Mildred A. Wirt

“ Seldom checking her speed, she hurtled along the ribbon of trail. Racing on to the sharp turn, she shifted her weight and swung her body at precisely the right instant. The slope stretched on past rows of tall trees, towering like sentinels along the snow-swept ridges. Presently it flattened out into an open valley. Penny sailed past a house, a barn, and gradually slowed up until she came to a low hillock overlooking the village.
Recapturing her breath, Penny took off her skis and walked on into Pine Top. ”

“ Penny asked quickly.
“The slim fellow with the sharp face is Ralph Fergus,” answered Mrs. Downey, her voice filled with bitterness. “He manages the hotel and is supposed to be the owner. Actually, the other man is the one who provides all the money.”
“And who is he?”
“Why, you should know,” replied Mrs. Downey. “He has a hotel in Riverview. His name is Harvey Maxwell. He only comes here now and then.”
“Harvey Maxwell!” repeated Penny. “Wait until Dad hears about this!”
“Your father has had dealings with him?”
“Has he?” murmured Penny. “Maxwell is the man who is suing Dad for libel!” ”

“ Mrs. Downey smiled and shook her head. “Not Peter. I’ve known him for many years, although I can’t say I ever became acquainted with him. Once he makes a stand nothing can sway him.”
“Is he entirely right in his mind?” Penny asked dubiously.
“Oh, yes. He’s peculiar, that’s all. And he’s getting old.”
Despite Mrs. Downey’s avowal that no one was responsible for Peter Jasko’s decision, Penny considered herself at fault. She could not blame the old man for being provoked because she had helped his granddaughter escape from the cabin. ”

“ Penny found herself in an elegantly furnished salon, its chairs, davenports, carpet and draperies decorated in soft shades of green and ivory. A little dark-haired man she had never seen before, who spoke with an artificial French accent, stood talking with three women who were trying on fur coats. A fourth woman, Maxine Miller, sat in a chair, her back turned to Penny. ”

“ While Penny ate her dinner, Mrs. Downey sat beside her and chatted.
“At least there’s nothing wrong with my appetite,” the girl laughed, rapidly emptying the dishes. “At home Mrs. Weems says I eat like a wolf. Oh, by the way, any mail?”
“None for you.”
Penny’s face clouded. “It’s funny no one writes me. Don’t you think I might at least get an advertising circular?”
“Well, Christmas is coming,” Mrs. Downey said reasonably. “The holiday season always is such a busy time. Folks have their shopping to do.” ”

“ Downey declared as she aided the girl into bed.
“Please, don’t,” pleaded Penny. “I’ll be as frisky as ever by tomorrow.”
Mrs. Downey lowered the shades and went away. Left alone, Penny tried to go to sleep, but she was too uncomfortable. Every time she shifted to a new position wracking pains shot through her body.
“If this isn’t the worst break,” she thought, sinking deep into gloom. “I’ll be crippled for several days at least. No skiing, no bob-sledding. And while I’m lying here on my bed of pain, Francine will learn all about the Green Room.” ”

“ Jake stirred the horses to greater activity. In a short while the sled passed the Downey grounds and went on to the Hatter farm. Sara sprang out to unlock the wooden gate which barred entrance to a narrow, private road.
“I see Grandfather’s sled!” she exclaimed.
Without waiting for Jake to drive through the gate, she ran on down the road. Hearing her cry of alarm, the man urged his horses on.
Reaching the clearing, Penny and Jake saw Sara gazing about in bewilderment. Peter Jasko’s team had been tied to a tree and the sled box was half filled with wood. An ax lay in the deep snow close by. ”

“ However, I greatly fear you’re in the wrong part of the hotel.”
Penny paused and turned to face her companion squarely. “Why not put an end to all this nonsense, Francine? We watch each other and get nowhere. Let’s put our cards on the table.”
“Yours might be a joker!”
“We’re both interested in getting a story which will discredit Harvey Maxwell,” Penny went on, ignoring the jibe. “You’ve had a tip as to what may be going on here, while I’m working in the dark. On the other hand, I’ve acquired something which should interest you. Why don’t we pool our interests and work together?” ”

“ To be accused of being a “goody-good” was a novel experience for Penny. But instead of taking offense she laughed and started toward the woodshed.
“On a nail by the window!” the girl shouted after her. “If it isn’t there look on the shelf by the door.”
Penny found the key and came back. Taking off her cumbersome skis, she unlocked the front door and stepped inside the cabin. The room was rather cold for the fire had nearly gone out. Despite a bareness of furniture, the place had a comfortable appearance. Snowshoes decorated the walls along with a deer head and an out-dated calendar. ”

“ Jasko bent down and examined the ankle.
“No bones broken,” he said. “You’re luckier than you deserve. Any fool who doesn’t know enough to keep off skis ought to be crippled for life!”
“Such a cheerful philosophy,” observed Penny ironically. “Well, thanks anyhow for saving me. Even if you are sorry you did it.”
The old man made no immediate reply. He stood gazing down at Penny.
“Reckon I owe you something,” he said grudgingly. “Sara told me how you kept the bob-sled from going off the track. Injured yourself, too, didn’t you?” ”

“ She shooed Sara back into the loft and returned the key to the woodshed. The Jasko girl watched from the window, playfully shaking her fist as her friend skied away.
“Sara is as stimulating as a mountain avalanche,” chuckled Penny, “but she’s almost too headstrong. Sooner or later her stunts will involve me in trouble with Peter Jasko.”
In the valley below, smoke curled lazily from the chimneys of the Fergus hotel. Making directly for it, Penny felt in her pocket to be certain she had not lost the green ticket which she had found the previous evening. ”

“ Downey in relief. “But don’t get lost, whatever you do. If the trails become snowed over it might be better to stay on the main road.”
“I won’t get lost,” laughed Penny. “If worse comes to worst I always can climb a pine tree and sight the Fergus hotel.”
She dried out her mittens, and putting on an extra sweater beneath her jacket, stepped outside the lodge. The wind had fallen and only a few snowflakes were whirling down. Hearing the faint tingle of bells, Penny turned to gaze toward the road, where a pair of white horses were pulling an empty lumber wagon up the hill. ”

“ Penny waited several minutes and then came out of her hiding place. She flung open the closet door to admit more light.
“Just as I thought!” she muttered.
The closet, a long narrow room, was hung solidly with fur coats!
“So Maxine Miller was working for the hotel interests after all,” Penny told herself. “I’ve stumbled into something big!”
Groping along the wall of the storage room, she found a switch and pressed it. Again the partition revolved, revealing a flight of stairs leading downward. She slipped through and the wall slid into place behind her. ”

“ Downey laughed at Penny’s remark, not taking it very seriously.
“I wish someone could uncover damaging evidence against Harvey Maxwell,” she declared. “But I fear he’s far too clever a man to be caught in anything dishonest. Sometime when you’re in the mood to hear a tale of woe, I’ll tell you how he is running things at Pine Top.”
“I’d like to learn everything I can about him,” responded Penny eagerly.
Mrs. Downey led the girl across the field to the road where the bob-sled and team of horses had been hitched. Jake, the handy man, appeared a moment later, loaded down with skis and luggage. ”

“ Jake drove, with the hotel woman and her guests sitting on the floor of the sled, covered by warm blankets.
“Is it always so cold here?” shivered Miss Miller.
“Always at this time of year,” returned Mrs. Downey. “You’ll not mind it in a day or two. And the skiing is wonderful. We had six more inches of snow last night.”
Penny thoroughly enjoyed the novel experience of gliding swiftly over the hard-packed snow. The bobsled presently passed a large rustic building at the base of the mountain which Mrs. Downey pointed out as the Fergus hotel. ”

“ But Jerry Livingston, one of the best reporters on the paper, was still pecking out copy on a noisy typewriter.
“Hi, Penny!” he observed, grinning as she brushed past his desk. “Have you caught any more witch dolls?”
“Not for the front page,” she flung back at him. “My newspaper career is likely to remain in a state of status quo for the next two weeks. Dad and I are heading for Pine Top to dazzle the natives with our particular brand of skiing. Don’t you envy us?”
“I certainly would, if you were going.”
“If!” exclaimed Penny indignantly. “Of course we’re going! We leave Thursday by plane. ”

“ Sara accused. “You didn’t care how many persons might be injured in an accident!”
Ralph Fergus’ face was an angry red. “What reason would I have for doing anything like that?” he demanded.
“Guests were being drawn from your hotel because bob-sledding was increasing in popularity,” said Penny quietly. “Nothing would please you more than to put Mrs. Downey out of business.”
“Aren’t you drawing rather sweeping conclusions?” inquired Harvey Maxwell in an insolent tone. “A button isn’t very certain evidence. So many persons wear buttons, you know.” ”

“ You’ve been very nice to me and I might be able to get a coat for you at cost.”
“That’s most kind,” remarked Penny dryly. “Where could I see these coats?”
“My employer has a salesroom here at the hotel,” Miss Miller declared. “I can arrange an appointment for you. Say tomorrow at two?”
“I haven’t enough money with me to buy a coat even if I wanted one.”
“But if you liked the furs you could wire your parents for more,” the actress wheedled. “It is a wonderful opportunity. You’ll never have another chance to buy a beautiful coat at cost.” ”

“ Penny declared regretfully. “I was provoked because he wouldn’t sign a lease with Mrs. Downey. After hearing what he said to Fergus and Maxwell I realize nothing will sway him.”
Sara sighed as she helped her friend put on her shoe again.
“I’m afraid not. I’ll do what I can to influence him, but I can tell you now he’ll never listen to me. Grandfather is just the way he is, and one can’t budge him an inch.”
Peter Jasko soon had the team hitched to the bob-sled. He and Sara helped Penny in, wrapping blankets around her so that she would be snug and warm during the ride up the mountain. ”

“ Penny complained.
“Oh, yes it will,” contradicted her chum. “I know you’ll manage to stir up plenty of excitement. You’ll probably pull a mysterious Eskimo out of a snow bank or save Santa Claus from being kidnaped! That’s the way you operate.”
“Pine Top is an out of the way place, close to the Canadian border. All one can do there is eat, sleep, and ski.”
“You mean, that’s all one is supposed to do,” corrected Louise with a laugh. “But you’ll run into some big story or else you’re slipping!”
“There isn’t a newspaper within fifty miles. No railroad either. ”