Penny Nichols Finds a Clue Part 24

"I know I saw Betty looking out of an upstairs window just as we drove up," Susan whispered.

"Perhaps she doesn't care to see us then. Come on, Sue, let's not knock again."

They quietly withdrew to the car.

"Where to now?" Susan inquired as she snapped on the ignition.

"Oh, anywhere. I've nothing special to do this afternoon."

Susan stepped on the electric starter, but the engine refused to respond. She readjusted gasoline and spark levers to no avail.

"Stalled again!" she complained bitterly. "I never saw such a car!

We've had nothing but trouble since we bought it."

"Perhaps it's only flooded," Penny suggested hopefully.

Susan shook her head.

"It's done this before. Nothing to do but call the garage. Anyway, Mr. Brunner promised he'd give the car a free overhaul, and this is his chance to make good."

The girls telephoned the Brunner garage from a drug store located directly across the street. They waited nearly half an hour before the blue service car arrived to tow them in.

"May I speak to Mr. Brunner?" Susan politely asked one of the garage employees.

"Sorry but he's busy," was the curt reply. "I'll handle any complaint you have to make."

Susan gave a somewhat lengthy account of her car troubles. The employee scarcely bothered to listen. When she had finished, he said briefly.

"I'll check the car over and have it ready in half an hour."

"Let's wait," Susan proposed.

They found chairs nearby. In fifteen minutes, the same employee returned to report that the car was ready.

"So soon?" Susan said in surprise. "Why, I'm sure you couldn't have checked over everything in such a short while."

"The car will start now. If you want a general overhaul you'll have to pay for it."

"But Mr. Brunner promised me when I bought the automobile that if anything went wrong he'd make it right!" Susan protested indignantly.

"I've driven the car less than five hundred miles and it's almost falling apart! May I see Mr. Brunner?"

"He's in his office," the man informed reluctantly.

"And where is that?"

"Down the hall. The second door from the end."

Crossing through the deserted repair shop, the girls made their way down the dark hallway. The door which the employee had indicated stood slightly ajar.

As Penny and Susan drew near they heard angry voices.

"You can threaten me all you like, but I tell you I'm through! I'll never do any more work for you, Brunner!"

"You'll do exactly as I say or--" The manager abruptly broke off for he had noticed the two girls standing at the open door. "Come in, come in!" he beamed.

Penny's keen glance traveled beyond George Brunner to the person whom he had addressed in such an abusive tone.

It was Jerry Barrows.

CHAPTER XIV

Brunner's Explanation

Jerry Barrows had recognized Penny instantly. Before she could recover from her surprise at seeing him, he wheeled and left the office by a side door.

Involuntarily, Penny started to follow, but without appearing to do so intentionally, the manager neatly blocked her path.

"A disgruntled employee of mine," he announced blandly. "I've had a great deal of trouble with him. He's a fine workman but difficult to manage."

"What sort of work does he do?" Penny inquired alertly.

The manager was slightly taken aback at the question. He answered evasively:

"Oh, he runs my tow truck and does odd jobs about the garage."

"I've seen him before," Penny remarked. "But his name has slipped my mind. It's not Jerry Barrows is it?"

The manager scrutinized her intently for a moment. His eyes held a fleeting expression of annoyance and dislike.

"Now I'm sorry but I can't tell you his name," he said apologetically.

"I don't know that I ever heard it, although it must be on our pay rolls. Of course, I remember very few of my employees by their names."

Penny and Susan exchanged a quick glance which the manager noted. They were both firmly convinced that Brunner knew the name but did not wish to reveal it.

"Since the boy is an employee of yours, probably I could get his name and address from the pay roll," Penny suggested pointedly.

Brunner hesitated, although only momentarily.

"Why certainly," he said genially. "I'll secure it for you myself.

Drop in any time next week and I'll have it for you."

"Couldn't I get it today?" Penny persisted.

"I am afraid that is impossible," Brunner smiled a trifle coldly. "It is nearly time for me to leave the office now. Did you young ladies wish to see me about another matter?"

Susan recounted her many unpleasant experiences in regard to the newly purchased automobile. The manager listened politely but with increasing frigidity.