Part 35 (1/2)
”There was a girl in the lobby a few minutes ago,” the clerk replied.
”She went off somewhere.”
”No, here I am, Jerry!” Penny cried.
The reporter turned around and his face lighted up.
”Come outside, Jerry,” Penny said before he could speak. ”I have a great deal to tell you.”
”And I have some news of my own,” returned the reporter.
They left the hotel together. Once beyond hearing, Penny made a complete report of her afternoon adventure, and showed Jerry the picture of Sylvia Kippenberg which she had taken from room 381.
”Now for my story,” said Jerry. ”I've located a place not far from here where those two seamen buy supplies. The owner of the store told me they tie their boat up there nearly every night.”
”Where is Salt now, Jerry?”
”He's keeping watch at the place. I came into town to telephone the _Star_ office. Your father said I was to stop here and take you in tow.”
”You're not starting back to Riverview?” Penny asked in dismay.
”I don't want to, Penny. I have a feeling our big story is just about ready to break!”
”So have I, Jerry. Let's stay with it. I'll explain to Dad when we get home.”
”Then let's be on our way,” the reporter said crisply. ”No telling what has developed while I've been in town.”
In the press car, the couple took the river road which led east from the Kippenberg estate. As they bounced along, making all possible speed, Jerry told Penny how he and Salt had traced the two seamen. They had made inquiry all along the river, and quite by chance had encountered a fisherman who had given them a valuable tip.
”But so many rumors are false, Jerry,” Penny said.
”This tip was straight. Salt and I found the white cruiser tied up at the dock not far from this store I was telling you about. We've been watching it for the past two hours, and Salt is still there.”
”Why didn't you call the police?”
”Wouldn't have done any good. The men we're after haven't been there all day. The only person on board is a girl.”
”A girl?”
”Well, maybe you would say a young woman. About twenty-two, I'd guess.”
”Jerry, you must be watching the wrong boat.”
Jerry shook his head as he drove the car into the bushes at the side of the road. ”It's the right one, I'm sure of it. Well, we're here.”
Penny was hard pressed to keep up as the reporter led her through the trees down to the winding Kobalt river. They found Salt in his hiding place, behind a large boulder.
”Anything happen since I left?” Jerry demanded.