“Let’s not do it,” Louise pleaded, holding back.
Having proceeded so far. Penny was in no mood to retreat. Quickly, lest she too lose her courage, she rapped hard on the tower door.
Minutes elapsed. Then the heavy oak door swung back and Jim McCoy, the burly keeper, peered out at the girls. His bushy brows drew together in an angry scowl.
“You here again!” he exclaimed.
“Yes,” said Penny, making the word crisp and firm.
“I’ll have to report you if you keep pestering me,” the keeper scolded. “How many times have I told you no visitors are allowed?”
“But you don’t treat everyone the same!” Penny remonstrated. “Mrs. Deline just came here.”
“Mrs. Deline? Who’s she?”
“Why, a woman who stays at the hotel. She came through this door not five minutes ago!”
“You must have imagined it. I’ve had no visitors.”