e related her
terrifying experience in the studio, and displayed the paintings as
evidence of the plot in which Cron and his friends were involved.

"If the police go to Cron's studio right away they may be able to
capture the entire gang," she finished. "But there's not a second to
lose!"

"Leave it to me," the policeman assured her grimly.

He communicated with headquarters and in an incredibly short time a
squad car picked up Penny and the officer, driving with all speed
toward the studio of Hanley Cron.

CHAPTER XX

The Secret Revealed

When Hanley Cron and his three companions abandoned Penny to her fate,
they hurriedly left the building. But in passing down the hallway,
Hoges carelessly snubbed out a cigarette and dropped it on the floor.

The cigarette smoldered and did not go out. Soon a tiny flame leaped
up, igniting the dirty old carpet which stretched the length of the
hall. The fire spread rapidly, fed by wood that was very dry and
brittle.

Unaware that they had started a disastrous blaze, the four men fled to
Hanley Cron's studio apartment to make plans for a hasty departure.

"The game's up," Cron said to his companions. "It Christopher Nichols
ever finds his daughter, he'll put the heat on us right. We can't get
out of this town soon enough."

"Divide up the money, and we'll skip," Hoges answered gruffly.

Cron tore the cover from a day bed couch, and with a sharp knife slit
open the mattress. He removed a neat, thick roll of bills.

"How much?" Max demanded.

"Forty thousand. Not a bad haul for a little over a week's work."
Cron laughed triumphantly. "We sold that picture seven times, and not
one of the suckers dared to squawk. If that Nichols girl hadn't horned
in, the racket would have been good for another twenty thousand at
least."

"We ought to have kept the picture," Hoges complained. "Then we could
start up in another city and try the same thing over again."

Cron shook his head. "Too dangerous. If that Nichols girl should
escape----"

"That's where we made a big mistake," Lynch cut in. "We shouldn't have
left anything to chance."

"It's certain enough," Cron laughed harshly. "She may be a smart girl,
but she's not smart enough to get out of that closet."

"Let's divide up the money and get out of here," Lynch said nervously.
"Forty thousand dollars--that's ten grand apiece."

The men began to argue angrily over the proposed distribution, Hoges
insis