CHAPTER IV
The Molberg Gang
Penny signaled frantically for the operator's attention. It seemedminutes before the telephone girl responded mechanically: "Numberplease."
"I was disconnected with my party," Penny informed tensely. "See ifyou can trace the call. It is very important."
"Just a minute please."
There was another long wait, then the telephone operator informed Pennythat the call could not be traced. It had been made from a pay station.
Mr. Nichols entered the office just as Penny hung up the phone.
"Anything wrong?" he asked quickly, noticing the expression on her face.
Penny repeated the warning message.
"Well, it looks as if I'm on the right trail," Mr. Nichols declared,not in the least disturbed. "I'd have preferred that the Molberg ganghadn't learned I was shadowing them, but such news travels fast throughunderground channels."
"I'm afraid some of those dreadful men may harm you," Penny saidanxiously. "Promise me you'll be careful."
"I am always careful, my dear, but I refuse to go around wearing abullet proof vest. This isn't the first warning telephone call I'vereceived."
"I suppose not," Penny sighed. "But I should think that if the membersof the Molberg gang know you have been assigned to the case, it wouldbe hard to secure evidence against them."
"It won't be easy," the detective agreed. "However, I flatter myselfthat I have a few trained investigators whose activities will never besuspected."
"You mean they mingle with underworld characters and try to gain theirconfidence?"
"Yes, that's the usual plan. When I locate Rap Molberg I'll have himconstantly shadowed."
"I've never seen many of your assistants around the office," Pennyremarked.
"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 youtaking a rather sudden interest in my work, Penny?"
"Perhaps I am. Since my car wheels were stolen I feel personallyconcerned in the case. I wish I could do something to help."
Mr. Nichols became grave. "There is nothing you can do, Penny. Thelast thing in the world that I could wish would be to have you involvedin the case. In fact I've been worried for fear----"
"For fear of what?" Penny demanded as her father checked himself.
"I've been afraid that the Molberg gang might attempt to strike at methrough you. Until this case is finished you must be very careful."
"I'll be careful, although even for you I refuse to go around wearing abullet proof vest," Penny grinned, paraphrasing his previous words."Anyway, it might be exciting to be kidnapped."
"If you talk like that I see I must assign someone to keep watch overyou."
"It won't be necessary," Penny assured him hastily. "I promise tostop, look and listen before I make any rash moves."
As if to demonstrate, she tiptoed to the door, opened it cautiously,peered forth at Miss Arrow who was busy at her typewriter, and thenwith a casual "goodbye" flung over her shoulder, was gone.
The following week was an uneventful one in the Nichols household. Aswas usually the way when Mr. Nichols became involved in an importantcase, meals were served at odd hours and often the detective did notcome home at all for lunch or dinner. Penny complained that she neversaw her father. Certainly she heard very little concerning the work hewas doing for the insurance company.
On a Wednesday afternoon she was in the back yard washing her roadsterwith the garden hose when Susan Altman came running up to relate a bitof news.
"Penny, the most wonderful thing has happened!"
"What?"
"I'm to have a car for my birthday present!"
"Not really!"
"Yes, I am. I've been saving money for two years, but I never mademuch headway. Father always thought I was too young to have a car toountil this summer."
"What made him change his mind?"
"Mother, I guess. You see she has to have the family car a great deal,but nothing would induce her to drive it herself. I'm to have the newautomobile as my very own providing I take Mother wherever she wishesto go."
"That should be an easy condition to meet," Penny smiled. "What kindof car are you going to get?"
"I don't know yet. I thought perhaps you'd help me select it."
"I'd love to. After running this old bus for nearly three years Iconsider myself quite an authority on cars."
"I can buy any low priced model I wish," Susan went onenthusiastically. "What color shall I get?"
"One that doesn't show the dirt," Penny advised promptly as she coiledup the hose and put it away. "It seems to me that I spend half my timetrying to keep this animal of mine presentable."
"I thought I might like blue," Susan ventured. "I don't suppose you'dhave time to go with me now and look at a few models, would you?"
"Of course I'll go! Wait until I change into more presentable clothes."
Penny darted into the house, returning in a few minutes.
"Where are you going to buy your car?" she questioned.
"Father told me to go to the Brunner garage on Second Street."
"I'll drive you there in the roadster," Penny offered.
At the Brunner salesrooms a few minutes later the girls were greeted bythe manager, George Brunner. He was a tall, thin man with sharp blackeyes. When he spoke to his employees his manner was overbearing andhaughty, but in the presence of the two girls he beamed and smiled andhung upon their words. He talked glibly as he piloted them from oneshiny new car to another.
Presently Susan found herself hypnotized by a blue coupe. After Mr.Brunner had taken the girls a ride in a similar model, she whispered toPenny that she thought she would buy the car.
"Why don't you look around at a few other places first," Pennysuggested. "You might make a better deal."
"I'm afraid to wait for fear Father will change his mind. Besides,this is exactly the type of car I like."
Penny refrained from saying more, but she was sorry that her chumseemed determined to make such a hasty transaction. For some reasonshe had taken an instant dislike to George Brunner. Susan, however,noticed nothing amiss in his manner and listened spellbound as hetalked glowingly of the little blue coupe.
"I think I'll take it," Susan decided hesitatingly. "Could I drive itaway?"
"Certainly," the manager beamed, steering her gently toward the inneroffice. "Just step inside and we'll fill out the necessary papers."
Almost before she was fully aware of what she was doing, Susan hadwritten a check in payment for the car and had signed the usual legalpapers.
"Do you think I've made an awful mistake?" she asked Penny nervouslywhile they sat waiting for the car to be serviced.
"It's a beautiful model, Susan. And if it operates even half as wellas Mr. Brunner claimed, it should be a wonderful bargain."
"You didn't like that man very well, did you?"
"No," Penny responded shortly.
"The Brunner garage is supposed to be one of the best in Belton City."
"I know it is. I haven't a thing against Mr. Brunner except that Idon't care for his manners."
The discussion ended for the manager had returned to announce that thenew car was ready to leave the garage.
"I am sure you will find it perfectly satisfactory, Miss Altman," hebeamed. "But in the event that anything _should_ go wrong don'thesitate to call upon us."
"I'll remember that," Susan said.
With Penny beside her to offer advice, she drove the coupe from thegarage. Turning out into Second Street she narrowly missed beingstruck by a truck which was traveling at a high rate of speed.
"Better get out into the country until you've had an opportunity tobecome accustomed to handling the car," Penny suggested.
"That's a good idea," Susan agreed. "I don't want to wreck the thingbefore I drive it home."
After an hour of straight driving on a deserted road, she became quitedexterous at operating the gears. When she felt entirely confident ofher ability to handle the car in any emergency, the girls drove backinto the city. They parted at the Brunner garage where Penny had lefther own roadster.
"Thanks for helping me select the car," Susan told her chum gratefully.
"I didn't have much to do with it," Penny smiled. "But it's a finelooking automobile. I wish I had one half as nice."
"I'll let you drive mine whenever you like," Susan offered generously.
When Penny reached home it was nearly dinner time. Mrs. Gallup wasbusy in the immaculate green and white kitchen, frosting an angel foodcake.
"Any mail for me this afternoon?" Penny inquired, pausing to scrape upa generous spoonful of fudge from the frosting pan.
"I declare, I've been too busy all day to even think of the mail."
"I'll look."
Penny went to the box at the front door. There were three letters.Two for Mr. Nichols and one for herself. The latter was addressed inpencil on a cheap yellow envelope.
"Wonder who it's from?" she thought with interest.
Quickly, she ripped open the envelope, glancing at the signature whichhad been signed at the bottom of the brief note.
"Jerry Barrows!" she exclaimed.
Eagerly she read the message.
"Sorry I couldn't keep the appointment with Mr. Nichols," the boy hadwritten. "Tell your father to be on guard. His life is in danger."