Guilt of the Brass Thieves

  CHAPTER 12 _NIGHT PROWLER_

  When Penny, her father, and the Gandiss family returned late thatafternoon to Shadow Island, a strange motorboat was tied up at the dock.On the veranda a man sat waiting. Although his face appeared familiar,Penny did not recognize him.

  Her father, however, spoke his name instantly. "Heiney Growski! Anythingto report?"

  Penny remembered then that he was the detective who had been placed incharge of the junk shop near the Gandiss factory.

  The man arose, laying aside a newspaper he had been reading to pass thetime. "I've learned a little," he replied to Mr. Parker's question."Shall we talk here?"

  "Go ahead," encouraged Mr. Gandiss carelessly. "This is my son, Jack, andour guest, Penny Parker. They know of the situation at the factory, andcan be trusted not to talk."

  Though seemingly reluctant to make a report in the presence of the twoyoungsters, the detective nevertheless obeyed instructions.

  "Since opening up the shop, I've been approached twice by a man from thefactory," he began.

  "That sweeper, called Joe?" interposed Mr. Parker.

  "Yes, the first time he merely came into the place, looked around a bit,and finally asked me what I paid for brass."

  "You didn't appear too interested?" Mr. Parker inquired.

  "No, I gave him a price just a little above the market."

  "How did it strike him?"

  "He didn't have much to say, but I could tell he was interested."

  "Did he offer you any brass?"

  "No, he hinted he might be able to get me a considerable quantity of itlater on."

  "Feeling you out."

  "Yes, I figure he'll be back. That's why I came here for instructions. Ifhe shows up with the brass, shall I have him arrested?"

  Mr. Parker waited for the factory owner to answer the question.

  "Make a record of every transaction," Mr. Gandiss said. "Encourage theman to talk, and he may reveal the names of others mixed up in thethefts. But make no arrests until we have more information."

  "Very good, sir," the detective returned. "Unless the man is very crafty,I believe we may be able to trap him within a few weeks."

  After Heiney had gone, Jack and Penny went down to the dock together toretie the _Spindrift_. The wind had shifted, and with the water levelrising, the boat was bumping against its mooring post.

  "By the way, Jack," said Penny as she unfastened one of the ropes to makeit shorter, "I forgot to congratulate you upon winning the race thisafternoon."

  "Skip it," he replied grimly.

  Penny glanced at him, wondering if her ears had deceived her.

  "Why, I thought you were crazy-wild to win," she commented.

  "Not that way." Jack kept his face averted as he tied a neat clove hitch."I guess I made myself look like a heel, didn't I?"

  For the first time Penny really felt sorry for the boy. Resisting atemptation to rub salt in his wounds, she said kindly:

  "Well, I suppose you felt justified in asking for the trophy."

  "I wish I hadn't done that, Penny. It's just that Sally gets mesometimes. She's so blamed cocky!"

  "And she feels the same way about you. On the whole, though, I wonder ifSally has had a square deal?"

  Jack straightened, staring at the _Spindrift_ which tugged impatiently ather shortened ropes. Waves were beginning to lap over the dock boards.

  "You mean about the factory?" he asked in a subdued voice.

  Penny nodded.

  "I never did think Sally was a thief," Jack said slowly. "Judging fromHeiney Growski's report, someone may have planted the brass in herlocker. Probably that fellow Joe, the Sweeper."

  "Don't you feel she should be cleared?"

  "How can we do anything without proof? This fellow Joe isn't convictedyet. Besides, he's only one of a gang. Sally could be involved, though Idoubt it."

  "You're not really convinced then?" Penny gazed at him curiously.

  "Yes, I am," Jack answered after a slight hesitation. "Sally's innocent.I know that."

  "Then why don't we do something about it?"

  "What? My father has employed the best detectives already."

  "At least you could tell Sally how you feel about it."

  Jack kicked at the dock post with the toe of his tennis shoe. "And haveher tear into me like a wild cat?" he countered. "You don't know Sally."

  "Are you so sure that you do?" Penny asked. Turning she walked swiftlyaway.

  Jack came padding up the gravel path after her.

  "Wait!" he commanded, grasping her by the arm. "So you think I've givenSally a raw deal?"

  "I have no opinion in the matter," Penny returned, deliberately aloof.

  "If I could do anything to prove Sally innocent you know I'd jump at thechance," Jack argued, trying to regain Penny's good graces.

  "You really mean that?"

  "Yes, I do."

  "Then why don't you try to get a little evidence against this man Joe,the Sweeper?" Penny proposed eagerly. "You visit the factory nearly everyday. Keep your eyes and ears open and see what you can learn."

  "Everyone knows who I am," Jack argued. "There wouldn't be a chance--"Meeting Penny's steady, appraising gaze, he broke off and finished: "Oh,okay, I'll do what I can, but it's useless."

  "Not if you have a plan."

  Jack stared at Penny with sudden suspicion. "Say, what are you leading upto anyhow?" he demanded. "Do _you_ have one?"

  "Not exactly. It just occurred to me that by watching at the gate of thefactory when the employes leave, one might spot some of the men who arecarrying off brass in their clothing."

  Jack gave an amused snort. "Oh, that's been done. Company detectives madeany number of checks."

  "That's just the point," Penny argued. "They were factory employes,probably known to some of the workers."

  "I'm even more widely recognized," Jack said. "Besides, Clayton, ourgateman, has instructions to be on the watch for anyone who might try tocarry anything away. He's reported several persons. When they weresearched, nothing was found."

  "Your gateman is entirely trustworthy?"

  "Why not? He's an old employee."

  Penny said no more, though she was thinking of the conversation overheardwhile at the factory gatehouse. Even if Jack took no interest, shedecided she would try to do what she could herself. But there reallyseemed no place to begin.

  "If you get any good ideas, I'll be glad to help," Jack said as ifreading her thoughts. "Just to barge ahead without any plan, doesn't makesense to me."

  Penny knew that he was right. Much as she desired to help clear Sally,she had no definite scheme in mind.

  As the pair turned to leave the docks, they heard a shout from across thewater. The _Cat's Paw_, with canvas spread wide, was sailing before thewind, directly toward the island. Sally, at the tiller, signaled that shewanted to talk to them.

  The boat came in like a house afire, but though the landing was fast, itwas skillful. Sally looped a rope around the dock post, but did notbother to tie up.

  "Penny," she said breathlessly. "I didn't get half a chance to thank youthis afternoon for helping me in the race."

  "I didn't do anything," Penny laughed. "I merely went along for theride."

  "That may be your story, but everyone who saw the race knows better. WhatI really came here for is to ask you to spend the night with me aboardthe _River Queen_. We'll have a chance to get better acquainted."

  The invitation caught Penny by surprise. Sally mistook her hesitation forreluctance.

  "Probably you don't feel you want to leave here," she said quickly. "Itwas just one of those sudden ideas of mine."

  "I want to come," Penny answered eagerly. "If Mr. and Mrs. Gandisswouldn't mind. Wait and I'll ask."

  Darting to the house, she talked over the matter with her father and thenwith her hostess. "By all means go," the latter urged. "I imagine youwill enjoy the
experience. Jack can pick you up in the motorboat in themorning."

  Packing her pajamas and a few toilet articles into a tight roll, Pennyran back to the dock. Jack and Sally were arguing about details of theafternoon race, but they abandoned the battle as she hurried up.

  "Jack, you're to pick me up tomorrow morning," she advised him as sheclimbed aboard the _Cat's Paw_, "Don't forget."

  The _River Queen_ already had been anchored for the night in a quiet covehalf a mile down river. With darkness approaching, lights were winkingall along the shore. Across the river, the Gandiss factory was a blaze ofwhite illumination. Farther downstream, the colored lights of anamusement park with a high roller coaster, cut a bright pattern in thesky.

  Sally glanced for a moment toward the factory but made no mention of herunpleasant experience there. "Pop and I stay alone at night on the_Queen_," she explained as they approached the ferry. "Our crew is madeup of men who live in town, so usually they go home after the six o'clockrun."

  Skillfully bringing the _Cat's Paw_ alongside the anchored _Queen_, sheshouted for her father to help Penny up the ladder. Making the smallercraft secure for the night, she followed her to the deck.

  "What's cooking, Pop?" she asked, sniffing the air.

  "Catfish," the captain answered as he went aft. "Better get to the galleyand tend to it, or we may not have any supper."

  The catfish, sizzling in butter, was on the verge of scorching. Sallyjerked the pan from the stove, and then with Penny's help, set a littlebuilt-in table which swung down from the cabin wall, and prepared theremainder of the meal.

  Supper was not elaborate but Penny thought she had never tasted betterfood. The catfish was crisp and brown, and there were French friedpotatoes and a salad to go with it. For dessert, Captain Barker brought ahuge watermelon from the refrigerator, and they split it three ways.

  "It's fun living on a ferryboat!" Penny declared enthusiastically as sheand Sally washed the dishes. "I can't see why you ever would want to workin a factory when you can live such a carefree life here."

  The remark was carelessly made. Penny regretted it instantly for she sawthe smile leave Sally's face.

  "I worked at the factory because I wanted to help make airplanes, andbecause Pop can't afford to give me much money," she explained quietly."It was all a mistake. I realize that now."

  "I'm sorry," Penny apologized, squeezing her hand. "I didn't mean to beso stupid. As far as your discharge is concerned, you'll be cleared."

  "How?"

  "Mr. Gandiss has detectives working on the case."

  "Detectives!" Sally gave a snort of disgust. "Why, everyone in the plantknows who they are!"

  After dishes were done, the girls went on deck. Protected from the nightbreezes by warm lap rugs, they sat listening to the lallup of the wavesagainst the _River Queen_. Captain Barker's pipe kept the mosquitoes awayand he talked reminiscently of his days as a boy on the waterfront.

  Presently, the blast of a motorboat engine cut the stillness of thenight. Sally, straightening in her chair, listened intently.

  "There goes Jack again!" she observed, glancing at her father. "To theHarpers', no doubt."

  The light of the boat became visible and Sally followed it with her eyesas it slowly chugged upstream.

  "I was right!" she exclaimed a moment later.

  Penny's curiosity was aroused, for she knew that Jack absented himselffrom home nearly every night, and that his actions were a cause of worryto his parents. "Who are the Harpers?" she inquired.

  "Oh! they live across the river where you see those red and blue lights,"Sally said, pointing beyond the railing. "The house stands on stilts overthe water, and is a meeting place for the scum of the city!"

  "Sally!" her father reproved.

  "Well, it's the truth! Ma Harper and her no-account husband, Claude, runan outdoor dance pavilion, but their income is derived from other sourcestoo. Black market sales, for instance."

  "Sally, your tongue is rattling like a chain!"

  "Pop, you know very well the Harpers are trash."

  "Nevertheless, don't make statements you can't prove."

  Sally's outspoken remarks worried Penny because of their bearing upon Mr.Gandiss' son. "You don't think Jack is mixed up with the Harpers in blackmarket dealings?" she asked.

  "Oh, no!" Sally got up from the deck chair. "He goes there to have a goodtime. And if you ask me, Jack ought to stop being a playboy grasshopper!"

  Captain Barker knocked ashes from his pipe and put it deep in his jacketpocket. "The shoe pinches," he told Penny with a wink. "Sally neverlearned to dance. I hear tell there's a girl who goes to the Harpershindigs that's an expert at jitter-bugging!"

  "That has nothing to do with me!" Sally said furiously. "I'm going tobed!"

  Captain Barker arose heavily from his chair. "How about the day'spassenger receipts?" he asked. "Locked in the cabin safe?"

  "Yes, we took in more than two hundred dollars today."

  "That makes over five hundred in the safe," the captain said, frowning."You'll have to take it to the bank first thing in the morning, I don'tlike to have so much cash aboard."

  Going to the cabin they were to share, Sally and Penny undressed andtumbled into the double-deck beds. The gentle motion of the boat and theslap of waves on the _Queen's_ hull quickly lulled them to sleep.

  How long Penny slumbered she did not know. But toward morning she awokein darkness to find Sally shaking her arm.

  "What is it?" Penny mumbled drowsily. "Time to get up?"

  "Sh!" Sally warned. "Don't make a sound!"

  Penny sat up in the bunk. Her friend, she saw, had started to dress.

  "I think someone is trying to get aboard!" Sally whispered. "Listen!"

  Penny could hear no unusual sound, only the wash of the waves.

  "I distinctly heard a boat grate against the _Queen_ only a moment ago,"Sally pulled on her slacks and thrust her feet into soft-soled slipperswhich would make no sound. "I'm going on deck to investigate!"

  Penny was out of bed in a flash. "Wait!" she commanded. "I'm going withyou!"

  Dressing with nervous haste, she tiptoed to the cabin door with Sally.Stealing through the dark corridors to the companionway, they could hearno unusual sound. But midway up the steps, Sally's keen ears heardmovement.

  "Someone is in the lounge!" she whispered. "It may be Pop but I don'tthink so! Come on, and we'll see."