When the meal was finished, Jack roved restlessly about the house, not knowing what to do with himself. “I hope you’re planning on staying home tonight,” his mother commented. “Lately, you’ve scarcely spent an evening here.”
“There’s nothing to do on an island,” Jack complained. “I thought I might run in to town for an hour or so.”
He met Penny’s gaze and amended hastily: “On second thought, I guess I won’t. How about an exciting game of chess?”
The evening was dull, heightened only by Mr. Gandiss’ discussion of the latest difficulties at the factory. Another large quantity of brass had disappeared, he revealed to Mr. Parker.
“Perhaps our detectives will solve the mystery eventually,” he declared, “but I’m beginning to lose heart. The firm has lost $60,000 already, and the thieves become bolder each day. At the start, only a small ring operated. Now I am convinced at least ten or fifteen employes may be in on the scheme to defraud me.”
“The brass must be smuggled past the gateman,” Mr. Parker commented thoughtfully.
“We have three of them,” Mr. Gandiss replied. “Several persons have been turned in, but nothing ever could be proved against any individual who was searched.”
Deeply interested in her father’s remark, Penny kept thinking about Clark Clayton, the night-shift gateman, and his apparent friendship with Sweeper Joe. Late the next afternoon when she knew he would be on duty, she purposely arrived at the factory just as a large group of employes was leaving.
Though at his usual post, Clark Clayton did not appear especially alert. As employes filed past him, he paid them no special heed. Several persons who carried bulky packages were not even stopped for inspection.
“Why, a person could carry a ton of brass through that gate and he wouldn’t know the difference!” she thought.