“Often. He nearly always ignores it.”
“What did you ask him for this year?”
“Only a new automobile.”
“Only! My goodness, aren’t your tastes rather expensive?”
“Oh, he won’t give it to me,” replied Penny. “I’ll probably get a sweater with pink and blue stripes or some dead merchandise the store couldn’t pawn off on anyone except an unsuspecting father.”
Mrs. Downey laughed as she picked up the tray.
“I hope your father will be able to get to Pine Top for Christmas.”
“So do I,” agreed Penny, frowning. “I thought when I wired him that Harvey Maxwell was here he would come right away.”
“He may have decided it would do no good to contact the man. Knowing Mr. Maxwell I doubt if your father could make any sort of deal with him.”
“If only he would come here he might be able to learn something which would help his case,” Penny declared earnestly. “Maxwell and Fergus are mixed up in some queer business.”