“Well, the fellow escaped! He tried to pass a bum cheque for fifty dollars.”
“What name did he use?” the floorman inquired.
“Ben Bowman. It will be something else next time.”
Penny had heard the words. Startled by the name, she moved hastily to the detective’s side.
“Excuse me,” she addressed him, “did I understand you to say that a man by the name of Ben Bowman forged a cheque?”
“That’s correct, Miss,” the detective answered, staring at her curiously. “Know anything about the man?”
“I think I may. Would it be possible for me to see the cheque?”
The detective removed it from a vest pocket, offering the signature for inspection. One glance satisfied Penny that the cheque had been signed by the same man who had been sending her father “crank” messages.
“At home I have a telegram which I’m sure bears this identical signature!” she revealed. “I’ve never seen the man though—except as he ran through the store.”
The store detective questioned Penny at length about her knowledge of Bowman. Realizing that a description of the man might be of great value to her, he showed her a small card which bore a mounted photograph.