d. Not a scrap of evidence. We'll have to release all the
prisoners."

"Where are we going now, Dad?"

"To the Hamilton Plant. There's just a chance that the raid there was
more successful, though I doubt it."

"Who could have carried the information?" Penny inquired.

"I don't know. That's what bothers me. Penny, you're certain you
never dropped a word of this?"

"Why, of course not!"

"I don't mean intentionally, of course. You're sure you never
mentioned the raid to your friend Susan?"

"Absolutely not," Penny maintained indignantly. "For that matter, I
didn't know the Blind Pig was the place you were raiding."

"That's true," Mr. Nichols acknowledged. "I didn't mean to offend you,
Penny. I was only seeking information. I can't see how the news
leaked out unless--"

"Unless what?" Penny probed.

"I'll not say it."

"You meant, unless Jerome Davis had betrayed his trust!"

"Well, yes, that was what I was thinking. This is the first occasion
I've had to question his honesty. It may be I haven't given enough
consideration to the stories which have circulated regarding Davis."

"You said you believed they were started by his political enemies."

"Yes, and I'm still inclined to think that, although the failure of
this raid looks peculiar to say the least. I'll have to be more
careful in my dealings with Davis."

"If the Molberg outfit didn't regard him as an enemy then why would
they throw a warning note through the window?" Penny demanded.

"That could have been faked--it might have been a dodge to impress you."

"I don't see how it could have been, Dad. You see, I met Betty Davis
quite by accident that evening. On the spur of the moment I accepted
her invitation to stop a few minutes at the house. It was while I was
there that the message was thrown through the window. It couldn't have
been planned."

"Not very well," Mr. Nichols admitted. "Davis may be honest enough,
but if I find he's a loose talker, his usefulness for me will be ended."

The sedan had reached the dead-end street which led to the vacant
Hamilton Plant. An officer stepped out of the shadow to challenge Mr.
Nichols, but recognizing him, saluted instead.

"What luck?" the detective asked.

"I can't tell you, sir. I've heard nothing since I was stationed here."

Penny and her father drove on between the rows of police cars which
lined the narrow street. As they halted at the far end of the
thoroughfare, an