. +It’s cold out here.”</p> +<p>Penny followed her father into the building. The +hotel was an elegant one with many services available +for guests. She noticed a florist shop, a candy store, +a dry cleaning establishment, and even a small brokerage +office opening off the lobby.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes,” said Mr. Parker as Penny called his attention +to the brokerage. “Maxwell hasn’t overlooked +anything. The hotel has a special leased wire which +I’ve been told gives him a direct connection with his +other places.”</p> +<p>Walking over to the desk, Mr. Parker mentioned his +name and asked the clerk if he might see Harvey +Maxwell.</p> +<p>“Mr. Maxwell is not here,” replied the man with +an insolent air.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_13">[13]</div> +<p>“When will he be at the hotel?”</p> +<p>“Mr. Maxwell has left the city on business. He does +not expect to return until the end of next month.”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker could not hide his annoyance.</p> +<p>“Let me have his address then,” he said in a resigned +voice. “I’ll write him.”</p> +<p>The clerk shook his head. “I have been instructed +not to give you Mr. Maxwell’s address. If you wish to +deal with him you will have to see his lawyer, Gorman +S. Railey.”</p> +<p>“So Maxwell was expecting me to come here to +make a deal with him?” demanded Mr. Parker. “Well, +I’ve changed my mind. I’ll make a deal all right, but it +will be in court. Good day!”</p> +<p>Angrily, the newspaper man strode from the lobby. +Penny hurried to keep pace with him.</p> +<p>“That settles it,” he said tersely as they climbed into +the sedan again. “This libel suit will be a fight to the +finish. And maybe my finish at that!”</p> +<p>“Oh, Dad, I’m sure you’ll win. But it’s a pity all this +had to come up just when you had planned a fine vacation. +Mrs. Downey will be disappointed, too.”</p> +<p>“Yes, she will, Penny. And there’s Mrs. Weems to +be thought about. I promised her a two weeks’ trip +while we were gone.”</p> +<p>They drove in silence for a few blocks. As the +car passed the Sidell residence, Penny’s father said +thoughtfully:</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_14">[14]</div> +<p>“I suppose I could send you out to Pine Top alone, +Penny. Or perhaps you might be able to induce your +chum, Louise, to go along. Would you like that?”</p> +<p>“It would be more fun if you went also.”</p> +<p>“That’s out of the picture now. If everything goes +well I might be able to join you for Christmas weekend.”</p> +<p>“I’m not sure Louise could go,” said Penny doubtfully. +“But I can find out right away.”</p> +<p>After dinner that night, she lost no time in running +over to the Sidell home. At first Louise was thrown +into a state of ecstasy at the thought of making a trip +to Pine Top and then her face became gloomy.</p> +<p>“I would love it, Penny! But it’s practically a waste +of words to ask Mother. We’re going to my grandmother’s +farm in Vermont for the holidays, and I’ll +have to tag along.”</p> +<p>Since grade school days the two girls had been inseparable +friends. Between them there was perfect +understanding and they made an excellent pair, for +Louise exerted a subduing effect upon the more impulsive, +excitable Penny.</p> +<p>Inactivity bored Penny, and wherever she went she +usually managed to start things moving. When nothing +better offered, she tried her hand at writing newspaper +stories for her father’s paper. Several of these +reportorial experiences had satisfied even Penny’s deep +craving for excitement.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_15">[15]</div> +<p>Three truly “big” stories had rolled from her typewriter +through the thundering presses of the <i>Riverview +Star</i>: Tale of the Witch Doll, The Vanishing +Houseboat, and Danger at the Drawbridge. Even now, +months after her last astonishing adventure, friends +liked to tease her about a humorous encounter with a +certain Mr. Kippenberg’s alligator.</p> +<p>“Pine Top won’t be any fun without you, Lou,” +Penny complained.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes it will,” contradicted her chum. “I know +you’ll manage to stir up plenty of excitement. You’ll +probably pull a mysterious Eskimo out of a snow bank +or save Santa Claus from being kidnaped! That’s the +way you operate.”</p> +<p>“Pine Top is an out of the way place, close to the +Canadian border. All one can do there is eat, sleep, +and ski.”</p> +<p>“You mean, that’s all one is supposed to do,” corrected +Louise with a laugh. “But you’ll run into some +big story or else you’re slipping!”</p> +<p>“There isn’t a newspaper within fifty miles. No railroad +either. The only way in and out of the valley is +by airplane, and bob-sled, of course.”</p> +<p>“That may cramp your style a little, but I doubt +it,” declared Louise. “I do wish I could go along.”</p> +<p>The girls talked with Mrs. Sidell, but as they both +had expected, it was not practical for Louise to make +the trip.</p> +<p>“I’ll come to the airport to see you off on your +plane,” Louise promised as Penny left the house. +“You’re starting Thursday, aren’t you?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_16">[16]</div> +<p>“Yes, at ten-thirty unless there’s bad weather. But +I’ll see you again before that.”</p> +<p>All the next day Penny packed furiously. Mr. +Parker was unusually busy at the office, but he bought +his daughter’s ticket and made all arrangements for +the trip to Pine Top. Since Mrs. Weems also planned +to leave Riverview the following day, the house was +in a constant state of turmoil.</p> +<p>“I feel sorry for Dad being left here alone,” remarked +Penny. “He’ll never make his bed, and he’ll +probably exist on strong coffee and those wretched +raw beef sandwiches they serve at the beanery across +from the <i>Star</i> office.”</p> +<p>“I ought to give up my vacation,” declared Mrs. +Weems. “It seems selfish of me not to stay here.”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker would not hear of such an arrangement, +and so plans moved forward just as if his own trip had +not been postponed.</p> +<p>“Dad, you’ll honestly try to come to Pine Top for +Christmas?” Penny pleaded.</p> +<p>“I’ll do my best,” he promised soberly. “I have a +hunch that Harvey Maxwell may still be in town, despite +what we were told at the hotel. I intend to busy +myself making a complete investigation of the man.”</p> +<p>“If I could help, I’d be tickled to stay, Dad.”</p> +<p>“There’s nothing you can do, Penny. Just go out +there and have a nice vacation.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_17">[17]</div> +<p>Mr. Parker had not intended to go to the office +Thursday morning until after Penny’s plane had departed, +but at breakfast time a call came from DeWitt, +the city editor, urging his presence at once. Before +leaving, he gave his daughter her ticket and travelers +checks.</p> +<p>“Now I expect to be at the airport to see you off,” +he promised. “Until then, good-bye.”</p> +<p>Mr. Parker kissed Penny and hastened away. Later, +Louise Sidell came to the house. Soon after ten o’clock +the girls took leave of Mrs. Weems, taxiing to the +airport.</p> +<p>“I don’t see Dad anywhere,” Penny remarked as +the cabman unloaded her luggage. “He’ll probably +come dashing up just as the plane takes off.”</p> +<p>The girls entered the waiting room and learned that +the plane was “on time.” Curiously, they glanced at +the other passengers. Two travelers Penny immediately +tagged as business men. But she was rather interested +in a plump, over-painted woman whose nervous manner +suggested that she might be making her first airplane +trip.</p> +<p>While Penny’s luggage was being weighed, two +men entered the waiting room. One was a lean, sharp-faced +individual suffering from a bad cold. The other, +struck Penny as being vaguely familiar. He was a stout +man, expensively dressed, and had a surly, condescending +way of speaking to his companion.</p> +<p>“Who are those men?” Penny whispered to Louise. +“Do you know them?”</p> +<p>Louise shook her head.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_18">[18]</div> +<p>“That one fellow looks like someone I’ve seen,” +Penny went on thoughtfully. “Maybe I saw his picture +in a newspaper, but I can’t place him.”</p> +<p>The two men went up to the desk and the portly +one addressed the clerk curtly:</p> +<p>“You have our reservations for Pine Top?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir. Just sign your name here.” The clerk +pushed forward paper and a pen.</p> +<p>Paying for the tickets from a large roll of greenbacks, +the two men went over to the opposite side of +the waiting room and sat down. Penny glanced anxiously +at the clock. It was twenty minutes past ten.</p> +<p>A uniformed messenger boy entered the room, letting +in a blast of cold air as he opened the door. He +went over to the desk and the clerk pointed out the +two girls.</p> +<p>“Now what?” said Penny in a low voice. “Maybe +my trip is called off!”</p> +<p>The message was for her, from her father. But it was +less serious than she had expected. Because an important +story had “broken” it would be impossible for +him to leave the office. He wished her a pleasant trip +west and again promised he would bend every effort +toward visiting Pine Top for Christmas.</p> +<p>Penny folded the message and slipped it into her +purse.</p> +<p>“Dad won’t be able to see me off,” she explained to +her chum. “I was afraid when DeWitt called him this +morning he would be held up.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_19">[19]</div> +<p>Before Louise could reply the outside door opened +once more, and a girl of perhaps twenty-two who +walked with a long, masculine gait, came in out of the +cold. Penny sat up a bit straighter in her chair.</p> +<p>“Do you see what I see?” she whispered.</p> +<p>“Who is she?” inquired Louise curiously.</p> +<p>“The one and only Francine Sellberg.”</p> +<p>“Which means nothing to me.”</p> +<p>“Don’t tell me you haven’t seen her by-line in the +<i>Riverview Record</i>! Francine would die of mortification.”</p> +<p>“Is she a reporter?”</p> +<p>“She covers special assignments. And she is pretty +good,” Penny added honestly. “But not quite as good +as she believes.”</p> +<p>“Wonder what she’s doing here?”</p> +<p>“I was asking myself that same question.”</p> +<p>As the two girls watched, they saw Francine’s cool +gaze sweep the waiting room. She did not immediately +notice Penny and Louise whose backs were partly +turned to her. Her eyes rested for an instant upon +the two men who previously had bought tickets to +Pine Top, and a flicker of satisfaction showed upon her +face.</p> +<p>Moving directly to the desk she spoke to the ticket +agent in a low voice, yet loudly enough for Penny and +Louise to hear.</p> +<p>“Is it still possible to make a reservation for Pine +Top?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_20">[20]</div> +<p>“Yes, we have one seat left on the plane.”</p> +<p>“I’ll take it,” said Francine.</p> +<p>Penny nudged Louise and whispered in her ear: +“Did you hear that?”</p> +<p>“I certainly did. Why do you suppose she’s going to +Pine Top? For the skiing?”</p> +<p>“Unless I’m all tangled in a knot, she’s after a big +story for the <i>Record</i>. And I just wonder if those two +mysterious-looking gentlemen aren’t the reason for +her trip!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_21">[21]</div> +<h2 id="c3"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">3</span> +<br /><i>TRAVELING COMPANIONS</i></h2> +<p>Francine Sellberg paid for her ticket and +turned so that her gaze fell squarely upon Penny and +Louise. Abruptly, she crossed over to where they sat.</p> +<p>“Hello, girls,” she greeted them breezily. “What +brings you to the airport?”</p> +<p>As always, the young woman reporter’s manner +was brusque and business-like. Without meaning to +offend, she gave others an impression of regarding +them with an air of condescension.</p> +<p>“I came to see Penny off,” answered Louise before +her chum could speak.</p> +<p>“Oh, are you taking this plane?” inquired Francine, +staring at Penny with quickening interest.</p> +<p>“I am if it ever gets here.”</p> +<p>“Traveling alone?”</p> +<p>“All by my lonesome,” Penny admitted cheerfully.</p> +<p>“You’re probably only going a short ways?”</p> +<p>“Oh, quite a distance,” returned Penny. She did not +like the way Francine was quizzing her.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_22">[22]</div> +<p>“Penny is going to Pine Top for the skiing,” declared +Louise, never guessing that her chum preferred +to withhold the information.</p> +<p>“Pine Top!” The smile left Francine’s face and her +eyes roved swiftly toward the two men who sat at +the opposite side of the room.</p> +<p>“We are to be traveling companions, I believe,” remarked +Penny innocently.</p> +<p>Francine’s attention came back to the younger girl. +Her eyes narrowed with suspicion.</p> +<p>“So you’re going out to Pine Top for the skiing,” +she said softly.</p> +<p>“And you?” countered Penny.</p> +<p>“Oh, certainly for the skiing,” retorted Francine, +mockery in her voice.</p> +<p>“Nice of the <i>Record</i> to give you a vacation.”</p> +<p>By this time the silver-winged transport had wheeled +into position on the apron, and passengers were beginning +to leave the waiting room. The two men who +had attracted Penny’s attention, arose and without appearing +to notice the three girls, went outside.</p> +<p>“You don’t deceive me one bit, Penny Parker,” said +Francine with a quick change of attitude. “I know very +well why you are going to Pine Top, and it’s for the +same reason I am!”</p> +<p>“You seem to have divined all my secrets, even when +I don’t know them myself,” responded Penny. “Suppose +you tell me why I am going to Pine Top mountain?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_23">[23]</div> +<p>“It’s perfectly obvious that your father sent you, +But I am afraid he over-estimates your journalistic +powers if he thinks you have had enough experience +to handle a difficult assignment of this sort. I’ll warn +you right now, Penny, don’t come to me for help. On +this job we’re rivals. And I won’t tolerate any bungling +or interference upon your part!”</p> +<p>“Nice to know just where we stand,” replied Penny +evenly. “Then there will be no misunderstanding or +tears later on.”</p> +<p>“Exactly. And mind you don’t give any tip-off as +to who I am!”</p> +<p>“You mean you don’t care to have those two gentlemen +who were here a moment ago know that you are +a reporter for the <i>Record</i>.”</p> +<p>“Naturally.”</p> +<p>“And who are these men of mystery?”</p> +<p>“As if you don’t know!” Francine made an impatient +gesture. “Oh, why pose, Penny? This innocent +act doesn’t go over worth a cent.”</p> +<p>Louise broke indignantly into the conversation. +“Penny isn’t posing! It’s true she is going to Pine Top +for the skiing and not to get a story. Isn’t it?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” acknowledged Penny unwillingly. She was +sorry that her chum had put an end to the little game +with Francine.</p> +<p>The reporter stared at the two girls, scarcely knowing +whether or not to believe them.</p> +<p>“Why not break down and tell me the identity of +our two fellow passengers?” suggested Penny.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_24">[24]</div> +<p>“So you really don’t know their names?” Francine +flashed a triumphant smile. “Fancy that! Well, you’ve +proven such a clever little reporter in the past, I’ll allow +you to figure it out for yourself. See you in Pine +Top.”</p> +<p>Turning away, the young woman went back to the +desk to speak once more with the ticket man.</p> +<p>“Doesn’t she simply drip conceit!” Louise whispered +in disgust. “Did I make a mistake in letting her know +that you weren’t on an assignment?”</p> +<p>“It doesn’t matter, Lou. Shall we be going out to +the plane before I miss it?”</p> +<p>The huge streamliner stood warming up on the +ribbon of cement, long tongues of flame leaping from +the exhausts. Nearly all of the passengers already had +taken their seats in the warm, cozy cabin.</p> +<p>“Good-bye, Lou,” Penny said, shaking her chum’s +hand.</p> +<p>“Good-bye. Have a nice time. And don’t let that +know-it-all Francine get ahead of you!”</p> +<p>“Not if I can help it,” laughed Penny.</p> +<p>Francine had left the waiting room and was walking +with a brisk step toward the plane. Not wishing +to be the last person aboard, Penny stepped quickly +into the cabin. All but two seats were taken. One was +at the far end of the plane, the other directly behind +the two strange men.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_25">[25]</div> +<p>Penny slid into the latter chair just as Francine +came into the cabin. As she went down the aisle to +take the only remaining seat, the reporter shot the +younger girl an irritated glance.</p> +<p>“She thinks I took this place just to spite her!” +thought Penny. “How silly!”</p> +<p>The stewardess, trim in her blue-green uniform, had +closed the heavy metal door. The plane began to move +down the ramp, away from the station’s canopied entrance. +Penny leaned close to the window and waved +a last good-bye to Louise.</p> +<p>As the speed of the engines was increased, the plane +raced faster and faster over the smooth runway. A +take-off was not especially thrilling to Penny who +often had made flights with her father. She shook her +head when the stewardess offered her cotton for her +ears, but accepted a magazine.</p> +<p>Penny flipped carelessly through the pages. Finding +no story worth reading, she turned her attention +to her fellow passengers. Beside her, on the right, sat +the over-painted woman, her hands gripping the arm +rests so hard that her knuckles showed white.</p> +<p>“We—we’re in the air now, aren’t we?” she asked +nervously, meeting Penny’s gaze. “I do hope I’m not +going to be sick.”</p> +<p>“I am sure you won’t be,” replied Penny. “The air +is very quiet today.”</p> +<p>“They tell me flying over the mountains in winter +time is dangerous.”</p> +<p>“Not in good weather with a skilful pilot. I am sure +we will be in no danger.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_26">[26]</div> +<p>“Just the same I never would have taken a plane if +it hadn’t been the only way of reaching Pine Top.”</p> +<p>Penny turned to regard her companion with new +interest. The woman was in her early forties, though +she had attempted by the lavish use of make-up to +appear younger. Her hair was a bleached yellow, dry +and brittle from too frequent permanent waving. Her +shoes were slightly scuffed, and a tight-fitting black +crepe dress, while expensive, was shiny from long use.</p> +<p>“Oh, are you traveling to Pine Top, too?” inquired +Penny. “Half the passengers on this plane must be +heading for there.”</p> +<p>“Is that where you are going?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” nodded Penny. “I plan to visit an old friend +who has an Inn on the mountain side, and try a little +skiing.”</p> +<p>“This is strictly a business trip with me,” confided +the woman. She had relaxed now that the transport +was flying at an even keel. “I am going there to see +Mr. Balantine—David Balantine. You’ve heard of him, +of course.”</p> +<p>Penny shook her head.</p> +<p>“My dear, everyone in the East is familiar with his +name. Mr. Balantine has a large chain of theatres +throughout the country. He produces his own shows, +too. I hope to get a leading part in a new production +which will soon be cast.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I see,” murmured Penny. “You are an actress?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_27">[27]</div> +<p>“I’ve been on the stage since I was twelve years +old,” the woman answered proudly. “You must have +seen my name on the billboards. I am Miss Miller. +Maxine Miller.”</p> +<p>“I should like to see one of your plays,” Penny responded +politely.</p> +<p>“The truth is I’ve been ‘at liberty’ for the past year +or two,” the actress admitted with an embarrassed +laugh. “‘At liberty’ is a word we show people use +when we’re temporarily out of work. The movies have +practically ruined the stage.”</p> +<p>“Yes, I know.”</p> +<p>“For several weeks I have been trying to get an +interview with Mr. Balantine. His secretaries would +not make an appointment for me. Then quite by luck I +learned that he planned to spend two weeks at Pine +Top. I thought if I could meet him out there in his +more relaxed moments, he might give me a role in +the new production.”</p> +<p>“Isn’t it a rather long chance to take?” questioned +Penny. “To go so far just in the hope of seeing this +man?”</p> +<p>“Yes, but I like long chances. And I’ve tried every +other way to meet him. If I win the part I’ll be well +repaid for my time and money.”</p> +<p>“And if you fail?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_28">[28]</div> +<p>Maxine Miller shrugged. “The bread line, perhaps, +or burlesque which would be worse. If I stay at Pine +Top more than a few days I’ll never have money +enough to get back here. They tell me Pine Top is +high-priced.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know about that,” answered Penny.</p> +<p>As the plane winged its way in a northwesterly direction, +the actress kept the conversational ball rolling +at an exhausting pace. She told Penny all about herself, +her trials and triumphs on the stage. As first, it was +fairly interesting, but as Miss Miller repeated herself, +the girl became increasingly bored. She shrewdly +guessed that the actress never had been the outstanding +stage success she visioned herself.</p> +<p>Penny paid more than ordinary attention to the +two men who sat in front of her. However, Miss Miller +kept her so busy answering questions that she could +not have overheard their talk, even if she had made an +effort to do so.</p> +<p>Therefore, when the plane made a brief stop, she +was astonished to have Francine sidle over to her as +she sat on a high stool at the lunch stand, and say in +a cutting tone:</p> +<p>“Well, did you find out everything you wanted to +know? I saw you listening hard enough.”</p> +<p>“Eavesdropping isn’t my method,” replied Penny +indignantly. “It’s stupid and is employed only by trash +fiction writers and possibly <i>Record</i> reporters.”</p> +<p>“Say, are you suggesting—?”</p> +<p>“Yes,” interrupted Penny wearily. “Now please go +find yourself a roost!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_29">[29]</div> +<p>Francine ignored the empty stools beside Penny +and went to the far side of the lunch room. A moment +later the two men, who had caused the young woman +reporter such concern, entered and sat down at a +counter near Penny, ordering sandwiches and coffee.</p> +<p>Rather ironically, the girl could not avoid hearing +their conversation, and almost their first words gave +her an unpleasant shock.</p> +<p>“Don’t worry, Ralph,” said the stout one. “Nothing +stands in our way now.”</p> +<p>“You’re not forgetting Mrs. Downey’s place?”</p> +<p>“We’ll soon take care of <i>her</i>,” the other boasted. +“That’s why I’m going out to Pine Top with you, +Ralph. I’ll show you how these little affairs are +handled.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_30">[30]</div> +<h2 id="c4"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">4</span> +<br /><i>PINE TOP MOUNTAIN</i></h2> +<p>Penny was startled by the remarks of the two men +because she felt certain that the Mrs. Downey under +discussion must be the woman at whose inn she would +spend a two weeks’ vacation. Was it possible that a +plot was being hatched against her father’s friend? +And what did Francine know about it?</p> +<p>She glanced quickly toward the young woman reporter +who was doing battle with a tough steak which +threatened to leap off her plate whenever she tried to +cut it. Apparently, Francine had not heard any part +of the conversation.</p> +<p>Being only human, Penny decided that despite her +recent comments, she could not be expected to abandon +a perfectly good sandwich in the interests of +theoretical honor. She remained at her post and waited +for the men to reveal more.</p> +<p>Unobligingly, they began to talk of the weather +and politics. Penny finished her sandwich, and sliding +down from the stool wandered outdoors.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_31">[31]</div> +<p>“I wish I knew who those men are,” she thought. +“Francine could tell me if she weren’t so horrid.”</p> +<p>Penny waited until the last possible minute before +boarding the plane. As she stepped inside the cabin she +was surprised to see that Francine had taken the chair +beside Maxine Miller, very coolly moving Penny’s +belongings to the seat at the back of the airliner.</p> +<p>“Did you two decide to change places?” inquired +the stewardess as Penny hesitated beside the empty +chair.</p> +<p>“I didn’t decide. It just seems to be an accomplished +fact.”</p> +<p>The stewardess went down the aisle and touched +Francine’s arm. “Usually the passengers keep their +same seats throughout the journey,” she said with a +pleasant smile. “Would you mind?”</p> +<p>Francine did mind for she had cut her lunch short +in the hope of obtaining the coveted chair, but she +could not refuse to move. Frowning, she went back +to her former place.</p> +<p>Actually, Penny was not particular where she sat. +There was no practical advantage in being directly behind +the two strangers, for their voices were seldom +audible above the roar of the plane. On the other hand, +Miss Miller talked loudly and with scarcely a halt for +breath. Penny was rather relieved when an early stop +for dinner enabled her to gain a slight respite.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_32">[32]</div> +<p>With flying conditions still favorable, the second +half of the journey was begun. Penny curled up in +her clean, comfortable bed, and the gentle rocking of +the plane soon lulled her to sleep. She did not awaken +until morning when the stewardess came to warn her +they soon would be at their destination. Penny dressed +speedily, and enjoyed a delicious breakfast brought to +her on a tray. She had just finished when Francine +staggered down the aisle, eyes bloodshot, her straight +black hair looking as if it had never been combed.</p> +<p>“Will I be glad to get off this plane!” she moaned. +“What a night!”</p> +<p>“I didn’t notice anything wrong with it,” said +Penny. “I take it you didn’t sleep well.”</p> +<p>“Sleep? I never closed my eyes all night, not with +this roller-coaster sliding down one mountain and up +another. I thought every minute we were going to +crash.”</p> +<p>Maxine Miller likewise seemed to have spent an uncomfortable +night, for her face was haggard and worn. +She looked five years older and her make-up was +smeared.</p> +<p>“Tell me, do I look too dreadful?” she asked Penny +anxiously. “I want to appear my best when I meet +Mr. Balantine.”</p> +<p>“You’ll have time to rest up before you see him,” +the girl replied kindly.</p> +<p>“How long before we reach Pine Top?”</p> +<p>“We should be approaching there now.” Penny +studied the terrain below with deep interest, noting +mountain ranges and beautiful snowy valleys.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_33">[33]</div> +<p>At last the plane circled and swept down on a small +landing field which had been cleared of snow. Passengers +began to pour from the cabin, grateful that +the long journey was finally at an end.</p> +<p>“I hope I see you again,” said Penny, extending her +hand to Miss Miller. “And the best of luck with Mr. +Balantine.”</p> +<p>Eagerly, she gathered together her possessions and +stepped out of the plane into blinding sunlight. The +air was crisp and cold, but there was a quality to it +which made her take long, deep breaths. Beyond the +landing field stood a tall row of pine trees, each topped +with a layer of snow like the white icing of a cake. +From somewhere far away she could hear the merry +jingle of sleigh bells.</p> +<p>“So this is Pine Top!” thought Penny. “It’s as +pretty as a Christmas card!”</p> +<p>A small group of persons were at the field to meet +the plane. Catching sight of a short, sober-looking +little woman who was bundled in furs, Penny hastened +toward her.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Downey!” she cried.</p> +<p>“Penny, my dear! How glad I am to see you!” The +woman clasped her firmly, planting a kiss on either +cheek. “But your father shouldn’t have disappointed +me. Why didn’t he come along?”</p> +<p>“He wanted to, but he’s up to his eyebrows in +trouble. A man is suing him for libel.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_34">[34]</div> +<p>“Oh, that <i>is</i> bad,” murmured Mrs. Downey. “I know +what legal trouble means because I’ve had an unpleasant +taste of it myself lately. But come, let’s get +your luggage and be starting up the mountain.”</p> +<p>“Just a minute,” said Penny in a low tone. With a +slight inclination of her head, she indicated the two +male passengers who had made the long journey from +Riverview to Pine Top. “You don’t by any chance +know either of those men?”</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey’s face lost its kindliness and she said, +in a grim voice: “I certainly do!”</p> +<p>Before Penny could urge the woman to reveal their +identity, Francine walked over to where she and Mrs. +Downey stood.</p> +<p>“Did you wish to see me?” inquired the hotel woman +as Francine looked at her with an inquiring gaze.</p> +<p>“Are you Mrs. Downey?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I am.”</p> +<p>“I am looking for a place to stay,” said Francine. “I +was told that you keep an inn.”</p> +<p>“Yes, we have a very nice lodge up the mountain +about a mile from here. The rooms are comfortable, +and I do most of the cooking myself. We’re located +on the best ski slopes in the valley. But if you’re looking +for a place with plenty of style and corresponding +prices you might prefer the Fergus place.”</p> +<p>“Your lodge will exactly suit me, I think,” declared +Francine. “How do I get there?”</p> +<p>“In my bob-sled,” offered Mrs. Downey. “I may +have a few other guests.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_35">[35]</div> +<p>“It won’t take me a minute to get my luggage,” +said Francine, moving away.</p> +<p>Penny was none too pleased to know that the girl +reporter would make her headquarters at the Downey +Inn. Her face must have mirrored her misgiving, for +Mrs. Downey said apologetically:</p> +<p>“Business hasn’t been any too good this season. I +have to pick up an extra tourist whenever I can.”</p> +<p>“Of course,” agreed Penny hastily. “One can’t run +a hotel without guests.”</p> +<p>“I do believe Jake has snared another victim,” Mrs. +Downey laughed. “That woman with the bleached +hair.”</p> +<p>“And who is Jake?” inquired Penny.</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey nodded her head toward a spry man +with leathery skin who was talking with Maxine +Miller.</p> +<p>“He does odd jobs for me at the Inn,” she explained. +“When he has no other occupation he tries to entice +guests into our den.”</p> +<p>“You make it sound like a very wicked business,” +chuckled Penny.</p> +<p>“Since the Fergus hotel was built it’s become a struggle, +to the death,” replied Mrs. Downey soberly. “I +truly believe this will be my last year at Pine Top.”</p> +<p>“Why, you’ve had your home here for years,” said +Penny in astonishment. “You were at Pine Top long +before anyone thought of it as a great skiing resort. +You’re an institution here, Mrs. Downey. Surely you +aren’t serious about giving up your lodge?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_36">[36]</div> +<p>“Yes, I am, Penny. But I shouldn’t start telling my +troubles the moment you arrive. I never would have +said a word if you hadn’t asked me about those two +men yonder.”</p> +<p>She gazed scornfully toward the strangers whose +identity Penny hoped to learn.</p> +<p>“Who <i>are</i> they?” Penny asked quickly.</p> +<p>“The slim fellow with the sharp face is Ralph +Fergus,” answered Mrs. Downey, her voice filled with +bitterness. “He manages the hotel and is supposed to +be the owner. Actually, the other man is the one who +provides all the money.”</p> +<p>“And who is he?”</p> +<p>“Why, you should know,” replied Mrs. Downey. +“He has a hotel in Riverview. His name is Harvey +Maxwell. He only comes here now and then.”</p> +<p>“Harvey Maxwell!” repeated Penny. “Wait until +Dad hears about this!”</p> +<p>“Your father has had dealings with him?”</p> +<p>“Has he?” murmured Penny. “Maxwell is the man +who is suing Dad for libel!”</p> +<p>“Well, of all things!”</p> +<p>“I believe I understand why Francine came out here +too,” Penny said thoughtfully.</p> +<p>“Francine?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_37">[37]</div> +<p>“The girl who just engaged a room at your place. +I think she went to your Inn for the sole purpose of +keeping an eye on me.”</p> +<p>“Why should she wish to do that?”</p> +<p>“Francine is a reporter for the <i>Riverview Record</i>. +Dad’s story about Maxwell bribing a football player +served as a tip-off to other editors. Now the <i>Record</i> +may hope to get evidence against him which they can +build up into a big story.”</p> +<p>“I should think that would help your father’s case.”</p> +<p>“It might,” agreed Penny, “all depending upon how +the evidence was used. But somehow, I don’t trust +Francine. If there’s any fancy newspaper work to be +done at Pine Top, I aim to look after it myself!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_38">[38]</div> +<h2 id="c5"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">5</span> +<br /><i>OVER THE BARBED WIRE</i></h2> +<p>Mrs. Downey laughed at Penny’s remark, not +taking it very seriously.</p> +<p>“I wish someone could uncover damaging evidence +against Harvey Maxwell,” she declared. “But I fear +he’s far too clever a man to be caught in anything dishonest. +Sometime when you’re in the mood to hear +a tale of woe, I’ll tell you how he is running things at +Pine Top.”</p> +<p>“I’d like to learn everything I can about him,” responded +Penny eagerly.</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey led the girl across the field to the road +where the bob-sled and team of horses had been +hitched. Jake, the handy man, appeared a moment +later, loaded down with skis and luggage. Maxine +Miller, Francine, and a well-dressed business man soon +arrived and were helped into the sled.</p> +<p>“This is unique taxi service to say the least,” declared +Francine, none too well pleased. “It must take +ages to get up the mountain.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_39">[39]</div> +<p>“Not very long,” replied Mrs. Downey cheerfully.</p> +<p>Jake drove, with the hotel woman and her guests +sitting on the floor of the sled, covered by warm +blankets.</p> +<p>“Is it always so cold here?” shivered Miss Miller.</p> +<p>“Always at this time of year,” returned Mrs. +Downey. “You’ll not mind it in a day or two. And +the skiing is wonderful. We had six more inches of +snow last night.”</p> +<p>Penny thoroughly enjoyed the novel experience of +gliding swiftly over the hard-packed snow. The bobsled +presently passed a large rustic building at the base +of the mountain which Mrs. Downey pointed out as +the Fergus hotel.</p> +<p>“I suppose all the rich people stay there,” commented +Miss Miller. “Do you know if they have a +guest named David Balantine?”</p> +<p>“The producer? Yes, I believe he is staying at the +Fergus hotel.”</p> +<p>At the next bend Jake stopped the horses so that +the girls might obtain a view of the valley.</p> +<p>“Over to the right is the village of Pine Top,” indicated +Mrs. Downey. “Just beyond the Fergus hotel +is the site of an old silver mine, abandoned many years +ago. And when we reach the next curve you’ll be able +to look north and see into Canada.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_40">[40]</div> +<p>A short ride on up the mountain brought the party +to the Downey Lodge, a small but comfortable log +building amid the pines. On the summit of a slope not +far away they could see the figure of a skier, poised for +a swift, downward flight.</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey assigned the guests to their rooms, +tactfully establishing Penny and Francine at opposite +ends of a long hall.</p> +<p>“Luncheon will be served at one o’clock,” she told +them. “If you feel equal to it you’ll have time for a +bit of skiing.”</p> +<p>“I believe I’ll walk down to the village and send a +wire to Dad,” said Penny. “Then this afternoon I’ll +try my luck on the slopes.”</p> +<p>“Just follow the road and you’ll not get lost,” instructed +Mrs. Downey.</p> +<p>Penny unpacked her suitcase, and then set forth at a +brisk walk for the village. She found the telegraph +station without difficulty and dispatched a message to +her father, telling him of Harvey Maxwell’s presence +in Pine Top.</p> +<p>The town itself, consisting of half a dozen stores and +twice as many houses, was soon explored. Before starting +back up the mountain Penny thought she would +buy a morning newspaper. But as she made inquiry at +a drug store, the owner shook his head.</p> +<p>“We don’t carry them here. The only papers we +get come in by plane. They’re all sold out long before +this.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I see,” said Penny in disappointment, “well, +next time I’ll try to come earlier.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_41">[41]</div> +<p>“I beg your pardon,” ventured a voice directly behind +her. “Allow me to offer you my paper.”</p> +<p>Penny turned around to see that Ralph Fergus had +entered the drugstore in time to hear her remark. With +a most engaging smile, he extended his own newspaper.</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t like to take your paper,” she protested, +wishing to accept no favor however small from the +man.</p> +<p>“Please do,” he urged, thrusting it into her hand. “I +have finished with it.”</p> +<p>“Thank you,” said Penny.</p> +<p>She took the paper and started to leave the store. +Mr. Fergus fell into step with her, following her outside.</p> +<p>“Going back up the mountain?” he inquired casually.</p> +<p>“Yes, I was.”</p> +<p>“I’ll walk along if you don’t mind having company.”</p> +<p>“Not at all.”</p> +<p>Penny studied Ralph Fergus curiously, fairly certain +he had a special reason for wishing to walk with +her. For a time they trudged along in silence, the snow +creaking beneath their boots.</p> +<p>“Staying at the Downey Lodge?” Fergus inquired +after awhile.</p> +<p>“Yes, I am.”</p> +<p>“Like it there?”</p> +<p>“Well, I only arrived on the morning plane.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_42">[42]</div> +<p>“Yes, I noticed you aboard,” he nodded. “Mrs. +Downey is a very fine woman, a very fine woman, but +her lodge isn’t modern. You noticed that, I suppose?”</p> +<p>“I’m not especially critical,” smiled Penny. “It +seemed to suit my needs.”</p> +<p>“You’ll be more critical after you have stayed there +a few days,” he warned. “The service is very poor. +Even this little matter of getting a morning newspaper. +Now our hotel sees that every guest has one shoved +under his door before breakfast.”</p> +<p>“That would be very nice, I’m sure,” remarked +Penny dryly. “You’re the manager of the hotel, aren’t +you?”</p> +<p>Ralph Fergus gave her a quick, appraising glance. +“Right you are,” he said jovially. “Naturally I think +we have the finest hotel at Pine Top and I wish you +would try it. I’ll be glad to make you a special rate.”</p> +<p>“You’re very kind.” It was a struggle for Penny to +keep her voice casual. “I may drop around sometime +and look the hotel over.”</p> +<p>“Do that,” he urged. “Here is my card. Just ask for +me and I’ll show you about.”</p> +<p>Penny took the card and dropped it into her pocket. +A few minutes later as they passed the Fergus hotel, +her companion parted company with her.</p> +<p>“He thought I was an ordinary guest at Mrs. +Downey’s,” Penny told herself. “Otherwise, he never +would have dared to make such an open bid for my +patronage.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_43">[43]</div> +<p>Upon returning to the lodge she told Mrs. Downey +of her meeting with Ralph Fergus.</p> +<p>“It doesn’t surprise me one bit,” the woman replied +angrily. “Fergus has been using every method he can +think of to get my guests away from me. He has +runners out all the time, talking up his hotel and talking +mine down.”</p> +<p>Penny sat on the edge of the kitchen table, watching +Mrs. Downey stir a great kettle of steaming soup.</p> +<p>“While I was coming here on the plane I heard +Fergus and Maxwell speaking about you.”</p> +<p>“You did, Penny? What did they have to say? +Nothing good, I’ll warrant.”</p> +<p>“I couldn’t understand what they meant at the +time, but now I think I do. They said that nothing +stood in their way except your place. Maxwell declared +he would soon take care of you, and that he +was on his way to Pine Top to show Fergus how such +affairs were handled.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey kept on stirring with the big spoon. +“So the screws are to be twisted a bit harder?” she +asked grimly.</p> +<p>“Why do they want your place?” Penny inquired.</p> +<p>“Because I take a few of their guests away from +them. If my lodge closed up they could raise prices +sky high, and they would do it, too!”</p> +<p>“They offered me a special rate, whatever that +means.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_44">[44]</div> +<p>“Fergus has been cutting his room rents lately for +the sole purpose of getting my customers away from +me. He makes up for it by charging three and even +four dollars a meal. The guests don’t learn that until +after they have moved in.”</p> +<p>“And there’s nothing you can do about it?”</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey shook her head. “I’ve been fighting +with my back to the wall this past season. I don’t see +how I possibly can make it another year. That is why +I wanted you and your father to visit here before I +gave up the place.”</p> +<p>“Dad might have helped you,” Penny said regretfully. +“I’m sorry he wasn’t able to come.”</p> +<p>At one o’clock Mrs. Downey served a plain but +substantial meal to fourteen guests who tramped in out +of the snow. They called loudly for second and third +helpings which were cheerfully given.</p> +<p>After luncheon Penny sat for a time about the +crackling log fire and then she went to her room and +changed into her skiing clothes.</p> +<p>“The nursery slopes are at the rear of the lodge,” +Mrs. Downey told her as she went out through the +kitchen. “But you’re much too experienced for them.”</p> +<p>“I haven’t been on skis for nearly two years.”</p> +<p>“It will come back to you quickly.”</p> +<p>“I thought I might taxi down and look over the +Fergus hotel.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_45">[45]</div> +<p>“The trail is well marked. Just be careful as you +get about half way down. There is a sharp turn and +if you miss it you may find yourself wrapped around +an evergreen.”</p> +<p>Penny went outside, and buckling on her skis, +glided to the top of a long slope which fell rather +sharply through lanes of pine trees to the wide valley +below. As she was studying the course, reflecting that +the crusted snow would be very fast, Francine came +out of the lodge and stood watching her.</p> +<p>“What’s the matter, Penny?” she called. “Can’t you +get up your nerve?”</p> +<p>Penny dug in her poles and pushed off. Crouching +low, skis running parallel, she tore down the track. +Pine trees crowded past on either side in a greenish +blur. The wind whistled in her ears. She jabbed her +poles into the snow to check her speed.</p> +<p>After the first steep stretch, the course flattened +out slightly. From a cautious left traverse, a lifted +stem turn gave her time to concentrate her full attention +on the route ahead. She swerved to avoid a +boulder which would have broken her ski had she +crashed into it, and rode out a series of long, undulating +hollows.</p> +<p>Gathering speed again, Penny made her decisions +with lightning rapidity. There was no time to think. +Confronted with a choice of turns, she chose the right +hand trail, slashing through in a beautiful christiana. +Too late, she realized her error.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_46">[46]</div> +<p>Directly ahead loomed a barbed wire fence. There +was no opportunity to turn aside. Penny knew that +she must jump or take a disastrous fall.</p> +<p>Swinging her poles forward, she let them drop in +the snow close to her ski tips. Crouching low she +sprang upward with all her strength. The sticks gave +her leverage so that she could lift her skis clear of +the snow. Momentum carried her forward over the +fence.</p> +<p>Penny felt the jar of the runners as they slapped on +the snow. Then she lost her balance and tumbled head +over heels.</p> +<p>Untangling herself, she sat up and gazed back at the +barbed wire fence.</p> +<p>“I wish all my friends at Riverview could have seen +that jump!” she thought proudly. “It was a beauty +even if I did land wrong side up.”</p> +<p>A large painted sign which had been fastened to +the fence, drew her attention. It read: “Skiers Keep +Out.”</p> +<p>“I wonder if that means me?” remarked Penny +aloud.</p> +<p>“Yes, it means you!” said an angry voice behind her.</p> +<p>Penny rolled over in the snow, waving her skis in +the air. She drew in her breath sharply. An old man +with a dark beard had stepped from the shadow of +the pine trees, a gun grasped in his gnarled hands!</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_47">[47]</div> +<h2 id="c6"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">6</span> +<br /><i>PENNY TRESPASSES</i></h2> +<p>“Can’t you understand signs?” the old man demanded, +advancing with cat-like tread from the fringe +of pine trees.</p> +<p>“Not when I’m traveling down a mountain side at +two hundred miles an hour!” Penny replied. “Please, +would you mind pointing that cannon in some other +direction? It might go off.”</p> +<p>The old man lowered the shotgun, but the grim +lines of his wrinkled, leathery face did not relax.</p> +<p>“Get up!” he commanded, prodding her with the +toe of his heavy boot. “Get out of here! I won’t have +you or any other skier on my property.”</p> +<p>“Then allow me to make a suggestion,” remarked +Penny pleasantly. “Put up another strand of barbed +wire and you’ll have them all in the hospital!”</p> +<p>She sat up, gingerly felt of her left ankle and then +began to brush snow from her jacket. “Did you see +me make the jump?” she asked. “I took it just like a +reindeer. Or do I mean a gazelle?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_48">[48]</div> +<p>“You made a very awkward jump!” he retorted. “I +could have done better myself.”</p> +<p>Penny glanced up with genuine interest. “Oh, do +you ski?”</p> +<p>By this time she no longer was afraid of the old man, +if indeed she had ever been.</p> +<p>“No, I don’t ski!” he answered impatiently. “Now +hurry up! Get those skis off and start moving! I’ll not +wait all day.”</p> +<p>Penny began to unstrap the long hickory runners, +but with no undue show of haste. She glanced curiously +about the snowy field. An old shed stood not +far away. Beside it towered a great stack of wood +which reached nearly as high as the roof. Through +the trees she caught a glimpse of a weather-stained log +cabin with smoke curling lazily from the brick chimney.</p> +<p>As Penny was regarding it, she saw a flash of color +at one of the windows. A girl who might have been +her own age had her face pressed against the pane. +Seeing Penny’s gaze upon her, she began to make motions +which could not be understood.</p> +<p>The old man also turned his head to look toward +the cabin. Immediately, the girl disappeared from the +window.</p> +<p>“Is that where you live?” inquired Penny.</p> +<p>Instead of answering, the old man seized her by +the hand and pulled her to her feet.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_49">[49]</div> +<p>“Go!” he commanded. “And don’t let me catch +you here again!”</p> +<p>Penny shouldered her skis and moved toward the +fence.</p> +<p>“So sorry to have damaged your nice snow,” she +apologized. “I’ll try not to trespass again.”</p> +<p>Crawling under the barbed wire fence, Penny retraced +her way up the slope to the point on the trail +where she had taken the wrong turn. There she hesitated +and finally decided to walk on to the Fergus +hotel.</p> +<p>“I wonder who that girl was at the window?” Penny +reflected as she trudged along. “She looked too young +to be Old Whisker’s daughter. And what was she +trying to tell me?”</p> +<p>The problem was too deep for her to solve. But +she made up her mind she would ask Mrs. Downey the +name of the queer old man as soon as she returned to +the lodge.</p> +<p>Reaching the Fergus hotel, Penny parked her skis +upright in a snowbank near the front door, and went +inside. She found herself in a long lobby at the end +of which was a great stone fireplace with a half burned +log on the hearth. Bellboys in green uniforms and +brass buttons darted to and fro. A general stir of activity +pervaded the place.</p> +<p>As Penny was gazing about, she saw Maxine Miller +leave an elevator and come slowly across the lobby. +The actress would not have seen her had she not spoken.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_50">[50]</div> +<p>“How do you do, Miss Miller. I didn’t expect to +see you here.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Miss Parker!” The actress’ face was the picture +of despair. “I’ve had the most wretched misfortune!”</p> +<p>“Why, what has happened?” inquired Penny, although +she thought she knew the answer to her question.</p> +<p>“I’ve just seen Mr. Balantine.” Miss Miller sagged +into the depths of a luxuriously upholstered davenport +and leaned her head back against the cushion.</p> +<p>“Your interview didn’t turn out as you expected?”</p> +<p>“He wouldn’t give me the part. Hateful old goat! +He even refused to allow me to demonstrate how well +I could read the lines! And he said some very insulting +things to me.”</p> +<p>“That is too bad,” returned Penny sympathetically. +“What will you do now? Go back home?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” the woman replied in despair. “I +would stay if I thought I could change Mr. Balantine’s +opinion. Do you think I could?”</p> +<p>“I shouldn’t advise it myself. Of course, I don’t +know anything about Mr. Balantine.”</p> +<p>“He’s very temperamental. Perhaps if I kept bothering +him he would finally give me a chance.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_51">[51]</div> +<p>“Well, it might be worth trying,” Penny said doubtfully. +“But I think if I were you I would return +home.”</p> +<p>“All of my friends will laugh at me. They thought +it was foolish to come out here as it was. I can’t go +back. I am inclined to move down to this hotel so +I’ll be able to keep in touch with Mr. Balantine with +less difficulty.”</p> +<p>“It’s a very nice looking hotel,” commented Penny. +“Expensive, I’ve been told.”</p> +<p>“In the show business one must keep up appearances +at all cost,” replied Miss Miller. “I believe I’ll +inquire about the rates.”</p> +<p>While Penny waited, the actress crossed over to +the desk and talked with a clerk. In a small office close +by, Ralph Fergus and Harvey Maxwell could be seen +in consultation. They were poring over a ledger, +apparently checking business accounts.</p> +<p>Miss Miller returned in a moment. “I’ve taken a +room,” she announced. “I can’t afford it, but I am +doing it anyway.”</p> +<p>“Will you be able to manage?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’ll run up a bill and then let them try to collect!”</p> +<p>Penny gazed at the actress with frank amazement.</p> +<p>“You surely don’t mean you would deliberately +defraud the hotel?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_52">[52]</div> +<p>“Not so loud or the clerk will hear you,” Miss +Miller warned. “And don’t use such an ugly word. +If I land the part with Mr. Balantine, of course I’ll +pay. If not—the worst they can do is to throw me +out.”</p> +<p>Penny said no more but her opinion of Miss Miller +had descended several notches.</p> +<p>“What are you doing here?” the actress inquired, +quickly changing the subject.</p> +<p>“Oh, I just came down to look over the hotel. It’s +very swanky, but I like Mrs. Downey’s place better.”</p> +<p>Miss Miller turned to leave. “I am going back there +now to check out,” she declared. “Would you like +to walk along?”</p> +<p>“No, thank you, I’ll just stay here and rest for a few +minutes.”</p> +<p>Penny had no real purpose in coming to the Fergus +hotel. She merely had been curious to see what it was +like. Even a casual inspection made it clear that Mrs. +Downey’s modest little lodge never could compete +with such a luxurious establishment.</p> +<p>She studied the faces of the persons in the lobby. +There seemed to be a strange assortment of people, +including a large number of men and women who certainly +had never been drawn to Pine Top by the +skiing. Penny thought whimsically that it would be +interesting to see some of the fat, pampered-looking +ones take a tumble on the slippery slopes.</p> +<p>“But what is the attraction of this place, if not the +skiing?” she puzzled. “There is no other form of entertainment.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_53">[53]</div> +<p>Presently, a well-fed lady in rustling black silk, +her hand heavy with diamond rings, paused beside +Penny.</p> +<p>“I beg your pardon,” she said, “can you tell me +how to find the Green Room?”</p> +<p>“No, I can’t,” replied Penny. “I would need a map +to get around in this hotel. You might ask at the +desk.”</p> +<p>The woman fluttered over to the clerk and asked +the same question.</p> +<p>“You have your card, Madam?” he inquired in a +low tone.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, to be sure. The manager presented it to +me this morning.”</p> +<p>“Take the elevator to the second floor wing,” the +man instructed. “Room 22. Show your card to the +doorman and you will be admitted.”</p> +<p>Penny waited until after the woman had gone away. +Then she arose and sauntered across the lobby. She +picked up a handful of hotel literature but there was +no mention of any Green Room. Pausing by the elevator, +she waited until the cage was deserted of passengers +before speaking to the attendant, a red headed +boy of about seventeen.</p> +<p>“Where is the Green Room, please?”</p> +<p>“Second floor, Miss.”</p> +<p>“And what is it? A dining room?”</p> +<p>The attendant shot her a peculiar glance and gave +an answer which was equally strange.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_54">[54]</div> +<p>“It’s not a dining room. I can’t tell you what it is.”</p> +<p>“A cocktail room perhaps?”</p> +<p>“Listen, I told you I don’t know,” the boy answered.</p> +<p>“You work here, don’t you?”</p> +<p>“Sure I do,” he said with emphasis. “And I aim to +keep my job for awhile. If you want to know anything +about the Green Room ask at the desk!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_55">[55]</div> +<h2 id="c7"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">7</span> +<br /><i>THE GREEN DOOR</i></h2> +<p>Before Penny could ask another question, the +signal board flashed a summons, and the attendant +slammed shut the door of the elevator. He shot the +cage up to the fifth floor and did not return.</p> +<p>Hesitating a moment, Penny wandered over to the +desk.</p> +<p>“How does one go about obtaining a card for the +Green Room?” she inquired casually.</p> +<p>“You’re not a guest here?” questioned the clerk.</p> +<p>“No.”</p> +<p>“You’ll have to talk with the manager. Oh, Mr. +Fergus!”</p> +<p>Penny had not meant to have the matter go so far, +but there was no retreating. The hotel manager came +out of his office, and recognizing her, smiled ingratiatingly.</p> +<p>“Ah, good afternoon, Miss—” He groped for her +name but Penny did not supply it. “So you decided +to pay us a visit after all.”</p> +<p>“This young lady asked about the Green Room,” +said the clerk significantly.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_56">[56]</div> +<p>Mr. Fergus bestowed a shrewd, appraising look +upon Penny.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes,” he said to give himself more time, “Oh, +yes, I see. What was it you wished to know?”</p> +<p>“How does one obtain a card of admission?”</p> +<p>“It is very simple. That is, if you have the proper +recommendations and bank credit.”</p> +<p>“Recommendations?” Penny asked blankly. “Just +what is the Green Room anyway?”</p> +<p>Ralph Fergus and the clerk exchanged a quick +glance which was not lost upon the girl.</p> +<p>“I see you are not familiar with the little service +which is offered hotel guests,” Mr. Fergus said suavely. +“I shall be most happy to explain it to you at some +later time when I am not quite so busy.”</p> +<p>He bowed and went hurriedly back into the office.</p> +<p>“I guess I shouldn’t have inquired about the Green +Room,” Penny observed aloud. “There seems to be a +deep mystery connected with it.”</p> +<p>“No mystery,” corrected the clerk. “If you will +leave your name and address I am sure everything +can be arranged within a few days.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, I don’t believe I’ll bother.”</p> +<p>Penny turned and nearly ran into Francine Sellberg. +Too late, she realized that the girl reporter probably +had been standing by the desk for some time, listening +to her conversation.</p> +<p>“Hello, Francine,” she said carelessly.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_57">[57]</div> +<p>The girl returned a haughty stare. “I don’t believe +I know you, Miss,” she said, and walked on across +the lobby.</p> +<p>Penny was rather stunned by the unexpected snub. +She took a step as if to follow Francine and demand +an explanation, but her sense of humor came to her +rescue.</p> +<p>“Who cares?” she asked herself with a shrug. “If +she doesn’t care to know me, it’s perfectly all right. I +can manage to bear up.”</p> +<p>After Francine had left the hotel, Penny made up +her mind that she would try to learn a little more +about the Green Room. Her interest was steadily +mounting and she could not imagine what “service” +might be offered guests in this particular part of the +hotel.</p> +<p>Choosing a moment when no one appeared to be +watching, Penny mounted the stairway to the second +floor. She followed a long corridor to its end but did +not locate Room 22. Returning to the elevator, she +started in the opposite direction. The numbers ended +at 20.</p> +<p>While Penny was trying to figure it out, a group +of four men and women came down the hall. They +were well dressed individuals but their manner did +not stamp them as persons of good breeding. One of +the women who carried a jeweled handbag was talking +in a loud, excited tone:</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_58">[58]</div> +<p>“Oh, Herbert, wait until you see it! I shall weep +my eyes out if you don’t agree to buy it for me at +once. And the price! Ridiculously cheap! We’ll never +run into bargains like these in New York.”</p> +<p>“We’ll see, Sally,” replied the man. “I’m not satisfied +yet that this isn’t a flim-flam game.”</p> +<p>He opened a door which bore no number, and +stood aside for the others to pass ahead of him. Penny +caught a glimpse of a long, empty hallway.</p> +<p>“That must be the way to Room 22,” she thought.</p> +<p>She waited until the men and women had gone +ahead, and then cautiously opened the door which +had closed behind them. No one questioned her as +she moved noiselessly down the corridor. At its very +end loomed a green painted door, its top edge gracefully +circular. Beside it at a small table sat a man who +evidently was stationed there as a guard.</p> +<p>Penny walked slowly, watching the men and +women ahead. They paused at the table and showed +slips of cardboards. The guard then opened the green +door and allowed them to pass through.</p> +<p>It looked so very easy that Penny decided to try +her luck. She drew closer.</p> +<p>“Your card please,” requested the doorman.</p> +<p>“I am afraid I haven’t mine with me,” said Penny, +flashing her most beguiling smile.</p> +<p>The smile was entirely lost upon the man. “Then +I can’t let you in,” he said.</p> +<p>“Not even if I have lost my card?”</p> +<p>“Orders,” he answered briefly. “You’ll have no +trouble getting another.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_59">[59]</div> +<p>Penny started to turn away, and then asked with +attempted carelessness:</p> +<p>“What’s going on in there anyway? Are they selling +something?”</p> +<p>“I really couldn’t tell you,” he responded.</p> +<p>“Everyone in this hotel seems to be blind, deaf and +dumb,” Penny muttered to herself as she retraced her +way to the main hall. “And definitely, for a purpose. +I wonder if maybe I haven’t stumbled into something?”</p> +<p>She still had not the faintest idea what might lie +beyond the Green Door, but the very name had an +intriguing sound. It suggested mystery. It suggested, +too, that Ralph Fergus and his financial backer, Harvey +Maxwell, might have developed some special +money-making scheme which would not bear exposure.</p> +<p>Into Penny’s mind leaped a remark which her father +had made, one to the effect that Harvey Maxwell was +thought to have his finger in many dishonest affairs. +The Green Room might be a perfectly legitimate +place of entertainment for hotel guests, but the remarks +she had overheard led Penny to think otherwise. +Something was being sold in Room 22. And to +a very select clientele!</p> +<p>“If only I could learn facts which would help Dad’s +case!” she told herself. “Anything showing that Maxwell +is mixed up in a dishonest scheme might turn the +trick!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_60">[60]</div> +<p>It occurred to Penny that the editor of the <i>Riverview +Record</i> might have had some inkling of a story +to be found at Pine Top. Otherwise, why had Francine +been sent to the mountain resort? Certainly the +rival reporter was working upon an assignment which +concerned Harvey Maxwell. She inadvertently had +revealed that fact at the Riverview airport.</p> +<p>“Francine thinks I came here for the same purpose,” +mused Penny. “If only she weren’t so high-hat we +could work together.”</p> +<p>There was almost no real evidence to point to a +conclusion that the Fergus hotel was not being operated +properly. Penny realized only too well that once +more she was depending upon a certain intuition. An +investigation of the Green Room might reveal no +mystery. But at least there was a slender hope she +could learn something which would aid her father in +discrediting Harvey Maxwell.</p> +<p>Without attracting attention, Penny descended to +the main floor and left the hotel. As she retrieved +her skis from the snowbank she was surprised to see +Francine standing close by, obviously waiting for +her.</p> +<p>“Hello, Penny,” the girl greeted her.</p> +<p>“Goodness! Aren’t you mistaken? I don’t think you +know me!”</p> +<p>“Oh, don’t try to be funny,” Francine replied, falling +into step. “I’ll explain.”</p> +<p>“I wish you would.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_61">[61]</div> +<p>“You should have known better than to shout out +my name there in the lobby.”</p> +<p>“I don’t follow your reasoning at all, Francine. Are +you traveling incognito or something?”</p> +<p>“Naturally I don’t care to have it advertised that +I am a reporter. I rather imagine you’re not overly +anxious to have it known that you are the daughter +of Anthony Parker either!”</p> +<p>“It probably wouldn’t be any particular help,” admitted +Penny.</p> +<p>“Exactly! Despite your play-acting at the airport, +I know you came here to get the low-down on Harvey +Maxwell. But the minute he learns who you are +you’ll not even get inside the hotel.”</p> +<p>“And that goes double, I take it?”</p> +<p>“No one at Pine Top except you knows I am a +reporter,” went on Francine without answering. “So +I warn you, don’t pull another boner like you did a +few minutes ago. Whenever we’re around Fergus or +Maxwell or persons who might report to them, just +remember you never saw me before. Is that clear?”</p> +<p>“Moderately so,” drawled Penny.</p> +<p>“I guess that’s all I have to say.” Francine hesitated +and started to walk off.</p> +<p>“Wait a minute, Francine,” spoke Penny impulsively. +“Why don’t we bury the hatchet and work +together on this thing? After all I am more interested +in gaining evidence against Maxwell than I am in getting +a big story for the paper. How about it?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_62">[62]</div> +<p>Francine smiled in a superior way.</p> +<p>“Thank you, I prefer to lone wolf it. You see, I +happen to have a very good lead, and you don’t.”</p> +<p>“Well, I’ve heard about the Green Room,” said +Penny, hazarding a shot in the dark. “That’s something.”</p> +<p>Francine stopped short.</p> +<p>“What do you know about it?” she demanded +quickly. “Maybe we could work together after all.”</p> +<p>Penny laughed as she bent down to strap on her +skis.</p> +<p>“No, thanks,” she declined pleasantly. “You once +suggested that a clever reporter finds his own answers. +You’ll have to wait until you read it in the <i>Star</i>!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_63">[63]</div> +<h2 id="c8"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">8</span> +<br /><i>A CODED MESSAGE</i></h2> +<p>Penny sat in the kitchen of Mrs. Downey’s lodge, +warming her half frozen toes in the oven.</p> +<p>“Well, how did you like the skiing?” inquired her +hostess who was busy mixing a huge meat loaf to be +served for dinner.</p> +<p>“It was glorious,” answered Penny, “only I took a +bad spill. Somehow I missed the turn you told me +about, and found myself heading for a barbed wire +fence. I jumped it and made a one point landing in a +snowbank!”</p> +<p>“You didn’t hurt yourself, thank goodness.”</p> +<p>“No, but an old man with a shotgun came out of +the woods and said ‘Scat!’ to me. It seems he doesn’t +like skiers.”</p> +<p>“That must have been Peter Jasko.”</p> +<p>“And who is he, Mrs. Downey?”</p> +<p>“One of the oldest settlers on Pine Top Mountain,” +sighed Mrs. Downey. “He’s a very pleasant man in +some respects, but in others—oh, dear.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_64">[64]</div> +<p>“Skiing must be one of his unpleasant aspects. I +noticed he had a ‘Keep Out’ sign posted on his property.”</p> +<p>“Peter Jasko is a great trial to me and other persons +on the mountain. He has a hatred of skiing and everything +pertaining to it, which amounts to fanaticism. A +number of skiers have been injured by running into +his barbed wire fence.”</p> +<p>“Then he put it up on purpose?”</p> +<p>“Oh, yes! He has an idea it will keep folks from +skiing.”</p> +<p>“He isn’t—?” Penny tapped her forehead significantly.</p> +<p>“No,” smiled Mrs. Downey. “Old Peter is right in +his mind, at least in every respect save this one. He +owns our best ski slopes, too.”</p> +<p>Penny shifted her foot to a cooler place in the oven.</p> +<p>“Not the slopes connected with this lodge?”</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey nodded as she whipped eggs to a +foamy yellow.</p> +<p>“I leased the land from Jasko’s son many years ago, +and Jasko can do nothing about it except rage. However, +the lease expires soon. He has given me to understand +it will not be renewed.”</p> +<p>“Can’t you deal with the son?”</p> +<p>“He is dead, Penny.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I see. That does make it difficult.”</p> +<p>“Decidedly. Jasko’s attitude about the lease is another +reason why I think this will be my last year in +the hotel business.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_65">[65]</div> +<p>“You don’t think Ralph Fergus or Harvey Maxwell +have influenced Jasko?” Penny asked thoughtfully, +a frown ridging her forehead.</p> +<p>“I doubt that anyone could influence the old man,” +replied Mrs. Downey. “Stubborn isn’t the word to describe +his character. Even if I lose the ski slopes, I +am quite sure he will never lease them to the Fergus +hotel interests.”</p> +<p>“While I was down there I thought I saw a girl +standing at the window of the cabin.”</p> +<p>“Probably you did, Penny. Jasko has a granddaughter +about your age, named Sara. A very nice girl, too, +but she is kept close at home.”</p> +<p>“I feel sorry for her if she has to live with that old +man. He seemed like a regular ogre.”</p> +<p>Removing her toasted feet from the oven, Penny +pulled on her stiff boots again. Without bothering to +lace them, she hobbled toward the door.</p> +<p>“Oh, by the way,” she remarked, pausing. “Did +you ever hear of a Green Room at the Fergus hotel?”</p> +<p>“A Green Room?” repeated Mrs. Downey. “No, I +can’t say I have. What is it, Penny?”</p> +<p>“I wonder myself. Something funny seems to be +going on there.”</p> +<p>Having aroused Mrs. Downey’s curiosity, Penny +gave a more complete account of her visit to the +Fergus hotel.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_66">[66]</div> +<p>“I’ve never heard anyone mention such a place,” +declared the woman in a puzzled voice. “But I will +say this. The hotel always has attracted a peculiar +group of guests.”</p> +<p>“How would you like to have me solve the mystery +for you?” joked Penny.</p> +<p>“It would suit me very well indeed,” laughed Mrs. +Downey. “And while you’re about it you might put +Ralph Fergus out of business, and bring me a new +flock of guests.”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid you’re losing one instead. Maxine Miller +told me she is moving down to the big hotel.”</p> +<p>“I know. She checked out a half hour ago. Jake +made an extra trip to haul her luggage down the +mountain.”</p> +<p>“Anyway, I shouldn’t be sorry to see her go if I +were you,” comforted Penny. “I am quite sure she +hasn’t enough money to pay for a week’s stay at Pine +Top.”</p> +<p>Going to her room, Penny changed into more comfortable +clothing and busied herself writing a long +letter to her father. From her desk by the window she +could see skiers trudging up the slopes, some of them +making neat herring-bone tracks, others slipping and +sliding, losing almost as much distance as they gained.</p> +<p>As she watched, Francine swung into view, poling +rhythmically, in perfect timing with her long easy +strides.</p> +<p>“She <i>is</i> good,” thought Penny, grudgingly.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_67">[67]</div> +<p>Dinner was served at six. Afterwards, the guests +sat before the crackling log fire and bored each other +with tales of their skiing prowess. A few of the more +enterprising ones waxed their skis in preparation for +the next day’s sport.</p> +<p>“Any newspapers tonight?” inquired a business man +of Mrs. Downey. “Or is this another one of the blank +days?”</p> +<p>“Jake brought New York papers from the village,” +replied the hotel woman. “They are on the table.”</p> +<p>“Blank days?” questioned Francine, looking up +from a magazine she had been reading.</p> +<p>“Mr. Glasser calls them that when he doesn’t get +the daily stock market report,” explained Mrs. +Downey, smiling at her guest.</p> +<p>“And don’t the newspapers always arrive?” questioned +Francine.</p> +<p>“Not always. Lately the service has been very +poor.”</p> +<p>“I’d rather be deprived of a meal than my paper,” +growled Mr. Glasser. “What annoys me is that the +guests at the Fergus hotel always get their papers. I +wish someone would explain it to me.”</p> +<p>“And I wish someone would explain it to <i>me</i>,” +murmured Mrs. Downey, retreating to the kitchen.</p> +<p>In the morning Penny decided to ski down to the +village for a jar of cold cream. The snow was crusted +and fast but she felt no terror of the trail which +curved sharply through the evergreens. Her balance +was better, and this time she had no intention of impaling +herself on Peter Jasko’s barbed wire fence.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_68">[68]</div> +<p>Seldom checking her speed, she hurtled along the +ribbon of trail. Racing on to the sharp turn, she shifted +her weight and swung her body at precisely the right +instant. The slope stretched on past rows of tall trees, +towering like sentinels along the snow-swept ridges. +Presently it flattened out into an open valley. Penny +sailed past a house, a barn, and gradually slowed up +until she came to a low hillock overlooking the village.</p> +<p>Recapturing her breath, Penny took off her skis +and walked on into Pine Top. She made a few purchases +at the drug store and then impulsively entered +the telegraph office. To her surprise, Francine Sellberg +was there ahead of her.</p> +<p>“How late is your office open?” the reporter was +asking the operator.</p> +<p>“Six-thirty,” he replied.</p> +<p>“And if one has a rush message to send after that +hour?”</p> +<p>“Well, you can get me at my house,” the man answered. +“I live over behind the Albert’s Filling Station.”</p> +<p>“Thank you,” responded Francine, flashing Penny +a mocking smile. “I may have an important story to +send to my paper any hour. I wanted to be sure there +would be no delay in getting it off.”</p> +<p>Penny waited until the reporter had left the office +and then said apologetically:</p> +<p>“I don’t suppose you’ve received any message for +me?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_69">[69]</div> +<p>“We always telephone as soon as anything comes +in,” the man replied. “But wait! You’re Penelope +Parker, aren’t you?”</p> +<p>“In my more serious moments. Otherwise, just plain +Penny.”</p> +<p>“I do have something for you, then. A message +came in a few minutes ago. I’ve been too busy to telephone +it to the lodge.”</p> +<p>He handed Penny a sheet of paper which she read +eagerly. As she anticipated, it was from her father, +and with his usual disregard for economy he had not +bothered to omit words.</p> +<p>“Glad to learn you arrived safely at Pine Top,” he +had wired. “Your information about H. M. is astonishing, +if true. Are you sure it is the same man? Keep +your eye on him, and report to me if you learn anything +worth while. I am held here by important developments, +but will try to come to Pine Top for +Christmas.”</p> +<p>Penny read the message twice, scowling at the sentence: +“Are you sure it is the same man?” It was clear +to her that her father did not have a great deal of faith +in her identification. And obviously, he did not believe +that anything could be gained by making a special +trip to Pine Top to see the hotel man.</p> +<p>Thrusting the paper into the pocket of her jacket +she went out into the cold.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_70">[70]</div> +<p>“No one seems to rate my detective work very +highly,” she complained to herself. “But when Dad +gets my letter telling him about the Green Door he +may take a different attitude!”</p> +<p>Skis slung over her shoulder, she began the weary +climb back to the Downey lodge. Before Penny had +walked very far she saw that she was overtaking a +man on the narrow trail ahead of her. Observing that +it was Ralph Fergus, she immediately slowed her steps.</p> +<p>The hotel man did not turn his head to glance back. +He kept walking slower and slower as if in deep +thought, and after a time he reached absently into his +pocket for a letter.</p> +<p>As he pulled it out, another piece of pale gray paper +fluttered to the ground. Fergus did not notice that he +had lost anything. The wind caught the paper and +blew it down the slope toward Penny.</p> +<p>“Oh, Mr. Fergus!” she called. “You dropped something!”</p> +<p>The wind hurled her words back at her. Realizing +that she could not make the man hear, Penny quickened +her pace. After a short chase she rescued the +paper when it caught on the thorns of a snow-caked +bush.</p> +<p>At first glance Penny thought she had gone to trouble +for no purpose. The paper seemed to be blank. +But as she turned it over she saw a single line of +jumbled letters:</p> +<p>YL GFZKY GLULFFLS</p> +<p>“What can this be?” Penny thought in amazement. +“Nothing, I guess.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_71">[71]</div> +<p>She crumpled the paper and tossed it away. But as +it skittered and bounced like a tumble weed down +the trail, she suddenly changed her mind and darted +after it again. Carefully straightening out the page she +examined it a second time.</p> +<p>“This looks like copy paper used in a newspaper +office,” she told herself. “But there is no newspaper in +Pine Top, I wonder—?”</p> +<p>The conviction came to Penny that the jumbled +letters might be in code. Her pulse leaped at the +thought. If only she were able to decipher it!</p> +<p>“I’ll take this to the lodge and work on it,” she decided +quickly. “Who knows? It may be just the key +I need to unlock this strange affair of the Green +Door!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_72">[72]</div> +<h2 id="c9"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">9</span> +<br /><i>A CALL FOR HELP</i></h2> +<p>All that afternoon and far into the evening +Penny devoted to her assigned task, trying to make +sense out of the jumbled sentence of typewriting. +She used first one method and then another, but she +could not decode the brief message. She had moments +when she even doubted that it was a code. At last, +completely disgusted, she threw down her pencil and +put the paper away in a bureau drawer.</p> +<p>“I never was meant to be a cryptographer or whatever +you call those brainy fellows who unravel ciphers +and things!” she grumbled. “Maybe the trouble with +me is that I’m not bright.”</p> +<p>Switching off the lamp, Penny rolled up the shade, +and stood for a moment gazing down into the dark +valley. Far below she could see lights glowing in the +Fergus hotel, mysterious and challenging.</p> +<p>“I feel as if I’m on the verge of an important discovery, +yet nothing happens,” she sighed. “Something +unusual is going on here, but what?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_73">[73]</div> +<p>Penny did not believe that Francine knew the answer +either. The girl reporter undoubtedly had been +sent to Pine Top upon a definite tip from her editor, +yet she could not guess the nature of such a tip. It +was fairly evident that Francine was after some sort +of evidence, but so far she had made no progress in +acquiring it.</p> +<p>“We’re both groping in the dark, searching for +something we know is here but can’t see,” thought +Penny. “And we watch each other like hawks for fear +the other fellow will get the jump!”</p> +<p>The Green Door intrigued and puzzled her. While +it might mean nothing at all, she could not shake off +a feeling that if once she were able to get inside the +room she might learn the answer to some of her questions.</p> +<p>Penny had turned over several plans in her mind, +none of which suited her. The most obvious thing to +do was to try to bribe an employee of the hotel to +give her the information she sought. But if she failed, +her identity would be disclosed to Ralph Fergus and +Harvey Maxwell. It seemed wiser to bide her time +and watch.</p> +<p>Penny awoke the next morning to find large flakes +of snow piling on the window sills. The storm continued +and after breakfast only the most rugged skiers +ventured out on the slopes. Francine hugged a hot air +register, complaining that there was not enough heat, +Many of the other guests, soon exhausting the supply +of magazines, became restless.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_74">[74]</div> +<p>Luncheon was over when Penny stamped in out +of the cold to find Mr. Glasser fretfully pacing to and +fro before the fireplace.</p> +<p>“When will the papers come?” he asked Mrs. +Downey.</p> +<p>“Jake usually goes down to the village after them +about four o’clock. But with this thick weather, the +plane may not get in today.”</p> +<p>“It’s in now, Mrs. Downey,” spoke Penny, shaking +snow from her red mittens. “I saw it nearly half an +hour ago, flying low over the valley.”</p> +<p>“Then the papers must be at Pine Top by this time.” +Mrs. Downey hesitated before adding: “I’ll call Jake +from his work and ask him to go after them.”</p> +<p>“Let me,” offered Penny quickly.</p> +<p>“In this storm?”</p> +<p>“Oh, I don’t mind. I rather like it.”</p> +<p>“All right, then,” agreed Mrs. Downey in relief. +“But don’t get lost, whatever you do. If the trails become +snowed over it might be better to stay on the +main road.”</p> +<p>“I won’t get lost,” laughed Penny. “If worse comes +to worst I always can climb a pine tree and sight the +Fergus hotel.”</p> +<p>She dried out her mittens, and putting on an extra +sweater beneath her jacket, stepped outside the lodge. +The wind had fallen and only a few snowflakes were +whirling down. Hearing the faint tingle of bells, +Penny turned to gaze toward the road, where a pair +of white horses were pulling an empty lumber wagon +up the hill.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_75">[75]</div> +<p>The driver, hunched over on the seat, was slapping +his hands together to keep them warm.</p> +<p>“Why, that looks like Old Whiskers himself,” +thought Penny. “It is Peter Jasko.”</p> +<p>The observation served only to remind her of their +unpleasant meeting. Since being so discourteously +ejected from the Jasko property Penny had not ventured +back. Knowing that the old man was away she +felt sorely tempted to again visit the locality.</p> +<p>“I guess I ought not to take the time,” she decided +regretfully. “Mr. Glasser will be fretting for his +paper.”</p> +<p>Making a quick trip down the mountainside, Penny +swung into the village. Mrs. Downey had told her +that she would be able to get the newspapers at the +Pine Top Cafe where a boy named Benny Smith had +an agency.</p> +<p>Entering the restaurant, she glanced about but saw +no one who was selling papers. Finally, she ventured +to ask the proprietor if she had come to the right +place.</p> +<p>“This is the right place,” he agreed cheerfully. +“Benny went home a little while ago.”</p> +<p>“Then how do I get the papers for Mrs. Downey’s +lodge?”</p> +<p>“Guess you’re out of luck,” he replied. “They +didn’t come in today.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_76">[76]</div> +<p>“But I saw the plane.”</p> +<p>“The plane got through all right. I don’t know what +was wrong. Somehow the papers weren’t put aboard.”</p> +<p>Penny turned away in disappointment. She had +made the long trip to the village for no purpose. While +she did not mind for herself, she knew that Mr. Glasser +and the other guests were likely to be annoyed. After +a day of confinement indoors they looked forward +to news from the outside world.</p> +<p>“It’s strange the papers didn’t come,” she mused +as she started back to the Downey lodge. “This isn’t +the first time they’ve failed to arrive either.”</p> +<p>Penny climbed steadily for a time and then sat down +on a log to rest a moment. She was not far from the +Jasko cabin. By making her own trail through the +woods she could reach it in a very few minutes.</p> +<p>A mischievous idea leaped into her mind, fairly +teasing to be put into effect. What fun to climb the +forbidden barbed wire fence and honeycomb Mr. +Jasko’s field with ski tracks! She could visualize his +annoyance when he returned home to learn that a +mysterious skier had paid him a visit.</p> +<p>“He oughtn’t to be so mean,” she said aloud to justify +herself. “It will serve him right for trying to +frighten folks with shotguns!”</p> +<p>Penny fastened on her skis and glided off through +the woods. She kept her directions straight and soon +emerged into a clearing to find herself in view of the +Jasko cabin. Drawing near the barbed wire fence she +stopped short and stared.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_77">[77]</div> +<p>“Why, that old scamp! He really did it!”</p> +<p>A new strand of wire had been added to the fence, +making it many inches higher. Penny’s suggestion, +offered as a joke, had been acted upon by Peter Jasko. +Not even an expert ski jumper could hope to clear +the improved barrier. Any person who came unwittingly +down the steep slope must take a disastrous +tumble at the base of the fence.</p> +<p>“This settles it,” thought Penny grimly. “My conscience +is perfectly clear now.”</p> +<p>She rolled under the fence and surveyed the unblemished +expanse of snowy field with the eye of a +mechanical draftsman.</p> +<p>“I may as well be honest about it and sign my +name,” she chuckled.</p> +<p>Starting in at the far corner of the field she made +a huge double-edged “P” with her long runners. It +took a little ingenuity to figure out an “E” but two +“N’s” were fairly easy to execute. She finished “Y” +off with a flourish and cocked her head sideways to +view her handiwork.</p> +<p>“Not bad, not bad at all,” she congratulated herself. +“Only I’ve used up too much space. We’ll have to +have a big Penny and a little Parker.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_78">[78]</div> +<p>She ran off a “P” and an “A” but even her limber +body was not equal to the contortion required for an +“R.” In the process of making a neat curve she suddenly +lost her balance and toppled over in an ungainly heap.</p> +<p>“Oh, now I’ve done it!” she moaned, slowly picking +herself up. “All my wonderful artistry gone for +nothing. ‘Parker’ looks like a big smudge!”</p> +<p>A sound, suspiciously suggesting a muffled shout +of laughter, reached Penny’s ears. She glanced quickly +about. No one was in sight. The windows of the cabin +were deserted.</p> +<p>“I think I’ll be getting out of here,” she decided. +“If Old Whiskers should come back this wouldn’t be +a healthy place to practice handwriting.”</p> +<p>Penny dug in her poles and glided toward the fence. +In the act of rolling under the barbed wires, she suddenly +froze motionless. She had heard a cry and this +time there was no doubt in her mind as to the direction +from which the sound had come. Her startled +gaze focused upon the cabin amid the trees.</p> +<p>“Help! Help!” called a shrill, half muffled voice. +“Come back, and let me out of my prison!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_79">[79]</div> +<h2 id="c10"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">10</span> +<br /><i>LOCKED IN THE CABIN</i></h2> +<p>Penny hesitated, and as the call was repeated, +went slowly back toward the cabin. She could see +no one.</p> +<p>“Up here!” shouted the voice.</p> +<p>Glancing toward the second story windows, Penny +saw a girl standing there, her face pressed to the +pane.</p> +<p>“Peter Jasko’s granddaughter!” thought Penny. +“And she must have seen me decorating the place with +ski tracks.”</p> +<p>However, the other girl was only concerned with +her own predicament. She smiled and motioned for +Penny to come directly under the window.</p> +<p>“Can you help me get out of here?” she called +down.</p> +<p>“You’re not locked in?” inquired Penny in astonishment.</p> +<p>“I certainly am! My grandfather did it. He fastened +the door of the loft.”</p> +<p>“How long have you been there?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_80">[80]</div> +<p>“Oh, not very long,” the girl answered impatiently, +“but I’m sick of it! Will you help me out of here?”</p> +<p>“How?”</p> +<p>“Grandfather always hides the key to the outside +door in the woodshed. It should be hanging on a nail +by the window.”</p> +<p>Penny hardly knew what to do. It was one thing +to annoy Peter Jasko by making a few ski tracks in +his yard, but quite another to antagonize him in more +serious ways. For all she could tell, he might have +locked the girl in the cabin as a punishment for some +wrongdoing.</p> +<p>“Does your grandfather often leave you like this?” +she asked dubiously.</p> +<p>“Always when there’s snow on the ground,” came +the surprising answer. “Oh, please let me out of this +hateful place! Don’t be such a goody-good!”</p> +<p>To be accused of being a “goody-good” was a +novel experience for Penny. But instead of taking offense +she laughed and started toward the woodshed.</p> +<p>“On a nail by the window!” the girl shouted after +her. “If it isn’t there look on the shelf by the door.”</p> +<p>Penny found the key and came back. Taking off +her cumbersome skis, she unlocked the front door and +stepped inside the cabin. The room was rather cold +for the fire had nearly gone out. Despite a bareness +of furniture, the place had a comfortable appearance. +Snowshoes decorated the walls along with a deer +head and an out-dated calendar. There was a cook +stove, a homemade table, chairs, and a cot.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_81">[81]</div> +<p>“Do hurry up!” called the impatient voice from +above. “Climb the steps.”</p> +<p>At the far end of the room a rickety, crudely constructed +ladder ascended to a rectangular trap door +in the ceiling. Mounting it, Penny investigated the +fastening, a stout plug of wood. She turned it and +pushed up the heavy door. Instantly, it was seized +from above and pulled out of the way.</p> +<p>Head and shoulders through the opening, Penny +glanced about curiously. The room under the roof +certainly did not look like a prison cell. It was snug +and warm, with curtains at the windows and books +lining the wall shelves. The floor was covered with a +bright colored rag rug. There was a comfortable looking +bed, a rocker and even a dressing table.</p> +<p>“Thanks for letting me out.”</p> +<p>Penny turned to gaze at the girl who stood directly +behind her. She was not very pretty, for her nose was +far too blunt and her teeth a trifle uneven. One could +see a faint resemblance to Peter Jasko.</p> +<p>“You’re welcome, I guess,” replied Penny, but with +no conviction. “I hope your grandfather won’t be too +angry.”</p> +<p>“Oh, he won’t know about it,” the girl answered +carelessly. “I see you know who I am—Sara Jasko.”</p> +<p>“My name is Penny Parker.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_82">[82]</div> +<p>“I guessed the Penny part. I saw you trying to write +it in the snow. You don’t believe in signs either, do +you?”</p> +<p>“I didn’t have any right to trespass.”</p> +<p>“Oh, don’t worry about that. Grandfather is an +old fuss-budget. But deep down inside he’s rather +nice.”</p> +<p>“Why did he lock you up here?”</p> +<p>“It’s a long story,” sighed Sara. “I’ll tell you about +it later. Come on, let’s get out of here.”</p> +<p>Penny backed down the ladder. The amazing granddaughter +of Peter Jasko followed, taking the steps as +nimbly as a monkey.</p> +<p>Going to a closet, Sara pulled out a wind-breaker, +woolen cap, and a stub-toed pair of high leather shoes +which she began to lace up.</p> +<p>“You’re not aiming to run away?” Penny asked +uneasily.</p> +<p>“Only for an hour or so. This snow is too beautiful +to waste. But you’ll have to help me get back to +my prison.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know what this is all about. Suppose you +tell me, Sara.”</p> +<p>“Oh, Grandfather is funny,” replied the girl, digging +in the closet again for her woolen gloves. “He +doesn’t trust me out of his sight when there’s snow +on the ground. Today he had to go up the mountain +to get a load of wood so he locked me in.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_83">[83]</div> +<p>“What has snow to do with it?”</p> +<p>“Why, everything! You must have heard about +Grandfather. He hates skiing.”</p> +<p>“Oh, and you like to ski,” said Penny, “is that it?”</p> +<p>“I adore it! My father, Bret Jasko, was a champion.” +Sara’s animated face suddenly became sober. “He was +killed on this very mountain. Grandfather never recovered +from the shock.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m so sorry,” murmured Penny sympathetically.</p> +<p>“It happened ten years ago while my father was +skiing. Ever since then Grandfather has had an almost +fanatical hatred of the hotel people. And he is +deathly afraid I’ll get hurt in some way. He forbids +me to ski even on the easy slopes.”</p> +<p>“But you do it anyway?”</p> +<p>“Of course. I slip away whenever I can,” Sara admitted +cheerfully. “Skiing is in my blood. I couldn’t +give it up.”</p> +<p>“And you don’t mind deceiving your grandfather?”</p> +<p>“You don’t understand. There’s no reasoning with +him. Each year he gets a little more set in his ways. +He knows that I slip away to ski, and that’s why he +locks me up. Otherwise, Grandfather is a dear. He’s +taken care of me since my father died.”</p> +<p>Sara wriggled into her awkward-fitting coat, +wrapped a red scarf about her throat and started for +the door.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_84">[84]</div> +<p>“Coming, Penny?”</p> +<p>“I haven’t promised yet that I will help you get +back into your cubby-hole.”</p> +<p>“But you will,” said Sara confidently.</p> +<p>“I suppose so,” sighed Penny. “Nevertheless, I don’t +particularly like this.”</p> +<p>They stepped out of the cabin into the blinding +sunlight. The storm had stopped, but the wind blew a +gust of snow from the roof into their faces.</p> +<p>“My skis are hidden in the woods,” said Sara. “We’ll +walk along the fence so my footprints won’t be so +noticeable.”</p> +<p>“The place is pretty well marked up now,” Penny +observed dryly. “Your grandfather would have to be +blind not to see them.”</p> +<p>“Yes, but they’re your tracks, not mine,” grinned +Sara. “Besides, this strong wind is starting to drift the +snow.”</p> +<p>They followed the barbed wire fence to the woods. +Sara went straight to an old log and from its hollow +interior drew out a pair of hickory jumping skis.</p> +<p>“Let’s walk up to Mrs. Downey’s lodge,” she proposed. +“Her chute is a dandy, but most of the guests +are afraid to use it.”</p> +<p>“I haven’t tried it myself,” admitted Penny. “It +looks higher than Pike’s Peak.”</p> +<p>“Oh, you have plenty of nerve,” returned Sara +carelessly. “I saw you take Grandfather’s barbed wire +entanglements.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_85">[85]</div> +<p>“That was a matter of necessity.”</p> +<p>“Nothing ventured, nothing gained,” laughed Sara, +linking arms with Penny and pulling her along at a +fast pace. “I’ll teach you a few tricks.”</p> +<p>They climbed the slope steadily until forced to +pause for a moment to catch their breath.</p> +<p>“Mrs. Downey isn’t using the bob-sled run this +year, is she?” Sara inquired curiously.</p> +<p>“I didn’t know anything about it.”</p> +<p>“She has a fine one on her property, but it’s out of +sight from the lodge. I guess there haven’t been enough +guests this season to make it worth while. Too bad. +Bob-sled racing is even more fun than skiing.”</p> +<p>Coming within view of the Downey lodge, Penny +observed that a few of the more hardy guests had +taken advantage of the lull in the storm, and were +out on the slopes, falling, picking themselves up, falling +again.</p> +<p>“I have to run into the house a minute,” Penny +excused herself. “I’ll be right back.”</p> +<p>She found Mrs. Downey in the kitchen and reported +to her that she had been unable to purchase +papers in the village.</p> +<p>“The plane came in, didn’t it?”</p> +<p>“Yes, but for some reason the papers weren’t put +on.”</p> +<p>“I wonder if the Fergus hotel managed to get any?”</p> +<p>“I don’t see how they could.”</p> +<p>“It’s happened before,” declared Mrs. Downey.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_86">[86]</div> +<p>“Time after time we miss our papers, and then I +learn later that the Fergus hotel guests had them. I +don’t understand it, Penny.”</p> +<p>“Shall I tell Mr. Glasser?”</p> +<p>“I’ll do it,” sighed Mrs. Downey. “He’s going to +be more irritated than ever now.”</p> +<p>Penny went outside to find Sara waiting impatiently +for her. The girl had strapped on her skis, and +was using two sharp-pointed sticks for poles.</p> +<p>“Ready to try the jump, Penny?”</p> +<p>“No, but I’ll watch you.”</p> +<p>“There’s nothing to it, Penny,” encouraged Sara +as they climbed side by side. “Just keep relaxed and +be sure to have your skis pointing upward while +you’re in the air.”</p> +<p>As it became evident that the girls intended to try +the chute, a little crowd of spectators gathered on the +slope below to watch.</p> +<p>“I’ll go first,” said Sara, “and after I’ve landed, you +come after me.”</p> +<p>“I’ll think it over,” shivered Penny.</p> +<p>“Don’t think too long, or you’ll never try it. Just +start.”</p> +<p>Sara bent to examine her bindings. Then in a graceful +crouch she shot down the hill and with a lifting +of her arms soared over the take-off. She made a perfectly +poised figure in mid-air and an effortless landing +on the slope below, finishing off with a christiana +turn.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_87">[87]</div> +<p>“She’s <i>good</i>!” thought Penny. “I’ll try it, too, even +if they carry me off on a stretcher!”</p> +<p>In a wave of enthusiasm she pushed off, keeping +her arms behind her. As the edge of the chute loomed +up, she swung them forward and sprang into the air. +But something went wrong. In an instant she was off +balance, her arms swinging wildly in a futile attempt +to straighten her body into position.</p> +<p>The gully appeared to be miles below her. Panic +surged over Penny and her muscles became rigid. +She was going to take a hard fall.</p> +<p>“Relax! Relax!” screamed a shrill voice.</p> +<p>With a supreme effort Penny drew back one ski +and bent her knees. She felt a hard jar, and in amazement +realized that she had landed on her feet. Her +elation was short lived, for the next instant she collapsed +and went sliding on down the slope.</p> +<p>Sara ran to help her up.</p> +<p>“Hurt?”</p> +<p>“Not a bit,” laughed Penny. “What a spectacle I +must have made!”</p> +<p>“Your jump wasn’t half bad. Next time you’ll do +much better.”</p> +<p>“I’ll never make one as good as yours,” Penny said +enviously. Seeing Francine standing near, she turned +to the reporter and exclaimed: “Did you watch Sara’s +jump? Wasn’t it magnificent?”</p> +<p>“You’re both lucky you weren’t injured.” Francine +walked over to the two girls. She stared at Sara’s +odd looking costume. “You’re not a guest here?” she +inquired.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_88">[88]</div> +<p>“No,” answered Sara.</p> +<p>“Nor at the Fergus hotel?”</p> +<p>“I live a ways down the mountain.”</p> +<p>Francine regarded her coldly. “You’re the Jasko +girl, aren’t you, whose grandfather will not allow +skiers on his property?”</p> +<p>“Yes, but—”</p> +<p>“Since you Jaskos are so sign conscious I should +think you might obey them yourself! Take a glance +at that one over on the tree. Unless my eyesight is +failing it reads: ‘Only guests of the hotel may use +these slopes.’”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_89">[89]</div> +<h2 id="c11"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">11</span> +<br /><i>A NEWSPAPER MYSTERY</i></h2> +<p>Penny stared at Francine, for a moment not believing +that she had meant the remark seriously. As she +comprehended that the girl indeed was serious, she +exclaimed in quick protest:</p> +<p>“Oh, Francine, what an attitude to take! Sara is +my guest. I’m sure Mrs. Downey doesn’t mind.”</p> +<p>“I’ll go,” offered Sara in a quiet voice. “I never +dreamed I would offend anyone by being here.”</p> +<p>“I’m not particularly offended,” replied Francine +defensively. “It merely seems reasonable to me that +if you won’t allow others on your property you +shouldn’t trespass yourself.”</p> +<p>“Sara had nothing to do with that sign on her +grandfather’s land,” declared Penny. “Francine, you +must have jumped out of the wrong side of the bed +this morning.”</p> +<p>Sara had turned to walk away. Penny caught her +hand, trying to detain her.</p> +<p>“Wait, I’ll run into the lodge and ask Mrs. Downey. +But I know very well it will be all right for you to +stay.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_90">[90]</div> +<p>Sara hesitated, and might have consented, save at +that instant the three girls heard the faint tinkle of +bells. A sled loaded with wood came into view around +a curve of the mountain road.</p> +<p>“That’s grandfather on his way home!” exclaimed +Sara. “I must get back there before he learns I’ve +been away! Hurry, Penny!”</p> +<p>With several quick thrusts of her sticks, she started +down the trail which led to the Jasko cabin. Penny +followed, but she could not overtake her companion. +Sara skied with a reckless skill which defied imitation. +While Penny was forced to stem, she took the +rough track with no perceptible slackening of speed, +and had divested herself of skis by the time her companion +reached the woods.</p> +<p>“We’ll have to work fast,” she warned, hiding the +long runners in the hollow log. “I want you to lock +me in the cabin and then get away before Grandfather +sees you!”</p> +<p>“What about our tracks in the snow?”</p> +<p>“I’ll blame them all on you,” laughed Sara, “It’s +beginning to get dark now. And Grandfather is near +sighted.”</p> +<p>“I don’t like this business at all,” complained Penny +as they kept close to the fence on their way to the +cabin. “Why not tell your grandfather—”</p> +<p>“He would rage for days and never let me out +again. No, this is the best way. And you’ll come back +soon, won’t you, Penny?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_91">[91]</div> +<p>“I don’t like to promise.”</p> +<p>“I’ll teach you how to jump.” Sara offered attractive +bait.</p> +<p>“We’ll see. I’ll think it over.”</p> +<p>“No, promise!” persisted Sara. “Say you’ll come +back and at least talk to me through the window. +You have no idea how lonesome I get.”</p> +<p>“All right,” Penny suddenly gave in. “I’ll do that +much.”</p> +<p>Reaching the cabin, Sara had Penny tramp about +in the snow with her skis so as to give the impression +that a visitor had walked several times around the +building but had not entered.</p> +<p>“You’ll have to lock me in the loft,” she instructed. +“Then take the key back to the woodshed and get +away as quickly as you can.”</p> +<p>Sara pulled off her garments and hung them in the +closet. With a mop she wiped up tracks which had +been made on the bare floor. Then she climbed up +the ladder to her room.</p> +<p>Penny turned the wooden peg, and retreating from +the cabin, locked the door.</p> +<p>“Don’t forget!” Sara called to her from the window. +“Come again soon—tomorrow if you can.”</p> +<p>Hiding the key in the woodshed, Penny tramped +about the outside of the building several times before +gliding off toward the boundary fence. As she began +a tedious climb up the trail toward the Downey lodge, +she saw the sled appear around a bend of the road.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_92">[92]</div> +<p>Penny did not visit the Jasko cabin the following +day nor the next. Along with other guests she was +kept indoors by a raging snow and sleet storm which +blocked the road and disrupted telephone service to +the village.</p> +<p>Everyone at the Downey lodge suffered from the +confinement, but some accepted the situation more +philosophically than others. As usual Mr. Glasser +complained because there were no daily papers. Penny +overheard him telling another guest he was thinking +very seriously of moving to the Fergus hotel where +at least a certain amount of entertainment was provided.</p> +<p>“He’ll leave,” Mrs. Downey observed resignedly +when the conversation was repeated to her. “I’ve seen +it coming for days. Mr. Glasser has been talking with +one of the runners for the Fergus hotel.”</p> +<p>“It’s unfair of them to try to take your guests +away.”</p> +<p>“Oh, they’re determined to put me out of business +at any cost. Miss Sellberg is leaving, too. She served +notice this morning.”</p> +<p>Penny glanced up with quick interest. “Francine? +Is she leaving Pine Top?”</p> +<p>“No, she told me she had decided to move to the +Fergus hotel because of its better location.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_93">[93]</div> +<p>Penny nodded thoughtfully. She could understand +that if Francine were trying to gain special information +about either Ralph Fergus or Harvey Maxwell, +it would be to her advantage to have a room at the +other hotel. Had it not been for her loyalty to Mrs. +Downey, she, too, would have been tempted to take +up headquarters there.</p> +<p>“I can’t really blame folks for leaving,” Mrs. Downey +continued after a moment. “I’ve not offered very +much entertainment this year. Last season in addition +to skiing we had the bob-sled run.”</p> +<p>“I met Sara Jasko and she was telling me about it,” +replied Penny. “Can’t you use the run again this +year?”</p> +<p>“We could, but it scarcely seems worth the trouble +and expense. Also, it takes experienced drivers to +steer the sleds. The young man I had working for me +last winter isn’t available at present.”</p> +<p>“Is there no other person at Pine Top who could +do it?”</p> +<p>“Sara Jasko,” responded Mrs. Downey, smiling. +“However, it’s not likely her grandfather would give +his consent.”</p> +<p>The following day dawned bright and clear and +brought a revival of spirit at the Downey lodge. +Nevertheless, with the roads open once more, both +Francine and Mr. Glasser moved their belongings +down to the Fergus hotel. As was to be expected, +their departure caused a certain amount of comment +by the other guests.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_94">[94]</div> +<p>Late in the afternoon Penny offered to ski down +to Pine Top for the newspapers. She planned to stop +at the Fergus hotel upon her return, hoping to learn +a little more about the mysterious Green Room which +had intrigued her interest.</p> +<p>Reaching the village, Penny located Benny Smith, +but the lad shook his head when she inquired for the +daily papers.</p> +<p>“I don’t have any today.”</p> +<p>“But the plane came through! I saw it myself about +an hour ago. This makes four days since we’ve had a +newspaper at the lodge. What happened?”</p> +<p>The boy glared at Penny almost defiantly. “You +can’t blame me. It’s not my fault if they’re not put +on the plane.”</p> +<p>“No, of course not. I didn’t mean to suggest that +you were at fault. It’s just queer that we miss our +papers so often. And we never seem to get the back +editions either.”</p> +<p>“Well, I don’t know anything about it,” the boy +muttered.</p> +<p>Penny stood watching him slouch off down the +street. Something about the lad’s manner made her +wonder if he had not lied. She suddenly was convinced +that Benny knew more about the missing +newspapers than he cared to tell.</p> +<p>“But how would he profit by not receiving them?” +she mused. “He would lose sales. It simply doesn’t +make sense.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_95">[95]</div> +<p>As she trudged on down the street Penny turned +the problem over in her mind. She walked with head +bent low and did not notice an approaching pedestrian +until she had bumped into him.</p> +<p>“Sorry,” apologized the man politely.</p> +<p>“It was my fault,” replied Penny. She glanced up +to see that the stranger was no stranger at all, but the +airplane pilot who had brought her to Pine Top +several days before.</p> +<p>He would have passed on had she not halted him +with a question.</p> +<p>“I wonder if you could tell me what seems to be +the trouble with the newspaper delivery service here +at Pine Top?”</p> +<p>“We couldn’t get through yesterday on account of +the weather,” he returned.</p> +<p>“But what happened to the papers today?”</p> +<p>“Nothing.”</p> +<p>“You mean they came through?” Penny asked in +surprise.</p> +<p>“That’s right. You can get them from Benny +Smith.”</p> +<p>“From Benny? But he said—”</p> +<p>Penny started to reveal that the boy had blamed +the failure of service upon the pilot, and then changed +her mind.</p> +<p>“Thank you,” she returned, “I’ll talk with him.”</p> +<p>Penny was more puzzled than ever, but she had no +reason to doubt the pilot’s word. Obviously, the newspapers +had arrived at Pine Top, and Benny Smith +knew what had become of them.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_96">[96]</div> +<p>“I’ll just investigate this matter a little further,” +Penny decided as she left the village.</p> +<p>Approaching the Fergus hotel a few minutes later, +she paused to catch her breath before going inside. +In the gathering twilight the building looked more +than ever like a great Swiss chalet. The pitched roof +was burdened with a thick layer of white snow, and +long icicles hung from the window ledges.</p> +<p>Inside the crowded, smoke-filled lobby there was +an air of gaiety. A few lights had been turned on, +and the orchestra could be heard tuning up in the +dining room.</p> +<p>Penny saw no one that she knew. Crossing quickly +to a counter at the far side of the lobby, she spoke +to a girl who was in charge.</p> +<p>“Can I buy a newspaper here?”</p> +<p>“Yes, we have them.” The girl reached around a +corner of the counter, indicating a stack of papers +which Penny had not seen. “New York Times?”</p> +<p>“That will do very nicely.”</p> +<p>Penny paid for the paper and carrying it over to +a chair, quickly looked at the dateline.</p> +<p>“It’s today’s issue, all right,” she told herself grimly. +“This proves what I suspected. Ralph Fergus has been +buying up all the papers—a little trick to annoy Mrs. +Downey and get her in bad with her guests!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_97">[97]</div> +<h2 id="c12"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">12</span> +<br /><i>THE GREEN CARD</i></h2> +<p>“Do you always talk to yourself?” inquired an +amused voice from behind Penny.</p> +<p>Glancing up from the newspaper, the girl saw +Maxine Miller standing beside her chair. For an instant +she failed to recognize the actress, so elegant did +the woman appear in a sealskin coat and matching +hat. The outfit was so new that the fur had lost none +of its glaze, an observation which caused Penny to +wonder if Miss Miller had misled her regarding the +state of her finances.</p> +<p>“Good evening, Miss Miller,” she smiled. “I didn’t +know you for a moment.”</p> +<p>“How do you like it?” inquired the actress, turning +slowly about.</p> +<p>“Your new fur coat? It’s very beautiful. And you’re +looking well, too. You didn’t by chance get that role +from David Balantine?”</p> +<p>Miss Miller’s painted lips drew into a pout. “No, he +left the hotel this morning.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_98">[98]</div> +<p>“Oh, that’s too bad. I suppose you’ll be going soon, +then?”</p> +<p>The actress shook her head, and laughed in a mysterious +way.</p> +<p>“No, I’ve decided to stay here for awhile. I like +Pine Top.”</p> +<p>Penny was puzzled by Miss Miller’s sudden change +in manner and appearance. The woman acted as if +she were the possessor of an important secret which +she longed to reveal.</p> +<p>“You must have fallen heiress to a vast fortune,” +Penny ventured lightly.</p> +<p>“Better than that,” beamed Miss Miller. “I’ve acquired +a new job. Take dinner with me and I’ll tell +you all about it.”</p> +<p>“Well—” Penny deliberated and said honestly, “I +didn’t bring very much money with me, and I’m not +dressed up.”</p> +<p>Miss Miller brushed aside both objections as if they +were of no consequence.</p> +<p>“You’ll be my guest, dearie. And your clothes don’t +matter.”</p> +<p>She caught Penny’s hand and pulled her to her feet. +Her curiosity aroused, the girl allowed herself to be +escorted to the dining room.</p> +<p>Miss Miller walked ahead, strutting a bit as she +brushed past the crowded tables. Heads lifted and +envious feminine eyes focused upon the actress’ stunning +fur coat. Penny felt awkward and embarrassed, +clomping along behind in her big heavy ski boots.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_99">[99]</div> +<p>The head waiter gave them a choice table near the +orchestra. Miss Miller threw back her coat, exposing +a form-fitting black satin gown with a brilliant blue +stone pin at the neck line. She knew that she was +creating an impression and thoroughly enjoyed herself.</p> +<p>A waiter brought menu cards. The actress proceeded +to order for both herself and Penny. She selected +the most expensive dishes offered, stumbling +over their long French names.</p> +<p>“How nice it is to have money again,” she remarked +languidly when the waiter had gone. “Do you really +like my new wardrobe, dearie?”</p> +<p>“Indeed, I do, Miss Miller. Your dress is very becoming, +and the fur coat is stunning. Isn’t it new?”</p> +<p>“Exactly two days old.”</p> +<p>“Then you must have acquired it since coming to +Pine Top. I had no idea such lovely skins could be +bought anywhere near here.”</p> +<p>“We’re very close to the Canadian border, you +know.” Again the actress flashed her mysterious smile. +“But the duty is frightful unless one is able to avoid +it.”</p> +<p>Penny gazed thoughtfully across the table at her +companion.</p> +<p>“And do you know how to avoid it?” she asked as +casually as she could manage.</p> +<p>Miss Miller steered skilfully away from the subject.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_100">[100]</div> +<p>“Oh, this coat was given to me. It didn’t cost me a +cent.”</p> +<p>“And how does one go about acquiring a free coat? +You’ve not become a professional model?”</p> +<p>“No,” the actress denied, “but your guess is fairly +warm. I do have a nice figure for displaying clothes. +No doubt that was why I was given the job.”</p> +<p>“Who is your employer, Miss Miller? Someone +connected with the hotel?”</p> +<p>The waiter had brought a loaded tray to the table, +and the actress used his arrival as a pretext for not +answering Penny’s question. After the man went away +she began to chat glibly about other subjects. However, +with the serving of dessert, she once more +switched to the topic of her wardrobe.</p> +<p>“You were asking me about my fur coat, dearie,” +she said. “Would you like to have one like it?”</p> +<p>“Who wouldn’t? What must I do to acquire one—rob +a bank?”</p> +<p>Miss Miller laughed in a forced way. “You will +have your little joke. From what you’ve told me, I +imagine your father has plenty of money.”</p> +<p>“I don’t remember saying anything about it,” responded +Penny dryly. “As a matter of fact, my father +isn’t wealthy.”</p> +<p>“At least your family is comfortably fixed or you +wouldn’t be at this expensive winter resort,” Miss +Miller went on, undisturbed. “Now would you be +able to pay as much as a hundred dollars for a coat?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_101">[101]</div> +<p>“I hadn’t even thought of buying one,” replied +Penny, trying not to disclose her astonishment. “Can +you really get a good fur coat for as little as a hundred +dollars?”</p> +<p>“You could through my friend.”</p> +<p>“Your friend?” asked Penny bluntly. “Do you +mean your new employer?”</p> +<p>“Well, yes,” the actress admitted with a self-conscious +laugh. “He is a fur salesman. You’ve been +very nice to me and I might be able to get a coat for +you at cost.”</p> +<p>“That’s most kind,” remarked Penny dryly. +“Where could I see these coats?”</p> +<p>“My employer has a salesroom here at the hotel,” +Miss Miller declared. “I can arrange an appointment +for you. Say tomorrow at two?”</p> +<p>“I haven’t enough money with me to buy a coat +even if I wanted one.”</p> +<p>“But if you liked the furs you could wire your parents +for more,” the actress wheedled. “It is a wonderful +opportunity. You’ll never have another chance to +buy a beautiful coat at cost.”</p> +<p>“I’ll have to think it over,” Penny returned. “I +suppose you get a commission on every garment +sold?”</p> +<p>“A small one. In your case, I’ll not take it. I truly +am interested in seeing you get your coat, dearie. You +have just the figure for it, you’re so slim and svelte.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_102">[102]</div> +<p>Penny was not deceived by the flattery. She knew +very well that the actress had treated her to dinner +for the purpose of making her feel under obligation +and as a build-up to the suggestion that she purchase +a fur coat.</p> +<p>Glancing at the bill she was relieved to see that she +had enough money to pay for her share of the meal.</p> +<p>“No, no, I won’t hear of it,” Miss Miller protested +grandly.</p> +<p>Summoning the waiter, she gave him a twenty dollar +bill.</p> +<p>“Let me know if you decide you would like to see +the coats,” she said to Penny as they left the dining +room together. “It won’t cost you anything to look, +you know.”</p> +<p>“I’ll think it over. Thanks for the dinner.”</p> +<p>Penny looked about the crowded lobby for Ralph +Fergus or Harvey Maxwell, but neither man was to +be seen. While at the hotel she would have liked to +acquire a little more information about the Green +Room. With the actress hovering at her elbow it was +out of the question.</p> +<p>She considered speaking of the matter to Miss +Miller, and then abandoned the idea. However, it had +occurred to her that the mysterious room of the hotel +might have some connection with the actress’ present +employment, and so she ventured one rather direct +question.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_103">[103]</div> +<p>“Miss Miller, you’re not by chance working for +Ralph Fergus or the hotel?”</p> +<p>“Dear me, no!” the actress denied. “Whatever put +such an idea in your head?”</p> +<p>“It just occurred to me. Well, good-bye.”</p> +<p>Penny left the hotel and ventured out into the cold. +After so much cigarette smoke, the pure air was a +pleasant relief. She broke off a long icicle from the +doorway, and stood thoughtfully chewing at it.</p> +<p>“Miss Miller must be working for some dishonest +outfit,” she mused. “Her talk about getting a fur coat +at cost doesn’t fool me one bit. If I were in her shoes +I’d be more than a little worried lest I tangled with +the law.”</p> +<p>A remark by the actress to the effect that the Canadian +border was close by had set Penny’s active +mind to working. It was not too fantastic to believe +that Miss Miller might be employed by an unscrupulous +man whose business concerned the sale of furs +obtained duty free. She had even dared hope that +Ralph Fergus or Harvey Maxwell might be implicated +in the dishonest affair. What a break that would be +for her father if only she could prove such a connection! +But the actress’ outright denial that either +man was her employer had put an end to such pleasant +speculation.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_104">[104]</div> +<p>Penny bent down to pick up her skis which had +been left at the side of the hotel building. As she +leaned over, she noticed a small object lying on top +of the snow in the square of light made from one of +the windows. It appeared to be a small piece of colored +cardboard.</p> +<p>Curiously, Penny picked it up and carried it closer +to the window. The card was green. Her pulse quickened +as she turned it over. On its face were six engraved +words:</p> +<p>“Admit Bearer Through The Green Door.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_105">[105]</div> +<h2 id="c13"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">13</span> +<br /><i>AN UNKIND TRICK</i></h2> +<p>Penny all but executed a clog dance in the snow. +She knew that she had picked up an admittance ticket +to the Green Room of the Fergus hotel which some +person had lost. With no effort upon her part she +would be able to learn the answer to many of the +questions which had plagued her.</p> +<p>“At last I’ll find out what lies behind that Green +Door,” she thought in high elation. “If this isn’t the +most wonderful piece of luck!”</p> +<p>Debating a moment, Penny decided that it probably +was too late to gain admittance that evening. +Mrs. Downey no doubt was worried over her long +absence from the lodge. She would return there, and +then revisit the hotel early the next day.</p> +<p>Pocketing the precious ticket, Penny set off up the +mountain. It was dark before she had covered half the +distance, but there were stars and a half moon to +guide her.</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey showed her relief as the girl stomped +into the kitchen.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_106">[106]</div> +<p>“I was beginning to worry, Penny,” she declared. +“Whatever made it take you so long?”</p> +<p>“I stopped at the Fergus hotel and had dinner with +Miss Miller.”</p> +<p>“Were you able to get the newspapers?”</p> +<p>“Only one which I had to buy at the Fergus hotel. +Mrs. Downey, it’s queer about those papers. Benny +Smith told me there weren’t any to be had, and then +a few minutes later I met the airplane pilot who told +me he had brought them in the same as usual. Also, +the Fergus hotel received its usual quota.”</p> +<p>“Well, that’s odd.”</p> +<p>“It looks to me as if the Fergus outfit has made some +arrangement with the paper boy. They may be buying +up all the papers.”</p> +<p>“As a means of annoying me,” nodded Mrs. Downey +grimly. “It would be in line with their tactics. +But what can I do?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know,” admitted Penny. She pulled off her +heavy boots and set them where they would dry. “We +haven’t any proof they’re doing anything like that. +It’s only my idea.”</p> +<p>The door opened and Jake came into the kitchen. +He dropped an armload of wood behind the range.</p> +<p>“I started work on the bob-sled run this afternoon,” +he remarked to Mrs. Downey. “Got a crew of boys +coming first thing tomorrow. We ought to have her +fixed up by noon.”</p> +<p>“And the sleds?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_107">[107]</div> +<p>“They seem to be in good condition, but I’ll check +everything.”</p> +<p>After the workman had gone, Penny glanced questioningly +at Mrs. Downey.</p> +<p>“Have you decided to use the run after all?”</p> +<p>“Yes, I started thinking about it after we talked together. +We do need more entertainment here at the +lodge. After you left I ordered Jake to start work on +the track. But I still am in need of experienced drivers +for the sled.”</p> +<p>“You spoke of Sara.”</p> +<p>“I thought I would ask her, but I doubt if her +Grandfather will give his consent.”</p> +<p>“I’ll ski down there tomorrow and talk with her if +you would like me to,” offered Penny.</p> +<p>“I would appreciate it,” said Mrs. Downey gratefully. +“I hate to spare the time myself.”</p> +<p>Early the next morning Penny paid a visit to the +bob-sled run where a crew headed by Jake was hard +at work. There was a stretch of straightaway and a +series of curves which snaked down the valley between +the pines. At the point of the steepest curve, the +outer snow walls rose to a height of eighteen feet.</p> +<p>“A sled could really travel on that track,” observed +Penny. “Does it hurt to upset?”</p> +<p>“It might,” grinned Jake. “We’ve never had an +upset on Horseshoe Curve. If a sled went over there, +you might wake up in the hospital.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_108">[108]</div> +<p>Penny watched the men packing snow for awhile. +Then buckling on her skis, she made a fast trip down +the mountain to the Jasko cabin. This time, having a +definite mission, she went boldly to the door and +rapped.</p> +<p>There was no response until the window of the +loft shot up.</p> +<p>“Hello, Penny,” called down Sara. “I thought you +had forgotten your promise. The key’s in the same +place.”</p> +<p>“Isn’t your grandfather here?”</p> +<p>“No, he went down to Pine Top. Isn’t it glorious +skiing weather? Hurry and get the key. I’ve been +cooped up here half an hour already.”</p> +<p>Penny went reluctantly to the woodshed and returned +with the key. She unfastened the trapdoor +which gave entrance to the loft and Sara quickly descended.</p> +<p>“Didn’t your grandfather say anything about last +time?” Penny inquired anxiously.</p> +<p>“Oh, he raved because someone had trespassed. But +it never occurred to him I had gone away. Where +shall we ski today?”</p> +<p>“I only stopped to deliver a message, Sara. I am on +my way down to the Fergus hotel.”</p> +<p>“Oh,” said the girl in disappointment. “A message +from whom?”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Downey. She is starting up her bob-sled run +again and she wants you to help out.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_109">[109]</div> +<p>Sara’s eyes began to sparkle.</p> +<p>“I wish I could! If only Grandfather weren’t so +strict.”</p> +<p>“Is there a chance he’ll give his consent?”</p> +<p>“Oh, dear, no. But I might be able to slip away. +Grandfather plans to chop wood every day this +week.”</p> +<p>“I doubt if Mrs. Downey would want you to do +that.”</p> +<p>“Need you tell her?” queried Sara coolly. “I’ll fix +myself a rope ladder and get out the window. That +will save you the trouble of coming here to let me in +and out.”</p> +<p>“And what will your grandfather say if he learns +about it?”</p> +<p>“Plenty! But anything is better than being shut up +like a prisoner. You tell Mrs. Downey I’ll try to get +up to the lodge tomorrow morning, and we’ll try out +the track together, eh Penny?”</p> +<p>“I don’t know anything about bob-sledding.”</p> +<p>“I’ll teach you to be my brake boy,” Sara laughed. +“How long will you stay at the Fergus hotel?”</p> +<p>“I haven’t any idea.”</p> +<p>“Then I suppose I’ll have to crawl back into my +cave,” Sara sighed dismally. “Can’t you even ski with +me for half an hour?”</p> +<p>“Not this morning,” Penny said firmly. “I have +important work ahead.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_110">[110]</div> +<p>She shooed Sara back into the loft and returned the +key to the woodshed. The Jasko girl watched from +the window, playfully shaking her fist as her friend +skied away.</p> +<p>“Sara is as stimulating as a mountain avalanche,” +chuckled Penny, “but she’s almost too headstrong. +Sooner or later her stunts will involve me in trouble +with Peter Jasko.”</p> +<p>In the valley below, smoke curled lazily from the +chimneys of the Fergus hotel. Making directly for it, +Penny felt in her pocket to be certain she had not lost +the green ticket which she had found the previous +evening.</p> +<p>“This is going to be my lucky day,” she told herself +cheerfully. “I feel it in my bones.”</p> +<p>Reaching the hotel, Penny stripped off her skis and +entered the hotel lobby. Maxine Miller was not in +evidence nor did she see any other person who likely +would question her presence there. She did notice +Harvey Maxwell sitting in the private office. His eyes +were upon her as she crossed the room. However, +Penny felt no uneasiness, realizing that if he noticed +her at all he recognized her only as a guest at the +Downey lodge.</p> +<p>“Second floor,” she said quietly to the elevator boy.</p> +<p>Penny was the sole passenger, but as she stepped +from the cage, she was dismayed to run directly into +Francine Sellberg.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_111">[111]</div> +<p>The reporter greeted her with a suspicious stare.</p> +<p>“Why, hello, Penny Parker. What are you doing +here?”</p> +<p>“Oh, just moseying around.”</p> +<p>“I can see you are!”</p> +<p>“Your room isn’t on this floor, is it?” Penny inquired.</p> +<p>“No, on the fourth,” Francine answered before she +considered her words.</p> +<p>“Looking for someone?” remarked Penny with a +grin. “Or should I say <i>something</i>?”</p> +<p>An elevator stopped at the landing. “Going down,” +the attendant called, opening the door. He gazed questioningly +at the two girls.</p> +<p>Francine shook her head, although she had been +waiting for an elevator. Turning again to Penny she +said with a hard smile: “I’ve not only been looking +for something, I’ve found it!”</p> +<p>“Still, I don’t see you rushing to reach a telephone, +Francine. Your discovery can’t have such tremendous +news value.”</p> +<p>“It may have before long,” hinted Francine. “I don’t +mind telling you I am on the trail of a really big story. +And I am making steady progress in assembling my +facts.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_112">[112]</div> +<p>Penny regarded the girl reporter speculatively. Her +presence on the second floor rather suggested that she, +too, had been trying to investigate the Green Room, +and more than likely had learned its location. But she +was reasonably certain Francine had gathered no information +of great value.</p> +<p>“Glad to hear you’re doing so well,” she remarked +and started on down the hall.</p> +<p>Francine fell into step with her. “If you’re looking +for a particular room, Penny, maybe I can help you.”</p> +<p>Penny knew that the reporter meant to stay with +her so that she could do no investigation work of her +own.</p> +<p>“The room I am searching for has a green door,” +she replied.</p> +<p>Francine laughed. “I’m glad you’re so honest, +Penny. I guessed why you were on this floor all the +time. However, I greatly fear you’re in the wrong +part of the hotel.”</p> +<p>Penny paused and turned to face her companion +squarely. “Why not put an end to all this nonsense, +Francine? We watch each other and get nowhere. +Let’s put our cards on the table.”</p> +<p>“Yours might be a joker!”</p> +<p>“We’re both interested in getting a story which +will discredit Harvey Maxwell,” Penny went on, ignoring +the jibe. “You’ve had a tip as to what may be +going on here, while I’m working in the dark. On the +other hand, I’ve acquired something which should +interest you. Why don’t we pool our interests and +work together?”</p> +<p>“That would be very nice—for you.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_113">[113]</div> +<p>“I think I might contribute something to the case.”</p> +<p>“I doubt it,” replied Francine loftily. “You don’t +even know the location of the Green Room.”</p> +<p>“You’re wrong about that. It took no great detective +power to learn it’s on this floor. To get inside may +be a different matter.”</p> +<p>“You’re quite right there,” said Francine with emphasis.</p> +<p>“What do you say? Shall we work together and let +bygones be bygones?”</p> +<p>“Thank you, Penny, I prefer to work alone.”</p> +<p>“Suit yourself, Francine. I was only trying to be +generous. You see, I have an admittance card to the +Green Room.”</p> +<p>“I don’t believe it!”</p> +<p>Flashing a gay smile, Penny held up the ticket for +Francine to see.</p> +<p>“How did you get it?” the reporter gasped. “I’ve +tried—”</p> +<p>“A little bird dropped it on my window sill. Too +bad you didn’t decide to work with me.”</p> +<p>Penny walked on down the corridor, and Francine +made no attempt to follow. When she glanced back +over her shoulder the reporter had descended the +stairway to the lobby.</p> +<p>“It was boastful of me to show her my ticket,” she +thought. “But I couldn’t resist doing it. Francine is +so conceited.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_114">[114]</div> +<p>Making her way to the unmarked door of the +wing, Penny paused there a moment, listening. Hearing +no sound she pushed open the door and went +down the narrow hall. The guard sat at his usual post +before the Green Door.</p> +<p>“Good morning,” said Penny pleasantly. “I have +my card now.”</p> +<p>The man examined it and handed it back. “Go right +in,” he told her.</p> +<p>Before Penny could obey, the door at the end of +the corridor swung open. Harvey Maxwell, his face +convulsed with rage, came hurrying toward the +startled girl.</p> +<p>“I’ve just learned who you are,” he said angrily. +“Kindly leave this hotel at once, and don’t come +back!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_115">[115]</div> +<h2 id="c14"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">14</span> +<br /><i>A BROKEN ROD</i></h2> +<p>“You must have mistaken me for some other person,” +Penny stammered, backing a step away from the +hotel man. “Who do you think I am?”</p> +<p>The question was a mistake, for it only served to +intensify Harvey Maxwell’s anger.</p> +<p>“You’re the daughter of Anthony Parker who runs +the yellowest paper in Riverview! I know why he +sent you here. Now get out and don’t let me catch +you in the hotel ever again.”</p> +<p>Observing the green card in Penny’s hand he +reached out and jerked it from her.</p> +<p>“I wasn’t doing any harm,” she said, trying to act +injured. “My father didn’t send me to Pine Top. I +came for the skiing.”</p> +<p>Secretly, Penny was angry at Maxwell’s reference +to the <i>Riverview Star</i> as being a “yellow” sheet, which +in newspaper jargon meant that it was a sensation-seeking +newspaper.</p> +<p>“And what are you doing in this part of the hotel?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_116">[116]</div> +<p>“I only wanted to see the Green Room,” Penny +replied. “I thought I would have my breakfast here.”</p> +<p>Harvey Maxwell and the doorman exchanged a +quick glance which was not lost upon the girl.</p> +<p>“Where did you get your ticket?” the hotel man +demanded but in a less harsh voice.</p> +<p>“I picked it up outside the hotel.”</p> +<p>Penny spoke truthfully and her words carried conviction. +Harvey Maxwell seemed satisfied that she +had not been investigating the wing for any special +purpose. However, he took her by an elbow and +steered her down the corridor to the elevator.</p> +<p>“If you’re the smart little girl I think you are, a +hint will be sufficient,” he said. “I don’t want any +member of the Parker family on my premises. So stay +away. Get me?”</p> +<p>“Yes, sir,” responded Penny meekly.</p> +<p>Inwardly, she was raging. Someone deliberately had +betrayed her to Harvey Maxwell and she had a very +good idea who that person might be. From now on +employes of the hotel would be told to keep watch +for her. Never again would she be allowed in the +lobby, much less in the vicinity of the Green Room.</p> +<p>Harvey Maxwell walked with Penny to the front +door of the hotel and closed it behind her.</p> +<p>“Remember,” he warned, “stay away.”</p> +<p>As Penny started down the walk she heard a silvery +laugh, and glancing sideways, saw Francine leaning +against the building.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_117">[117]</div> +<p>“You didn’t spend much time in the Green Room, +did you?” she inquired.</p> +<p>“That was a dirty trick to play!” retorted Penny. +“I wouldn’t have done it to you.”</p> +<p>“You couldn’t have thought that fast, my dear +Penny.”</p> +<p>“I might tell Mr. Maxwell you’re a reporter for the +<i>Riverview Record</i>. How would you like that?”</p> +<p>Francine shrugged. “In that case we both lose the +story. All I want is an exclusive. After the yarn breaks +in the <i>Record</i>, your father will be welcome to make +use of any information published. So if you really +want him to win his libel suit, you’ll gain by not interfering +with me.”</p> +<p>“You reason in a very strange way,” replied Penny +coldly.</p> +<p>Picking up her skis she shouldered them and +marched stiffly away. She was angry at Francine and +angry at herself for having given the rival reporter an +opportunity to score against her. Probably she would +never tell Harvey Maxwell or Ralph Fergus who the +girl actually was, sorely as she might be tempted. As +Francine had pointed out, her own chance of gleaning +any worth while information had been lost.</p> +<p>“It’s a bitter pill to choke down,” thought Penny, +“but I would rather have the <i>Record</i> get the story than +to lose it altogether.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_118">[118]</div> +<p>Sunk deep in depression, she tramped back to the +Downey lodge. The mail had arrived during her absence +but there was no letter from home.</p> +<p>“Dad might at least send me a postcard,” she grumbled. +“For two cents I would take the next plane back +to Riverview.”</p> +<p>However, Penny could not remain downhearted for +any great length of time. Why worry about Francine +and the silly old Green Room? She would forget all +about it and try to have fun for a change.</p> +<p>It was not difficult to dismiss the matter from her +mind, for the following morning Sara Jasko came to +give her a lesson in bob-sled driving. With a crowd of +interested guests watching from the sidelines, they +made their first exciting ride over the track. Sara +steered, Jake operated the brake, and Penny rode as +sole passenger.</p> +<p>Horseshoe Curve was the most thrilling point on the +course. As the sled tore around it at a tremendous rate +of speed, Jake dug in the iron claw of the brake, sending +up a plume of snow. They slackened speed perceptibly, +but even so the sled climbed high on the +sloping wall, and Penny thought for an anxious moment +that they were going over the top. The remainder +of the run was mild by comparison.</p> +<p>Upon later trips Penny was allowed to manage the +brake, and soon became dexterous in applying it as +Sara shouted the command.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_119">[119]</div> +<p>Skiers abandoned the slopes to watch the new sport. +Two at a time, Penny and Sara gave them rides and +all of their passengers were enthusiastic.</p> +<p>By the following day the word had spread down +the mountain that Mrs. Downey’s bob-sled run was +operating. Guests from the Fergus hotel joined the +throng but they were given rides only when there +were no passengers waiting.</p> +<p>“It’s going over like a house afire!” Penny declared +gaily to Mrs. Downey. “I shouldn’t be surprised if +you take some of the Fergus hotel’s customers away +from them if this enthusiasm lasts.”</p> +<p>“You and Sara are showing folks a wonderful time.”</p> +<p>“And we’re having one ourselves. It’s even more +fun than skiing.”</p> +<p>“But more dangerous,” declared Mrs. Downey. “I +hope we have no accidents.”</p> +<p>“Sara is a skillful driver.”</p> +<p>“Yes, she is,” agreed Mrs. Downey. “There’s no +cause for worry so long as the track isn’t icy.”</p> +<p>Two days passed during which Penny did not even +go near the Fergus hotel or to the village. As she remarked +to Mrs. Downey, all of Pine Top came to the +lodge. During the morning hours when the bob-sled +run was in operation, a long line of passengers stood +waiting. Guests from the Fergus hotel had few chances +for rides. Several of them, wishing to be on the favored +list, checked out and came to take lodging at +Mrs. Downey’s place.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_120">[120]</div> +<p>“I can’t understand it,” the woman declared to +Penny. “Last year the run wasn’t very popular. I +think it may have been because we had a little accident +at the beginning of the season. Nothing serious +but it served to frighten folks.”</p> +<p>“I wonder how the Fergus-Maxwell interests are +enjoying it?” chuckled Penny.</p> +<p>“Not very well, you may be sure. This flurry in +our business will rather worry them. They may not +put me out of business as quickly as they expected.”</p> +<p>“At least you’ll end your season in a blaze of glory,” +laughed Penny.</p> +<p>The weather had turned warmer. Late Thursday +afternoon the snow melted a bit and the lowering +night temperatures caused a film of ice to form over +the entire length of the bob-sled run. Jake shook his +head as he talked over the situation with Penny the +next morning.</p> +<p>“The track will be fast and slippery this morning.”</p> +<p>“A lot of folks will be disappointed if we don’t +make any trips,” declared Penny. “Here comes Sara. +Let’s see what she has to say.”</p> +<p>Sara studied the run, and walked down as far as +Horseshoe Curve.</p> +<p>“It’s fast all right,” she conceded. “But that will only +make it the more exciting. Brakes in good order, +Jake?”</p> +<p>“I tested every sled last night after they were +brought to the shop.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_121">[121]</div> +<p>“Then we’ll have no trouble,” said Sara confidently. +“Round up the passengers, Jake, and we’ll start at +once.”</p> +<p>The sled was hauled to the starting line. Sara took +her place behind the wheel, with Penny riding the end +position to handle the brake. Their first passengers +were to be a middle aged married couple. Sara gave +them padded helmets to wear.</p> +<p>“What are these for?” the woman asked nervously. +“The toboggan slide isn’t dangerous, is it?”</p> +<p>“No, certainly not,” answered Sara. “We haven’t +had a spill this year. Hang tight on the curves. Give +me plenty of brake when I call for it, Penny.”</p> +<p>She signaled for the push off. They started fast and +gathered speed on the straightaway. Penny wondered +how Sara could steer for her own eyes blurred as they +shot down the icy trough. They never had traveled +at such high speed before.</p> +<p>“Brakes!” shouted Sara.</p> +<p>Penny obeyed the order, and felt the sled slow +down as the brake claw dug into the snow and ice. +They raced on toward the first wide curve, and swung +around it, high on the banked wall, too close to the +outside edge for comfort.</p> +<p>“Brakes!” called Sara again.</p> +<p>Once more the iron claw dug in, sending up a +spray of snow behind the racing sled. And then there +came a strange, pinging sound.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_122">[122]</div> +<p>For the briefest instant Penny did not comprehend +its significance. Then, as the sled leaped ahead faster +than ever and the geyser of snow vanished, she realized +what had happened. The brakes were useless! +A rod had snapped! They were roaring down the +track with undiminished speed, and Horseshoe Curve, +the most dangerous point on the run, lay directly +ahead.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_123">[123]</div> +<h2 id="c15"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">15</span> +<br /><i>IN THE TOOL HOUSE</i></h2> +<p>Sara, her face white and tense, turned her head for +a fraction of a second and then, crouching lower, kept +her eyes glued on the track. She knew what had happened, +and she knew, too, that they never could hope +to make the Horseshoe Curve. Even a miracle of steering +would not save them from going over the wall of +ice at terrific speed.</p> +<p>The two passengers, frozen with fright, gripped +the side ropes, and kept their heads down. It did not +even occur to them that they could save themselves +by rolling off. For that matter, they did not realize +that the brake had broken.</p> +<p>Penny, in end position, could have jumped easily, +A fall into the soft snow beside the track would be +far less apt to cause serious injury than an upset from +the high wall of the curve. But it never occurred to +her to try to save herself.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_124">[124]</div> +<p>There was only one slim chance of preventing a +bad accident, a costly one for herself, and Penny took +it. As the perpendicular wall of Horseshoe Curve +loomed up ahead, she wrapped her arm about the +side rope of the sled and hurled herself off. Her entire +body was given a violent jerk. A sharp pain shot +through her right arm, but she gritted her teeth and +held on.</p> +<p><a href="#front">Penny’s trailing body, acting as a brake, slowed +down the sled</a> and kept it from upsetting as it swept +into the curve. Sideways it climbed the wall of snow. +It crept to the very edge, hovered there a breathless +moment, then fell back to overturn at the flat side of +the curve.</p> +<p>Untangling herself from a pile of arms and legs, +Sara began to help her passengers to their feet.</p> +<p>“Penny, are you hurt?” she asked anxiously. “That +was a courageous thing to do! You saved us from a +bad accident.”</p> +<p>Spectators, thrilled by the display of heroism, came +running to the scene. Penny, every muscle screaming +with pain, rolled over in the snow. Gripping her +wrenched arm, she tried to get to her feet and could +not.</p> +<p>“Penny, you <i>are</i> hurt!” cried Sara.</p> +<p>“It’s my arm, more than anything else,” Penny said, +trying to keep her face from twisting. “I—I hope it’s +not broken.”</p> +<p>Willing hands raised her to her feet and supported +her. Penny was relieved to discover that she could lift +her injured arm.</p> +<p>“It’s only wrenched,” she murmured. “Anyone else +hurt, Sara?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_125">[125]</div> +<p>“You’re the only casualty,” Sara replied warmly. +“But if you hadn’t used yourself as a brake we might +all have been badly injured. You ought to get a hot +bath as quickly as you can before your muscles begin +to stiffen.”</p> +<p>“They’ve begun already,” replied Penny ruefully.</p> +<p>She took a step as if to start for the lodge, only to +hesitate.</p> +<p>“I wonder what happened to the brake? I heard +something give way.”</p> +<p>Sara overturned the sled and took one glance. “A +broken rod.”</p> +<p>“I thought Jake checked over everything last night.”</p> +<p>“That’s what he <i>said</i>,” returned Sara. “We’ll ask +him about it.”</p> +<p>The workman, white-faced and frightened, came +running down the hill.</p> +<p>“What happened?” he demanded. “Couldn’t you +slow down or was it too icy?”</p> +<p>“No brakes,” Sara answered laconically. “I thought +you tested them.”</p> +<p>“I did. They were in good order last night.”</p> +<p>“Take a look at this.” Sara pointed to the broken +rod.</p> +<p>Jake bent down to examine it. When he straightened +he spoke no word, but the expression of his face +told the two girls that he did not hold himself responsible +for the mishap.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_126">[126]</div> +<p>“There’s something funny about this,” he muttered. +“I’ll take the sled to the shop and have a look at it.”</p> +<p>“I’ll go along with you,” declared Sara.</p> +<p>“And so will I,” added Penny quickly.</p> +<p>“You really should get a hot bath and go to bed,” +advised Sara. “If you don’t you may not be able to +walk tomorrow.”</p> +<p>“I’ll go to bed in a little while,” Penny answered +significantly.</p> +<p>Followed by the two girls, Jake pulled the sled to +the tool house behind the lodge. Sara immediately +closed and bolted the door from the inside so that +curious persons would not enter.</p> +<p>“Now let’s really have a look at that brake rod,” she +said. “Notice anything queer about it, Penny?”</p> +<p>“I did, and I’m thinking the same thing you are.”</p> +<p>“See these shiny marks on the steel,” Jake pointed +out excitedly. “The rod had been sawed almost in +two. Even a little strain on it would make it break.”</p> +<p>“You’re certain it was in good condition last night?” +Sara questioned.</p> +<p>“Positive,” Jake responded grimly. “I checked over +both sleds just before supper last night.”</p> +<p>“Let’s have a look at the other sled,” proposed +Penny.</p> +<p>An inspection of the brake equipment revealed +nothing out of order.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_127">[127]</div> +<p>“Whoever did the trick may have been afraid to +damage both sleds for fear of drawing attention to his +criminal work,” declared Penny. “But it’s perfectly +evident someone wanted us to take a bad spill.”</p> +<p>“I can’t guess who would try such a trick,” said +Sara in perplexity. “Did you lock the tool house last +night, Jake?”</p> +<p>“I always do.”</p> +<p>“How about the windows?” inquired Penny.</p> +<p>“I don’t rightly remember,” Jake confessed. “I +reckon they’re stuck fast.”</p> +<p>Penny went over and tested one of the windows. +While it was not locked, she could not raise it with +her injured arm. Sara tried without any better luck.</p> +<p>However, as the girls examined the one on the opposite +side of the tool house, they discovered that it +raised and lowered readily. Tiny pieces of wood were +chipped from the outside sill, showing where a blunt +instrument had been inserted beneath the sash.</p> +<p>“This is where the person entered, all right,” declared +Penny.</p> +<p>“I can’t understand who would wish to injure us,” +said Sara in a baffled voice. “You’re not known here +at Pine Top, and I have no enemies to my knowledge.”</p> +<p>“Mrs. Downey has them. There are persons who +would like to see her out of business. And our bob-sledding +parties were growing popular.”</p> +<p>“They were taking a few guests away from the big +hotel,” Sara admitted slowly. “Still, it doesn’t seem +possible—”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_128">[128]</div> +<p>She broke off as Penny reached down to pick up a +small object which lay on the floor beneath the window.</p> +<p>“What have you found?” she finished quickly.</p> +<p>Penny held out a large black button for her to see. +A few strands of coarse dark thread still clung to the +eyelets.</p> +<p>“It looks like a button from a man’s overcoat!” exclaimed +Sara. “Jake, does this belong to you?”</p> +<p>The workman glanced at it and shook his head.</p> +<p>“Not mine.”</p> +<p>“It probably fell from the coat of the person who +damaged our sled,” Penny declared thoughtfully. +“Not much of a clue, perhaps, but at least it’s something +to go on!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_129">[129]</div> +<h2 id="c16"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">16</span> +<br /><i>A PUZZLING SOLUTION</i></h2> +<p>Penny pocketed the button and then with Sara +went outside the building to look for additional clues. +The girls found only a multitude of footprints in the +snow beneath the two windows, for the tool house +stood beside a direct path to the nursery slopes.</p> +<p>“We’ve learned everything we’re going to,” declared +Sara. “Penny, I do wish you would get into the +house and take your bath. You’re limping worse every +minute.”</p> +<p>“All right, I’ll go. I do feel miserable.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps you ought to have a doctor.”</p> +<p>Penny laughed in amusement. “I’ll be brake man on +the bob-sled tomorrow as usual.”</p> +<p>“You’ll be lucky if you’re able to crawl out of bed. +Anyway, I doubt if I’ll be able to come myself.”</p> +<p>“Your grandfather?” asked Penny quickly.</p> +<p>“Yes, he’s getting suspicious. I’ll have to be more +careful.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_130">[130]</div> +<p>“Why don’t you tell him the truth? It’s really not +fair to deceive him. He’s bound to learn the truth +sooner or later.”</p> +<p>“I’m afraid to tell him,” Sara said with a little shiver. +“When grandfather is angry you can’t reason with +him. I’ll have to run now. I’m later than usual.”</p> +<p>Penny watched her friend go and then hobbled +into the lodge. News of the accident had preceded +her, and Mrs. Downey met her at the door. She was +deeply troubled until she ascertained for herself that +the girl had not been seriously injured.</p> +<p>“I was afraid something like this would happen,” +Mrs. Downey murmured self accusingly. “You know +now why I wasn’t very enthusiastic about using the +bob-sled run.”</p> +<p>Penny decided not to tell Mrs. Downey until later +how the mishap had occurred. She was feeling too +miserable to do much talking, and she knew the truth +would only add to the woman’s worries.</p> +<p>“I can’t say I’m so thrilled about it myself at the +moment,” she declared with a grimace. “I feel as stiff +as if I were mounted on a mummy board!”</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey drew a tub of hot water, but it required +all of Penny’s athletic prowess to get herself +in and out of it. Her right arm was swollen and painful +to lift. The skin on one side of her body from hip +to ankle had been severely scraped and bruised. She +could turn her neck only with difficulty.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_131">[131]</div> +<p>“I do think I should call a doctor from the village,” +Mrs. Downey declared as she aided the girl +into bed.</p> +<p>“Please, don’t,” pleaded Penny. “I’ll be as frisky as +ever by tomorrow.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey lowered the shades and went away. +Left alone, Penny tried to go to sleep, but she was too +uncomfortable. Every time she shifted to a new position +wracking pains shot through her body.</p> +<p>“If this isn’t the worst break,” she thought, sinking +deep into gloom. “I’ll be crippled for several days at +least. No skiing, no bob-sledding. And while I’m lying +here on my bed of pain, Francine will learn all about +the Green Room.”</p> +<p>After awhile the warmth of the bed overcame +Penny and she slept. She awakened to find Mrs. +Downey standing beside her, a tray in her hand.</p> +<p>“I shouldn’t have disturbed you,” the woman apologized, +“but you’ve been sleeping so long. And you’ve +had nothing to eat.”</p> +<p>“I could do with a little luncheon,” mumbled Penny +drowsily. “You didn’t need to bother bringing it upstairs.”</p> +<p>“This is dinner, not luncheon,” corrected Mrs. +Downey.</p> +<p>Penny rolled over and painfully pulled herself to a +sitting posture.</p> +<p>“Then I must have slept hours! What time is it?”</p> +<p>“Five-thirty. Do you feel better, Penny?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_132">[132]</div> +<p>“I think I do. From my eyebrows up anyway.”</p> +<p>While Penny ate her dinner, Mrs. Downey sat beside +her and chatted.</p> +<p>“At least there’s nothing wrong with my appetite,” +the girl laughed, rapidly emptying the dishes. “At +home Mrs. Weems says I eat like a wolf. Oh, by the +way, any mail?”</p> +<p>“None for you.”</p> +<p>Penny’s face clouded. “It’s funny no one writes me. +Don’t you think I might at least get an advertising +circular?”</p> +<p>“Well, Christmas is coming,” Mrs. Downey said +reasonably. “The holiday season always is such a busy +time. Folks have their shopping to do.”</p> +<p>“Not Dad. Usually he just calls up the Personal +Shopper at Hobson’s store and says: ‘She’s five-feet +three, size twelve and likes bright colors. Send out +something done up in gift wrapping and charge to +my account.’” Penny sighed drearily. “Then after +Christmas I have to take it back and ask for an exchange.”</p> +<p>“Have you ever tried giving your father a list?” +suggested Mrs. Downey, smiling at the description.</p> +<p>“Often. He nearly always ignores it.”</p> +<p>“What did you ask him for this year?”</p> +<p>“Only a new automobile.”</p> +<p>“Only! My goodness, aren’t your tastes rather expensive?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_133">[133]</div> +<p>“Oh, he won’t give it to me,” replied Penny. “I’ll +probably get a sweater with pink and blue stripes or +some dead merchandise the store couldn’t pawn off +on anyone except an unsuspecting father.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey laughed as she picked up the tray.</p> +<p>“I hope your father will be able to get to Pine Top +for Christmas.”</p> +<p>“So do I,” agreed Penny, frowning. “I thought +when I wired him that Harvey Maxwell was here he +would come right away.”</p> +<p>“He may have decided it would do no good to contact +the man. Knowing Mr. Maxwell I doubt if your +father could make any sort of deal with him.”</p> +<p>“If only he would come here he might be able to +learn something which would help his case,” Penny +declared earnestly. “Maxwell and Fergus are mixed +up in some queer business.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey smiled tolerantly. While she always +listened attentively to Penny’s theories and observations, +she had not been greatly excited by her tale of +the mysterious Green Room. She knew the two men +were unscrupulous in a business way and that they +were making every effort to force her to give up the +lodge, but she could not bring herself to believe they +were involved in more serious affairs. She thought that +Penny’s great eagerness to prove Harvey Maxwell’s +dishonesty had caused her imagination to run riot.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_134">[134]</div> +<p>“Francine Sellberg wouldn’t be at Pine Top if +something weren’t in the wind,” Penny went on reflectively. +“She followed Ralph Fergus and Maxwell +here. And that in itself was rather strange.”</p> +<p>“How do you mean, Penny?”</p> +<p>“Fergus must have been having trouble in managing +the hotel or he wouldn’t have gone to Riverview +to see Maxwell. What he had to say evidently couldn’t +be trusted to a letter or a telegram.”</p> +<p>“Mr. Fergus often absents himself on trips. Now +and then he goes to Canada.”</p> +<p>“I wonder why?” asked Penny alertly.</p> +<p>“He and Mr. Maxwell have a hotel there, I’ve +heard. I doubt if his trips have any particular significance.”</p> +<p>“Well, at any rate, Fergus brought Maxwell back +from Riverview to help him solve some weighty +problem. From their talk on the plane, I gathered +they were plotting to put you out of business, Mrs. +Downey.”</p> +<p>“I think you are right there, Penny.”</p> +<p>“But why should your lodge annoy them? You +could never take a large number of guests away from +their hotel.”</p> +<p>“Ralph Fergus is trying to buy up the entire mountainside,” +Mrs. Downey declared bitterly. “He purchased +the site of the old mine, and I can’t see what +good it will ever do the hotel.”</p> +<p>“You don’t suppose there’s valuable mineral—”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_135">[135]</div> +<p>“No,” Mrs. Downey broke in with an amused +laugh. “The mine played out years ago.”</p> +<p>“Has Mr. Fergus tried to buy your lodge?”</p> +<p>“He’s made me two different offers. Both were +hardly worth considering. If he comes through with +any reasonable proposition I may sell. My future +plans depend a great deal upon whether or not Peter +Jasko is willing to renew a lease on the ski slopes.”</p> +<p>“When does the lease expire, Mrs. Downey?”</p> +<p>“The end of next month. I’ve asked Mr. Jasko to +come and see me as soon as he can. However, I have +almost no hope he’ll sign a new lease.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey carried the tray to the door. There +she paused to inquire: “Anything I can bring you, +Penny? A book or a magazine?”</p> +<p>“No, thank you. But you might give me my portable +typewriter. I think I’ll write a letter to Dad just +to remind him he still has a daughter.”</p> +<p>Pulling a table to the bedside, Mrs. Downey placed +the typewriter and paper on it before going away. +Penny propped herself up with pillows and rolled a +blank sheet into the machine.</p> +<p>At the top of the page she pecked out: “Bulletin.” +After the dateline, she began in her best journalistic +style, using upper case letters:</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_136">[136]</div> +<p>“PENNY PARKER, ATTRACTIVE AND +TALENTED DAUGHTER OF ANTHONY +PARKER, WHILE RIDING THE TAIL OF A +RACING BOB-SLED WAS THROWN FOR A +TEN YARD LOSS, SUSTAINING NUMEROUS +BRUISES. THE PATIENT IS BEARING HER +SUFFERING WITH FORTITUDE AND ANTICIPATES +BEING IN CIRCULATION BY +GLMLFFLS”</p> +<p>Penny stared at the last word she had written. Inadvertently, +her fingers had struck the wrong letters. +She had intended to write “tomorrow.” With an exclamation +of impatience she jerked the paper from the +machine.</p> +<p>And then she studied the sentence she had typed +with new interest. There was something strangely familiar +about the jumbled word, GLMLFFLS.</p> +<p>“It looks a little like that coded message I found!” +she thought excitedly.</p> +<p>Forgetting her bruises, Penny rolled out of bed. +She struck the floor with a moan of anguish. Hobbling +over to the dresser, she found the scrap of paper +which she had saved, and brought it back to the bed.</p> +<p>The third word in the message was similar, although +not the same as the one she had written by accident. +Penny typed them one above the other.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<p class="t0">GLMLFFLS</p> +<p class="t0">GLULFFLS</p> +</div> +<div class="pb" id="Page_137">[137]</div> +<p>“They’re identical except for the third letter,” she +mused. “Why, I believe I have it! You simply strike +the letter directly below the true one—that is, the +one in the next row of keys. And when your true +letter is in the bottom row, you strike the corresponding +key on the top row. That’s why I wrote an M +for a U!”</p> +<p>Penny was certain she had deciphered the third +word of the code and that it was the same as she had +written unintentionally. Quickly she wrote out the +entire jumbled message, and under it her translation.</p> +<div class="poem"> +<p class="t0">YL GFZKY GLULFFLS</p> +<p class="t0">NO TRAIN TOMORROW</p> +</div> +<p>“That’s it!” she chortled, bounding up and down +in bed.</p> +<p>And then her elation fled away. A puzzled expression +settled over her face.</p> +<p>“I have it, only I haven’t,” she muttered. “What +can the message mean? There are no trains at Pine +Top—not even a railroad station. This leaves everything +in a worse puzzle than before!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_138">[138]</div> +<h2 id="c17"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">17</span> +<br /><i>STRANGE SOUNDS</i></h2> +<p>Penny felt reasonably certain that she had deciphered +the code correctly, but although she studied +over the message for nearly an hour, she could make +nothing of it.</p> +<p>“No train tomorrow,” she repeated to herself. +“How silly! Perhaps it means, no <i>plane</i> tomorrow.”</p> +<p>She worked out the code a second time, checking +her letters carefully. There was no mistake.</p> +<p>Later in the evening when Mrs. Downey stopped +to inquire how she was feeling, Penny asked her +about the train service near Pine Top.</p> +<p>“The nearest railroad is thirty miles away,” replied +the woman. “It is a very tedious journey to Pine Top +unless one comes by airplane.”</p> +<p>“Is the plane service under the control of the +Fergus-Maxwell interests?”</p> +<p>“Not to my knowledge,” returned Mrs. Downey, +surprised by the question. “This same airline company +sent planes here even before the Fergus hotel was +built, but not on a regular schedule.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_139">[139]</div> +<p>Left alone once more, Penny slipped the typewritten +message under her pillow and drew a long sigh. +Somehow she was making no progress in any line. +From whom had Ralph Fergus received the coded +note, and what was its meaning?</p> +<p>“I’ll never learn anything lying here in bed,” she +murmured gloomily. “Tomorrow I’ll get up even if +it kills me.”</p> +<p>True to her resolve, she was downstairs in time +for breakfast the next morning.</p> +<p>“Oh, Penny,” protested Mrs. Downey anxiously, +“don’t you think you should have stayed in bed? I +can tell it hurts you to walk.”</p> +<p>“I’ll limber up with exercise. I may take a little hike +down to the village later on.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey sadly shook her head. She thought +that Penny had entirely too much determination for +her own good.</p> +<p>Until ten o’clock Penny remained at the lodge, +rather hoping that Sara Jasko would put in an appearance. +When it was evident that the girl was not coming, +she bundled herself into warm clothing and +walked painfully down the mountain road. Observing +old Peter Jasko in the yard near the cabin, she did +not pause but went on until she drew near the Fergus +hotel.</p> +<p>“I wish I dared go in there,” she thought, stopping +to rest for a moment. “But I most certainly would be +chased out.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_140">[140]</div> +<p>Penny sat down on a log bench in plain view of +the hostelry. Forming a snowball, she tossed it at a +squirrel. The animal scurried quickly to a low-hanging +tree branch and chattered his violent disapproval.</p> +<p>“Brother, that’s the way I feel, too,” declared Penny +soberly. “You express my sentiments perfectly.”</p> +<p>She was still sunk in deep gloom when she heard +a light step behind her. Turning her head stiffly she +saw Maxine Miller tramping through the snow toward +her.</p> +<p>“If it isn’t Miss Parker!” the actress exclaimed with +affected enthusiasm. “How delighted I am to see you +again, my dear. I heard about the marvelous way you +stopped the bob-sled yesterday. Such courage! You +deserve a medal.”</p> +<p>“I would rather have some new skin,” said Penny.</p> +<p>“I imagine you do feel rather bruised and battered,” +the actress replied with a show of sympathy. “But +how proud you must be of yourself! Everyone is talking +about it! As I was telling Mr. Jasko last night—”</p> +<p>“You were talking with Peter Jasko?” broke in +Penny.</p> +<p>“Yes, he came to the hotel to see Mr. Fergus—something +about a lease, I think. Imagine! He hadn’t heard +a word about the accident, and his granddaughter was +in it!”</p> +<p>“You told him all about it I suppose?” Penny asked +with a moan.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_141">[141]</div> +<p>“Yes, he was tremendously impressed. Why, what +is the matter? Do you have a pain somewhere?”</p> +<p>“Several of them,” said Penny. “Go on. What did +Mr. Jasko say?”</p> +<p>“Not much of anything. He just listened. Shouldn’t +I have told him?”</p> +<p>“I am sorry you did, but it can’t be helped now. +Mr. Jasko doesn’t like to have his granddaughter ski +or take any part in winter sports.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I didn’t know that. Then I did let the cat out +of the bag. I thought he acted rather peculiar.”</p> +<p>“He was bound to have found out about it sooner +or later,” Penny sighed. With a quick change of mood +she inquired: “What’s doing down at the hotel? Any +excitement?”</p> +<p>“Everything is about as usual. I’ve sold two fur +coats. Don’t you think you might be interested in one +yourself?”</p> +<p>“I would be interested but my pocketbook +wouldn’t.”</p> +<p>“These coats are a marvelous bargain,” Miss Miller +declared. “Why don’t you at least look at them and +try one on. Come down to the hotel with me now +and I’ll arrange for you to meet my employer.”</p> +<p>“Well—” Penny hesitated, “could we enter the +hotel by the back way?”</p> +<p>“I suppose so,” replied the actress in surprise. +“You’re sensitive about being crippled?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_142">[142]</div> +<p>“That’s right. I don’t care to meet anyone I know.”</p> +<p>“We can slip into the hotel the back way, then. +Very few persons use the rear corridors.”</p> +<p>Penny and Miss Miller approached the building +without being observed. They entered at the back, +meeting neither Ralph Fergus or Harvey Maxwell.</p> +<p>“Can you climb a flight of stairs?” the actress asked +doubtfully.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes, easily. I much prefer it to the elevator.”</p> +<p>“You really walk with only a slight limp,” declared +Miss Miller. “I see no reason why you should feel so +sensitive.”</p> +<p>“It’s just my nature,” laughed Penny. “Lend me +your arm, and up we go.”</p> +<p>They ascended to the second floor. Miss Miller motioned +for the girl to sit down on a sofa not far from +the elevator.</p> +<p>“You wait here and I’ll bring my employer,” she offered. +“I’ll be back in a few minutes.”</p> +<p>“Who is this man?” inquired Penny.</p> +<p>The actress did not hear the question. She had +turned away and was descending the stairs again to +the lobby floor.</p> +<p>For a moment or two the girl sat with her head +against the back rest of the sofa, completely relaxed. +The trip down the mountainside had tired her more +than she had expected. She was afraid she had made a +mistake in coming boldly to the hotel. If Harvey Maxwell +caught her there he would not treat her kindly.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_143">[143]</div> +<p>As for seeing the fur coats, she had no intention of +ever making a purchase. She had agreed to look at +them because she was curious to learn the identity of +Miss Miller’s employer, as well as the nature of the +proposition which might be made her.</p> +<p>Presently, Penny’s attention was directed to a distant +sound, low and rhythmical, carrying a staccato +overtone.</p> +<p>At first the girl paid little heed to the sound. No +doubt it was just another noise incidental to a large +hotel—some machine connected with the cleaning +services perhaps.</p> +<p>But gradually, the sound impressed itself deeper on +her mind. There was something strangely familiar +about it, yet she could not make a positive identification.</p> +<p>Penny arose from the sofa and listened intently. +The sound seemed to be coming from far down the +left hand hall. She proceeded slowly, pausing frequently +in an effort to discover whence it came. She +entered a side hall and the noise increased noticeably.</p> +<p>Suddenly Penny heard footsteps behind her. Turning +slightly she was dismayed to see Ralph Fergus +coming toward her. For an instant she was certain +he meant to eject her from the hotel. Then, she realized +that his head was down, and that he was paying +no particular attention to her.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_144">[144]</div> +<p>Penny kept her back turned and walked even more +slowly. The man overtook her, passed without so +much as bestowing a glance upon her. He went to a +door which bore the number 27 and, taking a key +from his pocket, fitted it into the lock.</p> +<p>Penny would have thought nothing of his act, save +that as he swung back the door, the strange sound +which previously had drawn her attention, increased +in volume. It died away again as the door closed behind +Fergus.</p> +<p>Waiting a moment, Penny went on down the hall +and paused near the room where the hotel man had +entered. She looked quickly up and down the hall. +No one was in sight.</p> +<p>Moving closer, she pressed her ear to the panel. +There was no sound inside the room, but as she +waited, the rhythmical chugging began again. And +suddenly she knew what caused it—a teletype machine!</p> +<p>Often in her father’s newspaper office Penny had +heard that same sound and had watched the printers +recording news from all parts of the country. There +was no mistaking it, for she could plainly distinguish +the clicking of the type against the platen, the low +hum of the machine itself, the quick clang of the little +bell at the end of each line of copy.</p> +<p>“What would the hotel be doing with a teletype?” +she mused. “They print no newspapers here.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_145">[145]</div> +<p>Into Penny’s mind leaped a startling thought. The +coded message in upper case letters which Fergus had +dropped in the snow! Might it not have been printed +by a teletype machine?</p> +<p>“But what significance <i>could</i> it have?” she asked +herself. “From what office are the messages being sent +and for what purpose?”</p> +<p>It seemed to Penny that the answer to her many +questions might lie, not in the Green Room as she +had supposed, but close at hand in Number 27.</p> +<p>Her ear pressed to the panel, the girl made out a +low rumble of voices above the clatter of the teletype. +Ralph Fergus was talking with another man but she +could not distinguish a word they were saying. So +intent was she that she failed to hear a step behind her.</p> +<p>A mop handle clattered to the floor, making a loud +sound on the tiles. Penny whirled about in confusion. +A cleaning maid stood beside her, regarding her with +evident though unspoken suspicion.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_146">[146]</div> +<h2 id="c18"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">18</span> +<br /><i>QUESTIONS AND CLUES</i></h2> +<p>“Good morning,” stammered Penny, backing +from the door. “Were you wanting to get into this +room?”</p> +<p>“No, I never clean in there,” answered the maid, +still watching the girl with suspicion. “You’re looking +for someone?”</p> +<p>Penny knew that she had been observed listening +at the door. It would be foolish to pretend otherwise.</p> +<p>She answered frankly: “No, I was passing through +the corridor when I heard a strange sound in this +room. Do you hear it?”</p> +<p>The maid nodded and her distrustful attitude +changed to one of indifference.</p> +<p>“It’s a machine of some sort,” she answered. “I hear +it running every once in a while.”</p> +<p>Penny was afraid to loiter by the door any longer +lest her own voice bring Ralph Fergus to investigate. +As the cleaning woman picked up her mop and started +on down the hall, she fell into step with her.</p> +<p>“Who occupies Room 27?” she inquired casually.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_147">[147]</div> +<p>“No one,” said the maid. “The hotel uses it.”</p> +<p>“What goes on in there anyway? I thought I heard +teletype machines.”</p> +<p>The maid was unfamiliar with the technical name +Penny had used. “It’s just a contraption that prints +letters and figures,” she informed. “When I first came +to work at the hotel I made a mistake and went in +there to do some cleaning. Mr. Fergus, he didn’t like +it and said I wasn’t to bother to dust up there again.”</p> +<p>“Doesn’t anyone go into the room except Mr. Fergus?”</p> +<p>“Just him and George Jewitt.”</p> +<p>“And who is he? One of the owners of the hotel?”</p> +<p>“Oh, no. George Jewitt works for Mr. Fergus. He +takes care of the machines, I guess.”</p> +<p>“You were saying that the machine prints letters +and figures,” prompted Penny. “Do you mean messages +one can read?”</p> +<p>“It was writing crazy-like when I watched it. The +letters didn’t make sense nohow. Mr. Fergus he told +me the machines were being used in some experiment +the hotel was carrying on.”</p> +<p>“Who occupies the nearby rooms?” Penny questioned. +“I should think they would be disturbed by +the machines.”</p> +<p>“Rooms on this corridor are never assigned unless +everything else is full up,” the maid explained.</p> +<p>Pausing at a door, the cleaning woman fitted a +master key into the lock.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_148">[148]</div> +<p>“There’s one thing more I’m rather curious about,” +said Penny quickly. “It’s this Green Room I hear +folks mentioning.”</p> +<p>The maid gazed at her suspiciously again. “I don’t +know anything about any Green Room,” she replied.</p> +<p>Entering the bedroom with her cleaning paraphernalia, +she closed the door behind her.</p> +<p>“Went a bit too far that time,” thought Penny, +“but at least I learned a few facts of interest.”</p> +<p>Turning, she retraced her steps to Room 27, but +she was afraid to linger there lest Ralph Fergus should +discover her loitering in the hall. Miss Miller had not +put in an appearance when she returned to the elevators. +She decided not to wait.</p> +<p>Scribbling a brief note of explanation, Penny left +the paper in a corner of the sofa and hobbled down +the stairway to the first floor. She let herself out the +back way without attracting undue attention. Safely +in the open once more she retreated to her bench +under the ice-coated trees.</p> +<p>“I need to give this whole problem a good think,” +she told herself. “Here I have a number of perfectly +good clues but they don’t fit together. I’m almost as +far from getting evidence against Fergus and Maxwell +as I was at the start.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_149">[149]</div> +<p>Penny could not understand why the hotel would +have need for teletype machine service. Such machines +were used in newspaper offices, for railroad communication, +brokerage service, and occasionally in very +large plants with widely separated branch offices. Suddenly +she recalled that her father had once told her +Mr. Maxwell kept in touch with his chain of hotels +by means of such a wire service. Surely it was an expensive +and unnecessary means of communication.</p> +<p>The cleaning woman’s information that messages +came through in unintelligible form convinced Penny +a code was being used—a code to which she had the +key. But why did Maxwell and Fergus find it necessary +to employ one? If their messages concerned only +the routine operation of the various hotels in the +chain, there would be no need for secrecy.</p> +<p>The one message she had interpreted—“No Train +Tomorrow”—undoubtedly had been received by +teletype transmission. But Penny could not hazard a +guess as to its true meaning. She feared it might be in +double code, and that the words did not have the significance +usually attributed to them.</p> +<p>“If only I could get into Room 27 and get my +hands on additional code messages I might be able +to make something out of it,” she mused. “The problem +is how to do it without being caught.”</p> +<p>Penny had not lost interest in the Green Room. +She was inclined to believe that its mystery was +closely associated with the communication system of +the hotel. But since, for the time being at least, the +problem of penetrating beyond the guarded Green +Door seemed unsolvable, she thought it wiser to center +her sleuthing attack elsewhere.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_150">[150]</div> +<p>“All I can do for the next day or so is to keep an +eye on Ralph Fergus and Harvey Maxwell,” she told +herself. “If I see a chance to get inside Room 27 I’ll +take it.”</p> +<p>Penny arose with a sigh. She would not be likely +to have such a chance unless she made it for herself. +And in her present battered state, her mind somehow +refused to invent clever schemes.</p> +<p>The walk back up the mountain road was a long +and tiring one. Finally reaching the lodge after many +pauses for rest, Penny stood for a time watching the +skiers, and then entered the house.</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey was not in the kitchen. Hearing +voices from the living room, Penny went to the doorway +and paused there. The hotel woman was talking +with a visitor, old Peter Jasko.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m sorry,” Penny apologized for her intrusion. +She started to retreat.</p> +<p>Peter Jasko saw her and the muscles of his leathery +face tightened. Pushing back his chair he got quickly +to his feet.</p> +<p>“You’re the one who has been trespassing on my +land!” he accused, his voice unsteady from anger. +“You’ve been helping my granddaughter disobey my +orders!”</p> +<p>Taken by surprise, Penny could think of nothing +to say in her own defense.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_151">[151]</div> +<p>After his first outburst, Peter Jasko ignored the +girl. Turning once more to Mrs. Downey he said in +a rasping voice:</p> +<p>“You have my final decision, Ma’am. I shall not renew +the lease.”</p> +<p>“Please, Mr. Jasko,” Mrs. Downey argued quietly. +“Think what this means to me! If I lose the ski slopes +I shall be compelled to give up the lodge. I’ve already +offered you more than I can afford to pay.”</p> +<p>“Money ain’t no object,” the old man retorted. +“I’m against the whole proposition.”</p> +<p>“Nothing I can say will make you reconsider?”</p> +<p>“Nothing, Ma’am.”</p> +<p>Picking up his cap, a ridiculous looking affair with +ear muffs, Peter Jasko brushed past Penny and went +out the door.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_152">[152]</div> +<h2 id="c19"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">19</span> +<br /><i>PETER JASKO SERVES NOTICE</i></h2> +<p>After the old man had gone, Penny spoke apologetically +to Mrs. Downey.</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m so sorry! I ruined everything, coming in +just when I did.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey sat with her hands folded in her lap, +staring out the window after the retreating figure of +Peter Jasko.</p> +<p>“No, it wasn’t your fault, Penny.”</p> +<p>“He was angry at me because I’ve been helping +Sara get in and out of the cabin. I never should have +done it.”</p> +<p>“Perhaps not,” agreed Mrs. Downey, “but it would +have made no difference in regard to the lease. I’ve +been expecting Jasko’s decision. Even so, it comes as +a blow. This last week I had been turning ideas over +in my mind, trying to think of a way I could keep on +here. Now everything is settled.”</p> +<p>Penny crossed the room and slipped an arm about +the woman’s shoulders.</p> +<p>“I’m as sorry as I can be.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_153">[153]</div> +<p>With a sudden change of mood, Mrs. Downey +arose and gave Penny’s hand an affectionate squeeze.</p> +<p>“Losing the lodge won’t mean the end of the +world,” she said lightly. “While I may not be able to +sell the place for a very good price now that the ski +slopes are gone, I’ll at least get something from Mr. +Maxwell. And I have a small income derived from my +husband’s insurance policy.”</p> +<p>“Where will you go if you leave here?”</p> +<p>“I haven’t given that part any thought,” admitted +Mrs. Downey. “I may do a little traveling. I have a +sister in Texas I might visit.”</p> +<p>“You’ll be lonesome for Pine Top.”</p> +<p>“Yes,” admitted Mrs. Downey, “this place will always +seem like home to me. And I’ve lived a busy, +useful life for so many years it will be hard to let go.”</p> +<p>“Possibly Peter Jasko will reconsider his decision.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey smiled and shook her head. “Not +Peter. I’ve known him for many years, although I +can’t say I ever became acquainted with him. Once +he makes a stand nothing can sway him.”</p> +<p>“Is he entirely right in his mind?” Penny asked +dubiously.</p> +<p>“Oh, yes. He’s peculiar, that’s all. And he’s getting +old.”</p> +<p>Despite Mrs. Downey’s avowal that no one was responsible +for Peter Jasko’s decision, Penny considered +herself at fault. She could not blame the old man for +being provoked because she had helped his granddaughter +escape from the cabin.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_154">[154]</div> +<p>“If I went down there and apologized it might do +some good,” she thought. “At least, nothing will be +lost by trying.”</p> +<p>Penny turned the plan over in her mind, saying +nothing about it to Mrs. Downey. It seemed to her +that the best way would be to wait for a few hours +until Peter Jasko had been given an opportunity to +get over his anger.</p> +<p>The afternoon dragged on slowly. Toward nightfall, +finding confinement intolerable, Penny ventured +out-of-doors to try her skis. She was thrilled to discover +that she could use them without too much discomfort.</p> +<p>Going to the kitchen window, she called to Mrs. +Downey that she intended to do a little skiing and +might be late for dinner.</p> +<p>“Oh, Penny, you’re not able,” the woman protested, +raising the sash. “It’s only your determination +which drives you on.”</p> +<p>“I’m feeling much better,” insisted Penny. “I want +to go down the mountain and see Sara.”</p> +<p>“It will be a hard climb back,” warned Mrs. Downey. +“And the radio reported another bad storm coming.”</p> +<p>“That’s why I want to go now,” answered Penny. +“We may be snowbound by tomorrow.”</p> +<p>“Well, if you must go, don’t overtax your strength,” +cautioned Mrs. Downey.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_155">[155]</div> +<p>Penny wrapped a woolen scarf tightly about her +neck as a protection against the biting wind. Cautiously, +she skied down the trail, finding its frozen +surface treacherous, and scarcely familiar. In the +rapidly gathering dusk nothing looked exactly the +same as by daylight. Trees towered like unfriendly +giants, obscuring the path.</p> +<p>Before Penny had covered half the distance to +Jasko’s cabin, snowflakes, soft and damp, began to +fall. They came faster and faster, the wind whirling +them directly into her face. She kept her head down +and wished that she had remained by the crackling +log fire at the Downey lodge.</p> +<p>Swinging out of the forest, Penny was hard pressed +to remember the trail. As she hesitated, trying to decide +which way to go, she felt her skis slipping along +a downgrade where none should have been. Too late, +she realized that she was heading down into a deep +ravine which terminated in an ice-sheeted river below.</p> +<p>Throwing herself flat, Penny sought to save herself, +but she kept sliding, sliding. A stubby evergreen +at last stayed her fall. She clung helplessly to it for +a moment, recovering her breath. Then she tried to +pull herself up the steep incline. She slipped and +barely caught hold of the bush to save herself from +another bad fall. Sharp pains shot through her side.</p> +<p>“Now I’ve fixed myself for sure,” she thought. +“How will I ever get out of this hole?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_156">[156]</div> +<p>The ravine offered protection from the chill wind, +but the snow was sifting down steadily. Penny could +feel her clothing becoming thoroughly soaked. If she +should lie still she soon would freeze.</p> +<p>Again Penny tried to struggle up the bank, and +again she slid backwards. From sheer desperation +rather than because she cherished a hope that anyone +would hear, Penny shouted for help.</p> +<p>An answering halloo echoed to her through the +trees.</p> +<p>Penny dared not hope that the voice was other than +her own. “Help! Help!” she called once more.</p> +<p>Her heart leaped. The cry which came back definitely +belonged to a man! And as she marveled at the +miracle of a rescue, a dark figure loomed up at the +rim of the ravine.</p> +<p>A gruff voice called to her: “Hold on! Don’t try to +move! I’ll get a rope and be back!”</p> +<p>The man faded back into the darkness. Penny clung +to the bush until it seemed her arms would break. +Snow fell steadily, caking her hood and penetrating +the woolen suit.</p> +<p>Then as the girl lost all awareness of time, she +caught the flash of a lighted lantern. Her rescuer appeared +again at the top of the ravine and lowered a +rope. She grasped it, wrapping it tightly about her +wrist, and climbed as best she could while the man +pulled from above.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_157">[157]</div> +<p>At last Penny reached the top, falling in an exhausted +heap on the snow. Raising her head she stared +into the face of her rescuer. The man was Peter +Jasko.</p> +<p>He recognized her at the same instant.</p> +<p>“You!” he exclaimed.</p> +<p>For one disturbing moment Penny thought the old +man meant to push her back down into the yawning +ravine. In the yellow glow of the lantern, the expression +of his face was terrifying.</p> +<p>Gaining control of himself, Peter Jasko demanded +gruffly: “Hurt?”</p> +<p>“I’ve twisted my ankle.” Penny pulled herself up +from the ground, took a step, and recoiled with pain.</p> +<p>“Let me have a look at it.”</p> +<p>Jasko bent down and examined the ankle.</p> +<p>“No bones broken,” he said. “You’re luckier than +you deserve. Any fool who doesn’t know enough to +keep off skis ought to be crippled for life!”</p> +<p>“Such a cheerful philosophy,” observed Penny +ironically. “Well, thanks anyhow for saving me. Even +if you are sorry you did it.”</p> +<p>The old man made no immediate reply. He stood +gazing down at Penny.</p> +<p>“Reckon I owe you something,” he said grudgingly. +“Sara told me how you kept the bob-sled from going +off the track. Injured yourself, too, didn’t you?”</p> +<p>“Yes.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_158">[158]</div> +<p>“You had no business helping Sara go against my +will,” the old man said, his anger rising again. “I told +you to stay away, didn’t I?”</p> +<p>“You did. I was sorry to disobey your orders, Mr. +Jasko, but I think you are unjust to your granddaughter.”</p> +<p>“You do, eh?”</p> +<p>“And you’re not being fair to Mrs. Downey either,” +Penny went on courageously. “She’s struggled for +years to make her lodge profitable, fought against +overwhelming odds while the Fergus interests have +done everything they can to put her out of business. +Unless you renew her lease, she’ll be forced to leave +Pine Top.”</p> +<p>“So?” inquired the old man, unmoved.</p> +<p>“She’s fighting with her back to the wall. And now +you’ve dealt her the final blow.”</p> +<p>“No one asked Mrs. Downey to come here in the +first place,” replied Peter Jasko. “Or them other hotel +people either. Pine Top can get along without the +lot of ’em. The sooner they all clear out the better +I’ll like it.”</p> +<p>“I’m sure of that,” said Penny. “You don’t care how +much trouble you cause other folks. Because of your +own son’s death you have taken an unnatural attitude +toward skiing. You hate everything remotely connected +with the sport. But it isn’t fair. Your granddaughter +has a right to a certain amount of freedom.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_159">[159]</div> +<p>Peter Jasko listened to the girl’s words in silence. +When she had finished he said in a strangely shaken +voice:</p> +<p>“My son met his death going on ten years ago. It +was on this trail—”</p> +<p>“I’m sorry,” Penny said contritely. “I shouldn’t +have spoken the way I did. Actually, I was on my way +down the mountain to tell you I deeply regret helping +Sara to go against your will.”</p> +<p>“My granddaughter is headstrong,” the old man +replied slowly. “I want what’s best for her. That’s +why I’ve tried to protect her.”</p> +<p>“I’m sure you’ve done what you thought was +right,” Penny returned. “Why don’t you see Mrs. +Downey again and—”</p> +<p>“No!” said the old man stubbornly. “You can’t say +anything which will make me change my mind. Take +my arm and see if you can walk!”</p> +<p>Penny struggled forward, supported by Jasko’s +strong arm. Although each step sent a wracking pain +through her leg she made no sound of protest.</p> +<p>“You can’t make it that way,” the old man declared, +pausing. “I’ll have to fix up a sled and pull you.”</p> +<p>Going back for Penny’s skis which had been left +at the top of the ravine, he lashed them together. She +lay full length on the runners, and he towed her until +they came within view of the cabin. A light glowed in +the window.</p> +<p>On level ground, Penny tried walking again, and +managed to reach the cabin door.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_160">[160]</div> +<p>“You go on inside,” the old man directed. “I’ll +hitch up the bob-sled and take you home.”</p> +<p>Penny pushed open the door only to hesitate on the +threshold. The room was filled with tobacco smoke. +Two men sat at the table, and directly behind them +stood Sara Jasko.</p> +<p>The girl came swiftly to the door. She gave Penny +a warm smile of welcome, not noticing that she had +been hurt, and said anxiously to Mr. Jasko:</p> +<p>“Grandfather, you have visitors. Mr. Fergus and +Mr. Maxwell are waiting to see you. I think it’s about +the lease.”</p> +<p>“I’ve nothing to say to them,” returned the old +man grimly.</p> +<p>Nevertheless, he followed the two girls into the +room, closing the door against the wind and snow.</p> +<p>The situation was an awkward one for Penny. +Ralph Fergus and Harvey Maxwell both stared at her +with undisguised dislike and suspicion. Then, the +former arose, and ignoring her entirely, stepped forward +to meet the old man, his hand extended.</p> +<p>“Good evening, sir,” he said affably. “Mr. Maxwell +and I have a little business to discuss with you, if you +can spare us a moment.”</p> +<p>Peter Jasko ignored the offered hand.</p> +<p>“I haven’t changed my mind since the last time we +talked,” he said. “I’m not signing any lease!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_161">[161]</div> +<p>Penny scarcely heard the words for she was staring +beyond Ralph Fergus at his overcoat which hung +over the vacated chair. The garment was light brown +and the top button, a large one of the same color, had +been torn from the cloth.</p> +<p>Shifting her gaze, Penny glanced at Sara. The girl +nodded her head slowly up and down. She, too, had +made the important observation, and was thinking the +same thought. There could be little doubt of it—Ralph +Fergus was the man who had weakened the +brake rod of their bob-sled!</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_162">[162]</div> +<h2 id="c20"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">20</span> +<br /><i>VISITORS</i></h2> +<p>“May we see you alone, Mr. Jasko?” requested +Ralph Fergus.</p> +<p>“I don’t reckon there’s any need for being so all-fired +private,” the old man retorted, his hand on the +doorknob. “If you want to talk with me speak your +piece right out. I got to hitch up the team.”</p> +<p>Mr. Fergus and his companion, Harvey Maxwell, +glanced coldly toward Penny who had sunk down +into a chair and was massaging her ankle. They were +reluctant to reveal their business before her but there +was no other way.</p> +<p>“We can’t talk with you very well while you’re +poised for flight, Mr. Jasko,” Ralph Fergus said placatingly. +“My friend, Maxwell, has prepared a paper +which he would like to have you look over.”</p> +<p>“I’m not signin’ anything!”</p> +<p>“Good for you, Grandfather!” muttered Sara under +her breath.</p> +<p>The two men pretended not to hear. Mr. Maxwell +took a folded document from his pocket and spread +it out on the kitchen table.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_163">[163]</div> +<p>“Will you just read this, please, Mr. Jasko? You’ll +find our terms are more than generous.”</p> +<p>“I ain’t interested in your terms,” he snapped. “I’m +aimin’ to keep every acre of my land.”</p> +<p>“We’re not asking you to sell, only to lease,” Mr. +Fergus interposed smoothly. “Now we understand +that your deal with Mrs. Downey has fallen through, +so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t lease the ski +slopes to us. We are prepared to offer you twice the +amount she proposed to give you.”</p> +<p>Mr. Jasko stubbornly shook his head.</p> +<p>“You’re taking a very short-sighted attitude,” said +Ralph Fergus, beginning to lose patience. “At least +read the paper.”</p> +<p>“No.”</p> +<p>“Think what this would mean to your granddaughter,” +interposed Harvey Maxwell. “Pretty +clothes, school in the city perhaps—”</p> +<p>“Don’t listen to them, Grandfather,” spoke Sara +quickly. “I have enough clothes. And Pine Top school +suits me.”</p> +<p>“You’re wastin’ your time and mine,” said Peter +Jasko. “I ain’t leasing my land to anybody.”</p> +<p>“We’re only asking you to sign a three-year +lease—” Mr. Fergus argued.</p> +<p>“Can’t you understand plain language?” the old +man cried. “You think money will buy everything, +but you got another guess coming. I’ve seen enough +skiing at Pine Top and I aim to put a stop to it!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_164">[164]</div> +<p>“It’s no use,” said Harvey Maxwell resignedly to +his companion.</p> +<p>Ralph Fergus picked up the paper and thrust it +into his overcoat pocket. “You’re an old fool, Jasko!” +he muttered.</p> +<p>“Don’t you dare speak that way to my grandfather!” +Sara cried, her eyes stormy. “You had your +nerve coming here anyway, after that trick you +tried!”</p> +<p>“Trick?”</p> +<p>“You deliberately weakened the brake rod of our +bob-sled.”</p> +<p>Ralph Fergus laughed in the girl’s face. “You’re +as touched as your grandfather,” he said.</p> +<p>“Perhaps you can explain what became of the top +button of your overcoat,” suggested Penny coming +to Sara’s support. “And don’t try to tell us it’s home +in your sewing basket!”</p> +<p>Ralph Fergus’ hand groped at the vacant spot on +his coat.</p> +<p>“What does a button have to do with the bob-sled +accident?” inquired Harvey Maxwell.</p> +<p>“It happens that we found a large brown button in +the tool house at the Downey lodge,” replied Penny. +“Also a little additional evidence which rather suggests +Mr. Fergus is the one who tampered with the +bob-sled.”</p> +<p>“Ridiculous!” protested the hotel man. “I’ve not +even been near Mrs. Downey’s lodge in weeks.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_165">[165]</div> +<p>“I know that’s a lie,” said Peter Jasko. “I saw you +goin’ up that way Friday night.”</p> +<p>“And you went there to damage the bob-sled!” +Sara accused. “You didn’t care how many persons +might be injured in an accident!”</p> +<p>Ralph Fergus’ face was an angry red. “What reason +would I have for doing anything like that?” he demanded.</p> +<p>“Guests were being drawn from your hotel because +bob-sledding was increasing in popularity,” said +Penny quietly. “Nothing would please you more than +to put Mrs. Downey out of business.”</p> +<p>“Aren’t you drawing rather sweeping conclusions?” +inquired Harvey Maxwell in an insolent tone. +“A button isn’t very certain evidence. So many persons +wear buttons, you know.”</p> +<p>“I lost this one from my coat weeks ago,” added +Ralph Fergus.</p> +<p>“It was your button we found,” Sara accused.</p> +<p>Peter Jasko had been listening intently to the argument, +taking little part in it. But now, with a quick +movement which belied his age, he moved across the +kitchen toward the gun rack on the wall.</p> +<p>“Let’s be getting out of here,” muttered Harvey +Maxwell.</p> +<p>He and Ralph Fergus both bolted out of the door. +Their sudden flight delighted Sara who broke into a +fit of laughter.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_166">[166]</div> +<p>“Why don’t you shoot once or twice into the air +just to give ’em a good fright?” she asked her grandfather.</p> +<p>The old man, shotgun in hand, had followed the +two men to the door. But he did not shoot.</p> +<p>“Grandfather wouldn’t hurt a flea really,” chuckled +Sara. “At least, not unless it was trying to make him +sign something.”</p> +<p>“Ralph Fergus acted guilty, all right,” declared +Penny, bending down to massage her injured ankle. +“But it may have been a mistake for us to accuse him.”</p> +<p>“I couldn’t help it,” answered Sara. “When I saw +that button missing from his coat, I had to say something +about it.”</p> +<p>Peter Jasko put away his shotgun, turning once +more to the door. “I’ll hitch up the team,” he said. +“Sara, get some liniment and see what you can do for +Miss Parker’s ankle.”</p> +<p>“Your ankle?” gasped Sara, staring at Penny. “Have +you hurt yourself again?”</p> +<p>“I managed to fall into the ravine a few minutes ago. +Your grandfather saved me.”</p> +<p>Sara darted to the stove to get a pan of warm water. +She stripped off Penny’s woolen stockings and examined +the foot as she soaked it.</p> +<p>“I suppose this will put me on the shelf for another +day or so,” Penny observed gloomily. “But I’m lucky +I didn’t break my neck.”</p> +<p>“The ankle is swollen,” Sara said, “I’ll wrap it with +a bandage and that may make it feel better.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_167">[167]</div> +<p>With a practiced hand she wound strips of gauze +and adhesive tape about the ankle.</p> +<p>“There, how does it feel now?”</p> +<p>“Much better,” said Penny. “Thanks a lot. I—I feel +rather mean to put your grandfather to so much +trouble, especially after the way I’ve crossed him.”</p> +<p>“Oh, don’t you worry about Grandfather,” laughed +Sara. “He likes you, Penny.”</p> +<p>“He <i>likes</i> me?”</p> +<p>“I could tell by the way he acted tonight. He respects +a person who stands up to him.”</p> +<p>“I said some rather unnecessary things,” Penny +declared regretfully. “I was provoked because he +wouldn’t sign a lease with Mrs. Downey. After hearing +what he said to Fergus and Maxwell I realize +nothing will sway him.”</p> +<p>Sara sighed as she helped her friend put on her shoe +again.</p> +<p>“I’m afraid not. I’ll do what I can to influence him, +but I can tell you now he’ll never listen to me. Grandfather +is just the way he is, and one can’t budge him +an inch.”</p> +<p>Peter Jasko soon had the team hitched to the bob-sled. +He and Sara helped Penny in, wrapping blankets +around her so that she would be snug and warm during +the ride up the mountain.</p> +<p>“Come down again whenever you can,” invited +Sara. “Only the next time don’t try it after dark if +you’re on skis.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_168">[168]</div> +<p>Penny glanced at the old man, but his face showed +no displeasure. Apparently, he no longer regarded +her as an interloper.</p> +<p>“I’ll come as soon as I can,” she replied.</p> +<p>Peter Jasko clucked to the horses, and the sled +moved away from the cabin. Sara stood in the doorway +until it was out of sight.</p> +<p>During the slow ride up the mountain side, the old +man did not speak. But as they came at last to the +Downey lodge, and he lifted her from the sled, he +actually smiled.</p> +<p>“I reckon it won’t do any good to lock Sara up +after this,” he said. “You’re both too smart for an old +codger like me.”</p> +<p>“Thank you, Mr. Jasko,” answered Penny, her eyes +shining. “Thank you for everything.”</p> +<p>The door of the lodge had opened, and Mrs. +Downey, a coat thrown over her shoulders, hurried +out into the snow. Not wishing to be drawn into a +conversation, Jasko leaped back into the sled, and with +a curt, “Good evening,” drove away.</p> +<p>With Mrs. Downey’s help, Penny hobbled into the +house, and there related her latest misadventure.</p> +<p>“I declare, you’ll be in the hospital yet,” sighed the +woman. “I feel tempted to adopt Mr. Jasko’s tactics +and lock you up in your room.”</p> +<p>“I’ll stay there without being locked in,” declared +Penny. “I’ve had enough skiing to last me until +Christmas at least.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_169">[169]</div> +<p>In the morning she felt so stiff and battered that she +could barely get out of bed. However, her ankle was +somewhat better and when occasion demanded, she +could hobble across the room without support.</p> +<p>“You ought to be all right in a day or so if only +you’ll stay off your foot and give it a chance to get +well,” declared Mrs. Downey.</p> +<p>“It’s hard to sit still,” sighed Penny. “There are so +many things I ought to be doing.”</p> +<p>From the kitchen window she could see the Fergus +hotel far down in the valley. She was impatient to pay +another visit there, although she realized that after the +previous evening’s encounter with Ralph Fergus and +Harvey Maxwell, it would be more difficult than ever +to gain admittance.</p> +<p>“Somehow I must manage to get into Room 27 and +learn what is going on there,” she thought. “But how? +That is the question!”</p> +<p>Ever an active, energetic person, Penny became increasingly +restless as the day dragged on. During mid-afternoon, +observing that Jake had hitched up the +team to the sled, she inquired if he were driving down +to Pine Top.</p> +<p>“Yes, I am sending him after supplies,” explained +Mrs. Downey. “And the newspapers—if there are +any.”</p> +<p>“I wish I could go along for the ride.”</p> +<p>Mrs. Downey regarded Penny skeptically.</p> +<p>“Oh, I wouldn’t get out of the sled,” Penny said.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_170">[170]</div> +<p>“Is that a promise?”</p> +<p>“I’ll make it one. Nothing less than a fire or an +earthquake will get me out.”</p> +<p>Jake brought the sled to the door, and helped the +girl into it. The day was cold. Snow fell steadily. +Mrs. Downey tucked warm bricks at Penny’s feet and +wrapped her snugly in woolen blankets.</p> +<p>The ride down the mountainside was without event. +Penny began to regret that she had made the trip, for +the weather was more unpleasant than she had anticipated. +She burrowed deeper and deeper into the +blankets.</p> +<p>Jake pulled up at a hitching post in front of Pine +Top’s grocery store.</p> +<p>“It won’t take me long,” he said.</p> +<p>Penny climbed down in the bottom of the sled, rearranging +her blankets so that only her eyes and forehead +were exposed to the cold. She had been sitting +there for some minutes when her attention was drawn +to a man who was approaching from far down the +street. Recognizing him as Ralph Fergus, she watched +with interest.</p> +<p>At the drugstore he paused. As if by prearrangement, +Benny Smith came out of the building. Penny +was too far away to hear their exchange of words, +but she saw the boy give all of his newspapers to +Ralph Fergus. In return, he received a bill which she +guessed might be of fairly high denomination.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_171">[171]</div> +<p>“Probably five dollars,” she thought. “The boy sells +all his papers to Fergus because he can make more that +way than by peddling them one by one. And he’s +paid to keep quiet about it.”</p> +<p>Penny was not especially surprised to discover that +the hotel man was buying up all the papers, for she +had suspected he was behind the trick.</p> +<p>“There’s no law against it,” she told herself. “That’s +the trouble. Fergus and Maxwell are clever. So far +they’ve done nothing which could possibly get them +into legal trouble.”</p> +<p>Presently Jake came out of the grocery store, carrying +a large box of supplies which he stowed in the sled.</p> +<p>“I’ll get the papers and then we’ll be ready to start.”</p> +<p>“Don’t bother,” said Penny. “There aren’t any. I +just saw Ralph Fergus buy them all from the boy.”</p> +<p>“Fergus, eh? And he’s been puttin’ it out that the +papers never caught the plane!”</p> +<p>“It was just another one of his little tricks to make +Mrs. Downey’s guests dissatisfied.”</p> +<p>“Now we know what he’s about we’ll put a stop +to it!”</p> +<p>“Yes,” agreed Penny, “but he’ll only think of something +new to try.”</p> +<p>As they started back toward the Downey lodge, +she was quiet, turning over various matters in her +mind. Since Mrs. Downey had decided to sell her +business, it scarcely seemed to matter what Ralph +Fergus did.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_172">[172]</div> +<p>The sled drew near the Jasko cabin and passed it, +turning a bend in the road. Suddenly Penny thought +she heard her name called. Glancing back she was +startled to see Sara Jasko running after the sled.</p> +<p>“Wait, Jake!” Penny commanded. “It’s Sara! Something +seems to be wrong!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_173">[173]</div> +<h2 id="c21"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">21</span> +<br /><i>OLD PETER’S DISAPPEARANCE</i></h2> +<p>“Whoa!” shouted Jake, pulling on the reins.</p> +<p>The horses brought the heavy sled to a halt at the +side of the road. Sara, breathless from running so fast, +hurried up.</p> +<p>“I’m worried about Grandfather,” she gasped out.</p> +<p>“He isn’t sick?” Penny asked quickly,</p> +<p>“No, but I haven’t seen him since early this morning. +He went to chop wood at Hatter’s place up the +mountain. He expected to be back in time for lunch +but he hasn’t returned.”</p> +<p>“He’ll likely be along soon,” said Jake.</p> +<p>“Oh, you don’t know Grandfather,” declared Sara, +her forehead wrinkling with anxiety. “He always does +exactly as he says he will do. He never would have +stayed away this long unless something had happened. +He’s getting on in years and I’m afraid—”</p> +<p>“Jake, couldn’t we go up to Hatter’s place, wherever +it is?” Penny urged.</p> +<p>“Sure. It’s not far from Mrs. Downey’s.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_174">[174]</div> +<p>“Let me ride with you,” Sara requested. “I’m sorry +to cause you any trouble, but I have a feeling something +is wrong.”</p> +<p>“Jump in,” invited Jake.</p> +<p>Sara climbed into the back of the sled, snuggling +down in the blankets beside Penny.</p> +<p>“Grandfather may have hurt himself with the ax,” +she said uneasily. “Or he could have suffered a stroke. +The doctor says he has a touch of heart-trouble, but +he never will take care of himself.”</p> +<p>“We’ll probably find him safe and sound,” Penny +declared in a comforting way.</p> +<p>Jake stirred the horses to greater activity. In a short +while the sled passed the Downey grounds and went +on to the Hatter farm. Sara sprang out to unlock the +wooden gate which barred entrance to a narrow, +private road.</p> +<p>“I see Grandfather’s sled!” she exclaimed.</p> +<p>Without waiting for Jake to drive through the +gate, she ran on down the road. Hearing her cry of +alarm, the man urged his horses on.</p> +<p>Reaching the clearing, Penny and Jake saw Sara +gazing about in bewilderment. Peter Jasko’s team had +been tied to a tree and the sled box was half filled with +wood. An ax lay in the deep snow close by. But there +was no sign of the old man.</p> +<p>“Where is grandfather?” Sara asked in a dazed voice.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_175">[175]</div> +<p>She called his name several times. Hearing no answer, +she ran deeper into the woods. Jake leaped +from the sled and joined in the search. Penny could +not bear to sit helplessly by. Deciding that the emergency +was equal to an earthquake or a fire, she eased +herself down from the sled.</p> +<p>Steadily falling snow had obliterated all tracks save +those made by the new arrivals. There was no clue to +indicate whether Peter Jasko had left the scene of his +own free will or had been the possible victim of +violence.</p> +<p>Jake and Sara searched at the edge of the woods +and returned to the clearing to report no success.</p> +<p>“Maybe your granddad went up to Hatter’s place +to get warm,” the man suggested.</p> +<p>“He never would have left his horses without +blanketing them,” answered Sara. “But let’s go there +and inquire. Someone may have seen Grandfather.”</p> +<p>They drove the bob-sled on through the woods to +an unpainted farm house. Claud Hatter himself opened +the door, and in response to Sara’s anxious question, +he told her that he had seen Peter Jasko drive into the +place early that morning.</p> +<p>“You didn’t see him go away?” Sara asked.</p> +<p>“No, but come to think of it, I noticed a car turn +into the road. Must have been about ten o’clock this +morning.”</p> +<p>“What sort of car?”</p> +<p>The man could give no additional information, for +he had not paid particular attention to the automobile. +However, he pulled on his heavy coat and boots, offering +to help organize a searching party.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_176">[176]</div> +<p>Sara and Penny remained at the farm house, but as +it became evident that the old man would not be found +quickly, Jake returned and took the girls down the +mountain to the Downey lodge.</p> +<p>“What could have happened to Grandfather?” Sara +repeated over and over. “I can’t believe he became +dazed and wandered away.”</p> +<p>“I wish we knew who came in the car,” said Penny. +“That might explain a lot.”</p> +<p>“You—you think Grandfather met with violence?”</p> +<p>“I hope not,” replied Penny earnestly. “But it seems +very queer. Did your grandfather have enemies?”</p> +<p>“He antagonizes many folks without meaning to do +so. However, I can’t think of anyone at Pine Top +who could be called an actual enemy.”</p> +<p>By nightfall the searching party had grown in size. +Nearly every male resident of Pine Top joined in the +hunt for Peter Jasko. Even the Fergus hotel sent two +employes to help comb the mountainside for the +missing old man.</p> +<p>Sara, nearly in a state of collapse, was put to bed +by Mrs. Downey, who kept telling the girl over and +over that she must not worry. In speaking with Penny, +the woman was far from optimistic. She expressed a +doubt that Peter Jasko ever would be found alive.</p> +<p>“He may have wandered off and fallen into a +crevasse.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_177">[177]</div> +<p>“I am inclined to think he may have been spirited +away by whoever came up the private road in that +car,” commented Penny.</p> +<p>“I can’t imagine anyone bothering to kidnap Peter +Jasko,” returned Mrs. Downey. “He has no money.”</p> +<p>“It does sound rather fantastic, I admit. Especially +in broad daylight. You didn’t notice any automobile +on the main road this morning did you?”</p> +<p>“Only the Fergus hotel delivery truck. But I was +busy. A dozen might have passed without my noticing +them.”</p> +<p>At nine o’clock Jake came to the lodge with a discouraging +report. No trace of Peter Jasko had been +found. The search would continue throughout the +night.</p> +<p>“Which way are you going?” Penny inquired as +the man started to leave the house again. “Up the +mountain or down?”</p> +<p>“Down,” he returned. “I’m joining a party at Jasko’s +own place. We aim to start combing the woods on +his farm next.”</p> +<p>“May I ride with you?” she requested. “I want to +go down to the Fergus hotel.”</p> +<p>“Penny, your ankle—” protested Mrs. Downey.</p> +<p>“I can get around on it,” Penny said hurriedly. +“See!” She hobbled across the floor to prove her +words. “And this is important. I want to see someone +at the hotel.”</p> +<p>“So late at night?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_178">[178]</div> +<p>“It really is important,” Penny declared. “Please +say I may go.”</p> +<p>“Very well,” agreed Mrs. Downey reluctantly.</p> +<p>Jake took Penny all the way to the hotel. “Shall I +help you inside?” he asked.</p> +<p>“Oh, no,” she declined hurriedly. “I’ll make it fine +from here.”</p> +<p>After Jake had driven back up the road, Penny +limped around to the back entrance of the hotel. She +stood for several minutes staring up at the dark windows +of the second floor.</p> +<p>“I believe Ralph Fergus and Harvey Maxwell know +plenty about Jasko’s disappearance,” she thought. +“But how to prove it?”</p> +<p>On the parking lot only a few steps away stood the +Fergus hotel delivery truck. Penny hobbled over to +it, and opened the rear door. She swept the beam of +her flashlight over the floor.</p> +<p>At first glance the car appeared to be empty save +for several cardboard boxes. Then she saw a heavy, +fleece-lined glove lying on the floor half hidden by the +containers. She picked it up, examined it briefly and +stuffed it into the pocket of her snowsuit.</p> +<p>“I remember Peter Jasko wore a glove very much +like this!” she thought.</p> +<p>Softly closing the truck door, Penny went back to +the rear of the hotel. The lower hall was deserted so +she slipped inside, and followed the stairway to the +second floor. She tried the door of Room 27 and discovered +it was locked.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_179">[179]</div> +<p>“I was afraid of this,” Penny muttered.</p> +<p>Hesitating a moment she went on down the hall. +Opening another door, the one which bore no number, +she saw that she was to be blocked again in her investigation. +The familiar guard sat at his usual post +beside the door of the Green Room.</p> +<p>Retreating without drawing attention to herself, +Penny debated her next action. Unless she found a +way to enter one of those two rooms of mystery, her +night would be wasted.</p> +<p>Moving softly down the hall, she paused to test the +door to the right of Room 27. To her astonishment, +it swung open when she turned the knob. The room +was dark and deserted.</p> +<p>Penny stepped inside, closing the door behind her. +Her flashlight beam disclosed only a dusty, bare bedroom, +its sole furnishing a thickly padded carpet.</p> +<p>Going to the window, Penny raised it and gazed +at the wide ledge which she had noted from below. If +she had perfect balance, if the window of Room 27 +were unlocked, if her lame ankle did not let her +down, she <i>might</i> be able to span the distance! It would +be dangerous and she must run the risk of being observed +by persons on the grounds of the hotel. Penny +gazed down at the frozen yard far below and shuddered.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_180">[180]</div> +<p>“I’ve been pretty lucky in my falls so far,” she +thought. “But I have a feeling if I slip this time it will +be my last.”</p> +<p>Penny pulled herself through the window. As the +full force of the wind struck her body, threatening +to hurl her from her precarious perch, she nearly lost +her courage. She clung to the sill for a moment, and +then without daring to look down, inched her way +along the ledge.</p> +<p>Reaching the other window in safety, she tried to +push it up. For a dreadful instant, Penny was certain +she could not. But it gave so suddenly she nearly lost +her balance. Holding desperately to the sill, she recovered, +and raised the window.</p> +<p>Penny dropped lightly through the opening into +the dark room. Pains were shooting through her ankle, +but so great was her excitement she scarcely was aware +of any discomfort.</p> +<p>She flashed her light about the room. As she had +suspected, there were two teletype machines, neither +of which was in operation. A chair had been pulled +up to a direct-keyboard machine similar to one Penny +had seen in her father’s newspaper office. Save for +a wooden table the room contained nothing else.</p> +<p>Penny went over to the machines and focused her +light upon the paper in the rollers. It was blank.</p> +<p>“This is maddening!” she thought. “I take a big +risk to get in here and what do I find—nothing!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_181">[181]</div> +<p>Footsteps could be heard coming down the hallway. +Penny remained perfectly still, expecting the +person to pass on. Instead, the noise ceased altogether +and a key grated in the door lock.</p> +<p>In panic, Penny glanced frantically about. She +could not hope to get out the window in time to escape +detection. The only available hiding place was a +closet.</p> +<p>Switching off her light, Penny opened the door. +Stepping inside, she closed it softly behind her.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_182">[182]</div> +<h2 id="c22"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">22</span> +<br /><i>THE SECRET STAIRS</i></h2> +<p>In the darkness, Penny felt something soft and +covered with fur brush against her face. She recoiled, +nearly screaming in terror. Recovering her poise and +realizing that she had merely touched a garment which +hung in the closet, she flattened herself against the +wall and waited.</p> +<p>The outside door opened and soft footsteps approached +the wall switches. Lights flashed on. A tall, +swarthy man in a gray business suit blinked at the +sudden flood of illumination. After a moment he +stepped over to the teletype machines, and throwing +a switch, started them going.</p> +<p>Sitting down to the keyboard he tapped out a +message. Then he lit a cigarette and waited. In a few +minutes his answer came, typed out from some distant +station. The man ripped the copy from the machine +and read it carefully. Its contents seemed to please +him for he smiled broadly as he arose from the chair, +leaving the teletypes still running.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_183">[183]</div> +<p>Penny froze with fear when she heard the man +stride toward the closet where she had hidden herself. +Instinctively, she burrowed back behind the fur garments +which her groping hands encountered.</p> +<p>The door was flung open and light flooded into the +closet. However, the teletype attendant seemed to +have no suspicion that anyone might be hiding there. +He pressed a button on the wall and then heaved +against the partition with his shoulder. The section of +wall, suspended on a pivot, slowly revolved. After +the man had passed through, it swung back into its +original position.</p> +<p>Penny waited several minutes and then came out of +her hiding place. She flung open the closet door to +admit more light.</p> +<p>“Just as I thought!” she muttered.</p> +<p>The closet, a long narrow room, was hung solidly +with fur coats!</p> +<p>“So Maxine Miller was working for the hotel interests +after all,” Penny told herself. “I’ve stumbled +into something big!”</p> +<p>Groping along the wall of the storage room, she +found a switch and pressed it. Again the partition revolved, +revealing a flight of stairs leading downward. +She slipped through and the wall slid into place behind +her.</p> +<p>The stairway was lighted with only one weak electric +bulb. Penny’s body cast a grotesque shadow as +she cautiously descended. There were so many steps +that she decided they must lead to a basement in the +hotel.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_184">[184]</div> +<p>She reached the bottom at last and followed a narrow +sloping tunnel, past a large refrigerated vault +which she reasoned must contain a vast supply of additional +furs, and kept on until a blast of cool air struck +her face. Penny drew up sharply.</p> +<p>Directly ahead, at a bend in the tunnel, sat an armed +guard. He was reading a newspaper in the dim light, +holding it very close to the glaring bulb above his +chair.</p> +<p>Penny dared go no farther. Quietly retreating the +way she had come, she stole back up the long stairway. +At the top landing she found herself confronted +with a blank wall. After groping about for several +minutes, her hand encountered a tiny switch similar +to the one on the opposite side of the partition. She +pressed it, and the wall section revolved.</p> +<p>Letting herself out of the storage closet, Penny +started toward the door, only to pause as she heard +one of the teletypes thumping out a message. She +crossed over to the machine and stood waiting until +the line had been finished and a bell jingled. The +words were unintelligible in jumbled typewriting, and +Penny had no time to work out the code.</p> +<p>Tearing the copy paper neatly across, she thrust it +in the pocket of her jacket.</p> +<p>Fearing that at any moment the printer attendant +might return, Penny dared linger no longer. She went +to the door but to her surprise it would not open.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_185">[185]</div> +<p>“Probably a special trick catch which automatically +locks whenever closed,” she thought. “The only way +to get in or out is with a key, and I haven’t one. That +means I’ll have to risk my neck again.”</p> +<p>Going to the window she raised it and looked down. +All was clear below. Two courses lay open to her. She +could return the way she had come through the hotel, +or she might edge along the shelf past two other windows +to the fire escape, and thence to the ground. +Either way was fraught with danger.</p> +<p>“If I should happen to meet Ralph Fergus or Harvey +Maxwell, I might not get away with my information,” +Penny decided. “I’ll try the fire-escape.”</p> +<p>Closing the window behind her, she flattened herself +along the building wall, and moved cautiously +along the ledge. She passed the first room in safety. +Then, as she was about to crawl past the second, the +square of window suddenly flared with light.</p> +<p>For a dreadful moment Penny thought that she had +been seen. She huddled against the wall and waited. +Nothing happened.</p> +<p>At last, regaining her courage, she dared to peep +into the lighted room. Two men stood with their backs +to the window, but she recognized them as Harvey +Maxwell and Ralph Fergus.</p> +<p>Penny received a distinct shock as her gaze wandered +to the third individual who sat in a chair by the bed. +The man was old Peter Jasko.</p> +<p>A low rumble of voices reached the girl’s ears. +Harvey Maxwell was speaking:</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_186">[186]</div> +<p>“Well, Jasko, have you thought it over? Are you +ready to sign the lease?”</p> +<p>“I’ll have the law on you, if I ever get out of here!” +the old man said spiritedly. “You’re keepin’ me against +my will.”</p> +<p>“You’ll stay here, Jasko, until you come to your +senses. We need that land, and we mean to have it. +Understand?”</p> +<p>“You won’t get me to sign, not if you keep me here +all night,” Mr. Jasko muttered. “Not if you keep me a +year!”</p> +<p>“You may change your mind after you learn what +we can do,” said Harvey Maxwell suavely.</p> +<p>“You aim to starve me, I reckon.”</p> +<p>“Oh, no, nothing so crude as that, my dear fellow. +In fact, we shall treat you most kindly. Doctor Corbin +will be here presently to examine you.”</p> +<p>“Doctor Corbin! That old quack from Morgantown! +What are you bringing him here for?”</p> +<p>Harvey Maxwell smiled and tapped his head significantly.</p> +<p>“To give you a mental examination. You are known +to the good people of Pine Top as a very peculiar +fellow, so I doubt if anyone will question Doctor +Corbin’s verdict.”</p> +<p>“You mean, you’re aimin’ to have me adjudged insane?” +Peter Jasko asked incredulously.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_187">[187]</div> +<p>“Exactly. How else can one explain your fanatical +hatred of skiing, your blind rages, your antagonism to +the more progressive interests? While it will be a pity +to bring disgrace upon your charming granddaughter, +there is no other way.”</p> +<p>“Not unless you decide to sign,” added Ralph +Fergus. “We’re more than reasonable. We’re willing +to pay you a fair price for the lease, more than the land +is worth. But we want it, see? And what we want we +take.”</p> +<p>“You’re a couple of thievin’, stealin’ crooks!” Peter +Jasko shouted.</p> +<p>“Not so loud, and be careful of your words,” +Harvey Maxwell warned. “Or the gag goes on again.”</p> +<p>“Which do you prefer,” Fergus went on. “A tidy +little sum of money, or the asylum?”</p> +<p>Peter Jasko maintained a sullen silence, glaring at +the two hotel men.</p> +<p>“The doctor will be here at ten-thirty,” said Harvey +Maxwell, looking at his watch. “You will have less than +a half hour to decide.”</p> +<p>“My mind’s made up now! You won’t get anyone +to believe your cock and bull story. I’ll tell ’em you +brought me here and held me prisoner—”</p> +<p>“And no one will believe you,” smiled Maxwell. +“We’ll give out that you came to the hotel and started +running amuck. Dozens of employes will confirm the +story.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_188">[188]</div> +<p>“For that matter, I’m not sure you don’t belong in +an asylum,” muttered Fergus. “Only a man who isn’t +in his right mind would turn down the liberal proposition +we’ve made you.”</p> +<p>“I deal with no scoundrels!” the old man defied +them.</p> +<p>Harvey Maxwell looked at his watch again. “You +have exactly twenty-five minutes in which to make up +your mind, Jasko. We’ll leave you alone to think it +over.”</p> +<p>Fergus trussed up the old man’s hands and placed +a gag in his mouth. Then the two hotel men left the +room, turning out the light and locking the door behind +them.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_189">[189]</div> +<h2 id="c23"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">23</span> +<br /><i>RESCUE</i></h2> +<p>After the door had closed there was no further +sound for a moment. Then in the darkness Penny heard +a choked sob.</p> +<p>Moving closer to the window she tried to raise it. +Failing, she tapped lightly on the pane. Pressing her +lips close to the glass she called softly:</p> +<p>“Don’t be afraid, Mr. Jasko! Keep up your courage! +I’ll find a way to get you out!”</p> +<p>The old man could not answer so she had no way +of knowing whether or not he heard her words. Moving +back along the ledge she reached another window, +and upon testing it was elated to find that it could be +raised up.</p> +<p>She climbed through, lowered it behind her and +hastened to the door. Quietly letting herself out, she +went down the deserted hall to the next door. Without +a key she could not hope to get inside. For a fleeting +instant she wondered if she were not making a mistake +by delaying in starting after the authorities.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_190">[190]</div> +<p>“I never could get back here in time,” she told +herself. “Maxwell will return in twenty-five minutes +with the doctor, possibly earlier. Jasko may sign the +paper before help could reach him.”</p> +<p>Penny was at a loss to know how to aid the old man. +As she stood debating, the cleaning woman whom she +had seen upon another occasion, came down the hall. +The girl determined upon a bold move.</p> +<p>“I wonder if you could help me?” she said, going +to meet the woman. “I’ve locked myself out of my +room. Do you have a master key?”</p> +<p>“Yes, it will unlock most of the bedrooms.”</p> +<p>“The doors on this floor?”</p> +<p>“All except number 27.”</p> +<p>Penny took a two dollar bill from her jacket pocket +and thrust it into the woman’s hand.</p> +<p>“Here, take this, and let me have the key.”</p> +<p>“I can’t give it to you,” the woman protested. “Show +me your room and I’ll unlock it for you.”</p> +<p>“We’re standing in front of it now. Number 29.”</p> +<p>The woman stared. “But these rooms aren’t usually +given out, Miss.”</p> +<p>“I assure you number 29 is very much occupied,” +replied Penny. “Unlock it, please.”</p> +<p>The woman hesitated, and finally inserted the key +in the lock.</p> +<p>“Thank you,” said Penny as she heard the latch +click. “No, keep the two dollars. You are welcome +to it.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_191">[191]</div> +<p>She waited until the maid had gone on down the hall +before letting herself into the dark room. Groping +for the electric switch, she turned it on.</p> +<p>“Mr. Jasko, you know me,” she whispered as the +old man blinked and stared at her almost stupidly. +“I’m going to get you out of here.”</p> +<p>She jerked the gag from his mouth, and unfastened +the cords which bound his wrists.</p> +<p>“We don’t dare go through the hotel lest we be +seen,” she told him. “I think we may be able to get +out by means of the fire escape. If luck is only with +us—”</p> +<p>Making certain that the coast was clear, Penny led +the old man down the hall to a room which she knew +would be opposite the fire escape. She was afraid it +would be locked, but to her intense relief it had not +been secured.</p> +<p>Only a minute was required to cross the room, raise +the window and help Peter Jasko through it.</p> +<p>“I can’t come with you,” she said. “I have something +else to do. Now listen closely. I want you to go to +Pine Top as fast as you can and bring the sheriff or +the police or whoever it is that would have authority +to arrest Fergus and Maxwell.”</p> +<p>“I aim to do that on my own account,” the old man +muttered. “I’ve got a debt to square with them.”</p> +<p>“We both have,” said Penny. “Now this is what I +want you to do. If I’m not in evidence when you get +back, bring the police to the Green Room.”</p> +<p>“Where’s that?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_192">[192]</div> +<p>“It’s on this same floor. You go down the hall to the +left, enter an unmarked door into another corridor, +and finally through a green door which may be +guarded. If necessary, force an entrance.”</p> +<p>“I don’t know what it’s all about,” the old man +muttered. “But I’ll do as you say.”</p> +<p>“And hurry!” Penny urged.</p> +<p>She watched anxiously from the window until Peter +Jasko had reached the bottom of the fire escape in +safety. He ran across the yard, gaining the roadway +without having been observed.</p> +<p>Returning once more to the main corridor, Penny +glanced anxiously up and down. Hearing someone +moving about at the far end of the hall, she went to +investigate, certain that it was the cleaning woman +putting away her mops and broom.</p> +<p>“You ain’t locked out again?” the maid asked as she +saw Penny standing beside her.</p> +<p>“No, but I have another request. How would you +like to earn some more money?”</p> +<p>“How?” inquired the woman with quick interest.</p> +<p>“Do you have an extra costume?”</p> +<p>“Costume?”</p> +<p>“Dress, I mean. Like one you’re wearing.”</p> +<p>“Not here.” As the maid spoke she divested herself +of an old pair of shoes, and setting them back against +the closet wall, slipped on a pair of much better looking +ones. “I’m changing my clothes now to go home.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_193">[193]</div> +<p>“I’ll give you another two dollars if you’ll lend me +the outfit for the evening.”</p> +<p>“Is it for a party?” the maid asked.</p> +<p>“A masquerade,” said Penny. “I want to play a little +joke on some acquaintances of mine.”</p> +<p>She waved another bill before the woman’s eyes, and +the temptation of making easy money was too great to +resist.</p> +<p>“All right, I’ll do it,” the maid agreed. “Just wait +outside until I get my clothes changed.”</p> +<p>Penny waited, watching the halls anxiously lest she +be observed by someone who would recognize her. +Soon the maid stepped from the closet, and handed +over a bundle of clothing.</p> +<p>“And here is your money,” said Penny. “Don’t mention +to anyone what we’ve done—at least not until +tomorrow.”</p> +<p>“Don’t worry, Miss, I won’t,” replied the woman +grimly. “I might lose my job if they caught me.”</p> +<p>After the maid had gone away, Penny slipped into +the closet and quickly changed into the costume. Pulling +off her cap, she rumpled her hair and rubbed a +streak of dirt across her face. The shoes were a trifle +too large for her, and their size, together with the +painful ankle, made her walk in a dragging fashion.</p> +<p>Snatching up a feather duster, she went hurriedly +down the hall toward the corridor which led to the +Green Room. As always, the guard sat in his chair by +the door. But this time Penny had high hopes of gaining +entrance.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_194">[194]</div> +<p>Boldly, she walked over to him and said: “Good +evening. I was sent to tell you you’re wanted in the +office by Mr. Maxwell.”</p> +<p>“Now?” he inquired in surprise.</p> +<p>“Yes, right away.”</p> +<p>“Someone ought to stay here.”</p> +<p>“I’ll wait until you get back.”</p> +<p>“Don’t let anyone inside unless they have passes,” +the guard instructed.</p> +<p>Penny barely could hide her excitement. It had +been almost too easy! At last she was to penetrate beyond +the Green Door! And if she found what she +expected, the entire mystery would be cleared up. +She would gain evidence against Ralph Fergus and +Harvey Maxwell which would make her case iron-clad.</p> +<p>From within the room, Penny could hear the low +murmur of voices. She waited until the guard had disappeared, +and then, summoning her courage, opened +the green door and stepped inside.</p> +<p>Penny found herself in an elegantly furnished salon, +its chairs, davenports, carpet and draperies decorated +in soft shades of green and ivory. A little dark-haired +man she had never seen before, who spoke with an +artificial French accent, stood talking with three +women who were trying on fur coats. A fourth +woman, Maxine Miller, sat in a chair, her back turned +to Penny.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_195">[195]</div> +<p>“Now Henri, I want you to give my friends a good +price on their coats,” she was saying in a chirpy voice.</p> +<p>“<i>Oui</i>” he agreed, bobbing his head up and down. +“We say one hundred and ninety-two dollars for zis +beautiful sealskin coat. I make you a special price only +because you are friends of Mademoiselle Miller.”</p> +<p>The opening of the outside door had drawn Henri’s +attention briefly to Penny. As she busied herself dusting, +he paid her no heed, and Maxine Miller did not +give the girl a second glance.</p> +<p>Penny wandered slowly about the room, noting the +long mirrors and the tall cases crowded with racks of +sealskin coats.</p> +<p>“These are smuggled furs,” she thought. “This +Green Room is the sales salon, and Henri must be an +employee of Ralph Fergus and Harvey Maxwell. I +believe I know how they get the furs over the Canadian +border, too, without paying duty!”</p> +<p>Satisfied that she could learn no more by lingering, +Penny turned down the long corridor leading to the +door which opened on the main hallway. She knew +that the guard would soon discover he had been +tricked and expose her. And while she had been inside +the salon less than five minutes, already she had +waited a moment too long.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_196">[196]</div> +<p>As she opened the door she saw Harvey Maxwell +and the guard coming down the corridor toward her. +Retreat was out of the question.</p> +<p>“There she is now!” said the guard, accusingly. +“She told me you wanted me in the office.”</p> +<p>Harvey Maxwell walked angrily toward Penny.</p> +<p>“What was the big idea?” he began, only to stop +short. “Oh, so it’s <i>you</i>? My dear little girl, I am very +much afraid, you have over-played your hand this +time!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_197">[197]</div> +<h2 id="c24"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">24</span> +<br /><i>HENRI’S SALON</i></h2> +<p>Penny sought to push past the two men, but +Harvey Maxwell caught her roughly by the arm.</p> +<p>“Unfortunately, my dear Miss Parker, you have observed +certain things which you may not understand,” +he said. “Lest you misinterpret them, and are inclined +to run to your father with fantastic tales, you must be +detained here. Now I have a great distaste for violence. +I trust it will not be necessary to use force now.”</p> +<p>“Let me go,” Penny cried, trying to jerk away.</p> +<p>“Take her, Frank,” instructed the hotel man. “For +the time being put her in the tunnel room. I’ll be down +as soon as I talk with Ralph.”</p> +<p>Before Penny could scream, a hand was clapped +over her mouth. The guard, Frank, held her in a firm +grip from which she could not free herself.</p> +<p>“Get going!” he commanded.</p> +<p>But Penny braced her feet and stood perfectly still. +From the outside corridor she had heard a low rumble +of voices. Then Ralph Fergus spoke above the others, +in an exasperated, harassed tone:</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_198">[198]</div> +<p>“This old man is crazy, I tell you! We never kept +him a prisoner in our hotel. We have a Green Room, +to be sure, but it is rented out to a man named Henri +Croix who is in the fur business.”</p> +<p>Penny’s pulse quickened. Peter Jasko had carried +out her order and had brought the police!</p> +<p>Harvey Maxwell and the guard well comprehended +their danger. With a quick jerk of his head the hotel +man indicated a closet where Penny could be secreted. +As the two men tried to pull her to it, she sunk her +teeth into Frank’s hand. His hold over her mouth relaxed +for an instant, but that instant was enough. She +screamed at the top of her lungs.</p> +<p>The outside door swung open. Led by Peter Jasko, +the sheriff and several deputies filed into the corridor. +Ralph Fergus did not follow, and Penny saw him trying +to slip away.</p> +<p>“Don’t let that man escape!” she cried. “Arrest +him!”</p> +<p>Peter Jasko himself overtook Fergus and brought +him back.</p> +<p>“I’ve got a score to settle with you,” he muttered. +“You ain’t a good enough talker to get out of this.”</p> +<p>“Gentlemen—” It was Harvey Maxwell who spoke, +and his tone was irritated. “What is the meaning of +this intrusion?”</p> +<p>“We’ve had a complaint,” said the sheriff. “Jasko +here says you kept him a prisoner in the hotel, trying +to make him sign a paper.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_199">[199]</div> +<p>“The old fellow is right in a way,” replied Mr. Maxwell. +“Not about the paper. We did detain him here +for his own good, and he managed to get away. I regret +to say he went completely out of his mind, became +violent, threatened our guests, and it was necessary +to hold him until the doctor could arrive. We’ve +already sent for Doctor Corbin.”</p> +<p>“That’s just what I was telling them,” added Ralph +Fergus.</p> +<p>“Now let me speak my piece,” said Penny. “Peter +Jasko was held a prisoner here because Fergus and +Maxwell wanted him to sign a paper leasing his ski +slopes to the hotel. That was only one of their many +little stunts. Fergus and Maxwell are the heads of a +gigantic fur smuggling business, and they use their +hotels merely as a legitimate front.”</p> +<p>“Your proof?” demanded Harvey Maxwell sarcastically. +“The real truth is that I am suing this girl’s +father for libel. He sent her here to try to dig up something +against me. She’s using every excuse she can +find to involve me in affairs about which I know +nothing.”</p> +<p>“If you want proof, I’ll furnish it,” said Penny. +“Just step into the Green Room where Henri Croix, +a phony Frenchman, is engaged in selling fur coats to +three ladies.”</p> +<p>“There’s no crime in that,” declared Ralph Fergus +angrily. “Mr. Croix pays the hotel three hundred +dollars a month for the use of this wing. So far as we +know his business is legitimate. If for any reason we +learn it is not, we will be the first to ask for an investigation.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_200">[200]</div> +<p>“Not quite the first,” smiled Penny, “for I’ve already +made the request. To go on with my proof, it +might be well to investigate Room 27 on this same +floor.”</p> +<p>“Room 27 is given over to our teletype service,” +interrupted Maxwell. “Our guests like to get the stock +reports, you know, and that is why we have the machines.”</p> +<p>“In Room 27 you will find a storage vault for furs,” +Penny went on, thoroughly enjoying herself. “A panel +revolves, opening the way to a secret stair which leads +down into the basement of the hotel. I’m not certain +about the rest—”</p> +<p>“No?” demanded Maxwell ironically.</p> +<p>“There are additional storage vaults in the basement,” +Penny resumed. “A man is down there guarding +what appears to be a tunnel. Tell me, is this hotel +close to the old silver mine?”</p> +<p>“About a quarter of a mile from the entrance,” replied +the sheriff. “Some of the tunnels might come +right up to the hotel grounds.”</p> +<p>“I understand the hotel bought out the mine, and I +believe they may be making use of the old tunnels. At +least, the place will bear an investigation. Oh, yes, this +paper came off one of the teletype machines.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_201">[201]</div> +<p>Penny took the torn sheet from her pocket and gave +it to the sheriff.</p> +<p>“I can’t read it,” he said, frowning.</p> +<p>“Code,” explained Penny. “If I had a typewriter I +could figure it out. Suppose we go to Room 27 now. +I’m positive you’ll learn that my story is not as fantastic +as it seems.”</p> +<p>Leaving Peter Jasko and two deputies to guard +Fergus and Maxwell and to see that no one left the +Green Room, Penny led the sheriff and four other +armed men down the hall. In her excitement she failed +to observe Francine Sellberg standing by the elevator, +watching intently.</p> +<p>“Here are the teletype machines,” Penny indicated, +pausing beside them. “Now let me have that message. +I think I can read it.”</p> +<p>Studying the keyboard of the teletype for a moment, +she wrote out her translation beneath the +jumbled line of printing. It read:</p> +<p>“Train Arrives approximately 11:25.”</p> +<p>“What does that mean?” the sheriff inquired. “We +have no trains at Pine Top.”</p> +<p>“We’ll see,” chuckled Penny.</p> +<p>She showed the men the vault filled with furs, and +pressed the spring which opened the wall panel.</p> +<p>“Be careful in descending the stairway,” she warned. +“I know they have one guard down there and possibly +others.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_202">[202]</div> +<p>Sheriff Clausson and his men went ahead of Penny. +The guard, taken completely by surprise, was captured +without a shot being fired.</p> +<p>“Now what have we here?” the sheriff inquired, +peering into the dimly lighted tunnel.</p> +<p>As far as one could see stretched a narrow, rusted +track with an extra rail.</p> +<p>“A miniature electric railway!” exclaimed the +sheriff.</p> +<p>“How far is it from here to the border?” inquired +Penny thoughtfully.</p> +<p>“Not more than a mile.”</p> +<p>“I’ve been told Harvey Maxwell has a hotel located +in Canada.”</p> +<p>“Yeah,” nodded the sheriff, following her thought. +“We’ve known for years that furs were being smuggled, +but we never once suspected the outfit was located +here at Pine Top. And no wonder. This scheme +is clever, so elaborate a fellow never would think of +it. The underground railroad, complete with drainage +pumps, storage rooms and electric lights, crosses the +border and connects with the Canadian hotel. Fergus +and Maxwell buy furs cheap and send them here without +paying duty.”</p> +<p>“And teletype communication is maintained just as +it is on a real railroad,” added Penny. “Fergus and +Maxwell must have bought up the old mine just so +they could make use of the tunnels. And they wanted +to get rid of Mrs. Downey’s Inn so there would be no +possible danger of a leak. How large do you suppose +the smuggling ring is, Mr. Clausson?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_203">[203]</div> +<p>“Large enough. Likely it will take weeks to get all +of the guilty persons rounded up. But I’m satisfied we +have the main persons.”</p> +<p>“If I interpreted the code message right, a fur train +should be coming in about eleven-thirty.”</p> +<p>“My men will be waiting,” the sheriff said grimly. +“I’ll get busy now and tip off the Canadian authorities, +so they can close in on the gang from the other end of +the line.”</p> +<p>“What about Fergus and Maxwell?” asked Penny. +“There’s no chance they can trump up a story and get +free?”</p> +<p>“Not a chance,” returned the sheriff gruffly. “You’ve +done your work, and now I’ll do mine.”</p> +<p>Penny started to turn away, then paused. “Oh, may +I ask a favor?”</p> +<p>“I reckon you’ve earned it,” the sheriff answered, +a twinkle in his eye.</p> +<p>“There’s one person involved in this mess who isn’t +really to blame. An actress named Maxine Miller. +She’s only been working for the hotel a few days, and +I doubt if she knows what it’s all about.”</p> +<p>“We’ll give her every benefit of the doubt,” promised +the sheriff. “I’ll remember the name. Miller.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_204">[204]</div> +<p>In a daze of excitement Penny rushed back up the +stairway to the Green Room. Fergus and Maxwell, +Henri Croix, and Maxine Miller were in custody, all +angrily protesting their innocence. The commotion +had brought many hotel guests to the scene. Questions +were flying thick and fast.</p> +<p>Penny drew Peter Jasko aside to talk with him +privately.</p> +<p>“I think you ought to go to Mrs. Downey’s lodge +as soon as you can,” she urged. “Sara is there, and she’s +dreadfully worried about you.”</p> +<p>“I’ll go now,” the old man said, offering his gnarled +hand. “Much obliged for all you done tonight.”</p> +<p>“That’s quite all right,” replied Penny. “I was +lucky or I never would have discovered where those +men were keeping you.”</p> +<p>The old man hesitated, obviously wishing to say +something more, yet unable to find the words.</p> +<p>“I done some thinkin’ tonight,” he muttered. “I +reckon I been too strict with Sara. From now on maybe +I’ll let her have a looser rein.”</p> +<p>“And ski all she likes,” urged Penny. “I really can’t +see the harm in it.”</p> +<p>“I been thinkin’ about that lease, too,” the old man +added, not looking directly at the girl. “When I see +Mrs. Downey tonight I’ll tell her I’m ready to sign.”</p> +<p>“Oh, I’m so glad!” Penny exclaimed. “With the +Fergus-Maxwell hotel out of the running, she ought +to have a comfortable time of it here on Pine Top +mountain.”</p> +<p>“Thanks to you,” grinned Peter Jasko. He offered +his hand again and Penny gave it a firm pressure.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_205">[205]</div> +<p>“I must hurry now,” she said. “This is a tremendous +story, and I want to telegraph it to Dad before Francine +Sellberg beats me to the jump.”</p> +<p>“Sellberg?” repeated the old man. “She ain’t that +girl reporter that’s been stayin’ here at the hotel?”</p> +<p>Penny nodded.</p> +<p>“Then you better step,” he advised. “She’s on her +way to the village now.”</p> +<p>“But how could Francine have learned about it so +soon?” Penny wailed in dismay.</p> +<p>“I saw her talking with one of the deputies. She +was writing things down in a notebook.”</p> +<p>“She couldn’t have learned everything, but probably +enough to ruin my story. When did Francine leave, +Mr. Jasko?”</p> +<p>“All of fifteen minutes ago.”</p> +<p>“Then I never can overtake her,” Penny murmured. +“This is absolutely the worst break yet! Francine will +reach the telegraph office first and hold the wire so I +can’t use it. After all my work, her paper will get +the big scoop!”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_206">[206]</div> +<h2 id="c25"><span class="small">CHAPTER</span> +<br /><span class="large">25</span> +<br /><i>SCOOP!</i></h2> +<p>Penny knew that she had only one chance of +getting her story through to Riverview, and that was +by means of long distance telephone. At best, instead +of achieving a scoop as she had hoped, she would have +only an even break with her rival. And if connections +could not be quickly made, she would lose out altogether.</p> +<p>Hastily saying goodbye to Peter Jasko, Penny raced +for the stairway. She did not have a word of her story +written down. While she could give the facts to a +rewrite man it would take him some time to get the +article into shape.</p> +<p>“Vic Henderson writes such colorless stories, too,” +she moaned to herself. “He’ll be afraid some fact isn’t +accurate and he’ll jerk it out. This is the one yarn I +want to write myself!”</p> +<p>Penny ran full tilt into Sheriff Clausson. She brought +up shortly, observing that he had a prisoner in custody.</p> +<p>“Miss Parker, we caught this fellow down in the +tunnel,” he said. “Can you identify him?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_207">[207]</div> +<p>“I’m not sure of his name. He works for Fergus +and Maxwell as a teletype attendant. He may be +George Jewitt.”</p> +<p>Penny started to hasten on, and then struck by a +sudden idea, paused. Addressing the prisoner she demanded:</p> +<p>“Isn’t it true that there is a direct wire connection +between this hotel and the one in Riverview?”</p> +<p>The man did not speak.</p> +<p>“You may as well answer up,” said the sheriff. “It’s +something which can be checked easily.”</p> +<p>“Yes, there is a direct connection,” answered the +attendant.</p> +<p>“And if I know anything about leased wires,” continued +Penny with mounting excitement, “it would be +possible to have the telephone company switch that +wire right over to the <i>Riverview Star</i> office. Then I’d +have a direct connection from here to the newspaper. +Right?”</p> +<p>“Right except for one minor detail,” the man retorted +sarcastically. “The telephone company won’t +make a switch just to oblige a little girl.”</p> +<p>Penny’s face fell. “I suppose they wouldn’t do it,” +she admitted. “But what a whale of an idea! I could +send my story directly to the newspaper, and get my +scoop after all. As it is, the <i>Record</i> is almost certain +to beat me.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_208">[208]</div> +<p>“Listen!” said the sheriff. “Maybe the telephone +company couldn’t make the switch on your say-so, +but they’ll pay attention to an order from me. You get +busy writing that story, young lady, and we’ll see +what can be done.”</p> +<p>Sheriff Clausson turned his prisoner over to a +deputy, and returned to find Penny busily scribbling +on the back of an envelope, the only writing paper +available. Together they went to the long distance +telephone, and in a quicker time than the girl had +dared hope, arrangements were made for the wire +shift to be made.</p> +<p>“Now get up to Room 27 and start your story going +out,” the sheriff urged. “Will you need the attendant +to turn on the current for you?”</p> +<p>“No, I know how it’s done!” Penny declared. +“You’re sure the connection has been made?”</p> +<p>“The telephone company reports everything is set. +So go to it!”</p> +<p>Penny hobbled as fast as her injured ankle would +permit to Room 27. She switched on the light, and +turned on the current which controlled the teletype +machines. Sitting down at a chair in front of the direct +keyboard, she found herself trembling from excitement. +She had practiced only a few times and was +afraid she might make mistakes. Every word she wrote +would be transmitted in exactly that form to a similar +machine stationed in the <i>Star</i> office.</p> +<p>She could picture her father standing there, waiting, +wondering what she would send. He had been +warned that a big story was coming.</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_209">[209]</div> +<p>Penny consulted her envelope notes and began to +tap the keys. Now and then she had moments of misgiving, +wondering if her work was accurate, and if it +were going through. She finished at last, and sat back +with a weary sigh of relief. Her story was a good one. +She knew that. But had it ever reached the <i>Star</i> office?</p> +<p>A machine to her right began its rhythmical thumping. +Startled, Penny sprang to her feet and rushed +over to see the message which was slowly printing +itself across the copy paper.</p> +<p>“STORY RECEIVED OK. WONDERFUL +STUFF. CAN YOU GET AN INTERVIEW +WITH SHERIFF CLAUSSON?”</p> +<p>Penny laughed aloud, and went back to her own +machine to tap out an answer. Her line had a flippant +note:</p> +<p>“I’LL HAUL HIM UP HERE AS SOON AS +THE 11:30 TRAIN COMES IN. LET ME TALK +TO DAD.”</p> +<p>There was a little wait and then the return message +came in over the other teletype.</p> +<p>“YOU’VE BEEN TALKING WITH HIM. AM +SENDING SALT SOMMERS BY PLANE TO +GET PICTURES. SORRY I DIDN’T TAKE YOU +SERIOUSLY WHEN YOU WROTE MAXWELL +WAS INVOLVED IN ILLEGAL BUSINESS AT +PINE TOP. THIS OUGHT TO MOP UP HIS +SUIT AGAINST THE PAPER. GREAT STUFF, +PENNY! WHO UNCOVERED THE STORY?”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_210">[210]</div> +<p>Chuckling to herself, Penny went back to her keyboard +and tapped:</p> +<p>“DON’T ASK ME. I’M TRYING TO BE MODEST.”</p> +<p>She waited eagerly for the response and it came in +a moment.</p> +<p>“I WAS AFRAID OF IT. ARE YOU ALL +RIGHT?”</p> +<p>Thoroughly enjoying the little game of questions +and answers, Penny once more tapped her message.</p> +<p>“FINE AS SILK. WHEN ARE YOU COMING +TO PINE TOP? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO +GIVE ME FOR XMAS? IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING +GOOD AFTER THIS.”</p> +<p>Soon Mr. Parker’s reply appeared on the moving +sheet of paper.</p> +<p>“SOON. PERHAPS SOMETHING WITH +FOUR WHEELS AND A HORN.”</p> +<p>Penny scarcely could control herself long enough +to send back:</p> +<p>“OH, YOU WONDERFUL DAD! I COULD +HUG YOU! PLEASE MAKE IT MAROON +WITH MOHAIR UPHOLSTERY. AND HANG +A WREATH ON LEAPING LENA.”</p> +<div class="pb" id="Page_211">[211]</div> +<p>Sinking back in her chair, Penny gazed dreamily +at the ceiling. A new car! It was almost too good to +believe. She knew that her father must have been +swayed by excitement or else very grateful to offer +such a magnificent Christmas present as that. What a +night of thrills it had been! Within a few hours Pine +Top would be crowded with reporters and photographers, +but she had uncovered the story, and had saved +her father from a disastrous lawsuit.</p> +<p>As Penny waited, her thoughts far away, one more +message came through on the teletype. She tore it +from the roller of the machine, and smiled as she read +her father’s final words:</p> +<p>“PRESSES ROLLING. FIRST EDITION ON +THE STREET AHEAD OF THE RECORD. THE +STAR SCORES AGAIN. THIS IS ANTHONY +PARKER SIGNING OFF FOR A CUP OF COFFEE.”</p> +<p class="center"><span class="smaller">THE END</span></p> +<h2>Transcriber’s Notes</h2> +<ul> +<li>Replaced the list of books in the series by the complete list, +as in the final book, “The Cry at Midnight”.</li> +<li>Silently corrected a handful of palpable typos.</li> +<li>Conforming to later volumes, standardized on “DeWitt” +as the name of the city editor.</li> +</ul> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Behind the Green Door, by Mildred A. 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