The Secret Pact
Page 11
CHAPTER 10 _A WORD TO THE WISE_
Penny and Louise stooped beside the groaning man who lay pinned on hisside beneath the tree. As they attempted to move him he writhed in painand pleaded with them not to touch him.
"The tree will have to be lifted," declared Penny. "I'll go for help."
Leaving Louise to encourage Anchor Joe, she ran the entire distance tothe main road. The nearest house was the one owned by Peter Fenestra.However, as she hastened in that direction, she observed a truck filledwith telephone linemen coming toward her. Hailing the men, she told themwhat had occurred.
"I am afraid Anchor Joe is badly hurt," she added. "I'll telephone for adoctor while you go on to the cottage."
One of the linemen offered to make the call, leaving her free to guidethe other four men to the Parker camp. Reaching the spot, the men raisedthe fallen tree. Carefully they lifted Anchor Joe who had lapsed intounconsciousness.
"Bring him into the cottage," Penny directed, going ahead to open doors.
One of the rooms had been furnished as a bedroom with an old cot, a chestof drawers and odd pieces brought from the Parker home. Penny spread ablanket over the mattress and the injured man was stretched upon it.
"He's seriously hurt, isn't he?" she asked anxiously.
"Afraid he is," admitted one of the linemen. "Heat up some water and I'lldo what I can until the doctor gets here."
Penny and Louise hastened to the kitchen to struggle with thewood-burning range. By the time they had the fire going well they heardvoices in the yard. Glancing out the window they saw a lineman comingtoward the cottage and walking beside a doctor who carried a light, blackbag.
"It's Doctor Griswold," observed Louise. "He made a quick trip fromtown."
Penny ran to open the door for the two men. Then, at the doctor'sbidding, she went to the kitchen again for the boiling water.
"You carry it in," urged Louise. "I can't bear to see poor Anchor Joe."
The linemen had left by the time Penny reentered the bedroom. The doctorwas working over Anchor Joe, and she observed in relief that he hadrecovered consciousness.
"Where do you feel pain?" the doctor inquired as he unfastened the man'sshirt.
"My back and chest, doc," the sailor mumbled. "Feels like all my insidesis crushed."
"Hardly that," said the doctor cheerfully, "or you wouldn't be telling meabout it. Now let's see."
He took Anchor Joe's pulse, then gently probed his chest and sponged abreak in the skin. Carefully he turned the man upon his back.
Penny drew in her breath, nearly dropping the pan of water. Across AnchorJoe's back was tattooed the sprawling figure of an octopus. She bentcloser. Beneath the front arms of the repulsive sea creature appeared asingle word: _One_.
"John Munn's tattoo was exactly the same, save for the word!" thoughtPenny. "It was 'All' while this is 'One.' What can be the significance?"
Even the doctor was startled by the strange tattoo for he glanced at itcuriously as he probed.
"You are a sailor?" he inquired.
"That's right," muttered Anchor Joe. "Ouch, doc! Take it easy, will you?"
Penny could not remain silent. "Joe, do you know a man named John Munn?"she asked.
"Sure I know him," the sailor mumbled. "We shipped together on the_Dorasky_."
"Your tattoo is very similar to his."
Anchor Joe's pain-glazed eyes turned upon Penny as if he were seeing herfor the first time. He made an effort to pull the blanket over his back.
"We had 'em put on together," he muttered. "Jack an' John, and that rat,Otto--"
"Please don't talk to the patient," said the doctor significantly. "Heshould be kept quiet."
"I'm sorry," apologized Penny.
She did not speak again until the doctor had completed his examinationand had bandaged Anchor Joe's cuts and bruises.
"What do you advise, doctor?" she asked. "Will it be necessary to removeJoe to a hospital?"
"Neither advisable nor desirable for at least twenty-four hours," hereplied. "I find no indication of internal injury, but it is best to besafe. The patient should be kept quiet, in bed, for at least a day ortwo."
"It's something of a problem to care for him here," said Penny frowning."Do you suggest a nurse?"
"Any woman who has had practical experience in caring for the sick woulddo."
"Mrs. Weems may be willing to come," said Penny. "I'll telephone home atonce and learn what arrangements can be made."
When the doctor left, Penny accompanied him as far as the first house.From there she telephoned her father, who promised to get Mrs. Weems andcome at once to the cottage.
Louise was uneasily waiting by the time Penny returned. Outside thebedroom they held whispered consultation.
"Has Anchor Joe talked?" Penny questioned. "You know what I mean. Has hesaid anything about John Munn or the tattoo?"
"Not a word. But every so often he mutters that he'll get even withsomeone by the name of Otto--a fellow sailor who 'ratted.'"
"He mentioned Otto when I was in the room," nodded Penny. "I wish wedared question Joe, but the doctor advised against it."
"I don't think we should annoy him now. Perhaps later on he'll tell usabout the tattoo and its meaning."
"Perhaps," echoed Penny. "However, if I am any judge of character, AnchorJoe isn't the talkative type. As soon as he gets over the shock of thisaccident, he'll lock those lips of his. We'll learn nothing."
"Why are you so convinced there's a deep mystery connected with thetattoo?"
"I can't explain it, Lou. I just _know_ there is. I'll never rest until Ilearn the significance of those words, _All_ and _One_."
Within a half hour Mrs. Weems and Mr. Parker arrived at the cottage,bringing a supply of linen, food, and comforts for the injured man. Thehousekeeper agreed to assume charge until Anchor Joe could be safelyremoved to a hospital.
When Mr. Parker drove to Riverview the girls accompanied him. During theride Penny questioned her father regarding Anchor Joe.
"I know almost nothing about him," he replied. "He was sent to me by theAcme Employment Agency, and I didn't bother to ask for a recommendation."
"I've learned that he's a friend of John Munn," revealed Penny. "As soonas he's able to get about again, I mean to ask him a number of things."
Mr. Parker drove Louise to her home, and at Penny's request dropped heroff at the _Weekly Times_ office.
"By the way, what about dinner tonight?" he inquired. "Shall we dine atthe Commodore Hotel?"
"Oh, Dad, I wish I could," Penny sighed wistfully. "Work is stacked amile high on my desk. I'll just grab a sandwich somewhere and work late."
"I am afraid you are taking the newspaper business too seriously,"replied her father. "Shall I leave the car for you?"
"It would be a help."
"All right, Penny."
Mr. Parker gave her the car keys, and walked on to his own newspaper.Entering the _Times_ building, Penny spoke to several high school boyswho were working in the advertising office, and climbed the stairs to herown office.
For the next half hour she checked over galley proofs, markingcorrections on the margins.
"I never imagined there could be so many things to do on a weekly," shesighed. "One never gets through."
A board creaked in the newsroom. Penny heard it and glanced up. A shadowpassed slowly across the frosted glass of the office door.
"Come in," she called.
No one answered, and the shadow disappeared. Penny waited a moment, thenimpatiently arose and went to the door. The newsroom was deserted.
"Queer," she thought. "Someone walked past my office door."
Thinking that it might have been one of the high school boys, Penny wentto the head of the stairs and called:
"Did anyone come up here a moment ago?"
"Not unless it was by way of the back entrance," was the reply.
D
ecidedly puzzled, Penny returned to her desk. As she sat down a sheet ofpaper lying on the blotter pad drew her attention. She was certain it hadnot been there a few minutes earlier.
Reaching for it, she gasped in astonishment. The paper bore a messagescrawled in black ink and read:
"To the Editor of the _Weekly Times_:
You are hereby warned to give up your newspaper which offends publictaste. We give you three days to wind up your business and close doors. Aword to the wise is sufficient."