e, she drove the coupe from the
garage. Turning out into Second Street she narrowly missed being
struck by a truck which was traveling at a high rate of speed.

"Better get out into the country until you've had an opportunity to
become accustomed to handling the car," Penny suggested.

"That's a good idea," Susan agreed. "I don't want to wreck the thing
before I drive it home."

After an hour of straight driving on a deserted road, she became quite
dexterous at operating the gears. When she felt entirely confident of
her ability to handle the car in any emergency, the girls drove back
into the city. They parted at the Brunner garage where Penny had left
her own roadster.

"Thanks for helping me select the car," Susan told her chum gratefully.

"I didn't have much to do with it," Penny smiled. "But it's a fine
looking automobile. I wish I had one half as nice."

"I'll let you drive mine whenever you like," Susan offered generously.

When Penny reached home it was nearly dinner time. Mrs. Gallup was
busy in the immaculate green and white kitchen, frosting an angel food
cake.

"Any mail for me this afternoon?" Penny inquired, pausing to scrape up
a generous spoonful of fudge from the frosting pan.

"I declare, I've been too busy all day to even think of the mail."

"I'll look."

Penny went to the box at the front door. There were three letters.
Two for Mr. Nichols and one for herself. The latter was addressed in
pencil on a cheap yellow envelope.

"Wonder who it's from?" she thought with interest.

Quickly, she ripped open the envelope, glancing at the signature which
had been signed at the bottom of the brief note.

"Jerry Barrows!" she exclaimed.

Eagerly she read the message.

"Sorry I couldn't keep the appointment with Mr. Nichols," the boy had
written. "Tell your father to be on guard. His life is in danger."

CHAPTER V

Penny Turns Sleuth

Mr. Nichols did not have a great deal to say regarding the note which
Penny read to him later that evening at the dinner table.

"Don't let it worry you," he advised. "Just put it away for future
reference and forget about it."

"Future reference?"

"Yes, it's always wise to keep such communications. One never knows
when a sample of handwriting might prove useful."

"I'm sure Jerry Barrows must have some good qualities or he'd never
have sent the message. Don't you think so, Dad?"

"Perhaps. It's obvious the boy was afraid to talk