“Say, he musta been the one that asked me about the fare to the swamp!”
At the pair’s look of intense interest, the cab driver added: “I was waitin’ here for a fare when some ladies came out of the hospital. I pulled up and took ’em aboard. Just then this young feller comes out.
“He didn’t seem to notice I had my cab filled, and says: ‘How much to take me to Caleb Corners?’”
“Caleb Corners?” Penny repeated, having never heard of the place.
“That’s a long ways out, almost to the swamp. I says to him, ‘Sorry, buddy, but I got a fare. If you can wait a few minutes I’ll be right back and pick you up.’”
“What did Jerry say?” Salt asked.
“He said he wanted to get started right away. Reckon he picked up another cab.”
Thanking the driver for the information, Penny and Salt retreated a few steps for a consultation.
“If Jerry started for the swamp at this time of night he must be wacky!” the photographer declared. “That knock on the head must have cracked him up and he doesn’t know what he’s doing!”
“Why would he start for the swamp? Maybe he remembers what I told him about seeing a stranger there today, and in his confusion, has an idea he’ll find Danny Deevers!”