"Just a minute please."
There was another long wait, then the telephone operator informed Penny that the call could not be traced. It had been made from a pay station.
Mr. Nichols entered the office just as Penny hung up the phone.
"Anything wrong?" he asked quickly, noticing the expression on her face.
Penny repeated the warning message.
"Well, it looks as if I'm on the right trail," Mr. Nichols declared, not in the least disturbed. "I'd have preferred that the Molberg gang hadn't learned I was shadowing them, but such news travels fast through underground channels."
"I'm afraid some of those dreadful men may harm you," Penny said anxiously. "Promise me you'll be careful."
"I am always careful, my dear, but I refuse to go around wearing a bullet proof vest. This isn't the first warning telephone call I've received."
"I suppose not," Penny sighed. "But I should think that if the members of the Molberg gang know you have been assigned to the case, it would be hard to secure evidence against them."
"It won't be easy," the detective agreed. "However, I flatter myself that I have a few trained investigators whose activities will never be suspected."