CHAPTER 13 _AN UNKIND TRICK_
Penny all but executed a clog dance in the snow. She knew that she hadpicked up an admittance ticket to the Green Room of the Fergus hotelwhich some person had lost. With no effort upon her part she would beable to learn the answer to many of the questions which had plagued her.
"At last I'll find out what lies behind that Green Door," she thought inhigh elation. "If this isn't the most wonderful piece of luck!"
Debating a moment, Penny decided that it probably was too late to gainadmittance that evening. Mrs. Downey no doubt was worried over her longabsence from the lodge. She would return there, and then revisit thehotel early the next day.
Pocketing the precious ticket, Penny set off up the mountain. It was darkbefore she had covered half the distance, but there were stars and a halfmoon to guide her.
Mrs. Downey showed her relief as the girl stomped into the kitchen.
"I was beginning to worry, Penny," she declared. "Whatever made it takeyou so long?"
"I stopped at the Fergus hotel and had dinner with Miss Miller."
"Were you able to get the newspapers?"
"Only one which I had to buy at the Fergus hotel. Mrs. Downey, it's queerabout those papers. Benny Smith told me there weren't any to be had, andthen a few minutes later I met the airplane pilot who told me he hadbrought them in the same as usual. Also, the Fergus hotel received itsusual quota."
"Well, that's odd."
"It looks to me as if the Fergus outfit has made some arrangement withthe paper boy. They may be buying up all the papers."
"As a means of annoying me," nodded Mrs. Downey grimly. "It would be inline with their tactics. But what can I do?"
"I don't know," admitted Penny. She pulled off her heavy boots and setthem where they would dry. "We haven't any proof they're doing anythinglike that. It's only my idea."
The door opened and Jake came into the kitchen. He dropped an armload ofwood behind the range.
"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 haveher fixed up by noon."
"And the sleds?"
"They seem to be in good condition, but I'll check everything."
After the workman had gone, Penny glanced questioningly at Mrs. Downey.
"Have you decided to use the run after all?"
"Yes, I started thinking about it after we talked together. We do needmore entertainment here at the lodge. After you left I ordered Jake tostart work on the track. But I still am in need of experienced driversfor the sled."
"You spoke of Sara."
"I thought I would ask her, but I doubt if her Grandfather will give hisconsent."
"I'll ski down there tomorrow and talk with her if you would like me to,"offered Penny.
"I would appreciate it," said Mrs. Downey gratefully. "I hate to sparethe time myself."
Early the next morning Penny paid a visit to the bob-sled run where acrew headed by Jake was hard at work. There was a stretch of straightawayand a series of curves which snaked down the valley between the pines. Atthe point of the steepest curve, the outer snow walls rose to a height ofeighteen feet.
"A sled could really travel on that track," observed Penny. "Does it hurtto upset?"
"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."
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.
There was no response until the window of the loft shot up.
"Hello, Penny," called down Sara. "I thought you had forgotten yourpromise. The key's in the same place."
"Isn't your grandfather here?"
"No, he went down to Pine Top. Isn't it glorious skiing weather? Hurryand get the key. I've been cooped up here half an hour already."
Penny went reluctantly to the woodshed and returned with the key. Sheunfastened the trapdoor which gave entrance to the loft and Sara quicklydescended.
"Didn't your grandfather say anything about last time?" Penny inquiredanxiously.
"Oh, he raved because someone had trespassed. But it never occurred tohim I had gone away. Where shall we ski today?"
"I only stopped to deliver a message, Sara. I am on my way down to theFergus hotel."
"Oh," said the girl in disappointment. "A message from whom?"
"Mrs. Downey. She is starting up her bob-sled run again and she wants youto help out."
Sara's eyes began to sparkle.
"I wish I could! If only Grandfather weren't so strict."
"Is there a chance he'll give his consent?"
"Oh, dear, no. But I might be able to slip away. Grandfather plans tochop wood every day this week."
"I doubt if Mrs. Downey would want you to do that."
"Need you tell her?" queried Sara coolly. "I'll fix myself a rope ladderand get out the window. That will save you the trouble of coming here tolet me in and out."
"And what will your grandfather say if he learns about it?"
"Plenty! But anything is better than being shut up like a prisoner. Youtell Mrs. Downey I'll try to get up to the lodge tomorrow morning, andwe'll try out the track together, eh Penny?"
"I don't know anything about bob-sledding."
"I'll teach you to be my brake boy," Sara laughed. "How long will youstay at the Fergus hotel?"
"I haven't any idea."
"Then I suppose I'll have to crawl back into my cave," Sara sigheddismally. "Can't you even ski with me for half an hour?"
"Not this morning," Penny said firmly. "I have important work ahead."
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 herfriend skied away.
"Sara is as stimulating as a mountain avalanche," chuckled Penny, "butshe's almost too headstrong. Sooner or later her stunts will involve mein trouble with Peter Jasko."
In the valley below, smoke curled lazily from the chimneys of the Fergushotel. Making directly for it, Penny felt in her pocket to be certain shehad not lost the green ticket which she had found the previous evening.
"This is going to be my lucky day," she told herself cheerfully. "I feelit in my bones."
Reaching the hotel, Penny stripped off her skis and entered the hotellobby. Maxine Miller was not in evidence nor did she see any other personwho likely would question her presence there. She did notice HarveyMaxwell sitting in the private office. His eyes were upon her as shecrossed the room. However, Penny felt no uneasiness, realizing that if henoticed her at all he recognized her only as a guest at the Downey lodge.
"Second floor," she said quietly to the elevator boy.
Penny was the sole passenger, but as she stepped from the cage, she wasdismayed to run directly into Francine Sellberg.
The reporter greeted her with a suspicious stare.
"Why, hello, Penny Parker. What are you doing here?"
"Oh, just moseying around."
"I can see you are!"
"Your room isn't on this floor, is it?" Penny inquired.
"No, on the fourth," Francine answered before she considered her words.
"Looking for someone?" remarked Penny with a grin. "Or should I say_something_?"
An elevator stopped at the landing. "Going down," the attendant called,opening the door. He gazed questioningly at the two girls.
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 beenlooking for something, I've found it!"
"Still, I don't see you rushing to reach a telephone, Francine. Yourdiscovery can't have such tremendous news value."
"It may have before long," hinted Francine. "I don't mind
telling you Iam on the trail of a really big story. And I am making steady progress inassembling my facts."
Penny regarded the girl reporter speculatively. Her presence on thesecond floor rather suggested that she, too, had been trying toinvestigate the Green Room, and more than likely had learned itslocation. But she was reasonably certain Francine had gathered noinformation of great value.
"Glad to hear you're doing so well," she remarked and started on down thehall.
Francine fell into step with her. "If you're looking for a particularroom, Penny, maybe I can help you."
Penny knew that the reporter meant to stay with her so that she could dono investigation work of her own.
"The room I am searching for has a green door," she replied.
Francine laughed. "I'm glad you're so honest, Penny. I guessed why youwere on this floor all the time. However, I greatly fear you're in thewrong part of the hotel."
Penny paused and turned to face her companion squarely. "Why not put anend to all this nonsense, Francine? We watch each other and get nowhere.Let's put our cards on the table."
"Yours might be a joker!"
"We're both interested in getting a story which will discredit HarveyMaxwell," Penny went on, ignoring the jibe. "You've had a tip as to whatmay 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 ourinterests and work together?"
"That would be very nice--for you."
"I think I might contribute something to the case."
"I doubt it," replied Francine loftily. "You don't even know the locationof the Green Room."
"You're wrong about that. It took no great detective power to learn it'son this floor. To get inside may be a different matter."
"You're quite right there," said Francine with emphasis.
"What do you say? Shall we work together and let bygones be bygones?"
"Thank you, Penny, I prefer to work alone."
"Suit yourself, Francine. I was only trying to be generous. You see, Ihave an admittance card to the Green Room."
"I don't believe it!"
Flashing a gay smile, Penny held up the ticket for Francine to see.
"How did you get it?" the reporter gasped. "I've tried--"
"A little bird dropped it on my window sill. Too bad you didn't decide towork with me."
Penny walked on down the corridor, and Francine made no attempt tofollow. When she glanced back over her shoulder the reporter haddescended the stairway to the lobby.
"It was boastful of me to show her my ticket," she thought. "But Icouldn't resist doing it. Francine is so conceited."
Making her way to the unmarked door of the wing, Penny paused there amoment, listening. Hearing no sound she pushed open the door and wentdown the narrow hall. The guard sat at his usual post before the GreenDoor.
"Good morning," said Penny pleasantly. "I have my card now."
The man examined it and handed it back. "Go right in," he told her.
Before Penny could obey, the door at the end of the corridor swung open.Harvey Maxwell, his face convulsed with rage, came hurrying toward thestartled girl.
"I've just learned who you are," he said angrily. "Kindly leave thishotel at once, and don't come back!"