lice get
busy on the case. They'll soon prove that she had nothing to do with
the theft."

Penny was so confident of such an outcome that she did not feel greatly
concerned for Amy. Although she had talked with the girl only a few
minutes, she had taken an immediate liking to her. Both she and Susan
had been keenly disappointed at Hanley Cron's decision to award the
five thousand dollar prize to an entry other than the Black Imp.

Penny dropped Susan off at the Altman residence, and then, since it was
nearly time for her father to leave his office, stopped at the Nichols'
Detective Agency to take him home.

Christopher Nichols was a tall, dignified looking man with appraising
gray eyes and a slight tinge of gray in his hair. He had solved many
unusual cases and it was said of him that he was one of the shrewdest
detectives in the state.

Mr. Nichols took his own accomplishments in a matter-of-fact way, but
he liked to boast of his attractive daughter's ability as a sleuth. He
was very proud of Penny and teased her by frequently referring to the
mysteries which she had solved. In the first volume of this series,
entitled, "Penny Nichols Finds a Clue," the girl had been instrumental
in capturing a daring gang of auto thieves. Later she visited a queer
old mansion in the mountains and by her discovery of an underground
tunnel and a secret staircase cleared up "The Mystery of the Lost Key."

Now as she entered her father's office, it did not occur to Penny that
she had embarked upon a new adventure. She perched herself on the
corner of the desk and swiftly gave an account not only of the daring
theft at the art museum, but of her unpleasant meeting with Hanley
Cron. Mr. Nichols was deeply interested in the details of the theft.

"A Rembrandt," he whistled softly. "That painting must represent quite
a tidy sum of money."

"How much?" Penny inquired curiously.

"Oh, I'd not venture to say without knowing more about the picture.
Offhand I'd guess several thousand dollars."

"Doesn't it seem silly to think that Amy Coulter could have anything to
do with the theft?"

"Upon the face of it, yes," the detective replied slowly. "Of course
the girl may have been an agent of another. Picture thefts usually are
accomplished by several crooks working together."

"The girl didn't look like a crook, Dad."

"Appearances often are deceitful, Penny. Some of our most dangerous
criminals would pass on the street as