"I'm sure you thought you saw one," replied Penny. "If you'll promise to attend strictly to your duties hereafter, I'll ask Mr. Schirr to reinstate you on the payroll."

Old Mose brightened. "I suah nuff will!" he said jubilantly. "I won't have no mo' truck with dat ghost. No sir!"

To face Mr. Schirr once more, was a most unpleasant ordeal for Penny.

Nevertheless, she sought his office, apologizing for the intrusion.

"I _am_ busy," the editor said pointedly. "What is it you want?"

Penny explained that she had talked with Mose Johnson and was convinced that his offense would not be repeated.

"I want you to put him back on his old job," she requested.

"Impossible!"

"Why do you take that att.i.tude?" inquired Penny, stiffening for an argument. "Dad always liked Mose."

"One can't mix sentiment with business. I have a job to do here and I intend to do it efficiently."

"Dad probably will show up before another day."

"I don't like to dash your hopes," said Mr. Schirr. "We've tried to spare your feelings. Perhaps your father will be found, but you know I tried to warn him he was inviting trouble when he mixed with the tire-theft gang."

"So you believe Dad has fallen into the clutches of those men?"

"I do."

"What makes you think so? Have you any evidence?"

"Not a sc.r.a.p."

"And how did you learn Dad intended to expose the higher-ups?"

"I don't mind telling you I heard him talking to Jerry Livingston about it."

"Oh, I see."

"We're getting nowhere with this discussion," Mr. Schirr said impatiently. "I really am busy--"

"Will you reinstate Mose?" Penny asked, reverting to the original subject.

"I've already given my answer."

"After all, this is my father's paper," Penny said, trying to control her voice. "It's not a corporation. Only Dad's money is invested here."

"So what?"

"As a personal favor I ask you to reinstate Mose."

"You're making an issue of it?"

"Call it that if you like."

Mr. Schirr's dark eyes blazed. He slammed a paper weight across the desk and it dropped to the floor with a hard thud.

"Very well," he said stiffly, "we'll restore your pet to the payroll."

"Thank you, Mr. Schirr."

"But get this, Miss Parker," the editor completed. "We may as well have an understanding. While your father is absent, I'm in full charge here.

In the future I'll have no interference from you or any other person."

CHAPTER 9 _AN OPEN SAFE_

Rather flattened by the interview with Mr. Schirr, Penny was glad to leave the _Star_ plant. Going down in the elevator, she requested Charley to tell Mose Johnson that he had been restored to his old job.

"That's fine!" the janitor beamed. "Mighty glad to hear it." Opening the cage door, he inquired: "Will you be going to see Mr. DeWitt?"

"I thought I would."

"He's at City Hospital. You might tell him that we all miss him around here."

"I'll certainly deliver the message," promised Penny.

City Hospital was only six blocks away. Penny bought flowers and then presented herself at the inst.i.tution. After a brief wait in the lobby, she was allowed to see Mr. DeWitt for a few minutes.

"Good morning," she said cheerfully, handing the box of flowers to a nurse.

Mr. DeWitt, pale and weak, stirred and turned his head so that he could see her.

"What's good about it?" he muttered with a trace of his old spirit. "They won't even let me sit up!"

"I should think not," smiled Penny. She sat down in a chair beside the bed.

"Of all times to get laid up!" the editor went on. "Heard from your father?"

Penny shook her head. A long silence followed, and then she said brightly:

"But he'll be found--probably today."

Mr. DeWitt lay with his eyes closed. "I've been thinking--" he mumbled drowsily.

"Yes?" Penny waited.

"Mind's still fogged with that blamed ether," DeWitt muttered. "About your father--" His voice trailed off.