Guilt of the Brass Thieves Part 5

"Not a one. Obviously the bra.s.s is being stolen by employes, but so far the guilty persons have eluded all our traps."

"Have you calculated how much I am losing a year?" Mr. Gandiss asked bitterly.

"At the present resale value of bra.s.s and copper, not less than $60,000 a year," Mr. Fellows reported. "However, the thieves are becoming bolder day by day, so your loss may run much higher."

"See here," Mr. Gandiss said, showing irritation. "I'm paying you fellows a salary to catch those thieves, and I expect action! You say you have no clues?"

"Several employes are under suspicion," Mr. Williams disclosed. "But we haven't enough evidence to make any accusations or arrests."

"Then get some evidence!" Mr. Gandiss snapped. "This ring of petty thieves must be broken up! If you can't produce results, I'll turn the case over to another agency."

After the two detectives had gone, the island owner began to pace the floor nervously.

"Now you know why I wanted you to come here, Mr. Parker," he said, slumping down into a chair again. "My plant, which is making war materials, is being systematically looted of valuable copper and bra.s.s.

The pieces smuggled out are small in size, but they count up to a staggering total."

"Sabotage?" Mr. Parker inquired.

"I doubt it," the island owner replied, frowning. "While the thefts slow up our war work, the delay is not serious. Materials disappear from the stock rooms and from the floors where the girls work. I hold a theory that the metal is being taken by employes who resell it for personal gain."

"It looks like a simple case of theft," Mr. Parker declared. "I should think your detectives would have no trouble running down the guilty persons."

"That's what I thought at first," Mr. Gandiss answered grimly. "It appeared as easy as A B C. But all ordinary methods of catching the thieves have failed. Obviously, the thefts are well organized by someone thoroughly familiar with the plant. It's getting on my nerves."

"Have you called in the police?"

"No, and I don't intend to. The matter must be handled quietly. That's why I need your advice."

"But I'm no detective," Mr. Parker protested. "Why call on me?"

"Because you and your daughter have solved some pretty tangled cases."

"Only for the newspaper," Mr. Parker replied. "How many employes do you have at the plant?"

"About 5000. And not a sc.r.a.p of real evidence against any individual.

There seems to be a perfect system in accounting for all the stock, yet somehow it gets away from the factory."

"Have you had employes searched as they leave the building?"

"No, we haven't dared resort to that," Mr. Gandiss answered. "You can't search such a large number of workers. If we tried it, half the force would quit."

"I'd be glad to help you, if I could," Mr. Parker offered.

"Unfortunately, I don't see how I can if professional detectives have failed."

"Let me be the judge of that," said the island owner quickly. "Will you and your daughter visit the factory with me in the morning?"

"We'd welcome the opportunity."

"Then we'll go into the records and all the details tomorrow," Mr.

Gandiss declared, well satisfied. "I know you'll be able to help me."

Penny and her father were tired, and shortly after ten o'clock went to their rooms. Mr. Gandiss' problem interested them, though they felt that he had greatly overrated their ability in believing they could contribute to a solution of the mystery.

"I'm not certain I care to become involved," Mr. Parker confessed to Penny, who in robe and slippers had tiptoed into his room to say goodnight.

"But Dad, we can't decently refuse," Penny returned eagerly. "I think it would be fun to try to catch those thieves!"

"Well, we'll see," yawned Mr. Parker. "Skip back to bed now."

Penny read a magazine for an hour, and then switched off the light on the night table. Snuggling down under the silk coverlet, she slept soundly.

Sometime later, she found herself suddenly awake, though what had aroused her she could not guess. The room remained dark, but the first glimmer of dawn slanted through the Venetian blinds.

Penny rolled over and settled down for another snooze. Then she heard a disturbing sound. The wooden blinds were rattling ever so slightly, yet there was no breeze. Next her startled gaze focused upon a hand which had been thrust through the window to stealthily push the blinds aside.

A leg appeared over the sill, and a dark figure stepped boldly into the bedroom.

Terrified, Penny sat up so quickly that the bed springs creaked a loud protest. Instantly the intruder turned his face toward her.

"Keep quiet!" he hissed.

With mingled relief and indignation, Penny recognized Jack. He tiptoed to the bed.

"Now don't let out a yip," he cautioned. "I don't want Mom or my father to hear."

"Well, of all the nerve!" Penny exclaimed indignantly. "Is this my room or is it your private runway?"

"Don't go off the deep end. All the doors are locked and the servants have orders not to let me in if I am late."

"It's nearly morning," said Penny, hiding a yawn. "Where in the world did you go?"

"Town," Jack answered briefly.

Penny began to understand the cause of Mr. Gandiss' worry about his son.

"Now don't give me that 'holier than Thou' line," Jack said, antic.i.p.ating a lecture. "I'm not going to the dogs nearly as fast as the old man believes. He's an old fossil."

"You shouldn't speak of your father that way," Penny replied. "After all, hasn't he given you everything?"

"He tries to keep me tied to his ap.r.o.n strings." Jack sat down on the bed, stretching luxuriously. "Mom isn't quite so unreasonable."

"Both of your parents seem like wonderful people to me."

"Maybe I know 'em better than you do," Jack grinned. "Oh, they're okay, in their way. Don't get me wrong. But my father always is trying to shove me around. If it hadn't been for your open window, I'd have had to sleep out in the cold."

"And it would have served you right too! You went off without saying a word to your parents, and worried them half to death. Now kindly remove your carca.s.s from this bed!"

"Oh, cut the lecture," Jack pleaded, getting up and yawning again. "Gosh, I'm hungry. Let's find something to eat in the kitchen."