Signal in the Dark Page 14

  CHAPTER 13 _BEHIND OFFICE DOORS_

  "Are you hurt, Penny?" Rushing to her chum, Louise helped her out of theditch where she had fallen.

  "No!" Angrily, Penny brushed dust from her slacks. "But I'm as mad as ahornet! If that man thinks he can push me around--"

  Already Webb was well down the road, walking at a leisurely but arrogantpace.

  "Forget it, forget it," Louise soothed. "We'd get no place picking aquarrel with a man like that. Anyway, you more or less accused him ofthievery."

  "And a thief is exactly what he is!" Penny retorted. "There isn't a doubtin my mind that he's the one who stole Ben's watch!"

  "Then the thing for us to do is report him to the police. We'll getnowhere talking to him ourselves."

  "We'll stop in town--I think the place is called Newhall--and notify thesheriff," Penny decided. "I certainly shall ask for the man's arrest."

  Returning to the car, she turned it around, and they drove toward thetown, less than a half mile away. Soon they approached Webb who waswalking at the side of the pavement. Deliberately, he ignored them asthey passed.

  At Newhall, the girls found the sheriff, and rather excitedly, poured outtheir story. Although the official took a few notes, he seemed somewhatbored by it all.

  "You don't know the last name of the man," he recited. "You think he maybe employed by Professor Bettenridge, but you are not sure. You believehe may be a thief, but you are not positive of that either."

  "One thing I am sure of!" Penny exclaimed. "He pushed me into a ditch. Soat least he's guilty of that!"

  "Are you willing to sign charges and appear against the man?"

  "You mean I would have to come back here later on?"

  "Certainly."

  Penny's enthusiasm waned. "Maybe I couldn't get here," she said, thinkingof her newspaper work. "Oh, well, let it go."

  "I'll keep an eye on the man anyhow," the sheriff promised. "Think youhave the situation sized up wrong though. We've already investigatedProfessor Bettenridge. He has fine credentials, and his invention seemsto have merit."

  "You believe it actually will explode mines?" Penny asked incredulously.

  "I saw it done. Fact is, Professor Bettenridge invited me to the firstdemonstration he gave at the lake."

  "What happened?" Louise questioned eagerly.

  "A mine was dumped into the lake. Then the professor exploded it with hismachine. I didn't understand how it was done, but I saw the flames shootup when it went off. It was the real thing."

  Decidedly let-down, Penny and Louise took leave of the sheriff and droveto Riverview. But as they passed through the downtown section, Pennysuddenly stopped in front of the Gables Hotel.

  "I suppose I'm silly," she acknowledged, "but I still doubt the honestyof Professor Bettenridge. Just for the fun of it, I intend to run in hereand learn if those Navy officials are registered."

  Leaving her chum in the car, Penny was gone nearly fifteen minutes. Whenshe returned, her face had taken on animation, so Louise knew she hadinteresting news.

  "Just as I thought!" Penny exclaimed, sliding behind the steering wheel."Not a Navy officer registered in the hotel, and none expected! So howcould Professor Bettenridge have an appointment here tonight? He merelytold Mr. Johnson that to impress him."

  "It does look that way. Still, it's possible the officers might haveregistered at another hotel."

  "Possible but hardly probable. Lou, I believe Professor Bettenridge is acrook. I wish we could witness that demonstration of his tomorrow night!"

  "I'll never be able to go," Louise said regretfully. "I'm playing in arecital--worse luck."

  "I might get Salt to ride over with me," Penny thought aloud. "Well,we'll see."

  The following morning she took time from her work to seek thephotographer. He was in the darkroom, but the door was open. As shestepped inside, he whirled around, his face startled.

  "Oh, it's you!" he chuckled in relief.

  "Why, Salt!" Penny teased. "You acted as if you thought I might be aholdup man. Why so jumpy?"

  "Was I?" the photographer asked, his tone queer.

  "You certainly were. Anything wrong?"

  "This place was entered again last night," Salt said reluctantly. "Ican't figure it out."

  "Anything taken?"

  "Not a thing so far as I can discover. That's the strange part of it. Butthe films were disturbed, as if someone had searched through them."

  "How did the person get in?"

  "Apparently through the skylight. It was ordered locked, but it got hotin here yesterday. One of the boys opened it up, and then forgot to snapthe lock."

  "Did you search the roof?"

  "Yes, we found footprints leading to a hall window of the next building.That was as far as they could be traced."

  "Do you suppose it could be anyone from the adjoining building, Salt?"

  "Not necessarily. The person may have entered it from the street. We knowhe stepped out onto the roof from the hall window rather than from one ofthe office rooms."

  Before returning to the newsroom, Penny told Salt about yesterday'sadventure in the country.

  "I sure would like a chance to go there with you tonight," he declaredpromptly. "Maybe we can get my camera back, even if those birds denyhaving seen it."

  The morning passed slowly, and Penny found it difficult to keep her mindon her work. Elda, however, no longer bothered her. With more importantproblems to worry about, Penny was not the least bit wounded by thelittle slurring remarks the girl made.

  At noon she lunched on a sandwich and chocolate at a corner drugstoreclose to the _Star_ building. With half an hour to spend, she suddenlywas struck by an idea.

  "Why don't I talk to Jason Cordell, the _Mirror_ editor, about Ben?" shethought. "Perhaps their difficulties are based on misunderstanding."

  Crossing the street to the _Mirror_ building, she found Mr. Cordell'soffice on the third floor. There, a secretary asked her to wait a fewminutes.

  Apparently an argument was in progress within the inner room, for sheheard angry voices. Then a door slammed. Presently, Penny was told thatshe might go in.

  Mr. Cordell sat at his desk, a scowl on his face. He was busy writing andbarely glanced up as she entered. Finally he looked straight at her,demanding: "Well?" in a tone which sapped Penny's courage.

  She wished she might retreat, but it now was too late.

  "I--I am Miss Parker," she stammered. "My father is publisher of the_Star_."

  "Oh, yes, yes indeed," the editor now became more friendly, and Pennytook heart.

  "I came to talk to you about one of your former employes--Ben Bartell."

  A mask-like expression came over Mr. Cordell's face. He waited for Pennyto continue.

  "You discharged Ben, I believe. He's had a very hard time ever since."

  "Indeed? Is he a friend of yours?"

  "In a way. I feel sorry for him and I want to find newspaper work forhim."

  "Then why doesn't your father give him a job on the _Star_?"

  Penny was prepared for the question. "I think my father would if he wereassured that Ben had done nothing so very dishonorable. That's why I cameto you. Why was he discharged?"

  "Unfortunately, I can't reply to that question. Nor can I assure you thatBen was discharged on a trivial offense. The opposite is true."

  "But what did he do?"

  Mr. Cordell arose. "I am sorry, I can't discuss it, Miss Parker. If youwill excuse me for saying so, I think the matter really is not yourconcern. My advice would be to leave Ben Bartell entirely alone. He sentyou here, I suppose?"

  "Indeed, he didn't."

  "Where is Ben now?"

  "Living in a shack on the waterfront. Because you blacklisted him, he hasbeen unable to get a newspaper job anywhere."

  Mr. Cordell's smile was hard and triumphant. Penny knew then that she hadmade a grave error in thinking she might appeal to the
man's sympathies.Obviously, he was highly pleased to learn of Ben's difficulties.

  "I am sorry I can't help you," the editor said coldly. "Do drop in againsometime."

  He opened the door for her, a pointed hint that she was to go.

  As she stepped out into the outer waiting room, a man who evidentlyexpected to see the editor, arose. He had entered the outer office only afew minutes before, and this was the first time that Penny had seen him.Upon recognizing him, she stopped short, for it was Webb.

  "You can go in now, Mr. Nelson," the secretary told Webb.

  Bestowing a sneering smile upon her, he entered the private office.

  Then the door closed.