Swamp Island

  CHAPTER 18 _WANTED--A GUIDE_

  Since the eventful trip to the swamp, several days now had elapsed, andfrom Penny's viewpoint, nothing of consequence had happened.

  Each day the _Riverview Star_ carried a story giving details of thepolice search for Danny Deevers, and on each succeeding morning theaccount became shorter, with less new information.

  Twice, it was rumored police were closing in on the escaped convict, andtwice the rumor proved false.

  At the request of Salt Sommers and Jerry Livingston, posses made severalsearches of the outer swamp area. However, no trace of the missing manwas found, and investigators quickly switched their activities elsewhere.

  Spurred by the _Star's_ reward offer, clues, anonymous and otherwise,came to both the newspaper and police officials. All proved worthless.

  "It begins to look as if Danny has pulled out of this territory," Mr.Parker remarked to Penny late one afternoon as she sat in his office atthe plant. "At least he's made no further attempt to carry out his threatagainst Jerry."

  "Maybe he's only lying low and waiting until the police search cools offa little."

  "Quite possible," the publisher agreed, frowning as he fingered apaperweight. "In that case, Jerry is in real danger. I'll never feelentirely easy in my mind until Deevers is behind bars again."

  "Speaking of me, Chief?" inquired a voice from the doorway.

  Jerry stood there, a long streamer of pasted copy paper in his hand. Hehad written a story of a political squabble at city hall, and needed Mr.Parker's approval before handing it over to the typesetters.

  The publisher quickly read the article, pencilled an "okay" at the top,and returned it to the reporter.

  "Good stuff, Jerry," he approved. "By the way, any news of DannyDeevers?"

  "Nothing new."

  "Jerry, I can't help feeling he's hiding either in the swamp or somewhereclose by," Penny interposed eagerly. "At least something queer is goingon out there."

  "That's what Salt thinks. We were out there last night."

  "In the swamp?" Penny asked, caught by surprise.

  "Not in it, but near the Hawkins' place."

  "What did you learn, Jerry?"

  "Frankly, nothing. You remember that swamp road where you and Salt sawthe truck?"

  "Yes, of course."

  "We watched there for quite awhile around midnight."

  "Did you see the truck stop there again?"

  "No, but we thought we saw a couple of men at the edge of theswamp--apparently waiting for someone. We tried to sneak up close, butI'm afraid we gave ourselves away. Anyway, they vanished back among thetrees."

  "Did you notice or hear anything else unusual, Jerry?"

  "Well, no. Not unless you'd call pounding on a dishpan out of theordinary."

  "A dishpan!" Penny exclaimed. "Who did it?"

  "We couldn't tell. Salt and I heard the sound soon after we had passedthe Hawkins' place on our way toward the swamp."

  "What sort of sound was it?"

  "Just a metallic tap-tap-tap. It may not have been on a dishpan."

  "Were the taps in code, Jerry?"

  "Couldn't have been a very complicated one for the pounding only lasted aminute or two. It was irregular though."

  "Then I'm sure it was a code!" Penny cried. "Louise and I heard the samesound when we were with Trapper Joe in the boat!"

  "Did the noise come from outside the swamp?"

  "Inside, I'd say."

  "Then we may not have heard the same thing. The pounding noise Salt and Inoticed, came from the direction of the Hawkins' farm. It may have had nosignificance."

  Before Jerry could say more, Editor DeWitt called him to the copy desk.Mr. Parker turned again to his daughter.

  "Penny, if I were you, I'd try to forget Danny Deevers," he advised."Whatever you do, don't go into the swamp again unless you're with Joe oranother guide. Better still, don't go at all."

  "Oh, Dad!"

  "No good can come of it. Do I have your promise, Penny?"

  "But I feel I should try to recover Louise's dog!"

  "We'll buy her a new pet."

  "It won't be Bones."

  "The chance that the dog ever will be found is slim," Mr. Parker said."In any case, he's not worth the risk of trying to find him. Yourpromise, Penny?"

  "That I won't go in without a guide?" she asked, seizing upon the lesserof two evils. "All right, I promise."

  The next day it rained, keeping Penny closely confined at home. However,the following morning gave promise of being sunny and pleasant.

  Arising early, she packed a lunch for herself, dressed in hiking clotheswith heavy boots, and was ready to leave the house by the time Mrs. Weemscame downstairs for breakfast.

  "Up so early, Penny?" she inquired.

  "Just going on a little trip. Don't expect me back very early."

  The housekeeper regarded her severely. "Penny Parker, you're not going tothe swamp again!"

  "Figured I might."

  "Does your father know you're going?"

  "We talked it over a day or so ago. He doesn't mind so long as I go withTrapper Joe or another guide."

  "In that case I suppose I can't object," Mrs. Weems sighed. "Mind, youdon't set foot in the swamp without someone along!"

  "I've already given my promise to Dad."

  "And do be careful," the housekeeper added. "I'll not feel easy untilyou're back."

  Though neither she nor Penny knew it then, the girl's absence from homewas to be a long one, and both were to have many uncomfortable momentsbefore her return.

  Reaching the swamp sometime later, Penny parked the car and walked toTrapper Joe's shack on the creek.

  The old guide was sitting on the sagging porch, his feet propped on therailing. Catching sight of Penny he frowned slightly, but as she came up,greeted her in a friendly way.

  "'Mawnin'," he said briefly. "What's on yer mind this time?"

  "Can't you guess?" Penny asked, sitting down on a step at his feet.

  "If yer wantin' me to take you into the swamp agin, yer only wastin' yerwords. I hain't got the time."

  "I'll pay you well."

  "It hain't the money."

  "Then why do you refuse to take me in?"

  "Tole ye, didn't I? I got work to do."

  Penny knew that Joe was only making excuses, for obviously, one day wasvery like another in his care-free life.

  "What work do you have this morning that can't wait, Joe?"

  "Well, fer one thing I gotta smoke out a swarm o' bees and git me a nicemess o' honey fer winter. Want to go with me?"

  "Into the swamp?"

  "No, this tree hain't in the swamp."

  "Then I don't want to go. Joe, I think you're stubborn! You know how muchthis trip means to me."

  "Reckon I do."

  "Then why not take me? Tell me your reason for refusing."

  Old Joe gazed steadily at Penny and for a moment seemed on the verge ofmaking interesting revelations. But to her disappointment, he shook hishead.

  "Jest don't wanter go, thet's all."

  "You learned something the other day when we were in the swamp!" Pennyaccused. "You're keeping it from me--probably to protect someone! Isn'tthat it?"

  "Hain't saying."

  "You know Danny Deevers is hidden somewhere in the swamp! You're helpingto protect him!"

  Old Joe's feet came down from the railing with a thump. "Now that hain'tso!" he denied. "I got no time fer the likes o' Danny Deevers. If Iknowed where he is, I'd give him up to the law."

  "Well, someone is hiding there! I heard Ezekiel Hawkins talking onLookout Point, didn't I? We found the dead campfire. Your gun was stolen,and later a mysterious person rescued me when I was treed by the boar."

  "Could have been one o' the Hawkins."

  "You don't honestly believe that, Joe."

  "No, reckon I don't," the guide sighed. "You sure kin sho
ot questions ata feller faster'n these new Army rockets I hear tell about. I'd like totell ye what ye want to know, but there's things best not talked about.Knowin' too much kin be dangerous."

  Penny scarcely could hide her annoyance, for several times now the guidehad made similar hints.

  "I don't trust the Hawkins' family at all," she announced. "If they'renot involved with Danny Deevers, they're up to something here in theswamp. Otherwise, why would they be so mean?"

  "The Hawkins' family always has been mean an' ornery."

  "Another thing--" Penny started to mention how she and Salt had seenlarge containers of some unknown product being removed from the swamp,but broke off as she decided to keep the information to herself.

  "Yeah?" inquired the guide.

  "Nothing," replied Penny. "If you won't take me into the swamp, is thereanyone else who will?"

  "Couldn't say fer sure," Joe replied, "but I reckon I'm the only guideherebouts fer maybe fifty miles."

  "Won't you reconsider?"

  "You put up a powe'ful strong argument, young'un, but I gotta say no feryer own good."

  "You've certainly ruined all my plans," Penny said crossly. "Well, sinceyou won't help me, I'll say goodbye."

  Back in the car once more, she could not bring herself to return home soearly in the morning. Debating a moment, she drove to the homestead ofthe Widow Jones.

  Dressed in a bright calico dress, the woman sat under a shade treeskillfully cutting up the meat of a turtle and dropping it into a pan ofcold water.

  As Penny walked across the weed-choked yard, she looked up in a startledway, but smiled as she recognized the girl.

  "I'm fixin' to have me a nice soup," she explained. "Ye cook the turtlewith diced carrots, potatoes, okra, and tomatoes and serve it piping hot.Ever et any?"

  "No, I never have," Penny replied, watching the preparations withinterest. "It sounds good."

  "Ye kin stay and have dinner with me," the woman invited. "I'll fix someflour biscuits and we'll have a right nice meal."

  "I'm afraid I'll have to get back home," Penny said regretfully. "My triphere today was a failure."

  Because the Widow Jones gave her an inquiring look of sympathy, sheexplained that Trapper Joe had refused to take her into the swamp. Shewent on to tell why the trip meant so much to her, and of her belief thata clever investigator who knew the area might find clues which would leadto the capture of Danny Deevers.

  "So Joe wouldn't take ye?" the Widow Jones inquired softly. "Why?"

  "He says it's dangerous."

  "And since when has Joe got so a-feared of his shadow?"

  "It did sound like an excuse to me. I think he knows what is going on inthe swamp, and wants no part of it."

  "Ye say it means a lot to ye to make the trip?"

  "Oh, yes, I'd do it in a minute, if I could find anyone who knows thechannels. But Joe says he's the only guide for fifty miles around."

  Mrs. Jones slapped the last piece of turtle meat into the water with asplash. She arose, gathering her long skirts about her.

  "Joe's maybe fergettin' that as a gal, my paw taught me every crook andturn of the swamp. Hain't been in there fer quite a spell now, but I gota hankerin' to go agin."

  Penny stared at her incredulously.

  "You mean you'll take me?" she demanded. "Today? Now?"

  "I've got a quilt I should be piecin' on this afternoon, but hit canwait. If you hain't afeared to place yerself in my hands, I'll take you."

  "I'll jump at the chance! But do you have a boat?"

  "We'll make Joe lend us his!" the widow said grimly. "And if he triessquirmin', well, I know how to handle him!"