“I’m certain it was a man in black bathing trunks and light brown sweat shirt who took the purse,” Mrs. Allison continued. “At least I saw him walking away from the car. He mingled with the other bathers and I lost sight of him.”
The life guard was quite disturbed about the theft. Even though Mrs. Allison had left her car unlocked, he felt partly responsible.
“I watch as carefully as I can,” he said. “Lately several persons have reported losses. We can’t seem to snare the thief.”
“After this, I’ll park my car elsewhere,” Mrs. Allison declared. “I’ll swim at the hotel beach too. I’ve heard others say that one can’t sea bathe here without running the risk of losing anything left loose on the beach. It’s true, apparently.”
Very annoyed by the loss of her purse, the woman climbed into her car and drove away.
Barney walked among the bathers, searching for a man in black trunks and brown sweat shirt.
“It’s no use,” he told Miss Gordon and the Brownies a little later. “Even if I found the fellow, I couldn’t accuse him, having no proof. But unless I can put an end to these thefts, the beach will lose all its customers.”
“It’s not your fault,” Mrs. Williams commented.
“No, but the management holds me responsible. I have an idea who may be breaking into the cars, but it’s only a theory. A wild one at that.”
“Is it anyone you know?” asked Connie, who had been listening hard.