Part 14 (1/2)

”Why, I don't remember--Jason Cordell, I suppose.”

”That's just the point!” Penny cried. ”Cordell hated him because Ben gained damaging evidence against him! Then to protect himself, Cordell told lies about Ben and got all of Riverview's publishers to blacklist him!”

”What gave you that idea, Penny?”

”I talked to Ben tonight.”

”It strikes me he filled you with hot air,” the newspaper owner commented dryly. ”Penny, you must learn not to believe everything you hear.”

”Then you'll not consider hiring Ben?”

”Afraid not,” her father declined. ”I've no special liking for Jason Cordell, who always impressed me as a stubborn, unscrupulous fellow, but I certainly can't employ Ben without more evidence in his favor than you have presented.”

”There is more,” said Penny, ”but I'm too tired to tell you tonight.”

She went wearily to bed, and though she slept hard, still felt tired when the alarm went off the next morning. Hastening through breakfast, she rode with her father to the office, and en route related to him how Ben had rescued the stranger from the river.

”Commendable,” nodded her father, ”but it still doesn't prove he isn't a trouble maker.”

”Oh, Dad, I think you're being unfair to him.”

”And I think you have been unduly influenced,” Mr. Parker returned.

”However, I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll have Mr. DeWitt investigate the young man. If his findings are good, we'll give him another chance.”

”Oh, Dad! That's grand!” Penny cried, squeezing his arm.

At the office, Penny found a letter tucked behind the roller of her typewriter. Although addressed to her, it had been sent to the _Star_.

Instantly she knew the reason, for it was from Jerry Livingston, who had worked for the paper many years.

Eagerly, she ripped open the envelope and read the message. Jerry, in an Army camp in the west, expected to pilot a big bomber to Hawaii within the next few weeks. ”Best regards to the newspaper gang,” he concluded.

”Any news from Jerry?” inquired Mr. DeWitt, who had recognized the handwriting.

Penny gave him the letter to read.

”Let's tack it on the bulletin board,” the editor suggested. ”Jerry has a lot of friends here.”

Penny allowed him to keep the letter and thought no more of it. Soon she became absorbed in the morning's work. There were obituaries to write as usual, but now and then Mr. DeWitt gave her a more interesting task.

Seemingly he had forgotten about her unfortunate experience at the fire.

But Penny had not forgotten. It troubled her that Salt's camera remained missing. When he came to the desk to drop a handful of finished pictures, she asked him what he had learned.

”Haven't been able to trace the car yet,” he answered. ”But we'll locate it eventually. Don't worry about it, Penny.”

The morning wore on. She saw Elda Hunt read Jerry's letter on the bulletin board, and later giggle and laugh as she talked with other girls in the office.

”That little witch said something uncomplimentary about me!” Penny thought. ”If I weren't the publisher's daughter, I certainly would tangle with her! Maybe I will yet!”