"Not without more evidence against him," returned the detective. "Our clue is an important one but it may not lead where we expect. It's a serious matter to arrest a man on a false charge."
"But it must be Herman Crocker," Penny argued. "We know Perry couldn't have committed the robbery."
"You say that you saw Herman in town?" Mr. Nichols inquired.
"Yes, he waited for Perry in the car and then drove away."
"Toward home?"
"Why, I didn't notice," Penny admitted.
"I did," Susan declared, eager to make a contribution. "He was driving the opposite way."
"Then there is a chance he may not have returned home yet," Mr. Nichols said. "I'm going down there and look around."
"May I go along, Dad?" Penny asked eagerly.
"You both may come," Mr. Nichols said after a slight hesitation, "but you must do exactly as I say."