“Oh, no one ever questioned his bravery, Miss Parker. Your father is courageous to the point of rashness. But if he prints an exposé story about the tire theft gang, it’s apt to prove the most foolish act of his life.”

“How do you know he intends to do such a thing?”

The question, sharply put, surprised Mr. Schirr.

“Oh, I don’t,” he denied hastily. “I merely heard the rumor around the office.”

Penny made no reply. As the silence became noticeable, the assistant editor murmured that he would return to see Mr. Parker later and left the office.

Penny glared at the man’s retreating back. Even more intensely than before, she disliked Harley Schirr.

“The old sneak cat!” she thought. “I’ll bet a cent he’s been listening at the door or prying in Dad’s papers! I’m sure no rumors have been circulating around the office.”

The telephone rang. Automatically Penny took down the receiver.

“Mr. Parker?” inquired a masculine voice.

“He’s not here now. This is his daughter speaking. May I take a message?”

“No message,” said the purring voice. “Mr. Parker may hear from me later.”

“Who is this, please?” asked Penny quickly.

There was no answer, only the click of a receiver being hung on its hook.

The incident, although trifling, annoyed Penny. Getting up from the desk, she walked to the window. Mr. Schirr’s intimation had alarmed her, and now the telephone call added to her uneasiness.

“Probably the man who telephoned is well known to Dad,” she tried to assure herself. “I’m just imagining that his voice sounded sinister.”

Feeling the need of an occupation, Penny wandered out into the editorial room. She chatted with the society editor and for a time watched the world news reports coming in on the noisy teletype machines.

“Need a job?” inquired Editor DeWitt at the slot of the circular copy desk. “How about writing a few headlines for me?”

“No, thanks,” Penny declined. “I’m just waiting for Dad. He should be back any minute now.”

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