Ghost Beyond the Gate Part 20

"Am I? Why, we stopped there with Salt Sommers!"

"We did indeed. Remember the big truck?"

"Lou, you may have stumbled into something really important!"

"Glad you think so, chum. But you're not interested in Black Markets."

"I've changed my mind! I want to talk to Mattie Williams right away!"

Penny started the car. Driving with a mechanical, unthinking efficiency born of many years' practice, she questioned Louise as to the source of her information. The girls were deep in a discussion when they heard someone shout. Salt Sommers had hailed them from the curb.

"Why, h.e.l.lo," Penny greeted him, stopping the car with a jerk. "Any trouble at the _Star_?"

"Not from Schirr," grinned Salt. "I'm hot-footing it to the Ladies Club to mug some dames pouring tea! For the society page."

"Poor Salt!" smiled Penny, knowing how he hated trivial a.s.signments.

"On your way to the office?" the photographer questioned.

Penny hesitated, then decided to confide in Salt. She repeated what Louise had told her about the Mattie Williams' garage.

"Well, can you beat that!" the photographer exclaimed. "I don't know Mattie and her partner well, but I always supposed they were honest. So they're dealing in stolen tires!"

"We don't know for sure," Penny said hastily. "Our information is mostly founded on rumor."

"And the tires may not be stolen ones," contributed Louise. "I only heard they can be bought there."

Penny added that she would not take time to run down the Black Market story save that her father's disappearance might have a connection with the tire-thief gang.

"I aim to learn the names of those men Dad intended to expose," she said earnestly.

Somewhat startled by the grim note of Penny's voice, Salt warned her that she might be venturing on dangerous ground.

"We all admire your courage," he said, "but you mustn't take foolish risks. Your father would turn thumbs down on that idea."

"It's because of Dad that I must investigate every angle of the tire-theft racket."

"Quite an ambitious a.s.signment," Salt said dryly. "Now as soon as Jerry gets back from Canada--"

"We can't wait! Something has to be done right away!"

"I know how you feel," responded Salt, "but there's such a thing as being too courageous."

"I'm not courageous," Penny denied. "Last night at the cemetery I was scared half to death. And then when I saw the ghost--"

"What ghost?" interrupted Louise.

Penny had not intended to speak of what she had seen at the Harrison estate. The slip of tongue made it necessary to tell of the path by the gate, the retreating figure, and the mysterious light.

"That's funny," commented the photographer, regarding her with a peculiar expression. "Since I've been on duty at the observation tower I've never seen any activity at the estate."

"I don't believe in ghosts, but I saw one all that same!" Penny insisted.

"Just watch some night and see for yourself!"

Annoyed by Salt's smile, she shifted gears and drove on down the street.

Turning to Louise, she asked earnestly: "You believe I saw something wandering about the estate last night, don't you?"

"Well," Louise hesitated, unwilling to offend her chum. "You must have been quite upset after failing to meet that woman at the cemetery. Under the circ.u.mstances...."

"I was as calm as I am now," Penny cried indignantly. "I saw it, I tell you!"

"Of course you did, dear," Louise soothed. "Do please watch your driving more carefully, or I'll have to take over."

Penny suddenly relaxed. "Okay, have it your own way," she shrugged. "I wouldn't believe Mose Johnson, so why should you believe me? It's just one of those things."

For a long while they rode in silence. Few cars were on the road and there was little business activity at Kamm's Corner. Penny parked in front of the Mattie Williams' garage.

"What excuse will we have for questioning her?" Louise asked dubiously.

"I'm not going to make an excuse," said Penny. "I'll just come right out and ask her if she sells tires without a special order."

The girls entered the warm little office, stamping snow from their galoshes.

"Just a minute," called a voice which belonged to Mattie Williams.

The garage owner was busy with a customer. Soon however, she came in from the main part of the building, wiping her oily hands on a piece of waste.

"What can I do for you?" she inquired briskly.

"You remember us, don't you?" asked Penny, leading into the subject of tires as gradually as possible. "We're friends of Salt Sommers."

"Oh, sure!" the woman's face lighted. "You came in with him the night of the bad storm."

"My car had been stripped of its tires. Ever since, I've been wondering how to get new ones."

A slightly guarded expression came over Mattie Williams' face. She said nothing.

"I was told I might obtain some here," Penny plunged on.

"You can," said Mattie. "Provided you have an order from your Ration Board."

"Not without it?"

Mattie gazed at Penny with undisguised scorn. "What sort of a place do you think we run here?" she demanded. "Of course we don't sell tires without an order."

"But we were told--"

"Well, you were told wrong," snapped Mattie. "Sorry. I can't help you."