Part 22 (1/2)
”The Reliance Insurance Company? I don't understand. What have they to do with it?”
”Your necklace was insured with them, I believe,” Mr. Nichols said evenly.
”Oh, no!”
”For fifteen thousand dollars.”
”Certainly not,” Mrs. Dillon replied indignantly. ”Are you suggesting that I would lie about the matter?”
”I thought you might have forgotten.”
”This is too ridiculous!” Mrs. Dillon snapped. ”I didn't come here to be insulted.”
”Please don't consider my remarks in that light, Mrs. Dillon. I was merely explaining why I can't take the case. I expect to serve the Reliance Company.”
”They have absolutely nothing to do with the necklace.” Mrs. Dillon angrily arose. ”I am sorry I wasted my time coming here!”
Haughtily, she left the house, and Penny, who watched from the window, saw her drive away with her chauffeur.
”Do you really intend to take the case for the Reliance people?” she questioned eagerly.
”Oh, I suppose I shall.”
”What do you think of Mrs. Dillon, Dad?”
”She bores me,” Mr. Nichols yawned. ”Without a background of money and social position she would be nothing but a noisy phonograph record.”
”I meant about her claim regarding the necklace. Were the pearls actually insured?”
”Oh, of course,” Mr. Nichols returned, a trifle impatiently. He laughed. ”I can't imagine the Reliance people turning over a cold fifteen thousand dollars if they didn't owe it.”
”But if Mrs. Dillon expects to collect the money why should she lie?”
The detective shrugged. ”Some women are funny.”
Mrs. Gallup came to announce dinner and at the table the subject was not resumed. Penny sighed as she stole a glance at her father's immobile face. She could never tell what he was thinking and his reluctance to discuss any case upon which he happened to be working was at times irritating.
The next morning after helping Mrs. Gallup wash windows, Penny went down town to have luncheon with her father. She felt rather important as she entered the office for it was not often that he extended such an invitation.
The door of the inner room was ajar and Miss Arrow was nowhere in sight, so Penny entered. To her surprise the private office was in great confusion. Papers had been tossed over the floor and the filing cabinet rifled. Mr. Nichols and his secretary were occupied examining the contents of the safe.
”What's the matter?” Penny questioned. ”Are you house cleaning or did a cyclone strike the place?”
”Someone broke in here last night and went through everything,” Mr.
Nichols answered.
”Anything valuable taken?”