As she started from her hiding place, intending to call Louise, a door opened at the west end of the room. Instantly Penny froze against the wall, waiting.
A flashlight beam played across the floor, missing her by a scant two feet.
Penny, her heart beating at a furious rate, remained motionless. She could see the squat, shadowy figure of a man moving toward her. Boards squeaked beneath his weight.
Midway across the room, the man paused, evidently listening to the steady clatter of Louise’s typewriter. Satisfied, he went to the window where he stood for several minutes watching street traffic.
As he turned again, the beam of his flashlight swept across the front counter, focusing upon the package of food. The man gave a low exclamation of pleasure. With the swiftness of a cat he darted to it and tore off the paper wrapping.
Penny waited until he was eating greedily. Then stealing along the wall, she groped for the electric light switch. As she pressed it, the room was brilliantly illuminated. At the same instant, the girl gave a shrill whistle, a signal to Louise that the culprit had been trapped.
The man at the counter whirled around, facing Penny with startled dismay. He was a gaunt, unshaven fellow in his late fifties with shaggy hair, and soiled, unpressed clothing.
Before he could retreat, Louise came down the stairway, blocking the exit.
“What are you doing here?” Penny questioned him. “Why did you steal my lunch?”
The man’s lips moved nervously but no sound issued from them.