Penny Nichols and the Black Imp

by Joan Clark

  CHAPTER IV

  Following Amy's Trail

  The detectives glanced curiously at Penny as they came up the steps tothe rooming house but failed to notice that she lingered by the streetcurbing to learn what had brought them to the scene. They rang thebell and the door was opened almost instantly by the landlady.

  "You may as well go away," she began irately, then paused in confusion."Oh, I beg your pardon. I thought it was someone else."

  The plain clothes men flashed their badges and then inquired if AmyCoulter resided at the house.

  "You're not the first that's asked for her," the woman informed."Someone from the Gage Galleries has been telephoning all morning untilit's enough to drive a body wild. And just a minute ago a girl came tobother me."

  "I take it then that Amy Coulter is not here?" one of the detectivesinterrupted.

  "No, she packed up her luggage and cleared out last night withoutleaving an address. What has she done now?"

  "We're not certain that she has done anything, but we wish to questionher."

  "I thought something was wrong when she cleared out so fast," thelandlady declared. "She paid her rent all right, but she was a queerone. I was suspicious of her from the first."

  The detectives talked with the landlady a few minutes longer beforereturning to their car.

  Penny had heard the entire conversation. The visit of the plainclothes men to the rooming house made it clear to her that the orderdefinitely had gone out for Amy Coulter's apprehension as a suspect inthe Gage Galleries theft. It seemed likely that the young sculptresswas aware of the situation, for otherwise why would she disappearwithout leaving a forwarding address?

  "Anyway, there's nothing I can do," Penny thought. "I may as well giveup the search and go shopping."

  Since Pearl Street was not far from the business section of BeltonCity, she left her automobile parked at the curbing and walked to thenearest department store.

  Penny had a long list of items to purchase, for Mrs. Gallup hadmentioned a number of articles which were needed for the house. It waswell after the noon hour when she finished the task. She dropped in atthe store tearoom for a sandwich and cup of chocolate, then gathered upher packages and started back to her car.

  Turning the first corner, she was startled to notice a familiar figureacross the street. A girl in a shabby blue serge suit was staring intothe window of a candy shop.

  "That looks like Amy Coulter!" Penny thought excitedly.

  She hurried across the street to accost the girl. Upon hearing hername called Amy turned swiftly and her face lighted with pleasure.

  "Why, how nice to meet you again, Miss Nichols."

  For an instant Penny felt embarrassed. Amy looked so genuinely glad tosee her that it was difficult to believe the girl could know of theaccusation against her. It would be awkward to bring up the subject.

  "I was hoping I might see you," Penny declared after a brief silence."In fact, I called at your rooming house only a little while ago. Thelandlady told me you had moved."

  "Yes, I didn't like the place very well. And it was too expensive forme."

  "Where are you staying now?" Penny questioned, and then as the othergirl hesitated for an answer, said quickly: "Don't tell me unless youwish."

  "Of course I want you to know, Miss Nichols. I have a room on FultonAvenue only a few blocks from here. If you have time I'd like to haveyou visit me. I am on my way home now."

  "I'd like to accompany you," Penny said quickly. "There's something Iwant to talk to you about."

  Amy Coulter looked surprised at such a response, but offered nocomment. The girls devoted their conversation to casual subjects asthey walked toward the rooming house.

  Presently they paused before a drab looking building in a quiet street.Amy offered no apology as she led Penny up four flights of stairs to atiny room on the top floor.

  Penny noticed that Amy had arranged the cheap furniture to the bestadvantage. The gay home-made curtains at the window, bright pillowsand an India cloth thrown over a battered old table, showed a niceappreciation of color values. The walls were attractive with finepaintings and etchings and in one corner of the room stood a box ofstatues and ceramics.

  "You have some lovely things," Penny remarked admiringly.

  "The paintings were done by my father. You may have heard hisname--Eli Coulter."

  "Why, he was famous as an artist and sculptor!" Penny exclaimed. "Youare his daughter?"

  "Yes, but few persons are aware of it. A name is forgotten so soon."Unknowingly, Amy sighed. "My father was quite noted at the time of hisdeath. That was only four years ago. It seems a century."

  "Your father's paintings will never be forgotten," Penny assured herearnestly. "They will always be treasured."

  "I hope so. Father really sacrificed himself to his art. He died inpoverty."

  "You have had a difficult time since then?" Penny asked kindly.

  "Yes, but I have no complaint. I shall manage to get along and Iderive a real joy from my sculptoring."

  "Your father taught you, I suppose?"

  "All that I know I learned from him. But I can never equal his work."

  "That remains to be seen," Penny smiled. "You are only starting yourcareer."

  "I haven't been able to sell any of my work. I am getting verydiscouraged. I had hoped to win the five thousand dollar Huddlesonprize, but I failed."

  "You should have won," Penny declared loyally. "Your entry was by farthe best."

  "The judge didn't think so."

  "Who is Hanley Cron anyhow?" Penny scoffed. "Just a newspaper artcritic! Do you consider him an authority?"

  "No, I don't," Amy returned. "It was rather odd that he was namedjudge of such an important contest."

  "You see, it doesn't mean a thing."

  "The five thousand dollars would have meant something," Amy smiledruefully. "I could use it to pay my rent and buy new clothes. To saynothing of taking lessons in art. I'm desperate for money."

  "Can't I loan you a little?" Penny offered.

  "Oh, no! I have enough to keep going for some time. I only meant thatI could use that prize money very advantageously."

  "By the way, have you read the morning papers?" Penny inquired abruptly.

  "No, I was so busy getting moved that I haven't glanced at a paper fordays. I suppose the critics made fun of my poor entry."

  "Upon the contrary, the Black Imp was highly praised. However, I wasreferring to the theft of the painting."

  "Theft?" Amy asked blankly. "What painting do you mean?"

  "Then you haven't heard the news," Penny said, watching her closely.

  "I haven't heard about any painting being stolen. Surely you don'tmean from the Gage Galleries?"

  "Yes, a Rembrandt was taken yesterday afternoon from the exhibitionroom. The police believe that one of the contestants for the Huddlesonprize may have stolen it in spite--the theory sounds silly to me."

  "But how was the picture smuggled from the museum?"

  "The police aren't sure, but they think a girl carried it out as apackage. She was seen by one of the guards entering a taxi cab."

  Amy's face flamed with color. "Miss Nichols, are you trying to tell methat I am under suspicion?" she demanded.

  Penny nodded. "Yes, that's why I wanted to talk with you. The policeare looking for you now."

  "The police! But I've done nothing wrong. I didn't take the painting!How can anyone accuse me of such a thing?"

  "It's unjust of course. They suspect you because you left theGalleries only a few minutes before the theft of the painting wasdiscovered."

  "But that doesn't prove I took the picture! I had a right to leave."

  "No one would have thought anything of it, Amy, but the guard reportedhe saw you board a taxi cab with a flat package under your arm.Probably he was mistaken."

  "I did take a package from the museum," the girl acknowledged, "and itwas a painting. However,
it was my own--one which I had exhibitedthere for several months."

  "You didn't show the package to the guard who is stationed by the door?"

  "No, when I left the building he was not at his usual post. As Ientered the taxi cab I heard someone call after me but I was upset andI didn't want to go back. So I just pretended I didn't hear."

  "It's too bad you didn't return and show the picture," Penny commentedslowly. "That would have cleared you of all suspicion. As it is,you're in an awkward position."

  "Don't you think the police will believe my story?"

  "If you can prove it--yes. I suppose someone at the Gage Gallerieswill have a record that the picture you took was your own."

  Amy looked frightened. "I'm afraid not," she admitted. "You see, thepainting was wrapped up for me to carry home weeks ago. I didn't wantto bother with it so I kept it in my locker in the basement. Thenyesterday I decided to take it with me."

  "No one saw you go to your locker?"

  "Not to my knowledge." Amy crossed the room and lifted out a smallpicture from her trunk. "See, this is the painting. A vase offlowers. It's very poor work--certainly about a million miles removedfrom a genuine Rembrandt."

  In silence Penny studied the painting. She really was not thinking ofit at all. However, she noticed absently that it was similar in sizeto the dimensions which the evening papers had given for the stolenRembrandt.

  "You don't think the police will try to send me to jail?" Amyquestioned tensely. "The accusation is utterly silly!"

  Penny did not know how to advise the girl. While she was inclined tobelieve Amy's story, she was afraid that others might not.

  "Does anyone know of your present address?" she asked Amy.

  "Only you. I haven't even had time to inform the postoffice of thechange."

  "Then why not remain in hiding for a few days until this trouble blowsover?" Penny proposed after a moment's thought. "I shouldn't suggestit only I feel confident the real thief will be traced soon. Or atleast new evidence will be uncovered."

  "I shouldn't like to appear a sneak or a coward. If I were sure thepolice would believe me, I'd be glad to go to them and give myself up."

  "That's just the point, Amy. You can't tell what they're likely to do.And the story is almost certain to come out in the papers."

  "I shouldn't like publicity," Amy declared. "Perhaps you're rightabout hiding."

  "I'd stay off the street if possible," Penny advised, arising to leave."And it might be a good idea to take all your meals in."

  "I shall," Amy promised. "Thank you for bringing me the warning. Iappreciate it more than I can say."

  "If there are any new developments I'll keep you posted," Penny said asthey parted at the door. "The truth surely will come out within a fewdays."

  She walked back to Pearl Street for her automobile, but did not drivehome. Instead she turned toward the Gage Galleries.

  "It seems to me the police and museum authorities have overlooked oneimportant clue," she reflected. "I can't help thinking that the guardSusan and I met in the corridor may know something about the case. Atleast he should be questioned."

  While it was true that a museum official had vouched for the honesty ofthe employee, Penny could not forget that the man had seemed greatlyembarrassed at the encounter in the dark hall.

  She was quite aware that the loss of the valuable painting really wasnone of her affair. Nor would she have taken such a personal interestin the case had it not been for her acquaintance with Amy Coulter. Shefelt that if the girl were to be cleared of suspicion, someone wouldhave to work in her behalf.

  Penny entered the Gage Galleries by the main front door and spoke to aguard whom she knew by sight.

  "Have you heard anything new regarding the missing Rembrandt?"

  "No, Miss," the man responded politely. "The theft of the painting wasa severe loss to the museum. So far the police have made no progressin tracing the crook."

  "Can you tell me where I can locate a man by the name of Hoges who isemployed here?" Penny next inquired.

  "You will not find him at the Galleries, Miss."

  "You mean he's off duty for the day?" Penny asked in disappointment.

  The guard's response came as a distinct blow.

  "No, Miss. Mr. Hoges is away on a month's vacation. He left the cityyesterday to travel in the South."