“You—you think Grandfather met with violence?”
“I hope not,” replied Penny earnestly. “But it seems very queer. Did your grandfather have enemies?”
“He antagonizes many folks without meaning to do so. However, I can’t think of anyone at Pine Top who could be called an actual enemy.”
By nightfall the searching party had grown in size. Nearly every male resident of Pine Top joined in the hunt for Peter Jasko. Even the Fergus hotel sent two employes to help comb the mountainside for the missing old man.
Sara, nearly in a state of collapse, was put to bed by Mrs. Downey, who kept telling the girl over and over that she must not worry. In speaking with Penny, the woman was far from optimistic. She expressed a doubt that Peter Jasko ever would be found alive.
“He may have wandered off and fallen into a crevasse.”
“I am inclined to think he may have been spirited away by whoever came up the private road in that car,” commented Penny.
“I can’t imagine anyone bothering to kidnap Peter Jasko,” returned Mrs. Downey. “He has no money.”
“It does sound rather fantastic, I admit. Especially in broad daylight. You didn’t notice any automobile on the main road this morning did you?”
“Only the Fergus hotel delivery truck. But I was busy. A dozen might have passed without my noticing them.”