No sooner had she disappeared than Max Laponi saw his opportunity to escape. For an instant Jacob Winters’ attention wavered.
That instant was enough for Laponi. Seizing the metal box which Rosanna had replaced upon the table, he darted out through the doorway.
CHAPTER XX
A Break for Freedom
Max Laponi bolted across the center hall, flinging open the outside door. He looked directly into the face of Christopher Nichols.
“Hello, what’s the big hurry?” the detective demanded, grasping him firmly by the arm.
Laponi tried to jerk free but he was no match for the detective.
By this time Penny and the others had come streaming into the hall.
“Don’t let him get away!” Penny cried.
As the crook struggled to escape, Mr. Nichols slipped a pair of handcuffs over the man’s wrists. Recovering the metal box he handed it to his daughter.
“Dad, how did you get here?” she asked eagerly.