detective.

"Mr. Nichols?" he asked, extending his hand. "Inspector Harris
telephoned that you would take the case."

"I only promised to make an inspection," the detective replied. "Tell
me exactly what happened please."

"I'll call my wife," said Mr. Kirmenbach. "She'll be able to give you
a better account than I."

While Penny and her father were waiting they glanced quickly about the
living room. It was lavishly furnished and in excellent taste.

Mrs. Kirmenbach, a gray haired lady, only a few years younger than her
husband, smiled graciously as she bowed to Penny and the detective.

"I do hope that you'll be able to recover my necklace for me," she said
to Mr. Nichols. "The other things do not matter, but the diamonds were
left me by my father years ago. I prized them for sentimental reasons
as well as their actual value."

"When did you discover your loss?" questioned the detective.

"Early this morning Ellen, our maid, noticed that the window of the
study had been pried open. She called me at once. The wall safe had
been forced and my box of jewels was missing. My husband sent for the
police at once."

"And they learned nothing," Mr. Kirmenbach said in a tone of disgust.
"There were no finger-marks, no evidence of any kind."

"How many servants do you employ?" asked the detective.

"Only three," answered Mrs. Kirmenbach. "Ellen is the maid, and we
have a colored woman who does the cooking. Jerry, a young college boy,
serves as our chauffeur. I can vouch for them all."

"I'll talk with them later," Mr. Nichols said. "I'd like to look at
the study now, please."

"This way," invited Mr. Kirmenbach. "I had the room locked up again
after the police were here this morning. Nothing has been disturbed."

"Good," said Mr. Nichols. "I'll just look around for a few minutes."

"We'll leave you alone," Mrs. Kirmenbach declared politely. "If you
want us for anything, we'll be in the living room."

"It will not take me long," replied the detective.

Penny glanced about the study with keen interest. It was a small
paneled room, lined high with book shelves. There was a comfortable
davenport, several chairs and a table.

Mr. Nichols first turned his attention to the wall safe. Next he
carefully examined the window sill.

"Find anything, Dad?" asked Penny.

"Not yet," he answered.

As her father continued his inspection, Penny became a trifle bored.
She sat down on the davenport and b