Penny Nichols

“ Penny halted the car on the driveway and the detective alighted to open the garage doors. She drove in and snapped off the ignition. Together she and her father walked up the stepping-stone path to the rear entrance of the house.
The Nichols' residence was not imposing in appearance but the well-shrubbed grounds gave it a home-like air. A grass tennis court occupied one part of the lot while the opposite side was devoted to Mrs. Gallup's flowers. Since the death of Penny's mother, the kindly woman had served as a faithful housekeeper. ”

“ Penny said teasingly.
"When a man commits a crime, then his actions become a matter of public concern," Mr. Nichols replied. "I had a long talk with Michael last night and if I'm any judge of character, he's a decent sort. I don't intend to pry into his personal affairs just for the pleasure of it."
"Well, if the tin spoons disappear don't blame me," Penny laughed, imitating the housekeeper's shrill voice.
"Young Michael will save me a great deal of petty annoyance," Mr. Nichols went on. "I mean for him to serve as a buffer between me and Mrs. Masterbrook." ”

“ The living room had a large fireplace but no other item of comfort. The three chairs were all straight-backed, the carpet was moth-eaten and dusty, and a small table still bore a vase filled with shriveled flowers which someone had forgotten to throw away.
"Come along, Penny," said Mr. Nichols starting toward the door. "We'll not stay here."
"But where will we go?" Penny placed a detaining hand on his arm. "There's no hotel in the village."
"It would be more pleasant sleeping in the car."
"You know we'd be stiff in every muscle if we tried that, Dad. Let's open a few windows. ”

“ 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. ”

“ In the third volume of the Penny Nichols’ series, entitled, “The Secret of the Black Imp,” she encounters a mystery more baffling than any she has previously solved.
After Mrs. Leeds and her daughter left the house, the others took Mr. Nichols for a tour of the secret passageway. Jacob Winters explained in detail how the panel operated and entertained them by playing several selections on the pipe organ.
“I love music,” Rosanna remarked wistfully. “I’ve never even had an opportunity to learn to play the piano.” ”

“ Nichols examined the cloth very closely and then compared it with the wick of the toy lantern.
"The material looks exactly the same to me, Dad!" Penny declared excitedly.
"It is identical," her father agreed. "Where did you say you bought the goods?"
"At Hunters Store. Unfortunately, every woman in Kendon seems to have bought this same material."
Mr. Nichols reached for his hat. "I'm going down there now and talk with the storekeeper," he declared.
"Then you think the clue is important, Dad."
"Yes, I do, Penny. It may not lead to anything, but one can never be sure." ”

“ Dillon is the worst social climber in Belton City."
"Just the same we accepted this invitation and we'll have to go," Penny said sternly.
"I can't make it. I have important work to do."
"But Dad——"
"You go alone, Penny, and do the honors for the family. Tell Mrs. Dillon that I came down with croup most unexpectedly. Tell her anything you like, only count me out."
"She'll never forgive you if you don't go. Can't you possibly make it?"
Mr. Nichols frowned in annoyance. "I suppose I might be able to drop around late in the evening. Possibly in time to take you home." ”

“ Upon the other hand, the society woman was an important personage of Belton City with many influential friends, and should she be falsely arrested the trouble would descend like an avalanche upon the head of Penny Nichols.
"I'll have to move cautiously," the girl reflected. "It's no crime to own a copy of a stolen painting. If this picture is a fake, the police would have no case against Mrs. Dillon." ”

“ 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." ”

“ Gallup came from the kitchen with a tray of sandwiches and a tall pitcher of fruit juice. For a time Penny and her father confined their talk to less vital subjects. But when the housekeeper had gone from the room again, Mr. Nichols took up the matter where it had been dropped.
"If my raids tomorrow night are successful, it will end the case. We may need you, Penny, to show the officers how to get into the Hamilton building."
"I'd like to help," she assured him eagerly.
"Good," Mr. Nichols said warmly as he picked up the evening paper. "Until the appointed hour, don't go near the Plant. ”

“ Penny felt actually sick as she considered the possible consequence of falling into the hands of the Molberg gang. It was not for herself that she feared but for her father. She knew him well enough to realize that he would sacrifice everything to be assured of her safety.
"If I let on that I suspect something is wrong it will only put the driver on his guard," she thought. "My best chance is to act innocent and watch for an opportunity to jump out of the car." ”

“ Nichols we'll not tell a soul about our discovery tonight."
A few minutes later the girls took leave of each other. Penny continued alone toward her own home.
Turning a corner in one of the outlying neighborhood business sections, she noticed a girl in blue hurrying along the street. Recognizing Betty Davis, Penny halted her roadster at the curbing.
The girl did not notice for she had paused to stare into the window of a café. A group of young men could be seen within, laughing and talking. ”

“ Winters,” Penny added significantly. “I believe you are only a cousin, Mrs. Leeds?”
The woman eyed her furiously.
“Just what is it that you want me to do?” Rosanna asked.
“I think you both should leave immediately.”
“And allow you to have everything your way,” Penny interposed sweetly. “Now wouldn’t that be nice—for you!”
[116]
She took Rosanna by the arm and urged her toward the car.
“Don’t allow Miss Nichols to poison your mind!” Mrs. Leeds pleaded, following Rosanna to the curbing. “Unless you leave immediately you will receive no part of the fortune. ”

“ Mr. Nichols chuckled. "I shouldn't care for it myself. Digging up the black history of influential citizens isn't the most profitable occupation in the world."
Realizing that she was being teased, Penny dropped the subject. However, no sooner had her father buried himself in his newspaper again than she thought of another question which she could not resist asking.
"What did you learn about that license number I gave you last night, Dad?"
"It was issued in this county. Without the complete number it will be impossible to trace the car." ”

“ Penny said in an undertone.
The two women walked up to the desk.
“I am Mrs. Everett Leeds,” the one with the dog announced a trifle too loudly. “I have a reservation.”
“Just a minute please,” the clerk requested.
It seemed to Penny that he looked disturbed as he thumbed through his cards.
“There is no occasion for delay,” Mrs. Leeds declared blandly. “My daughter and I always engage the same room—305.”
“Why, that was the number of one of the rooms assigned to my party,” Mr. Nichols observed. ”

“ 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." ”

“ Your old Dad can take care of himself."
Penny sighed as she followed her father to the elevator. She knew that she should dismiss the matter from her mind yet that was exactly what she could not do. Ever since she could remember Mr. Nichols had lived a dangerous life. He had trailed and captured daring criminals and during his lengthy career, first as a police officer and later as a private detective, had received many threats. Several times he had escaped violence by a narrow margin. Usually Penny did not worry, but Max Lynch had impressed her as a man who would seek retaliation. ”

“ Upon reaching the cottage, Penny drew her father aside and reported everything she had learned.
"You're sure that the boy told the truth about having no food?" the detective inquired.
"I can't be absolutely certain," Penny admitted. "I've never been inside the house."
"Always there are two sides to every question," Mr. Nichols said slowly. "Folks around here with the exception of Mrs. Masterbrook, seem to think that Crocker isn't a bad sort."
"I'm positive he's not the right person to have entire control of a child, Dad." ”

“ Penny realized that she had it within her power to expose Mrs. Dillon. Even though she were a guest in the society woman's home, it was really her duty to reveal her findings to the police.
From her hiding place behind the chair, Penny had not been able to secure a very good view of the painting. She was eager to examine it at close range.
Did she dare open the panel? She decided to take the chance. Jerking at the long silken rope as she had seen Mrs. Dillon do, the girl was gratified to observe the sham picture above the mantel swing slowly back to reveal the hidden panel. ”

“ Penny urged: “A sleep will refresh you. I think I’ll go downstairs and see if I can discover what plot is brewing.”
She descended the spiral stairway and paused at the library. It was empty. The house was strangely silent. Penny crossed the hall to the living room. Heavy draperies screened the arched doorway. As Penny pulled them aside to enter, she saw Mrs. Leeds standing at the fireplace, her back to the door. Something about her manner aroused Penny’s suspicions. She waited and watched. ”

“ Penny said. “It’s off the main line of travel. You haven’t a car of your own or one you could borrow?”
“No.”
“I’ll take you to Brookport if you like,” Penny offered generously. “We might go tomorrow.”
“Oh, I shouldn’t like to trouble you, Miss Nichols. I can probably rent a car.”
[18]
“There’s no need of it for I would enjoy the ride. Besides, I am curious to learn if there is an attorney by the name of Elfhedge living in Brookport. Suppose I call here for you around ten o’clock tomorrow morning.”
“All right,” Rosanna smiled. “It’s good of you to offer. Perhaps I can repay you someday.” ”

“ 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." ”

“ Was the man the agent Mrs. Dillon had mentioned? The rogue who had sold the fake painting to the gullible woman? He certainly did not look like a crook, Penny thought, nor did he act like one. Just one more reason, she decided, why she must take nothing for granted. She produced a notebook and pencil from her purse and made a careful notation of the stranger's automobile license number as well as its make and model.
For perhaps forty-five minutes the man remained inside the house. When he crossed the street to his car he skipped along with an agility surprising in a man of his years. ”

“ Penny regarded him coldly.
“I’ll promise nothing, Mr. Laponi, except that I intend to see justice done to Rosanna Winters! You and Mrs. Leeds are trying to cheat her out of her rightful inheritance.”
“She’ll never get a cent. If you had an ounce of sense you’d ditch her and come in with us. It’s all fixed—”
“Fixed!” Penny tripped him. “And by ‘us’ I imagine you mean Mrs. Leeds. You’re both [168] hatching some scheme to defraud Rosanna.”
Laponi smiled impudently.
“Well, don’t say I didn’t give you your choice, Miss Nichols. It is your decision to have no share in the spoils?” ”

“ Penny saw Mrs. Dillon, pale and frightened, trying to drop her pearl necklace into a flower pot, but she was not quick enough. The holdup man jerked the string from her hand.
"Oh, no you don't, lady," he snarled. He admired the pearls an instant before dropping them into a small cloth bag which he carried.
Penny stood next in line. She wore no jewelry save an inexpensive brooch which had belonged to her mother. Tears came into her eyes as the thief jerked it from her dress.
"Oh, please don't take that—" she began.
"Make no resistance," Mr. Nichols ordered curtly. ”