“Do I? Jerry Livingston decided to sleep in Room Seven where so many persons had disappeared.”
“And then he was spirited away almost before our very eyes,” added Penny. “Days later Mud-Cat Joe helped me fish him out of this same old Kobalt. For awhile we didn’t think he’d ever pull through or be able to tell what had happened to him.”
“But as the grand finale you and your friend, Louise Sidell, solved the mystery and secured a dandy story for the Star. Those were the days!”
“You talk as if they were gone forever,” laughed Penny. “Other good stories will come along.”
“Maybe,” said Salt, “but covering a wedding is pretty tame in comparison.”
“Yet this one does have interesting angles,” Penny insisted. “Can’t you almost feel mystery lurking about the place?”
“No, but I do feel a mosquito sinking his stinger into me.” Salt slapped vigorously at his ankle.
They followed the path on toward the river, coming soon to a trail which branched off to the right. Across it had been stretched a wire barrier and a neatly lettered sign read:
NO ADMITTANCE BEYOND THIS POINT.
“Why do you suppose the path is blocked off?” Penny speculated.