Part 5 (1/2)

But I'll have dinner ready in about fifteen minutes.”

”We're in no hurry,” Penny a.s.sured her. ”Has the evening paper come yet?”

”Yes, I heard the boy drop it in the mailbox a few minutes ago.”

Usually Penny had scant interest in the newspaper but she was curious to learn what had been published concerning the stolen Rembrandt. She ran to the mailbox and soon had the sheet spread out on the floor. As she had expected, the story appeared on the front page. And there was a slightly blurred picture of the painting which had been stolen.

Penny studied it carefully and read the story several times before relinquis.h.i.+ng the paper to her father.

”Well, has the thief been apprehended?” Mr. Nichols asked with a smile.

”No, the story just says the police are working on the case and expect to make an arrest within a few days.”

”Your young friend's name isn't mentioned?”

”Amy Coulter? No, but I don't like that statement about the police expecting to make an arrest.”

”It's probably just some reporter's idea,” Mr. Nichols answered carelessly.

”I certainly hope so. Of course, it's possible the police have traced the real culprit by this time. I hate to think Amy Coulter is under suspicion.”

After Mr. Nichols had read the newspaper, Penny carefully cut out the story which concerned the theft at the Gage Galleries, including the reproduction of the missing painting and a map of the various rooms of the museum.

”Do you intend to do a little private work on the case?” the detective inquired, slightly amused.

Penny laughed and shook her head. ”No, I was just interested because I happened to be at the Galleries when the painting disappeared.”

In an inside section of the paper she found an article which had been written by the art critic, Hanley Cron. He discussed at length his selection of the prize winning statue, but while he listed a number of figures which were deserving of high praise, nothing was said regarding ”The Black Imp,” Amy Coulter's entry in the contest.

”After dinner I'm going to get another paper and learn what other critics have to say about it,” Penny announced. ”You should have seen the prize winning piece, Dad. It was terrible!”

”I fear you may be prejudiced in this Coulter girl's favor, my dear.”

”I'm not. Others said the same thing.”

Directly after the dinner dishes were wiped, Penny slipped out to the street corner to purchase two other evening papers. She turned to the art sections and was gratified to discover that Hanley Cron's selection of the statue, ”Winged Night,” was severely criticized by various authorities. Amy Coulter's entry was highly praised and one writer ventured to say that it should have been awarded the five-thousand-dollar prize.

Penny showed the papers to Mrs. Gallup and her father, feeling that her judgment had been confirmed. However, she was deeply troubled by the similarity of the news stories regarding the theft of the painting.

Each account mentioned that the police expected to make an arrest soon and one said that officials of the museum were of the opinion the painting had been stolen by a disgruntled contestant for the Huddleson prize.

”They must mean Amy,” Penny declared. ”I wonder if she has any idea she is under suspicion.”

The telephone rang. It was a call from police headquarters for Mr.

Nichols.

”I'll have to run down to the station for a few minutes,” the detective announced as he returned to the living room after answering the summons. ”The chief wants to talk with me about an important case.”

”While you're there see if you can't get a little information about the stolen painting,” Penny urged, helping her father into his coat. ”Find out if they really are looking for Amy Coulter.”

”So you can tip her off I suppose?” Mr. Nichols inquired dryly.

”I hadn't thought of it particularly, but it's an excellent idea,”