“It’s the very same boat,” Penny whispered jubilantly. “I knew I wasn’t mistaken.”
“Even so, what does that prove?” demanded Jerry. “It’s no crime to run a motorboat near the Kippenberg estate. The river is free.”
“But you must admit there is other evidence. Oh, why can’t we follow them? We might learn something really important.”
“We’re not going off on any wild chase tonight,” stated Jerry sternly. “Come on, it’s home for us before your father sends a police squad to search for his missing daughter.”
“You’re losing a golden opportunity, Jerry Livingston.”
“Listen, by the time we located a boat those men would be ten miles from here. They’re leaving now. Use your head.”
“Oh, all right,” Penny gave in. “We’ll go home, but I’ll bet a cent you’ll be sorry later on.”
She waited until the cruiser was lost to view in the darkness and then allowed the reporter to guide her back up the steep path.
“At least let’s try to find out who the men are,” Penny urged as they came near the cafe. “The restaurant owner might know.”
More to please her than for any other reason, Jerry said that he would inquire. He re-entered the cafe, returning in a few minutes to report that the proprietor had never seen either of the men before.