Guilt of the Brass Thieves

TED A

orning snack?" Mrs. Bev

ken skeleton, and two empty food dishes, it seemed futile to deny such incriminating

hed. "I had counted on that chicken for luncheon. But ne

riminal, Penny f

hought furiously. "If he ever gets up

he group downstairs, she was surprised to see Jack in a fresh

t in, Jack?" his fath

remember," the boy ans

stion. If I recollect correctly, all of th

part, had not Jack sent her a warning glance. As everyo

of bacon. Observing the butler's amazed gaze upon her, she

e managed to get J

ou tell your parents exactly what happened.

ed. "That's rich! Don't

sing all patience. "If I weren't a guest

a little spitfire just like Sally! Oh, by the

e new s

s smooth as silk. The mast may need to be stepped back a notch or

nny said, forgett

ations, at a cost of nearly two thousand dollars, was a magnificent boat. Sixteen feet from bow

proudly. "Sally Barker hasn'

have a n

Cat's Paw again." In all honesty, Jack added: "It's

shoved off from the dock. Heading upstream, the boy demo

eclared. "No matter what sort of weather

before a fall," Penny reminded him. "Als

on the peak of the mainsail. "I'll win that brass lant

offer her the tiller. Oblivious to her hints, he kept the Spindrift heeling along s

er path. As Penny well knew, by rules of navigation the ferryboat was compelled to watch o

A bandana handkerchief covered her hair and she wore slacks and a white sweat

careful, Jack! The river level is drop

ask for it!" Jack replied furious

ly and disappeared i

enly. "It seems to me you deliberately try to wave a red flag

ow Sally she can't push

re the wind. Approaching a small island tangled with bushes and vines, Penny noted that t

re," the boy responded carelessl

and are w

shoal here. Just sit tight

Penny said, sinking b

, Penny straightened up, peering over the si

e cried before she considered how

answered stubbornly. "It's only a tiny

re, though her lips d

boat would glide over the shoal into deeper water. Then the

in a puddle," commented Pen

ied, seizing a paddle fr

shoal, but the wind against th

nny said calmly. "Why not take down

as if he would like to

" he g

. Before Jack could lower the sail, the breeze, shifting

y screamed a warning.

wind swung the sail over to the opposite side of the boat,

slumped into the bot