Part 37 (2/2)
”Train Arrives approximately 11:25.”
”What does that mean?” the sheriff inquired. ”We have no trains at Pine Top.”
”We'll see,” chuckled Penny.
She showed the men the vault filled with furs, and pressed the spring which opened the wall panel.
”Be careful in descending the stairway,” she warned. ”I know they have one guard down there and possibly others.”
Sheriff Clausson and his men went ahead of Penny. The guard, taken completely by surprise, was captured without a shot being fired.
”Now what have we here?” the sheriff inquired, peering into the dimly lighted tunnel.
As far as one could see stretched a narrow, rusted track with an extra rail.
”A miniature electric railway!” exclaimed the sheriff.
”How far is it from here to the border?” inquired Penny thoughtfully.
”Not more than a mile.”
”I've been told Harvey Maxwell has a hotel located in Canada.”
”Yeah,” nodded the sheriff, following her thought. ”We've known for years that furs were being smuggled, but we never once suspected the outfit was located here at Pine Top. And no wonder. This scheme is clever, so elaborate a fellow never would think of it. The underground railroad, complete with drainage pumps, storage rooms and electric lights, crosses the border and connects with the Canadian hotel. Fergus and Maxwell buy furs cheap and send them here without paying duty.”
”And teletype communication is maintained just as it is on a real railroad,” added Penny. ”Fergus and Maxwell must have bought up the old mine just so they could make use of the tunnels. And they wanted to get rid of Mrs. Downey's Inn so there would be no possible danger of a leak.
How large do you suppose the smuggling ring is, Mr. Clausson?”
”Large enough. Likely it will take weeks to get all of the guilty persons rounded up. But I'm satisfied we have the main persons.”
”If I interpreted the code message right, a fur train should be coming in about eleven-thirty.”
”My men will be waiting,” the sheriff said grimly. ”I'll get busy now and tip off the Canadian authorities, so they can close in on the gang from the other end of the line.”
”What about Fergus and Maxwell?” asked Penny. ”There's no chance they can trump up a story and get free?”
”Not a chance,” returned the sheriff gruffly. ”You've done your work, and now I'll do mine.”
Penny started to turn away, then paused. ”Oh, may I ask a favor?”
”I reckon you've earned it,” the sheriff answered, a twinkle in his eye.
”There's one person involved in this mess who isn't really to blame. An actress named Maxine Miller. She's only been working for the hotel a few days, and I doubt if she knows what it's all about.”
”We'll give her every benefit of the doubt,” promised the sheriff. ”I'll remember the name. Miller.”
In a daze of excitement Penny rushed back up the stairway to the Green Room. Fergus and Maxwell, Henri Croix, and Maxine Miller were in custody, all angrily protesting their innocence. The commotion had brought many hotel guests to the scene. Questions were flying thick and fast.
Penny drew Peter Jasko aside to talk with him privately.
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