Penny Nichols Finds a Clue Part 10

"What was it you wanted, Betty?" he asked.

"It doesn't matter now," she stammered. She added tensely: "Father, you're not making out a report!"

"Certainly, I am."

"Don't do it," the girl pleaded, gripping his arm. "You know what it may mean. Please, for my sake!"

Penny and Susan exchanged a quick glance. They were at a loss to understand the girl's strange att.i.tude. Why should she be so troubled because her father was writing out a routine report of a theft?

To their relief, the policeman laughed carelessly and went on making out the report.

"You're hysterical, Betty," he accused. "Come, get a grip upon yourself."

"I'm sorry," the girl murmured, glancing nervously at Penny and Susan.

"I shouldn't have made such a request."

"My daughter is very excitable," the officer said apologetically. "She didn't really mean what she said."

There was an awkward pause. Penny turned to the girl and questioned kindly:

"Haven't I seen you somewhere? Your face is familiar."

"I've watched you swim at the Y.W.C.A. pool. You dive beautifully too."

"Oh, I remember you now! But I don't know your name."

"I am Betty Davis. You've already met my father."

"Jerome Davis," the officer added. "Just a sidewalk pounder."

The girls smiled at the disparaging remark. Penny mentioned her own name.

"You're not related to Christopher Nichols?" the officer asked.

"Yes, I am his daughter."

"You don't say! Well, I am glad to make your acquaintance. Down at the station they think a lot of your father."

"He was on the force many years ago, I believe," Penny said politely.

"That was before my time, but I'm always hearing about him. He's solved some difficult cases that have baffled our best detectives."

Penny made a perfunctory response and the officer turned to his daughter.

"Betty, you shouldn't be out alone so late at night. You must go back home at once."

"If you live nearby I'll be glad to take you in my car," Penny offered.

"I shouldn't like to trouble you," the girl said hastily. "My home is only a few blocks away."

"It will be no trouble at all," Penny insisted, opening the door of her roadster. "Do let me give you a lift."

The girl flashed her father an appealing glance. It was obvious to both Penny and Susan that she was greatly upset about something, yet the officer appeared not to notice. He did not seem to realize that she wished to speak with him privately.

"It's very kind of you to take my daughter home, Miss Nichols," he said quietly. "Don't keep them waiting, Betty."

Reluctantly, the girl crowded into the seat beside Penny and Susan.

"I live at 1406 St. Clair Avenue," she informed briefly.

As they drove slowly along, Penny had an opportunity to study the girl.

She was an odd type. Serious and certainly not talkative. When drawn into conversation, her answers were given in monosyllables.

"She's worrying over something," Penny thought.

The car halted before a modest brown cottage on St. Clair Avenue.

Betty Davis alighted.

"Thank you so much for bringing me home," she told Penny gratefully.

She hesitated, then added earnestly: "I know you thought it queer because I asked my father not to make that report."

"I'm sure you must have had a very good reason," Penny returned.

"I was overwrought or I shouldn't have made the request. You see, my father is in great danger!"

"I don't quite understand."

Already Betty Davis felt that she was revealing too much.

"I wish I could tell you about it--but I don't dare," she murmured.

With that she turned and ran into the house.

CHAPTER VII

An Awkward Situation

"Now just what did she mean by that remark?" Susan demanded of her chum as they saw Betty Davis disappear inside the cottage.

"I'm not a mind reader," Penny returned with a shrug. "The air seems to be filled with mysteries this evening."

She then told of her experience in shadowing the man whom she had believed to be Rap Molberg. Susan listened in amazement.

"You must have lost your senses, Penny Nichols! If you turn up missing some morning, it will be easy to guess the reason why!"