Part 25 (1/2)
”Look at these melons.” Penny held up one which bore the blurred stamp.
”The trade name has been altered.”
The dealer took the cantaloupe from her, examining it briefly. She then offered him the single melon bearing the Davis stamp.
”Well, what about it?” he asked.
”Just this. A few nights ago a truck load of melons similar to these, was stolen from the Davis farm near Riverview. The thief was trailed right to this city.”
”You're trying to say that I sell stolen melons!”
”I'm not making any direct accusations,” Penny replied evenly. ”No doubt you can explain where you got the melons.”
”Certainly I can. I bought a truck load of them from a farmer named John Toby. The melons were good, the price cheap, and I didn't pay any attention to the stamp.”
”Is Mr. Toby a regular dealer?”
”I buy from him now and then, when his prices are right. I never bothered to ask any questions.”
”Where does the man live?”
”I can't tell you that. He's a large, heavy-set fellow with brown hair and eyes.”
The description was too meagre to be of value to Penny.
”Does Mr. Toby drive a red truck?” she inquired thoughtfully.
”He did this last time.”
”It was a red truck which was stolen from the Davis farm,” Penny said quietly. ”I'm sure these melons came from there too.”
”I paid good money for them,” the dealer retorted in a defiant tone. ”So far as I knew, they belonged to this fellow Toby. I can't investigate every farmer who offers me produce.”
”All the same, you could get into serious trouble for selling stolen melons,” Penny replied. ”Of course, I have no intention of going to the police, providing you are willing to cooperate.”
”What d'you mean, cooperate?” the dealer inquired suspiciously.
”Only this. Will you see John Toby again?”
”That's hard to tell. He said he might bring in another load of melons within the next few days.”
”When you receive the next s.h.i.+pment, will you notify me?”
”Yes, I'm willing to do that,” the dealer promised. ”If Toby is crooked, I want to know it myself.”
Penny gave the man her name, address, and telephone number. Knowing that he might not be able to reach her quickly enough, she instructed him to detain the farmer by force if necessary.
”If I can't get in touch with you, I may have the fellow questioned by police,” the dealer offered. ”I don't want to put myself into a hole.”
Penny was not entirely satisfied that the market man would keep his promise. However, she hesitated to make a report to the police without first consulting her father. Everything considered, it seemed best to let the situation work out as it would.