CHAPTER 3 _AN UNPLEASANT DRIVER_
From outside the lighted cafe, the girls could see the truck driverslouched at one of the counter stools.
"I'm willing to go inside," said Louise, "but why start a fuss? Afterall, I suppose he had a right to refuse us a ride."
"We might have frozen to death!"
"Well, he probably didn't realize we were lost."
"I wish I had your charitable disposition," Penny said with a sniff. "Heheard me shout, and he drove away just to be mean."
"Anyway, let's forget it."
Louise took Penny's elbow, steering her toward the cafe. The girls hadbeen friends since grade school days. They made an excellent pair, forLouise exerted a subduing effect upon her impulsive chum.
The only daughter of Anthony Parker, publisher of the _Star_, Penny had atalent for innocently getting into trouble. Inactivity bored her. Whennothing more exciting offered, she frequently tried her hand at writingstories for her father's newspaper. Such truly important yarns as _TheVanishing Houseboat_, _The Wishing Well_, _Behind the Green Door_, and_The Clock Strikes Thirteen_ had rolled from her typewriter. Pennythoroughly enjoyed reportorial work, but best of all she loved to take anactive part in the adventures she recounted.
"Now remember," Louise warned her, "not a word to that truck driver.We'll just snub him."
"Oh, all right. I'll try to behave myself."
Grinning, Penny allowed herself to be guided toward the restaurant. Nearthe doorway they came to the parked truck, and noticed that it was loadedwith large wooden boxes.
"War equipment," commented Penny.
"How do you know?"
"Why, the boxes are unmarked except by numerals. Haven't you noticed,Lou, that's the way machines and materials are transported to and fromfactories. It's done so no one can tell what's inside."
Penny opened the door and they went into the warm, smoky cafe. As theyseated themselves at a table the driver glanced toward them, butseemingly without recognition.
"How about a date tonight, Baby?" he asked the waitress.
Without replying, the girl slapped a menu card on the counter in front ofhim.
"High toned, ain't you?" he chuckled.
"What will it be?" the waitress demanded impatiently.
"How about a nice smile, Baby?"
Turning away, the waitress started to serve another customer.
"Gimme a cup o' coffee and two sinkers," the driver hurled after her."And make it snappy too! I'm in a hurry."
Once the coffee and doughnuts had been set before him, the man was in nohaste to consume them. He read a newspaper and fed a dollar and a halfinto a pin-ball machine.
Penny and Louise ordered coffee. Knowing that Salt might be waiting forthem, they swallowed the brew scalding hot and arose to leave.
At the cashier's desk Penny paid the bill. Upon impulse she quietly askedthe man behind the cash register if he knew the driver.
"Fellow by the name of Hank Biglow," he answered.
Before Penny could ask another question, a police patrol car screeched toa standstill just outside the restaurant. The cafe owner turned to stareas did the driver.
"What are those cops comin' here for?" Hank Biglow demanded.
"How should I know?" retorted the cafe owner. "Maybe they want to ask youa few questions about that cargo you carry!"
"What do you mean by that crack?" the driver asked harshly.
As the cashier shrugged and did not reply, Hank allowed the matter topass. Although he remained at the counter, he kept watching the policecar through the window.
The brief interchange between cafe owner and driver had interested Penny.To delay her departure, she bought a candy bar and began to unwrap it.
Only one policeman had alighted from the car. Tramping into the cafe, hepounded his hands together and sought the warmth of a radiator.
"Mind if I have a little of your heat?" he asked the cafe owner.
"Help yourself."
Penny had been watching Hank Biglow. A moment before the man had sattense and nervous at the counter. Now he seemed completely relaxed and atease as he sipped his coffee.
"Hello, Hank," the policeman greeted him. "Didn't see you at first. How'sthe trucking business?"
"Okay," the trucker growled. "Workin' me night and day."
The casual conversation disappointed Penny. Her first thought had beenthat Hank Biglow feared a police investigation. Seemingly, she hadindulged in wishful thinking.
Having no further reason for remaining in the cafe, the girls stepped outinto the storm.
"A pity that policeman wasn't looking for Hank Biglow," Penny muttered.
"I thought for a minute he was," responded Louise, stooping to fasten thebuckle of her heavy overshoe. "At least Hank acted peculiar."
"You heard what the cashier said to him?"
"About the cargo he carried?"
"Yes," nodded Penny, "what do you suppose he meant?"
"Don't you think it was intended as a joke?"
"It didn't seem that way to me, Lou. Hank took offense at the remark. Hewas as nervous as a cat, too."
Penny stared curiously at the big truck which was parked not far from thepolice car.
"I wonder what can be in those big boxes, Lou?"
"A few minutes ago you said they contained tools or defense plantproducts."
"That was only my guess. I assumed it from the lack of marking on theboxes."
Penny paused beside the big truck. Pressing her face close to an openingbetween the slats, she counted ten large crates, all the same size andshape.
"Lou, maybe this isn't defense plant merchandise," she speculated. "Maybeit's some sort of contraband...."
Penny's words trailed off. Someone had touched her on the shoulder.
Whirling around, she faced the same policeman who a moment before hadentered the cafe.
"What do you think you're doing?" he inquired.
"Why, just looking," stammered Penny. "We were wondering what's insidethese boxes."
"Machinery," replied the policeman. "Now skidoo! Behave yourselves orI'll have to speak to your parents."