Behind the Green Door

. Weems! This one is a honey! An open c

l rug upon which she stood to skip across the polished floor of the living room. She wriggled her slim hips

u'll be coming down on your head if you don't stop those antics. I declare, you've acted lik

said Penny defensively. "One can't practice outdoors when there's

you're through," sighed the housekeeper.

lf as much fun. How do you like my suit?" She darted a

of dark wool. Her eyes sparkled with the joy of youth and it was easy for her to smile. She was an only child, the da

, practical suit," co

it? Louise Sidell and I shopped all over Riverview to get

it," laughed Mrs. Weems. "So

o answer it. She returned to the living room a moment later to say tha

two shakes of a kitten's tail!" Pe

m. A well aimed kick landed the garment on the bed, and then because it was very new and very choice she took t

Mrs. Weems who was in the kitchen. "I bought a new pair of skis, a co

sent out and be done with it?"

del, the other, a battered, unwashed vehicle whose reputation was as discouraging as its appearance. "Leaping Lena," as Penny called her c

me," Penny remarked, climbing into her father's

e car out backwards, wheeling it around the curve of the driveway with speed and ease. She liked to handle her fath

the rear, and took an elevator to the editorial rooms. Nearly all of the desks were deserted at this late hour of the a

as she brushed past his desk. "Ha

emain in a state of status quo for the next two weeks. Dad and I are heading for Pin

would, if you

e leave Thursday by plane. Dad needs a vacation and this tim

. "Your father needs a good rest, Penny. But I have a

that, Jerry? Dad pro

odded, "but there ha

ortant

But you talk with him. I may have

ent on to her father's private

red, waved her into a chair. "You arrived a little soo

at

face, Penny decided that something was wro

ay, Dad?"

ightening a sheaf of pap

ater, but I may as well. I'm afraid our tri

, D

t, Penny. The truth is, I

al condition of a n

trouble, and this is the worst possible. The Star ha

ed Penny. "But of cour

poke grimly. "My lawyer tells me that Harvey

y thoughtfully. "Isn't he the m

Harvey Maxwell is a rather well known sportsman. He lives lavishly,

ount of money from hi

source, but I've always had a doubt

ng the Star fo

have been killed. It was an interview with a football player named Bill Morcrum who was quoted as

e the reason

est sports scheme ever pulled off in this town. He places heavy wagers, and seld

true t

arker. "However, it always is dangero

think with the football player's te

ims he never made any such accusation against Maxwell. He s

red the s

reporter. He swears he made no mistak

football player

s approached by Maxwell a second time. Either he was threat

ing together, it does rather put you on the spot

was accurate, we're almost sure to lose. I've asked Bill Morcrum to come

owled. Getting up from the swivel chair he

sk gave three shar

he editor exclaimed in relief

t, accompanied by an awkward, oversized youth who shuffled his feet in wa

ar the rhythmical thumping, clicking sound of the Star's teletype machines. She wandered aimlessly into the room to read the copy just as the machines typed it o

endant, young Billy Stevens

arker," he said wi

yboard of the sending teletype machine, running her fingers

answered Billy. "Just a minute, I'll throw it off t

d, but under Billy's enthusiastic coac

'm coming in again one of these days

ng her father's office. His head was downcast and his face was flushed t

ny hurried into her father's office

. Parker, reaching for

't change

insisting he had been misquoted. I couldn't get anywhere with

opened the door for Penny. As they left the

ell. Naturally, he denied it, but he acted rather alarmed. O

the case co

t month, unless

could take two weeks off anyhow, Dad? We both planned u

rview persons. They especially had looked forward to the trip since they were to have been the house guests of Mrs. Christop

lied regretfully. "That is, not unless important evidence fa

dea

le demands I might be will

her father in b

the wrong when you're

calls for it. It might be more sensible to settle out of court th

see him? He might be

e," Mr. Parker said, frowning thoughtfully. "There's an outsi

ook so worried. Her own disappointment was keen, yet she realized that far more than a vacation trip was at stake. Fifty th

alarm, Mr. Parker reach

nny! And if there's any way to arrange it, you sh