Joan Clark

“ Penny's heart began to beat a trifle faster. She was almost certain that someone was hiding in the little room above the garage. In former years it had been occupied by a chauffeur whom Mr. Nichols employed, but now that the detective drove his own car it was used only for the storage of a few old boxes and trunks.
"Don't you dare go up there!" Susan whispered tensely, sensing the thought in her chum's mind. "It isn't safe."
"It's safe enough if you stand guard here at the door," Penny insisted. "If anything goes wrong scream for Mrs. Gallup." ”

“ Penny lost sight of it for an instant. Then to her surprise, the headlights were flashed on. In the reflected light she saw the tall walls of a large manufacturing plant.
The beam was turned off again. Darkness swallowed up the car.
While she was straining to see, Penny heard the shrill blast of a warning siren from far up the street. The next instant, a police radio cruiser shot past.
With a loud screaming of brakes, the police car came to a stop not far from Penny.
"Did you see an automobile without headlights come this way?" the driver asked tersely. ”

“ She knew now that he alone directed the activities of the so-called Molberg gang. Brunner was the arch criminal, the "master mind" which had baffled police and private investigators. Rap Molberg, although a dangerous crook, merely carried out his chief's orders.
"Brunner fooled everyone with his posing as a substantial citizen," Penny mused. "All the time he was using his business as a front to hide his unlawful activities."
Outside, in the main part of the sawmill, she could hear men working feverishly. ”

“ For instance, I can see at a glance that Rap Molberg is five feet and seven-eighths inches tall—or as it appears in Bertillon—one meter, sixty-seven centimeters and six millimeters."
"I don't believe I'll ever care to be a detective," Penny smiled. "It's too much like studying the multiplication table!"
"Crime detection is a scientific profession——" Mr. Nichols began, but Penny cut him short.
"Tell me, did Jerry Barrows come to interview you this morning?"
"No, and I very much fear we'll never see the young man. ”

“ Penny cried furiously. "It's no use trying to learn a thing from you unless you're in exactly the right mood!"
In desperation she sought solace in the companionship of her chum, Susan. They attended a great many moving picture shows and developed an enviable tan by swimming outdoors and playing tennis for hours at a time.
Although Penny was permitted complete freedom, Mr. Nichols had warned her to use caution whenever she left the house at night. On more than one occasion in going downtown or to the home of a friend, she half suspected that she was being followed. ”

“ The boy hesitated, then said quietly:
"Jerry Barrows."
"I mean your real name," Penny smiled.
A telltale flush crept over the youth's face, but he threw back his head a trifle defiantly.
"It is my real name. I'm no thief either. I admit I've been in a little trouble before this, but today it wasn't my fault. Another fellow and myself were standing in a crowd when an old lady let out a holler that someone had picked her pocketbook. The police came running. They spotted me right off. I hadn't been near the old lady, but she was so excited she was ready to identify anyone. ”

“ When she left the house a half hour later the girl was still excited and overwrought.
Not until Penny was nearly home did it occur to her that she had forgotten to look at the photograph of Jimmie Davis.
"Oh, well, it doesn't matter," she thought.
As she drove the roadster into the garage, Mrs. Gallup came down the path to meet her.
"I'm sorry to be so late," Penny said quickly before the housekeeper could take her to task. "A million and one things detained me. Dad's home, I suppose?"
"No, he isn't. But someone has been trying to get you on the telephone for the past hour." ”

“ Instead, Molberg lifted her off her feet, dropping her unceremoniously among the neat stacks of car wheels with which the truck was filled. Even less gently, Jimmie Davis was tossed in beside her.
Then the back end of the van was dropped down and the canvas cover thrown over it. Penny and her companion were enveloped in darkness.
"Where are they taking us?" she asked in a whisper.
"Probably to a hideout in another state," Jimmie informed. "Our jig is up unless we can escape." ”

“ If a fence is caught with stolen merchandise he claims to have purchased it in good faith. Actually he has taken it off the hands of some thief. An arrest is hard to make."
"Then there's nothing we can do?"
"I don't know. I'll ask Father when he comes home tonight."
"I think a fence is even more contemptible than a thief," Susan said scornfully. "I'd give anything if I hadn't bought that tire."
"I'm glad you did," Penny smiled, "for the clue we gained may prove useful to Father."
The girls were relieved when they reached the end of South Lake and turned into a more pleasant street. ”

“ Mr. Nichols talked with several other policemen, and then, satisfied that he had learned all the details of the unsuccessful raid, took Penny home.
"I suppose this means we'll not be taking that vacation into the mountains very soon," she commented when they were alone in the living room.
"I'm afraid of it, Penny. Would you care to go by yourself?"
"No, I'd prefer to wait until you can go too. Besides, I've become deeply absorbed in this Molberg case."
"I've noticed that," her father smiled. "I never suspected that my own daughter had such hidden talents for sleuthing." ”

“ It seemed ridiculous to connect Brunner with the underworld and yet the very fact that no suspicion had ever been attached to him offered a measure of safety for his dishonorable activities.
"Dad warned me that one must move cautiously in trying to gather evidence against influential citizens," Penny reasoned. "Yet, if I wait until I can talk it over with him, it may be too late."
Brunner's automobile was moving away from the curbing. Penny did not have a minute to debate. The instant that the tire shop owner vanished inside his store, she darted to her own car. ”

“ Penny was familiar with the policeman's regular beat, but before trying to locate him, she went home for her car. It was Mrs. Gallup's afternoon off, so there was no need to explain to the housekeeper where she was going.
"I might leave a note where she'll find it when she returns," Penny thought. "Still, I should be back by supper time."
As Penny backed from the garage, she caught a glimpse of Joe Franey's familiar black coupé parked across the street.
"I'm afraid Dad's gasoline bill will take a big jump upward today," she chuckled. ”

“ Penny said sympathetically.
"I didn't know what to do," Betty went on nervously. "I was afraid to tell Father the truth because I thought it would just about kill him. He had pledged himself to the task of tracing down the Molberg gang."
"And of course, if Jimmie's name were linked in any way with the automobile thefts, it would have cost your father his position."
"Yes, I was afraid too that Father would insist upon turning Jimmie over to the police. He is so upright and honest. He detests a criminal." ”

“ Do you think he could know anything concerning the Molberg gang?"
"It isn't likely, but he may have some underworld connection."
"I'm getting more nervous every day," Penny declared. "I'll never feel very easy until all the members of that gang are captured."
"It may be a more difficult task than I at first believed," her father remarked, frowning. "I know that Rap Molberg is hiding somewhere in the city but so far none of my investigators have been able to trace him." ”

“ The truck had pulled up at one side of the room. Several rough looking men were engaged in unloading the wheels. Penny's eyes fastened upon the man who directed the others. It was Rap Molberg.
"Get a move on!" he ordered tersely. "We can't stall around all night."
The wheels were trundled out one by one from the rear end of the truck, and the men, six in all, fell to work with their tools, defacing the serial numbers and substituting others. Penny watched in fascination. ”

“ Susan admitted reluctantly.
"Then I know you will find everything satisfactory for our workmen are efficient. Good afternoon, Miss Altman."
The manager opened the door in pointed suggestion that the girls leave. Outside in the hall they gave vent to their pent up feelings.
"You were right, Penny," Susan declared angrily. "I should have bought my car at another garage!"
"I never did like that man," Penny added. "He's such a smooth talker, and yet down under he's mean and selfish. I wonder if Jerry Barrows actually does work for him?" ”

“ A taxi has already been sent for you. It should be there by this time."
"I'll be waiting," Penny promised.
She hung up the receiver and turned to the housekeeper who was hovering anxiously at her elbow.
"Dad's been hurt," she said tersely to hide her emotion. "I don't know how badly for I couldn't learn the details. I must go to him at once."
"Oh, you poor thing," Mrs. Gallup swept the trembling girl into her arms.
They clung to one another for an instant, then Penny resolutely brushed away her tears.
"It probably isn't as bad as we fear," she said hopefully. ”

“ CHAPTER X The Vanishing Car
Penny fully intended to tell her father of her experience, but she retired before he came home. She overslept the next morning. When she descended to the breakfast room at nine o'clock, Mrs. Gallup told her that the detective had been gone for nearly an hour.
"Your father wasn't in a very good mood this morning," the housekeeper informed as she served Penny with a steaming hot waffle. "He complained about the coffee. When he does that it's always because something's gone wrong with his work."
"You mustn't mind Dad," Penny smiled. ”

“ Nichols arose and paced rapidly back and forth across the floor.
"I'm going to take you into my confidence, Penny," he said quietly. "For days my men have been circling in on Rap and his gang. We've located one of their hideouts, and we're raiding the place tomorrow night. It now seems advisable to surround the Hamilton building simultaneously. Then there will be no chance that any of the crooks can use the underground ramp to make a get-away."
"Will the police make the raid?" Penny inquired curiously.
"Yes and no. So far I have taken only one man into my confidence." ”

“ The officer offered no response.
"I don't need to tell you that they are at the bottom of this recent outburst of thievery," the detective went on, eyeing his caller shrewdly. "Unless they're captured soon, you'll be in a bad spot, Davis."
"I'm in one now. I've always tried to be honest and do my duty as I saw it. Because of that I'll probably end up without a job."
"Not if you team along with me and help me to capture this gang. I'll say frankly that since I took this case for the insurance company, I haven't had much cooperation from the police." ”

“ Penny comforted. "Most anonymous notes are sent by cowards and the threats seldom carried out. At least Dad doesn't regard them very seriously. He's been threatened by the Molberg gang too."
"And have they made no attempt to harm him?" Betty asked.
"Not to my knowledge. Dad seems more than able to look after himself, and I'm certain your father knows how to protect himself too."
"He should," Betty admitted. "He's one of the best marksmen on the police force." ”

“ Penny remarked.
"Naturally not," Mr. Nichols smiled. "If they came here to report, every crook in Belton City would be aware of it within an hour."
"Then how do you keep in touch with your men?" Penny asked curiously.
"There are a few secrets which I must keep to myself. Aren't you taking a rather sudden interest in my work, Penny?"
"Perhaps I am. Since my car wheels were stolen I feel personally concerned in the case. I wish I could do something to help."
Mr. Nichols became grave. "There is nothing you can do, Penny. ”

“ An hour passed and nothing happened. There was little activity at the Brunner garage. Several motorists stopped at the red pump for gasoline, but that was all.
"Perhaps my hunch was wrong," Penny thought as she grew tired of waiting. "I really haven't much reason for being suspicious of Brunner."
After a time she used her father's telephone to call home. No one answered. Obviously, Mrs. Gallup had not returned.
"I wonder what detained her," Penny mused. "It isn't like her to stay away." ”

“ We'll starve to death before anyone will suspect we're here!"
"I got you into this and I'll get you out," Penny announced firmly. "There must be some button or lever that opens the door from the inside."
Although the headlights of the roadster illuminated a portion of the large room, many of the corners and crannies remained dark. Taking her flashlight from the pocket of the car, Penny moved cautiously about searching for some means of escape. Susan remained huddled in her seat, too terrified to move. ”