CHAPTER V
Penny Turns Sleuth
Mr. Nichols did not have a great deal to say regarding the note whichPenny read to him later that evening at the dinner table.
"Don't let it worry you," he advised. "Just put it away for futurereference and forget about it."
"Future reference?"
"Yes, it's always wise to keep such communications. One never knowswhen a sample of handwriting might prove useful."
"I'm sure Jerry Barrows must have some good qualities or he'd neverhave sent the message. Don't you think so, Dad?"
"Perhaps. It's obvious the boy was afraid to talk with me."
"But why should he warn you that your life is in danger? Do you thinkhe 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 feelvery easy until all the members of that gang are captured."
"It may be a more difficult task than I at first believed," her fatherremarked, frowning. "I know that Rap Molberg is hiding somewhere inthe city but so far none of my investigators have been able to tracehim."
"Perhaps he's through causing trouble," Penny said hopefully.
"He'll make enough when the time comes."
"I've not heard of any automobile thefts or anything of the sort forseveral days."
"That's just it. Things have been altogether too quiet. It's like alull before the storm. A bad sign."
Mr. Nichols abruptly left the table. He walked to the door, then cameback.
"I must go downtown again this evening, Penny," he said regretfully."I'll leave the telephone number of my new office in the event youshould need to reach me. It isn't listed in the 'phone book,' ofcourse."
"Your new office?" Penny demanded. "What became of your old one, may Iask?"
"It's still there," Mr. Nichols smiled. "Miss Arrow has assumedcharge, and I've taken up temporary quarters on the tenth floor of theAtler building."
"Isn't that almost directly across from the Brunner garage?"
"Yes, it's located in the downtown theater district. The bulk of theauto accessory thefts have taken place in this relatively small area.From the window of my new office I secure a bird's eye view of all thatgoes on in nearby streets."
"Surely you don't expect to catch the thieves in the act of stealingautomobile wheels!" Penny marveled.
"It will be the surest way of gaining a conviction. If a professionalcrook isn't captured at the scene of his crime, he usually is cleverenough to cover his tracks completely. An amateur is seldom soskillful in obliterating clues."
"May I visit this new office of yours?" Penny asked.
"Yes, if you use discretion and don't come too often. I have taken theoffice under an assumed name--John Bradford. I shouldn't care to havemy real name known for awhile."
"I'll be very discreet if I come," Penny promised.
Her father turned to leave.
"It must be dull for you here alone at night," he said apologetically."Why don't you take Susan to a picture show?"
"I think I'll do that," Penny agreed.
After Mr. Nichols had left the house, she telephoned Susan. Mrs.Altman answered the call, informing her that her daughter was spendingthe evening at the home of an aunt.
"I may as well go to the show alone," Penny decided.
One of her favorite movie stars was showing at a neighborhood theateronly a few blocks from the Nichols home. Penny walked the shortdistance. She thoroughly enjoyed the picture, remaining to see part ofit twice. It was a little after nine o'clock when she left the theater.
Recalling that Mrs. Gallup had requested her to bring home a pint ofice cream, she crossed the street to the nearest drug store.
While she was waiting to be served, a man in grimy workman's clothesslouched into the store. He pretended to interest himself in acigarette slot machine, but Penny noticed that he darted furtiveglances at the waiting customers.
Something about the man's appearance struck Penny as peculiar. Sheconceded that he looked like a day laborer yet his actions andmannerisms were not in keeping.
"I've seen him before," she thought.
Suddenly the picture of Rap Molberg flashed into her mind. Yet as shescrutinized the man a second time she could see only a slightresemblance to the photo her father had shown her.
However, as the man moved swiftly to the nearest telephone booth,suspicion began to take root. In identifying underworld characters,photographs were never a certain guide, that Penny knew. Too often acriminal disguised his appearance. Not by false wigs and beards whicheven a novice detective might note at a glance. Rather by altering hisfeatures or by adopting costumes commonly seen upon the street.
Impulsively, Penny stepped into a telephone booth adjoining the onewhich the workman had entered. By leaning close to the wooden panel,she could hear part of the conversation.
"That you, Jake?" he asked gruffly. "Everything's set for the bighaul. We're all ready to go ahead whenever the boss gives the word."
By this time Penny was almost certain that she was listening to thevoice of Rap Molberg. Although in general the man did not resemble thephoto which she had seen, the color of his eyes and the expression ofhis mouth were identical. His build seemed to correspond to thefigures of the Bertillon record.
A minute later the man slammed down the telephone receiver and left thebooth. Penny waited until he was out of the store, then dropped anickle in the slot. She called the number which her father had givenher. There was no response at the other end of the line.
"I suppose he's left the office," she thought frantically. "Oh, Ican't let that man get away."
She rushed from the drug store and reached the street just in time tosee the workman disappear around a corner.
"I wonder if I dare attempt to shadow him?" Penny debated.
She was a little afraid, yet the streets in the immediate vicinity ofthe theater were well lighted, and it did not seem too dangerous.
Turning the corner, she caught sight of the man far ahead. He waswalking rapidly. She too quickened her step, but took care not toapproach close enough to arouse his suspicion.
Presently the man paused beside a fine looking automobile which hadbeen parked at the curbing. As he glanced sharply up and down thestreet, Penny pretended to be looking into the window of a jewelrystore. Actually, she was watching the man's reflection in the glass.
She saw him step into the car, take a key from his pocket and turn onthe ignition. As he drove away, Penny quickly noted down the licensenumber.
She glanced hopefully up the street but there was no policeman withinsight. A taxi cab driver noticing her agitated expression, cruisedclose to the curb. Penny hailed him.
"Follow that green car ahead," she directed tersely, climbing in."Don't let it get out of your sight."
At the first corner they were held up by a light which was changingfrom caution yellow to red. Risking arrest, the taxi driver crashed it.
The green car ahead had picked up speed. It weaved in and out oftraffic in a dangerous manner, driven by a man who was both skillfuland reckless.
The pursuit led into the hilly, crooked streets upon which the oldersection of Belton City had been built. As they raced down first onenarrow street and then another, turning corners at a breathless speed,Penny suspected that the man had become aware that he was beingfollowed. Her driver had increasing difficulty in keeping him in sight.
"The right hand turn!" Penny cried as the taxi-man hesitated at anintersection.
They tore down a dark, twisting street at a break-neck speed. Suddenlythe driver slammed on his brakes. The thoroughfare had come to anabrupt end.
"It's a dead-end," the taximan said in disgust, turning the cab around."He couldn't have come this way."
"I'm sure he did," Penny insisted.
The street was short and she could see its entire length. The
greencar had vanished.
There were no houses or garages into which the automobile might haveturned. On either side of the street stood factory and manufacturingbuildings.
"Shall I try another road?" the driver questioned.
"It's no use now. I guess we've lost him. But I was positive that mancame this way. I don't see how I lost him."
She gave her home address to the driver, and sank back against thecushions, completely disgusted with the turn of events.
As Penny alighted at her own door, she cast a speculative glance towardthe lighted window. If her father had not returned, Mrs. Gallup wasalmost certain to ask embarrassing questions concerning her arrival ina taxicab.
"And I forgot the ice cream too!" she thought. "I'll have a nice timeexplaining."
However, it was not necessary to give an account of her activities.Mrs. Gallup met her at the door.
"You came just in time, Penny. You're wanted on the telephone."
"It isn't Father?"
"No," the housekeeper assured her, "I think it's your chum."
"Susan?"
"Yes." Mrs. Gallup pushed her gently toward the telephone. "The girlseems to be greatly excited over something. Do hurry and answer forshe's been waiting several minutes now."