Part 28 (1/2)
The editorial, cleverly worded but with very definite implications, was composed that night, and telephoned to the newspaper office. Penny had the pleasure of reading it at breakfast the next morning.
”You certainly did yourself proud, Dad,” she praised. ”However, I imagine the museum people aren't going to be too pleased. Nor certain other folks in this town.”
”Let me take a look at it,” Mr. Parker requested, reaching for the paper.
As Penny offered it to him, the doorbell rang. Mrs. Weems was busy in the kitchen so the girl arose and went to answer it. Jay Franklin stood on the porch.
”Good morning,” he said in a hard voice. ”Is your father here?”
”Yes, he is eating breakfast,” Penny responded. ”Won't you come in, please?”
Mr. Franklin walked ahead of her into the living room.
”Good morning, Jay,” called the editor, who was able to see the caller from his chair at the breakfast table. ”Will you have a cup of coffee with us?”
Ignoring the invitation, Mr. Franklin entered the dinette, blocking the doorway. From his pocket he took a copy of the morning _Star_.
”Parker,” he said curtly, ”I've just read your editorial and I demand an explanation! Do you realize what you've done?”
”Written a pretty fair stickful--or so my daughter tells me,” Mr. Parker smiled undisturbed.
”You've deliberately tried to smear me,” the real estate man accused.
”I don't recall that your name was mentioned in the editorial.”
”No, but you know I expect to sell those two stones to the museum. This editorial of yours may queer the sale!”
”Then it will have fulfilled its purpose. The stones are fakes. If you aren't aware of it, I suggest that you acquaint yourself with the true facts.”
”Those stones bear genuine Elizabethan writing. There's no connection with any cheap Indian show, and I defy you to prove it!”
”Consider your challenge accepted,” replied Mr. Parker evenly. ”I expect to publish the true facts very shortly in the _Star_.”
”If you prevent me from making a sale to the museum, I'll sue you!” Jay Franklin threatened. ”That's all I have to say. Good morning!”
In his anger he turned so quickly that he ran into Penny who stood directly behind him. Without bothering to apologize, he brushed past her, out the front door.
”What a dreadful man!” remarked Mrs. Weems who had heard the conversation from the kitchen.
”I rather expected him to call, although not so early in the morning,”
the publisher remarked, reaching for a slice of toast. ”His att.i.tude doesn't bother me in the least.”
”He may actually sue you if you don't make good on producing facts,”
Penny commented. ”How are you going to do it?”
”DeWitt informs me that the Indian Show is playing at Bryan this week.
I'll drive over there today and see what I can learn.”
Bryan was a small city located sixty-nine miles from Riverview. Although Penny ordinarily would have spent the day in school, she immediately decided that her father would need her a.s.sistance. Accordingly, she begged so hard to accompany him that he finally gave his consent.