From the sedan stepped Mr. Parker, Salt, and Jerry Livingston. Scarcely believing her eyes, Penny ran to meet them.
“Oh, Dad!” she cried. “You did get Mrs. Jones’ message!”
“Message?” he inquired. “Why, no! We were worried because you had been gone so long, so we came out here to find you. What’s this all about?”
Penny rapidly told of Danny’s flight into the swamp with the stolen money.
“If Mrs. Jones reaches a phone, police should get here any minute!” she added.
“In the meantime, we can’t let those men escape!” Mr. Parker exclaimed. “Salt, you stay here and wait for the police. If they don’t come in ten minutes, go after them!”
“Sure, Chief!”
“Jerry, you come with me,” the publisher directed, untying the boat at the dock. “We’ll try to keep those men in sight and mark the way for police to follow.”
As Penny followed Jerry into the boat, her father protested quickly:
“Penny, you know you can’t go! Danny Deevers is a desperate character.”