CHAPTER 12 _ADELLE'S DISAPPEARANCE_
Jerry took the melon from Penny's hand to examine it.
"This stamp may be helpful," he said dubiously, "but I doubt it. TheHoods never would be so stupid as to sell melons which could be traced.No, I think our investigation will have to center close at home."
"You're referring to the Holloway Cooperative, Jerry?"
"That outfit certainly merits an investigation. In the morning I'll jogout to their packing plant and talk to the manager, Hank Holloway."
"What time will you be going, Jerry?"
"About nine o'clock probably."
"Perhaps I'll meet you there," Penny said thoughtfully. "That is, if youdon't mind."
"Glad to have you," the reporter responded in a hearty voice.
The two cars soon started for the Riverview Orphans' Home, arriving therewithout mishap. After unloading the boys entrusted to their care, Jerryand Penny then went to their respective residences.
"I'm glad you came at last," Mrs. Weems remarked as the girl entered thehouse. "You're to telephone Miss Anderson at the Riverview Orphans'Home."
"But I just left there," Penny protested. "When did the call come?"
"About fifteen minutes ago."
Wondering what could be amiss, Penny went to the telephone. In a momentshe was in communication with Miss Anderson, who assisted the matron ofthe institution. The young woman's voice betrayed agitation as shedisclosed that following the night's outing, an orphan had beendiscovered missing.
"Oh, goodness!" Penny exclaimed, aghast. "One of those six boys?"
Miss Anderson's reply slightly reassured her.
"No, the missing child is a little girl who was not permitted to attendthe party because of a severe cold. You may remember her--Adelle."
"Indeed I do, Miss Anderson. Tell me how I may help."
"We've already organized searching parties," the young woman returned."Adelle surely will be found within a few hours. However, if the storygets out it will do the institution no good--particularly at this timewhen our drive for funds is on."
"I see," Penny murmured, "you would like the news kept out of the_Star_?"
"Can it be arranged?" Miss Anderson asked eagerly. "If you will talk toyour father about it we'll be very grateful."
"I'll ask him not to print the story," Penny promised, none too pleasedby the request. "I do hope Adelle is found soon."
She could not help feeling that the institution officials seemed far moreworried about the prospect of unfavorable publicity than over the missingchild's welfare. Saying goodbye to Miss Anderson, she sought her fatherwho was reading in the library.
"Penny, you know I don't like to grant such favors," Mr. Parker frownedwhen the conversation was repeated to him. "As a matter of principle, itnever pays to withhold information unless the telling will harm innocentpersons."
"In this case, it will damage the institution," Penny argued quietly."Besides, I feel more or less responsible. What started out as a nicelittle party for the orphans, ended in a regular brawl. It was plannedprimarily for Adelle and then she ran away because she wasn't permittedto attend."
Starting at the very beginning, Penny told her father everything that hadhappened during the night. The tale was one of absorbing interest to Mr.Parker. When she had finished, he said:
"Don't worry about the affair, Penny. I am as interested in the RiverviewCamp fund as you are. We'll give the institution no unfavorablepublicity."
"Oh, thanks, Dad!" she cried gratefully, wrapping her arms about hisneck. "You're just grand!"
"Weak as water, you mean," he corrected with a chuckle. "By the way, Isuppose you know that your friend Blake has been named to the Camp Fundboard."
"No!" Penny exclaimed. "How did that happen?"
"He hinted to Mrs. Van Cleve that he would like to serve. Naturally,after his handsome donation, she couldn't refuse."
"Why do you suppose Mr. Blake has taken such a sudden interest in theHome?"
"I wonder myself. I've thought from the first that he's up to something.So far I've not been able to figure out his little game."
"Well, you're on the board too," Penny declared, undisturbed. "If hestarts any monkey business you can put a quick stop to it."
"I fear you overestimate my talents," Mr. Parker responded. "However, Ido intend to see that Blake doesn't profit too much by his donation."
The hour was late and Penny soon went to bed. Disturbed by Adelle'sdisappearance, she did not sleep well. Arising early, she telephoned theOrphans' Home, hoping to learn that the child had been found. No suchgood news awaited her.
"Searchers have looked everywhere between here and the Davis farm," MissAnderson revealed. "Unless the child is found by noon, it will benecessary to broadcast a general alarm. And that's certain to bringunfavorable attention to the Home."
"Is there any chance she could have been kidnaped?" Penny askedthoughtfully.
"Not the slightest," was the prompt reply. "Adelle took most of herclothes with her. It's a plain case of a runaway, but most annoying atthis time."
Penny ate a hasty breakfast, and then remembering her appointment withJerry, drove to the Holloway Cooperative. The buildings were of modernconcrete construction, located three and a half miles from Riverview inthe heart of the truck farming district.
Jerry Livingston had not yet arrived, so Penny waited in the car. Soonhis coupe swung into the drive and pulled up alongside Leaping Lena.
"Sorry to be late," he apologized. "I was held up at the office."
Knowing that her father would have told Jerry about Adelle'sdisappearance, Penny inquired regarding the latest news.
"So far there's not a trace of the child," the reporter answered. "Yourfather's sore at himself for promising not to carry the story. It maydevelop into something big."
Penny walked beside Jerry to the entrance of the cooperative plant.
"No one seems to worry much about Adelle," she remarked. "The institutionpeople are afraid of unfavorable publicity, Dad's alarmed about hisstory, while you and I are just plain indifferent."
"I'm not indifferent," Jerry denied. "In a way I feel responsible forthat kid. But what can we do?"
"Nothing, I guess," acknowledged Penny unwillingly. "Miss Anderson saidthey had enough searchers."
Opening the door of the building, they stepped into a huge room whichhummed with activity. Girls in uniforms stood at long tables inspectingmelons which moved on an endless belt arrangement before them. Sorted asto quality and size, each cantaloupe was stamped and packed in a cratewhich was then borne away.
"Hank Holloway around here?" Jerry asked one of the workers.
"Over there," the girl responded, pointing to a burly, red-faced man whostood at the opposite end of the room.
Jerry and Penny approached the manager of the cooperative.
"Good morning," the man said gruffly, gazing at them critically. "Whatcan I do for you?"
"We're from the _Star_," Jerry informed. "Do you mind answering a fewquestions?"
"I'm pretty busy," Hank Holloway responded, frowning. "What do you wantto know?"
"There's a rumor going the rounds that this cooperative has been forcingfarmers to market their melons through your organization."
"It's a lie!" the manager retorted. "Why they come here begging us totake their stuff! We get better prices than anyone in this section of thestate, and we pass the profit right back to the farmers."
"How do you account for the depredation that's been going on around herelately? Who would you say is behind it?"
"What d'you mean, depredation?" Hank Holloway demanded.
"The destruction of the Preston barn just as their melons were ready formarket. Then last night a truck of cantaloupes was stolen from the Davisplace."
"That so?" the manager asked. "Hadn't heard about it. Clem Davis alwayswas a worthless, no-good. It wouldn't surprise me that he cove
red hisharvest with plenty of insurance, and then arranged the snatch so hecould collect."
"That hardly seems reasonable," Jerry said dryly.
"You asked for my opinion and I'm giving it to you. The Davis melons wereso inferior we wouldn't handle them at the cooperative."
"Why, I thought their cantaloupes were particularly fine ones!" Pennyprotested.
"I don't know what you two are trying to get at!" Hank Holloway said withsudden anger. "The Cooperative does business in a fair and square way.Our books are open for inspection at any time. Now you'll have to excuseme, for I've got work to do."
With a curt nod, he turned away.
Penny and Jerry wandered about the room for a few minutes, watching thepackers. They did not much blame Hank Holloway for showing irritation.Their questions had been very pointed and the man had immediately guessedthat their purpose was to uncover facts detrimental to the Cooperative.
"We learned about as much as I expected to," Jerry said with a shrug, ashe and Penny finally left the building. "Naturally one couldn't hope he'dbreak down and confess all."
"What did you really think of him, Jerry?"
"Hard to say," the reporter answered. "He's a rough and ready sort, butthat's not against him. There's no real reason to believe he'scrooked--just a hunch of mine."
Having been assigned to cover a board meeting, Jerry hurriedly saidgoodbye to Penny. Left to herself, she drove slowly toward Riverview.
"Since I am so near Seth McGuire's place, I may as well stop for a minuteor two," she thought impulsively.
Despite many exciting events, Penny had not lost interest in the Hubellclock. Although it seemed reasonable that a faulty mechanism had causedit to strike thirteen, such an explanation did not completely satisfyher. She was eager to learn from the former caretaker if the difficultyhad been corrected.
Leaving her car by the main road, Penny went directly to the shop. Thedoor was closed and locked. However, as she turned away, she distinctlyheard a voice inside the building. Although she could not make out thewords, she was certain that a child had called.
"Who is it?" she shouted.
"Help! Let me out!" came the plaintive cry from inside the shop.
Penny ran to the window and peered into the dark interior. She scarcelywas able to believe what she saw. A little girl, her face streaked withtears and dirt, pounded fiercely on the heavy door, seeking release.
"It's Adelle!" she gasped. "How in the world did she get locked in Mr.McGuire's shop?"