A sheet of writing paper, high quality and slightly perfumed, slid from the envelope. The message was terse and bore no signature at the end. It read:
“Offer a suitable reward and information will be provided as to the whereabouts of your father. Make your offer known in the Star.”
CHAPTER
11
BY A CEMETERY WALL
Penny and Mrs. Weems reread the anonymous message many times, analyzing every word.
“Plainly this note was written by a woman of some means for the paper is fine quality,” Penny commented. “She must have sneaked up on the porch about an hour ago.”
“Call the police at once,” urged Mrs. Weems. “They’ll tell us what we should do.”
“Whoever left the note may be watching the house.”
“We must risk that, Penny. I’ll call the station myself.”
While Mrs. Weems busied herself at the telephone, Penny switched off the living-room light. She could see no one loitering anywhere near the house. Slipping on her coat, she went outside to inspect the footprints left on the porch. Only a few remained uncovered by snow. There was no way to tell in which direction the writer of the anonymous message had gone.
Mrs. Weems had completed her telephone call by the time Penny reentered the house.