“He’s packing to leave!” she observed. “Unless I act in double-quick time, he’ll skip town! I must notify Dad and the police without an instant’s delay!”
CHAPTER
22
SCALING THE WALL
The nearest drugstore with a public telephone was two blocks away. Penny ran the distance, and slipping into the booth, she dialed the Star office. Informed by the building switchboard operator that neither her father nor DeWitt was available, she inquired for Jerry Livingston, and to her relief was connected with him.
“Listen, Jerry, this is Penny!” she began excitedly. “I haven’t time to explain, but the lid is blowing off the fake spiritualist story! Rush the police out to the Hodges’ cottage and demand Al Gepper’s arrest! Send another squad or some private detectives to Mr. Henley’s home.”
“Henley!” Jerry exclaimed. “Say, have you gone loco?”
“I’m not making any mistakes,” Penny replied tersely. “If you act quickly we may prevent a robbery. I’m on my way there now to warn Mr. Henley! Oh, yes, try to find Dad or DeWitt and warn them a big story is breaking!”
“Penny, what’s this all about?” the reporter demanded. “I can’t go to the police unless I know what I am doing.”
“You must, Jerry. I have plenty of evidence against Gepper and his crowd, but unless you take the police to the Hodges’ in the next fifteen minutes it will be too late!”
Without giving Jerry opportunity to delay her with other questions, Penny hung up the receiver. Hastening to the street, she gazed frantically about for a taxi. None was to be had.
“I’ll get to the Henley place quicker in Lena than by waiting for a cab to come along,” she thought.