Guilt of the Brass Thieves Part 24

Treading a log at the water's edge, Penny walked its length to firm ground which took no visible shoe print. Sally followed her to a clump of bushes where they crouched and waited.

Barely had they taken cover when the motorboat came into view, heading for the little cove. There Claude Harper recaptured the runaway rowboat, tying it to the stern of the other craft.

Suddenly Penny was dismayed as she realized that in their flight, a most important detail had been overlooked.

"The oars!" she whispered. "They're wet!"

"Maybe the men won't see," Sally said hopefully. "We left them half covered by the canvas."

Intent only upon returning to the pier, Claude Harper and his companion failed to notice anything amiss. Apparently a.s.suming the boat had been carelessly tied and had drifted away under its own power, they were not suspicious.

"That was a narrow squeak," Penny sighed in relief as the motorboat with the other craft in tow finally disappeared around the bend. "The oars will quickly dry in the sun, so I guess we're safe."

Now that they were well out of trouble, the adventure seemed fun. Penny glanced at her wrist.w.a.tch, observing that it was past four o'clock.

"Jack will be waiting for me," she said to Sally. "I'll have to hurry."

"We'll have plenty of time," Sally returned carelessly. "You usually can count on Jack being half an hour late for appointments."

Walking swiftly along the deserted sh.o.r.e, the girls discussed what they had overheard at the Harpers.

"We stirred up a big fuss and didn't learn too much," Penny said regretfully. "All the same, it looks as if the Harpers and Sweeper Joe are mixed up in this bra.s.s business together."

"They spoke of having something stored in the bas.e.m.e.nt. That is what interests me. Oh, Penny, if only we could go back there sometime when the Harpers are gone and really investigate!"

"Maybe we can."

Sally shook her head. "Ma Harper almost never goes away from home. But sometimes she has streams of visitors from Osage--mostly women. I've often wondered why."

"Factory girls?"

"No, they're housewives and every type of person. I think Mrs. Harper must be selling something to them, but I never could figure it out."

The _River Queen_ was at the far side of the river, so Sally, for lack of occupation, walked on with Penny to the dock where she was to meet Jack.

Greatly to their surprise, he was there ahead of them, and evidently had been waiting for some length of time.

Seeing the girls, he slowly arose to his feet.

"Well, Jack, what did you learn at the factory?" Penny asked eagerly.

"Why, not much of anything."

"You mean you weren't able to find out the name of the man who dropped his badge aboard the _Queen_?" Penny asked incredulously.

"Of course you learned the name if you really tried," Sally added. "Every single badge used at your factory would be recorded!"

Thus trapped, Jack said lamely: "Oh, I learned his name all right. Take it easy, and I'll tell you."

CHAPTER 16 _SILK STOCKINGS_

Puzzled by Jack's behavior and his evident reluctance to reveal what he had learned, Penny and Sally sat down beside him on the dock. At their urging he said:

"Well, I traced the number through our employment office. The badge was issued to a worker named Adam Glowers.h.i.+ck."

Neither of the girls ever had heard of the name, but Sally, upon studying the picture again, was sure she recalled having seen him as a pa.s.senger aboard the _River Queen_.

"He's a punch press operator," Jack added.

"And he's the man you thought you knew?" Penny asked curiously.

"Yes. As I told you, I've seen him at the Harpers." Jack acted ill at ease.

The girls exchanged a quick glance. But they did not tell Jack of their recent adventure.

"Well, why don't we have the fellow arrested?" Sally demanded after a moment of silence. "I'm satisfied he stole the bra.s.s lantern. He probably came aboard for money, and unable to get into the safe, took the trophy for meanness."

"Or he may be mixed up with the gang of factory bra.s.s thieves," Penny supplied.

"You can't prove a case against a man, because he might have dropped the badge anytime he happened to be a pa.s.senger aboard the ferry," Jack said.

"It would do no good to have him booked on suspicion."

"Is he a friend of yours?" Sally asked significantly.

"Of course not!"

"Jack is right about it," Penny interposed hastily. "We need more information before we ask police to make an arrest. Any other news, Jack?"

"Nothing startling. But you know that detective your father brought here from Riverview?"

"Heiney?"

"Yes, he reported today that Sweeper Joe contacted him again, offering to sell a large quant.i.ty of bra.s.s. An appointment has been made for the delivery Friday night. If it proves to be stolen bra.s.s, then he's trapped himself."

"Can they prove it's the same bra.s.s?"

"Heiney numbers and records every piece he buys. He should be able to establish a case."

Knowing that her father had intended to keep the junkman's activities a secret, Penny was disturbed by Jack's talking in public. Evidently he had gleaned this latest information from his father. She was even more troubled by his att.i.tude toward Adam Glowers.h.i.+ck.

Presently saying goodbye to Sally, she and Jack returned to Shadow Island. A strange boat was tied up in the berth usually occupied by the _Spindrift_. Since the sailboat was nowhere along the dock, it was evident that Mr. Gandiss, his wife, and Mr. Parker had gone for an outing on the river.

"We seem to have a visitor," Penny remarked.

Jack said nothing, but intently studied the man who slouched near the boathouse, hat pulled low to shade his eyes from the sun glare.