The Secret Pact Part 36

"Yes, Mr. Judson, but you have nothing to fear from me. I shall not expose you."

"Then you know?"

"The likeness was unmistakable. I read the clipping, too."

The publisher arose, nervously walking to the fireplace. His hands trembled as he fingered an ornament on the shelf.

"I searched everywhere for that clipping when I cleaned out my desk," he mumbled. "I've gone through every imaginable torture fearing it would be found. And now I am to be exposed!"

"But I a.s.sure you I have no intention of telling anyone," said Penny earnestly. "Your past is your own."

"A man's past never is his own," responded Mr. Judson bitterly.

"I shouldn't have mentioned it. I hoped I might be able to help you."

"You haven't told Pauletta?"

"No, nor any other person."

Mr. Judson's tenseness relaxed slightly. He paced across the room and back, then faced Penny.

"All my life," he said very quietly, "I have tried to spare Pauletta the knowledge that her father was--a convict. I haven't much to offer, but I'll give anything within reason to keep the story out of the paper."

"You don't understand," interrupted Penny. "I have no intention of printing the information, or of telling anyone. I want nothing from you.

But I do wish you would tell me the true story. I am sure there were extenuating circ.u.mstances."

Mr. Judson sagged into an armchair. "None," he said. "None whatsoever. I used money which did not belong to me. My wife was desperately sick at the time and I wanted her to have the care of specialists. She died while I was serving my sentence."

"Why, you did have a reason for taking the money," said Penny kindly.

"You should have been granted a pardon."

"A theft is a theft. When I left prison, I made a new start here, and devoted myself to Pauletta who was then a little girl."

"How old was she?" inquired Penny.

Mr. Judson gave no indication that he heard the question. He resumed:

"The truth had been kept from Pauletta. She believes that I was abroad during those years I spent in prison. Here in Riverview I prospered, people were kind to me. I made money and made it honestly. The future was very bright until a year ago."

"Then you gave up your newspaper," commented Penny. "Why?"

"Can't you guess?"

"Blackmail?"

Mr. Judson nodded. "One day a man came to me, a man I had known in prison. He threatened to expose me unless I paid him a large sum of money."

"And you agreed?"

"I did."

"Wasn't that rather foolish? People would have been charitable if you had admitted the truth."

"I considered it from every angle, particularly from Pauletta's standpoint. I gave the man what he asked, although it cost me the _Morning Press_. But that was not the end."

"He still bothers you?"

"Yes, I'll pay as long as I have a penny. I've thought of taking Pauletta and going away, but he would trace me."

"Who is the man, Mr. Judson?"

"I can't tell you."

"Is it either Anchor Joe Landa or Peter Fenestra?"

Mr. Judson's face did not alter. "I can't tell you," he repeated.

"I wish you would talk to Dad," Penny said after a moment. "He might be able to help you."

"No," returned Mr. Judson, growing agitated again, "you gave your promise that you would not tell."

"Of course, I'll keep it," responded Penny. "It does seem to me, though, that the easiest thing would be to admit the truth and be rid of the man who robs you. Pauletta would understand."

Mr. Judson shook his head. "I have made my decision," he said. "As long as I can, I shall abide by it."

There was nothing Penny could do but bid Mr. Judson good evening and leave the house. His secret troubled her. If he had told her the entire truth, it seemed very foolish of him to meet the demands of a blackmailer.

"I wonder if Mr. Judson did tell me everything?" she mused. "I had a feeling that he was keeping something back."

The car rolled into the driveway of the Parker home. As Penny jumped out to open the garage doors, a man, who had been sitting on the back doorstep, arose. His face was hidden, but she knew it was not her father.

"Who is it?" she called uneasily.

The voice was rea.s.suring. "It's Horney, Miss Penny. I've been waitin' for you."

"What brings you here?" she asked, hurrying to meet him. "I hope nothing bad has happened at the _Times_."

"Everything's fine there. I've got a letter I thought you would want to see right away. Found it tonight when I was sweeping up. It answers a lot of questions you've been askin'."

Penny took the paper from Old Horney's gnarled hand. "Not about Matthew Judson?" she asked.

"Read it and you'll see," encouraged the pressman. "Judson was blackmailed just as I always thought. And by the man who signed this letter."

CHAPTER 23 _PENNY'S PLIGHT_