Saboteurs on the River Part 16

"I think they've hung the Indian sign on us," Jerry muttered after the waiter had gone. "See anyone you know, Penny?"

"That man over by the door--the one sitting alone," she indicated in a whisper. "Louise and I followed him here."

"The one that's wrestling with the lobster?"

"Yes, don't stare at him, Jerry. He's watching us."

The waiter arrived with gla.s.ses of water and menu cards. Jerry and the girls scanned the list in secret consternation. Scarcely an item was priced at less than a dollar, and even a modest meal would cost a large sum.

"I'm not very hungry," Louise said helpfully. "I'll take a ham sandwich."

"So will I," added Penny.

"Three hams with plenty of mustard," ordered Jerry breezily.

The waiter gave him a long glance. "And your drink, sir?"

"Water," said Jerry. "Cool, refreshing water, preferably with a small piece of ice."

The waiter favored the trio with another unflattering look and went to the kitchen.

"This is a gyp place," Penny declared indignantly. "I can't understand why anyone would come here. The waiters all seem to be French."

"Oh, all head waiters speak French," Jerry replied. "You can't tell by that. I'd say they were German myself."

Penny studied the cafe employees with new interest. She noted that the head waiter kept an alert eye upon the entire room, but particularly he watched their table.

Soon the three orders of ham sandwiches were brought by the waiter. The young people ate as slowly as they could so they would have an excuse for remaining as long as they desired.

"What time is it, Jerry?" Penny asked anxiously.

"Ten after nine," he answered, looking at his watch.

A bell jingled, and the young people knew that another customer had arrived. Craning their necks to see around the palm tree, they watched the dining room entranceway. In a moment a young man entered and was greeted by the head waiter. Jerry and the girls stared, scarcely believing their eyes.

"Why, it's Burt Ottman!" Penny whispered.

"And exactly on the dot of nine-fifteen," added Louise significantly. "He _must_ be the person who lost that billfold!"

CHAPTER 12 _JERRY'S DISAPPEARANCE_

Without noticing Jerry and the girls, Burt Ottman walked directly to a table at the other side of the dining room. He spoke to the stranger whom Penny and Louise had followed, and sat down opposite him.

"Ha! The plot thickens!" commented Jerry in an undertone. "Obviously our friend and Burt Ottman had an appointment together."

"This is certainly a shock to me," declared Penny. "I'd made up my mind that Burt had nothing whatsoever to do with the dynamiting. Now I don't know what to think."

"He must be the saboteur," Louise said, speaking louder than she realized. "We picked up the billfold along the river and it undoubtedly was his."

"He denied it," replied Penny. "However, when I spoke of The Green Parrot I noticed that he seemed to recognize the name. Oh, dear!"

"Now don't take it so hard," Jerry comforted her. "The best thing to do is to report what we've seen to police and let them draw their own conclusions."

"I suppose so," Penny admitted gloomily. "I had hoped to help Sara and her brother."

"You wouldn't want to protect a saboteur?"

"Of course not, Jerry. Oh, dear, it's all so mixed up."

So intent had the young people been upon their conversation that they failed to observe a waiter hovering near. Nor did it occur to them that he might be listening. As Jerry chanced to glance toward him, he bowed, and moving forward, presented the bill.

"Howling cats!" the reporter muttered after the waiter had discreetly withdrawn. "Will you look at this!"

"How much is it?" Penny asked anxiously. "We only had three ham sandwiches."

"Two dollars cover charge. Three sandwiches, one dollar and a half. Tip, fifty cents. Grand total, four dollars, plus sales tax."

"Why, that's robbery!" Penny exclaimed. "I wouldn't pay it, Jerry."

"I can't," he admitted, slightly abashed. "I only have three dollars in my pocket. Then I'll have to buy my hat back from the checkroom girl."

"Louise and I haven't any money either," Penny said. "Thirty-eight cents to be exact."

"Thirty-three," corrected her chum.

"Tell you what," said Jerry after a moment of thought. "You girls stay here and hold down the chairs. I'll go outside and telephone one of the boys at the office. I'll have someone bring me some cash."

Left to themselves, the girls tried to act as if nothing were wrong.

However, they were very conscious of the waiter's scrutiny. Every time the man entered the dining room with a tray of food, he gazed suggestively at the unpaid bill.

"I'd feel more comfortable under the table," Penny commented. "Why doesn't Jerry hurry?"

"Perhaps he can't find a telephone."

"Something is keeping him. We're going to become conspicuous if we stay here much longer."

The girls fumbled with their purses and sipped at their water gla.s.ses until the tumblers were empty. Minutes pa.s.sed and still Jerry did not return.

After a while, Burt Ottman's companion left the dining room. The young owner of the boat dock waited until the older man had vanished, and then called for his check. If the bill were unusually large he did not appear to notice, for he paid it without protest and likewise left the dining room.

"Louise, I don't want to stay here any longer," Penny said nervously. "I can't understand what's keeping Jerry."

"Why not go out to the foyer and look for him."