Part 12 (1/2)
The doorbell rang sharply. Mrs. Gallup came from another room to answer it. A moment later she returned to the study where Mr. Nichols and Penny were sitting.
”Mr. Davis to see you,” she told the detective.
”Davis? Strange he didn't telephone before coming at such a late hour.
But of course I'll see him.”
Reluctantly, Penny arose.
”I suppose I'll have to go.”
”No, wait. You really want to hear the interview?”
”I most certainly do.”
”You've earned the right,” Mr. Nichols smiled. ”Sit over there in the high-back wing chair.”
Deftly he turned it so that the tall back faced the door. As Penny sat down he placed a book in her hands and advised her to curl her feet up under her as she often did when she read. In such a position, she was completely screened from the gaze of the caller as he entered the room.
No sooner had Penny settled herself comfortably than Mrs. Gallup ushered the officer into the study. She then quietly withdrew.
”Have a chair,” Mr. Nichols invited cordially. He offered one which would not reveal Penny's hiding place.
”My daughter told me you had telephoned,” Jerome Davis began a trifle uneasily. ”I thought I might as well walk on over and see you. I hope I didn't come too late.”
”Not at all. I seldom retire before midnight. Davis, I suppose you wonder why I wanted to talk with you.”
A grim look had come over the officer's face.
”I judge it's about the stolen wheel and generator. I met your daughter this evening.”
”So she told me. However, what I really wanted to talk to you about was the Molberg gang.”
The officer offered no response.
”I don't need to tell you that they are at the bottom of this recent outburst of thievery,” the detective went on, eyeing his caller shrewdly. ”Unless they're captured soon, you'll be in a bad spot, Davis.”
”I'm in one now. I've always tried to be honest and do my duty as I saw it. Because of that I'll probably end up without a job.”
”Not if you team along with me and help me to capture this gang. I'll say frankly that since I took this case for the insurance company, I haven't had much cooperation from the police.”
”I'll be glad to help you all I can, Mr. Nichols. But I must act cautiously.”
”You mean for fear of antagonizing your superiors?”
”Yes, that's the chief reason,” Jerome Davis admitted hesitatingly.
”Have you another?” Mr. Nichols probed.