Behind the Green Door

ED ME

s. Downey's lodge, warming her

quired her hostess who was busy mixing

missed the turn you told me about, and found myself heading for a bar

rt yourself, t

e out of the woods and said 'Scat!' to

have been P

is he, Mr

in," sighed Mrs. Downey. "He's a very pleasant

nt aspects. I noticed he had a 'Kee

a hatred of skiing and everything pertaining to it, which amounts to fanaticis

ut it up o

idea it will keep

y tapped her fore

t in his mind, at least in every respect sav

foot to a cooler

s connected wi

as she whipped eggs

can do nothing about it except rage. However, the lease expire

deal with

dead,

hat does make

ase is another reason why I think this wi

xwell have influenced Jasko?" Penny asked

ubborn isn't the word to describe his character. Even if I lose the ski slo

ought I saw a girl standing

aughter about your age, named Sara. A very n

as to live with that old man.

pulled on her stiff boots again. Without both

pausing. "Did you ever hear of a

s. Downey. "No, I can't say

mething funny seems

ty, Penny gave a more complete accou

the woman in a puzzled voice. "But I will say this. The

have me solve the myste

y. "And while you're about it you might put Ralph Fergu

stead. Maxine Miller told me she

r ago. Jake made an extra trip to h

e you," comforted Penny. "I am quite sure she hasn't

to her father. From her desk by the window she could see skiers trudging up the slopes, some of them ma

view, poling rhythmically, in perfec

" thought Pen

fire and bored each other with tales of their skiing prowess. A few of the m

business man of Mrs. Downey. "Or is

om the village," replied the hot

ancine, looking up from a m

n't get the daily stock market report," e

apers always arrive?

ly the service ha

lasser. "What annoys me is that the guests at the Fergus hotel

in it to me," murmured Mrs. Dow

and fast but she felt no terror of the trail which curved sharply through the evergreens. Her balance

isely the right instant. The slope stretched on past rows of tall trees, towering like sentinels along the snow-swept ridges. Presently it flatt

She made a few purchases at the drug store and then impulsively entered the

e open?" the reporter w

rty," he

rush message to se

" the man answered. "I live over b

. "I may have an important story to send to my paper any hour.

rter had left the office an

you've received a

ng comes in," the man replied. "But wa

moments. Otherwise

ssage came in a few minutes ago. I've be

s she anticipated, it was from her father, and with his us

ng, if true. Are you sure it is the same man? Keep your eye on him, and report to me if you learn anythi

r to her that her father did not have a great deal of faith in her identification. And obviously, he d

the pocket of her jacket

omplained to herself. "But when Dad gets my letter telling

ore Penny had walked very far she saw that she was overtaking a man on the narrow tra

t walking slower and slower as if in deep thought, and aft

to the ground. Fergus did not notice that he had lost anything.

she called. "You d

make the man hear, Penny quickened her pace. After a short chase she

or no purpose. The paper seemed to be blank. But as she

ZKY G

nny thought in amazeme

e a tumble weed down the trail, she suddenly changed her mind and darted after

paper office," she told herself. "But ther

etters might be in code. Her pulse leaped at th

cided quickly. "Who knows? It may be just the key I