“That must have been Peter Jasko.”
“And who is he, Mrs. Downey?”
“One of the oldest settlers on Pine Top Mountain,” sighed Mrs. Downey. “He’s a very pleasant man in some respects, but in others—oh, dear.”
“Skiing must be one of his unpleasant aspects. I noticed he had a ‘Keep Out’ sign posted on his property.”
“Peter Jasko is a great trial to me and other persons on the mountain. He has a hatred of skiing and everything pertaining to it, which amounts to fanaticism. A number of skiers have been injured by running into his barbed wire fence.”
“Then he put it up on purpose?”
“Oh, yes! He has an idea it will keep folks from skiing.”
“He isn’t—?” Penny tapped her forehead significantly.
“No,” smiled Mrs. Downey. “Old Peter is right in his mind, at least in every respect save this one. He owns our best ski slopes, too.”
Penny shifted her foot to a cooler place in the oven.