CHAPTER 9 _AN OPEN SAFE_
Rather flattened by the interview with Mr. Schirr, Penny was glad toleave the _Star_ plant. Going down in the elevator, she requested Charleyto tell Mose Johnson that he had been restored to his old job.
"That's fine!" the janitor beamed. "Mighty glad to hear it." Opening thecage door, he inquired: "Will you be going to see Mr. DeWitt?"
"I thought I would."
"He's at City Hospital. You might tell him that we all miss him aroundhere."
"I'll certainly deliver the message," promised Penny.
City Hospital was only six blocks away. Penny bought flowers and thenpresented herself at the institution. After a brief wait in the lobby,she was allowed to see Mr. DeWitt for a few minutes.
"Good morning," she said cheerfully, handing the box of flowers to anurse.
Mr. DeWitt, pale and weak, stirred and turned his head so that he couldsee her.
"What's good about it?" he muttered with a trace of his old spirit. "Theywon't even let me sit up!"
"I should think not," smiled Penny. She sat down in a chair beside thebed.
"Of all times to get laid up!" the editor went on. "Heard from yourfather?"
Penny shook her head. A long silence followed, and then she saidbrightly:
"But he'll be found--probably today."
Mr. DeWitt lay with his eyes closed. "I've been thinking--" he mumbleddrowsily.
"Yes?" Penny waited.
"Mind's still fogged with that blamed ether," DeWitt muttered. "Aboutyour father--" His voice trailed off.
"Do you think he could have been waylaid by enemies?" Penny asked after amoment. "Mr. Schirr believes his disappearance has a connection with thetire-theft gang."
Mr. DeWitt's eyes opened again. "I don't know," he mumbled. "Your fatherwas planning to break a big story--didn't tell me much about it."
"You don't know what evidence he carried in the portfolio when he went tosee the State Prosecutor?"
DeWitt shook his head. "Jerry'll know."
"But how can I reach him?"
"Didn't he leave an address at the office?"
"I don't think so."
"Then there's no way to reach him." Exhausted from so much talking,DeWitt fell silent. At length however, he aroused himself and asked:"Have you tried your father's safe?"
"For Jerry's address?"
"No, the names of the tire-theft gang. If the police had something towork on--"
"Dad took a lot of papers out just before he started for the Prosecutor'soffice," Penny replied thoughtfully. "But some of the evidence may havebeen left. It's worth investigating."
The nurse returned to the room with a vase for the flowers.
"I'm afraid I can't allow you to remain much longer," she saidregretfully.
As she arose to go, Penny remembered to deliver Old Charley's message.
"How's everything at the office?" Mr. DeWitt asked. "Who's in charge?"
"Harley Schirr."
Mr. DeWitt's forehead wrinkled. "Now I know I've got to roll out ofhere!" he declared. "Things will be in a nice state by the time I getback."
Penny did not wish to worry him. "Oh, everything will go along," shesoothed. "Mr. Schirr is very efficient in his methods."
"And opinionated," muttered DeWitt. "Oh, well, I'll be back on the job inten days."
Penny did not disillusion him. Saying goodbye, she returned to thenewspaper office. Pausing at the downstairs advertising department, shetalked to Bud Corbin, a close friend of Jerry's.
"This is the only address Jerry gave me," Mr. Corbin said, taking a cardfrom his billfold. "A wire might reach him. But there's a good chance itwon't. When he left here, he wasn't sure he'd stop at Elk Horn Lodge."
Grateful for the address, Penny composed a telegram which the advertisingman offered to send for her. In the message she not only told of herfather's strange disappearance, but asked for a complete duplication ofmaterial lost in the portfolio.
"At least I've started the ball rolling," she thought, with renewed hopein her efforts. "I believe Jerry can help if only he gets the wire."
Penny had not forgotten Mr. DeWitt's suggestion that some evidenceagainst the tire-theft gang might be found in Mr. Parker's safe.
"I hate to open it while Dad is away," she reflected. "Still, I know thecombination, and I'm sure he would want me to do it."
To brave Harley Schirr a second time was a duty not to Penny's liking.She debated waiting until after four o'clock when the editor doubtlesswould leave the building. But time was precious and she could not affordto wait.
"What am I, a coward?" she prodded herself. "Why should I be afraid ofHarley Schirr? When Dad gets back on the job, he'll bounce him back wherehe belongs."
Penny's reappearance in the newsroom created a slight stir. However, noone spoke to her as she walked straight to her father's office. The doorwas closed.
"Mr. Schirr isn't in conference?" she asked one of the copy readers.
"No, just go right on in," the man returned carelessly.
Without knocking, Penny opened the door. On the threshold, she paused,startled. Harley Schirr was down on his knees in front of the open safe.Evidently he had been going through Mr. Parker's private papers insystematic fashion for he was circled by little piles of manilaenvelopes.
Mr. Schirr was even more startled than Penny. He sprang to his feet, thepicture of guilt. Then, recovering his poise, he scowled and demanded:"Here again?"
Penny carefully closed the office door before she spoke. Then her wordswere terse.
"Mr. Schirr, kindly explain what you are doing in my father's safe."
"Looking for information about the tire-theft gang."
"A story you say the _Star_ never should print."
"That's neither here nor there." A deep flush had crept over Schirr'scheeks but his manner remained confident. "As editor I have to knowwhat's going on."
"Who gave you permission to open the safe?"
"You forget that I am editor here, Miss Parker."
"At least I've been reminded of it enough times," Penny retorted. "Howdid you learn the combination?"
"I've known it."
"You saw the numbers written on Dad's desk," Penny accused.
Mr. Schirr did not deny the charge. Turning his back, he started toremove a rubber band from a small stack of yellowed letters. The actinfuriated Penny, for she recognized the packet. Years before, theletters had been written by her own mother, and Mr. Parker always hadtreasured them.
"Don't you touch those!" she cried, darting forward. "They're personal."
Snatching the packet from Mr. Schirr, she gathered up the other papersand envelopes from the floor. Thrusting everything into the safe, sheclosed and locked the door.
"Well!" commented the editor scathingly.
"You're through here!" said Penny, facing him with blazing eyes. "Do youunderstand? I'm discharging you."
Mr. Schirr looked stunned. Then he laughed unpleasantly.
"So _you're_ discharging me," he mocked. "By what right may I ask?"
"This is my father's plant."
"Which doesn't necessarily make you the editor or the owner, MissPenelope Parker. You're a minor as well as a nuisance. If your fatherproves to be dead, the court will step in--"
"Get out!" cried Penny, fighting to keep back the tears. "You don't careabout Dad, or anything but your own selfish interests!"
"Now you're hysterical."
Penny's anger subsided, to be replaced by a cool determination thatHarley Schirr should not remain in charge of the _Star_ another hour.
"I meant just what I said," she told him quietly. "Please go."
Schirr smiled grimly. Seating himself at the desk, his eyes challengedhers.
"I remain as editor here," he announced. "If you wish to contest myright, take your case to court. In the meantime, keep out of my privateoffice."