“Thanks,” Bill replied gratefully, turning away. “Thanks a lot.”
When the young man was beyond hearing distance, Penny spoke again of Burt Ottman’s unfortunate arrest.
“I’m sorry about everything, Miss Ottman,” she said earnestly. “If you wish, I’ll talk to the police and assure them that so far as I know, the saboteur did not resemble your brother. It was too dark for me to really see him.”
“I’ll feel very grateful if you will speak a good word for Burt,” Sara responded. She sank down on an overturned bucket and pressed a hand to her temple. “Oh, my head’s splitting! Everything’s been coming at me so fast. The police were here questioning me and they twisted my remarks all around. I’ll have to raise bail for Burt, but where the money is coming from I don’t know.”
The last of Penny’s resentment toward the girl faded away. From the jerky way Sara spoke, she knew that her thoughts were darting from one perplexing problem to another.
“I don’t know what I’m doing or saying today,” Sara said miserably. “If you can forgive me—”
“Of course! I don’t blame you a bit for speaking to me the way you did. May I borrow a sponge for a minute?”
Sara smiled and nodded. Eager to make amends, she ran into the shed and returned with the desired article.
“There’s still a little water in my boat,” Penny explained. “Thought I’d sop it up.”
“Let me do it,” Sara offered. Without waiting for permission she went to the sailboat, and with a friendly nod at the astonished Louise, began to sponge out the cockpit.