His words ended in a surprised gasp. Something had struck his right hand a stunning blow. The weapon fell from his bruised fingers, clattering to the floor. He felt a cold, hard object in the small of his back.
“It’s your turn now,” said Penny Nichols. “I’ll trouble you to hand over the little box!”
CHAPTER XIX
The Tables Turn
Max Laponi whirled about and looked directly into the muzzle of Penny’s revolver.
“Drop that box and put up your hands,” she ordered crisply.
Laponi gazed at her jeeringly.
“The gun isn’t loaded,” he sneered.
“You should know,” Penny retorted. “It’s your own revolver. I took it from your room.”
The expression of the crook’s face altered for he well remembered that the weapon had been left in readiness for instant use.
While keeping Laponi covered, Penny kicked the other revolver across the floor in Caleb Eckert’s direction. The old man hastily snatched it up.