“So Maxwell was expecting me to come here to make a deal with him?” demanded Mr. Parker. “Well, I’ve changed my mind. I’ll make a deal all right, but it will be in court. Good day!”
Angrily, the newspaper man strode from the lobby. Penny hurried to keep pace with him.
“That settles it,” he said tersely as they climbed into the sedan again. “This libel suit will be a fight to the finish. And maybe my finish at that!”
“Oh, Dad, I’m sure you’ll win. But it’s a pity all this had to come up just when you had planned a fine vacation. Mrs. Downey will be disappointed, too.”
“Yes, she will, Penny. And there’s Mrs. Weems to be thought about. I promised her a two weeks’ trip while we were gone.”
They drove in silence for a few blocks. As the car passed the Sidell residence, Penny’s father said thoughtfully:
“I suppose I could send you out to Pine Top alone, Penny. Or perhaps you might be able to induce your chum, Louise, to go along. Would you like that?”
“It would be more fun if you went also.”
“That’s out of the picture now. If everything goes well I might be able to join you for Christmas weekend.”
“I’m not sure Louise could go,” said Penny doubtfully. “But I can find out right away.”