The Penny Parker Megapack: 15 Complete Novels (178 page)

“What of it, pet? She’s evidently going on a picnic.”

“At this time of day? And alone?”

“Well, that part of it does seem a bit odd.”

Penny pulled her chum into the bushes beside the path. Crouching low beside their water bucket, they allowed the woman to pass. Looking neither to the right nor left, she hastened on up the trail.

“She seems to be in a big hurry,” Penny commented, coming out of hiding. “Now where do you suppose she’s going?”

“Probably to the cabin. One of your ranger friends told me about a rustic place farther up the trail. It was built especially for the enjoyment of the public.”

“But why would Mrs. Deline go there alone?”

“Maybe she intends to meet someone.”

“Lou, that’s probably what she is going to do!”Penny exclaimed. “Let’s follow her and find out.”

“What about supper?”

“Who cares for food?” Penny demanded. “If Dad comes home he can rustle a little for himself. It’s more important that we follow Mrs. Deline.”

“Okay,” Louise agreed, “only I’m in no mood to walk very far. Remember, we’ve had one wild chase today.”

Leaving the water bucket behind the bushes, the girls set out in pursuit of Mrs. Deline. Not without admiration they acknowledged that the widow was a better trail climber than they. Though the hamper she carried evidently was heavy, she fairly skimmed up the rough trail. Penny and Louise fell farther and farther behind.

“She’s heading for the cabin all right,” Penny puffed. “Of course she intends to meet someone. Otherwise, she’d have had her picnic on the beach or some place closer to the hotel.”

A clearing opened up through a gap in the trees. Mrs. Deline paused as she came within view of the rustic log cabin and gazed carefully about. The girls saw her look at her wrist watch.

“She has an appointment with someone,” Penny declared.

Mrs. Deline walked to the door of the cabin and tested it to make certain that it was unlocked. She did not go inside. Instead, she set down the hamper and gazed slowly about the clearing. Louise and Penny, at the fringe of woods, saw her start as she looked directly toward them.

“She’s seen us!” Louise gasped.

“We’ll have to go out and meet her,” Penny decided instantly. “Let’s pretend we just happened to be coming this way. But we’ll stick around and see who she’s meeting.”

Mrs. Deline stiffened visibly as the girls sauntered out of the woods toward her.

“Well, this is a surprise meeting you,” she said in a tone none too friendly. “Is your camp located near here?”

“Down the trail a short distance,” Penny replied, thoroughly enjoying the widow’s discomfiture. “Having a picnic?”

“Why, yes. I love the outdoors and thought I’d take a hike this afternoon.”

“It’s rather late for a picnic,” Penny said pointedly.

“It took me longer to get here than I expected.”

In an effort to discourage her young annoyers, Mrs. Deline pushed open the door of the cabin. Before she could pick up the hamper, Penny seized it.

“Let me,” she said quickly. “My how heavy! All this food for one person?”

“Certainly,” Mrs. Deline answered. “Who else?”

Penny set the hamper on the table. Deliberately she raised the lid. The basket was filled with food, enough for a dozen persons, and in the bottom she saw a folded wool blanket. Beneath the blanket were several bulky garments which she took to be men’s clothing. Before she could see plainly, Mrs. Deline jerked the lid of the hamper into place.

“Please!” she said with emphasis.

“I was only trying to be helpful,” Penny said, pretending to look injured. “Don’t you want Lou and me to dust off the table and spread out the picnic things?”

“I do not. If you’ll excuse me for saying so, I came on this picnic to be alone. I enjoy solitude.”

“But it’s getting dark,” Penny argued. “We wouldn’t think of deserting you. The cabin has no light.”

“I don’t mind the dark. Anyway, I brought candles. I really prefer to be alone.”

Thus dismissed, Louise started to leave. Penny lingered, trying to think of some excuse. Just then, from somewhere in the woods, she heard a shrill whistle unlike any bird call.

“What was that?” she asked alertly.

“I heard nothing,” said Mrs. Deline.

Nevertheless, a moment later the woman sauntered to an open cabin window. Deliberately she turned her back to the girls, trying to block their view. Quickly she raised and lowered her handkerchief.

The movement was deftly executed, but swift though it was, Penny saw and understood. Mrs. Deline had signaled to an unseen person beyond the fringe of trees!

CHAPTER 16

SUSPICION

Penny moved swiftly to the open cabin door, gazing toward the darkening woods. No one was visible amid the shadows. Yet she was certain that Mrs. Deline had signaled to someone lurking among the trees.

The widow had turned from the window to unfasten the lid of the picnic hamper.

“Since you girls are here you may as well stay and share my supper,” she said without warmth. “There’s enough food for all.”

Louise’s chin tilted proudly. The invitation was grudgingly given, and she meant to decline. Penny forestalled her by saying:

“How nice of you, Mrs. Deline! Of course we’ll be delighted to remain.”

Mrs. Deline made no reply, though obviously she had not expected an acceptance. Irritably she laid out the picnic dishes—sandwiches, a salad, cake, cookies, and fruit—all carefully prepared and cooked at the hotel kitchen.

“You certainly did bring plenty of food for one person,” Penny commented, helping herself to a chicken sandwich. “Isn’t that clothing in the bottom of the basket?”

“Only a blanket.” Mrs. Deline closed the lid firmly. “I thought I might need it if I should sit on the damp ground.”

Hungry as bears, Penny and Louise did not try to curb their healthy, young appetites. Mrs. Deline, on the other hand, scarcely nibbled at the food. Several times she arose and paced nervously to the window.

“It’s growing dark and I should return to the hotel,” she said the instant the girls had finished eating. “I’ll not bother to repack the lunch basket.”

“Oh, we’ll help you pick up everything,” Penny offered.

“Please don’t bother. I’ll merely pay the hotel for the basket.”

Penny was convinced that Mrs. Deline deliberately intended to leave the hamper behind. Despite the deep inroads she and Louise had made, considerable food remained. It occurred to her that the widow hoped to leave what remained so that the person hiding in the woods might come to the cabin for it after the party had gone.

“I can’t be bothered with a heavy basket,” Mrs. Deline said impatiently. “We’ll just leave it on the table.”

“Oh, the rangers wouldn’t like to have us leave food here,” Penny protested. “It will only take a minute to clean up everything.”

Disregarding Mrs. Deline’s order, she began to repack the remains of the lunch.

“But I don’t wish to carry the basket all the way to the hotel!”

“Louise and I will help you.”

Tossing her head, Mrs. Deline walked out of the cabin, allowing the door to slam behind her. Louise and Penny finished packing the lunch and hastened down the trail in pursuit.

“Maybe we shouldn’t cross her so,” Louise whispered uneasily. “I think she intended to meet someone here!”

“I’m sure of it,” agreed Penny. “We spiked her little plan. I have an idea who she intended to meet too!”

“Who?”

Penny could not answer, for by this time she and Louise were practically at Mrs. Deline’s heels. The widow was walking as fast as she could.

“You’ll have to keep the basket,” she told the girls irritably. “I’m sure I’ll never carry it back to the hotel.”

All the way to the Parker camp Mrs. Deline ignored Penny and Louise. And as they bade her goodbye, she barely responded.

“Can’t we drive you down to the hotel in the car?”Penny offered, feeling slightly ashamed of her actions.

“Thank you, no,” the widow answered icily. “You’ve done quite enough for one day.” She vanished down the darkening road.

After Mrs. Deline was beyond view, the girls retraced their way to the spring for the water bucket. As they approached, they thought for a moment that they heard retreating footsteps. The realization that they were alone in the woods, made them a bit nervous. Hurriedly they recovered the bucket and carried it to camp.

“Now tell me what you think, Penny!” Louise commanded when they were inside the tent.

“Why, it’s clear as crystal.” Penny struck a match to the wick of the gasoline lantern and hung it on a hook of the tent pole. “Mrs. Deline went to the cabin intending to meet someone. She carried extra food, a blanket, and if I’m not mistaken, clothing for a man.”

“You thought she signaled from the window?”

“I’m sure she did, Lou. She warned the person, whoever he was, not to approach. She hoped by leaving the basket behind to get it into his hands after we’d gone.”

“You thwarted her in that.”

“We did together,” Penny chuckled. Her face suddenly became sober. “Lou—”

“Yes?”

“It just occurred to me! Maybe the man she intended to meet was the same fellow who stole food from our camp.”

“That’s possible. But why should Mrs. Deline be interested in a common tramp?”

“How do we know that fellow was a tramp?”Penny speculated. “Jerry told us about a young soldier that had escaped from a Canadian prison camp. Mrs. Deline may be trying to help him by supplying food and heavy clothing!”

“As usual, Penny, aren’t you leaping to hasty conclusions?”

“Maybe I am, but everything fits in beautifully. I’ve thought from the first that Mrs. Deline was nothing less than a spy or an international crook.”

“You’ve aired that theory before,” Louise said, stretching out on the cot. “Wonder when your father will get here?”

“I wish he would come,” Penny replied, glancing anxiously toward the road. “At least I have one consolation.”

“What’s that?”

“I know he’s not with Mrs. Deline. Oh, Lou, think how horrible it would be to have a spy for a stepmother!”

“It would be something different anyhow,” Louise chuckled. “Want to listen to the radio awhile?”

“Okay,” Penny agreed, “maybe we can tune in that outlaw station. It’s about time for the regular nightly broadcast.”

Closing themselves into the car, the girls tried without success to get the outlaw shortwave station. Tuning instead to a dance orchestra, they discussed the day’s happenings and made elaborate plans for the morrow.

“I’m really going to work,” Penny announced grimly. “No Mrs. Deline ever will outwit me! Our first job must be to find that package she buried in the sand.”

“And what of the person hiding in the woods?”

“The rangers ought to take over that part.” Penny peered out through the car window at the dark woods which hemmed in the camp. “Somehow,” she admitted, “I don’t like the idea of being here at night. I’m not exactly afraid, but—”

“Listen!” Louise ordered sharply, “Someone’s coming!”

Penny snapped off the radio. Tensely, the girls watched the road. The next instant they relaxed, for it was Mr. Parker who trudged wearily up the slope. Seeing Penny and Louise in the car, he came over to apologize for being so late.

“I’ve been with Jerry for the past two hours,” he explained. “Time went faster than I realized.”

“Any news?” Penny asked eagerly.

“Not about the radio station if that’s what you mean. The fellow got away with his portable outfit slick as a whistle.”

“The authorities have no idea who the man is, Dad?”

“Not the slightest. So far they’ve not been able to break the code he uses either. But in time they’ll get him.”

Having gleaned what information they could from Mr. Parker, the girls related their own adventure. As they fully expected, he made light of the episode at the cabin.

“Why should Mrs. Deline expect to meet anyone there?” he argued. “Penny, I’m afraid you don’t understand her and misinterpret her actions.”

“I don’t understand her, that’s certain.”

“As to a man loitering about the camp,” Mr. Parker resumed, “I’ve been worried about that ever since food was stolen. As I must be gone so much of the time, why wouldn’t it be better for us to move to the hotel?”

Penny stiffened for an argument, and then suddenly changed her mind.

“All right, Dad,” she astonished him by saying,“as far as I’m concerned, we can move tomorrow. I’ve had enough of the lonesome life.”

“Why, that’s fine!” Mr. Parker said heartily. “Splendid!”

After he had moved on, to sit for awhile by the dying embers of the fire, Louise remarked to Penny that explanations were in order.

“How come you’re ready to desert the rough and rugged life?” she demanded. “At first you were dead set against moving into the hotel.”