Part 21 (1/2)
”No, on the fourth,” Francine answered before she considered her words.
”Looking for someone?” remarked Penny with a grin. ”Or should I say _something_?”
An elevator stopped at the landing. ”Going down,” the attendant called, opening the door. He gazed questioningly at the two girls.
Francine shook her head, although she had been waiting for an elevator.
Turning again to Penny she said with a hard smile: ”I've not only been looking for something, I've found it!”
”Still, I don't see you rus.h.i.+ng to reach a telephone, Francine. Your discovery can't have such tremendous news value.”
”It may have before long,” hinted Francine. ”I don't mind telling you I am on the trail of a really big story. And I am making steady progress in a.s.sembling my facts.”
Penny regarded the girl reporter speculatively. Her presence on the second floor rather suggested that she, too, had been trying to investigate the Green Room, and more than likely had learned its location. But she was reasonably certain Francine had gathered no information of great value.
”Glad to hear you're doing so well,” she remarked and started on down the hall.
Francine fell into step with her. ”If you're looking for a particular room, Penny, maybe I can help you.”
Penny knew that the reporter meant to stay with her so that she could do no investigation work of her own.
”The room I am searching for has a green door,” she replied.
Francine laughed. ”I'm glad you're so honest, Penny. I guessed why you were on this floor all the time. However, I greatly fear you're in the wrong part of the hotel.”
Penny paused and turned to face her companion squarely. ”Why not put an end to all this nonsense, Francine? We watch each other and get nowhere.
Let's put our cards on the table.”
”Yours might be a joker!”
”We're both interested in getting a story which will discredit Harvey Maxwell,” Penny went on, ignoring the jibe. ”You've had a tip as to what may be going on here, while I'm working in the dark. On the other hand, I've acquired something which should interest you. Why don't we pool our interests and work together?”
”That would be very nice--for you.”
”I think I might contribute something to the case.”
”I doubt it,” replied Francine loftily. ”You don't even know the location of the Green Room.”
”You're wrong about that. It took no great detective power to learn it's on this floor. To get inside may be a different matter.”
”You're quite right there,” said Francine with emphasis.
”What do you say? Shall we work together and let bygones be bygones?”
”Thank you, Penny, I prefer to work alone.”
”Suit yourself, Francine. I was only trying to be generous. You see, I have an admittance card to the Green Room.”
”I don't believe it!”