Clayton, the gateman, showed his face a moment later, and he too acted self-conscious. As he checked a car through into the factory grounds, he glanced sideways at Penny, obviously uneasy as to how much she might have overheard.
“Been here long?” he inquired carelessly.
“No, I just came,” Penny answered with pretended unconcern. “I’m waiting for my father.”
The men did not come immediately. However, as Penny loitered near the gatehouse, she saw Sally Barker hurriedly leaving the factory building.
“Ain’t you off early tonight?” the gateman asked as she approached.
“I’m off for good,” Sally answered shortly. Her face was tear-stained and she did not try to hide the fact that she had been crying.
“Fired?”
“That’s right,” Sally replied. “Unjustly too!”
“Shoo, you don’t say!” the gateman exclaimed, sympathetically. “What did they give you the can for?”
Sally, in no mood to provide details, went on without answering. Penny ran to overtake her.