“You’re not breakfasting on that,” said the housekeeper, taking the dishes away from her. “Oatmeal is what you need. Now why must you go to the river?”
“Someone has to salvage the sailboat. Besides, I lost a valuable object last night—”
The telephone jingled, and Penny darted off to answer it. As she had anticipated, the call was from Louise Sidell, who in a very husky voice asked her how she was feeling.
“Fit as a fiddle and ready to go bottle hunting!” Penny replied promptly. “And you?”
“I hurt in all the wrong places,” Louise complained. “What a night!”
“Why, I enjoyed every minute of it,” Penny said with sincerity. “If you’re such a wreck I suppose you won’t care to go with me to the river this morning. By the way, what did you do with that blue bottle?”
“I haven’t the slightest idea. I’m sure I had it in my hand when we reached shore, but that’s the last I remember.”
“Well, never mind, if it’s anywhere on the beach I’ll find it,” Penny said. “Sure you don’t want to tag along?”
“Maybe I will.”
“Then meet me in twenty minutes at Ottman’s dock. Signing off now to gobble a bowl of oatmeal.”