Penny Nichols Finds a Clue Part 22

"I'd like to help," she a.s.sured him eagerly.

"Good," Mr. Nichols said warmly as he picked up the evening paper.

"Until the appointed hour, don't go near the Plant. And mind, not a word of this to anyone."

CHAPTER XIII

The Raid

At exactly ten minutes to eleven on the following night, eight police cars rolled swiftly down the boulevard. In a congested portion of the city they drew up to the curbing, waiting for Christopher Nichols who rode with his daughter in a dark sedan.

Jerome Davis, in charge of the raid, came over to speak to the detective.

"Everything is all set, Mr. Nichols. We have the entire neighborhood bottled up. Every alley and street guarded."

"Good. And the Hamilton building?"

"It is surrounded. At exactly eleven my men will raid both places.

It's a cinch we'll get Rap Molberg and his gang this time."

"You're certain no hint of the raid has leaked out?"

Jerome Davis laughed confidently.

"Even now my men aren't sure what's coming off. This raid can't fail, Mr. Nichols. We had a straight tip where Molberg could be found and we'll get him!"

"Then go ahead exactly as we planned," Mr. Nichols directed. "On to the Blind Pig Cafe!"

Jerome Davis returned to the waiting cars, relaying the detective's orders. In single file the police automobiles moved forward. They rounded a corner and bore down upon a brightly illuminated restaurant.

With a start Penny recognized it as the same place where she had met Betty Davis the previous evening.

"What a coincidence!" she thought. "How embarra.s.sing it would be for Mr. Davis if his son should be found in there tonight!"

The appearance of the first officer in the doorway of the Blind Pig was sufficient to give warning that a raid was under way. The few persons who were dining inside made wild dashes for the doors and windows.

They were quickly captured by officers stationed at all the exits.

Although the room lights had been snapped out, no shots were fired.

"Something is wrong!" Mr. Nichols exclaimed, abruptly leaving the sedan from which he had been watching. "It looks to me like a tip-off."

A few minutes after her father had disappeared into the cafe, Penny saw the policemen load perhaps six or seven prisoners into the waiting cars. But it was apparent even to her that the raid had failed. The persons arrested obviously were not members of the Molberg gang.

Mr. Nichol's face was dark when he came back to the sedan. Without a word he started the engine and drove rapidly off.

"What happened?" Penny asked timidly.

"Oh, the usual," the detective snapped. "It was a tip-off. Only a few persons were in the cafe and the clubrooms to the rear were completely deserted. Not a sc.r.a.p of evidence. We'll have to release all the prisoners."

"Where are we going now, Dad?"

"To the Hamilton Plant. There's just a chance that the raid there was more successful, though I doubt it."

"Who could have carried the information?" Penny inquired.

"I don't know. That's what bothers me. Penny, you're certain you never dropped a word of this?"

"Why, of course not!"

"I don't mean intentionally, of course. You're sure you never mentioned the raid to your friend Susan?"

"Absolutely not," Penny maintained indignantly. "For that matter, I didn't know the Blind Pig was the place you were raiding."

"That's true," Mr. Nichols acknowledged. "I didn't mean to offend you, Penny. I was only seeking information. I can't see how the news leaked out unless--"

"Unless what?" Penny probed.

"I'll not say it."

"You meant, unless Jerome Davis had betrayed his trust!"

"Well, yes, that was what I was thinking. This is the first occasion I've had to question his honesty. It may be I haven't given enough consideration to the stories which have circulated regarding Davis."

"You said you believed they were started by his political enemies."

"Yes, and I'm still inclined to think that, although the failure of this raid looks peculiar to say the least. I'll have to be more careful in my dealings with Davis."

"If the Molberg outfit didn't regard him as an enemy then why would they throw a warning note through the window?" Penny demanded.

"That could have been faked--it might have been a dodge to impress you."

"I don't see how it could have been, Dad. You see, I met Betty Davis quite by accident that evening. On the spur of the moment I accepted her invitation to stop a few minutes at the house. It was while I was there that the message was thrown through the window. It couldn't have been planned."

"Not very well," Mr. Nichols admitted. "Davis may be honest enough, but if I find he's a loose talker, his usefulness for me will be ended."

The sedan had reached the dead-end street which led to the vacant Hamilton Plant. An officer stepped out of the shadow to challenge Mr.

Nichols, but recognizing him, saluted instead.

"What luck?" the detective asked.

"I can't tell you, sir. I've heard nothing since I was stationed here."

Penny and her father drove on between the rows of police cars which lined the narrow street. As they halted at the far end of the thoroughfare, an officer came to speak with them.

"Did you get into the building?" Mr. Nichols inquired tersely.

"Yes, your daughter's instructions were very clear. We had no trouble."