Exposure to rain and cold had stiffened her muscles and made her feel thoroughly miserable. However, after fifteen minutes in a steaming bath, she felt as fresh as ever. Her golden hair curled in ringlets tight to her head, and when she came from the bathroom, she found a blue dinner dress neatly pressed and laid on the bed.
"Two weeks of this life and I won't even be able to brush my own teeth," she thought. "No wonder Jack is such a spoiled darling."
Penny wondered what Mrs. Maud Weems would say if she were there. The Parkers lived nearly a hundred miles away in a city called Riverview, and Mrs. Weems, the housekeeper, had looked after Penny since the death of her mother many years before.
Mr. Parker, known throughout the state, published a daily newspaper, the Star, and his daughter frequently helped him by writing news or offering unrequested advice.
In truth, neither she nor her father had been eager to spend a vacation with members of the Gandiss family, feeling that they were practically strangers. Jack, Penny feared, might prove a particular trial.
In the living room, a cheerful fire had been started in the grate. Mr. and Mrs. Gandiss were chatting with Mr. Parker, trying their best to make him feel at home.
An awkward break in the conversation was covered by announcement that dinner was served. Jack's chair at the end of the table remained conspicuously empty.
"Where is the boy?" Mr. Gandiss asked his wife in a disapproving tone.
"I'm sure I don't know," she sighed. "The last I saw him, he was down at the dock."
A servant was sent to find Jack. After a long absence, he returned to say that the boy was nowhere on the island, and that the motorboat was missing.
"He's off somewhere again, and without permission," Mr. Gandiss said irritably. "Probably to the Harpers'. You see what I mean, Mr. Parker? A growing boy is a fearful problem."
Penny and her father avoided a discussion of such a personal subject. An excellent dinner of six courses was served in perfect style, but while the food was well cooked, no one really enjoyed the meal.
Coffee in tiny China cups was offered in Mr. Gandiss' study. His wife excused herself to go to the kitchen for a moment and the two men were left alone with Penny.
Unexpectedly, Mr. Gandiss said:
"Anthony, I suppose you wonder why I really invited you here."
"I am curious," Mr. Parker admitted, lighting a cigar. "Does your son Jack have anything to do with it?"
"I need advice in dealing with the boy," Mr. Gandiss acknowledged. "It occurred to me that association with a sensible girl like your daughter might help to straighten him out."
"I wouldn't count on that," Penny interposed hastily. "As Dad can tell you, I have a lot of most unsensible ideas of my own."
"Jack is a problem," Mr. Gandiss resumed, "but I have even more serious ones. How are you two at solving a mystery?"
Mr. Parker winked at his daughter and paid her tribute. "Penny has built up quite a reputation for herself as an amateur Sherlock Holmes. Running down gangsters is her specialty."
"Dad, you egg!" Penny said indignantly.
Both men laughed. But Mr. Gandiss immediately became serious again.
"My problem is difficult," he declared, "and I believe you may be able to help me, because I've heard a great deal about the manner in which you have solved other mysteries."
"Only in the interests of gaining good stories for our newspaper, The Star," Mr. Parker supplied.
"This probably would not net a story for your paper," the island owner said. "In fact, we are particularly anxious to keep the facts from getting into print. The truth is, strange things have occurred at my airplane factory in Osage--"
Mr. Gandiss did not finish, for at that moment someone rapped loudly on an outside screen door.
