Penny Nichols Finds a Clue Part 26

"No, that's how she got in. I forgot to lock it. She had the locker next to mine and she must have s.n.a.t.c.hed the ring while I was in the shower."

Betty's face was pale, but with an effort she remained calm as she refuted the charge.

"I don't know anything about this girl's ring. The one I have is my own."

"Give it to me," the matron ordered. Reluctantly, Betty removed the ring from her finger. It was a white gold band with a cl.u.s.ter of three tiny diamonds. In the act of handing it over, she suddenly changed her mind.

"I'll not give up my own property! This was my mother's engagement ring. And she's dead now."

"Can you prove your story?" the matron questioned.

"You can call my father. Jerome Davis--he is on the police force."

"Yes, but he won't be there long!" the first girl said scornfully.

"Everyone knows he's to be let out because of dishonesty. And your brother----"

"Don't you dare say a word against either my father or Jimmie!" Betty cried.

"Girls! Girls!" the matron chided severely. "We'll discuss this matter calmly please."

Penny stepped forward. "I think I may be able to help," she said quietly. "I happen to know that the ring belongs to Betty Davis, for I have seen her wearing it."

"You're a friend of hers," the other girl accused.

"On the contrary, I scarcely know Miss Davis. But I believe in seeing justice done. If you actually lost a similar ring, you may find it on the floor near your locker."

"Have you looked carefully?" the matron questioned.

"Of course I have! The ring is gone and this Davis girl stole it!"

"I'll search your locker myself," the matron decided. "Show me which one it is."

Penny and the others followed to witness the inspection. Article by article, the matron removed everything from the locker, but the ring was not found.

"Wait and I'll sweep the floor," Penny offered. She ran to find a broom, returning with it a minute later. Carefully she swept the s.p.a.ce in the vicinity of the locker.

"You see, it's gone!" the other girl insisted, eyeing Betty Davis furiously. "You'll never find it because _she_ is wearing it."

As Penny's broom brushed past a dark corner of the room, there was a little metallic click. She stooped down and picked up a ring.

Although it was similar in appearance to the one which Betty wore, the resemblance was not close.

"Is this yours?" she inquired, offering it to the owner of the locker.

"Yes, it is," the girl admitted. "I don't know how it came to be on the floor."

"It was there because you dropped it," the matron said sternly. "Next time be more careful about accusing persons."

Penny and Susan turned to go to their own lockers, but before they could leave, Betty came toward them timidly.

"Thank you so much," she said in a low tone. "I owe you a great deal."

"Not at all," Penny returned, a trifle stiffly.

"I feel ashamed of the way I have acted lately," the girl went on hurriedly, avoiding Penny's penetrating gaze. "I've been so upset about everything. I wish I could explain--but I can't."

"I think perhaps I understand."

Betty stared hard at Penny. But she quickly masked the fleeting expression of alarm. After thanking her friends again, she turned and disappeared in the direction of the hair drying room.

"Just what is it that upsets that girl so?" Penny said in an undertone to Susan as they went to their own lockers. "She acts as if she's afraid we'll discover something about her."

"Yes, she does. I can't figure it out at all."

The girls quickly dressed but by the time they had dried their hair and were ready for the street, it was long past supper time.

"I had no idea it was so late," Susan declared as they hurried toward the parked automobile. "Mother will be worried for fear something has happened to us."

"You might telephone."

"It would take me ages to find a 'phone. I'll be home in a minute or two now anyway."

It had grown quite dark, but although automobiles had been parked close together near the swimming pool, the girls experienced little difficulty in locating Susan's car. As they came up to it they observed that a garage service truck had drawn up to an automobile only a short distance away. The uniformed garage man was busy changing a wheel.

"Some poor fellow had a flat," Susan said sympathetically. "Strange I didn't pick up the nail instead. My luck must be changing."

Penny had paused to survey the service car more critically. The garage man, aware that he was under scrutiny, gave her a sharp glance. Then abruptly he threw his tools into a bag, jumped into his truck and drove away, leaving his work unfinished.

"Quick! See if you can get the license number!" Penny cried.

"I can't. The car is too far away."

"I got the last three numbers," Penny informed with satisfaction.

"--684. I want to write it down before I forget."

Susan supplied pencil and paper from her purse. Penny jotted down the number.

"Why did you want it?" Susan asked curiously. "You don't think that man was trying to steal a wheel?"

"I certainly do. Otherwise why would he have left so hurriedly when we came up? See, the wheel is only half changed."

They walked over to the nearby automobile to look. The wheel obviously was a new one and apparently had not been damaged.

"That man was a tire thief all right," Penny announced. "It means that the Molberg gang is starting activities again. I must get in touch with Father immediately."

"I'll take you straight home," Susan offered.

"If I'd been just a little quicker I'd have caught the entire license number," Penny said regretfully. "Even so, it may be possible to trace the car."