CHAPTER 19 _TRAILING A FUGITIVE_
Adelle's accusation brought a murmur of consternation and shockedsurprise from the crowd. Mr. Blake, however, seemed undisturbed. Droppingon his knees, he supported Adelle and wrapped his coat about hertrembling shoulders.
"There, there, my poor child," he said soothingly. "You are quite upset,and for good reason."
"Don't touch me," Adelle shivered, cringing away. "You're mean andcruel!"
By this time, Miss Anderson and other officials of the Riverview Home hadreached the scene. Somewhat sternly they tried to silence the child.
"She doesn't know what she is saying," Miss Anderson apologized to Mr.Blake. "Adelle has been very nervous since she was in an automobileaccident."
"I quite understand," the real estate man responded. "The child must havea change of clothing, and no doubt, medical care. May I send her to theHome in my car?"
"Why, that is very kind of you, I am sure," Miss Anderson saidgratefully.
With every appearance of concern, Mr. Blake picked Adelle up in his armsand carried her away. Penny was kept busy helping bundle up the otherchildren who had been rescued from the water. None the worse for themisadventure, they too were taken to Mr. Blake's car.
"Here, put on my coat before you freeze," Louise said anxiously to Pennyafter the automobile had sped away. "We must start home at once."
"I don't want to go now!" Penny protested. "Did you notice that man whopulled Adelle from the water?"
"He looked like a tramp. I wonder what made him run away?"
"Lou, I think that man was Clem Davis. By rights I should tell thesheriff, but I can't bring myself to do it--not after the way he savedAdelle."
"Never mind all that now," Louise said, forcing Penny toward the car."You must go home and change your wet clothes."
"But I want to find Clem Davis and talk with him!"
"That will have to wait. You're going home!" Taking her chum firmly bythe arm, Louise pushed her into the car.
At the Parker home, Penny changed her clothes, discussing the day'sevents as she dried her hair. Adelle's accusation had not escaped her,and she had taken it more seriously than did others in the crowd.
"Perhaps that child knew what she was talking about!" she declared toLouise. "Blake's car may have been the one which killed her parents!"
"Oh, Penny, you're so hopelessly prejudiced against the man," her chumreplied.
"Maybe I am, but Adelle is the only person who can identify the hit-runmotorist."
"Even so, you know she probably is not a reliable witness."
"I'll grant that her accident today may have upset her emotionally,"Penny conceded. "After she recovers, I'm curious to learn what she'llhave to say."
The hour was so late that the girls did not return to the camp site.Louise soon went to her own home and Penny was left alone. She restlesslywandered about, polished the car, and fretted because neither her fathernor Mrs. Weems came home. At length, for want of another occupation, shemotored to the Riverview Home on the pretext of inquiring about thecondition of the children rescued from the water.
"They're doing just fine," Miss Anderson assured her. "That is, allexcept Adelle. The child is very upset."
"Has she said anything more about Mr. Blake?" Penny inquired.
"She doesn't know his name, but she keeps insisting he was the man whosecar killed her parents. I never was so mortified in my life as when shemade the accusation. Fortunately, Mr. Blake did not take offense."
Penny was eager to talk with Adelle, and Miss Anderson said that shemight do so for a few minutes. The little girl had been put to bed butseemed quite content as she played with a new doll.
"Mr. McGuire sent me this," she said, holding it up for Penny to see."I've named her Imogene."
Miss Anderson was called to the telephone. During the young woman'sabsence, Penny discreetly questioned Adelle about the motor accident inwhich her parents had lost their lives. She was worried lest the child beupset again, but to her relief Adelle answered in a matter-of-fact tone.
"No one will believe me," the little girl said. "Just the same, that manI saw today was the one who ran into my Daddy's car. He had a big, grayautomobile with a horn on it that played a tune."
"A gray car?" Penny repeated thoughtfully. "I'm quite sure Mr. Blake'ssedan is dark blue. Why, you were taken home in his automobile thisafternoon, Adelle."
"It wasn't that car," the child answered. "He must have another one."
Miss Anderson re-entered the room, so Penny did not ask additionalquestions. Soon leaving the Home, she motored slowly toward the camp siteby the river. Although she readily understood that Adelle might bemistaken, a conviction was growing upon her that Clyde Blake could havebeen the hit-run driver.
"Even if he doesn't drive a gray car, that proves nothing," she mused."He easily could have changed it during the past year."
Penny thought that she might find her father or some of the Camp Boardofficials still at the river. However, as she drove into the parkingarea, she observed that the grounds were entirely deserted. Paper plates,napkins and newspapers had been blown helter-skelter by the wind. Picnictables still held the unsightly remains of lunches. The speakers'platform had been torn down, even the tents were gone, for it was notplanned to make practical use of the grounds until more work had beendone.
As Penny was starting to drive away, she noticed a lone man near one ofthe picnic tables. He was dressed in rough, unpressed garments, andseemed to be scavenging food which had been left behind.
"That's the same man who pulled Adelle from the water!" she thoughtalertly.
Leaping from the car, Penny ran toward him.
Hearing footsteps, the man turned and saw her. Almost in panic he startedfor the woods.
"Wait!" Penny shouted. "I won't turn you over to the police! Pleasewait!"
The man hesitated, and then apparently deciding that he had nothing tofear from a girl, paused.
"I want to thank you for saving Adelle," Penny said breathlessly. "Whydid you run away?"
"Well, I don't know," the man answered, avoiding her gaze. "I never likedcrowds."
Penny decided to risk a direct accusation. "You are Clem Davis," shesaid, eyeing him steadily.
"That's a laugh," the man retorted, starting to edge away. "My name isThomas Ryan."
"Now please don't run away again," Penny pleaded, sensing his intention."If you are Clem Davis, and I'm sure you are, I want to help you."
"How could you help me?"
"By exposing the men who framed you. I never believed that you set fireto the Preston barn."
"I never did."
"Please tell me about it," Penny urged, seating herself at one of thepicnic benches.
"Who are you anyhow?" the man asked suspiciously. "Why are you so willingto help me, as you say?"
"I'm Penelope Parker, and my father publishes the _Star_."
"Oh, I see, you're after a story!"
"No, that part is only incidental," Penny said hurriedly. "What my fatherreally wants to do is to expose the Black Hoods and drive them out ofexistence. You're the one person who might be able to provide evidencewhich would convict the guilty parties."
"I could tell plenty if I was a mind to do it. No one would believe methough."
"I will, Mr. Davis."
"I was in the notion of going to the Grand Jury at one time," the mansaid slowly. "That's what brought on all my trouble. If I'd had senseenough to have kept my mouth shut, I wouldn't be a fugitive now."
"What connection did you have with the Hoods? Were you a member of theorganization?"
"Yes, I was," the man admitted reluctantly. "I didn't know much about theHoods when I joined 'em. Then I tried to drop out, and that's what turned'em against me."
"Suppose you tell me all about it. What is the real purpose of theorganization?"
"Well, right now the Hoods are trying to force every
truck farmer in thisdistrict to join the County Cooperative."
"Then Hank Holloway must be the ring leader!" Penny exclaimed, startledby the information.
"No, he's not at the head of the Hoods," Clem Davis corrected.
"Who is the man?" Penny questioned eagerly.
Clem Davis started to speak, then hesitated. An automobile had driveninto the parking area only a few rods away. Several workmen who had beenassigned to clean up the grounds, alighted.
"They're coming this way," Clem Davis said uneasily. "I can't risk beingseen."
Abruptly, he started toward the sheltering trees.
"Wait!" Penny pleaded, pursuing him. "You haven't told me half enough.Please wait!"
"I'm not going to risk arrest," the man returned over his shoulder.
"At least meet me here again!"
"Okay, I'll do that," Clem Davis agreed.
"Tomorrow night just at dusk," Penny said quickly. "And please don't failme. I promise. I'll help you."