Penny Nichols Finds a Clue

by Joan Clark

  CHAPTER XVI

  A Valuable Photograph

  Convinced that she had made an important discovery, Penny hastily leftthe street car. Catching one which was going in the oppositedirection, she went directly to her father's main downtown office.

  "Has Dad left town yet?" she inquired of Miss Arrow.

  "Yes, I think he has," the secretary informed. "At least he left herenearly an hour ago and said he likely wouldn't return today."

  Thinking that possibly Mr. Nichols might have stopped for a few minutesat his temporary office opposite the Brunner garage, Penny went there.She found the room closed though not locked.

  "I don't know what to do now," Penny thought, slightly bewildered. "Itseems to me I have a valuable clue which should be acted upon at once."

  She considered taking Miss Arrow or one of her father's detectives intoher confidence, yet hesitated to do so lest she make herself appearridiculous. After all, she had no real evidence upon which to base hertheory. Even though the photograph of Jimmie Davis had given her astart, she could not be certain that she knew anything damagingconcerning the boy's past. It would be wise to move cautiously.

  "I'll say nothing about the photograph until I've had an opportunity todo a little investigating of my own," she decided. "I may as wellstart by asking Jerome Davis a few questions."

  Penny was familiar with the policeman's regular beat, but before tryingto locate him, she went home for her car. It was Mrs. Gallup'safternoon off, so there was no need to explain to the housekeeper whereshe was going.

  "I might leave a note where she'll find it when she returns," Pennythought. "Still, I should be back by supper time."

  As Penny backed from the garage, she caught a glimpse of Joe Franey'sfamiliar black coupe parked across the street.

  "I'm afraid Dad's gasoline bill will take a big jump upward today," shechuckled.

  Penny dismissed the detective from her mind and became intent upon theproblem which faced her. She must be very cautious if she questionedJerome Davis for it might ruin all her plans if he suspected what shewas about.

  Approaching the policeman's usual haunts, Penny slowed down. Presentlyshe caught sight of the officer at a street corner. He was talkingwith someone.

  "Why, it's Jerry Barrows!" she exclaimed, pulling up at the curbing towatch. "The plot thickens!"

  Penny made no attempt to interrupt the two. The policeman was talkingso earnestly with the boy that he had not even glanced in herdirection. She was too far away to hear what they were saying, but sheobserved Jerome Davis take a small roll of bills from his pocket. Hepeeled off three and gave them to the youth. The latter thanked himand moved quickly away.

  "I can't question Mr. Davis now or he would be suspicious," Pennythought. "I'll come back a little later."

  Recalling that she had never visited the Brunner garage to requestJerry Barrows' address from the manager, she made that her next stop.As she parked outside the building, she noticed that Joe Franey,faithful to his trust, was still following.

  "Poor man, he must think I am completely crazy," Penny laughed."Perhaps I am too!"

  Upon requesting to see Mr. Brunner, she was informed that he was busy.She was forced to wait nearly three-quarters of an hour before he wouldsee her.

  "What can I do for you, Miss Nichols?" he inquired with forcedpoliteness as she entered.

  Penny reminded him of his promise.

  "Oh, yes!" He laughed apologetically. "You know, the mattercompletely slipped my mind until this minute."

  "Indeed?" Penny inquired. She had not been surprised at the answer.

  "If you will come back in a few days----"

  "Can't you get the address for me now? It is rather important that Ihave it immediately."

  The manager frowned. "I'll see what I can do. Wait here."

  He left the office, returning a few minutes later.

  "I can't seem to find it on our records at all, Miss Nichols. The boynever worked here steadily. In fact, he has been discharged."

  "So you refuse to give me the address?"

  "It isn't that, Miss Nichols. We'd be glad to provide it if we could.Unfortunately, we can't."

  "I see," Penny returned coldly.

  She left the garage and went back to her car. For a time she satthinking. She could not make up her mind as to her next move.

  While she sat debating, George Brunner came out of the building.Without noticing Penny, he climbed into his automobile, one of thelatest and most expensive models available, and drove away.

  "I wonder where he's going in such a hurry?" Penny asked herself.

  She decided that it might be worth her time to follow. Quickly, sheshifted gears and took after him.

  Without being aware that anyone was trailing him, the garage managerweaved from one street to another, gradually traveling toward thepoorer section of the city. Penny had difficulty in keeping him insight.

  "What a silly thing I am doing," she told herself. "I think I'll signoff and go home."

  However, she could not resist following the car a few more blocks. Herpatience was rewarded. Presently Brunner turned into South Lake Street.

  "I'll keep on a little farther," Penny decided. "It may be thatBrunner is perfectly honest and above board, but I have my doubts. Ithink he'll bear watching."

  She was not greatly surprised when the garage manager halted his caronly a short distance from the tire shop which she and Susan hadvisited only a few days previously. Penny drew up to the curbing onthe opposite side of the street.

  As Brunner alighted and looked carefully about to see that he wasunobserved, Penny ducked down out of sight, pretending to be fixingsomething on the floor of the car.

  Straightening up a minute later, she saw that the garage manager wasmaking his way toward the tire shop.

  "Now what does he want there?" she asked herself. "I must say he isn'tkeeping very good company."

  Brunner entered the shop and Penny settled herself to wait. An hourpassed. It began to grow dark.

  "I really should telephone Mrs. Gallup that I'll be late for supper,"Penny reflected. "Either that or I should give up this silly chase andgo home."

  In her heart she did not really think that it was silly. Theconviction had steadily grown in her mind that in some way the garageowner was involved with Jerry Barrows and others in a questionablebusiness activity.

  Noticing a drug store nearby, she stepped inside to telephone her home.After several rings, the operator informed her that no one answered.

  "Mrs. Gallup must have been detained," Penny thought. "I'll not needto hurry home now."

  As she was leaving the drug store, the door of the tire shop on theopposite side of the street opened and George Brunner emerged. Pennyhastily dodged back into the doorway to avoid being seen.

  Brunner walked directly to his car, preparing to depart. Before hecould start the motor, the owner of the shop came running after him.It was the same man who had spoken so harshly to Penny upon herprevious visit.

  The two men conversed in low tones for several minutes, but as theybecame more excited, their voices grew louder.

  "It's too dangerous I tell you," she heard the owner of the tire shopsay. "The police are getting wise. And only a day or so ago Nicholssent his daughter around here to spy."

  "I'll deal with her," Brunner promised. "She's getting too curious forher own good."

  "After tonight I'm through," the other insisted. "The little I makeisn't worth the risk I take."

  Penny could not hear Brunner's reply. He seemed to be arguing with thetire shop owner. She felt elated and excited at the information shehad gleaned.

  _After tonight_! The words burned into her mind. What coup were thetwo men planning for that evening? If only she might learn!

  Could it be that Brunner was involved in the auto accessory thefts? Itwas generally believed that the disreputable owner of the tire shopmade a practice of receiving stolen goods. Why then, shou
ld a man inBrunner's position stoop to have dealings with such a person unless hetoo were guilty?

  The evidence against the two was purely circumstantial, that Pennyplainly realized. It seemed ridiculous to connect Brunner with theunderworld and yet the very fact that no suspicion had ever beenattached to him offered a measure of safety for his dishonorableactivities.

  "Dad warned me that one must move cautiously in trying to gatherevidence against influential citizens," Penny reasoned. "Yet, if Iwait until I can talk it over with him, it may be too late."

  Brunner's automobile was moving away from the curbing. Penny did nothave a minute to debate. The instant that the tire shop owner vanishedinside his store, she darted to her own car.

  Already Brunner was far up the street, but by speeding she managed toapproach close enough to keep him within sight.

  "Perhaps I'd better take Joe into my confidence," she thought a trifleuneasily. "There's no telling where this chase may end."

  She glanced back, but the detective's familiar black coupe was not inview. Nor did she see it when she looked again a few blocks farther on.

  "I've lost him somewhere," she told herself in annoyance. "If thatisn't my luck! Just when I might have used him to advantage!"

  Penny soon discovered that George Brunner was returning to his owngarage. As he drove into the building she drew up at the curbing,puzzled as to how she could shadow him further.

  Then it occurred to her that she was directly opposite her father'soffice. From there it would be a simple matter to keep watch of theBrunner garage without attracting attention to her own actions.

  Before taking up her station in the little room high above the street,Penny fortified herself with several sandwiches and a bottle of milkpurchased at a cafe nearby. Then she was ready for her vigil.

  An hour passed and nothing happened. There was little activity at theBrunner garage. Several motorists stopped at the red pump forgasoline, but that was all.

  "Perhaps my hunch was wrong," Penny thought as she grew tired ofwaiting. "I really haven't much reason for being suspicious ofBrunner."

  After a time she used her father's telephone to call home. No oneanswered. Obviously, Mrs. Gallup had not returned.

  "I wonder what detained her," Penny mused. "It isn't like her to stayaway."

  She remained at her seat by the window. Several times she was temptedto pick up a magazine and read for a few minutes. She resisted theimpulse, remembering that she had heard her father say that a goodinvestigator never took his eye from the place or person he waswatching.

  Another hour dragged by. Penny grew tired and bored. It was a warmnight and the tiny room had become oppressive.

  "I'll wait a little while longer," she decided.

  Penny ate the last of her sandwiches and wished that she had boughtcoffee instead of milk. It would have helped her to stay awake.

  Suddenly she became alert. A man stood in the doorway of the Brunnergarage alley entrance. She did not need her father's field glass tosee that it was the manager. He looked at his watch, then cast aglance up and down the street.

  Penny studied her own wrist watch. It was exactly ten o'clock.

  A garage service car rolled swiftly down the street. It swerved intothe alley.

  Simultaneously, Brunner swung wide the rear doors of the garage. Thetruck drove in, but not before Penny had riveted her eyes upon thelicense number.

  At sight of the last three figures, her heart leaped. Thenumbers--684--were identical with those she had noted upon the licenseof the service car at the Big Dipper!