Part 6 (1/2)
”Did Miss Coulter leave a forwarding address?”
”No, she didn't. I can't tell you anything more about her.”
Impolitely, the woman closed the door in Penny's face.
The girl walked slowly down the steps to the street. She was disappointed at not finding Amy, and a little troubled to learn that the youthful sculptress had departed from the rooming house without leaving an address. Her disappearance looked almost like flight.
The m.u.f.fled roar of an automobile engine caused Penny to gaze toward the street. A dark blue car had pulled up to the curbing. Three men in civilian garb climbed out, and after briefly surveying the rooming house, walked toward it.
”Plain-clothes men from police headquarters,” Penny appraised instantly. ”I can spot them a mile away. I wonder if they're on the trail of Amy Coulter too?”
CHAPTER IV
Following Amy's Trail
The detectives glanced curiously at Penny as they came up the steps to the rooming house but failed to notice that she lingered by the street curbing to learn what had brought them to the scene. They rang the bell and the door was opened almost instantly by the landlady.
”You may as well go away,” she began irately, then paused in confusion.
”Oh, I beg your pardon. I thought it was someone else.”
The plain clothes men flashed their badges and then inquired if Amy Coulter resided at the house.
”You're not the first that's asked for her,” the woman informed.
”Someone from the Gage Galleries has been telephoning all morning until it's enough to drive a body wild. And just a minute ago a girl came to bother me.”
”I take it then that Amy Coulter is not here?” one of the detectives interrupted.
”No, she packed up her luggage and cleared out last night without leaving an address. What has she done now?”
”We're not certain that she has done anything, but we wish to question her.”
”I thought something was wrong when she cleared out so fast,” the landlady declared. ”She paid her rent all right, but she was a queer one. I was suspicious of her from the first.”
The detectives talked with the landlady a few minutes longer before returning to their car.
Penny had heard the entire conversation. The visit of the plain clothes men to the rooming house made it clear to her that the order definitely had gone out for Amy Coulter's apprehension as a suspect in the Gage Galleries theft. It seemed likely that the young sculptress was aware of the situation, for otherwise why would she disappear without leaving a forwarding address?
”Anyway, there's nothing I can do,” Penny thought. ”I may as well give up the search and go shopping.”
Since Pearl Street was not far from the business section of Belton City, she left her automobile parked at the curbing and walked to the nearest department store.
Penny had a long list of items to purchase, for Mrs. Gallup had mentioned a number of articles which were needed for the house. It was well after the noon hour when she finished the task. She dropped in at the store tearoom for a sandwich and cup of chocolate, then gathered up her packages and started back to her car.
Turning the first corner, she was startled to notice a familiar figure across the street. A girl in a shabby blue serge suit was staring into the window of a candy shop.
”That looks like Amy Coulter!” Penny thought excitedly.
She hurried across the street to accost the girl. Upon hearing her name called Amy turned swiftly and her face lighted with pleasure.