“Miss Kippenberg is not at home,” came the stiff response.
“Then let me speak with Mrs. Kippenberg,” Penny said quickly. “I have something very important to tell her. Yesterday when I was at the estate I found a ring—”
The receiver had clicked at the other end of the line. The connection was broken.
CHAPTER
9
A SOCIETY BAZAAR
“You see, Penny,” said Mr. Parker sympathetically, “wealthy people have a way of being inaccessible to the press. They surround themselves with servants who have been trained to allow no invasion of their privacy. They erect barriers which aren’t easily broken down.”
“If only I could have reached Miss Kippenberg I feel sure she would have wished to learn about the ring,” returned Penny. “Oh, well, let Jerry cover the story. I’ve lost interest.”
All that morning the girl went about the house in a mood of deep depression. She felt completely out of sorts and would scowl at her own reflection whenever she passed a mirror. Nothing seemed to go right.
“I declare, I wish you would forget that silly wedding,” Mrs. Weems said wearily. “Why don’t you try working out your resentment on a tennis ball?”
“Not a bad idea,” admitted Penny. “Only I have no partner. Louise is going away somewhere today to a charity bazaar.”
“Here in Riverview?” inquired Mrs. Weems with interest.