A well dressed gentleman in gray came walking leisurely down the street. He gazed curiously at Penny and her father, and they immediately guessed that he might be the missing Judd Kilkane.
"You weren't looking for me by any chance?" the man asked.
"We are if you're Mr. Kilkane," replied the detective.
"That's my name all right. Come on into the office. I stepped out for a minute to buy an evening paper at the drugstore. Say, you're not Nichols from Belton City?"
"Yes," agreed the detective. "You rented me a cottage."
"Old man Crocker's cottage," the real estate agent said as he opened the office door. "I have the key for you."
"Did I understand you to say we are renting the Crocker cottage?" questioned Mr. Nichols quickly.
"Yes, it's owned by old Herman Crocker up on Knob Hill. Do you know him?"
"Oh, I've merely heard his name mentioned," replied the detective carelessly.
"I guess just about everyone has heard tell of Herman," chuckled the real estate man. He sat down at his desk and motioned Penny and her father into near-by chairs. "He's an eccentric character."