"You turned off somewhere and we lost you for a time. Didn't locate you again until you turned up at your own home."
Penny was relieved. The detectives could not possibly be aware of the secret entrance into the Hamilton Plant. She would still be the first to report the discovery to her father.
The detectives dropped Penny at her own home after explaining that it might be necessary for her to appear in court later on to identify the prisoner.
"I'll be very glad to do it," Penny promised.
As she ran up the front steps the door was flung open and Mrs. Gallup rushed out to meet her. She flung her arms about the girl.
"Penny!" she cried tremulously. "How thankful I am that you are safe! Your father came home fifteen minutes ago. Then we knew that the telephone call was a fake."
"Where is Dad now?"
"He started for the police station."
"Then I guess he'll learn the truth in a few minutes if he's still there."
"Tell me what happened, Penny."