“How soon will you be leaving, Jerry?”
“Not until I’ve completed my local training. Oh, I’ll probably be grinding out news stories for quite some time yet.”
Penny drew a quick breath and changed the subject. One by one familiar faces were disappearing from the Star office, but somehow it gave her a special twinge to think that Jerry soon must go. In the pursuit of news they had shared many an adventure.
“Jerry,” she said abruptly, “Dad told me you were able to get Carl Oaks a job.”
“One of sorts. It doesn’t pay much, but it’s soft. Oaks is hired by the Riverview Coal Company to guard their barge that’s tied up at Dock 10.”
“Thanks a lot, Jerry, for going to so much trouble. Mr. Oaks ought to be quite grateful.”
“Not that fellow! He held out for more pay.”
“Are the duties hard?”
“Hard? All he has to do is stay aboard the barge and see that no one tries to make off with it.”
“I can’t imagine anyone trying to steal a coal barge,” laughed Penny.