y laughed.
Even so she was not quite sure Susan was mistaken.

She drove the sedan into the dark garage. As she was preparing to
close the heavy double doors she thought she heard a step on the gravel
path.

"Is that you, Mrs. Gallup?" she called.

There was no answer.

"I _was_ right," Susan whispered tensely. "Someone is prowling about
the grounds."

"There's no one about," Penny maintained after peering carefully
around. "Probably I imagined that I heard footsteps. Come on, let's
go to the house."

It was reassuring to see a light burning in the kitchen. The window
shades had not been drawn and from the outside, Mrs. Gallup could be
observed washing dishes. As the girls came in she greeted them in
obvious relief.

"I'm so glad you're back, Penny. I was beginning to be afraid that
something had happened to you."

"Quite a bit did happen," Penny laughed. "By the way, you haven't seen
anyone prowling about the yard this evening, have you?"

"Why, no, I've been so busy that I've scarcely glanced out the window.
Early this afternoon a tramp stopped at the door for food. After I
gave him a sandwich he went off. I hope he hasn't come back to make
trouble."

"Oh, no," Penny assured her quickly, "I'm sure there's no need for
alarm."

"Then why did you ask?"

Penny was forced to relate what the policeman had told her, although
she realized that the warning would worry the housekeeper.

"Dear me, I don't feel safe with your father gone. To think that so
much has been going on around here and I didn't know a thing about it!
Why, I haven't even locked the doors!"

"I doubt that it will be necessary now," Penny said, peering into the
refrigerator to see what she could find for a belated supper. "Dad
will soon be home anyway."

"I'm going to lock all the doors and windows this minute," Mrs. Gallup
insisted firmly. "With so much silverware in the house, it isn't wise
to take any chance."

Lowering the window blinds in the dining room, the housekeeper went
directly to the buffet, removing a quantity of choice silverware which
had been in the Nichols family for several generations. Leaving the
girls to forage their own supper, she carried the box upstairs,
intending to lock it in her own bureau drawer. Returning again to the
lower floor she scurried about closing doors and slamming down windows.

"Since she's bent upon doing such a thorough job, I suppose I should
help," Penny remarked to her ch