Listening a moment and hearing no voices within, she knocked and entered. Her father, a lean, dignified man with tired lines about his eyes and mouth, sat working at his desk. He smiled as he saw his daughter, and waved her toward a chair.
Instead, Penny perched herself on a corner of the desk.
“Dad, I have a splendid surprise for you,” she began brightly. “I’ve just accomplished a wonderful stroke of business!”
“Never mind beating about the bush,” interrupted Mr. Parker. “Shoot me the facts straight. What have you done this time?”
“Dad, your tone! I’ve bought back my old car, Leaping Lena. And it only cost me a trifling sum.”
Mr. Parker’s chair squeaked as he whirled around.
“You’ve done what?”
“It’s a long story, Dad. Now don’t think that I fail to appreciate the grand new car you gave me last winter. I love it. But between Lena and me there exists a deep bond of affection. Today when I saw her on Jake Harriman’s lot looking so weather-beaten and unhappy—why, a little voice inside me whispered: ‘Penny, why don’t you buy her back?’ So I did.”
“Never mind the sentimental touches. When I gave you the new car I thought we were well rid of Lena. How much did you pay for it?”
“Oh, Lena was a marvelous bargain. Five dollars cash and a note for twenty more. The man said you could pay for it at your convenience.”