There was nothing Penny could do but bid Mr. Judson good evening and leave the house. His secret troubled her. If he had told her the entire truth, it seemed very foolish of him to meet the demands of a blackmailer.
“I wonder if Mr. Judson did tell me everything?” she mused. “I had a feeling that he was keeping something back.”
The car rolled into the driveway of the Parker home. As Penny jumped out to open the garage doors, a man, who had been sitting on the back doorstep, arose. His face was hidden, but she knew it was not her father.
“Who is it?” she called uneasily.
The voice was reassuring. “It’s Horney, Miss Penny. I’ve been waitin’ for you.”
“What brings you here?” she asked, hurrying to meet him. “I hope nothing bad has happened at the Times.”
“Everything’s fine there. I’ve got a letter I thought you would want to see right away. Found it tonight when I was sweeping up. It answers a lot of questions you’ve been askin’.”
Penny took the paper from Old Horney’s gnarled hand. “Not about Matthew Judson?” she asked.
“Read it and you’ll see,” encouraged the pressman. “Judson was blackmailed just as I always thought. And by the man who signed this letter.”