clean-cut. Smiling at Penny, he slapped a folded paper on Mr. Parker’s desk.

“Here’s my story on the tire thefts, Chief,” he said. “As far as I’m concerned, this winds up the case.”

“You’ve done fine work, Jerry,” Mr. Parker praised. “Thanks to your work, we ought to clean out the gang.”

“I hope so, Chief. Guess you have all the proofs needed to back up the story.”

“All the evidence is locked in my safe. I have an appointment scheduled with the Prosecutor. If he Okays the story, we’ll publish it tomorrow. By the way, Jerry, what are your plans?”

“Well, I have a couple of weeks before I go into the Army Air Corps.”

“Then treat yourself to a vacation, starting right now,” said Mr. Parker. “Can you use it?”

“Can I?” grinned Jerry. “Know what I’ll do? I’ll hop the noon train and head for the Canadian wilds on a hunting trip.”

Mr. Parker wrote out a check which he presented to the young man.

“We’ll be sorry to lose you, Jerry,” he said regretfully. “But remember, a job always will be waiting when you return.”

The reporter shook hands with Mr. Parker and Penny, then left the office.

“We’ll miss Jerry around here,” the editor remarked.

Penny nodded. She and Jerry had shared many an adventure together, and he was one of her truest friends. The office would not seem the same without him.

“My appointment with the Prosecutor is at ten-thirty,” said Mr. Parker briskly. “I’ll gather my papers and be on my way.”

The editor placed Jerry’s signed story in a leather portfolio. Next he went to the safe and fumbled with the dial.

“Want me to open it for you?” Penny asked, after he had tried several times.

Without waiting for a reply, she stooped down, twisted the dial a few times, and opened the heavy door.

“Young lady, how did you learn the combination?” Mr. Parker demanded in chagrin.

 Prev. P 20/121 next