"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?"
"No, not so far as we've discovered. Only a little cash that was in the safe—nothing of consequence."
"Who do you suppose did it?" Penny asked. She leaned carelessly against the desk but her father pulled her away.