“I reckon it won’t do any good to lock Sara up after this,” he said. “You’re both too smart for an old codger like me.”
“Thank you, Mr. Jasko,” answered Penny, her eyes shining. “Thank you for everything.”
The door of the lodge had opened, and Mrs. Downey, a coat thrown over her shoulders, hurried out into the snow. Not wishing to be drawn into a conversation, Jasko leaped back into the sled, and with a curt, “Good evening,” drove away.
With Mrs. Downey’s help, Penny hobbled into the house, and there related her latest misadventure.
“I declare, you’ll be in the hospital yet,” sighed the woman. “I feel tempted to adopt Mr. Jasko’s tactics and lock you up in your room.”
“I’ll stay there without being locked in,” declared Penny. “I’ve had enough skiing to last me until Christmas at least.”
In the morning she felt so stiff and battered that she could barely get out of bed. However, her ankle was somewhat better and when occasion demanded, she could hobble across the room without support.
“You ought to be all right in a day or so if only you’ll stay off your foot and give it a chance to get well,” declared Mrs. Downey.
“It’s hard to sit still,” sighed Penny. “There are so many things I ought to be doing.”
From the kitchen window she could see the Fergus hotel far down in the valley. She was impatient to pay another visit there, although she realized that after the previous evening’s encounter with Ralph Fergus and Harvey Maxwell, it would be more difficult than ever to gain admittance.