trinkets that she loved.

"After the trouble blows over you can come back for your things," Penny
said.

"But will it ever clear up?" Amy asked hopelessly. "It might be better
to stay and face it."

"If you can prove your innocence----"

"I can't prove anything," Amy responded. "No, you're right. I must
remain in hiding until the thief is captured."

Penny had begun to gather up clothing. "Where are your bags?" she
asked. "There's no time to lose."

"Under the bed," Amy answered.

She ran to the closet and jerked her dresses from the hangers. Penny
crossed the room to pick up a sweater which had been tossed into a
chair. As she moved past the table which Amy used as a writing desk
she noticed a stamped, sealed envelope lying there.

Unintentionally, Penny glanced at the name and address. It read:

"Mr. George Hoges, General Delivery, Belton City."

For a moment Penny stared at the letter. The scene which she had
witnessed in the park came back to her. Why should Amy and the
ex-museum worker have business together? The next instant she was
heartily ashamed of her suspicion, yet she could not let the matter
pass without speaking of it.

"Amy," she called.

"Yes." The girl emerged from the closet with a pile of dresses in her
arms.

"I don't mean to be prying," Penny said awkwardly, "but I couldn't help
seeing this letter."

A faint flush crept over Amy's face. She questioned defiantly: "What
about it?"

"Nothing," Penny answered shortly. If Amy did not feel like
explaining, she could not bring herself to ask.

In silence the girls continued their packing Presently Amy picked up
the letter and thrust it into her pocketbook.

"I guess I'm ready," she announced.

They each took a bag and started down the stairway. But as they
reached the lower landing, Penny abruptly halted, warning her companion
to keep back.

"What is it?" Amy whispered.

Penny indicated a man who was standing on the opposite side of the
street, loitering in the doorway of a bakery shop.

"A detective from police headquarters! I've seen him at the station."

Hastily the girls retreated back up the stairs to the bedroom. Amy
flung herself into a chair.

"It's useless trying to escape," she murmured. "I may as well give
myself up."

Penny went to the window and looked out. The bedroom opened over an
alley and she was elated to see that it had a fire escape. No one was
in sight.

"You still have a chance