As she pried at the window a sudden fear assailed her. What if it too were locked?
The window had only stuck a little. A quick jerk brought it up. By sheer strength of muscle, Penny raised herself to the level of the sill, swinging her feet through the opening.
“I must work fast,” she told herself, glancing appraisingly about. “I’d not care to be caught here.”
Her attention was drawn to Max Laponi’s open suitcase which had been left carelessly on the bed. Crossing over to it she began to explore the contents systematically.
“My hunch about Laponi may have been wrong,” she thought uncomfortably as the search revealed nothing of interest.
Just then her hand touched something hard and cold. Penny knew instantly that it was a revolver. She was not afraid of firearms for her father had taught her to shoot. Carefully she inspected the weapon.
“All this heavy artillery must have been brought here for a purpose,” she reflected grimly. “It’s clear Laponi is out to get what he wants by one means or another.”
After an instant’s hesitation Penny placed the revolver on the table. She had decided to take it with her when she left.
“Things in this house are fast approaching a crisis,” she reasoned. “Before I get through I may need that weapon myself.”
Save for an inner pocket in the suitcase, Penny had completed her inspection. She ran her hand into the cloth pouch and brought to light several papers. Rapidly she went through them.