ar the sawmill. Penny could hear the roar of the
powerful engine and see the headlight beam. Then the lights were
switched off and the sound of the motor became muffled.

"He's driven inside the building," she decided. "Unless I get in there
somehow, I'll never discover what is going on."

Penny debated, but in the end curiosity conquered fear. She left the
roadster and stealthily made her way toward the sawmill.

CHAPTER XVIII

At the Old Sawmill

From the outside, Penny could not have told that the old mill was in
use. It was surrounded by unkempt trees and shrubs which hid it from
the road. Cracks in the decaying boards had been carefully patched so
that no light from inside could show through.

Keeping behind the bushes, Penny made a complete tour of the building.
She could find no means of entrance other than the main double doors
through which the truck had driven. Only after a second minute
inspection did she notice a small window at the rear well above the
level of her head.

"If I can get up there I might be able to see what is going on inside,"
she thought.

Even on tiptoe she could not reach the window. Going down to the river
she found an old orange crate which had washed up on the bank.
Carrying it back to the window she set it underneath and climbed up.

She peered into the building. The window opened directly into a dark,
deserted little room, but directly beyond she could observe several men
moving about. It was impossible to see what they were doing.

Thinking that perhaps she might overhear their conversation, she pried
at the window. To her surprise it was readily raised.

But she could hear only a low murmur of voices. It was impossible to
distinguish a single phrase.

"I might just as well be a million miles away as here," she told
herself. "I have a notion to climb inside."

Penny took after her father in that she seldom experienced the
sensation of fear. She knew well enough that she was taking a grave
risk in entering the building, yet if she were to learn anything which
would aid Mr. Nichols in his case against the automobile accessory
thieves, she must be courageous.

Naturally agile, Penny raised herself to the ledge by sheer strength of
her arms. She hesitated an instant, then dropped lightly down inside
the sawmill.

She moved a few steps forward, then returned to quietly close the
window. While it cut off her escape, she realized that the open window