Part 31 (1/2)
CHAPTER XVII
”Private--Keep Out”
Penny's cry of alarm brought Mrs. Gallup hurrying up the stairs.
”What is the matter?” the housekeeper asked anxiously.
”The Black Imp is gone!” Penny exclaimed. ”Did you do anything with it?”
”Why, no. It was on the desk the last time I saw it.”
”It isn't there now. Someone has stolen it!”
”Nonsense!” Mrs. Gallup said impatiently. ”Who would want that little statue? If a thief entered the house he would take things of greater value than that. You must have put it in a different place and forgotten about it.”
”Oh, but I didn't, Mrs. Gallup. The Imp was on the desk this morning when I left the house.”
”Well, I've not seen it.” The housekeeper began to open bureau drawers, for despite Penny's words she was not entirely convinced that the girl had left the statue on the desk. Penny often misplaced cherished possessions only to spend an unhappy hour trying to recall where she had deposited them.
”It's no use to search, Mrs. Gallup,” she wailed disconsolately. ”The Black Imp is gone and will never be found.”
”But no one has been in the house all day.”
”The window is open,” Penny observed. ”I know I closed it this morning before I left the house.”
The bedroom overlooked a porch against which stood a st.u.r.dy rose trellis. It would be a simple matter for a thief to reach the window by means of it. Once when Penny had found herself locked out of the house she had tested the trellis and discovered that it made an excellent ladder.
”I did go away for an hour this afternoon,” Mrs. Gallup admitted. ”I went to the grocery store.”
”That would be long enough for a thief to enter the house.”
”But I'm sure nothing else is missing,” Mrs. Gallup maintained. ”It doesn't seem reasonable that anyone would steal a little statue--an unfinished one at that.”
Mr. Nichols had entered the house by the rear door. He called from below:
”Anyone home?”
”We're upstairs,” Penny shouted down. ”A thief has been in the house!”
The detective joined the two in the bedroom. ”What's all the excitement?” he demanded.
”The Black Imp has been stolen!” Penny informed.
”It seems to be missing,” Mrs. Gallup corrected, ”but I can't believe anyone would want that lump of clay.”
Mr. Nichols did not reply as he surveyed the room. Nothing appeared to be out of place. He noted the open window instantly and crossed over to it.
”The thief entered here,” he said.
”That was what I was trying to tell Mrs. Gallup,” Penny cried triumphantly.