Clue of the Silken Ladder

  CHAPTER 16 _OVER THE WINDOW LEDGE_

  As Penny flattened herself against the wall, the head and shoulders of aman slowly rose into view. Although his body was plainly silhouetted inthe moonlight, she could not see his face.

  The intruder raised the sash, making no sound. He hesitated, listening amoment, then dropped lightly into the bedroom.

  Without turning on a flashlight which he carried, he went directly toMrs. Weems' desk. So deliberate was the action that Penny instantlydecided the fellow had come for a particular purpose and knew the lay-outof the entire house.

  "He means to steal Mrs. Weems' money!" she thought.

  Opening the desk, the man tried the drawer where the inheritance fundshad been hidden. Failing to unlock it with a key, he took a tool from hispocket and in a moment had broken the lock.

  Removing the stack of fake bills which Penny had substituted, he thrustthem into his coat. Taking no interest in anything else in the room, hemoved stealthily toward the window.

  Penny knew there was no one within calling distance and that the manprobably was armed. Wisdom dictated that she remain in hiding, but shewas determined the thief should not escape. Hoping to take him bysurprise, she stalked forward.

  A board creaked. With a muttered exclamation the man whirled around. Atthe same instant Penny flung herself upon him, diving low in imitation ofa football tackle.

  The thief reeled, but instead of falling he recovered his balance andgave Penny a tremendous shove which sent her sprawling backwards. Beforeshe could regain her feet, he ran to the window. Swinging himself overthe ledge, he vanished from view.

  By the time Penny reached the window there was no sign of the intruder.He had disappeared as if into thin air. However, she knew that the manmust have descended by means of a ladder which he had hastily removed.

  She ran her hand over the window ledge. The iron hooks no longer werethere, only the scars which had been cut in the wood.

  "This undoubtedly was the same fellow who broke into the Kohl apartment!"she thought. "But how did he escape so quickly?"

  Penny started for a telephone, intending to notify the police. However,when it occurred to her that her father might not wish the matter madepublic, she changed her mind and ran downstairs.

  Unlocking the rear door, she glanced carefully about the yard. There wasno one in sight, no movement behind any of the shrubbery.

  "He's gone, of course," she thought.

  Penny wore no shoes. Finding a pair of old galoshes on the porch, sheprotected her feet with them, and hobbled into the yard.

  The grass beneath Mrs. Weems' window had been trampled, but at firstglance there was no clue to indicate how the burglar had gained entranceto the house.

  "Obviously he used a ladder," she reasoned. "But how did he descend soquickly? And what became of the ladder? I know he never had time to carryaway one of the ordinary type."

  A dark object lying on the grass attracted Penny's attention. Picking itup, she carried it to the porch and switched on a light that she mightsee to better advantage. In her hand she held a torn strand of black silkrope.

  "This may be an important clue!" she thought excitedly. "I know now howthe man entered the house!"

  As Penny examined the piece of rope, automobile headlight beams cut apath across the yard. The Parker car drew up on the driveway and bothMrs. Weems and Mr. Parker alighted.

  "Dad, come here quickly!" Penny called as he started to open the garagedoors.

  "What's wrong, Penny?"

  Both the publisher and Mrs. Weems came toward the porch.

  "We've had a burglar," Penny announced. "He broke into Mrs. Weems' room,smashing the lock on the desk--"

  "My money!" the housekeeper exclaimed in horror. "Oh, Penny, don't tellme that it's gone!"

  "He escaped with the contents of the drawer."

  Mrs. Weems gave a moan of anguish. "Haven't you called the police?" shedemanded. "When did it happen? Tell me everything!"

  "First, I'll set your mind at rest," Penny replied. "Your money is safe."

  "Oh! I never was so relieved in all my born days." Mrs. Weems saggedweakly into a porch rocker. "Penny, how could you torture me by lettingme think the money was stolen?"

  "Because I have a confession to make, Mrs. Weems. You left the key toyour desk lying on the bathroom floor. I thought it might be a good joketo move the money to another place."

  "Oh, you darling blessed girl!" laughed Mrs. Weems. "Where did you hideit, Penny? Are you sure it's safe?"

  "It should be. I had it taken to the First National Bank and deposited inyour name. The thief carried off a package of fake money."

  "Rather high-handed weren't you?" commented her father.

  "Now don't you scold her," spoke Mrs. Weems quickly. "I am glad Pennyacted as she did. Otherwise, I might have lost my entire inheritance."

  Penny drew a deep breath. "I'm relieved you feel that way about it. Iwish I could see the burglar's face when he discovers he stole worthlessmoney!"

  Both the housekeeper and Mr. Parker pressed her with questions. Sherevealed exactly what had occurred during their absence, showing them thestrand of black silk rope.

  "Dad, I think this may be a valuable clue," she declared. "What does itsuggest to you?"

  "Not much of anything, I am afraid."

  "You remember that when the Kohls were robbed the police couldn't figureout how the burglar gained entrance?"

  "Yes, I recall the story."

  "Well, I believe the same man committed both burglaries."

  "Why do you think so, Penny?"

  "At the Kohl's the police found two marks on the window ledge apparentlymade by iron hooks. Similar marks are on the sill in Mrs. Weems' room.For that matter, I distinctly saw the iron pieces bite into the wood."

  "Let's look at them," proposed Mr. Parker.

  "Only the marks are there now, Dad. The man jerked the hooks loose afterhe descended. They must have been attached to his ladder."

  "I thought you said he had none, Penny."

  "There was no time for him to have carried away an ordinary, heavyladder. I think the one he used must have been made of silk."

  "And this is a piece of it!" Mr. Parker exclaimed, examining the twistedstrand with new interest. "Your theory sounds plausible. It would bepossible for a man to scale a wall with such a ladder."

  "He could jerk loose the hooks in an instant, too, Dad. The ladder wouldfit into a small suitcase, or even his pocket!"

  "There's one objection to your theory, Penny. How could such a ladder beraised to the window ledge? It naturally would be limp."

  "That part has me puzzled, I'll admit."

  "I never even heard of a silken ladder," said Mrs. Weems doubtfully.

  "I once saw one being made," declared Penny with deliberate emphasis. "Ata Japanese Shop on Dorr Street."

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

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

  "And from there?"

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

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