Guilt of the Brass Thieves Part 6

"Let's not," retorted Penny, giving him a shove. "Clear out of here, or I'll heave the lamp at you!"

"Oh, all right, kitten," he said soothingly. "I'm going. Remember your promise not to go wagging your tongue about what time I got in."

"I didn't promise a thing!"

"But you will," chuckled Jack confidently. "See you in the morning."

He tiptoed from the room, and Penny heard him stirring about in the kitchen. The refrigerator door opened and closed several times. Then at last all became quiet again.

"The conceited egg!" she thought irritably. "Now I'm so thoroughly awakened, I can't possibly go back to sleep."

Tossing about for a few minutes, she finally arose and dressed. Deciding to take an early morning walk about the island, she moved noiselessly through the house to the kitchen.

There she paused to note the wreckage Jack had left in his wake. The refrigerator door was wide open. As she closed it, she saw dishes of salad, chicken, pickles and tomatoes in a depleted state. Jack had topped off his feast with a quart of milk, and the bottle, together with, a pile of chicken bones, cluttered the sink.

A step was heard in the dining room. Startled, Penny turned quickly around, but it was too late to retreat.

The Gandiss' cook stood in the kitchen doorway, eyeing her with obvious disapproval.

CHAPTER 5 UNWANTED ADVICE

"Just having an early morning snack?" Mrs. Bevens, the cook, inquired.

"Why, no," stammered Penny. "That is--." Confronted with the empty milk bottle, a chicken skeleton, and two empty food dishes, it seemed futile to deny such incriminating evidence. Though tempted to speak of Jack, she decided it would not be sporting of her.

"Young people have such healthy appet.i.tes," the cook sighed. "I had counted on that chicken for luncheon. But never mind. I can send to the mainland for something else."

Feeling like a criminal, Penny fled to her room.

"I could tar and feather Jack!" she thought furiously. "If he ever gets up, I'll make him explain to the cook."

The breakfast bell rang at eight o'clock. When Penny joined the group downstairs, she was surprised to see Jack in a fresh suit, looking little the worse for having been out all night.

"What time did you get in, Jack?" his father inquired pointedly.

"Well, now I just don't remember," the boy answered, winking at Penny.

"_How_ did you get in, might be a better question. If I recollect correctly, all of the doors were locked last night at midnight."

Penny, decidedly uncomfortable, would have confessed her part, had not Jack sent her a warning glance. As everyone went in to breakfast, the matter was allowed to rest.

Ravenously hungry, Penny ate two waffles and several pieces of bacon.

Observing the butler's amazed gaze upon her, she guessed that the cook had told him of the chicken episode.

Breakfast over, she managed to get Jack into a corner.

"Listen," she said indignantly, "why don't you tell your parents exactly what happened. Mrs. Bevens thinks I ate up all the chicken."

"Does she?" Jack chuckled. "That's rich! Don't you dare give me away!"

"You give me a pain!" Penny retorted, losing all patience. "If I weren't a guest in your house, I think I might slug you!"

"Go ahead," Jack invited, unruffled. "You're a little spitfire just like Sally! Oh, by the way, how about a trial run in the _Spindrift_?"

"Not the new sailboat?"

Jack nodded, his face animated. "She was delivered yesterday and is smooth as silk. The mast may need to be stepped back a notch or so, but otherwise she's perfect for the race. Want to sail with me?"

"I'd love to," Penny said, forgetting her resentment.

Hand in hand they ran down the path to the docks. _The Spindrift_, built to Mr. Gandiss' specifications, at a cost of nearly two thousand dollars, was a magnificent boat. Sixteen feet from bow to stern, its new coat of white was satin smooth, and its metalwork gleamed in the morning sun.

"She's fast," Jack declared proudly. "Sally Barker hasn't a chance to win that race!"

"Will she have a new boat?"

"No, the captain can't afford it. She'll have to sail _Cat's Paw_ again."

In all honesty, Jack added: "It's a good boat though. Captain Barker built it himself."

Together they put up the snowy white mainsail, and Jack shoved off from the dock. Heading upstream, the boy demonstrated how close to the wind the _Spindrift_ would sail.

"She's good in a light breeze too," he declared. "No matter what sort of weather we get for the race, I figure I'll win."

"There's an old saying that pride goeth before a fall," Penny reminded him. "Also one about not counting your chickens."

"Poultry never interested me," Jack grinned, his eyes on the peak of the mainsail. "I'll win that bra.s.s lantern trophy from Sally if it's the last act of my life."

Penny, who had sailed a boat for several seasons in Riverview, hoped that Jack would offer her the tiller. Oblivious to her hints, he kept the _Spindrift_ heeling along so fast that water fairly boiled behind the rudder. Jack was a good sailor and knew it.

Observing the _River Queen_ plying her usual course, the boy deliberately steered to cross her path. As Penny well knew, by rules of navigation the ferryboat was compelled to watch out for the smaller boat. With apparent unconcern, Jack forced the _Queen_ to change courses.

As the boats pa.s.sed fairly close to each other, Sally appeared at the railing. A bandana handkerchief covered her hair and she wore slacks and a white sweater. Watching the _Spindrift_ with concentration, she cupped her hands and shouted:

"If you sail near Hat Island, better be careful, Jack! The river level is dropping fast this morning. There's a shoal--"

"When I need advice from you, I'll ask for it!" Jack replied furiously, turning his back to the ferry.

Sally waved derisively and disappeared into the pilot house.

"Why aren't you two nicer to each other?" Penny demanded suddenly. "It seems to me you deliberately try to wave a red flag at her. For instance, sailing across the _River Queen's_ bow--"

"Oh, I just intend to show Sally she can't push me around! Let's go home."

Suddenly tiring of the sport, Jack let out the mainsail, and the boat glided swiftly before the wind. Approaching a small island tangled with bushes and vines, Penny noted that the water was growing shallow. She called Jack's attention to the muddy bottom beneath them.