rent and buy new clothes. To say
nothing of taking lessons in art. I'm desperate for money."

"Can't I loan you a little?" Penny offered.

"Oh, no! I have enough to keep going for some time. I only meant that
I could use that prize money very advantageously."

"By the way, have you read the morning papers?" Penny inquired abruptly.

"No, I was so busy getting moved that I haven't glanced at a paper for
days. I suppose the critics made fun of my poor entry."

"Upon the contrary, the Black Imp was highly praised. However, I was
referring to the theft of the painting."

"Theft?" Amy asked blankly. "What painting do you mean?"

"Then you haven't heard the news," Penny said, watching her closely.

"I haven't heard about any painting being stolen. Surely you don't
mean from the Gage Galleries?"

"Yes, a Rembrandt was taken yesterday afternoon from the exhibition
room. The police believe that one of the contestants for the Huddleson
prize may have stolen it in spite--the theory sounds silly to me."

"But how was the picture smuggled from the museum?"

"The police aren't sure, but they think a girl carried it out as a
package. She was seen by one of the guards entering a taxi cab."

Amy's face flamed with color. "Miss Nichols, are you trying to tell me
that I am under suspicion?" she demanded.

Penny nodded. "Yes, that's why I wanted to talk with you. The police
are looking for you now."

"The police! But I've done nothing wrong. I didn't take the painting!
How can anyone accuse me of such a thing?"

"It's unjust of course. They suspect you because you left the
Galleries only a few minutes before the theft of the painting was
discovered."

"But that doesn't prove I took the picture! I had a right to leave."

"No one would have thought anything of it, Amy, but the guard reported
he saw you board a taxi cab with a flat package under your arm.
Probably he was mistaken."

"I did take a package from the museum," the girl acknowledged, "and it
was a painting. However, it was my own--one which I had exhibited
there for several months."

"You didn't show the package to the guard who is stationed by the door?"

"No, when I left the building he was not at his usual post. As I
entered the taxi cab I heard someone call after me but I was upset and
I didn't want to go back. So I just pretended I didn't hear."

"It's too bad you didn't return and show the picture," Penny commented
slowly. "That