“I’m not in the least worried about the lantern being stolen,” Sally retorted. “I won it fairly enough, didn’t I?”
“Yes.”
“Then it’s mine to display as I choose. The racing committee agreed to that. The lantern is chained to a beam and is safe enough.”
“I hope so,” Jack said grimly. “I aim to win it back, and I don’t want to see it do a disappearing act before the day of the race.”
“You won’t,” Sally returned shortly. “I accept full responsibility, so let me do the worrying.”
A signal bell tapped several times, a warning to the passengers that the ferry was approaching shore. As those aboard began to gather up their belongings, Sally buttoned her oilskin coat tightly about her.
“Excuse me for a minute,” she said to Penny and Mr. Parker. “I’ve got to help Pop. See you later.”
CHAPTER
3
A “PROBLEM” BOY
Penny, Jack and Mr. Parker reached the deck of the River Queen in time to see Sally leap nimbly across a wide space to the dock. There she looped a great coil of rope expertly over the post and helped get the gangplank down.
“Step lively!” she urged the passengers pleasantly, but in a voice crisp with authority.