Part 2 (1/2)
CHAPTER 2 _A RIVAL REPORTER_
Penny presently edged the sedan into a parking s.p.a.ce across the street from the Riverview Hotel. As she switched off the ignition her father said:
”Better come along with me and wait in the lobby. It's cold out here.”
Penny followed her father into the building. The hotel was an elegant one with many services available for guests. She noticed a florist shop, a candy store, a dry cleaning establishment, and even a small brokerage office opening off the lobby.
”Oh, yes,” said Mr. Parker as Penny called his attention to the brokerage. ”Maxwell hasn't overlooked anything. The hotel has a special leased wire which I've been told gives him a direct connection with his other places.”
Walking over to the desk, Mr. Parker mentioned his name and asked the clerk if he might see Harvey Maxwell.
”Mr. Maxwell is not here,” replied the man with an insolent air.
”When will he be at the hotel?”
”Mr. Maxwell has left the city on business. He does not expect to return until the end of next month.”
Mr. Parker could not hide his annoyance.
”Let me have his address then,” he said in a resigned voice. ”I'll write him.”
The clerk shook his head. ”I have been instructed not to give you Mr.
Maxwell's address. If you wish to deal with him you will have to see his lawyer, Gorman S. Railey.”
”So Maxwell was expecting me to come here to make a deal with him?”
demanded Mr. Parker. ”Well, I've changed my mind. I'll make a deal all right, but it will be in court. Good day!”
Angrily, the newspaper man strode from the lobby. Penny hurried to keep pace with him.
”That settles it,” he said tersely as they climbed into the sedan again.
”This libel suit will be a fight to the finish. And maybe my finish at that!”
”Oh, Dad, I'm sure you'll win. But it's a pity all this had to come up just when you had planned a fine vacation. Mrs. Downey will be disappointed, too.”
”Yes, she will, Penny. And there's Mrs. Weems to be thought about. I promised her a two weeks' trip while we were gone.”
They drove in silence for a few blocks. As the car pa.s.sed the Sidell residence, Penny's father said thoughtfully:
”I suppose I could send you out to Pine Top alone, Penny. Or perhaps you might be able to induce your chum, Louise, to go along. Would you like that?”
”It would be more fun if you went also.”
”That's out of the picture now. If everything goes well I might be able to join you for Christmas weekend.”
”I'm not sure Louise could go,” said Penny doubtfully. ”But I can find out right away.”
After dinner that night, she lost no time in running over to the Sidell home. At first Louise was thrown into a state of ecstasy at the thought of making a trip to Pine Top and then her face became gloomy.