Saboteurs on the River Read online

  CHAPTER 11 _PURSUIT BY TAXI_

  "Keep that green taxi in sight!" Penny instructed her own cab driver asshe and Louise leaped into the rear seat.

  "Sure," agreed the taxi man, showing no surprise at the request.

  Thrilled, and feeling rather theatrical, Penny and Louise sat on the edgeof their seats. Anxiously they watched the green cab ahead. Weaving inand out of downtown traffic, it cruised at a slow speed and so, was nothard to follow.

  Louise gazed at the running tape of the taxi meter. "Do you see thatticker?" she whispered. "I hope you're well fortified with spare change."

  "I haven't much money with me. Let's trust that The Green Parrot issomewhere close."

  "More than likely it's miles out in the country," Louise returnedpessimistically.

  The green cab presently turned down a narrow, little-traveled street notmany blocks from the river front. As it halted at the curb, Penny'sdriver glanced at her for instructions.

  "Don't stop," she directed. "Drive on past and pull up around thecorner."

  The taxi man did as requested, presenting a bill for one dollar andeighty cents. To pay the sum, Penny used all of her own money andborrowed a quarter from her chum.

  "That leaves me with just thirty-eight cents," Louise said ruefully. "Nopicture show tonight. And how are we to get home?"

  "We're not far from a bus line. Come on, we're wasting valuable time."

  "Those two words, 'Come on' have involved me in more trouble than all therest of the English language," Louise giggled nervously. "What are we todo now we're here?"

  Penny did not answer. Rounding the corner, she saw that the green cab andits passenger had disappeared. For an instant she was bitterlydisappointed. Then she noticed a creaking sign which swung above abasement entrance. Although inconspicuous, it bore the picture of a greenparrot.

  "That's the place, Lou!" she exclaimed.

  "Well, we've learned the address, so let's go home."

  "Wonder what it's like inside?"

  "Don't you dare start that old curiosity of yours to percolating!" Louisechided severely. "We're _not_ going in there!"

  "Who ever thought of such a thing?" grinned Penny. "Now I wonder whattime it is?"

  "About eight-thirty or perhaps a little later. Why?"

  "Do you remember that card we found in the leather billfold? The notationread, 'The Green Parrot, Tuesday at 9:15.'"

  "So it did, but the appointment may have been for nine fifteen in themorning."

  "You dope!" laughed Penny. "Louise, we're in wonderful luck finding thisplace at just this hour! Why, the man we followed here may be the one wholost the billfold."

  "All of which makes him a saboteur, I suppose?"

  "Not necessarily, but don't you think we ought to try to learn more?"

  "I knew you'd try to get me into that place," Louise complained. "Well, Ihave more sense than to do it. It might not be safe."

  "I shouldn't think of venturing in unescorted," Penny assured her. "Whynot telephone my father and ask him to come here right away?"

  "Well, that might not be such a bad idea," Louise acknowledgedreluctantly. "But where can we find a phone?"

  Passing The Green Parrot, the girls walked on a few doors until they cameto a corner drugstore. Going inside, they closed themselves into atelephone booth. Borrowing a nickel from Louise, Penny called her home,but there was no response.

  "Mrs. Weems went to a meeting tonight, and I suppose Dad must be away,"she commented anxiously.

  "Then let's give it up."

  "I'll try the newspaper office," Penny decided. "If Dad isn't there, I'lltalk to one of the reporters."

  Mr. Parker was not to be contacted at the _Star_ plant, nor was EditorDeWitt available. Penny asked to speak to Jerry Livingston and presentlyheard his voice at the other end of the wire. Without wasting words shetold him where she was and what she wanted him to do.

  "_The Green Parrot!_" Jerry exclaimed, copying down the address she gavehim. "Say, that's worthwhile information. I'll be with you girls as soonas I can get there."

  "We'll be outside the corner drugstore," Penny told him. "You'll know usby the way we pace back and forth!"

  Within twelve minutes a cab pulled up and Jerry leaped out to greet thetwo girls.

  "Where is this Parrot place?" he demanded, gazing curiously at the dingybuildings.

  Louise and Penny led him down the street to the basement entrance. Musiccould be heard from within, but blinds covered all the windows.

  "It must be a cafe," commented Jerry. He turned toward Penny and stared."Say, what's the matter with your face?"

  "My face?"

  "You look as if you're coming down with the black measles!"

  "Oh, a taxi splashed me with mud," Penny laughed, sponging at her cheekswith a handkerchief. "How do I look now?"

  "Better. Let's go."

  Taking the girls each by an elbow, Jerry guided them down the stonesteps. Confronted with a curving door, he boldly thrust it open.

  "Now act as if you belonged here," he warned the girls.

  The trio found themselves in a carpeted, luxuriously furnished foyer.From a large dining room nearby came laughter and music.

  As the outside door closed behind the young people, a bell tinkled toannounce their arrival. Almost at once a head waiter appeared in thearchway to the left. He was tall and dark, with a noticeable scar acrossone cheek. His shrewd eyes scrutinized them, but he bowed politelyenough.

  "A party of three, sir?"

  "Right," agreed Jerry.

  They followed the waiter into a dimly lighted dining room with moretables than customers. A four-piece orchestra provided rather drearymusic for dancing. Jerry reluctantly allowed a checkroom girl to capturehis hat.

  The head waiter turned the party over to another waiter.

  "Table thirteen," he instructed, and spoke rapidly in French.

  "Table thirteen," complained Jerry. "Can't you give us something besidesthat?"

  "Monsieur is superstitious?" The head waiter smiled in a superior way.

  "Not superstitious, just cautious."

  "As you wish, Monsieur. Table two."

  Jerry and the girls were guided to the far end of the room, somewhatapart from the other diners. A large potted palm obstructed their view.

  "I think they've hung the Indian sign on us," Jerry muttered after thewaiter had gone. "See anyone you know, Penny?"

  "That man over by the door--the one sitting alone," she indicated in awhisper. "Louise and I followed him here."

  "The one that's wrestling with the lobster?"

  "Yes, don't stare at him, Jerry. He's watching us."

  The waiter arrived with glasses of water and menu cards. Jerry and thegirls scanned the list in secret consternation. Scarcely an item waspriced at less than a dollar, and even a modest meal would cost a largesum.

  "I'm not very hungry," Louise said helpfully. "I'll take a ham sandwich."

  "So will I," added Penny.

  "Three hams with plenty of mustard," ordered Jerry breezily.

  The waiter gave him a long glance. "And your drink, sir?"

  "Water," said Jerry. "Cool, refreshing water, preferably with a smallpiece of ice."

  The waiter favored the trio with another unflattering look and went tothe kitchen.

  "This is a gyp place," Penny declared indignantly. "I can't understandwhy anyone would come here. The waiters all seem to be French."

  "Oh, all head waiters speak French," Jerry replied. "You can't tell bythat. I'd say they were German myself."

  Penny studied the cafe employees with new interest. She noted that thehead waiter kept an alert eye upon the entire room, but particularly hewatched their table.

  Soon the three orders of ham sandwiches were brought by the waiter. Theyoung people ate as slowly as they could so they would have an excuse forremaining as long as they desired.

  "What time i
s it, Jerry?" Penny asked anxiously.

  "Ten after nine," he answered, looking at his watch.

  A bell jingled, and the young people knew that another customer hadarrived. Craning their necks to see around the palm tree, they watchedthe dining room entranceway. In a moment a young man entered and wasgreeted by the head waiter. Jerry and the girls stared, scarcelybelieving their eyes.

  "Why, it's Burt Ottman!" Penny whispered.

  "And exactly on the dot of nine-fifteen," added Louise significantly. "He_must_ be the person who lost that billfold!"