be hurt. You easily might
have been killed traveling at that speed."

"What is this--a lecture in motor safety?" asked the man angrily.

"Not at all," said Mr. Nichols. "Did you say you wanted a ride?"

"Yes; how far are you going?"

"Only to Knob Hill."

"I'll ride along that far anyway," said the stranger.

"My name is Christopher Nichols," the detective introduced himself,
"and this is my daughter, Penny."

"Pleased to meet you," muttered the man, without looking directly at
either of them. He hesitated, and then added: "I'm Walter Crocker."

"The name sounds familiar," commented Mr. Nichols.

"You may be thinking of my uncle, Herman Crocker. He's well known in
these parts."

"I don't believe I know him," replied the detective.

"I'm on my way to see him now," said the man. His voice was bitter.
"Herman Crocker is a disreputable crook, even if he is my uncle. He's
been stealing from me for years, but it's at an end now! I'll force
him to give me my inheritance even if I have to tear him limb from
limb----"

"I'd not get so excited if I were you," interrupted Mr. Nichols calmly.
"You're probably upset because of the accident."

"It did shake me up a bit," replied Crocker, with an abrupt change of
tone.

"Just climb in and we'll take you to town with us," Mr. Nichols invited.

Penny started to move over so that the man could sit beside her.

"Never mind," he said quickly. "I'll ride in the rumble."

"It's not very comfortable," Mr. Nichols warned.

"No matter. I'd rather sit back there."

He climbed into the rumble and Mr. Nichols drove on down the road. Now
and then when Penny would glance back through the glass she could see
the man gazing intently at her. His scrutiny made her feel very
uncomfortable. She wondered if her father shared the feeling. Mr.
Nichols was paying close attention to the road, and his masklike face
revealed none of his thoughts.

Soon the car drove into the little sleepy village of Kendon which had
been settled at the foot of Knob Hill.

"Look for Judd Kilkane's real estate office," the detective told Penny.

"There it is!" she cried a moment later. "On the north side."

Mr. Nichols parked the car in front of the building.

"I'll be back in just a minute," he said to Walter Crocker. "I want to
get the key to our cottage from Judd Kilkane."

The man in the rumble made no reply. He sat hunched over in the seat,
head bent low.

"Wait a minute, Dad,"