“That’s not much to go on.”
“From the first Gepper was determined to get Mrs. Weems’ money, Dad. He sent a man here who pretended to be from the Bierkamp Investment Company.”
“You didn’t tell me that,” said Mrs. Weems.
“Well, no I didn’t. I was afraid you would invest your money with him, so I drove the man away. He must have been Gepper’s accomplice. Failing to acquire the money by that means, he plotted the burglary.”
“Surely you don’t agree with Penny?” the housekeeper asked Mr. Parker unhappily.
“In general, I am afraid I do. Mr. Gepper is an undesirable character, and I should like nothing better than to send him to jail.”
“Come upstairs, Mrs. Weems,” urged Penny. “I’ll show you the desk.”
Both the housekeeper and Mr. Parker followed her to the second floor. An examination of the bedroom disclosed no additional clues, but after studying the marks on the window ledge, the publisher favored Penny’s theory that a silk ladder had been utilized.
“It was unwise of me to keep my money here,” Mrs. Weems remarked in a crestfallen tone. “I—I’ve been silly about everything, I guess.”
Penny gave her a quick hug. “No, you haven’t. Anyone might have been taken in by Al Gepper.”