Part 12 (1/2)
”No,” smiled Mrs. Downey. ”Old Peter is right in his mind, at least in every respect save this one. He owns our best ski slopes, too.”
Penny s.h.i.+fted her foot to a cooler place in the oven.
”Not the slopes connected with this lodge?”
Mrs. Downey nodded as she whipped eggs to a foamy yellow.
”I leased the land from Jasko's son many years ago, and Jasko can do nothing about it except rage. However, the lease expires soon. He has given me to understand it will not be renewed.”
”Can't you deal with the son?”
”He is dead, Penny.”
”Oh, I see. That does make it difficult.”
”Decidedly. Jasko's att.i.tude about the lease is another reason why I think this will be my last year in the hotel business.”
”You don't think Ralph Fergus or Harvey Maxwell have influenced Jasko?”
Penny asked thoughtfully, a frown ridging her forehead.
”I doubt that anyone could influence the old man,” replied Mrs. Downey.
”Stubborn isn't the word to describe his character. Even if I lose the ski slopes, I am quite sure he will never lease them to the Fergus hotel interests.”
”While I was down there I thought I saw a girl standing at the window of the cabin.”
”Probably you did, Penny. Jasko has a granddaughter about your age, named Sara. A very nice girl, too, but she is kept close at home.”
”I feel sorry for her if she has to live with that old man. He seemed like a regular ogre.”
Removing her toasted feet from the oven, Penny pulled on her stiff boots again. Without bothering to lace them, she hobbled toward the door.
”Oh, by the way,” she remarked, pausing. ”Did you ever hear of a Green Room at the Fergus hotel?”
”A Green Room?” repeated Mrs. Downey. ”No, I can't say I have. What is it, Penny?”
”I wonder myself. Something funny seems to be going on there.”
Having aroused Mrs. Downey's curiosity, Penny gave a more complete account of her visit to the Fergus hotel.
”I've never heard anyone mention such a place,” declared the woman in a puzzled voice. ”But I will say this. The hotel always has attracted a peculiar group of guests.”
”How would you like to have me solve the mystery for you?” joked Penny.
”It would suit me very well indeed,” laughed Mrs. Downey. ”And while you're about it you might put Ralph Fergus out of business, and bring me a new flock of guests.”
”I'm afraid you're losing one instead. Maxine Miller told me she is moving down to the big hotel.”
”I know. She checked out a half hour ago. Jake made an extra trip to haul her luggage down the mountain.”
”Anyway, I shouldn't be sorry to see her go if I were you,” comforted Penny. ”I am quite sure she hasn't enough money to pay for a week's stay at Pine Top.”