Saboteurs on the River Part 19

"And did they?" interposed Mr. Parker.

"Not that I know of. The outfit just moved out. And a queer time to be doing it too, if you ask me!"

"When did they leave?"

"The van pulled up there about two o'clock last night. They were loading stuff in until almost dawn."

"Can you tell me where they went or why they moved out?"

"No, I can't," the woman replied with a shrug. "Like as not they were afraid the police were going to raid 'em. I'm telling you that place deserved to be closed up."

"Just what went on there?"

"I never was inside the place, but some mighty queer acting people seemed to be running it. Why, I've seen men go in and out of there at four o'clock of a morning, hours after the cafe closed up."

"Foreigners?"

"I couldn't rightly say as to that. My husband, Gus, thinks a lot of gambling went on. Anyway, I'm glad the outfit's gone."

Unable to learn more, Penny and her father left the bakery and walked toward their parked car. The information they had gained was not likely to prove very helpful. Obviously, The Green Parrot had closed its doors, fearing an investigation. Whether it had moved elsewhere or gone out of existence, they could not know.

"The call that Jerry, Louise and I paid there last night may have had something to do with it," Penny remarked. "I know the head waiter was eager to be rid of us."

As Mr. Parker and his daughter walked slowly along, several persons ran past them toward an alley. Approaching its entranceway, they saw that a throng of people had gathered not far from the rear exit of The Green Parrot.

"Wonder what's wrong back there?" speculated Mr. Parker, pausing.

"Probably an accident of some sort."

"Let's find out," proposed Penny.

She and her father joined the group of excited men and women in the alley. They were startled to see a young man sprawled face downward on the brick pavement. A garbage collector jabbered excitedly that he had found the victim lying thus only a moment before.

Mr. Parker pushed through the circle of people. "Has anyone called an ambulance?" he asked.

"I'll send for one, Mister," offered a boy, hastening away.

Mr. Parker bent over the p.r.o.ne figure.

"He ain't dead is he?" the garbage man asked anxiously.

"Unconscious," replied the newspaper man, his fingers on the victim's wrist. "A nasty head wound. I'd say he either fell or was struck from behind."

Carefully Mr. Parker rolled over the limp figure. As he beheld the face, he stared and glanced quickly at Penny.

"Who is he, Dad?" she asked, and then she saw for herself.

The young man was Burt Ottman.

CHAPTER 14 _TEST BLACKOUT_

As Mr. Parker covered Burt Ottman with his overcoat, the young man stirred and opened his eyes. He gazed at the newspaper owner with a dazed expression and for a moment did not attempt to speak.

"Take it easy," Mr. Parker advised.

"What happened to me?" the young man whispered.

"That's what we'd like to know. Were you struck?"

"Don't remember," Ottman mumbled. He closed his eyes again, but aroused as he heard the shrill siren of an approaching ambulance. "Don't let 'em take me to a hospital," he pleaded. "Take me home."

The ambulance drew up in the alley. Stretcher bearers carefully lifted the young man.

"I'm all right," he insisted, trying to sit up. "Just take me home."

"Where's that?" asked one of the attendants.

Burt Ottman mumbled an address which was on a street not far from the boat dock he operated.

"We'll take you to the hospital for a check up," the young man was told.

"Then if you're okay, you'll be released."

Deeply interested in the case, Mr. Parker and Penny followed the ambulance to City Hospital. There, after an hour's wait in the lobby they were told that Burt Ottman had suffered no severe injury. A minor head wound had been dressed, and he was to be released within a short while.

"What caused the accident?" Mr. Parker asked one of the nurses. "Did the young man say?"

"He couldn't seem to remember what happened," she replied. "At least he wouldn't talk to the doctor about it."

Overdue at the _Star_ office, Mr. Parker could remain no longer. However, Penny, whose time was her own, loitered about the lobby for an hour and a half until Burt Ottman came down in the elevator. The young man's head was bandaged and he walked with an unsteady step as he leaned on the arm of a nurse.

"I'll call a taxi for you," the young woman said. "You're really in no condition to walk far, Mr. Ottman."

Penny stepped forward to offer her services. Her father, knowing that she might have use for the car, had left it parked outside the hospital.

"I'll be glad to take Mr. Ottman home," she volunteered.

The young man protested that he did not wish to cause anyone inconvenience, but allowed himself to be guided to the waiting automobile.

As the car sped along toward the riverfront, Penny stole quick glances at Burt. He sat very still, his gaze on the pavement ahead. She half expected that he would offer an explanation of the accident, or at least ask a few questions, but he remained silent.

"You took rather a hard blow on the head," she remarked, seeking to lead him into conversation.

Burt merely nodded.

"Dad and I were astonished to find you lying in the alley at the rear of The Green Parrot," Penny went on. "Don't you remember how you came to be there?"