" Mr. Nichols
said. "I'm going down there and look around."

"May I go along, Dad?" Penny asked eagerly.

"You both may come," Mr. Nichols said after a slight hesitation, "but
you must do exactly as I say."

At that moment Mrs. Masterbrook appeared in the doorway.

"Supper is ready," she announced.

"You'll have to keep it waiting," the detective told her. "I've just
remembered an important engagement."

"I always serve at exactly six o'clock," Mrs. Masterbrook said primly.
"The food won't be good if it stands."

"That doesn't matter to me," Mr. Nichols returned impatiently. "We'll
hash up our own supper when we get back."

As he and the girls walked away, the housekeeper stood watching them
with keen displeasure. Penny wondered if the woman guessed that they
were going to the Herman Crocker place.

During the hike down Knob Hill, the girls told Mr. Nichols everything
they had learned about Herman Crocker and his nephew, Walter. This
time the detective did not term Penny's ideas wild. He listened in a
manner which was most flattering.

"It's all a mix-up," Penny finished. "I feel sure that Mrs.
Masterbrook is acquainted with Walter Crocker because she warned him to
keep away from our cottage."

"Mrs. Masterbrook seems to have her finger in every pie," commented Mr.
Nichols. "But I'm not much concerned with her affairs, or whether or
not Old Herman has cheated his nephew. I'm only interested in learning
if he is the one who stole the diamond necklace."

"If he'd rob his nephew it follows that he'd be the type to take jewels
too."

"Not necessarily," answered the detective. "House breaking is a
different sort of crime entirely. The fact is, Herman Crocker doesn't
impress me as being the kind of person who would commit such an act."

"The evidence is all against him," Penny argued.

"It is," Mr. Nichols agreed. "But one can't put too much faith in
circumstantial proof. We must investigate first and draw our
conclusions later."

The three were close to the Crocker premises by this time. There was
no sign of the old man's car, and Mr. Nichols felt hopeful that he had
not yet returned from town.

At the entrance of the lane, Mr. Nichols paused.

"Susan," he said, "I'd like to have you remain here. If you see
Crocker's car coming up the road, run to the house as fast as you can
and call out a warning."

"I'll keep a careful watch," Susan promised.

Mr. Nichols and Penny hurried on up t