Penny Nichols and the Black Imp Part 9

"My dear, aren't you dancing? I shall find a nice partner for you."

Before Penny could protest, the woman hurried away, returning almost immediately accompanied by a man in evening dress. Penny was dismayed to recognize Hanley Cron. Upon seeing her, he paused, and a look of keen displeasure crossed his face.

Unaware that she was creating an awkward situation, Mrs. Dillon gus.h.i.+ngly introduced the two. Hanley Cron bowed coldly.

"We've met before," Penny said.

"Oh! Then you're old friends."

Penny politely refrained from comment, but Hanley Cron said coldly, in a tone which made his meaning very clear:

"Hardly that."

"Acquaintances I should have said," Mrs. Dillon murmured in embarra.s.sment.

"You will pardon me I hope," Hanley Cron observed aloofly. Turning his back upon Penny he walked away.

"Oh, my dear, I'm terribly sorry," Mrs. Dillon fluttered. "I'll find you another partner."

"_Please_ don't," Penny pleaded. "I really have no wish to dance at all."

"Of course, if that's the way you feel----"

"It is, Mrs. Dillon. I really am enjoying myself just watching the others."

Penny's statement was not quite true, for she had derived no pleasure from the party, and the rebuff she had received was quite enough to make her wish that she had remained at home. However, the reply served to satisfy the woman and she mercifully moved on to talk with another guest.

"Hanley Cron is the most ill-mannered man I ever met," Penny thought indignantly. "I wish Dad would come, then I could go home."

Her eyes smoldered wrathfully as she watched the art critic talking with a group of people near the refreshment table. She knew it was silly to allow herself to become annoyed because of his insulting manner, yet it was quite impossible to dismiss the man from her mind.

Not wis.h.i.+ng to even see him again that evening, she arose and explored the veranda. It was crowded so she came indoors again and wandered through the rooms adjoining the reception hall. The library was entirely deserted.

Penny peered with interest at the books which lined the wall cases.

Most of them did not appear to have ever been used. Selecting one at random she curled herself comfortably in an upholstered chair, sitting with her back to the door.

"I'll just stay in here for an hour or so and read," she decided. "No one will miss me."

The book was interesting and when Penny glanced at the little clock on the table she was surprised to see that it was nearly eleven o'clock.

"Dad should be coming along soon," she told herself. "He'll be wondering what became of me."

Reluctantly she closed the book. Before she could leave her chair to put it away she heard voices just outside the library door.

Mrs. Dillon and a feminine guest entered the room. They were talking in low tones.

"I haven't told a soul except you," Mrs. Dillon declared. "Before I show you my treasure, you must promise never to reveal my secret. I shouldn't care to be arrested."

"Of course I promise," the other agreed.

Neither of the women was aware of Penny's presence in the library for she was concealed behind the high back of the chair. The girl hesitated to reveal herself, for already she had heard enough to cause Mrs. Dillon embarra.s.sment. She decided to remain where she was and keep quiet.

Mrs. Dillon carefully closed the library door and to Penny's amazement, locked it.

"I don't want to risk having anyone come in," she explained to her companion. "As it is, my husband is quite provoked at me for making the purchase. It was such a wonderful bargain I couldn't resist. But he is afraid someone will learn of it."

"You did take a chance in buying it," the other woman remarked.

"Oh, the trouble will soon blow over and if I should be caught I can always plead innocence. The dealer a.s.sured me I could sell it at any time for twice what I paid."

The floor creaked beneath Mrs. Dillon's weight as she crossed the room.

The woman halted in front of a large picture which hung over the mantel. By this time Penny was overcome with curiosity. Risking detection, she peeped out from behind her chair.

Mrs. Dillon reached up and jerked a long silken rope which was suspended from the picture. Immediately it swung aside, revealing a hidden opening in the wall.

Mrs. Dillon drew back a blue velvet curtain and waited expectantly for her friend's praise. Exposed to view was a small oil painting.

Penny recognized it as the stolen Rembrandt.

CHAPTER VI

A Holdup

"Well, what do you think of it, my dear?" Mrs. Dillon questioned eagerly.

"Beautiful!" the guest praised, stepping back a pace that she might view the painting to better advantage. "How fortunate you are to own such a picture."

"I've always craved to possess a genuine masterpiece," Mrs. Dillon declared enthusiastically. "It gives one prestige."

"And you say this is a Rembrandt, Mrs. Dillon?" the other asked. "It must have cost you a pretty penny."

"It did, but at that I consider the painting a great bargain. The dealer a.s.sured me that if I wished to dispose of it at any time he would promise to find an immediate purchaser."

"Undoubtedly, you made a fine deal," Mrs. Dillon's friend acknowledged.

"From whom did you buy the picture?"

"I can't tell you that. I pledged myself not to reveal his ident.i.ty."

"Oh, I see. But you are quite sure you can depend upon the dealer's word?"

"Yes, indeed. I hope you don't think I'd allow myself to be taken in----"

"Oh, no, certainly not. Only I've heard it said that unscrupulous dealers sometimes resort to tricks."

"I pride myself upon having a streak of Yankee shrewdness," Mrs. Dillon said, "and I do know art. When I saw this picture I recognized it instantly as one I had seen at the Gage Galleries. Of course, the dealer didn't claim it was the genuine Rembrandt--quite the contrary."