“You have your connection with Riverview,” she was told. “Go ahead.”
Penny raised the receiver to her ear. Her hand trembled she was so nervous and excited. She spoke tensely into the transmitter: “Hello, is this the Star office?”
“Anthony Parker speaking,” said the voice of her father.
“Dad, this is Penny! I have the story for you!”
She heard her father’s voice at the other end of the line but it became so weak she could not distinguish a word. Nor could he understand her. The connection had failed.
CHAPTER
24
A BIG STORY
Penny despaired, fearing that she never could make her father understand what she had to tell him. Then unexpectedly the wire trouble cleared and Mr. Parker’s voice fairly boomed in her ear.
“Is that you, Penny? Are you all right?”
“Oh, yes, Dad!” she answered eagerly. “And so is Louise! We have the story for you—couldn’t get it out before.”
“Thought we never would hear from you again,” Mr. Parker said, his voice vibrant. “Your flash on the flood scooped the country. We’re still ahead of the other newspapers. Shoot me all the facts.”