Guilt of the Brass Thieves

  CHAPTER 4 THROUGH THE WINDOW

  "Now who can that be?" Mr. Gandiss remarked, startled by the knock on thedoor. "I heard no motorboat approach the island."

  He waited, and a moment later a servant entered to say that twodetectives, Jason Fellows and Stanley Williams, had arrived from thefactory and wished to report to him.

  Penny and her father politely arose to withdraw, but Mr. Gandiss wavedthem back into chairs.

  "No, don't go," he said. "I want you to meet these men."

  The two detectives, who had reached the island in a rented motorboat,appeared in the doorway. Mr. Gandiss introduced them to Penny and herfather, and then inquired what had brought them to the house at so latean hour.

  "It's the same old story only more of it," Detective Williams saidtersely. "Another large supply of brass disappeared from the factoryyesterday."

  "Any clues?"

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

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

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

  "See here," Mr. Gandiss said, showing irritation. "I'm paying you fellowsa salary to catch those thieves, and I expect action! You say you have noclues?"

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

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

  After the two detectives had gone, the island owner began to pace thefloor 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 warmaterials, is being systematically looted of valuable copper and brass.The pieces smuggled out are small in size, but they count up to astaggering total."

  "Sabotage?" Mr. Parker inquired.

  "I doubt it," the island owner replied, frowning. "While the thefts slowup our war work, the delay is not serious. Materials disappear from thestock rooms and from the floors where the girls work. I hold a theorythat the metal is being taken by employes who resell it for personalgain."

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

  "That's what I thought at first," Mr. Gandiss answered grimly. "Itappeared as easy as A B C. But all ordinary methods of catching thethieves have failed. Obviously, the thefts are well organized by someonethoroughly 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'swhy 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 youhave at the plant?"

  "About 5000. And not a scrap of real evidence against any individual.There seems to be a perfect system in accounting for all the stock, yetsomehow 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'tsearch such a large number of workers. If we tried it, half the forcewould 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 havefailed."

  "Let me be the judge of that," said the island owner quickly. "Will youand 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 totheir rooms. Mr. Gandiss' problem interested them, though they felt thathe had greatly overrated their ability in believing they could contributeto a solution of the mystery.

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

  "But Dad, we can't decently refuse," Penny returned eagerly. "I think itwould 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 thenight table. Snuggling down under the silk coverlet, she slept soundly.

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

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

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

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

  "Keep quiet!" he hissed.

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

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

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

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

  "It's nearly morning," said Penny, hiding a yawn. "Where in the world didyou 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, anticipatinga lecture. "I'm not going to the dogs nearly as fast as the old manbelieves. 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 apron strings." Jack sat down on thebed, 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 shoveme around. If it hadn't been for your open window, I'd have had to sleepout in the cold."

  "And it would have served you right too! You went off without saying aword to your parents, and worried them half to death. Now kindly removeyour carcass 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."

  "Let's not," retorted Penny, giving him a shove. "Clear out of here, orI'll heave the lamp at you!"

  "Oh, all right, kitten," he said soothingly. "I'm going. Remember yourpromise not to go wagging your tongue about what time I got in."

  "I didn't promise a thing!"

  "But you will," chuckled Jack confidently. "See you in the morning."

  He tiptoed from the room, and Penny heard him stirring about in thekitchen. The refrigerator door opened and closed several times. Then atlast all became quiet again.

  "The conceited egg!" she thought irritably. "Now I'm so thoroughlyawakened, I can't possibly go back to sleep."

  Tossing about for a few minutes, she finally arose and dressed. Decidingto take an early morning walk about the island, she moved noiselessl
ythrough the house to the kitchen.

  There she paused to note the wreckage Jack had left in his wake. Therefrigerator door was wide open. As she closed it, she saw dishes ofsalad, chicken, pickles and tomatoes in a depleted state. Jack had toppedoff his feast with a quart of milk, and the bottle, together with, a pileof chicken bones, cluttered the sink.

  A step was heard in the dining room. Startled, Penny turned quicklyaround, but it was too late to retreat.

  The Gandiss' cook stood in the kitchen doorway, eyeing her with obviousdisapproval.