with me."

"But why should he warn you that your life is in danger? Do you think
he could know anything concerning the Molberg gang?"

"It isn't likely, but he may have some underworld connection."

"I'm getting more nervous every day," Penny declared. "I'll never feel
very easy until all the members of that gang are captured."

"It may be a more difficult task than I at first believed," her father
remarked, frowning. "I know that Rap Molberg is hiding somewhere in
the city but so far none of my investigators have been able to trace
him."

"Perhaps he's through causing trouble," Penny said hopefully.

"He'll make enough when the time comes."

"I've not heard of any automobile thefts or anything of the sort for
several days."

"That's just it. Things have been altogether too quiet. It's like a
lull before the storm. A bad sign."

Mr. Nichols abruptly left the table. He walked to the door, then came
back.

"I must go downtown again this evening, Penny," he said regretfully.
"I'll leave the telephone number of my new office in the event you
should need to reach me. It isn't listed in the 'phone book,' of
course."

"Your new office?" Penny demanded. "What became of your old one, may I
ask?"

"It's still there," Mr. Nichols smiled. "Miss Arrow has assumed
charge, and I've taken up temporary quarters on the tenth floor of the
Atler building."

"Isn't that almost directly across from the Brunner garage?"

"Yes, it's located in the downtown theater district. The bulk of the
auto accessory thefts have taken place in this relatively small area.
From the window of my new office I secure a bird's eye view of all that
goes on in nearby streets."

"Surely you don't expect to catch the thieves in the act of stealing
automobile wheels!" Penny marveled.

"It will be the surest way of gaining a conviction. If a professional
crook isn't captured at the scene of his crime, he usually is clever
enough to cover his tracks completely. An amateur is seldom so
skillful in obliterating clues."

"May I visit this new office of yours?" Penny asked.

"Yes, if you use discretion and don't come too often. I have taken the
office under an assumed name--John Bradford. I shouldn't care to have
my real name known for awhile."

"I'll be very discreet if I come," Penny promised.

Her father turned to leave.

"It must be dull for you here alone at night," he said apologetically.
"Why don't you take Susan to a pic