Part 19 (1/2)
”Is that so? Well, you've come to the wrong place. We are filled up.”
Penny was aware that the janitor regarded her suspiciously. She did not believe that he was speaking the truth for she had noticed many apparently unoccupied rooms in the building.
”But you may have vacancies in the future, I suppose,” she commented.
”You see, I like the outlook a person would get from your top floor.”
”That top floor is rented.”
”Could you tell me the name of the party----?”
”No, I couldn't,” the janitor interrupted irritably. ”Run along now.
I'm not interested in your chatter.”
”All right, I'll go,” Penny replied, ”but you may hear from me again.
And when I return, I'll bring a mate to that five dollar bill you just slipped into your pocket!”
Before the man had recovered from his surprise she turned and walked briskly down the street in the direction of her father's office. She deeply regretted her last remark for she realized that the janitor might repeat it to the man who occupied the top floor. She had not intended to reveal how much she had seen.
Penny entered her father's office just as he was leaving on a business errand.
”h.e.l.lo, Dad,” she called out. ”I seem to have caught the bird on the wing.”
Mr. Nichols smiled at his young daughter and obligingly hung his hat back on the rack.
”My flight is off now that the fledgling has returned to the nest.
What's on your mind now, Penny?”
”This little ornament, for one thing.” Penny unwrapped the model of the Black Imp which Amy Coulter had given her and set it down on her father's desk. ”Doesn't he look kind of lonesome and, well--mysterious?”
”He does at that,” Mr. Nichols said as he picked up the little art piece and turned it over and over. ”I should say the fellow has a wicked glint to his eye.”
”Be careful how you handle him,” Penny warned. ”The clay is still damp.”
Mr. Nichols placed the figure back on the desk. ”It's a very clever design. I don't suppose this is that Black Imp you were telling me about?”
”It's a copy of the original.”
”How did you get it?”
”I guess you might say I swiped it,” Penny smiled, ”or rather, Amy and I did together.”
”You don't make yourself very clear.”
Penny related her experience in Hanley Cron's studio, but at mention of the jewelry theft, Mr. Nichols lost all interest in the Black Imp. He insisted upon hearing every detail of the theft.
”It doesn't surprise me a bit,” he declared when Penny finished the story. ”I warned Mrs. Dillon that necklace would be stolen if she didn't get it locked up.”
”She lost it on the way to the bank, Dad. Perhaps she thinks now that if she hadn't attempted to follow your advice, the pearls would still be safe.”