“May we use your telephone if you have one?” Penny requested.
“So very sorry, Miss,” the Japanese responded, bowing again. “Have no telephone.”
Penny nodded, absently fingering a tray of tiny ivory figures. The Japanese watched her, and mistaking curiosity for buying interest, brought additional pieces for her to inspect. The curios were all too expensive for Penny’s purse, but after endless debate she bought a pair of wooden clogs. The shop owner padded away into a back room, intending to wrap the package for her.
Scarcely had he vanished when Penny turned excitedly to her chum.
“Lou, did you notice how funny he acted when we came in here?”
“Yes, he didn’t want us to see what he was making evidently.”
“Exactly what I thought! But we’ll fool Mr. Kano!”
Giving Louise no opportunity to protest, Penny boldly peered behind the counter.
“Here it is,” she whispered. “But what is it?”
Hidden in a pasteboard box lay coil upon coil of what appeared to be fine, black silk rope. Curiously, she lifted it up, exposing a network of crossbars.