Saboteurs on the River Page 8

  CHAPTER 8 _THE GREEN PARROT_

  Old Noah slapped his thigh and cackled with glee as he watched SheriffAnderson splash about in the muddy water.

  "That'll teach you!" he shouted jubilantly. "You meddlin' son of evil!Next time maybe you will know enough to mind your own business and leavemy ark alone!"

  Penny and Louise stood ready to toss the sheriff a rope, but he did notneed it. Clinging to the floating gangplank, the man awkwardly propelledhimself to shore. As he tried to climb up the steep bank, his bootsslipped and he fell flat on his face in the mud. Old Noah went off intoanother fit of laughter which fairly shook the ark at its mooring.

  "Laugh, you old coot!" the sheriff muttered, picking himself up. "I'vebeen mighty patient with you, but there's a limit. Tomorrow I'm comingback here with a detail of deputies. I'll run you and your ark out o'here if it's the last thing I do!"

  "Be off with you!" ordered Noah arrogantly. "Before _my_ patience isgone!"

  "Okay, Noah, you win this round," the sheriff muttered furiously. "I'mgoing, but I'll be back. And if this ark isn't cleaned up or out o' here,we'll put you away!"

  A sorry figure with his clothing wet and muddy, the official stompedangrily off into the woods.

  "I'm afraid you antagonized the wrong man that time, Noah," Pennyremarked as the footsteps died away. "What will you do when he returns?"

  "That time will never come," Old Noah replied, undisturbed. "Before theLord will allow the ark to be taken from me, he will smite my enemieswith lightning from the Heavens."

  Penny and Louise had their own opinion of what would happen to the arkand its animals, but wisely said nothing to further disturb the oldfellow. By this time the rain had entirely ceased and a ray of sunshinestraggled through the ragged clouds.

  "Well, guess this isn't to be the Great Flood after all," Penny remarked,studying the sky. "We're most grateful for the shelter of your ark, Noah.Now if we can just reach shore, we'll be on our way."

  "Aren't you staying for dinner?" the old man asked in disappointment."I'm fryin' up a nice catfish."

  "I'm afraid we can't remain today," Penny answered. "Another timeperhaps." Using a long, hooked pole, Old Noah retrieved the driftinggangplank and refastened it to the ark.

  "Farewell, my daughters," he said regretfully as he bade them goodbye."You and your friends always will be welcome to take refuge in my ark.The Great Flood is coming soon, but you are among the chosen."

  Feeling decidedly exhilarated by their meeting with such a strangecharacter, Louise and Penny followed the twisting stream to the mainriver channel. Water was rising rapidly along the banks and at manyplaces, bushes and tree branches dipped low in the swirling eddies.

  "You know, if these spring rains keep up, Noah may get his big floodafter all," Penny remarked. "Poor old fellow! He certainly sealed thefate of his ark when he pushed Sheriff Anderson into Bug Run."

  Turning homeward toward the Thompson Bridge, the girls soon approachedthe river bank where police had searched for the escaped saboteur.Curious to see the locality by daylight, they detoured slightly in orderto pass it.

  "This is the place," Penny said, indicating ground which had beentrampled by many feet. "At the rate the river rises, the shore here willbe under by tomorrow."

  "I suppose police learned everything they could last night."

  "Yes, they went over the area rather thoroughly," Penny nodded. "I knowthey took photographs and made measurements of the saboteur's footprints.Lucky they did, because the water has washed them all away."

  "You still can see where the automobile was parked," Louise declared,pointing to tire tracks in the soft earth. "Were any real clues found,Penny?"

  "Jerry told me police picked up a handkerchief bearing the initial 'O.'"

  "That could stand for Ottman!"

  "Likewise Oscar or Oliver or Oxenstiern," Penny added, frowning. "I'lladmit though, it doesn't look too bright for Sara's brother."

  Having satisfied their curiosity regarding the locality, the girlsstarted on toward the bridge. Before they had gone a dozen feet, Penny'seye was caught by an object lying half-buried in the mud. She picked itup gingerly and dangling it in front of Louise was amazed to discoverthat it was a man's leather billfold.

  "Anything inside?" inquired Louise with interest.

  Penny opened the flap and explored the various divisions of the moneycontainer. To her disappointment it held nothing save one small card uponwhich had been scribbled a few words.

  "'The Green Parrot--'" she read aloud. "'Tuesday at 9:15.' Now what doesthat mean?"

  Beneath the notation appeared another: "The American Protective Society."

  "I guess it doesn't mean much of anything," commented Louise, digging atthe mud which had collected on her shoes. "Probably an appointment card."

  "You don't suppose this billfold was dropped by the saboteur?" Pennyasked thoughtfully. "It's very near the place where he crawled out of theriver."

  "Wouldn't the police have picked it up if they had considered it of anyimportance?"

  "I doubt they ever saw it, Lou. The billfold was half buried in mud. I'dnever have seen it myself if I hadn't almost stepped on it."

  "Why not turn it over to the police?"

  "Guess I will," Penny decided, replacing the card in the billfold andwrapping them both in her handkerchief. "Did you ever hear of theAmerican Protective Society, Lou?"

  "Never did. Nor 'The Green Parrot' either--whatever that is."

  "I think The Green Parrot is a cafe or a night club with none too good areputation," Penny said thoughtfully. "I'm sure I've heard Dad say it's agambling place."

  Without further adventure, the girls resumed their trek and soon reacheda bus line. Upon arriving home, Penny's first act was to consult thetelephone directory. She could find neither The Green Parrot nor theAmerican Protective Society listed.

  "Mrs. Weems, did you ever hear of a place called The Green Parrot?" shequestioned the housekeeper.

  "Isn't that a restaurant the police closed down a few months ago?"replied Mrs. Weems. "Now why should you be bothering your head about TheGreen Parrot?"

  Penny showed her the billfold and explained where she had found it.

  "Dear me," sighed the housekeeper. "How you can get into so many affairsof this kind is a wonder to me. I'm sure it worries your father too."

  "Not Dad," laughed Penny. "Since I dug up that big story for him aboutthe old _Wishing Well_, he's been reconciled to my career of newsgathering."

  "Wishing wells and saboteurs are two entirely different matters," thehousekeeper returned firmly. "I do hope you turn this billfold over topolice and forget about suspicious characters."

  "I'm only worried about one," rejoined Penny. "It bothers me because Iinvolved Burt Ottman in such a mess. I'm not so sure he's guilty."

  "And again, the police probably know exactly what they are about,"replied Mrs. Weems. "Now please take that billfold to the authorities andlet them do the worrying."

  Thus urged, Penny carried the money container to the local policestation. Unable to talk to any of the detectives connected with thedynamiting case, she left the billfold with a desk sergeant. As sheturned to leave, after answering his many questions, she posed one of herown.

  "Oh, by the way, did you ever hear of a place called The Green Parrot?"

  "Sure," the sergeant responded. "It's a night club. Used to be located onGranger Street, but our boys made it too hot for 'em, so they moved toanother place."

  "Where is it now?"

  "Couldn't tell you," answered the sergeant. "You'll have to talk to oneof the detectives, Jim Adams or Bill Benson."

  Having no real excuse for seeking the information, Penny decided toabandon the quest. For want of an occupation, she sauntered on toward the_Star_ office. Pausing in front of the big plate glass window, she idlywatched a workman who was oiling one of the great rotary presses.

  "Oh, here you
are!" exclaimed a voice from behind her.

  Whirling around, Penny saw that her father had just come through therevolving doors at the main entrance to the building.

  "Hello, Dad," she greeted him eagerly. "What's new in the dynamitingcase?"

  "Nothing so far as I know," he replied, rather indifferently. "BurtOttman's been released on bail."

  "Mr. DeWitt put up the money?"

  "Yes, he did," Mr. Parker said, frowning. "I advised him against it, butDeWitt feels a duty to the boy. Were you looking for me, Penny?"

  "Well, not in particular."

  "I'm on my way to a bank meeting," Mr. Parker said, turning away. "Oh,yes, I arranged a job for that watchman complication of yours, CarlOaks."

  "You did? Oh, grand! What sort of work is it?"

  "Can't take time to tell you now," Mr. Parker said hurriedly, hailing apassing taxi cab. "If you want all the details, ask Jerry Livingston. Hetook care of the matter for me, and can give you the information."