Hoofbeats on the Turnpike

business office. With a flourish, she pushed a slip of paper through the bars of the trea

rs," she chirped. "How about

red carefully at the crisp rectangle o

t orders are orders. Your father said I wa

ue eyes became eloquent, pleading. "My allow

it over with

dy worked on Dad until I'm blue in the face," she grumbled

most everything you want," the treasur

, I work like a galley slave helping Dad b

mly. "I'll always remember that fine story you wrote about the Vanishin

per owner if you can't cash in on it now and then?" Penny went on. "Why, th

y. "Enough to tide you over until the day your allowance falls du

e brightened. Then the light

me the money out of your

her's orders, Penny. He said no more of your c

he treasurer offered them to Penny. She gazed at the

o be Dad's money or none. You see

he treasurer. "I'd

struggle o

by Mrs. Weems, a faithful housekeeper, she was not in the least spoiled. Nevertheless, because her father, Anthony Parker, publisher of the Riverview Star was indulgent, she usually ha

way, its great expanse of polished floor suddenly looked as inviting as an ice pond. With a quick little run she slid its

ed. "I didn't know anyone was coming. I

e. Never before in the Star office had she seen such a queer looking old fellow. He wore loose-fitting, coarse garments with heavy boots. His hair, s

ated. "I guess I didn't

plied the old man in a cracked voice. "'Lows a

you. Are you looking for

my sheet of paper from

ybody who takes the newspaper to read it. I got cash money to pay for it too." He drew a greasy bill from

his conversation was equally quaint. She thought that he mu

" she offered, guiding him down the hall. "I

de her. "My old woman wrote it all down. Sh

scribed script. The advertisement, long and awkwardly worded, offered fo

pride. "She could make a man a pair o' jeans that'd wear like they had growed to his hide. But t

ome?" Penny ques

rn and raised in the Red Ri

an't say

seen such green pastures, an' the hills kinda take your breath away. Only at night

at her companion. "H

dvertisement. His rapid-fire questions as he counted words and assessed charges, bewildered the old hillman. Penny supplied the ans

ded him eagerly as they walked away from the desk.

my name and there ain't a better one in Hobo

her eyes dancing. "I like all typ

he old man fumbled in his pocket and produced a worn newspaper clipping. P

ation leading to the capture of the Headless Horsem

less Horseman to my knowledge was the famous Galloping Hessian in the st

same. An' if what folks says is so, that Headless Horseman's likely to

cter he completely baffled her. Did he mean what he said or was he merely trying to

"Exactly what do you know

ts at Sleepy Hollow and don't you think there

ng Rock?" Even the w

mpy Hill lookin' do

ad the advertisement. The item had appeared in the Hobostein County paper only the

!" she thought excitedly. "Why,

, do tell me more about the

t. The elderly man no longer stood beside her. Not a soul was in the long empty hall.