“No one will believe me,” the little girl said. “Just the same, that man I saw today was the one who ran into my Daddy’s car. He had a big, gray automobile with a horn on it that played a tune.”
“A gray car?” Penny repeated thoughtfully. “I’m quite sure Mr. Blake’s sedan is dark blue. Why, you were taken home in his automobile this afternoon, Adelle.”
“It wasn’t that car,” the child answered. “He must have another one.”
Miss Anderson re-entered the room, so Penny did not ask additional questions. Soon leaving the Home, she motored slowly toward the camp site by the river. Although she readily understood that Adelle might be mistaken, a conviction was growing upon her that Clyde Blake could have been the hit-run driver.
“Even if he doesn’t drive a gray car, that proves nothing,” she mused. “He easily could have changed it during the past year.”
Penny thought that she might find her father or some of the Camp Board officials still at the river. However, as she drove into the parking area, she observed that the grounds were entirely deserted. Paper plates, napkins and newspapers had been blown helter-skelter by the wind. Picnic tables still held the unsightly remains of lunches. The speakers’ platform had been torn down, even the tents were gone, for it was not planned to make practical use of the grounds until more work had been done.
As Penny was starting to drive away, she noticed a lone man near one of the picnic tables. He was dressed in rough, unpressed garments, and seemed to be scavenging food which had been left behind.
“That’s the same man who pulled Adelle from the water!” she thought alertly.
Leaping from the car, Penny ran toward him.
Hearing footsteps, the man turned and saw her. Almost in panic he started for the woods.
“Wait!” Penny shouted. “I won’t turn you over to the police! Please wait!”
The man hesitated, and then apparently deciding that he had nothing to fear from a girl, paused.
“I want to thank you for saving Adelle,” Penny said breathlessly. “Why did you run away?”
“Well, I don’t know,” the man answered, avoiding her gaze. “I never liked crowds.”
Penny decided to risk a direct accusation. “You are Clem Davis,” she said, eyeing him steadily.
“That’s a laugh,” the man retorted, starting to edge away. “My name is Thomas Ryan.”
“Now please don’t run away again,” Penny pleaded, sensing his intention. “If you are Clem Davis, and I’m sure you are, I want to help you.”
“How could you help me?”
“By exposing the men who framed you. I never believed that you set fire to the Preston barn.”
“I never did.”
“Please tell me about it,” Penny urged, seating herself at one of the picnic benches.
“Who are you anyhow?” the man asked suspiciously. “Why are you so willing to help me, as you say?”
“I’m Penelope Parker, and my father publishes the Star.”
“Oh, I see, you’re after a story!”
“No, that part is only incidental,” Penny said hurriedly. “What my father really wants to do is to expose the Black Hoods and drive them out of existence. You’re the one person who might be able to provide evidence which would convict the guilty parties.”
“I could tell plenty if I was a mind to do it. No one would believe me though.”
“I will, Mr. Davis.”
“I was in the notion of going to the Grand Jury at one time,” the man said slowly. “That’s what brought on all my trouble. If I’d had sense enough to have kept my mouth shut, I wouldn’t be a fugitive now.”
“What connection did you have with the Hoods? Were you a member of the organization?”
“Yes, I was,” the man admitted reluctantly. “I didn’t know much about the Hoods when I joined ’em. Then I tried to drop out, and that’s what turned ’em against me.”
“Suppose you tell me all about it. What is the real purpose of the organization?”
“Well, right now the Hoods are trying to force every truck farmer in this district to join the County Cooperative.”
“Then Hank Holloway must be the ring leader!”Penny exclaimed, startled by the information.
“No, he’s not at the head of the Hoods,” Clem Davis corrected.
“Who is the man?” Penny questioned eagerly.
Clem Davis started to speak, then hesitated. An automobile had driven into the parking area only a few rods away. Several workmen who had been assigned to clean up the grounds, alighted.
“They’re coming this way,” Clem Davis said uneasily. “I can’t risk being seen.”
Abruptly, he started toward the sheltering trees.
“Wait!” Penny pleaded, pursuing him. “You haven’t told me half enough. Please wait!”
“I’m not going to risk arrest,” the man returned over his shoulder.
“At least meet me here again!”
“Okay, I’ll do that,” Clem Davis agreed.
“Tomorrow night just at dusk,” Penny said quickly. “And please don’t fail me. I promise. I’ll help you.”
CHAPTER 20
CLEM DAVIS’ DISCLOSURE
After Clem Davis had disappeared into the woods, Penny wasted no more time in the vicinity. Jumping into her car, she drove home in a daze of excitement, to tell her father the amazing story.
“Meeting that man was wonderful luck!” she assured him exultantly. “Why, if only he reveals what he knows, we will get an exclusive story for the Star! We’ll expose the Hoods and put an end to the organization!”
“As easy as that?” laughed Mr. Parker. “Seriously though, I think we are on the verge of cracking the story. In going over the books of the County Cooperative, Jerry has discovered any number of discrepancies.”
“I’ve always thought that Hank Holloway might be connected with the Hoods, Dad! I believe he was the night rider who made off with Mrs. Davis’ melons.”
“Any idea who the other members of the outfit may be?”
“Not yet, but I expect to find out when I meet Clem Davis tomorrow.”
“I’ll go with you,” Mr. Parker declared. “Maybe I should take Sheriff Daniels along too.”
“Oh, Dad,” Penny protested indignantly. “I promised to help Clem, not turn him over to an officer. I am afraid that unless I go alone, he’ll not even show himself.”
“Perhaps it would be best for you to go by yourself,” the editor admitted. “Learn what you can from Davis, and make an appointment for him to see me.”
Another matter weighed heavily on Penny’s mind. In her encounter with Clyde Blake that morning, she had acted in a high-handed manner, and sooner or later her father must hear about the cheque episode.
“Dad, I have a confession to make,” she began awkwardly. “When I reached the camp this morning I found that Mr. Blake had induced the board members to buy the property—”
“Never mind,” Mr. Parker interrupted. “I’ve already heard the details of your disgraceful actions from Mrs. Van Cleve.”
“I’m thoroughly ashamed of myself,” Penny said contritely. “I tore up the cheque on the spur of the moment.”
“It was a foolish, rather dramatic thing to do. However, I must acknowledge the result was highly pleasing to everyone save Clyde Blake.”
“What does he have to say, Dad?”
“He claims that he acted in good faith for Benjamin Bowman. Likewise, that he had no suspicion the title was faulty.”
“Naturally he would take such an attitude.”
“I’ve asked Blake to produce Ben Bowman,” Mr. Parker resumed. “Unless he can do so and prove that the property actually is owned by him, the deal is off.”
“Do you think Blake will bring the man to Riverview?”
“I doubt it very much,” the editor answered. “I suspect he’ll bluff, and finally let the deal go by default. It will be an easy way out for him.”
“Blake always seems to esca
pe his misdeeds. I wish we could find Ben Bowman ourselves, and bring the two men together. That would be interesting!”
“Finding Ben Bowman would serve many useful purposes,” Mr. Parker said grimly. “But now that I would actually welcome a communication from him, he no longer pesters me!”
Eagerly Penny awaited the hour appointed for her meeting with Clem Davis. Knowing that the man did not obtain enough to eat, she spent considerable time the next afternoon preparing a lunch basket of substantial food. Taking it with her, she waited at the camp site for nearly a half hour. Finally, just as she began to think that the man had failed her, he appeared.
“I’ve brought you some hot coffee,” Penny said, taking the plug from a thermos bottle. “A little food too.”
“Say, that’s swell!” the man murmured gratefully. “My wife slips me a handout whenever she can, but lately the house has been watched so closely, she can’t get away.”
Seating himself at the picnic table, Clem Davis drained the cup of coffee in a few swallows, and greedily devoured a sandwich.
“Now what do you want to know?” he asked gruffly.
Mr. Parker had told Penny exactly what questions to ask. She began with the most important one.
“Mr. Davis, tell me, who is the head man of the Hoods?”
“I don’t know myself,” he answered promptly. “At the meetings, the Master always wore a robe and a black hood. None of the members ever were permitted to see his face.”
“You have no idea who the man may be?”
Clem Davis shook his head as he bit into another sandwich. “I doubt there are more than one or two members of the order who know his identity. Hank Holloway might, or maybe Charley Phelps.”
“Is Phelps a member?” Penny asked quickly.
“One of the chief ones. Most of the meetings are held at his place.”
“You don’t mean at the Hubell Tower?”
Penny’s pulse had stepped up to a faster pace, for the information was of the greatest value. Furthermore, it thrilled her that her own theory regarding Charley Phelps was receiving support.
“Sure, the Hoods meet at the Tower about once a month,” Clem Davis disclosed. “Usually they get together on the thirteenth, but sometimes they have extra sessions. When special meetings are held, a green light burns on the tower, or the clock strikes thirteen times just at midnight.”
“I thought so!” Penny exclaimed, highly elated. “Tell me, why did you decide to break your connection with the Hoods?”
“I joined the organization before I knew what I was letting myself in for. When they made plans to burn the Preston barn, I wanted to quit. The Hoods threatened me, and to get even, planted evidence that made it look as if I had set the fire.”
Penny was inclined to believe that Clem Davis had told a straight story for it coincided with her own theories. Always it had seemed to her that evidence pointing to his guilt had been entirely too plain. To corroborate her conclusions, she had brought from home the watch fob found at the Davis stable, hoping that he might identify it.
“That’s not mine,” he said promptly when she showed the article to him. “I never saw it before.”
Penny opened the tiny case, displaying the child’s picture. However, the man had no idea who the little boy might be.
“Mr. Davis,” she said quietly, replacing the watch fob in her pocket. “I believe in your innocence, and I want to help you. I am sure I can, providing you are willing to cooperate.”
“I’ve already told you about everything I know.”
“You’ve given me splendid information,” Penny praised. “What I want you to do is to talk with my father. He’ll probably ask you to repeat your story to the Grand Jury.”
“I’d be a fool to do that,” Clem Davis responded. “I can’t prove any of my statements. The Preston fire would be pinned on me, and the Hoods might try to harm my wife. Why, they ran off with a truck load of our melons the other night.”
“I know. But unless someone has the courage to speak out against the Hoods they’ll become bolder and do even more harm. Supposing you were promised absolute protection. Then would you go before the Grand Jury?”
“Nothing would give me more pleasure. But who can guarantee I’ll not be made to pay?”
“I think my father can,” Penny assured him. “Will you meet him here tomorrow night at this same hour?”
“Okay,” the man agreed, getting up from the table. “You seem to be on the level.”
“I’ll bring more food tomorrow,” Penny said as an extra inducement. “You must have had a hard time since you’ve been hiding out in the woods.”
“Oh, it’s not so bad once you get used to it,” the man shrugged. “I’ve got a pretty good place to sleep now.”
“Inside a building?” Penny asked curiously.
“An automobile,” the man grinned. “Someone abandoned it in the swamp and I’ve taken possession.”
“An old one, I suppose.”
“Not so old,” Clem Davis answered. “Funny thing, it’s a 1941 Deluxe model with good upholstery. The only thing I can see wrong with it is that the front grill and fenders have been smashed.”
“The car isn’t by chance a gray one?”
“Yes, it is,” the man admitted. “How did you guess?”
“I didn’t guess,” Penny returned soberly. “I have a suspicion that car is the one which killed two people about a year ago. Mr. Davis, you must take me to it at once!”
CHAPTER 21
A BROKEN PROMISE
“You want me to take you to the abandoned car now?” Clem Davis echoed in surprise. “It’s located deep in the swamp, just off a side road.”
“Would it require long to get there?” Penny asked thoughtfully.
“A half hour at least. With night coming on you wouldn’t be able to see a thing.”
“It is getting dark,” Penny admitted regretfully. “Everything considered, I guess it would be better to wait until tomorrow. But in the meantime, I wish you would search the car carefully. Get the engine number—anything which might help to identify the owner.”
“The engine number has been filed off,” Clem answered. “I’ll give the car a good going over though to see what I can learn. Thanks for the food.”
Raising his hand in a semi salute, the man started into the woods.
“Don’t forget to meet Dad and me tomorrow night,”Penny called after him. “We’ll be waiting here about this same time.”
The interview with the fugitive had more than fulfilled Penny’s expectations. Driving straight home, she made a full report of the talk to her father. Breathlessly, she revealed that the Hoods held monthly meetings at the Hubell Tower, and that both Hank Holloway and Charley Phelps were members of the order.
“You weren’t able to learn the name of the headman?” Mr. Parker questioned.
“No, Clem didn’t know it himself. He says the Master never shows himself to anyone, but always appears in mask.”
Mr. Parker began to pace the floor, a habit of his when under mental stress. The information Penny had acquired was of utmost importance. He believed it to be authentic, but he dared not overlook the possibility that Clem Davis had deliberately lied.
“We must move cautiously on this story,” he said aloud. “Should we make false accusations against innocent persons, the Star would face disastrous lawsuits.”
“You’re not going to withhold the information from the public?” Penny demanded in disappointment.
“For the present, I must. The thing for us to do is to try to learn the identity of the head man. Any news published in the Star would only serve as a tip-off to him.”
“You’re right, of course,” Penny agreed after a moment of silence.
“Now that we have such a splendid start, it should be easy to gain additional information,” the editor resumed. “You say the meetings usually are held on the thirteenth of the month?”
“That’s what Clem Davis told me.”
“Then we’ll arrange to have the Tower watched on that night. In the meantime, I’ll see Davis and learn what I can from him. Jerry is working on the County Cooperative angle of the story, and should have some interesting facts soon.”
Penny knew that her father was adopting a wise policy, but she could not help feeling slightly disappointed. Always eager for action, she had hoped that Clem Davis’ disclosures would lead to the immediate arrest of both Hank Holloway and Charley Phelps. However, she brightened at the thought that at least additional revelations might follow her father’s meeting with the fugitive.
The following night, shortly after six-thirty, Penny and Mr. Parker presented themselves at the Orphans’Camp site. They had brought a basket of food, coffee, and a generous supply of cigarettes.
“What time did Davis promise to meet you?” Mr. Parker asked impatiently.
“He should be here now,” Penny returned. “I can’t imagine why he’s late.”
Another half hour elapsed, and still the fugitive did not appear. Mr. Parker paced restlessly beside the picnic table, becoming increasingly impatient.
“He’s probably waiting until after dark,” Penny declared optimistically.
Another hour elapsed. The shadows deepened and a chill wind blew from the river. Hungry mosquitoes kept Mr. Parker more than occupied as he sought to protect himself.
“Well, I’ve had enough of this!” he announced at last. “The man isn’t coming.”
“Oh, Dad, let’s wait just a little longer,” Penny coaxed. “I’m sure he meant to keep his promise.”
“Perhaps he did, although I’m inclined to think otherwise. At any rate, I am going home!”
Penny had no choice but to follow her father to the car. She could not understand Clem Davis’ failure to appear unless he had feared that he would be placed under arrest. While it was quite possible that the man might come to the picnic grounds the following night, she was afraid she would never see him again.
“I half expected this to happen,” Mr. Parker remarked as he drove toward Riverview. “Unless we can get Davis to swear to his story, we haven’t a scrap of real evidence against the Hoods.”
The Penny Parker Megapack: 15 Complete Novels Page 65
