CHAPTER 24 _HENRI'S SALON_
Penny sought to push past the two men, but Harvey Maxwell caught herroughly by the arm.
"Unfortunately, my dear Miss Parker, you have observed certain thingswhich you may not understand," he said. "Lest you misinterpret them, andare inclined to run to your father with fantastic tales, you must bedetained here. Now I have a great distaste for violence. I trust it willnot be necessary to use force now."
"Let me go," Penny cried, trying to jerk away.
"Take her, Frank," instructed the hotel man. "For the time being put herin the tunnel room. I'll be down as soon as I talk with Ralph."
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.
"Get going!" he commanded.
But Penny braced her feet and stood perfectly still. From the outsidecorridor she had heard a low rumble of voices. Then Ralph Fergus spokeabove the others, in an exasperated, harassed tone:
"This old man is crazy, I tell you! We never kept him a prisoner in ourhotel. We have a Green Room, to be sure, but it is rented out to a mannamed Henri Croix who is in the fur business."
Penny's pulse quickened. Peter Jasko had carried out her order and hadbrought the police!
Harvey Maxwell and the guard well comprehended their danger. With a quickjerk of his head the hotel man indicated a closet where Penny could besecreted. As the two men tried to pull her to it, she sunk her teeth intoFrank's hand. His hold over her mouth relaxed for an instant, but thatinstant was enough. She screamed at the top of her lungs.
The outside door swung open. Led by Peter Jasko, the sheriff and severaldeputies filed into the corridor. Ralph Fergus did not follow, and Pennysaw him trying to slip away.
"Don't let that man escape!" she cried. "Arrest him!"
Peter Jasko himself overtook Fergus and brought him back.
"I've got a score to settle with you," he muttered. "You ain't a goodenough talker to get out of this."
"Gentlemen--" It was Harvey Maxwell who spoke, and his tone wasirritated. "What is the meaning of this intrusion?"
"We've had a complaint," said the sheriff. "Jasko here says you kept hima prisoner in the hotel, trying to make him sign a paper."
"The old fellow is right in a way," replied Mr. Maxwell. "Not about thepaper. We did detain him here for his own good, and he managed to getaway. 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 doctorcould arrive. We've already sent for Doctor Corbin."
"That's just what I was telling them," added Ralph Fergus.
"Now let me speak my piece," said Penny. "Peter Jasko was held a prisonerhere because Fergus and Maxwell wanted him to sign a paper leasing hisski 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."
"Your proof?" demanded Harvey Maxwell sarcastically. "The real truth isthat I am suing this girl's father for libel. He sent her here to try todig up something against me. She's using every excuse she can find toinvolve me in affairs about which I know nothing."
"If you want proof, I'll furnish it," said Penny. "Just step into theGreen Room where Henri Croix, a phony Frenchman, is engaged in sellingfur coats to three ladies."
"There's no crime in that," declared Ralph Fergus angrily. "Mr. Croixpays the hotel three hundred dollars a month for the use of this wing. Sofar as we know his business is legitimate. If for any reason we learn itis not, we will be the first to ask for an investigation."
"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 thissame floor."
"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 wehave the machines."
"In Room 27 you will find a storage vault for furs," Penny went on,thoroughly enjoying herself. "A panel revolves, opening the way to asecret stair which leads down into the basement of the hotel. I'm notcertain about the rest--"
"No?" demanded Maxwell ironically.
"There are additional storage vaults in the basement," Penny resumed. "Aman is down there guarding what appears to be a tunnel. Tell me, is thishotel close to the old silver mine?"
"About a quarter of a mile from the entrance," replied the sheriff. "Someof the tunnels might come right up to the hotel grounds."
"I understand the hotel bought out the mine, and I believe they may bemaking use of the old tunnels. At least, the place will bear aninvestigation. Oh, yes, this paper came off one of the teletypemachines."
Penny took the torn sheet from her pocket and gave it to the sheriff.
"I can't read it," he said, frowning.
"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 isnot as fantastic as it seems."
Leaving Peter Jasko and two deputies to guard Fergus and Maxwell and tosee that no one left the Green Room, Penny led the sheriff and four otherarmed men down the hall. In her excitement she failed to observe FrancineSellberg standing by the elevator, watching intently.
"Here are the teletype machines," Penny indicated, pausing beside them."Now let me have that message. I think I can read it."
Studying the keyboard of the teletype for a moment, she wrote out hertranslation beneath the jumbled line of printing. It read:
"Train Arrives approximately 11:25."
"What does that mean?" the sheriff inquired. "We have no trains at PineTop."
"We'll see," chuckled Penny.
She showed the men the vault filled with furs, and pressed the springwhich opened the wall panel.
"Be careful in descending the stairway," she warned. "I know they haveone guard down there and possibly others."
Sheriff Clausson and his men went ahead of Penny. The guard, takencompletely by surprise, was captured without a shot being fired.
"Now what have we here?" the sheriff inquired, peering into the dimlylighted tunnel.
As far as one could see stretched a narrow, rusted track with an extrarail.
"A miniature electric railway!" exclaimed the sheriff.
"How far is it from here to the border?" inquired Penny thoughtfully.
"Not more than a mile."
"I've been told Harvey Maxwell has a hotel located in Canada."
"Yeah," nodded the sheriff, following her thought. "We've known for yearsthat furs were being smuggled, but we never once suspected the outfit waslocated here at Pine Top. And no wonder. This scheme is clever, soelaborate a fellow never would think of it. The underground railroad,complete with drainage pumps, storage rooms and electric lights, crossesthe border and connects with the Canadian hotel. Fergus and Maxwell buyfurs cheap and send them here without paying duty."
"And teletype communication is maintained just as it is on a realrailroad," added Penny. "Fergus and Maxwell must have bought up the oldmine just so they could make use of the tunnels. And they wanted to getrid 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?"
"Large enough. Likely it will take weeks to get all of the guilty personsrounded up. But I'm satisfied we have the main persons."
"If I interpreted the code message right, a fur train should be coming inabout eleven-thirty."
"My men will be waiting," the sheriff said grimly. "I'll get busy now andtip off the Canadian authorities, so they can close in on the gang fromthe other end of the line."
"What about Fergus and Maxwell?" asked Penny. "There's no chance they cantrump up a story and get free?"
"Not a chance," returned the sheriff gruffly. "You've done your work, andnow I'll do mine."
Penny started to turn away, then paused. "Oh, may I ask a favor?"
"I reckon you've earned it," the sheriff answered, a twinkle in his eye.
"There's one person involved in this mess who isn't really to blame. Anactress named Maxine Miller. She's only been working for the hotel a fewdays, and I doubt if she knows what it's all about."
"We'll give her every benefit of the doubt," promised the sheriff. "I'llremember the name. Miller."
In a daze of excitement Penny rushed back up the stairway to the GreenRoom. Fergus and Maxwell, Henri Croix, and Maxine Miller were in custody,all angrily protesting their innocence. The commotion had brought manyhotel guests to the scene. Questions were flying thick and fast.
Penny drew Peter Jasko aside to talk with him privately.
"I think you ought to go to Mrs. Downey's lodge as soon as you can," sheurged. "Sara is there, and she's dreadfully worried about you."
"I'll go now," the old man said, offering his gnarled hand. "Much obligedfor all you done tonight."
"That's quite all right," replied Penny. "I was lucky or I never wouldhave discovered where those men were keeping you."
The old man hesitated, obviously wishing to say something more, yetunable to find the words.
"I done some thinkin' tonight," he muttered. "I reckon I been too strictwith Sara. From now on maybe I'll let her have a looser rein."
"And ski all she likes," urged Penny. "I really can't see the harm init."
"I been thinkin' about that lease, too," the old man added, not lookingdirectly at the girl. "When I see Mrs. Downey tonight I'll tell her I'mready to sign."
"Oh, I'm so glad!" Penny exclaimed. "With the Fergus-Maxwell hotel out ofthe running, she ought to have a comfortable time of it here on Pine Topmountain."
"Thanks to you," grinned Peter Jasko. He offered his hand again and Pennygave it a firm pressure.
"I must hurry now," she said. "This is a tremendous story, and I want totelegraph it to Dad before Francine Sellberg beats me to the jump."
"Sellberg?" repeated the old man. "She ain't that girl reporter that'sbeen stayin' here at the hotel?"
Penny nodded.
"Then you better step," he advised. "She's on her way to the villagenow."
"But how could Francine have learned about it so soon?" Penny wailed indismay.
"I saw her talking with one of the deputies. She was writing things downin a notebook."
"She couldn't have learned everything, but probably enough to ruin mystory. When did Francine leave, Mr. Jasko?"
"All of fifteen minutes ago."
"Then I never can overtake her," Penny murmured. "This is absolutely theworst break yet! Francine will reach the telegraph office first and holdthe wire so I can't use it. After all my work, her paper will get the bigscoop!"
CHAPTER 25 _SCOOP!_
Penny knew that she had only one chance of getting her story through toRiverview, and that was by means of long distance telephone. At best,instead of achieving a scoop as she had hoped, she would have only aneven break with her rival. And if connections could not be quickly made,she would lose out altogether.
Hastily saying goodbye to Peter Jasko, Penny raced for the stairway. Shedid not have a word of her story written down. While she could give thefacts to a rewrite man it would take him some time to get the articleinto shape.
"Vic Henderson writes such colorless stories, too," she moaned toherself. "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!"
Penny ran full tilt into Sheriff Clausson. She brought up shortly,observing that he had a prisoner in custody.
"Miss Parker, we caught this fellow down in the tunnel," he said. "Canyou identify him?"
"I'm not sure of his name. He works for Fergus and Maxwell as a teletypeattendant. He may be George Jewitt."
Penny started to hasten on, and then struck by a sudden idea, paused.Addressing the prisoner she demanded:
"Isn't it true that there is a direct wire connection between this hoteland the one in Riverview?"
The man did not speak.
"You may as well answer up," said the sheriff. "It's something which canbe checked easily."
"Yes, there is a direct connection," answered the attendant.
"And if I know anything about leased wires," continued Penny withmounting excitement, "it would be possible to have the telephone companyswitch that wire right over to the _Riverview Star_ office. Then I'd havea direct connection from here to the newspaper. Right?"
"Right except for one minor detail," the man retorted sarcastically. "Thetelephone company won't make a switch just to oblige a little girl."
Penny's face fell. "I suppose they wouldn't do it," she admitted. "Butwhat a whale of an idea! I could send my story directly to the newspaper,and get my scoop after all. As it is, the _Record_ is almost certain tobeat me."
"Listen!" said the sheriff. "Maybe the telephone company couldn't makethe 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 bedone."
Sheriff Clausson turned his prisoner over to a deputy, and returned tofind Penny busily scribbling on the back of an envelope, the only writingpaper available. Together they went to the long distance telephone, andin a quicker time than the girl had dared hope, arrangements were madefor the wire shift to be made.
"Now get up to Room 27 and start your story going out," the sheriffurged. "Will you need the attendant to turn on the current for you?"
"No, I know how it's done!" Penny declared. "You're sure the connectionhas been made?"
"The telephone company reports everything is set. So go to it!"
Penny hobbled as fast as her injured ankle would permit to Room 27. Sheswitched on the light, and turned on the current which controlled theteletype machines. Sitting down at a chair in front of the directkeyboard, she found herself trembling from excitement. She had practicedonly a few times and was afraid she might make mistakes. Every word shewrote would be transmitted in exactly that form to a similar machinestationed in the _Star_ office.
She could picture her father standing there, waiting, wondering what shewould send. He had been warned that a big story was coming.
Penny consulted her envelope notes and began to tap the keys. Now andthen 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 aweary sigh of relief. Her story was a good one. She knew that. But had itever reached the _Star_ office?
A machine to her right began its rhythmical thumping. Startled, Pennysprang to her feet and rushed over to see the message which was slowlyprinting itself across the copy paper.
"STORY RECEIVED OK. WONDERFUL STUFF. CAN YOU GET AN INTERVIEW WITHSHERIFF CLAUSSON?"
Penny laughed aloud, and went back to her own machine to tap out ananswer. Her line had a flippant note:
"I'LL HAUL HIM UP HERE AS SOON AS THE 11:30 TRAIN COMES IN. LET ME TALKTO DAD."
There was a little wait and then the return message came in over theother teletype.
"YOU'VE BEEN TALKING WITH HIM. AM SENDING SALT SOMMERS BY PLANE TO GETPICTURES. SORRY I DIDN'T TAKE YOU SERIOUSLY WHEN YOU WROTE MAXWELL WASINVOLVED IN ILLEGAL BUSINESS AT PINE TOP. THIS OUGHT TO MOP UP HIS SUITAGAINST THE PAPER. GREAT STUFF, PENNY! WHO UNCOVERED THE STORY?"
Chuckling to herself, Penny went back to her keyboard and tapped:
"DON'T ASK ME. I'M TRYING TO BE MODEST."
She waited eagerly for the response and it came in a moment.
"I WAS AFRAID OF IT. ARE YOU ALL RIGHT?"
Thoroughly enjoying the little game of questions and answers, Penny oncemore tapped her message.
"FINE AS SILK. WHEN ARE YOU COMING TO PINE TOP? WHAT ARE YOU GOING TOGIVE ME FOR XMAS? IT SHOULD BE SOMETHING GOOD AFTER THIS."
Soon Mr. Parker's reply appeared on the moving
sheet of paper.
"SOON. PERHAPS SOMETHING WITH FOUR WHEELS AND A HORN."
Penny scarcely could control herself long enough to send back:
"OH, YOU WONDERFUL DAD! I COULD HUG YOU! PLEASE MAKE IT MAROON WITHMOHAIR UPHOLSTERY. AND HANG A WREATH ON LEAPING LENA."
Sinking back in her chair, Penny gazed dreamily at the ceiling. A newcar! It was almost too good to believe. She knew that her father musthave been swayed by excitement or else very grateful to offer such amagnificent Christmas present as that. What a night of thrills it hadbeen! Within a few hours Pine Top would be crowded with reporters andphotographers, but she had uncovered the story, and had saved her fatherfrom a disastrous lawsuit.
As Penny waited, her thoughts far away, one more message came through onthe teletype. She tore it from the roller of the machine, and smiled asshe read her father's final words:
"PRESSES ROLLING. FIRST EDITION ON THE STREET AHEAD OF THE RECORD. THESTAR SCORES AGAIN. THIS IS ANTHONY PARKER SIGNING OFF FOR A CUP OFCOFFEE."
THE END
Transcriber's Notes
--Replaced the list of books in the series by the complete list, as in the final book, "The Cry at Midnight".
--Silently corrected a handful of palpable typos.
--Conforming to later volumes, standardized on "DeWitt" as the name of the city editor.
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