Swamp Island

RCH OF

mured as she and Salt gazed about the deserted r

ght," the photographer declared.

me a shock seeing that empty bed. I thought perhaps he had

Miss Brent, a

lsewhere," she replied. "At least, not to my knowle

several nurses and an interne. No one seemed to know what had become of the patient.

rry!" Penny told Salt tensely

ng up the hall fr

s clothes are go

mingly innocent question Jerry had asked earlier t

ed out of the hospi

ction. "Nurses have been on duty here all the time. Mr. Livings

nutes," an interne recalled. "An emergen

it was a straight drop of three stories to the yard below. S

he dresser attracted her eye. As she unfolded it,

ay in bed," he had scrawled.

s Brent who could not hide h

ld the young man have left this floor and the building without be

id need hospitalizat

njury. The patient should have been kept under observation for at

pronto!" Salt promised.

receptionist if she had observed anyone answ

Wait! A young man in a gray suit left here about t

Jerry!" cried Penny.

haven't the sl

s room," Penny said hopefu

otel Apartments where the reporter lived. The desk c

left the hospital. "He may be wandering the streets in a da

e photographer agreed. "Jerry

ed up near the

he driver

t to go yet. We're looking for a friend of ours

gir

" Penny supplied. "He prob

one that asked me abou

waitin' here for a fare when some ladies came out of the hospital. I

my cab filled, and says: 'How mu

y repeated, having ne

to him, 'Sorry, buddy, but I got a fare. If you can w

erry say?"

started right away. Reckon

rmation, Penny and Salt retreate

be wacky!" the photographer declared. "That knock on the head

hat I told him about seeing a stranger there today, and

tart, and we know he headed for C

said quickly. "Come o

hospital steps, the recept

said breathlessly, looking at the ph

me," agr

one call

ry! Wait here, Penny

turned, his grim expression instantly informe

epartment," he reported. "He traced the licen

know you wer

, and someone told him

s the ca

e of Sarah Jones, R

rom Trapper Joe's place! I recall seeing the name on a s

commented. "I'm worried about Jerry. I cal

ed for Caleb Corners! Sa

," he agreed

from the hospital. Salt and Penny ran to it, and soon were on