CHAPTER 11 PURSUIT BY TAXI
“Keep that green taxi in sight!” Penny instructed her own cab driver as she and Louise leaped into the rear seat.
“Sure,” agreed the taxi man, showing no surprise at the request.
Thrilled, and feeling rather theatrical, Penny and Louise sat on the edge of their seats. Anxiously they watched the green cab ahead. Weaving in and out of downtown traffic, it cruised at a slow speed and so, was not hard to follow.
Louise gazed at the running tape of the taxi meter. “Do you see that ticker?” she whispered. “I hope you’re well fortified with spare change.”
“I haven’t much money with me. Let’s trust that The Green Parrot is somewhere close.”
“More than likely it’s miles out in the country,” Louise returned pessimistically.
The green cab presently turned down a narrow, little-traveled street not many blocks from the river front. As it halted at the curb, Penny’s driver glanced at her for instructions.
“Don’t stop,” she directed. “Drive on past and pull up around the corner.”
The taxi man did as requested, presenting a bill for one dollar and eighty cents. To pay the sum, Penny used all of her own money and borrowed a quarter from her chum.
“That leaves me with just thirty-eight cents,” Louise said ruefully. “No picture show tonight. And how are we to get home?”
“We’re not far from a bus line. Come on, we’re wasting valuable time.”
“Those two words, ‘Come on’ have involved me in more trouble than all the rest of the English language,” Louise giggled nervously. “What are we to do now we’re here?”
Penny did not answer. Rounding the corner, she saw that the green cab and its passenger had disappeared. For an instant she was bitterly disappointed. Then she noticed a creaking sign which swung above a basement entrance. Although inconspicuous, it bore the picture of a green parrot.
“That’s the place, Lou!” she exclaimed.
“Well, we’ve learned the address, so let’s go home.”
“Wonder what it’s like inside?”
“Don’t you dare start that old curiosity of yours to percolating!” Louise chided severely. “We’re not going in there!”
“Who ever thought of such a thing?” grinned Penny. “Now I wonder what time it is?”
“About eight-thirty or perhaps a little later. Why?”
“Do you remember that card we found in the leather billfold? The notation read, ‘The Green Parrot, Tuesday at 9:15.’”
“So it did, but the appointment may have been for nine fifteen in the morning.”
“You dope!” laughed Penny. “Louise, we’re in wonderful luck finding this place at just this hour! Why, the man we followed here may be the one who lost the billfold.”
“All of which makes him a saboteur, I suppose?”
“Not necessarily, but don’t you think we ought to try to learn more?”
“I knew you’d try to get me into that place,” Louise complained. “Well, I have more sense than to do it. It might not be safe.”
“I shouldn’t think of venturing in unescorted,” Penny assured her. “Why not telephone my father and ask him to come here right away?”
“Well, that might not be such a bad idea,” Louise acknowledged reluctantly. “But where can we find a phone?”
Passing The Green Parrot, the girls walked on a few doors until they came to a corner drugstore. Going inside, they closed themselves into a telephone booth. Borrowing a nickel from Louise, Penny called her home, but there was no response.
“Mrs. Weems went to a meeting tonight, and I suppose Dad must be away,” she commented anxiously.
“Then let’s give it up.”
“I’ll try the newspaper office,” Penny decided. “If Dad isn’t there, I’ll talk to one of the reporters.”
Mr. Parker was not to be contacted at the Star plant, nor was Editor DeWitt available. Penny asked to speak to Jerry Livingston and presently heard his voice at the other end of the wire. Without wasting words she told him where she was and what she wanted him to do.
“The Green Parrot!” Jerry exclaimed, copying down the address she gave him. “Say, that’s worthwhile information. I’ll be with you girls as soon as I can get there.”
“We’ll be outside the corner drugstore,” Penny told him. “You’ll know us by the way we pace back and forth!”
Within twelve minutes a cab pulled up and Jerry leaped out to greet the two girls.
“Where is this Parrot place?” he demanded, gazing curiously at the dingy buildings.
Louise and Penny led him down the street to the basement entrance. Music could be heard from within, but blinds covered all the windows.
“It must be a cafe,” commented Jerry. He turned toward Penny and stared. “Say, what’s the matter with your face?”
“My face?”
“You look as if you’re coming down with the black measles!”
“Oh, a taxi splashed me with mud,” Penny laughed, sponging at her cheeks with a handkerchief. “How do I look now?”
“Better. Let’s go.”
Taking the girls each by an elbow, Jerry guided them down the stone steps. Confronted with a curving door, he boldly thrust it open.
“Now act as if you belonged here,” he warned the girls.
The trio found themselves in a carpeted, luxuriously furnished foyer. From a large dining room nearby came laughter and music.
As the outside door closed behind the young people, a bell tinkled to announce their arrival. Almost at once a head waiter appeared in the archway to the left. He was tall and dark, with a noticeable scar across one cheek. His shrewd eyes scrutinized them, but he bowed politely enough.
“A party of three, sir?”
“Right,” agreed Jerry.
They followed the waiter into a dimly lighted dining room with more tables than customers. A four-piece orchestra provided rather dreary music for dancing. Jerry reluctantly allowed a checkroom girl to capture his hat.
The head waiter turned the party over to another waiter.
“Table thirteen,” he instructed, and spoke rapidly in French.
“Table thirteen,” complained Jerry. “Can’t you give us something besides that?”
“Monsieur is superstitious?” The head waiter smiled in a superior way.
“Not superstitious, just cautious.”
“As you wish, Monsieur. Table two.”
Jerry and the girls were guided to the far end of the room, somewhat apart from the other diners. A large potted palm obstructed their view.
“I think they’ve hung the Indian sign on us,” Jerry muttered after the waiter had gone. “See anyone you know, Penny?”
“That man over by the door—the one sitting alone,” she indicated in a whisper. “Louise and I followed him here.”
“The one that’s wrestling with the lobster?”
“Yes, don’t stare at him, Jerry. He’s watching us.”
The waiter arrived with glasses of water and menu cards. Jerry and the girls scanned the list in secret consternation. Scarcely an item was priced at less than a dollar, and even a modest meal would cost a large sum.
“I’m not very hungry,” Louise said helpfully. “I’ll take a ham sandwich.”
“So will I,” added Penny.
“Three hams with plenty of mustard,” ordered Jerry breezily.
The waiter gave him a long glance. “And your drink, sir?”
“Water,” said Jerry. “Cool, refreshing water, preferably with a small piece of ice.”
The waiter favored the trio with another unflattering look and went to the kitchen.
“This is a gyp place,” Penny declared indignantly. “I can’t understand why anyone would come here. The waiters all seem to be French.”
“Oh, all head waiters speak French,” Jerry replied. “You can’t tell by that. I’d say they were German myself.”
Penny studied the cafe employees with new interest. She noted that the head waiter kept an alert eye upon the entire room, but particularly he watched their table.
Soon the three orders of ham sandwiches were brought by the waiter. The young people ate as slowly as they could so they would have an excuse for remaining as long as they desired.
“What time is it, Jerry?” Penny asked anxiously.
“Ten after nine,” he answered, looking at his watch.
A bell jingled, and the young people knew that another customer had arrived. Craning their necks to see around the palm tree, they watched the dining room entranceway. In a moment a young man entered and was greeted by the head waiter. Jerry and the girls stared, scarcely believing their eyes.
“Why, it’s Burt Ottman!” Penny whispered.
“And exactly on the dot of nine-fifteen,” added Louise significantly. “He must be the person who lost that billfold!”
