“That was because the leader of the gang had threatened to tell Mr. Davis,” Penny commented.
“Anyway, tonight Father forced me to admit everything. When he learned that Jimmie would be at the old sawmill, he determined to come here and try to save him from his own folly. Oh, Miss Nichols, do you think they’ll keep Jimmie in jail?”
“Not if I can prevent it,” Penny returned firmly. “Come on, I want you to repeat to Father what you’ve just told me.”
The girls found Mr. Nichols and a group of policemen talking with Jerome Davis. The latter looked completely discouraged.
“I’m not asking you to believe my story or to let Jimmie go free,” he said quietly. “My son has broken the law and he must be punished the same as any other offender. Of course I shall resign my position on the force immediately.”
“That may not be necessary,” Mr. Nichols told him kindly. “In my opinion you’ve already proven that you had no hand in the affair.”
“It was my fault that the raid failed,” the policeman accused himself. He turned to his son. “Jimmie, you were the one who tipped off the gang that it was to be staged?”
“Yes, Father,” the boy admitted. “I dropped it out before I thought. I didn’t mean to do it.”
“I take all the blame,” Jerome Davis said quietly. “I should never have mentioned the affair at home.”
He moved over to his son, placing his hand upon his shoulder for an instant. Then he turned sternly back to the group of officers.
“Do your duty, men,” he directed.
No one moved.
“It isn’t right to arrest this boy,” Penny declared. “He was trying to go straight and he ought to have a chance.”
“He’ll get it too!” Mr. Nichols added. “With you as a witness in his favor, Penny, I’m confident he’ll be released.”
Brunner, Molberg and other members of the captured gang were loaded into police cars and taken back to Belton City. Although technically under custody, Jimmie Davis rode with Mr. Nichols and was not handcuffed.
Betty and her father took Penny home since Mr. Nichols found it necessary to go to the police station.
“I can’t thank you enough for all you’ve done,” Betty said gratefully as Penny alighted at her own doorstep. “If Jimmie does go free, it will be entirely through your efforts and your father’s.”
“I think everything will come out right,” Penny told her encouragingly. “If there’s any news I’ll let you know the first thing in the morning.”
As the car drove away, Mrs. Gallup rushed out of the house to embrace the girl.
“Penny, what has happened?” she cried. “Your clothes are dirty and mussed. You’re a sight!”
“I don’t doubt it,” Penny laughed. “I’ve had a wild night.”
“I didn’t get home until an hour ago,” Mrs. Gallup explained. “When I found you weren’t here I was frantic. I was afraid you might have been kidnapped again.”
“Rap Molberg won’t trouble me after this, Mrs. Gallup. He’s spending the night in jail.”
She then gave a glowing account of the capture at the Somm Center sawmill. The details left the housekeeper dumbfounded.
“Penny Nichols, it’s plain to see you’re going to take after your father,” she sighed. “One detective in the family is bad enough.”
“It was the most exciting experience of my life!” Penny declared, her eyes gleaming. “I suppose I shall never have another like it.”
In such a prediction, she was entirely mistaken. Without the power to look into the future she could not know that an adventure of far different character, though even more thrilling, awaited her. The Mystery of the Lost Key, the second volume in the Penny Nichols series, relates her escapades at Raven Ridge.
Events had moved with such rapidity that until Mrs. Gallup brought a tray of steaming food from the kitchen and set it before her, Penny had not realized how very hungry she was. She had just finished the supper when Mr. Nichols came home.
“What news?” Penny asked eagerly.
“Brunner and Molberg are both behind bars where they belong,” her father reported. “Brunner is trying to raise bail and may get out by morning.”
“Oh, then he may escape the law after all.”
“No danger of that, Penny. He’ll be watched from the instant he leaves the jail and kept in sight until he appears for trial.”
“Do you think he will be convicted?”
“I feel sure of it. If you testify against him he hasn’t a chance. Will you mind going to court?”
“I’d love it!” Penny returned instantly. “Nothing would give me greater satisfaction than to serve as a witness against both of those men.”
“Brunner was the real brains behind the gang,” Mr. Nichols went on. “He had everyone fooled, including myself. You did a fine piece of work tonight, my dear.”
Penny flushed at the praise.
“If it hadn’t been for your arrival at the critical moment, all my information would have been worthless. I guess I was very foolhardy.”
“Perhaps you were, a trifle,” the detective smiled. “But an investigator must take certain chances. Not that I’d want you to do the same thing again,” he added hastily.
“You didn’t tell me what the police did about Jimmie Davis,” Penny reminded him. “I hope he wasn’t sent to jail too.”
“No, he’s been placed in the custody of his father for a year. If he straightens up and doesn’t violate his parole, nothing more will ever be said regarding his part in the affair.”
“Oh, I’m so glad! I knew you’d arrange it that way.”
“It wasn’t entirely due to my efforts,” the detective insisted. “The boy really isn’t bad at heart. The way he came to your rescue proved that.”
“This will mean so much to Betty and her father,” Penny declared happily. Her face clouded. “I suppose nothing can save Mr. Davis’ position on the force?”
“Quite the contrary,” Mr. Nichols smiled. “It is already arranged that he shall keep his job.”
“But the newspaper publicity?”
“There will be none. At least, not regarding Mr. Davis and his son.”
It was long after midnight when Penny went to bed. She was so tired and worn that she did not awaken until Mrs. Gallup rapped several times upon her door.
“What time is it?” Penny inquired drowsily.
“Nearly noon,” the housekeeper reported. “I shouldn’t have awakened you, only the telephone has been ringing all morning and the yard is cluttered with newspaper men.”
“I’ll be right down,” Penny laughed, springing out of bed.
It was a new experience for her to find herself occupying the limelight. She enjoyed talking with the reporters but took care to reveal nothing which involved either Mr. Davis or his son. The morning papers played up the story of the capture, and Penny’s photograph, dug up from the morgue, appeared upon the front page.
She was studying it with mingled feelings of pleasure and disappointment when Susan Altman burst in upon her.
“Congratulations!” she beamed. “I see by the morning paper that you are famous!”
“Did you ever see such a horrible picture?” Penny complained. “It’s three years old at least. Why, I look positively juvenile. Where the editor found it I don’t know.”
“You should worry about such a trifle as that!” Susan scoffed. “Tell me the entire story.”
“There’s nothing to report except what’s in the paper,” Penny replied.
Although she longed to relate the part which Jimmie had played, she wisely refrained from mentioning his name. If he were to have his opportunity to begin life anew, the past must be forgotten.
For days Penny found herself besieged by friends and acquaintances who were eager to learn all the details of her adventure. When she walked downtown she was gazed upon with awe and admiration.
At the trial of Rap Molberg and George Brunner, she appeared as the state’s st
ar witness. The garage owner, well fortified with dishonestly acquired money, had employed one of the best criminal lawyers in the state to defend him. Penny was put through a severe test when she took the stand, but although nervous, she answered all questions calmly and clearly. Her testimony was largely responsible for the conviction of both Rap Molberg and Brunner. The two were ordered confined to the state penitentiary for a long term of years.
Mr. Nichols was jubilant at the result of the trial.
“This definitely clears up the case,” he declared. “And I think it calls for a big celebration.”
The victory event took the form of a gala dinner at Belton City’s leading hotel. Penny invited Susan and many of her high school friends. In addition, policemen, detectives and all persons who had aided in the capture of the thieves, were present.
“We will have no speeches,” Mr. Nichols had promised. “Only good food and plenty of fun.”
Penny therefore was surprised when her father, who occupied the chair at the head of the table, arose and faced the expectant group.
“I don’t mean to break my promise about speech making,” he smiled. “For that reason, without any formality, I shall present to my daughter, Penny, this token of merit from the officials of the Reliance Insurance Company for her splendid work in connection with the Molberg case.”
Penny gasped as her father held up a tiny bejeweled wrist watch and placed it in her hand. It was the daintiest and most exquisite timepiece she had ever seen.
“Oh, isn’t it wonderful,” chorused a bevy of friends as they gathered about.
“It’s the nicest thing that ever happened to me,” Penny declared. “I can’t begin to say how grateful I am.”
“Aren’t you going to look at the inscription?” her father inquired, his eyes twinkling.
In surprise she glanced down at the case. Her face flushed.
“Read it aloud!” commanded her friends.
Penny was too confused to obey. For engraved on the watch case, in the tiniest of letters, were the words:
“TO PENNY NICHOLS FOR DISTINGUISHED SERVICES AS AN AGENT OF JUSTICE.”
PENNY NICHOLS AND THE MYSTERY OF THE LOST KEY, by Mildred A. Wirt
CHAPTER I
A Valuable Letter
“Hurry, Susan! We have only ten minutes before the store closes!”
Penelope Nichols, the slender girl in blue, urged her companion into the revolving doors at the entrance of the Bresham Department Store. A vigorous push sent the barriers spinning at such a rate that other shoppers turned to stare at the two girls.
“You nearly took off my heels that time, Penny,” Susan Altman protested with a laugh as they emerged into the crowded store.
“Sorry, but we’ve no time to waste if I get that pair of white earrings. The clerks are starting to put things away already.”
Threading their way through the outgoing stream of shoppers, the girls went directly to the jewelry counter. Penny peered anxiously into one of the glass cases to see if the coveted ivory ornaments were still on display. They had not been sold.
“Do you think they’ll look all right with my red party frock?” she asked her chum as they stood impatiently waiting for a clerk. In matters of dress she valued Susan’s opinion more highly than her own.
“Stunning. With your coloring you can wear anything. Now if you had a skin like mine and a snub nose—”
Penny did not hear the remainder of her chum’s oft-repeated complaint for she was trying vainly to attract the attention of a clerk. The only available girl at the counter was occupied in showing a tray of fine rings to a tall man in gray tweeds.
“We’ll never be waited on,” Penny murmured in annoyance. “You can tell it’s going to take until closing time before he makes up his mind which ring he wants.”
Susan turned to survey the customer. He was expensively dressed and upon a casual inspection appeared to be a gentleman of considerable means. Although the clerk offered several diamond rings for his approval none of them satisfied him.
“Haven’t you anything better than this?” he questioned. “Show me that large diamond, please.” He tapped the glass case lightly with his cane.
The clerk obligingly placed the ring before him. The man examined the diamond closely, comparing it with another ring previously shown him. For the first time he appeared aware of Penny and Susan.
“Wait on these young ladies while I make up my mind which ring I prefer,” he urged the clerk. “I am in no hurry and I can see that they are.”
The clerk hesitated. The rings in which the customer was interested were valuable ones. It was a rule of the store to keep them always in the locked case. Yet it would take her only a minute to wait upon the girls, and obviously the man was a gentleman. She turned to serve Penny.
“I’ll take that pair of earrings,” Penny announced, indicating the ivory pieces. “They’re three dollars, aren’t they?”
“Yes, that is correct. I’ll have them wrapped for you.”
Penny offered the girl a five dollar bill in payment. She could not restrain a little sigh as she saw it deposited in the store’s cash drawer. Perhaps she had been foolish to buy the earrings. It meant that she must do without a great many little things in order to keep within her allowance. Penny sighed again. At times it was trying to have a father who believed in maintaining his daughter strictly upon a budget plan.
Her eyes roved aimlessly toward the man at the ring counter. She saw him cast a quick glance about. Then he walked rapidly away, making for the nearest exit.
Penny’s keen blue eyes riveted upon the ring tray. The large diamond was missing.
She had not seen the customer actually take it—his movements had been too deft for that—yet she knew for a certainty that while the clerk’s back had been turned he had secreted it somewhere upon his person.
Penny did not hesitate. She darted after him.
“Stop!” she cried. And then to the surprised shoppers who turned at the sound of her voice: “Don’t let that thief get away!”
The man wheeled sharply, his face convulsed in anger. With his cane he struck viciously at a stout woman who clutched him by the coat.
A store detective blocked the main exit.
Recognizing that he could not hope to escape that way, the thief turned and bolted up a moving escalator which was carrying a capacity load of passengers to the second floor.
Penny, the detective, and a few of the more energetic customers took up the pursuit.
In a desperate attempt to escape, the thief elbowed women roughly aside as he darted up the stairway. Upon the uncertain footing of the moving treads, several stumbled and fell. In an instant hysterical women were screaming and clutching at one another for support.
A slender girl in a shabby business suit was rudely jostled. Penny, half way up the moving stairway, tried to save her from a hard fall. She was not quick enough. Down the girl went, and as she fell, the contents of her pocketbook spilled out upon the moving stairway. The thief took advantage of the resulting confusion to melt into the throng of shoppers at the top of the escalator. While store detectives carried on the pursuit, Penny tried to help the terrified women to alight from the stairway.
“Are you hurt?” she asked the girl who had fallen, trying to assist her to her feet.
“Never mind me! Save my pocketbook!” the other cried, frantically beginning to gather up the scattered objects.
The other passengers upon the stairway were more of a hindrance than a help. Yet by working fast Penny managed to accumulate nearly all of the lost articles before the brief ride approached its end.
“My letter!”
At the other girl’s shrill cry, Penny saw a white envelope riding serenely on the uppermost step. With a bound she covered the distance which separated her from it, pouncing upon the letter an instant before the moving belt disappeared into the flooring.
Clutching it triumphantly in her hand, she turned to assist the girl who had lost it.
<
br /> “Why, you’re limping,” she observed. “Here, lean on me.”
“It’s nothing,” the girl maintained staunchly. “I twisted my ankle when I fell.”
Penny helped her to a nearby chair. Despite the girl’s brave words, her lips quivered when she spoke and her attractive face had taken on an ashen hue. Yet, strangely, her interest centered not in her injury but in the letter which she had nearly lost.
“Thank you for saving it,” she told Penny gratefully. “I don’t know what I should have done if I’d lost that letter. It means everything to me.”
Penny stared at the envelope a trifle curiously but she was too well bred to ask personal questions. Before she could make any response store officials hurried up to take charge of the situation. The girl’s name was Rosanna Winters, Penny learned, by listening. She lived at a rooming house on Sixty-fifth Street, not a great distance from Penny’s own home.
Rosanna firmly turned down the suggestion of store officials that she be sent to a nearby hospital for first-aid treatment.
“It isn’t necessary. I merely twisted my ankle. I’ll soon be able to walk on it.”
“Let me take you home,” Penny offered. “My roadster is parked just outside the store. We live close to each other.”
The girl hesitated, then smiled as she said: “That’s very kind of you, I’m sure. You don’t really mind?”
“Of course not. Here, let me help you downstairs.”
“Not by way of the escalator,” Rosanna said hastily. “Hereafter I’ll ride on the elevator. It’s safer.”
Although the store’s gong had announced the closing hour some minutes previously, shoppers were slow to leave the building. As the girls returned to the street floor they were embarrassed to find themselves the target for many curious stares. Penny readily was recognized as the girl who had observed the theft of the ring.
“What became of that man who knocked me down?” Rosanna questioned. “I suppose he escaped.”
“I’m afraid so,” Penny admitted, looking about for Susan. “The last I saw of him he was running toward the kitchenware department with the store detective after him.”
The Girl Detective Megapack: 25 Classic Mystery Novels for Girls Page 203