Grudgingly, Jack admitted that she had. “But the race was a fluke,” he added. “The wind was tricky and favored Sally’s old tub. It won’t happen twice.”
Annoyed by the youth’s alibis, Penny turned and walked away.
At dinner that night, Mr. Gandiss suggested that Mr. Parker and his daughter might like to visit his steel plant and airplane factory on the mainland. Despite vigorous protests, Jack was taken along.
The buildings owned by Mr. Gandiss were situated across the river in the town of Osage. Occupying many city blocks, the property included an airplane testing ground, and was protected by a high guard fence electrically charged.
“Every employee must pass inspection at the gate,” Mr. Gandiss explained as the taxi cab approached the entrance to the main factory. “We operate on a twenty-four hour basis now, and even so can’t keep abreast of orders.”
Lights blazed in the low rows of windows, and from the chimneys of the steel plant, fire leaped high into the dark sky.
“Will we be able to see steel poured from the furnaces?” Penny asked eagerly. “I’ve always wanted to watch it done.”
“You may tour every building if your feet hold out,” Mr. Gandiss chuckled.
A squat, red-faced man with pouchy eyes, halted the taxi cab at the gate.
“No visitors allowed here at night,” he began in a surly voice, and then recognized the plant owner. His manner changed instantly. “Oh, it’s you, Mr. Gandiss! How are you this evening?”