Part 13 (1/2)

”It is very kind of you to offer,” Mrs. Dillon returned, flattered. ”I will meet you at the studio at one o'clock and after luncheon we'll go to the bank together.”

Penny had reached the foot of the stairs. The two were so engrossed in their conversation that they were unaware they were blocking the path.

”I beg your pardon,” she murmured suggestively.

”Oh, I'm so sorry!” Mrs. Dillon exclaimed, moving hastily aside.

Penny gave no hint either by look or action that she had overheard the conversation, but inwardly she raged at Hanley Cron's cutting reference to her father's ability. She slowly climbed the stairs. At the first landing she glanced back over her shoulder and noticed that the art critic was staring after her. His expression startled her.

”How that man does hate me,” she thought. ”And all on account of a ruined fender. It's too ridiculous!”

Penny had observed during the evening that Mrs. Dillon and Hanley Cron danced frequently together. Apparently, the society woman was flattered by the man's attention, although Penny was at a loss to understand how anyone could consider him attractive. It seemed to her that the art critic deliberately was trying to ingratiate himself with Mrs. Dillon.

She considered the luncheon invitation which Cron had extended to his hostess. While it might have no significance, it tended to confirm her belief that the man was trying to gain the society woman's favor. She wondered, too, why he appeared so eager to accompany Mrs. Dillon to the bank.

”I don't believe it's because he wants to be generally helpful,” she told herself shrewdly. ”Hanley Cron simply isn't that sort of person!”

As she stood before the bedroom mirror Penny reflected upon what Cron had said about her father. Not reliable indeed! It was evident that the man deliberately was endeavoring to undermine Mr. Nichols'

professional reputation.

Unexpectedly, Penny caught a glimpse of her face in the mirror and laughed because she looked so tense and worried.

”There's no use to take it so seriously,” she advised herself. ”I've merely learned that Hanley Cron may prove to be a dangerous enemy.”

CHAPTER VIII

A Bold Move

A few minutes later as she was driving home with her father, Penny repeated to him the conversation which she had overheard between Hanley Cron and Mrs. Dillon. The detective smiled at the slighting reference made by the art critic but looked disturbed when he learned of the luncheon engagement.

”Before she gets through, Mrs. Dillon will have informed everyone that she is taking the necklace to the vault tomorrow,” he said impatiently.

”If she ends up by losing the pearls then perhaps she'll know better next time.”

Mr. Nichols stopped at the police station for a few minutes to leave the revolver and the bullet which he had retrieved from the ballroom wall. When he returned to the car Penny questioned him regarding the holdup men.

”Have they been captured?”

”No,” he replied in disgust, ”they got away.”

It was long after midnight when they reached home. Penny would have liked to remain up awhile to discuss the exciting events of the evening but Mr. Nichols was too sleepy to be in a talkative mood. He hurried his daughter off to bed.

”I think I'll visit Amy Coulter sometime to-day,” Penny remarked the next morning at breakfast. ”What I saw last night convinced me that she could have no part in the theft of the painting.”

”The picture in Mrs. Dillon's possession doesn't prove anything,” Mr.

Nichols replied as he pushed aside his coffee cup. ”The painting may be a fake. Or if it's genuine this girl may have been one of a gang who negotiated the deal with Mrs. Dillon.”

”If you met Amy you'd understand that she isn't the criminal type, Dad.”

”And just what is the criminal type? Give me a definition.”