CHAPTER 1 _ABOARD THE GOODTIME_
A blanket of fog, thick and damp, swirled about the decks of theexcursion steamer, _Goodtime_, cautiously plying its course down theriver. At intervals, above the steady throb of the ship's engines, a foghorn sounded its mournful warning to small craft.
"I hope we don't collide with another boat before we make the dock,"remarked Louise Sidell who stood at the railing with her chum, PenelopeParker.
"That would be a perfect ending for an imperfect day," returned Penny,fitting her coat collar more snugly about her throat.
"An imperfect day! I call it a miserable one. Rain and fog! Rain and fog!It's made my hair as straight as the shortest distance between twopoints."
"Mine's as kinky as wool." Impatiently Penny brushed a ringlet of goldenhair from her eyes. "Well, shall we go inside again?"
"No, I'd rather freeze than be a wallflower," the dark-eyed girlresponded gloomily. "We haven't been asked to dance once this evening."
"That's because we came without our own crowd, Lou. Except for thatcouple yonder, we're practically the only persons aboard unattached to agroup."
Penny jerked her head in the direction of a young man and girl who slowlypaced the deck. Earlier in the evening their peculiar actions hadattracted her attention. They kept strictly to themselves, avoiding thesalon, the dining room, and all contact with other excursionists.
"I wonder who they are?" mused Louise, turning to stare. "The girl wearsa veil as if she were afraid someone might recognize her."
"Yes, I noticed that, and whenever anyone goes near her, she lowers herhead. I wish we could see her face."
"Let's wander over that way," proposed Louise.
Arm in arm, they sauntered toward the couple. The young man saw themcoming. He touched his companion's arm and, turning their backs, theywalked away.
"They did that to avoid meeting us!" Louise declared in an excitedundertone. "Now why, I wonder?"
The couple had reached the end of the deck. As the young woman turned toglance over her shoulder, a sudden gust of wind caught her hat. Beforeshe could save it, the head-gear was swept dangerously close to therailing.
Not giving the young man an opportunity to act, Penny darted forward.Rescuing the hat, she carried it to the couple.
"Thank you," the girl mumbled, keeping her head lowered. "Thank you verymuch."
Quickly she jammed the felt hat on her head and replaced the veil, butnot before Penny had seen her face clearly. The young woman was unusuallypretty with large brown eyes and a long, smoothly brushed black bob.
"This is certainly a miserable night," Penny remarked, hoping to start aconversation.
"Sure is," replied the young man with discouraging brevity.
He tipped his hat and steered his companion away from the girl.
Ruefully Penny returned to Louise who had been an interested spectator.
"Did you get a good look at the pair?" she asked eagerly.
"Yes, but I've never seen either of them before."
"They wouldn't talk?"
"No, and the girl lowered her veil as soon as she could."
"Perhaps she's a movie actress traveling in disguise."
"Aboard a river excursion boat? I'm afraid not, Lou."
"Then maybe she's a criminal trying to elude the police."
"I fear the mystery of her identity must remain forever unsolved,"chuckled Penny. "We'll dock in another five minutes."
Through the fog could be seen a dim glow of lights along the Riverviewwharf. The _Goodtime_, its whistle tooting repeated signals, wasproceeding more slowly than ever. Sailors stood ready to make the vesselfast to the dock posts when she touched.
Passengers began to pour from the salon, and Penny and Louise joined thethrong. Many persons pushed and jostled each other, trying to obtain aposition close to the gangplank.
Suddenly a girl who stood not far from Penny gave an alarmed cry.
"My pocketbook! It's gone!"
Those near her expressed polite concern and assisted in searching thedeck. The missing purse was not found. Before the captain could benotified, the gangplank was lowered, and the passengers began todisembark from the steamer.
The girl, whose pocketbook had been lost, remained by the railing, quiteforgotten. Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Excuse me," said Penny, addressing her, "is there anything I can do tohelp?"
Disconsolately, the girl shook her head. She made a most unattractivepicture, for her blouse was wrinkled and her skirt was spotted with anugly coffee stain. Beneath a brown, misshapen roll-brim hat hung a tangleof brown hair.
"Someone stole my pocketbook," she said listlessly. "I had twelve dollarsin it, too."
"You're sure you didn't leave it anywhere?" Louise inquired.
"No, I had it in my hand only a minute ago. I think someone lifted it inthe crowd."
"A pickpocket, no doubt," Penny agreed. "I've been told they frequentthese river boats."
"Nearly everyone has left the steamer now, so I suppose it would do nogood to notify the captain," commented Louise.
She and Penny started to turn away, then paused as they noticed that thegirl remained in the same dejected posture.
"You have friends meeting you at the boat?" Penny inquired kindly.
"I haven't any friends--not in Riverview."
"None?" Penny asked in surprise. "Don't you live here?"
"No," answered the girl. "I've been working as a waitress at Flintville,up-river. The job played out last week. Today I took this boat, thinkingI might find work in Riverview. Now I've lost my purse and I don't knowwhat to do or where to go."
"Haven't you any money?" inquired Penny.
"Not a cent. I--I guess I'll have to sleep in the park tonight."
"No, you won't," declared Penny. Impulsively, she opened her own purseand, removing a five dollar bill, thrust it into the girl's hand. "Thisisn't much, but it may tide you over until you can find work."
"Oh, you're kind to help me. I'll pay you back just as soon as I get ajob."
"Don't worry about that," replied Penny. "However, I should like to knowyour name."
"Tillie Fellows."
"Mine is Penelope Parker and my friend is Louise Sidell. Well, good luckin finding that job."
Edging away from Tillie who would have detained them indefinitely, thegirls crossed the gangplank to shore.
"You were generous to give a stranger five dollars, Penny," commentedLouise when they were beyond hearing.
"Oh, she needed it."
"Your allowance money, wasn't it?"
"Yes, but I couldn't allow the girl to go hungry or sleep in the park."
"No, I suppose not," replied Louise.
Penny paused, scanning the crowd on the dock. Her father, Anthony Parker,had promised to meet the excursion boat, but there was no sign of him orhis car.
"Dad must have been detained at the newspaper office," she remarked. "Isuppose we must wait here until he comes."
Removing themselves from the stream of traffic, the girls walked a shortdistance along the dock, halting beside a warehouse. The throng rapidlydispersed, and still Mr. Parker did not arrive.
"I hope we haven't missed him," Penny remarked anxiously. "In this fogone can't see many yards."
They had waited only a few minutes longer when Louise suddenly touchedher chum's arm.
"Penny, there she is! Alone, too!"
"Who, Louise?"
"Why, that girl whose hat you recovered on the _Goodtime_. See her comingthis way?"
Penny turned to stare at the young woman who was walking hurriedly alongthe dock. At first glance she was inclined to agree with Louise that itwas the same girl, then she was uncertain. The one who approached wore anexpensive fur and carried a distinctive beaded bag.
"I don't believe I ever saw her before," she commented.
"I guess I was mistaken," admitted Louise. "She'
s too well dressed."
Apparently the girl did not observe Penny and her chum, for she passedthem without a glance. Hurriedly she walked a short distance down thewharf. Then, with a deft movement, she took a package from beneath hersmart-fitting coat, and tossed it into the water.
Turning, she retraced her steps to the gangplank of the _Goodtime_. Amoment later the girls saw her meet a young man in topcoat and derby whohad emerged from the crowd on the dock. Entering a gray sedan, they droveaway.
"I wonder what she threw into the river?" mused Penny. "Didn't you thinkshe acted as if she were afraid someone would see her, Lou?"
"Yes, I did. Whatever it was, it's gone to the bottom of the river."
Curiously the girls walked to the edge of the dock. Penny glanced overthe side and gave an excited cry. Instead of falling into the water, thepackage had caught fast on a jagged dock post.
"It's hanging by the string!" she exclaimed.
Eagerly Louise peered down. "You're right!" she agreed. "But we can't getit."
"I'm going to try."
"Please don't," pleaded Louise. "It's too far down. You'll tumble intothe water."
"Not if you sit on my heels."
Undisturbed by what anyone who saw her might think, Penny stretched flaton the dock. With Louise holding to her, she jack-knifed over the edge,clutching at the bundle which dangled an inch above the water.
"Got it!" she chuckled. "Haul away, Lou."
Louise pulled her friend to safety. Eagerly they examined the packagewhich was wrapped in ordinary newspaper.
"I'll venture it contains nothing more than the remains of a lunch,"declared Louise. "This is going to be a good joke on you, Penny."
"A joke?" quavered Penny.
Her gaze had focused upon a hole in the paper. Through the openingprotruded a long strand of dark hair.
Louise saw it at the same instant and uttered a choked, horrified scream.
"Human hair--" she gasped. "Oh, Penny! Turn it over to the police!"
"It can't be that," said Penny in a calmer voice.
With trembling fingers she untied the string. The paper fell away andseveral objects dropped at Penny's feet. Stooping, she picked up a girl'slong black wig. In addition, there was a dark veil, a crushed felt hat,and a cheap cloth jacket.
"A disguise!" exclaimed Louise.
"Yes, the girl who tossed this bundle into the river was the same one wesaw aboard the steamer! But why did she wear these things and then try toget rid of them?"
"Why, Penny, don't you understand?" Louise demanded impressively. "Shewas a crook just as I thought. And she must have been the one who robbedTillie Fellows!"
The Secret Pact Page 2