Clue of the Silken Ladder

  CHAPTER 2 _A ROPE OF SILK_

  Even as Penny spoke, she felt a hard, warning tug on her skirt. Quicklyshe turned around.

  In the doorway stood the old Japanese. His smile was not pleasant tobehold.

  "We-we were just looking at this rope," Penny stammered, trying to carryoff the situation with dignity. "I hope you don't mind."

  The Japanese shopkeeper gazed steadily at the girl, his face anemotionless mask. Since he spoke no word, it became increasingly evidentthat he regarded her with anger and suspicion.

  "May I ask what use is made of this silk rope?" Penny inquired. "Do yousell it for a special purpose?"

  The Japanese coldly ignored the direct questions.

  "So very sorry to have kept you waiting," he said softly. "Your changeplease."

  Penny knew that she deserved the rebuke. Accepting the package and coins,she and Louise hastily left the shop. Not until they were some distanceaway did the latter speak.

  "Penny, you would do a trick like that! One of these days your curiositywill get us into serious trouble."

  "At least I learned what was hidden behind the counter," chuckled Penny."But that Jap didn't seem very eager to answer my questions."

  "Can you blame him? It certainly was none of our affair what he keptinside the box."

  "Perhaps not, Lou, but you must admit he acted strangely when we firstentered the shop. You know--as if we had surprised him in a questionableact."

  "He naturally was startled. We came in so quietly."

  "All the same, I'm not one bit sorry I looked behind the counter," Pennymaintained. "I like to learn about things."

  "I agree with you there!"

  "Lou, what purpose do you suppose silk ladders serve? Who uses them andwhy?"

  "Now, how should I know? Penny, you ask enough questions to be master ofceremonies on a radio quiz program."

  "I can't recall ever having seen a silk ladder before," Penny resumed,undisturbed by her chum's quip. "Would acrobats use them, do you think?"

  "Not to my knowledge," Louise answered. "If I were in your shoes I shouldworry about more serious matters than those connected with a mere silkladder."

  "The world is filled with serious things," sighed Penny. "But mystery!One doesn't run into it every day."

  "You do," said Louise brutally. "If a stranger twitches his ears twiceyou immediately suspect him of villainy."

  "Nevertheless, being of a suspicious nature won me a new car," Pennydefended herself. "Don't forget Dad gave it to me for solving a mystery,for telling his newspaper readers what was going on _Behind the GreenDoor_."

  "Oh, your curiosity has paid dividends," Louise admitted with a laugh."Take for instance the time you trailed the _Vanishing Houseboat_, andagain when you lowered the Kippenberg drawbridge to capture a boatload ofcrooks! Those were the days!"

  "Why dwell in the past, Lou? Now take this affair of the silk ladder--"

  "I'm afraid _you'll_ have to take it," Louise interrupted. "Do yourealize it's nearly four o'clock? In exactly ten minutes I am supposed tobe at the auditorium for orchestra practice."

  "Lou, you can't desert me now," Penny protested quickly. "How will I getLena home? I need you to steer her."

  "Thanks, but I don't trust your tow rope."

  "At least go as far as the _Star_ office with me. Once there, maybe I canget one of the reporters to help me the rest of the way."

  "Oh, all right," Louise consented. "But the _Star_ office is my absolutelimit."

  Deciding not to take time to telephone her father, Penny once moreclimbed into the maroon sedan, posting Louise behind the wheel of thecoupe. At a cautious speed the two cars proceeded along the street,coming presently to a large corner building which housed the _RiverviewStar_. No parking space being available on the street, Penny pulled intothe newspaper plant's loading dock.

  "Say, you!" shouted a man who was tossing stacks of freshly inked papersinto a truck. "You can't park that caravan in here!"

  Penny's eyes danced mischievously.

  "Oh, it's quite all right," she said. "I guess you don't know who I am."

  "Sure, I do," the trucker grinned. "But your dad gave orders that thenext time you tried to pull that daughter-of-the-publisher stuff we wereto bounce you! This dock is for _Star_ trucks."

  "Why, the very idea," said Penny, with pretended injury. "The nightedition doesn't roll for an hour and I'll be away from here before then!Besides, this is a great emergency! When Dad hears about all the troubleI'm in, a little matter such as this won't even ruffle him."

  "Okay, chase along," the trucker returned good-naturedly. "But see to itthat you're out of here within an hour."

  Penny bade Louise good-bye, and with plaid skirt swinging jauntily,crossed the cement runway to the rear elevator entrance. Without waitingfor the cage to descend, she took the steps two at a time, arriving atthe editorial floor gasping for breath.

  "What's your rush?" inquired an amused voice. "Going to a fire?"

  Jerry Livingston, ace reporter for the _Star_, leaned indolently againstthe grillwork of the elevator shaft, his finger pressed on the signalbutton. He and Penny were friends of long standing.

  "Oh, hello, Jerry!" Penny greeted him breathlessly. "Guess what? I'vejust come from Dorr Street--Kano's Curio Shop--and I had the most amazingadventure!"

  "I can imagine," grinned Jerry. "If you breezed through the place the wayyou do this building, you must have left it in ruins."

  "Just for that, I won't tell you a thing, not a thing," retorted Penny."What sort of a mood is Dad in today?"

  "Well, I heard him tell DeWitt that unless the news output improves onthis sheet, he aims to fire half the force."

  "Sounds like Dad on one of his bad days," Penny sighed. "Maybe I shouldskip home without seeing him."

  "Trouble with the old allowance again?" Jerry asked sympathetically.

  "You don't know the half of it. I'm submerged so deeply in debt that I'llbe an old lady before I get out, unless Dad comes to my rescue."

  "Well, good luck," chuckled Jerry. "You'll need it!"

  Walking through the newsroom, between aisles of desks where busyreporters tapped on their typewriters, Penny paused before a door marked:_Anthony Parker, Editor_.

  Listening a moment and hearing no voices within, she knocked and entered.Her father, a lean, dignified man with tired lines about his eyes andmouth, sat working at his desk. He smiled as he saw his daughter, andwaved her toward a chair.

  Instead, Penny perched herself on a corner of the desk.

  "Dad, I have a splendid surprise for you," she began brightly. "I've justaccomplished a wonderful stroke of business!"

  "Never mind beating about the bush," interrupted Mr. Parker. "Shoot methe facts straight. What have you done this time?"

  "Dad, your tone! I've bought back my old car, Leaping Lena. And it onlycost me a trifling sum."

  Mr. Parker's chair squeaked as he whirled around.

  "You've done _what_?"

  "It's a long story, Dad. Now don't think that I fail to appreciate thegrand new car you gave me last winter. I love it. But between Lena and methere exists a deep bond of affection. Today when I saw her on JakeHarriman's lot looking so weather-beaten and unhappy--why, a little voiceinside me whispered: 'Penny, why don't you buy her back?' So I did."

  "Never mind the sentimental touches. When I gave you the new car Ithought we were well rid of Lena. How much did you pay for it?"

  "Oh, Lena was a marvelous bargain. Five dollars cash and a note fortwenty more. The man said you could pay for it at your convenience."

  "Very considerate of him," Mr. Parker remarked ironically. "Now that wehave three cars, and a double garage, where do you propose to keep Lena?"

  "Oh, anywhere. In the back yard."

  "Not on the lawn, young lady. And what do you plan to do with two cars?"

  "The maroon one for style, and Lena when I want a good ti
me. Why, Dad,she bears the autographs of nearly all my school friends! I should keepher as a souvenir, if for no other reason."

  "Penny, it's high time you learned a few lessons in finance." Mr. Parkerspoke sternly although his mouth twitched slightly. "I regret that Icannot assume your debts."

  "But Dad! I'm a minor--under legal age. Isn't it a law that a father hasto support his child?"

  "A child, but not two cars. If you decide to take the case to court, Ithink any reasonable judge will understand my viewpoint. I repeat, thedebt is yours, not mine."

  "How will I pay?" asked Penny gloomily. "I've already borrowed on myallowance for a month ahead."

  "I know," said her father. "However, with your ingenuity I am sure youcan manage."

  Penny drew a deep breath. Argument, she realized, would be utterlyuseless. While her father might be mildly amused by her predicament, henever would change his decision.

  "Since you won't pay for Lena, I suppose it's useless to mention Mr.Kohl's fender," she said despairingly.

  "Does he have one?"

  "Please don't try to be funny, Dad. This is tragic. While I was towingLena, the rope broke and smash went the fender of Mr. Kohl's slinky blacklimousine."

  "Interesting."

  "I had to promise to pay for it to keep from being arrested. Oh, yes, andbefore that I acquired this little thing."

  Penny tossed the yellow card across the desk.

  "A parking ticket! Penny, how many times--" Mr. Parker checked himself,finishing in a calm voice: "This, too, is your debt. It may cost you fivedollars."

  "Dad, you know I can't pay. Think how your reputation will be tarnishedif I am sent to jail."

  Mr. Parker smiled and reached as if to take money from his pocket.Reconsidering, he shook his head.

  "I know the warden well," he said. "I'll arrange for you to be assignedto one of the better cells."

  "Is there nothing which will move you to generosity?" pleaded Penny.

  "Nothing."

  Retrieving the parking ticket, Penny jammed it into her pocket. Beforeshe could leave there came a rap on the door. In response to Mr. Parker's"Come in," Mr. DeWitt, the city editor, entered.

  "Sorry to bother you, Chief."

  "What's wrong now, DeWitt?" the publisher inquired.

  "Miss Hilderman was taken sick a few minutes ago. We had to send her homein a cab."

  "It's nothing serious I hope," said Mr. Parker with concern.

  "A mild heart attack. She'll be out a week, if not longer."

  "I see. Be sure to have the treasurer give her full pay. You have someoneto take her place?"

  "That's the problem," moaned DeWitt. "Her assistant is on vacation. Idon't know where we can get a trained society editor on short notice."

  "Well, do the best you can."

  DeWitt lingered, fingering a paper weight.

  "The society page for the Sunday paper is only half finished," heexplained. "Deadline's in less than an hour. Not a chance we can pick upanyone in time to meet it."

  Penny spoke unexpectedly. "Mr. DeWitt, perhaps I can help you. I'm a whizwhen it comes to writing society. Remember the Kippenberg wedding Icovered?"

  "Do I?" DeWitt's face relaxed into a broad grin. "That was a realwrite-up. Say, maybe you could take over Miss Hilderman's job until wecan replace her."

  "Service is my motto." Penny eyed her father questioningly. "It mightsave the _Star_ from going to press minus a society page. How about it,Dad?"

  "It certainly would solve our problem," contributed DeWitt. "Of coursethe undertaking might be too great a one for your daughter." He winked atPenny.

  "She'll have no difficulty in taking over," said Mr. Parker stiffly."None whatsoever."

  "Then I'll start her in at once," DeWitt replied. "Come with me, MissParker."

  At the door Penny paused and discreetly allowed the city editor to getbeyond hearing. Then, turning to her father she remarked innocently:

  "Oh, by the way, we overlooked one trifling detail. The salary!"

  The editor made a grimace. "I might have expected this. Very well, I'llpay you the same as I do Miss Hilderman. Twenty-five a week."

  "Why, that would just take care of my debt to Jake Harriman," protestedPenny. "I simply can't do high pressure work without high pay. Shall wemake it fifty a week?"

  "So you're holding me up?"

  "Certainly not," chuckled Penny. "Merely using my ingenuity. Am I hired?"

  "Yes, you win," answered Mr. Parker grimly. "But see to it that you turnout good work. Otherwise, you soon may find yourself on the _Star's_inactive list."