"Why, I thought I'd wait until tomorrow before I see Mr. Crocker. Thanks just the same."
When supper was over, Penny drove down to the Crocker place. No lights were visible in the window. Either the owner had gone away or was trying to save electricity.
Penny parked the car in the lane. She looked carefully about for the yellow hound. To her relief he was nowhere around the place. Quickly she walked across the yard and pounded on the door.
Penny waited a few minutes and then turned back to the car. She halted as she heard a rap on one of the windows. Glancing up, she saw Perry looking out at her.
"Oh, hello, Perry," Penny called. "Open the door."
"I can't," shouted the boy through the glass. "It's locked."
"Isn't your grandfather here?"
The lad shook his head. "He's been gone all day. I'm locked up in here."
"Can't you open a window?" Penny called.
Again Perry shook his head. "I haven't had anything except bread to eat all day," he told her. "I'm getting real hungry."