Even as she spoke they reached level ground. An ordinary double garage door barred the way. Susan sprang out to open it.
“Why, we’re in an empty garage,” she announced as she swung back the door.
Penny drove the roadster through and waited until Susan had closed the door behind her. Through a plate-glass window the girls could now see the street. But it took them some time to locate another unlocked door which permitted them to escape.
Once safely out of the building, they pulled up at the side of the road to take note of their surroundings. At first they could not imagine where they were.
“Why, this must be Arlington Avenue,” Penny decided. “We’re several hundred feet lower than we were when we left that dead-end street on the hilltop!”
“What a clever means for a crook to escape a police chase!”
“Yes, isn’t it? I’m almost certain the place has been used by the Molberg gang.”
“Then we can’t get away from here too quick,” Susan declared nervously.
Penny laughed.
“We’re safe enough now. Besides, I imagine this escape is never used except in an emergency—probably only when the police are hot on the trail.”
Susan glanced at her watch.
“It’s after ten o’clock and I promised mother I’d be back at nine.”
“I’ll take you straight home,” Penny promised. “I don’t suppose I need to mention it, but I think we shouldn’t tell anyone about what we discovered tonight. At least not until the police have been notified.”
“Of course not,” Susan agreed instantly. “Why don’t you have your father make the report for us?”
“I’d like to handle it that way, if you don’t mind,” Penny said eagerly.
“Then let’s leave it that way. Aside from Mr. Nichols we’ll not tell a soul about our discovery tonight.”
A few minutes later the girls took leave of each other. Penny continued alone toward her own home.
Turning a corner in one of the outlying neighborhood business sections, she noticed a girl in blue hurrying along the street. Recognizing Betty Davis, Penny halted her roadster at the curbing.
The girl did not notice for she had paused to stare into the window of a café. A group of young men could be seen within, laughing and talking.
It was not the type of place frequented by women, and Penny was astonished when the girl started to open the door. But with her hand on the knob, Betty Davis seemed to reconsider, for she turned and walked rapidly away.
Penny drew alongside in her roadster.
“Going my way?” she asked cheerfully. “I’ll be glad to give you a lift.”
CHAPTER XI
A Threat
Betty Davis wheeled quickly about. She laughed to cover her confusion.
“Why, Miss Nichols! How you startled me!”
“I didn’t mean to do that,” Penny smiled. “If you’re on your way home, can’t I take you there in my car?”
The girl hesitated, and involuntarily, her eyes wandered toward the café. Then she stepped into the car.
“It’s very kind of you to take me home, Miss Nichols. I’m not out alone this late in the evening as a rule, but something important came up. I searching for my brother.”
“Jimmie?”
“Yes, how did you know?”
“I think your father mentioned his name.”
“He didn’t say anything about—” Betty broke off, finishing with an embarrassed laugh: “but then I know he didn’t.”
“Your father only mentioned that he had a son by that name,” Penny said, eyeing her companion curiously.
“Jimmie is a good boy but he’s caused father a great deal of worry,” Betty added, feeling that some explanation was required. “Lately he’s fallen in with bad companions.”
“That is a pity,” Penny murmured. “You mentioned that you were looking for him. Can’t I help you?”
“Oh, no,” Betty told her hastily, “I don’t think I’ll bother after all.”
Penny permitted the matter to drop but she was not mistaken in suspecting that the reason her companion had decided to give up the search was because she already had located her brother at the café.
“Won’t you come in for a few minutes?” Betty urged when the car stopped at her door. “Father isn’t due home until late tonight and I’m all alone.”
“I might stop a little while,” Penny agreed.
Despite Betty’s somewhat queer actions, she had liked the girl from the very first, and was eager to become better acquainted.
The Davis home was modestly furnished, yet with excellent taste. Penny could not refrain from referring to the clever color scheme which had been carried out so successfully in the living room.
“I’m glad you like it,” Betty smiled. “You see, I’m studying to be an interior decorator.”
“Why, how interesting.”
“I attend night school,” Betty explained. “Or rather I did. Just now Father is a little pressed for money so I’ve given it up for a few months.”
“I hope you’ll be able to go on with it again.”
“Yes, so do I, for it’s the one ambition of my life. I think after Jimmie is a little older it will be easier. Just now he’s at the age where he feels he must have fine clothes and plenty of spending money.”
“Perhaps you’re too indulgent a sister,” Penny smiled.
“Jimmie is only a year younger than I,” Betty explained, “but since Mother died five years ago, I’ve always felt responsible for him. Lately I’ve been terribly worried.”
“On account of the company he keeps?”
“Yes, that and other things.” Betty arose and nervously crossed over to the fireplace. “I don’t mean to unburden myself upon you, but lately Jimmie has been doing wild things. Father doesn’t half suspect the truth. I’m half sick with trying to decide if I should tell him or not.”
“Probably it would relieve your mind if you did,” Penny advised kindly.
“Yes, but Father has always taken such pride in Jimmie. I can’t bear to hurt him.”
“Perhaps he could bring your brother to his senses.”
“I’m afraid it may be almost too late. Jimmie is so headstrong. He won’t listen to anyone. He’s changed so much the last few months.”
“It seems to me that your father should know the truth,” Penny said quietly.
Betty Davis’ face had grown slightly pale.
“I realize I should tell him,” she acknowledged, “but I can’t. There’s a special reason why—don’t ask me to explain.” Abruptly, she tried to change the subject, saying lightly: “My brother is very handsome, I think. Would you care to see his photograph?”
“Indeed I would,” Penny returned politely.
She waited while Betty went into an adjoining room after it. As the girl returned, a car was driving slowly past the house.
“That must be Father,” Betty declared, moving toward the window.
Penny heard the automobile halt at the curbing. The next instant a hard object crashed through the windowpane, dropping with a thud at Betty’s feet. Almost by a miracle she had escaped being struck by the flying splinters of glass.
Penny sprang to her feet, rushing to the door. She caught only a fleeting glimpse of the retreating car.
Betty was staring at a piece of paper which lay upon the carpet. It had been wrapped around a small stone.
“You read it,” she begged Penny. “I’m afraid.”
Penny reached down and picked it up. The message had been printed on cheap brown wrapping paper. It bore the warning:
“JEROME DAVIS, THIS IS THE LAST WARNING YOU WILL RECEIVE FROM US. WE GIVE YOU TWENTY-FOUR HOURS TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.”
“It’s a threat from the Molberg gang!” Betty declared tensely as Penny finished reading the message aloud. “Oh, I’ll never feel easy again until every member of that outfit has been placed behind bars! What do you think they will do when Father defies them?”<
br />
“Probably nothing,” Penny comforted. “Most anonymous notes are sent by cowards and the threats seldom carried out. At least Dad doesn’t regard them very seriously. He’s been threatened by the Molberg gang too.”
“And have they made no attempt to harm him?” Betty asked.
“Not to my knowledge. Dad seems more than able to look after himself, and I’m certain your father knows how to protect himself too.”
“He should,” Betty admitted. “He’s one of the best marksmen on the police force.”
“Then I think Rap Molberg is the one who should be on his guard,” Penny smiled.
By making light of the threatening note she tried to relieve Betty of anxiety. Her efforts were not very successful. When she left the house a half hour later the girl was still excited and overwrought.
Not until Penny was nearly home did it occur to her that she had forgotten to look at the photograph of Jimmie Davis.
“Oh, well, it doesn’t matter,” she thought.
As she drove the roadster into the garage, Mrs. Gallup came down the path to meet her.
“I’m sorry to be so late,” Penny said quickly before the housekeeper could take her to task. “A million and one things detained me. Dad’s home, I suppose?”
“No, he isn’t. But someone has been trying to get you on the telephone for the past hour.”
“Probably it was Dad.”
“It may have been, but it didn’t sound like his voice. Listen, isn’t that the phone now?”
They could hear the bell ringing inside the house. Penny ran to answer it. As she took down the receiver, she was greeted by a masculine voice. But it was not the detective who had telephoned.
“Is this Miss Nichols?” she was asked.
“Yes,” Penny returned quietly, aware from the other’s tone that she must prepare herself for bad news.
“Don’t be alarmed, Miss Nichols, but your father has been hurt.”
“Oh! Badly?”
“We’re not sure yet. He is still unconscious. Can you come at once?”
“Yes, yes, of course! Which hospital?”
“He has been taken to a private home.”
“Then tell me how to get there.”
“It won’t be necessary. A taxi has already been sent for you. It should be there by this time.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Penny promised.
She hung up the receiver and turned to the housekeeper who was hovering anxiously at her elbow.
“Dad’s been hurt,” she said tersely to hide her emotion. “I don’t know how badly for I couldn’t learn the details. I must go to him at once.”
“Oh, you poor thing,” Mrs. Gallup swept the trembling girl into her arms.
They clung to one another for an instant, then Penny resolutely brushed away her tears.
“It probably isn’t as bad as we fear,” she said hopefully.
Catching up her pocketbook from the table, she hurried out upon the porch to wait for the taxicab.
CHAPTER XII
Kidnapped
As a dark colored cab stopped in front of the Nichols residence, Penny ran to the curbing before the driver could alight.
“You were sent here to take me to my father?” she asked.
“Yes, Miss.”
The driver kept his head lowered so that Penny could not see his face clearly, but she was too troubled to notice anything wrong.
“Is Father badly hurt?” she questioned anxiously.
“I can’t tell you, Miss. I was only told to come here for you.”
The driver opened the door, and Penny stepped into the car. They sped away.
Presently Penny noticed that the taxi man seemed to be avoiding the main streets of the city. She thought little of it until she chanced to catch a glimpse of the driver’s face in the mirror. She had never viewed such a hardened countenance. The man appeared to be watching her every move. It gave her a sudden chill.
“Where is my father?” she questioned abruptly.
“At a house out in the country,” the driver returned gruffly.
“I didn’t even know that he had left the city,” Penny said suspiciously. “Tell me, how was he injured?”
“I don’t know any of the details. You’ll have to wait until you get there.”
Penny leaned back against the cushions, to all appearances, reassured. Actually, she was terrified. The conviction was steadily growing in her mind that she had been the victim of treachery. She was almost certain that she was being kidnapped. How decidedly stupid she had been to walk into such a trap!
Penny felt actually sick as she considered the possible consequence of falling into the hands of the Molberg gang. It was not for herself that she feared but for her father. She knew him well enough to realize that he would sacrifice everything to be assured of her safety.
“If I let on that I suspect something is wrong it will only put the driver on his guard,” she thought. “My best chance is to act innocent and watch for an opportunity to jump out of the car.”
Already they were speeding along a dark, country road. On either side, the highway was lined with tall maples and oak trees. Houses were few and far between.
Penny tried to make careful mental note of the route they were taking from the city. It was difficult to distinguish objects for they were traveling rapidly.
As they turned into a bumpy, winding narrow road which led up a steep hill, Penny’s uneasiness increased. From the manner in which the driver surveyed the roadside, she guessed that the wild ride was nearly ended.
“It’s now or never,” she told herself grimly.
The car had slowed down for the hill. Watching her chance, Penny made a sudden dive for the door. It was locked.
She located the catch, but not until the driver had managed to halt the car. With an enraged snarl he caught her roughly by the arm just as she flung open the door.
Penny wriggled from his grasp and started to run down the road.
“Stop or I’ll shoot!” the driver shouted furiously.
Penny paid no heed. She raced as fast as she could go down the hill.
The driver, an agile man despite his heavy build, took up the pursuit. Penny could hear his feet pounding on the hard road behind her. He was gaining.
Her breath began to come with increasing difficulty. She could run no faster.
At the foot of the hill Penny noticed an automobile without headlights. She was sure it had not been parked there a few minutes earlier when the cab had passed. Had some of Rap Molberg’s men followed the taxi? In that event, she was running straight into another trap.
Penny had no choice but to continue toward the waiting automobile. But as three men sprang from behind it with drawn revolvers, her heart sank within her. Her brave attempt at escape must end in failure.
A stone lay in the road. Penny did not see it. She stumbled, and, completely exhausted, fell face downward into the dirt.
“Stay where you are!” a cool voice ordered. “Don’t move!”
She remained as she was, prone upon the ground. A revolver barked. There was a flash of fire dangerously close by. An answering bullet from the opposite direction whizzed over her head.
The three men moved cautiously up the hill. They had their quarry covered.
“Drop your gun!” came the sharp order.
The taxi driver mutely obeyed. As handcuffs were snapped over his wrists, Penny hurried forward to view her rescuers. One of the men she instantly recognized as a detective employed by her father; the other two she had never before seen.
“How did you get here?” she gasped.
“We’ve been trailing you all day,” the investigator explained as he deftly searched his prisoner for concealed weapons. “The entire week for that matter. Your father’s orders.”
“You mean he’s had me shadowed?” Penny demanded indignantly.
“Mr. Nichols was afraid something like this might be attempted.”
“I guess it was lucky for
me that I was trailed,” Penny acknowledged gratefully. “Otherwise, I’d have been kidnapped.”
She watched as the prisoner was led to the waiting car.
“Do you know who he is?” she asked a detective.
“Looks like Angel Face Myers, one of Molberg’s boys. Can’t be sure ‘till we’ve mugged and finger-printed him at the station.”
The three men from the Nichols Agency plied the prisoner with sharp questions. He maintained a sullen silence.
“I’d guess he was taking Miss Nichols to that abandoned house at the top of the hill,” one of the detectives surmised shrewdly. “I’ll stay here and guard the prisoner while you fellows investigate the place. Don’t let anyone get away from you.”
The other two detectives disappeared into the darkness. Twenty minutes later they returned to report that they had found no one at the old house, although there was evidence of a hurried departure. The shots previously fired by the detectives had served as a warning.
Riding back to the city with the handcuffed prisoner, Penny wondered how faithfully her father’s investigators had followed her movements of the evening. Had they noted her call at the Davis home or the visit she and Susan had paid to the Hamilton building?
“I suppose I’ve been trailed everywhere tonight,” she ventured conversationally.
“You almost gave us the slip,” one of the detectives told her with a smile. “In fact, you did for awhile.”
“When was that?”
“Right after you left the library.”
“You turned off somewhere and we lost you for a time. Didn’t locate you again until you turned up at your own home.”
Penny was relieved. The detectives could not possibly be aware of the secret entrance into the Hamilton Plant. She would still be the first to report the discovery to her father.
The detectives dropped Penny at her own home after explaining that it might be necessary for her to appear in court later on to identify the prisoner.
“I’ll be very glad to do it,” Penny promised.
As she ran up the front steps the door was flung open and Mrs. Gallup rushed out to meet her. She flung her arms about the girl.
“Penny!” she cried tremulously. “How thankful I am that you are safe! Your father came home fifteen minutes ago. Then we knew that the telephone call was a fake.”
The Girl Detective Megapack: 25 Classic Mystery Novels for Girls Page 197
