As Penny unlocked the door, Ben Bowman made a break for freedom. However, the editor was entirely prepared. Seizing the man, he held him until Penny could summon the policeman. Still struggling, Bowman was loaded into a patrol wagon and taken to police headquarters.
“I guess that earns me a nice little one hundred dollars!” Penny remarked as she and her father went to their own car. “Thanks, Dad.”
“You’re entirely welcome,” Mr. Parker grinned. “I never took greater pleasure in acknowledging a debt.”
“What’s your next move, Dad? Will you expose Clyde Blake in tomorrow’s Star?”
“I’m tempted to do it, Penny. The evidence still is rather flimsy, but even if Ben Bowman denies his story, I think we can prove our charges.”
“It’s a pity you can’t break the Hood yarn in the same edition,” Penny said musingly. “What a front page that would make!”
“It certainly would be a good three pennies worth,” Mr. Parker agreed. “Unfortunately, it will be many days before the Hoods are supposed to hold their meeting at the Tower.”
“But why wait? We could call that gathering ourselves!”
“Just how?”
“Simple as pie. All we would need to do would be to have the clock strike thirteen instead of twelve.” Penny glanced at her wrist watch and added persuasively: “We have several hours in which to work!”