“Now don’t try to pin me down,” Mr. Parker laughed. “Suppose we just say we came here for a vacation.”
Penny eyed her father quizzically. From the way he sidestepped her questions she was certain that he had more than a casual interest in the outlaw radio station.
“Dad, will you let me help you?” she pleaded eagerly.
“Help me?” Mr. Parker joked. “Why, you seem to think that I’m a Government investigator in disguise!”
“You don’t deny that you came here largely because of your interest in that station?”
“Well, I may be a tiny bit interested. But don’t jump to conclusions, young lady! It doesn’t necessarily follow that I have set out to track down any enemy agent single handed.” Mr. Parker brought the discussion to an end by opening the car door. “I’m dead tired, Penny. If you’ll excuse me, I’ll turn in.”
After her father had gone to the tent, Penny remained for a while in the car. Soberly she stared at the stars and thought over what she had learned.
“I don’t care what Dad says,” she reflected, “he came here to find that radio station! But maybe, just maybe, I’ll beat him to it!”
CHAPTER
6
BREAKFAST BLUES
Penny awoke next morning to find the tent cold and damp. She rolled over on the hard cot and moaned with pain. Every muscle in her battered body felt as if it had been twisted into a knot.