Clue of the Silken Ladder Part 27

"I once saw one being made," declared Penny with deliberate emphasis. "At a j.a.panese Shop on Dorr Street."

"That's right, you spoke of it!" exclaimed her father. "Penny, you may have something!"

"I think so, Dad. This strand of twisted silk may lead straight to Kano's Curio Shop."

"And from there?"

Penny hesitated, glancing at Mrs. Weems. She knew that the housekeeper might take offense, but she answered quietly:

"My guess would be to Al Gepper, Dad. Who but he or an accomplice could have known where the money was hidden?"

CHAPTER 17 _KANO'S CURIO SHOP_

As Penny had antic.i.p.ated, Mrs. Weems indignantly declared that she did not believe Mr. Gepper could have had any connection with the attempted robbery. Yet, even as she made the a.s.sertion, a startled expression came over her face.

"Think back, Mrs. Weems," urged Mr. Parker. "How many persons knew where you had secreted the money?"

"I told Mrs. Hodges."

"And Al Gepper?" Penny probed.

"Well--" The housekeeper looked ill at ease. "He may have heard me talking with Mrs. Hodges. I remember he pa.s.sed through the hall while we were together."

"What day was that?" inquired Penny.

"Yesterday. After the seance. But I can't believe that Mr. Gepper would try to steal the money. I just can't!"

"From what Penny has told me of the man, I should judge that he is a schemer," contributed Mr. Parker. "You know the _Star_ has started a vigorous campaign directed against such mediums as Al Gepper."

"But he told me such remarkable things about Cousin David," protested Mrs. Weems. "Facts which couldn't be faked."

"Oh, Gepper doesn't make many false moves," acknowledged Penny. "He's a smooth worker. All the same, he's a fake."

"How could he have faked Cousin David's message? You forget we actually saw the picture of my relative painted without the aid of a human hand."

"Did the picture closely resemble your cousin?" inquired Mr. Parker.

"Oh, yes, indeed. It looked exactly as I saw him many years ago."

"Isn't that rather odd?" demanded Penny. "One would expect Cousin David to age a little."

"Penny believes that a photographer's agent who came here a few days ago was sent by Gepper to obtain a picture of your relative," explained Mr.

Parker. "Did the man ask you many questions about your cousin?"

"Well, yes, he did," Mrs. Weems admitted unwillingly. "I made a mistake giving him the photograph."

"It seems fairly evident that the picture was used by Gepper," Mr. Parker commented. "Whether he plotted to steal your money remains to be proven.

Penny, you saw the man plainly?"

"No, I didn't, Dad. Not his face. He was about the same build as Gepper."

"That's not much to go on."

"From the first Gepper was determined to get Mrs. Weems' money, Dad. He sent a man here who pretended to be from the Bierkamp Investment Company."

"You didn't tell me that," said Mrs. Weems.

"Well, no I didn't. I was afraid you would invest your money with him, so I drove the man away. He must have been Gepper's accomplice. Failing to acquire the money by that means, he plotted the burglary."

"Surely you don't agree with Penny?" the housekeeper asked Mr. Parker unhappily.

"In general, I am afraid I do. Mr. Gepper is an undesirable character, and I should like nothing better than to send him to jail."

"Come upstairs, Mrs. Weems," urged Penny. "I'll show you the desk."

Both the housekeeper and Mr. Parker followed her to the second floor. An examination of the bedroom disclosed no additional clues, but after studying the marks on the window ledge, the publisher favored Penny's theory that a silk ladder had been utilized.

"It was unwise of me to keep my money here," Mrs. Weems remarked in a crestfallen tone. "I--I've been silly about everything, I guess."

Penny gave her a quick hug. "No, you haven't. Anyone might have been taken in by Al Gepper."

"I shall never attend another of his seances. I'll urge Mrs. Hodges to turn him from her house."

"Mrs. Weems, are you willing to help get evidence against him?" asked Mr.

Parker abruptly.

"Why, yes, if I can."

"Then go to the Hodges' exactly as you have in the past," instructed the publisher. "Penny has been warned by Gepper not to attend any of the seances, but you'll still be welcome. Learn everything you can and report to me."

"I'll be glad to do it, Mr. Parker."

"Don't allow him to guess that you have become suspicious. Above all, never withdraw your money from the bank at his suggestion."

"You may be sure I won't. This has taught me a bitter lesson."

"Haven't you an a.s.signment for me, Dad?" inquired Penny. "How about Kano's Curio Shop?"

"Early tomorrow I'll send Jerry there to question the old j.a.p."

"Will you notify the police?"

"Not for the present. If we can crack this story I'd like to get it ahead of the _Record_."