Part 34 (1/2)
”h.e.l.lo, boys. You don't look as if you were expecting me.”
”We weren't--exactly,” Cron muttered. ”What do you want, Max? You know I've warned you not to come here.”
The gambler had been making a quick survey of the room. His eyes came to rest on the Rembrandt. He smiled again, unpleasantly.
”Say, who are you anyway?” Hoges demanded angrily. ”What business do you have with us?”
”My business is with your pal, Hanley Cron. We're partners.”
”Partners?” Hoges echoed, his eyes narrowing. He wheeled toward Cron.
”If you've been double crossing me----”
”Oh, calm down,” Cron said sharply. ”Lynch and I had a little private business together but it has nothing to do with the picture racket.”
”I'm not so sure about that,” the other retorted. ”You've been collecting all the money. Maybe you've stuck some of it into your pocket.”
”I didn't come here to start an argument,” Lynch interposed. ”But I'll not stand for any monkey business either. Hand over the pearls, Cron!”
”I don't have them. I told you once that girl----”
”Yes, you've told me a good many things, Cron. But I happen to know you have the necklace. Hand it over or----”
The threat was left unsaid for at that unfortunate moment Penny felt an overpowering impulse to sneeze. She buried her face in her handkerchief but succeeded in only partially m.u.f.fling the sound.
Immediately, the closet door was flung open and she was found cowering there. Cron dragged her from her hiding place.
”So you've been listening!” he sneered.
”Yes,” said Penny boldly. ”And I've heard enough to confirm what I've always believed. You are the person who stole the Rembrandt from the Gage Galleries! You're a cheap trickster who p.a.w.ns himself off as a gentleman!”
As she uttered the tirade, the girl made a quick dive for the door, but Max Lynch caught her by the arm and flung her back.
”Not so fast, Miss Nichols,” he muttered. ”This is once when you won't go tattling to the police or to that father of yours!”
The discovery of Penny hiding in the closet had brought an abrupt end to the quarrel. In the face of the new emergency, the four crooks laid differences aside to consider what must be done.
”Tie her up!” Cron ordered harshly.
Penny's arms and legs were securely bound with stout cord, a gag was drawn over her mouth, and she was unceremoniously thrown back into the closet. But she could still hear the men talking.
”This changes all our plans,” Cron said. ”If this girl knew enough to follow us here, the police may soon be on our trail. We must get out of town.”
”Not without dividing on that necklace job we planned together,” Lynch interposed angrily. ”You'll never leave town until you cough up.”
Hoges and his unnamed companion were regarding Cron with open suspicion.
”You've been holding out on us,” they accused the art critic.