The Secret Pact Part 8

"You're completely insane if you ask me," retorted Louise. "This place is a dreadful mess. You'll never be able to clean it up, let alone get out an issue of the paper!"

The girls had pa.s.sed through the vestibule to the lower floor room which once had served as the _Press_' circulation department. Behind the high service counter, desks and chairs remained untouched, covered by a thick layer of dust. Cobwebs hung from the ceiling light fixtures and festooned the walls.

Climbing the stairs, the girls glanced briefly into the newsroom, and then wandered on to the composing room. Penny's gaze roved over long rows of linotype machines and steel trucks which were used to hold page forms.

There were bins of type, Cheltenham, Goudy, Century--more varieties than she had ever seen before.

Pa.s.sing the stereotyping department, the girls entered the press room where slumbered ten giant double-decked rotary presses. Lying on the roller of one was a torn strip of newspaper, the last issue of the _Morning Press_ ever printed.

"It gives one a queer feeling to see all this," said Louise. "Why do you suppose Judson closed the plant when it was prosperous?"

"No one seems to know the answer," Penny replied, stooping to peer into an empty ink pot. "But it doesn't seem possible a man would give up his business, throw so many persons out of work, without a good reason."

"His bad luck seems to be yours," Louise remarked gloomily. "Well, since you've fallen heir to all this, what will you do with it? It will take a sizeable chunk of your hundred dollars just to get the place cleaned."

"Not according to my calculations," chuckled Penny. "Let's choose our offices and then we'll discuss business."

"Our offices?" echoed Louise. "I'm not in on this brain-storm of yours."

"Oh, yes, you are. You'll be the editor."

"But I thought you were that!"

"I'll be the managing editor," said Penny gently. "You'll have your office, and oodles of authority. Of course, you'll have to work hard keeping our staff in line."

"What staff?"

"We'll recruit from Riverview High, concentrating on the journalism majors. Now I think Jack Malone will be our new advertising manager."

"Jack Malone! Why, Penny, he hasn't an ounce of push."

"I know, Lou. But his father is president of the Malone Gla.s.s Company. I figure if his son is in charge of advertising--"

"I get the idea," interrupted Louise. "Penny, with a head like yours, we should land all the important accounts in town."

"I aim to win several fat ones away from the _Star_," Penny said with quiet confidence. "If we don't, it will be bankruptcy before the first issue of the paper is off the press."

Louise glanced dubiously at the dusty machinery.

"There's no denying you're a genius, Penny. Even so, I don't see how you expect to get these presses running."

"We'll only need one."

"True, but you can't recruit pressmen or linotype operators from Riverview High."

"Unfortunately, no," sighed Penny. "The first issue of the _Times_ will be printed at the _Star_ plant. Dad doesn't know it yet. After that--well, I'll think of something."

"How do you propose to get this place cleaned?"

"Every person who works on our paper must wield a broom, Lou. After we've chosen our offices, we'll scamper forth and gather our staff together."

Returning to the second floor, the girls inspected the offices adjoining the newsroom. Penny selected for hers the one which previously had been occupied by Matthew Judson. His name remained on the frosted-gla.s.s door, and the walls bore etchings and paintings of considerable value.

In the top drawer of the flat-top desk there remained an a.s.sortment of pens, erasers, thumbtacks, and small articles. All letters and papers had been removed.

"Mr. Judson apparently left here in a great hurry," she remarked. "For some reason he never returned for the paintings and personal trifles."

Louise chose an office adjoining Penny's new quarters. They both were admiring the view from the window when her chum suddenly drew herself into an att.i.tude of attention.

"What's wrong?" inquired Louise, mystified.

"I thought I heard someone moving about," whispered Penny. "Quiet!"

They remained motionless; listening. A board creaked.

Darting to the door, Penny flung it open. The newsroom was deserted, but she was almost certain she heard footsteps retreating swiftly down the hall.

"Lou, we're not alone in this building!"

"I thought I heard someone, too."

The girls ran through the newsroom to the hall, and down the stairway.

Three steps from the bottom, Penny suddenly halted. On the service counter of the advertising department lay a man's grimy felt hat.

"Look at that," she whispered. "Someone _was_ upstairs!"

"He may still be here, too. Penny, did you leave the entrance door unlocked?"

"I guess so. I don't remember."

"A loiterer may have wandered into the building, and then left when we gave chase."

"Without his hat?"

"It probably was forgotten."

"Anyhow, I intend to look carefully about," declared Penny. "After all, I am responsible for this place now."

Both girls were uneasy as they wandered from room to room. Penny even ventured into the bas.e.m.e.nt where a number of rats had taken refuge. The building seemed deserted.

"We're only wasting precious time," she said at last. "Whoever the intruder was, he's gone now."

Retracing their way to the advertising department, the girls stopped short, staring at the counter. The hat, observed there only a few minutes before, had vanished.

CHAPTER 6 _HEADLINES AND HEADACHES_