The Wishing Well Read online

  CHAPTER 19 _PUBLICITY PLUS_

  Completely mystified by her father's remarks, Penny waited for him toexplain.

  "Don't you get it?" he asked, waving his hand toward the big signboard."The finding of those stones bearing Elizabethan and Indian writing wasperfectly timed! It's all a publicity stunt for the coming show!"

  "How could it be?" Penny questioned, scarcely able to accept her father'stheory. "I found one of the rocks myself. I know I wasn't hired by anyIndian show!"

  "It was pure luck that you stumbled into the stone, Penny. If you hadn't,someone hired by the Indian show would have brought it to light."

  "But where does Jay Franklin figure in, Dad? You don't think he'sconnected with the publicity scheme as you call it!"

  "Franklin wouldn't have sufficient imagination to pull off a stunt likethat," Mr. Parker declared. "No, he may actually believe in theauthenticity of the stones. At any rate, he saw an opportunity to make alittle money for himself and seized it."

  "Why should an Indian show go to the trouble of having stones carved andplanted in various fields? It doesn't make sense."

  "The resulting publicity should draw state-wide attention to the show,Penny. It's just the sort of idea which would appeal to a cleverpublicity agent. Every newspaper in Riverview except the _Star_ hasfallen for it, giving columns of space to the story."

  "I still don't see how the show will gain. Its name never has beenmentioned in connection with the finding of the stones."

  "Of course not, Penny. That would be too crude. But at the proper time,the publicity agent will twist all of the stories to his own purpose."

  "Dad," said Penny sadly, "in the past you have accused me of having wildideas. I think the score is even now."

  "I'll have that show traced," Mr. Parker declared, paying no heed to hisdaughter. "Since it is coming to Riverview next week it can't be far awaynow. I may find it worth while to call on the publicity agent and have alittle chat with him."

  Penny was gazing at the billboard again, reading the dates.

  "Dad, the show will play here during Pilgrimage Week," she declared."What a shame! It's certain to take away customers from a much moreworthwhile event."

  "There may not be an Indian show," responded Mr. Parker grimly. "Not whenI get through with the outfit!"

  Immediately upon arriving at home, the publisher called the newspaperoffice, delegating City Editor DeWitt to obtain complete informationabout the Indian Show and to report to him. All evening he talked of histheory until both Penny and Mrs. Weems confessed that they were a bitweary of redskins.

  "I shall write an editorial for tomorrow's _Star_," Mr. Parker announced."Even if I haven't absolute facts, I'll drop a few broad hints aboutthose fake stones!"

  The editorial, cleverly worded but with very definite implications, wascomposed that night, and telephoned to the newspaper office. Penny hadthe pleasure of reading it at breakfast the next morning.

  "You certainly did yourself proud, Dad," she praised. "However, I imaginethe museum people aren't going to be too pleased. Nor certain other folksin this town."

  "Let me take a look at it," Mr. Parker requested, reaching for the paper.

  As Penny offered it to him, the doorbell rang. Mrs. Weems was busy in thekitchen so the girl arose and went to answer it. Jay Franklin stood onthe porch.

  "Good morning," he said in a hard voice. "Is your father here?"

  "Yes, he is eating breakfast," Penny responded. "Won't you come in,please?"

  Mr. Franklin walked ahead of her into the living room.

  "Good morning, Jay," called the editor, who was able to see the callerfrom his chair at the breakfast table. "Will you have a cup of coffeewith us?"

  Ignoring the invitation, Mr. Franklin entered the dinette, blocking thedoorway. From his pocket he took a copy of the morning _Star_.

  "Parker," he said curtly, "I've just read your editorial and I demand anexplanation! Do you realize what you've done?"

  "Written a pretty fair stickful--or so my daughter tells me," Mr. Parkersmiled undisturbed.

  "You've deliberately tried to smear me," the real estate man accused.

  "I don't recall that your name was mentioned in the editorial."

  "No, but you know I expect to sell those two stones to the museum. Thiseditorial of yours may queer the sale!"

  "Then it will have fulfilled its purpose. The stones are fakes. If youaren't aware of it, I suggest that you acquaint yourself with the truefacts."

  "Those stones bear genuine Elizabethan writing. There's no connectionwith any cheap Indian show, and I defy you to prove it!"

  "Consider your challenge accepted," replied Mr. Parker evenly. "I expectto publish the true facts very shortly in the _Star_."

  "If you prevent me from making a sale to the museum, I'll sue you!" JayFranklin threatened. "That's all I have to say. Good morning!"

  In his anger he turned so quickly that he ran into Penny who stooddirectly behind him. Without bothering to apologize, he brushed past her,out the front door.

  "What a dreadful man!" remarked Mrs. Weems who had heard the conversationfrom the kitchen.

  "I rather expected him to call, although not so early in the morning,"the publisher remarked, reaching for a slice of toast. "His attitudedoesn't bother me in the least."

  "He may actually sue you if you don't make good on producing facts,"Penny commented. "How are you going to do it?"

  "DeWitt informs me that the Indian Show is playing at Bryan this week.I'll drive over there today and see what I can learn."

  Bryan was a small city located sixty-nine miles from Riverview. AlthoughPenny ordinarily would have spent the day in school, she immediatelydecided that her father would need her assistance. Accordingly, shebegged so hard to accompany him that he finally gave his consent.

  Early afternoon saw Mr. Parker and his daughter at the outskirts of Bryanwhere two large blue and red show tents had been set up. A band played,and townspeople were pouring past the ticket-taker, an Indian who worethe headdress of a chieftain.

  "It looks rather interesting," Penny remarked wistfully.

  Mr. Parker stripped a bill from his wallet and gave it to her.

  "Go buy yourself a ticket," he said, smiling. "I'll meet you here by theentrance in an hour."

  "Don't you want to see the show, Dad?"

  "I've outgrown such foolishness," he rejoined. "I'll find the publicityagent and have my little talk with him."

  The enticing sound of tom-toms and Indian war whoops caused Penny toforget her desire to meet the show's publicity man. Saying goodbye to herfather, she bought a ticket and hastened into the big top. For an hourshe sat through a very mediocre performance, consisting in the main partof cowboy and Indian horseback riding. The concluding event, a tableau,depicted an attack by redskins upon an early English colony settlement.It was all very boring, and Penny left in the middle of the performance.

  Mr. Parker was not waiting at the entrance way. Loitering about for atime, she inquired of a workman and learned that her father was in one ofthe small tents close by. The flap had been rolled back, permitting herto see a sharp-faced man of thirty who sat at a desk piled with papers.

  "Is that the show's publicity agent?" she asked the workman.

  "Yep, Bill McJavins," he answered. "He's sure put new life into thisoutfit. We've been packin' them in ever since he took over."

  Within a few minutes Mr. Parker joined Penny and from the expression ofhis face, she immediately guessed that his interview had not been verysuccessful.

  "I take it that Bill McJavins didn't break down and confess all?" sheinquired lightly.

  "He denied any connection with those stones found in Riverview," Mr.Parker replied. "But in the next breath he admitted he knew all aboutthem and intends to capitalize on the story."

  "Just how will it help the show?"

  "From what McJavins told me, I gather the progr
am includes an historicalpageant."

  "That would be a flattering name for it."

  "In the pageant, Indians attack a white settlement. A beautiful maidenescapes, and chisels on a stone tablet an account of the massacre--thenshe, too, succumbs to the tomahawk."

  "You seem to know more about the show than I," Penny laughed. "Anyway,I'm glad to learn how it came out!"

  "It's my guess that McJavins hopes to profit by a tie-up between thestone writing of the pageant and the finding of similar rocks nearRiverview. It's a cheap trick, and the hoax would have been exposed along time ago if museum authorities were awake!"

  Neither discouraged nor too much elated by the results of the trip, Mr.Parker and Penny returned to Riverview. It was exactly noon when theyreached the newspaper office.

  "I trust you plan to attend school this afternoon," the editor remindedhis daughter. "By lunching downtown you'll have plenty of time to getthere."

  Loitering about the newsroom as long as she dared, Penny crossed thestreet to have a sandwich at a quick-lunch cafe. As she reached therestaurant she observed a familiar figure coming toward her.

  "Rhoda Wiegand!" she exclaimed. "Aren't you going in the wrongdirection?"

  "I'm cutting classes for the afternoon," the trailer camp girl replied,pausing. "Mr. Coaten expects me to meet him at the Fischer Building. Canyou tell me where it is?"

  "Three blocks straight down the street," Penny directed. She hesitatedand then said: "Rhoda, it's none of my affair, but I do hope you're notagreeing to Mr. Coaten's proposal."

  "The adoption? Yes, I am, Penny. I've tried to hold out against them all,but I can't do it. Ted signed the papers two days ago. Since then I'vehad no peace. Ted keeps after me, the Breens want me to do it, and Mr.Coaten says I am selfish."

  "We both know Mr. Coaten intends to profit in some way at your expense."

  "I do feel that way about it. If only I dared stand firm--"

  "You must," Penny said earnestly. Deliberately taking Rhoda's arm sheturned her about. "You're to break that appointment and have luncheonwith me. I'll assume all the responsibility."