Part 18 (1/2)
”From Benny? But he said--”
Penny started to reveal that the boy had blamed the failure of service upon the pilot, and then changed her mind.
”Thank you,” she returned, ”I'll talk with him.”
Penny was more puzzled than ever, but she had no reason to doubt the pilot's word. Obviously, the newspapers had arrived at Pine Top, and Benny Smith knew what had become of them.
”I'll just investigate this matter a little further,” Penny decided as she left the village.
Approaching the Fergus hotel a few minutes later, she paused to catch her breath before going inside. In the gathering twilight the building looked more than ever like a great Swiss chalet. The pitched roof was burdened with a thick layer of white snow, and long icicles hung from the window ledges.
Inside the crowded, smoke-filled lobby there was an air of gaiety. A few lights had been turned on, and the orchestra could be heard tuning up in the dining room.
Penny saw no one that she knew. Crossing quickly to a counter at the far side of the lobby, she spoke to a girl who was in charge.
”Can I buy a newspaper here?”
”Yes, we have them.” The girl reached around a corner of the counter, indicating a stack of papers which Penny had not seen. ”New York Times?”
”That will do very nicely.”
Penny paid for the paper and carrying it over to a chair, quickly looked at the dateline.
”It's today's issue, all right,” she told herself grimly. ”This proves what I suspected. Ralph Fergus has been buying up all the papers--a little trick to annoy Mrs. Downey and get her in bad with her guests!”
CHAPTER 12 _THE GREEN CARD_
”Do you always talk to yourself?” inquired an amused voice from behind Penny.
Glancing up from the newspaper, the girl saw Maxine Miller standing beside her chair. For an instant she failed to recognize the actress, so elegant did the woman appear in a sealskin coat and matching hat. The outfit was so new that the fur had lost none of its glaze, an observation which caused Penny to wonder if Miss Miller had misled her regarding the state of her finances.
”Good evening, Miss Miller,” she smiled. ”I didn't know you for a moment.”
”How do you like it?” inquired the actress, turning slowly about.
”Your new fur coat? It's very beautiful. And you're looking well, too.
You didn't by chance get that role from David Balantine?”
Miss Miller's painted lips drew into a pout. ”No, he left the hotel this morning.”
”Oh, that's too bad. I suppose you'll be going soon, then?”
The actress shook her head, and laughed in a mysterious way.
”No, I've decided to stay here for awhile. I like Pine Top.”
Penny was puzzled by Miss Miller's sudden change in manner and appearance. The woman acted as if she were the possessor of an important secret which she longed to reveal.