Behind the Green Door

HE BAR

Penny's remark, not t

ut I fear he's far too clever a man to be caught in anything dishonest. Sometime when you

thing I can about him,"

een hitched. Jake, the handy man, appeared a moment later, loaded down with skis and luggage. Max

t," declared Francine, none too well pleased

replied Mrs. Do

d her guests sitting on the floor o

cold here?" shi

You'll not mind it in a day or two. And the skiing is

hard-packed snow. The bobsled presently passed a large rustic building at

," commented Miss Miller. "Do you know if

believe he is stayin

he horses so that the girls mig

nd the Fergus hotel is the site of an old silver mine, abandoned many years ago.

but comfortable log building amid the pines. On the summit of a slope not far

rooms, tactfully establishing Penny and

" she told them. "If you feel equal to i

d send a wire to Dad," said Penny. "Then th

nd you'll not get lost,

lage. She found the telegraph station without difficulty and dispatched a m

oon explored. Before starting back up the mountain Penny thought she would buy a m

papers we get come in by plane. Th

isappointment, "well, next t

a voice directly behind her. "

ered the drugstore in time to hear her remark. With

," she protested, wishing to accept

rusting it into her hand.

ou," sai

ave the store. Mr. Fergus fell into

e mountain?" he i

, I

if you don't mind

at

special reason for wishing to walk with her. For a time they t

ey Lodge?" Fergus in

, I

it t

arrived on the

ey is a very fine woman, a very fine woman, but he

ical," smiled Penny. "It

service is very poor. Even this little matter of getting a morning newspaper. No

" remarked Penny dryly. "You're the

said jovially. "Naturally I think we have the finest hotel at Pine Top

Penny to keep her voice casual. "I may dro

is my card. Just ask for

ket. A few minutes later as they passed the Fer

," Penny told herself. "Otherwise, he never would ha

she told Mrs. Downey of he

been using every method he can think of to get my guests away from me. He

en table, watching Mrs. Downey sti

the plane I heard Fergus and

d they have to say? Noth

nothing stood in their way except your place. Maxwell declared he would soon take care of

big spoon. "So the screws are to be tw

nt your place?"

om them. If my lodge closed up they could rai

special rate, wha

g my customers away from me. He makes up for it by charging three and even fo

othing you can

is past season. I don't see how I possibly can make it another year. That i

Penny said regretfully. "I'm

to fourteen guests who tramped in out of the snow. They called

he crackling log fire and then she went to

Mrs. Downey told her as she went out through the

on skis for ne

me back to

axi down and look ov

bout half way down. There is a sharp turn and if you mi

harply through lanes of pine trees to the wide valley below. As she was studying the course, reflec

ny?" she called. "Can't

ore down the track. Pine trees crowded past on either side in a greenish blur. The

tem turn gave her time to concentrate her full attention on the route ahead. She swerved to avoid a boulder

s no time to think. Confronted with a choice of turns, she chose the right hand t

re was no opportunity to turn aside. Penny kne

hing low she sprang upward with all her strength. The sticks gave her leverage so that

ey slapped on the snow. Then she lost h

sat up and gazed back

e seen that jump!" she thought proudly. "It w

fastened to the fence, drew her at

t means me?" rem

u!" said an angry

in her breath sharply. An old man with a dark beard had stepped fr