Clue of the Silken Ladder Read online

  CHAPTER 1 _DOUBLE TROUBLE_

  "Now I ask you, Lou, what have I done to deserve such a fate?"

  Jerking a yellow card from beneath the windshield of the shiny newmaroon-colored sedan, Penny Parker turned flashing blue eyes upon hercompanion, Louise Sidell.

  "Well, Penny," responded her chum dryly, "in Riverview persons who parktheir cars beside fire hydrants usually expect to get parking tickets."

  "But we were only inside the drugstore five minutes. Wouldn't you think apoliceman could find something else to do?"

  "Oh, the ticket won't cost you more than five or ten dollars," teasedLouise wickedly. "Your father should pay it."

  "He should but he won't," Penny answered gloomily. "Dad expects his oneand only daughter to assume her own car expense. I ask you, what's thegood of having a weekly allowance when you never get to use it yourself?"

  "You _are_ in a mood today. Why, I think you're lucky to have a grand newcar."

  Louise's glance caressed the highly polished chrome plate, the sleek,streamlined body which shone in the sunlight. The automobile had beenpresented to Penny by her father, Anthony Parker, largely in gratitudebecause she had saved his newspaper, _The Riverview Star_, from adisastrous law suit.

  "Yes, I am lucky," Penny agreed without enthusiasm. "All the same, I'mlonesome for my old coupe, Leaping Lena. I wish I could have kept her.She was traded in on this model."

  "What would you do with that old wreck now, Penny? Nearly every time wewent around a corner it broke down."

  "All the same, we had marvelous times with her. This car takes twice asmuch gasoline. Another thing, all the policemen knew Lena. They nevergave her a ticket for anything."

  Penny sighed deeply. Pocketing the yellow card, she squeezed behind thesteering wheel.

  "By the way, whatever became of Lena?" Louise asked curiously, slammingthe car door. She glanced sharply at Penny.

  "Oh, she's changed hands twice. Now she's at Jake Harriman's lot,advertised for fifty dollars. Want to drive past there?"

  "Not particularly. But I'll do it for your sake, pet."

  As the car started toward the Harriman Car Lot, Louise stole an amusedglance at her chum. Penny was not unattractive, even when submerged ingloom. Upon the slightest provocation, her blue eyes sparkled; her smilewhen she chose to turn it on, would melt a man of stone. She dressedcarelessly, brushed a mop of curly, golden hair only if it suited herfancy, yet somehow achieved an appearance envied by her friends.

  The automobile drew up at the curb.

  "There's Lena." Penny pointed to an ancient blue coupe with batteredfenders which stood on the crowded second-hand lot. A _For Sale_ sign onthe windshield informed the public that the auto might be bought forforty dollars.

  "Lena's value seems to have dropped ten dollars," commented Louise. "My,I had forgotten how wrecky the old thing looks!"

  "Don't speak of her so disrespectfully, Lou. All she needs is a goodwaxing and a little paint."

  The girls crossed the lot to inspect the coupe. As they were gazing atit, Jake, the lot owner, sidled toward them, beaming ingratiatingly.

  "Good afternoon, young ladies. May I interest you in a car?"

  "No, thank you," replied Penny. "We're just looking."

  "Now here is a fine car," went on the dealer, indicating the coupe. "A1934 model--good mechanical condition; nice rubber; a lively battery andfair paint. You can't go wrong, ladies, not at a price of forty dollars."

  "But will it run?" asked Louise, smothering a giggle.

  "There's thousands of miles of good service left in this little car,ladies. And the price is only fifteen dollars above the junk value."

  The thought of Leaping Lena coming to an inglorious end in a junk yardwas disconcerting to Penny. She walked slowly about the car, inspectingit from every angle.

  "Forty dollars is too much for this old wreck," she said firmly.

  "Why, Penny, such disrespect!" mocked Louise.

  Penny frowned down her chum. Sentiment and business were two differentmatters.

  "What _will_ you give?" inquired the car owner alertly.

  "Not a cent over twenty-five."

  Louise clutched Penny's arm, trying to pull her away.

  "Have you lost your mind?" she demanded. "What could you do with this oldcar when you already have a new one?"

  Penny did not listen. She kept gazing at the coupe as one who had beenhypnotized.

  "I'd take it in a minute, only I don't have twenty-five dollars in cash."

  "How much can you raise?" asked the dealer.

  "Not more than five dollars, I'm afraid. But my father is publisher ofthe _Riverview Star_."

  Jake Harriman's brows unknitted as if by magic.

  "Anthony Parker's daughter," he said, smiling. "That's plenty good enoughfor me. I'll sell you the best car on the lot for nothing down. Just comeinside the office and sign a note for the amount. Will that be okay?"

  Disregarding Louise's whispered protests, Penny assured the dealer thatthe arrangement would be perfectly satisfactory. The note was signed, andfive dollars in cash given to bind the bargain.

  "I'll throw in a few gallons of gas," the man offered.

  However, Jake Harriman's gasoline did not seem suited to Leaping Lena'sdyspeptic ignition. She coughed feebly once or twice and then died forthe day.

  "You have acquired a bargain, I must say!" exclaimed Louise. "You can'teven get the car home."

  "Yes, I can," Penny insisted. "I'll tow her. A little tinkering andshe'll be as good as new."

  "You're optimistic, to say the least," laughed Louise.

  Penny produced a steel cable from the tool kit of the maroon sedan, andJake Harriman coupled the two cars together.

  "Penny, what will your father say when he learns of this?" Louiseinquired dubiously. "On top of a parking ticket, too!"

  "Oh, I'll meet that problem when I come to it," Penny answeredcarelessly. "Louise, you steer Lena. I'll drive the sedan."

  Shaking her head sadly, Louise climbed into the old car. Although Pennywas her dearest friend she was forced to admit that the girl often didbewildering things. Penny's mother was dead and for many years she hadbeen raised by a housekeeper, Mrs. Maud Weems. Secretly Louise wonderedif it were not the housekeeper who had been trained. At any rate, Pennyenjoyed unusual freedom for a high school girl, and her philosophy oflife was summed up in one headline: ACTION.

  Penny put the sedan in gear, towing the coupe slowly down the street. Thetwo vehicles traveled several blocks before a hill loomed ahead. Pennyconsidered turning back, and then decided that the cars could make thesteep climb easily.

  However, midway up the hill the sedan suddenly leaped forward as ifreleased from a heavy burden. At the same instant Lena's horn gave asharp warning blast.

  Glancing into the mirror, Penny was horrified to see Leaping Lenacareening backwards down the steep slope. The tow rope had unfastened.

  Bringing the sedan to the curb, she jerked on the hand brake, and sprangto the pavement. Louise, bewildered and frightened, was tryingdesperately to control the coupe. The car gathered speed, wobblingcrazily toward the line of traffic.

  "Guide it! Guide it!" shouted Penny. "Put on the brakes!"

  So confused was Louise that she lost her head completely. Straight towarda long black limousine rolled the coupe. The chauffeur spun his wheel,but too late. There was a loud crash as the two cars came together.

  Penny raced down the hill to help her chum from the coupe.

  "Are you hurt?" she asked anxiously.

  Louise shook her head, wailing: "Penny Parker, just see what has happenednow! You never should have bought this stupid old wreck!"

  Both the chauffeur and an elderly gentleman who carried a cane, alightedfrom the limousine. With grim faces they surveyed the fender which hadbeen crushed.

  "The owner is Mr. Kohl," Louise whispered nervously. "You know, presidentof the First Nati
onal Bank."

  The banker did not recognize either of the girls. Addressing them both,he made several pointed remarks to the effect that irresponsible youngpeople were very thoughtless to endanger the property of others withtheir ancient "jalopies."

  "It was entirely my fault, Mr. Kohl," acknowledged Penny meekly. "Ofcourse, I'll pay for the fender."

  The banker softened somewhat, gazing at the girls in a thoughtful, morefriendly way.

  "Haven't I seen you somewhere before?" he asked.

  "Oh, yes, Mr. Kohl." Penny was quick to press for an advantage. "Why, Iam one of your best customers. Ever since I was six years old I'vetrusted your bank with my savings!"

  "I remember you now," said Mr. Kohl, smiling. "You're the Parker girl."

  Adding a mental note that Anthony Parker actually was one of the bank'slargest depositors, he decided it would be excellent policy to make lightof the accident. A moment later as a policeman came to investigate, heinsisted that the incident had been unavoidable and that it would be amistake to arrest the girls.

  "Mr. Kohl, you were noble, absolutely noble," declared Penny gratefullyafter the policeman had gone. "The least I can do is to pay for thedamage."

  "I'll stop at Sherman's Garage and have a new fender put on," the bankerresponded. "The bill can be sent to your father."

  After Mr. Kohl had driven away, Louise helped Penny hook the coupe to thesedan once more. She remarked cuttingly:

  "You've done right well today. One parking ticket, a bill for twenty-fivedollars, and another one coming up. Just what _will_ your father say?"

  "Plenty," sighed Penny. "I wonder if it might not be a good idea to breakthe news by easy stages? Perhaps he'll take it more calmly if Itelephone."

  "Don't be too sure."

  The street was a narrow, dingy one with few business houses. Noticing aJapanese store which bore a sign, "Kano's Curio Shop," she started towardit, intending to seek a public telephone.

  Louise seized her arm. "Penny, you're not going in there!"

  "Why not?"

  "This is Dorr Street--one of the worst places in Riverview."

  "Oh, don't be silly," chuckled Penny. "It's perfectly safe by daylight.I'll go alone if you're afraid."

  Thus challenged, Louise indignantly denied that she was afraid, andaccompanied her chum.

  The door of Mr. Kano's shop stood invitingly open. Pausing on thethreshold, the girls caught a pleasant aroma of sandalwood.

  So quietly did Louise and Penny enter that the elderly, white-haired shopowner did not immediately see them. He sat behind a high counter,engrossed in something he was sewing.

  "Good afternoon," said Penny pleasantly.

  The Japanese glanced up quickly and as quickly thrust his work beneaththe counter. Recovering poise, he bowed to the girls.

  "May we use your telephone if you have one?" Penny requested.

  "So very sorry, Miss," the Japanese responded, bowing again. "Have notelephone."

  Penny nodded, absently fingering a tray of tiny ivory figures. TheJapanese watched her, and mistaking curiosity for buying interest,brought additional pieces for her to inspect. The curios were all tooexpensive for Penny's purse, but after endless debate she bought a pairof wooden clogs. The shop owner padded away into a back room, intendingto wrap the package for her.

  Scarcely had he vanished when Penny turned excitedly to her chum.

  "Lou, did you notice how funny he acted when we came in here?"

  "Yes, he didn't want us to see what he was making evidently."

  "Exactly what I thought! But we'll fool Mr. Kano!"

  Giving Louise no opportunity to protest, Penny boldly peered behind thecounter.

  "Here it is," she whispered. "But _what_ is it?"

  Hidden in a pasteboard box lay coil upon coil of what appeared to befine, black silk rope. Curiously, she lifted it up, exposing a network ofcrossbars.

  "Well, of all things!" she exclaimed. "It's a ladder, Lou! A ladder madeof silk!"