The Penny Parker Megapack: 15 Complete Novels Read Online Free PDF

the ‘who, when, why and where.’ You’ll never be a first class newspaper reporter if you stifle your curiosity.”
    “Lead on,” laughed Penny. “I will follow. Only isn’t it getting late?”
    Salt looked at his watch. “We still have a safe fifteen minutes.”
    He started to step over the wire, only to have Penny reach out and grasp his hand.
    “Wait!” she whispered.
    “What’s the idea?” Salt turned toward her in astonishment.
    “I think someone is watching us! I’m sure I saw the bushes move.”
    “Your nerves are jumpy,” Salt jeered. “It’s only the wind.”
    Even as he spoke the foliage to the left moved ever so slightly and a dark form could be seen creeping stealthily away along the ground.
    CHAPTER 5
    THE MISSING BRIDEGROOM
    Salt acted instinctively. Leaping over the wire barrier he dived into the bushes. Hurling himself upon the man who crouched there, he pinned him to the ground. The fellow gave a choked cry and tried to pull free.
    “Oh, no, you don’t,” Salt muttered, coolly sitting down on his stomach. “Snooping, eh?”
    “You let me up!” the man cried savagely. “Let me up, I say!”
    “I’ll let you up when you explain what you were doing here.”
    “Why, you impudent young pup!” the man spluttered. “You’re the one who will explain. I am Mrs. Kippenberg’s head gardener.”
    Salt’s hand fell from the old man’s collar and he apologetically helped him to his feet. Penny, who had reached the scene, stooped down and recovered a trowel which had slipped from the gardener’s grasp.
    “It was just a little mistake on my part,” Salt mumbled. “I hope I didn’t hurt you.”
    “No fault of yours you didn’t,” the old man snapped. “A fine howdydo when a person can’t even loosen earth around a shrub without being assaulted by a ruffian!”
    The gardener was a short, stout man with graying hair. He wore coarse garments, a loose fitting pair of trousers, a dark shirt and battered felt hat. But Penny noticed that his hands and fingernails were clean and there were no trowel marks around any of the shrubs.
    “Salt isn’t exactly a ruffian,” she said as the photographer offered no defense. “After all, from where we stood it looked exactly as if you were hiding in the bushes.”
    “Then you both need glasses,” the man retorted rudely. “A person can’t work without getting down on his hands and knees.”
    “Where were you digging?” Penny asked innocently.
    “I was just starting in when this young upstart leaped on my back!”
    “Sorry,” said Salt, “but I thought you were trying to get away.”
    “Who are you anyway?” the gardener demanded bluntly. “You’re not guests. I can tell that.”
    “You have a very discerning eye,” replied Salt smoothly. “We’re from the Riverview Star .”
    “Reporters, eh?” The old man scowled unpleasantly. “Then you’ve no business being here at all. You’re not wanted, so get out!”
    “We’re only after a few facts about the wedding,”Penny said. “Perhaps you would be willing to tell me—”
    “I’ll tell you nothing, Miss! If anything is given out to the papers it will have to come from Mrs. Kippenberg.”
    “Fair enough,” Salt acknowledged. He glanced curiously down the path which had been blocked off. “What’s down there?”
    “Nothing.” The gardener spoke irritably. “This part of the estate hasn’t been fixed up. That’s why it’s closed.”
    Penny had bent down, pretending to examine a shrub at the edge of the path.
    “What is the name of this bush?” she inquired casually.
    “An azalea,” the gardener replied after a slight hesitation. “Now get out of here, will you? I have my work to do.”
    “Oh, all right,” Salt rejoined as he and Penny moved away. “No need to get so tough.”
    They stepped over the barrier wire and retraced their way toward the house. Several times Penny glanced back but she could not see the old man. He had slipped away somewhere among the