Penny Nichols Finds a Clue

by Joan Clark

  Produced by Al Haines

  [Transcriber's note: Extensive research found no evidence that the U.S. copyright on this publication was renewed.]

  Penny Nichols

  Finds a Clue

  _By_

  JOAN CLARK

  The Goldsmith Publishing Company

  CHICAGO

  COPYRIGHT MCMXXXVI BY

  THE GOLDSMITH PUBLISHING COMPANY

  MANUFACTURED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

  CONTENTS

  CHAPTER

  I. A WARNING II. INSIDE THE TRUNK III. AN IMPULSIVE ACT IV. THE MOLBERG GANG V. PENNY TURNS SLEUTH VI. SUSAN'S MISFORTUNE VII. AN AWKWARD SITUATION VIII. A REVEALING CLUE IX. A TRAP X. THE VANISHING CAR XI. A THREAT XII. KIDNAPPED XIII. THE RAID XIV. BRUNNER'S EXPLANATION XV. INCRIMINATING EVIDENCE XVI. A VALUABLE PHOTOGRAPH XVII. UNDER THE CANVAS XVIII. AT THE OLD SAWMILL XIX. TRAPPED XX. PENNY'S TRIUMPH

  Penny Nichols Finds a Clue

  CHAPTER I

  A Warning

  Penny Nichols flung open the office door of the Nichols DetectiveAgency, descending upon a dignified, gray-haired man who was busy athis desk.

  "Dad," she announced, "I've come to report a mysterious disappearance!"

  Christopher Nichols dropped the correspondence upon which he wasworking and regarded his daughter for a moment, his gray eyes flashingan indulgent welcome.

  "What sort of disappearance?" he inquired cautiously.

  Penny laughed as she opened her purse, disclosing an empty coincontainer.

  "It seems to be my allowance again. Yesterday I had two dollars. Nowthe old pocketbook is as bare as Mother Hubbard's cupboard!"

  Mr. Nichols' chief interest in life centered about his charming youngdaughter and he found it hard at times to keep from pampering her. Itwas especially difficult at this very moment as Penny stood there, herblue eyes twinkling mischievously, her full red lips parted in anenticing smile, and a few unruly ringlets of curly golden hair framingher forehead in an artistry both casual and becoming.

  "Now that is a most bewildering case," he agreed with mock seriousness."I don't suppose that rattle-trap roadster of yours might offer a clueto the mystery?"

  "I'm afraid it does," Penny admitted. "Only this time I indulged inseat covers instead of spare parts. As a result I'm flat broke. AndI'm to meet Susan Altman at the tennis courts in ten minutes."

  Mr. Nichols smiled indulgently as he reached into his pocket for a rollof bills.

  "I'll come to the rescue this time, young lady, but mind, I'm chargingit up to next week's allowance."

  "That's fair enough." Carelessly, Penny picked up several papers fromthe desk, studying them curiously. "What's this? A new case?"

  Her father nodded as he quickly retrieved the documents.

  "I've been hired by the Reliance Insurance Company to track down a gangof auto thieves."

  "Sounds interesting."

  "Unless I miss my guess it will prove a baffling case. I am afraid wemay have to postpone our vacation trip to the mountains, Penny."

  "Can't you arrange to capture the bold, bad men a little ahead ofschedule?" Penny bantered.

  "I wish it would prove as simple as that."

  "It seems a shame to give up the vacation, because you've worked sohard lately. You really need a long rest."

  "We'll both take it when this case is solved," Mr. Nichols promised."Run along now, for I'm particularly busy."

  Not in the least offended by the abrupt dismissal, Penny blew herfather an impudent kiss as she went out the door.

  Since the death of Mrs. Nichols many years before, Penelope and herfather had lived together in a large white house on Hilburn Street withonly Mrs. Gallup, an elderly housekeeper, to see that the establishmentran smoothly. It was not surprising that under such an arrangement thefifteen-year-old girl enjoyed rare freedom. Yet Penny never abused herprivileges and she enjoyed the complete confidence of her father.

  Penny owned her own roadster and drove it well. To be sure, the carwas a second-hand model, but one of which she was very proud, for shehad paid for it herself by teaching swimming at the Y.W.C.A.Automobiles, Penny discovered to her chagrin, had an unpleasant way ofbreaking down at odd moments, and for that reason her expense accountusually was far ahead of her allowance. Occasionally, Mr. Nichols cameto her rescue with very acceptable gifts of tires and spare parts.

  Reaching the tennis court, Penny parked her car on a near-by street.She found Susan Altman, her chum, already awaiting her.

  "It's almost too hot today for tennis," the dark-haired girl complainedas she took her position at the baseline of the cement court, preparingto serve the first ball.

  For two long hours the girls battled back and forth. Although usuallythey were well matched, upon this particular day Susan found herselfunable to cope with her companion's sizzling service and well-placeddrives. Finally, after completely missing a ball which Penny had sentover the net with bullet-like speed, she threw down her racquet indisgust.

  "I've had enough punishment! That makes the third straight set you'vewon."

  "It's getting almost too dark to see the ball," Penny said generously."Shall we call it an evening and finish off with something to eat?"

  They crossed over to Eby's Cafe, a favorite haunt of Belton City'syounger set. The booths were quite deserted.

  "Everyone seems to have gone away for the summer," Susan mourned as shepondered over the menu. "I suppose you'll be leaving soon too, Penny."

  "No chance of it, I'm afraid. Dad has become involved in a new casewhich may keep us in town indefinitely."

  "I wish my father were a detective," Susan commented a trifleenviously. "It's too bad about the vacation of course, but your lifeis exciting at least."

  It seemed to her that Penny always led an unhampered, adventurousexistence. At any rate, the girl was well acquainted with interestinghappenings at the Belton City police court and had more than a noddingacquaintance with fascinating personages of the city.

  "I've never had any real adventures," Penny declared gloomily."Unfortunately, Dad is a little secretive about his sleuthingactivities. I'd give anything to know about this latest case----"

  Her voice trailed off for the two girls had heard a shrill warningwhistle which they instantly recognized as the fire siren. Althoughthey had not even begun their suppers they rushed to the plateglasswindow to watch the red engine clatter by.

  "Why, it's turning down our street!" Susan exclaimed. "Oh, I hope ourhouse isn't afire!"

  "Let's jump in my car and follow," Penny proposed.

  They hurriedly left the cafe. Penny had parked her roadster just outof sight around the corner. But as they viewed the car, they bothstopped short in amazement.

  "The rear wheel is gone!" Susan gasped. "Surely that can't be yourroadster, Penny!"

  It had grown quite dark outside and for an instant both girls believedthey had made a mistake in identifying the car. Yet one glance at thelicense number assured them that they had made no error. A daringthief had jacked up the rear axle, stealing an almost new wheel whichPenny's father had purchased for her only the previous week. Aninspection disclosed that the spare wheel also had been taken.

  "I never heard of such an outrage!" Penny stormed. "Why, we couldn'thave been in that cafe fifteen minutes! The theft was accomplishedalmost under our eyes!"

  "I hope the loss is covered by insurance," Susan said anxiously.

  "I don't know whether it is or not. Dad looks after everything likethat. Oh, dear, unless I can get in touch with him, we're practicallystranded here."

  Although the girls were only a short distance from Mr. Nichols
' officethey were nearly a mile from their homes. The roadster had been parkedseveral blocks from a street car line.

  "We won't be able to learn about the fire either," Susan worried. "Iwonder if it could have been at our house?"

  "It isn't likely, but let's telephone and make certain."

  Even as she spoke they heard the fire engine returning from its recentrun.

  "It couldn't have been much of a fire," Susan commented in relief. "Atleast it's out now."

  "I'll see if I can get in touch with Dad," Penny offered.

  She was relieved to find Mr. Nichols still at his office. Afterlistening to an excited account of all that had befallen, he promisedto come over immediately and take charge of the stripped roadster.

  Ten minutes later he drove up in his sedan.

  "This isn't as unfortunate as it appears," he told the downcast Penny."The loss is completely covered by insurance. Besides, I have a darksuspicion that this little job was handled by the same gang of men I amafter. I may glean a few valuable clues."

  After making a brief inspection of the car Mr. Nichols turned his ownsedan over to Penny, directing her to take it home while he attended tothe stripped roadster and reported to the police.

  Susan had promised to spend the night at the Nichols home, so the girlsdrove directly toward the house on Hilburn Street. Despite Mr.Nichols' matter-of-fact attitude regarding the theft, they consideredit an event of major importance. They were so absorbed in an animateddiscussion of the affair that they were taken completely by surprisewhen a policeman held up his hand for Penny to stop.

  "Now what have I done?" she murmured in alarm, bringing the sedan to asudden halt at the curbing. "I hope I haven't crashed a light."

  The officer stepped up to the car window.

  "Aren't you Miss Nichols?" he questioned.

  "Why, yes, I am." Penny was slightly relieved at his tone.

  "I recognized your car and knew you lived in the neighborhood. Ithought I'd give you a friendly warning."

  "A warning? I don't understand."

  "We're on the lookout for a crook who vanished somewhere in thisvicinity," the officer explained. "In fact, he ran through the hedgewhich borders your place."

  "Did you search the grounds?" Penny asked with interest.

  "Yes, but he made his get-away. I just thought I'd tip you off to becareful."

  "We'll be on the lookout," Penny promised. "Thanks for telling us."

  The officer moved aside and she drove on again.

  "I've had almost enough excitement for one evening without encounteringa desperado," Susan declared with a little shiver as they approachedthe Nichols residence. "I wonder why they're after the man?"

  "He's probably a jail breaker," Penny returned carelessly.

  Susan studied her chum admiringly.

  "You're the most casual person I ever knew, Penelope Nichols. Didn'tthat warning give you the creeps?"

  "To tell you the truth I didn't think much about it. The man would bemiles from here by this time."

  Nevertheless, as she turned the car into the gravel driveway, Penny'skeen gaze swept the dark grounds.

  Susan likewise surveyed the yard anxiously. Suddenly she uttered a lowcry, nervously clutching her companion's arm.

  "I saw a shadow just then!" she whispered tensely. "I do believesomeone is hiding in the lilac bushes!"