n the dealer's
word?"

"Yes, indeed. I hope you don't think I'd allow myself to be taken
in----"

"Oh, no, certainly not. Only I've heard it said that unscrupulous
dealers sometimes resort to tricks."

"I pride myself upon having a streak of Yankee shrewdness," Mrs. Dillon
said, "and I do know art. When I saw this picture I recognized it
instantly as one I had seen at the Gage Galleries. Of course, the
dealer didn't claim it was the genuine Rembrandt--quite the contrary."

"Then aren't you afraid----?"

"Not in the least," Mrs. Dillon interrupted. "Naturally, the dealer
wouldn't subject himself to arrest by acknowledging that he was selling
stolen property."

"The painting is a very fine one," the other woman declared, "but I
can't say I should care to own it myself. You'll never be able to
display it openly."

"Perhaps not, but I can show it privately to my friends and I'll derive
satisfaction just from knowing I own it."

"But if the police should suspect----"

"They won't, unless someone reports me. So far you are the only person
who knows that I have the painting."

"Oh, you may trust me, Mrs. Dillon. I'll never give you away."

"If the picture should ever be traced to me I can always claim that I
was an innocent purchaser," Mrs. Dillon chuckled. "In fact, I don't
know that this is the same picture that was taken from the Gage
Galleries. The dealer didn't tell me that it was an original."

"You're very shrewd," the other woman praised.

Mrs. Dillon carefully drew the velvet curtain over the painting and
closed the panel. As the two women moved toward the door they passed
close to Penny's chair. The girl held her breath, fearing detection.

She had not meant to be an eavesdropper, but the nature of Mrs.
Dillon's conversation had made it impossible to reveal her presence in
the room without creating a difficult scene. However, should she be
discovered now, crouching behind the back of the chair, the situation
would prove even more embarrassing.

"We must return to the others before we're missed," Mrs. Dillon said,
unlocking the door.

The two women went out, and Penny heard a slight metallic click which
at the moment did not strike her as having any significance. As the
door closed she quickly arose from her chair.

Penny was dismayed at what she had seen and heard. It was difficult
for her to believe that Mrs. Dillon owned the painting which had been
stolen from the Gage Gallerie