"Joe, where are you taking Fenestra? What has he done?"

The sailor did not answer. Seizing a bag of gold, he slung it over his shoulder and went quickly up the stairs. Penny was left in the darkness.

CHAPTER 25 _SAILORS' REVENGE_

Minutes later, Jerry, returning from the barn, heard Penny's m.u.f.fled scream for help. Descending into the cave he immediately freed her and learned what had happened.

"Fenestra used this furnace for melting down gold all right!" he exclaimed, peering into the dark cavern. "Wonder where he got it?"

"It must be stolen gold--government gold, perhaps," gasped Penny. "Jerry, those men have been gone only a minute or two!"

"Then maybe we can get 'em yet!"

Jerry had heard an automobile turn into the yard. Hopeful that it might be the awaited authorities, he and Penny ran up the stone steps. To their joy they saw that it was the police cruiser.

In terse sentences they told their story to the officers. Penny had no idea which direction the men had gone, but the reporter recalled having seen a group of four walking toward the river just as he had left the barn.

With Jerry and Penny standing on the running board, the police car headed in the direction of the Big Bear. Suddenly a series of explosive sounds were heard, staccato noises similar to the back-firing of an automobile exhaust.

"Shots!" exclaimed Jerry. "From the river, too!"

The car drew to a halt. The policemen leaped out and started across the fields. Disregarding orders to remain behind, Penny and Jerry followed.

Breathlessly, they reached the rim of the river. A beam of light directed their gaze to the opposite sh.o.r.e. A high-powered motor boat had pulled away and was fast gathering speed. Flashes of gunfire from its decks were answered by the revolvers of men on the river bank.

Shielding Penny with his body, Jerry drew her behind a tree. In a moment as the motor boat pa.s.sed beyond range, firing ceased. Then they slid down the bank to learn what had occurred.

Penny saw that Peter Fenestra had been captured. He was handcuffed to Mr.

Moyer, and she instantly guessed that the other four men were government operatives.

"Find a boat and start after those three sailors who got away!" Moyer ordered his men tersely. "I'll take this fellow to town."

Penny edged forward, obtaining an excellent view of Peter Fenestra's downcast face. Quietly she made her accusations, telling of the cave where she had been imprisoned.

"So that was how the gold was melted down," commented Moyer.

He then explained that for days his operatives had watched the river where they knew Anchor Joe had hidden a motorboat. Surprised in the act of taking off, the sailors had exchanged shots with the government men, but by abandoning Fenestra and the gold, they had escaped.

"This man's real name is Otto Franey," Moyer revealed, indicating Fenestra. "He and the three sailors were shipmates aboard the _Dorasky_."

"They're wanted for stealing gold?" questioned Penny.

"Yes, they got away with four gold bars taken from the _Dorasky_. You see, about a year ago a consignment of gold was shipped by a Swiss bank to the New York Federal Reserve. Because of heavy fog the bars were unloaded at the pier instead of being taken off at Quarantine. They were removed in a sling and dumped on the wharf to await the mail truck."

"And the four sailors saw a chance to steal some of the bars?" questioned Jerry.

"Yes, how they accomplished it we don't know. But hours later a mail driver refused to sign for one of the bags because it had been slit open.

Four bars valued at approximately fourteen thousand dollars each were missing. Investigation disclosed that a sailor, Otto Franey, had jumped ship. A few days later Joe Landa, John Munn and Jack Guenther also disappeared."

"Each man was marked with an octopus tattoo, wasn't he?" Penny inquired eagerly.

"Yes, although I did not learn that until a day or so ago. Otto has been trying to get his tattoo removed so that it would be harder to trace him.

The four sailors had their backs marked with an octopus design and words which read, _All for one, one for all_, when put together. They were feeling very friendly toward each other at that time."

"Then I was right!" exclaimed Penny. "And the four conspired to steal the gold bars?"

"Otto was entrusted by his pals to dispose of the stolen gold. Instead, he gave them the slip and tried to keep it for himself. Evidently he rigged up a furnace and melted the metal into useable form. But the three sailors trailed him here, determined to avenge themselves."

As Fenestra was hustled to a waiting car, Penny told Mr. Moyer everything she knew about the prisoner, save his connection with Matthew Judson.

Deliberately she withheld information about the blackmail plot.

While the prisoner was being loaded into the government car, another automobile drew up nearby. Recognizing Mr. Parker at the wheel, Penny and Jerry ran to tell him the latest news.

"Full speed ahead, Chief!" exclaimed the reporter, sliding into the front seat. "We've got a big story by the tail!"

"A lot of good it does us," responded the publisher gloomily.

"You mean the firemen failed to save the _Star_ building?" Penny asked anxiously.

"The building's saved, but considerable damage was done by fire and water. We can't use the plant for several days. It's enough to make a man ill! Scooped by the opposition when the story is ours!"

"You forget the little _Weekly Times_," reminded Penny. "Old Homey has everything ready to roll. I'm turning the plant over to you."

"To me?" Mr. Parker did not understand her meaning.

"Yes, gather your mechanical force. The plant's yours for the night."

"Penny, you're the tops!" the publisher exclaimed, starting the car with a lurch. "Together we'll get out an extra that will be an extra!"

After that Penny lost all sense of time as events transpired with rapidity and precision. As if by magic the staff of the _Star_ appeared to take over the _Times_ plant. The building shook off its lethargy and machinery began to turn.

Allowing Jerry to write the big story, Penny tried to be everywhere at once. She fluttered at DeWitt's elbow as he drew a dummy of the front page.

"Let's make it 96-point type," she urged. "Splashy! A double column story with a break-over to page three."

"Anything you say," was DeWitt's surprising answer.

In the composing room, printers were locking the forms, using pages previously made ready for the next issue of the _Weekly Times_.

Stereotypers were testing the pneumatic steam tables. Pressmen under Old Horney's direction oiled the double-deck rotaries and tightened bolts.

At last came the moment when the starter plate was fitted into place on the cylinder. With a half turn of a T wrench Old Horney made it secure.

"She's ready," he announced, flashing the signal light. "You push the b.u.t.ton, Penny."