he lane. They were quite certain
that Mr. Crocker and his grandson had not returned from Kendon, but
taking no chance, they pounded several times on the door.

"The place is empty all right," Mr. Nichols declared.

He tried the door and found it locked. Nor could they enter by either
the side or rear entrance.

"How are we going to get in?" Penny asked in disappointment.

"One of the windows should be unlocked," Mr. Nichols said, looking up
speculatively. "Here, I'll give you a boost."

He lifted Penny on his shoulders so that she could reach one of the
high windows.

"Locked," she reported.

"All right, we'll try another," said the detective.

The second window likewise proved to be fastened, but when Penny tried
the third one it opened.

"Good!" exclaimed Mr. Nichols. "Jump down inside and open the door!"

Penny found herself gazing into an untidy living room. The rug was
moth eaten and there was dust everywhere on the old fashioned Victorian
furniture. The walls were heavy with family pictures in wooden frames,
and Penny's attention was drawn to a curious feather wreath.

"Hurry!" warned Mr. Nichols from below.

"I'll be there in a jiffy," Penny called back.

She jumped lightly down and ran to unfasten the door. Mr. Nichols
entered and closed it behind him, turning the night lock.

"We'll have to work fast," he said crisply. "Old Herman may come back
any minute."

"What do you expect to find?" asked Penny.

"Perhaps the necklace or at least some evidence which will attach
Herman to the crime. I'll start searching in the upstairs bedrooms.
You might go through that desk."

With a nod of his head, the detective indicated an old fashioned
secretary which stood in one corner of the living room.

The desk was filled to overflowing with papers of all sorts. A quick
inspection satisfied Penny that the diamond necklace was not there, but
if she had time she meant to examine the papers carefully.

"When you finish with the desk, start looking through the kitchen
cupboards," Mr. Nichols called down from upstairs.

Penny was working swiftly at her task when the detective came down to
assist her.

"There's nothing in the bedrooms," he reported. "I thought Old Herman
might have hidden the jewels in one of the mattresses. Having any luck
here?"

"None yet, but there are a lot of papers in the desk."

"We'll get to those later," Mr. Nichols nodded.

The detective made a swift but thorough