“Not to my knowledge,” Louise answered. “If I were in your shoes I should worry about more serious matters than those connected with a mere silk ladder.”
“The world is filled with serious things,” sighed Penny. “But mystery! One doesn’t run into it every day.”
“You do,” said Louise brutally. “If a stranger twitches his ears twice you immediately suspect him of villainy.”
“Nevertheless, being of a suspicious nature won me a new car,” Penny defended herself. “Don’t forget Dad gave it to me for solving a mystery, for telling his newspaper readers what was going on Behind the Green Door.”
“Oh, your curiosity has paid dividends,” Louise admitted with a laugh. “Take for instance the time you trailed the Vanishing Houseboat, and again when you lowered the Kippenberg drawbridge to capture a boatload of crooks! Those were the days!”
“Why dwell in the past, Lou? Now take this affair of the silk ladder—”
“I’m afraid you’ll have to take it,” Louise interrupted. “Do you realize it’s nearly four o’clock? In exactly ten minutes I am supposed to be at the auditorium for orchestra practice.”
“Lou, you can’t desert me now,” Penny protested quickly. “How will I get Lena home? I need you to steer her.”
“Thanks, but I don’t trust your tow rope.”
“At least go as far as the Star office with me. Once there, maybe I can get one of the reporters to help me the rest of the way.”