Saboteurs on the River Part 18

"Oh, we didn't go alone," Penny explained hastily as she saw disapproval written on her father's face. "We telephoned Jerry and had him accompany us."

"How did you learn the location of the place?"

"We heard a man give the address to a taxi driver, and followed in another cab. Dad, we saw Burt Ottman there!"

"Interesting, but it hardly proves that he is a saboteur."

"He arrived at exactly nine-fifteen," Penny resumed excitedly. "After talking with that man we followed, they both left the dining room, though not together. We saw Burt go downstairs and knock on a door which had a peephole."

"Did he enter?"

"I don't know," Penny admitted. "Louise and I weren't able to see. Just as things were getting interesting the head waiter came and politely escorted us out of the building."

"Why didn't Jerry bring you home?"

"That's what I'm getting at, Dad. Jerry just disappeared."

"What do you mean, Penny?"

Together the girls told him exactly what had happened at The Green Parrot. Mr. Parker promptly agreed that it would not be like Jerry to leave the cafe without an explanation.

"Something has happened to him!" Penny insisted soberly. "Dad, why don't you call the police right away? It wouldn't surprise me one bit if The Green Parrot is a meeting place for saboteurs! There's no telling what they may have done to Jerry!"

By this time Mr. Parker had begun to share the alarm of the girls.

Getting abruptly to his feet, he started toward the telephone. Before he could take down the receiver, the bell jingled. Answering the incoming call, a peculiar expression came over the newspaper owner's face. After talking for a moment, he hung up the receiver and turned toward Penny.

"That was Jerry," he announced dryly.

"Jerry!" Penny became confused. "But I don't understand, Dad. Is he being held at The Green Parrot?"

"Jerry is at home. He called to ask if you and Louise arrived safely."

"Well, of all the nerve!" Penny cried indignantly. "Just wait until I see him again!"

"Not so fast," advised her father. "There seems to have been a little mix-up. After Jerry left the dining room to telephone, the head waiter told him that you girls had decided not to wait."

"And he told us that Jerry had gone!" Louise cried. "I wonder why?"

"Because he wanted to get rid of our entire party!" Penny declared. "All the time we were in the cafe that head waiter seemed to keep his eye on us. Dad, what did Jerry do about paying the bill?"

"He was told that he need not settle it--that he could pay later."

"Well, it's all very peculiar," Penny said with a sigh. "I'm glad Jerry is safe, but I still maintain we were hustled out of that place."

"No doubt you were," agreed her father. "I'm curious to see the cafe--especially that door with the peep hole."

"I'll take you there," Penny offered eagerly.

"Not tonight," Mr. Parker declined, yawning. "Tomorrow morning perhaps."

Penny had to be satisfied with the decision, though she yearned for immediate action. After Louise had gone to her own home, she mulled over the situation, discussing every angle of it with her father.

"Why do you think Burt Ottman was at the Parrot?" she tried to pin him down. "Would you say he's one of the plotters?"

"I have no opinion whatsoever," Mr. Parker responded somewhat wearily.

Penny did not allow her father to forget his promise to visit The Green Parrot. The following morning she awoke early and at the breakfast table reminded him that they had an important appointment together.

"I should be at the office," Mr. Parker said, glancing at his watch.

"Besides, the cafe won't be open at this hour."

"The manager should be there, Dad. You'll be able to talk to him and really look over the place."

"We can ask a few questions--that's all," Mr. Parker corrected. "One can't walk into an establishment and start searching."

"Let's go anyway," pleaded Penny.

More to please her than because he hoped to uncover vital evidence, Mr.

Parker agreed to make the trip. With Penny at the wheel of the family car, they drove to the street where The Green Parrot was situated.

Parking not far from the entrance to an alley, they walked the remaining distance.

"This is the place," said Penny, pausing before the familiar building.

"Why, what's become of the cafe?"

Bewildered, she stared at the doorway where the painted parrot sign had swung. It was no longer there and the Venetian blinds had been removed from the window.

"This place doesn't have the appearance of a cafe," said Mr. Parker. "Are you sure you have the correct address, Penny?"

"Why, yes, I know we came here last night. But the sign has been removed."

Descending the stone steps, Penny pressed her face against the uncovered windows. Only a large, empty room confronted her astonished gaze. All of the tables and chairs had been removed, even the palm trees and decorations.

"It's deserted, Dad!" she exclaimed.

Mr. Parker came down the steps to peer through a window. Bits of colored paper and menu cards still littered the floor. Testing the door, he found it locked.

"This certainly is strange," he remarked thoughtfully. "Let's inquire next door."

Penny and her father chose to enter a bakery which adjoined the building.

A stout woman in a white ap.r.o.n, who was arranging frosted cakes in a showcase, favored them with a professional smile.

"Good morning," Mr. Parker greeted her, removing his hat. "Can you tell me what has become of the cafe next door?"

"Are you from the police?" the woman asked quickly.

"No, I'm connected with the _Star_."

"Oh, a reporter!" a.s.sumed the woman, and Mr. Parker did not correct her.

"I thought maybe you were from the police. Yesterday I saw a man watching The Green Parrot and I said to my husband, Gus, 'The cops are going to raid that place.'"