CHAPTER 20 _AN IMPORTANT INTERVIEW_
Those same questions were pounding through Penny's mind the next morningwhen she read the first edition of her father's paper. Propped up in bedwith pillows, she perused the story as she nibbled at the butteredmuffins on her breakfast tray.
"Is there anything else you would like?" Mrs. Weems inquired, hoveringnear.
"No, I'm quite all right," smiled Penny. "Not even a head cold after myducking. Have you heard about Jerry?"
"Your father said he was doing fine."
"Did he leave any message for me before going to the office?"
"He said he thought you should stay in bed all day."
"Dad would," Penny pouted. "Well, I feel just fine. I'm getting up rightaway." She heaved aside the bed clothes.
Then, because she couldn't get the Kippenberg case out of her head, shedressed quickly and went downstairs. She was going out the front doorwhen Mrs. Weems stopped her.
"Now where are you going, Penny?"
Penny's bright eyes twinkled and she flashed the housekeeper an arch,provocative smile.
"Not sure just where I'm going," she replied, her smooth foreheadcreasing with thought. "But if Dad should get curious, you can tell himhe shouldn't be surprised if he finds me visiting with the Kippenbergs."
"Penny! You're not going there again?"
"Why not? I'm after a story for the _Riverview Star_ and I mean to getit. See you later."
With a wave of her hand Penny walked jauntily off. A few moments laterMrs. Weems heard the clatter of Penny's Leaping Lena careening down thestreet in the direction of Corbin. First, however, she called for herchum, Louise, who was eager to accompany her on the long ride.
"I won't be able to stay long, Penny," said Louise. "Mother wants me togo shopping with her later this afternoon."
"That's all right," responded Penny as the old car bolted along the road."If I get delayed, you can take Leaping Lena back home, and I'll followlater on."
With both girls keeping up a steady run of conversation they soon reachedtheir destination.
Penny wondered if she would be able to enter the Kippenberg estatewithout being challenged by the bridgeman or a servant. Her anxietyincreased upon approaching the river, for she saw that a large group ofpersons had gathered by the drawbridge.
No one paid the slightest attention to the two girls as they abandonedthe car and proceeded to the water's edge. Penny was pleased to find theyouthful boatman at his usual haunt on the river. He rowed the girlsacross to the estate, promising to await their return.
Penny escorted Louise through the trees to the Kippenberg house. Boldlyshe rang the doorbell which was answered by a butler.
"I should like to speak with Mrs. Kippenberg," she requested.
"Madam will see no one," began the man.
Footsteps sounded behind him in the hallway and Mrs. Kippenberg stood inthe door.
"So it is you?" she asked in an icy voice. "Julius, see that this personis ejected from the grounds."
"One moment please," interposed Penny. "If I leave now, I warn you thatcertain facts will be published in the _Star_, facts which will add toyour embarrassment."
"You can print nothing which will humiliate us further."
"No? You might like to have me mention the alligator in your lily pool.And the reason why you and your daughter are so anxious to be rid of itbefore the police ask questions."
Mrs. Kippenberg's plump face flushed a deep red. But for once she managedto keep her temper.
"What do you wish of me?" she asked frigidly.
"First, tell me about that painting, 'The Drawbridge' which was presentedto your daughter as a wedding gift. Was it not given to her by yourhusband?"
"I shall not answer your question."
"Then you prefer that I print my own conclusions?"
"You are an impudent, prying young woman!" Mrs. Kippenberg stormed. "Whatif the picture was given to Sylvia by her father! Is that any crime?"
"Certainly not," said Penny soothingly. "It merely proves that you bothknow the whereabouts of Mr. Kippenberg."
"Perhaps I do. But I'll tell you nothing, absolutely nothing!"
"I have a few questions to ask about your new gardener," Penny went on,unmoved. "For instance, why does he wear a wig?"
The door slammed in her face.
"That certainly was a very cold reception," remarked Louise as the girlswalked away, the sound of the slamming door still ringing in their ears.
Penny shrugged her shoulders and smiled. "That's nothing. When you're areporter you have to expect those things." She looked about the desertedestate. "Well, I think I'll do some more sleuthing in the vicinity of thepool."
Louise looked at her wristwatch. "Goodness, it's getting late," shestated. "I'd like to stay, Penny, but I think I'd better be getting hometo meet Mother."
"Go ahead," said Penny. "You take Leaping Lena. The boy in the boat willrow you across."
"But how will you get home, then?"
"Don't worry about me. I'll find a way. You just go on. I only hope theold bus holds up all the way home."
Louise laughed and then the two girls walked to the boat dock. In a fewmoments the boy in the rowboat appeared and took Louise across.Afterward, Penny turned back through the trees and went on to theforbidden part of the estate.
She spent a long time about the pool, examining the earth all about it,but she failed to learn anything new. Finally, she retraced her steps tothe river. She expected to find the boy waiting for her, but he haddisappeared. She walked through the trees to the boat dock and stoodthere until the old watchman on the other side observed her predicament.
He obligingly lowered the drawbridge and she crossed the river, pausingat the gear house to chat with him.
Penny listened without comment to his story of the automobile accident.Thorny had his own version of how it had occurred and she did not correctany of the details.
"I wish I had a way to get into Corbin," she remarked when he hadfinished his lengthy account.
"If you walk down to the main road you kin catch the county bus," he toldher. "It runs every hour."
A long hike along a dusty highway, an equally tedious wait at acrossroad, and finally Penny arrived in Corbin. She went directly to theColonial Hotel, placing a telephone call to her father's office.
"What are you doing in Corbin, Penny?" her father demanded as herecognized her voice.
Penny answered him eagerly. "I've made an important discovery which mayblow your case higher than a kite. No, I can't tell you anything over thetelephone. The reason I am calling is that I may need help. Is Jerrystill in the hospital?"
"He never was there," responded her father. "I couldn't make him go. Heand Salt are out on the river looking for the men who cracked him overthe head. I expect they'll call in any time now."
"If you do get in touch with Jerry, ask him to meet me at the ColonialHotel," urged Penny. "I have a hunch the big story is about to break. Inany event I'll need a ride home."
There was a great deal more to the conversation, with Mr. Parkerdelivering a long lecture upon the proper deportment for a daughter.Penny closed her ears, murmuring at regular intervals, "Yes, Dad," andfinally went back to her post in the lobby.