Jerry sat up, chuckling. “Ruined a good shirt too!”
“You shouldn’t have done it,” Penny said, still provoked.
“I wanted to put a little drama into the act. Also, I was curious to see how you would react.”
Penny tossed her head, starting away. “You needn’t be so smug about it, Jerry Livingston! And don’t flatter yourself I was concerned about you! I was thinking what a scandal it would mean for Dad and the paper!”
“Oh, sure,” Jerry agreed, pursuing her backstage and down a corridor. “Listen, Penny, it was only a joke—”
“Not a very funny one!”
“Penny, I’m sorry—I really am. I didn’t realize anyone would get so worked up about it.”
“I’m not worked up!” Penny denied, spinning on a heel to face him. “It just gave me a little shock, that’s all. First, that threat from Danny Deevers. Then when I saw you flattened out, for a minute I thought someone had substituted a real bullet in the revolver and that you had been shot.”
“It was a rummy joke—I realize that now. Forgive me, will you, Penny?”
“I suppose so. Just don’t try anything like it again.”