"You should leave the job to them then," Susan advised severely.
"I guess I will," Penny said ruefully. "At any rate, I failed at it."
After dropping Susan off at the Altman residence, she drove on to her own home. Mr. Nichols was nervously pacing the living room floor when Penny entered.
"I'm glad you're here," he said in relief. "Mrs. Gallup told me you had gone off after receiving a telephone call. I was afraid it might have been a frame-up."
"I went to meet Susan. Didn't Mrs. Gallup explain?"
"No, but it doesn't matter now. I shouldn't have worried only things have been popping in the city tonight."
"The tire theft gang is at work again?"
"Yes, they made a big haul. When the story gets out, the Nichols Detective Agency isn't going to appear in a very good light."
"You haven't been working long on the case, Dad."
"True, but to date the result of our investigation has been disappointing. This haul tonight has all the earmarks of Rap Molberg's hand, yet my men can find no trace of him in the city."