CHAPTER 23 _PENNY'S PLIGHT_
It was too dark for Penny to read the letter. Stepping to the car, sheswitched on the headlights and held the paper in its brilliant beam.
The letter read:
Dear Matthew:
Sorry to bother you again, Old Pal, but I know you're always willing togive an old buddy and cellmate a helping hand. I don't want to tip offthe New York cops where you are, and you can trust me to keep mum if youcome through with another six thousand. This is my last request. Peter F.
"Peter Fenestra!" exclaimed Penny. "And it's no surprise either! Horney,where did you find this letter?"
"It was in a pile of rubbish down in the basement. I don't know how itgot there."
"Peter Fenestra has a habit of leaving notes on Mr. Judson's desk,"declared Penny. "This one may have blown off and been swept out withoutthe publisher seeing it!"
"Don't you figure it's a blackmail attempt?"
"Of course it is, Horney. You've not shown the letter to anyone?"
"Only to you. From the threat I dope it out that Judson was sent toprison years ago, and he's still wanted."
Penny nodded as she placed the letter in her pocketbook. His guess was ashrewd one, but she could tell him nothing without breaking her promiseto Mr. Judson.
"Horney," she said, "a great deal hinges upon this letter. You'll nottell anyone what you've learned?"
"Oh, I'll keep it to myself. I'm not one to get Judson into trouble. He'shad enough of it already."
Penny noticed that her father's car was not in the garage. She reasonedthat since he had not come home he must be working late at the _Star_office as he frequently did.
"Jump in, Horney," she invited, swinging wide the car door. "I'm goingdowntown to find Dad. I'll give you a ride."
She was grateful that the pressman had little to say as they sped throughdimly lighted residential streets.
How much he suspected she could only guess. But the letter had made itclear to her that the former publisher never had completed his prisonsentence.
"That was why he didn't answer me when I asked about Pauletta's age!" shethought. "He must have escaped from prison soon after he was sent there!"
No longer did Penny wonder why Mr. Judson had not refused PeterFenestra's repeated demands for money. Obviously he had feared a farworse fate than exposure--return to the New York state prison.
The car turned into the deserted _Star_ loading dock. Few lights werevisible in the building, for the day staff had gone home and only thescrub women were at work. Penny could not see the windows of her father'soffice from the street. Nor did she observe a man who slouched against awall, not far from where the car had stopped.
Old Horney stepped from the running board, thanking Penny for the ride.
"Guess I'll amble up the street and get a cup of coffee."
"You'll be sure not to mention the letter?" Penny reminded him.
"I won't tell a soul. You know, I was thinkin' about it as we rodedowntown. Peter Fenestra came into the office a couple of times justbefore Judson closed the plant. He was a dirty blackmailer, all right!Wouldn't that letter I gave you be enough to send him up?"
"I should think so, Horney. But the problem is how to take care of himwithout ruining Mr. Judson."
"Better show the letter to your father," advised the pressman. "Maybehe'll have some ideas."
Tipping his hat, Old Horney moved briskly away.
Penny entered the rear vestibule, speaking to three scrub women who werelocking up their cleaning equipment before leaving the building. Not eventhe elevator man was on duty, so she climbed the stairs. Switching on alight in the newsroom, she passed through it to her father's office.
The room was dark.
"Not here," thought Penny. "I was afraid of it."
Deciding to telephone home, she entered one of the glass enclosed boothsat the end of the newsroom. As she lifted the receiver, a voice frombehind her said distinctly:
"Put that down!"
Startled, Penny whirled around. Peter Fenestra stood in the doorway ofthe booth.
"Come out of there!" he ordered harshly.
Penny obeyed with alacrity as she tried to gather her wits. The buildingwas practically deserted, and Fenestra took care to stand between her andthe outside door.
"What do you want here?" she demanded coldly.
"The letter."
Penny stared at him blankly. Her astonishment was genuine.
"Don't pretend you don't know," Fenestra said harshly. "I want the letteryou and that old man were talking about."
"Oh!" Light broke upon Penny. "So you heard our conversation! You werelistening!"
"I happened to be standing in the loading dock. I know you have theletter. Hand it over."
Penny backed a few steps away toward her father's office. "So you admityou wrote it?" she challenged.
"I admit nothing. But I want that letter."
"You'll not get it," Penny defied him. "Peter Fenestra, you were the onewho put that warning note on my desk a few days ago! And I know why, too!You were afraid I'd learn too much about the octopus tattoo. Well, I'velearned plenty!"
Fenestra's face became contorted with rage. He choked, "You've been downin the cave!" and started toward Penny.
Thoroughly frightened, she eluded his grasp. Running into her father'soffice, she slammed the door. Bracing her body against it, she managed toturn the key before Fenestra could force it open.
"Come out of there!" he shouted furiously. "Come out, I say!"
"And I say I won't!" retorted Penny. "Just try to get in!"
She pushed her father's heavy desk across the room, placing it in frontof the door.
Fenestra rattled the handle several times, and threw his body against thepanel once or twice. Then she heard footsteps as he walked away.
"That's only a trick to get me to come out," thought Penny. "I won't bestupid enough to fall into his trap. I'll stay right here."
Walking to the window, she gazed down. Cars were passing along thestreet. If she shouted for help someone might hear her. However, toexplain her predicament would be rather awkward.
Penny's gaze fell upon the telephone which had fallen from the desk tothe floor. Picking it up, she dialed the number of her own house. Mrs.Weems answered.
"Hello," said Penny cheerfully, "Dad hasn't come home yet by any chance?"
"He's just now driving into the garage," the housekeeper replied. "I'llcall him."
A moment later Penny heard her father's voice at the other end of thewire.
"Dad," she said, "I'm down at your office, sitting behind some barbedwire entanglements. I wish you'd get a policeman and see what you can doabout rescuing me."
"Is this one of your jokes?" Mr. Parker demanded.
Fearful that her father would hang up the receiver, Penny talked fast andto the point. Mr. Parker assured her he would come without a moment'sdelay.
"I guess that will teach Peter Fenestra not to get funny with me!" shecongratulated herself. "It pays to do a little thinking. Fenestra will bearrested, and then I'll drive out and learn what he hides in his cave."
Penny sniffed the air. She could smell smoke, and she thought it must becoming from a cigarette. Evidently Fenestra had stolen to the door andwas patiently waiting for her to emerge.
"He'll have a long wait," she chuckled.
Gradually her elation died. The odor of smoke had grown stronger. She sawa wisp of it filter beneath the door crack. Penny's heart caught in herthroat. Tensely she listened. Was it imagination or could she hear thecrackle of flames?
"Fenestra may be burning the papers of a scrap basket just to smoke meout," she thought. "Probably that's just what he's doing."
Pulling the heavy desk away from the door, she stood with her ear againstthe panel. Distinctly she could hear the crackle of flames. The wood feltwar
m to her cheek.
Suddenly Penny was afraid. Frantically she turned the key in the lock.
The door swung outward to the pressure of her shoulder. A wave of heatrushed in.
Penny staggered backward, horrified by the sight which met her eyes. Atthe end of the newsroom, where the exit should have been, rose a toweringbarrier of flames.