Danger at the Drawbridge

  CHAPTER 8 _PARENTAL PROTEST_

  In a few minutes the office boy returned, followed by a distinguished,middle-aged man who carried a cane. Penny gave him an astonished glancefor she had expected to see Grant Atherwald. It had not occurred to herthat there might be two persons with the same surname.

  "Mr. Atherwald?" inquired her father, waving the visitor into a chair.

  "James Atherwald."

  The man spoke shortly and did not sit down. Instead he spread out a copyof the night edition of the _Star_ and pointed to the story which Pennyhad covered. She quaked inwardly, wondering what error of hers was to beexposed.

  "Do you see this?" Mr. Atherwald demanded.

  "What about it?" inquired the editor pleasantly.

  "You are holding my family up to ridicule by printing such a story! GrantAtherwald is my son!"

  "Is the story incorrect?"

  "Yes, you imply that my son deliberately jilted Sylvia Kippenberg!"

  "And actually he didn't?" Mr. Parker inquired evenly.

  "Certainly not. My son is a man of honor and had a very deep regard forSylvia. Under no circumstance would he have jilted her."

  "Still, the wedding did not take place."

  "That is true," Mr. Atherwald admitted.

  "Perhaps you can explain why it was postponed?"

  "I don't know what happened to Grant," Mr. Atherwald said reluctantly."He left our home in ample time for the ceremony, and I might add, was inexcellent spirits. I believe he must have been the victim of a stupid,practical joke."

  "Well, that suggests a new angle," Mr. Parker remarked thoughtfully. "Didyour son have friends who might be apt to play such a joke on him?"

  "No one of my acquaintance," Mr. Atherwald answered unwillingly. "Ofcourse, he had many young friends who were not in my circle."

  Penny had listened quietly to the conversation. She now arose and cameover to the desk. From her pocket she took the white gold wedding ring.

  "Mr. Atherwald," she said, "I wonder if you could identify this."

  The man studied the trinket for a moment.

  "It looks very much like a ring which Grant purchased for Sylvia," hedeclared. "Where did you get it?"

  "I found it lying on the ground at the Kippenberg estate," Penny repliedvaguely. She had no intention of divulging the exact locality where shehad picked up the ring.

  "You see," said Mr. Parker, "we have supporting facts in our possessionwhich were not published. All in all, I think the story was handleddiscreetly, with due regard for the feelings of those involved."

  "Then you refuse to retract the story?"

  "I should like to oblige you, Mr. Atherwald, but you realize such a storyas this is of great interest to our readers."

  "You care only for sensationalism!"

  "On the contrary, we try to avoid it," Mr. Parker corrected. "In thisparticular case, we deliberately played the story down. If it developsthat your son actually has disappeared--"

  "I tell you it was only a practical joke," Mr. Atherwald interrupted. "Nodoubt my son is at home by this time. The wedding has merely beenpostponed."

  "You are entitled to your opinion," said Mr. Parker. "And I sincerelyhope that you are right."

  "At least do not use that picture which your photographer took of Mrs.Kippenberg. I'll pay you for it."

  Mr. Parker smiled and shook his head.

  "I might have expected such an attitude!" Mr. Atherwald exclaimedangrily. "Good afternoon."

  He left the office, slamming the door behind him.

  "Well, you've lost another subscriber, Dad," said Penny flippantly.

  "He's not the first," returned her father.

  "I intended to give Mr. Atherwald the wedding ring, but he went off intoo big a hurry. Should I go after him?"

  "No, don't bother, Penny. You might take it around to the picture roomand have it photographed. We may use it as Exhibit A if the storydevelops into anything."

  "How about the alligator?" Penny asked. "Would you like to have me bringthat to the office, too?"

  "Move out of here and let me work," her father retorted.

  Penny went to the photographic department and made her requirementsknown.

  "I'll wait for the ring," she announced. "You don't catch me trusting youboys with any jewelry."

  While the picture was being taken Salt came by with several damp printsin his hand.

  "Take a look at this one, Penny," he said proudly. "Mrs. Kippenbergwielding a wicked plate. Will she burn up when she sees it on the picturepage?"

  "She will, indeed," agreed Penny. "Nice going."

  When the ring had been returned to her she slipped it into her pocket andleft the newspaper office. Her next stop was at a corner hamburger shopwhere she fortified herself with two large sandwiches.

  "That ought to hold me until the dinner bell rings," she thought. "Andnow to pay my honest debts."

  A trolley ride and a short walk brought Penny to the home of her chum,Louise Sidell. As she came within sight of the front porch she saw herfriend sitting on the steps, reading a movie magazine. Louise threw itaside and sprang to her feet.

  "Oh, Penny, I'm glad you came over. I telephoned your house and Mrs.Weems said you had gone away somewhere."

  "Official business for Dad," Penny laughed. She dropped two dollars intoLouise's hand. "Here's what I owe you. But don't go spend it because Imay need to borrow it back in a couple of days."

  "Is Leaping Lena running up huge garage bills again?" Louise inquiredsympathetically.

  Penny's second-hand car was a joke to everyone save herself. She was afamiliar figure at nearly every garage in Riverview, for the vehicle hada disconcerting way of breaking down.

  "I had to buy new spark plugs this time," sighed Penny. "But then, Ishould get along better from now on. Dad raised my allowance."

  "Doesn't that call for a celebration? Rini's have a special on today. Adouble chocolate sundae with pineapple and nuts, cherry and--"

  "Oh, no, you don't! I'm saving my dollar for the essentials of life. Imay need it for gasoline if I decide to drive over to Corbin again."

  "Again?" Louise asked alertly.

  "I was over there today, covering the Kippenberg wedding," Pennyexplained. "Only it turned out there was no ceremony. Grant Atherwaldjilted his bride, or was spirited away by persons unknown. He was lastseen near a lily pool in an isolated part of the estate. I picked up awedding ring lying on the ground close by. And then as a climax Mrs.Kippenberg hurled a plate at Salt."

  "Penny Parker, what are you saying?" Louise demanded. "It sounds like oneof those two-reel thrillers they show over at the Rialto."

  "Here is the evidence," Penny said, showing her the white gold ring.

  "It's amazing how you get into so much adventure," Louise repliedenviously as she studied the trinket. "Start at the beginning and tell meeverything."

  The invitation was very much to Penny's liking. Perching herself on thehighest porch step she recounted her visit to the Kippenberg estate,painting an especially romantic picture of the castle dwelling, the moat,and the drawbridge.

  "Oh, I'd love to visit the place," Louise declared. "You have all theluck."

  "I'll take you with me if I ever get to go again," promised Penny. "Well,I'll see you tomorrow."

  And with this careless farewell, she sprang to her feet, and hastened onhome.

  The next morning while Mrs. Weems was preparing breakfast, Penny ran downto the corner to buy the first edition of the _Star_. As she spread itopen a small headline accosted her eye.

  "NO TRACE OF MISSING BRIDEGROOM."

  Penny read swiftly, learning that Grant Atherwald had not been seen sincehis strange disappearance from the Kippenberg estate. Members of thefamily refused to discuss the affair and had made no report to thepolice.

  "This story is developing into something big after all," she thought withquickening pulse. "Now if Dad will only
let me work on it!"

  At home she gave the newspaper to her father, remarking rather pointedly:"You see, your expert reporters haven't learned very much more than Ibrought in yesterday. Why wouldn't it be a good idea to send me out thereagain today?"

  "Oh, I doubt if you could get into the estate, Penny."

  "Salt and I managed yesterday."

  "You did very well, but you weren't known then. It will be a differentmatter today since we antagonized the family by using the story. I'llsuggest that Jerry Livingston be assigned to it."

  "With Penny as first assistant?"

  Mr. Parker smiled and shook his head. "This isn't your type of story. Nowif you would like to cover a lecture at the Women's Club--"

  "Or a nice peppy meeting of the Ladies Sewing Circle," Penny finishedironically. "Thank you, no."

  "I am sure you wouldn't have a chance of getting into the estate," herfather said lamely. "We must have good coverage."

  "What does Jerry have that I haven't got?" Penny demanded in an aggrievedvoice.

  "Eight years of experience for one thing."

  "But I really should go out there," Penny insisted. "I ought to show MissKippenberg the ring I found."

  "The ring might provide an entry," Mr. Parker admitted thoughtfully."I'll tell you, why don't you telephone long distance?"

  "And if I'm able to make an appointment, may I help Jerry cover thestory?"

  "All right," agreed Mr. Parker. "If Sylvia Kippenberg talks with youwe'll be able to use anything she says."

  "I'm the same as on my way to the estate now, Dad."

  With a triumphant laugh, Penny left the breakfast table and hastened tothe telephone.

  "Long distance," she said into the transmitter. "The Kippenberg estate atCorbin, please."

  She hovered anxiously near the telephone while she waited for theconnection to be made. Ten minutes elapsed before the bell jingledseveral times. Eagerly, she jerked down the receiver. She could hear afaint, far-away voice saying, "hello."

  "May I speak with Sylvia Kippenberg?" Penny requested.

  "Who is this, please?"

  "Miss Parker at Riverview."

  "Miss Kippenberg is not at home," came the stiff response.

  "Then let me speak with Mrs. Kippenberg," Penny said quickly. "I havesomething very important to tell her. Yesterday when I was at the estateI found a ring--"

  The receiver had clicked at the other end of the line. The connection wasbroken.