Therefore, when the plane made a brief stop, she was astonished to have Francine sidle over to her as she sat on a high stool at the lunch stand, and say in a cutting tone:
“Well, did you find out everything you wanted to know? I saw you listening hard enough.”
“Eavesdropping isn’t my method,” replied Penny indignantly. “It’s stupid and is employed only by trash fiction writers and possibly Record reporters.”
“Say, are you suggesting—?”
“Yes,” interrupted Penny wearily. “Now please go find yourself a roost!”
Francine ignored the empty stools beside Penny and went to the far side of the lunch room. A moment later the two men, who had caused the young woman reporter such concern, entered and sat down at a counter near Penny, ordering sandwiches and coffee.
Rather ironically, the girl could not avoid hearing their conversation, and almost their first words gave her an unpleasant shock.
“Don’t worry, Ralph,” said the stout one. “Nothing stands in our way now.”
“You’re not forgetting Mrs. Downey’s place?”
“We’ll soon take care of her,” the other boasted. “That’s why I’m going out to Pine Top with you, Ralph. I’ll show you how these little affairs are handled.”