Raising a hand to his head, the reporter gingerly felt of a big bump which had risen there. He pulled himself to a sitting position.
“What happened, Jerry?” Penny asked after giving him a few minutes to recover his senses. “Did you trip and fall?”
The question seemed to revive Jerry completely. Without answering, he got to his feet, and walked unsteadily to the window overlooking the alley.
Penny then noticed for the first time that it was open. She also became aware of a heavy scent of tobacco smoke in the room—the same cigarette odor she had noticed earlier. Now however, it was much stronger.
Jerry peered out the window. “He’s gone!” he mumbled.
“Who, Jerry? Tell me what happened.”
“Things aren’t too clear in my mind,” the reporter admitted, sinking into a chair. “Wow! My head!”
“Did someone attack you?”
“With a blackjack. I came in here and changed my shirt. Had a queer feeling all the while, as if someone were in the room.”
“Were you smoking a cigarette, Jerry?”