Part 6 (1/2)
”Penny, my dear! How glad I am to see you!” The woman clasped her firmly, planting a kiss on either cheek. ”But your father shouldn't have disappointed me. Why didn't he come along?”
”He wanted to, but he's up to his eyebrows in trouble. A man is suing him for libel.”
”Oh, that _is_ bad,” murmured Mrs. Downey. ”I know what legal trouble means because I've had an unpleasant taste of it myself lately. But come, let's get your luggage and be starting up the mountain.”
”Just a minute,” said Penny in a low tone. With a slight inclination of her head, she indicated the two male pa.s.sengers who had made the long journey from Riverview to Pine Top. ”You don't by any chance know either of those men?”
Mrs. Downey's face lost its kindliness and she said, in a grim voice: ”I certainly do!”
Before Penny could urge the woman to reveal their ident.i.ty, Francine walked over to where she and Mrs. Downey stood.
”Did you wish to see me?” inquired the hotel woman as Francine looked at her with an inquiring gaze.
”Are you Mrs. Downey?”
”Yes, I am.”
”I am looking for a place to stay,” said Francine. ”I was told that you keep an inn.”
”Yes, we have a very nice lodge up the mountain about a mile from here.
The rooms are comfortable, and I do most of the cooking myself. We're located on the best ski slopes in the valley. But if you're looking for a place with plenty of style and corresponding prices you might prefer the Fergus place.”
”Your lodge will exactly suit me, I think,” declared Francine. ”How do I get there?”
”In my bob-sled,” offered Mrs. Downey. ”I may have a few other guests.”
”It won't take me a minute to get my luggage,” said Francine, moving away.
Penny was none too pleased to know that the girl reporter would make her headquarters at the Downey Inn. Her face must have mirrored her misgiving, for Mrs. Downey said apologetically:
”Business hasn't been any too good this season. I have to pick up an extra tourist whenever I can.”
”Of course,” agreed Penny hastily. ”One can't run a hotel without guests.”
”I do believe Jake has snared another victim,” Mrs. Downey laughed. ”That woman with the bleached hair.”
”And who is Jake?” inquired Penny.
Mrs. Downey nodded her head toward a spry man with leathery skin who was talking with Maxine Miller.
”He does odd jobs for me at the Inn,” she explained. ”When he has no other occupation he tries to entice guests into our den.”
”You make it sound like a very wicked business,” chuckled Penny.
”Since the Fergus hotel was built it's become a struggle, to the death,”
replied Mrs. Downey soberly. ”I truly believe this will be my last year at Pine Top.”
”Why, you've had your home here for years,” said Penny in astonishment.