“In that case the answer is ‘yes,’” Louise replied instantly.
Penny drove directly home to exchange cars and tell Mrs. Weems where she was going.
“Louise and I may not be back until very late,” she warned. “It’s barely possible we’ll attend the theatre while we’re at Claymore. There’s a new play on, and everyone says it’s grand.”
“If you drive after night, be very careful,” the housekeeper responded uneasily. “There are so many accidents these days.”
A brief stop was made at the Sidell residence, and then the girls took to the road. Deliberately, Penny selected the same route which she and Jerry had followed the previous night.
“Is that why we’re going to Claymore?” Louise inquired curiously, as she heard the story of what had happened to the Davis truck. “You intend to trace those stolen melons?”
“I haven’t much hope of doing that,” Penny answered. “I want to visit the telegraph office and get an original message which was sent to Dad. His life has been made miserable by a pest who keeps sending him telegrams, and I’m out to catch the rascal.”
“You jump around from one thing to another so fast I can’t keep track of your enterprises,” Louise sighed.
“I concentrate on the ones which offer a prospect of ready cash,” Penny rejoined with a laugh. “If I catch Mr. Ben Bowman it means exactly one hundred dollars to me!”
Upon reaching Claymore, the girls spent two hours shopping at the large department stores. Penny then made a tour of the telegraph offices, finally locating the one from which Mr. Bowman’s message had been sent. After explaining why she wished it, she was allowed to inspect and keep the original copy which bore the sender’s signature.