She considered calling for help but immediately abandoned the idea. It would be difficult to explain how she had been locked in the library without revealing the true details. And Mrs. Dillon would instantly suspect that she had seen the hidden painting.
The room had two windows looking out upon the front lawn. Directly beneath was a cultivated bed of flowers which Penny decided must be sacrificed if necessary to the occasion. She switched out the electric lights, and raising one of the windows peered in both directions to see that the coast was clear.
Quickly she climbed over the sill, hung by her fingers tips for an instant, then dropped lightly down to the ground, crushing several choice plants underfoot.
Before she could turn she felt her arms pinioned behind her back in a grasp of steel.
"Not so fast, young lady!" said a gruff voice.
Penny whirled around to face the man who had captured her. She began to laugh.
"Dad!"
"Penny! I thought I had caught a young lady burglar. What are you trying to do?"
"Escape from the library."
"So I observe. But have you any objection to using a door? In polite society I believe that's the accepted method of leaving a house."