Ghost Beyond the Gate Part 9

"Are you sure that your father sought hospital treatment?" she asked Penny.

"Perhaps not. Dad wasn't badly hurt according to witnesses. He may have gone elsewhere."

Thanking the nurse for her help, Penny taxied swiftly home. Mrs. Weems, in an old coat and a turban, was pouring salt on the icy sidewalk in front of the house. From the look on her face it was evident she had not heard the news.

"Mrs. Weems, Dad's been hurt!" Penny cried, leaping from the cab. "In an auto accident!"

"My land!" the housekeeper gasped and allowed the bag of salt to fall from her gloved hand. "How bad is it?"

"I think he was more stunned than anything else. But I've not been able to learn where he was taken. He didn't telephone here?"

"Not unless it was since I've been outdoors."

Picking up the bag of salt, Mrs. Weems followed Penny into the house.

Without removing coat or hat, the girl dialed the _Star_ office. Editor DeWitt answered.

"Has Dad arrived there?" Penny asked abruptly.

"No, he hasn't returned. Anything wrong?"

Tersely Penny revealed what had occurred. The news shocked the editor for he bore Mr. Parker a genuine affection.

"Now don't you worry," he tried to cheer her. "Your father can't be badly hurt or he never would have walked away from that accident. Just sit tight and our reporters will locate him for you."

During the next hour Penny and Mrs. Weems remained near the telephone.

Each moment they waited, their anxiety increased. Mr. DeWitt did not phone. There was no word from the police station. They refused to believe that Mr. Parker had been seriously injured, yet it seemed strange he could not be found.

"It's not like him to allow anyone to worry," declared the housekeeper.

"I simply can't understand why he doesn't call to relieve our minds."

Just then the telephone bell jingled. Penny s.n.a.t.c.hed the receiver from its hook.

"DeWitt speaking," said the familiar voice of the editor.

"Any news?" Penny asked quickly. "Did you find Dad?"

"So far we haven't," the editor confessed. "I've personally called the police station, every hospital and private nursing home in Riverview."

"Dad may have gone to a doctor's office for treatment."

"I thought of that," replied DeWitt. "We've checked all the likely ones."

"What could have become of him?" Penny asked desperately. "Mrs. Weems and I are dreadfully worried."

"Oh, he'll show up any minute," comforted Mr. DeWitt. "Probably he doesn't realize anyone is looking for him."

Penny asked the editor if he had learned the ident.i.ty of the hit-skip driver.

"No one took down the license number of the car," Mr. DeWitt returned regretfully. "Our reporters are still working on the story though."

"The story," murmured Penny faintly. For the first time it occurred to her that her father's accident and subsequent disappearance would be regarded as front page news.

"I don't expect to run an account of the accident until I've talked to your father," DeWitt said hastily. "Now don't worry about anything. I'll let you know the minute I have any news."

Penny hung up the receiver and reported the conversation to Mrs. Weems. A clock on the mantel chimed one-thirty, reminding the housekeeper that lunch had not been prepared.

"No food for me," pleaded Penny. "I don't feel like eating."

"I've rather lost my own appet.i.te," confessed the housekeeper. "However, it's foolish of us to worry. Your father must be safe. No doubt he had an appointment."

Penny's face brightened. "Why, of course!" she exclaimed. "Don't know why I've been so dumb! Dad may still be in conference with Prosecutor Gilmore! I'll call there."

Darting to the telephone, she waited patiently until she was connected with the State prosecutor's office. The lawyer himself talked to her.

"Why, no, Mr. Parker hasn't been here," he replied to her eager inquiry.

"I expected him at ten-thirty. Then he telephoned that he had been delayed and would see me at eleven-thirty. He failed to keep that appointment also."

The information sent Penny's hopes glimmering. She explained about the accident and listened to the Prosecutor's expression of sympathy.

Replacing the receiver, she turned once more to Mrs. Weems.

"I'm more worried than ever now," she quavered. "Dad didn't keep his appointment with Prosecutor Gilmore, and it was a vitally important one."

"We'll hear from him soon--"

"Perhaps we won't." Penny took a quick turn across the room.

"Why, such a thing to say! What do you mean, Penny?"

"Dad has enemies. Harley Schirr told me today that if any attempt was made to expose a certain gang of thieves, it would mean real trouble."

"But your father has had no connection with such persons."

"He and Jerry worked on a case together," Penny explained. "Today at the time of the accident, Dad carried a brief case with all the evidence in it!"

"Even so, I fail to see--"

"According to the report, Dad's car was practically forced off the road,"

Penny added excitedly. "I think that auto crash was deliberately engineered! Don't you understand, Mrs. Weems? He's fallen into the clutches of his enemies!"

"Now, Penny," soothed the housekeeper. "I'm sure we're making far too much of the accident. We'll soon hear from your father."

"You're saying that to comfort me, Mrs. Weems. Something dreadful has happened! I can _feel_ it."

Penny ceased pacing the floor and went to the hall closet for her hat and coat.

"Where are you going?" asked the housekeeper, her eyes troubled.

"To the newspaper office. If word comes, I want to be there to get it the very first minute."