“I’ll get there somehow,” Penny promised, pocketing the card. Her hand encountered a typed, folded sheet of paper which she immediately placed in front of her father. “Oh, by the way, sign this for me, will you?”
“No more cheques.”
“This is only an order for a ton-roll of paper. I’m trying to store up a few supplies so that eventually I can publish the Weekly in my own plant.”
Mr. Parker signed the order, inquiring teasingly: “Have you engaged your pressman yet? Their wages come rather high you know.”
“It takes everything the Weekly makes to meet its current bills,” sighed Penny. “But one of these days I’ll get the paper out in my own plant. Just wait and see!”
“I’ll wait,” chuckled Mr. Parker. “My hope is that you don’t fail in your studies before that happy day arrives.”
On her way to school, Penny studied the card given her by her father, and noticed that the new cottage was situated not far from The Willows. Often she and Louise had talked of calling upon Peter Fenestra, but both had been kept busy at the Times office. Now that a linotype operator had been hired to set type, they had a little more free time.
“If Louise will accompany me, I’ll visit both places tonight,” decided Penny.
Four-thirty found the two girls walking through a dense maple and oak woods which rimmed the Big Bear River. A breeze stirred the tree leaves, but even so the day was hot and sultry.
“I wish it would rain,” remarked Louise, trudging wearily beside her companion. “I never knew it to be so warm at this time of year.”