officer came to speak with them.

"Did you get into the building?" Mr. Nichols inquired tersely.

"Yes, your daughter's instructions were very clear. We had no trouble."

"What did you find?"

"Everything was exactly as Miss Nichols said. The place has been used
by the Molberg outfit, that's clear. But there wasn't a sign of
anyone, and the desk which Miss Nichols mentioned as being in the
little office, was gone."

"Looks like they got wind of what was up, doesn't it?"

"That's the way I figure it," the officer returned. "Not much we can
do except wreck the place so it can't be used again."

Mr. Nichols talked with several other policemen, and then, satisfied
that he had learned all the details of the unsuccessful raid, took
Penny home.

"I suppose this means we'll not be taking that vacation into the
mountains very soon," she commented when they were alone in the living
room.

"I'm afraid of it, Penny. Would you care to go by yourself?"

"No, I'd prefer to wait until you can go too. Besides, I've become
deeply absorbed in this Molberg case."

"I've noticed that," her father smiled. "I never suspected that my own
daughter had such hidden talents for sleuthing."

"Now you're teasing!" Penny accused.

"No, your discoveries have astonished me, Penny. Perhaps you were
favored a little by luck, but you've unearthed information which even
my most skilled investigators were unable to turn up."

"My clues didn't prove of much value after all."

"It wasn't your fault that they didn't. A detective must learn to
expect disappointments."

"So it seems," Penny sighed. "Now that Rap Molberg escaped the police
net, what will be your next move?"

"I don't know yet, Penny."

"Perhaps Rap Molberg will leave the city."

"I don't think there's much chance of that. He'll remain in hiding for
a few days or weeks, then strike again. You must have a constant
bodyguard, Penny."

"Oh, Dad! If you knew how I hated it! I couldn't feel that even my
thoughts were my own!"

"Sorry, Penny, but it's for your own safety."

"Oh, all right, I submit," Penny grumbled good-naturedly. "Only if I
must have someone tagging at my heels all the time, please make him
tall and handsome!"

"I don't usually select my men for their beauty," Mr. Nichols smiled.
"But I'll do the best I can for you."

Although Penny disliked the idea of being closely watched, actually a
bodyguard was not as annoying as she had imagined it