Penny Nichols and the Black Imp

by Joan Clark

  CHAPTER XI

  A Visitor

  Penny watched the janitor closely after the man in gray had vanishedinto the building. From his inside coat pocket he removed a billfoldand carefully deposited the fifty dollars in it. The five dollar billhe shoved into his trousers pocket, a possessive smirk on his face.

  Penny moved forward to accost the man.

  "How do you do," she greeted. "Are you the custodian of this building?"

  "Yes, I am," he replied surlily. "If you have anything to sell, getout!"

  "Oh, I'm not a saleswoman. I am looking for a place to rent."

  "Is that so? Well, you've come to the wrong place. We are filled up."

  Penny was aware that the janitor regarded her suspiciously. She didnot believe that he was speaking the truth for she had noticed manyapparently unoccupied rooms in the building.

  "But you may have vacancies in the future, I suppose," she commented."You see, I like the outlook a person would get from your top floor."

  "That top floor is rented."

  "Could you tell me the name of the party----?"

  "No, I couldn't," the janitor interrupted irritably. "Run along now.I'm not interested in your chatter."

  "All right, I'll go," Penny replied, "but you may hear from me again.And when I return, I'll bring a mate to that five dollar bill you justslipped into your pocket!"

  Before the man had recovered from his surprise she turned and walkedbriskly down the street in the direction of her father's office. Shedeeply regretted her last remark for she realized that the janitormight repeat it to the man who occupied the top floor. She had notintended to reveal how much she had seen.

  Penny entered her father's office just as he was leaving on a businesserrand.

  "Hello, Dad," she called out. "I seem to have caught the bird on thewing."

  Mr. Nichols smiled at his young daughter and obligingly hung his hatback on the rack.

  "My flight is off now that the fledgling has returned to the nest.What's on your mind now, Penny?"

  "This little ornament, for one thing." Penny unwrapped the model ofthe Black Imp which Amy Coulter had given her and set it down on herfather's desk. "Doesn't he look kind of lonesome and,well--mysterious?"

  "He does at that," Mr. Nichols said as he picked up the little artpiece and turned it over and over. "I should say the fellow has awicked glint to his eye."

  "Be careful how you handle him," Penny warned. "The clay is stilldamp."

  Mr. Nichols placed the figure back on the desk. "It's a very cleverdesign. I don't suppose this is that Black Imp you were telling meabout?"

  "It's a copy of the original."

  "How did you get it?"

  "I guess you might say I swiped it," Penny smiled, "or rather, Amy andI did together."

  "You don't make yourself very clear."

  Penny related her experience in Hanley Cron's studio, but at mention ofthe jewelry theft, Mr. Nichols lost all interest in the Black Imp. Heinsisted upon hearing every detail of the theft.

  "It doesn't surprise me a bit," he declared when Penny finished thestory. "I warned Mrs. Dillon that necklace would be stolen if shedidn't get it locked up."

  "She lost it on the way to the bank, Dad. Perhaps she thinks now thatif she hadn't attempted to follow your advice, the pearls would stillbe safe."

  "Nonsense!" Mr. Nichols exclaimed impatiently. "That necklace wasstolen by someone who was lying in wait for her. Possibly by one ofthe same thieves who attempted to hold up the Dillon ball the otherevening."

  "Mrs. Dillon did make a grave mistake to carry the pearls unguarded,"Penny admitted. "But it seems to me the thief must have been someonewho was in the house after the holdup."

  "Why do you think that?"

  "Because otherwise how would the thief have known that Mrs. Dillonintended to take her necklace to the bank today? You remember shespoke of the matter openly before her guests."

  "I remember," Mr. Nichols smiled.

  "And Mrs. Dillon made an appointment to meet Hanley Cron at his studiobefore she went to the bank. The thief apparently was waiting for herin front of the building. It was no casual snatch. I'm sure of that."

  "Your reasoning is very good," Mr. Nichols praised. "Tell me, whooverheard this conversation between Mrs. Dillon and Hanley Cron?"

  "Why, I did. There were some other people standing not far away, but Idoubt that they heard. At least they did not appear to be listening."

  "So you're the only person who knew of the appointment," Mr. Nicholssaid jokingly.

  "Don't look at me like that," Penny laughed. "I swear I didn't takethe necklace even if I was on the scene."

  "I'll not turn you over to the police without more evidence," thedetective promised. "I was just on my way to the station when youdropped in."

  "I didn't mean to detain you."

  "The matter was of no great importance. I merely wanted to inquire ifthe police had made any progress tracing the Dillon holdup men. It'squeer how they made such a neat get-away."

  "I don't think the police are very alert," Penny grumbled. "After Mrs.Dillon's handbag was snatched they were on the scene within tenminutes, but I imagine the thief will never be captured."

  "You expect results too quickly, Penny," her father smiled. "From whatyou've told me I imagine this purse-snatcher is a member of anorganized gang. The theft was no casual affair. Every detail wascarefully planned."

  "I wish you were on the case, Dad."

  "I don't. I have enough troubles without wishing more upon myself. Ireally am not----"

  He broke off as the telephone rang. "Hello," he said gruffly into thetransmitter, then his face became sober as he silently listened. "Dropinto my office tomorrow at nine," he terminated the conversation."I'll give you my decision then."

  "You sound like one of the judges of the Supreme Court," Penny chuckledas her father hung up the receiver. "What's this momentous decisionyou're to hand down?"

  Mr. Nichols sat drumming his fingers against the edge of the desk.

  "That was the Reliance Insurance Company. They want me to take theDillon case."

  "You don't mean in regard to Mrs. Dillon's lost necklace?"

  "Yes, that's it."

  "But Dad, how does the insurance company figure in the case? Thepearls weren't insured."

  "As it happens, they were. For fifteen thousand dollars."

  "But I heard Mrs. Dillon say to you herself that the necklace had neverbeen insured."

  "Yes. Apparently, she didn't tell the truth."

  "She acted dreadfully upset over the loss. What reason would she havefor telling you a deliberate falsehood about the insurance?"

  "I wonder myself."

  "Are the pearls worth fifteen thousand?" Penny asked thoughtfully.

  "No more than that certainly. It seems, too, that the policy was takenout from the insurance company only a few weeks ago."

  "The company doesn't think that the robbery was planned surely?"

  "It was planned all right--but whether by Mrs. Dillon I'm in noposition to say."

  "But why should she wish to resort to such a trick just to collectinsurance?" Penny protested. "The Dillons are wealthy."

  "Ostensibly so, at least. However, even to Mrs. Dillon, fifteenthousand might look attractive."

  "I don't believe she's as honest as she should be," Penny admittedreluctantly. "At least that stolen picture isn't in her favor. Shemust have bought it with a full knowledge of what she was doing."

  Christopher Nichols nodded thoughtfully.

  "Will you take the case?" Penny questioned hopefully.

  "I haven't decided yet. I admit I'm beginning to grow interested init."

  While the two were talking, Miss Arrow, the secretary, swiftly enteredthe room.

  "I'm sorry to interrupt," she apologized, "but that dreadful man ishere again."

  "Which dreadful man?" the detective inquired, smiling.

  "Max Lynch."
/>   "Oh."

  "Don't see him," Penny pleaded. "He might attempt to harm you, Dad."

  Mr. Nichols paid no heed. He turned to Miss Arrow. "Is he carrying agun?"

  "I don't think so, Mr. Nichols. But I couldn't be certain."

  "Please don't see him," Penny begged earnestly. "Max Lynch has agrudge against you."

  "Now don't get yourself worked up, Penny," he chided, opening the topdrawer of his desk to make certain that his own revolver was at handfor immediate use in an emergency. "I'll be in no danger, and Max mayprove useful to me."

  "Useful?"

  "Yes, he's an expert on jewels and it's a well known fact he sometimeshandles stolen gems."

  "You think he may know something about Mrs. Dillon's necklace?"

  "I don't suppose he had anything to do with the theft, Penny, butlikely he has a pretty good idea who handled the job."

  "Shall I tell him to come in?" Miss Arrow questioned.

  "Yes, I'll see him."

  "I suppose I'll have to go," Penny said reluctantly.

  "Please," the detective requested.

  Miss Arrow already had departed. As Penny reached the door she met MaxLynch coming in. He stood aside for her to pass, but there was nodeference in the action. He eyed the girl insolently.

  "Your daughter, Nichols?" he demanded.

  "Yes," the detective answered shortly.

  "Not bad looking."

  "We'll leave her out of the conversation," Nichols said sharply. "Whatbrought you here this time, Max?"

  Without replying, Lynch leisurely sat down in a chair opposite thedetective. He calmly helped himself to a cigar on the desk. But henever lighted it. For as he reached into his pocket after a match, henoticed an object directly in front of him. It was the Black Imp.

  For an instant he stared at the figure, the expression ofself-confidence completely washed from his face.

  He hastily arose and his chair, as he pushed it back, made a harshgrating noise on the floor. Instinctively, Christopher Nichols' handmoved swiftly toward the top drawer of his desk. But there was no needfor alarm. Max Lynch did not reach for his gun. Instead he made forthe door.

  "You're leaving?" Nichols asked.

  Max did not reply. But as he went out the door, he glanced back overhis shoulder, and for a fleeting moment his eyes rested in fascinatedfear on the figure of the Black Imp.