But as she passed the bushes, a hand reached out and grasped her ankle.
Startled, Penny uttered a nervous cry.
“Be quiet, you goon!” a familiar voice bade.
It was Sally Barker crouched amid the foliage. Quickly she pulled Penny with her behind the bushes.
“Sally, what are you doing here?” Penny demanded.
“Watching that house. I saw you a long way down the beach.”
“Anything doing?”
“A boat is coming in now. That’s why I didn’t want you to be seen.”
A rowboat with an outboard, rapidly approached the Harper pier. Already it was making a wide sweep preparatory to a landing.
“Why, it’s that fellow, Joe the Sweeper!” Penny exclaimed, peering out from the hiding place. “Who is steering the boat?”