Penny Nichols and the Mystery of the Lost Key

uable

e only ten minutes be

doors at the entrance of the Bresham Department Store. A vigorous push sent the bar

Penny," Susan Altman protested with a lau

et that pair of white earrings. The clerk

tly to the jewelry counter. Penny peered anxiously into one of the glass cases to

asked her chum as they stood impatiently waiting for a clerk. In ma

can wear anything. Now if you had

trying vainly to attract the attention of a clerk. The only available girl at the

nce. "You can tell it's going to take until closing

ual inspection appeared to be a gentleman of considerable means. Although the

stioned. "Show me that large diamond, please."

the diamond closely, comparing it with another ring previously s

mind which ring I prefer," he urged the clerk.

s a rule of the store to keep them always in the locked case. Yet it would take her only a mi

y announced, indicating the ivory piece

ect. I'll have the

r. Perhaps she had been foolish to buy the earrings. It meant that she must do without a great many little things in order to keep within he

counter. She saw him cast a quick glance about. Then

ted upon the ring tray. The

n too deft for that-yet she knew for a certainty that while the cler

esitate. She da

sed shoppers who turned at the sound of h

in anger. With his cane he struck viciously

tive blocked

thief turned and bolted up a moving escalator which was c

few of the more energetic cu

the stairway. Upon the uncertain footing of the moving treads, several stumbled and fell

the girl went, and as she fell, the contents of her pocketbook spilled out upon the moving stairway. The thief took advantage of the resulting confusion to melt into

e girl who had fallen, tryin

the other cried, frantically beginnin

an a help. Yet by working fast Penny managed to accumulate nearly

lett

permost step. With a bound she covered the distance which separated her from it, pou

her hand, she turned to ass

ng," she observed.

aintained staunchly. "I tw

d when she spoke and her attractive face had taken on an ashen hue. Yet, strangely,

ully. "I don't know what I should have done if I

ake any response store officials hurried up to take charge of the situation. The girl's name was Rosanna Winters, Penny

of store officials that she be sent to a

ly twisted my ankle. I'll s

"My roadster is parked just outside t

she said: "That's very kind of yo

Here, let me hel

anna said hastily. "Hereafter I'll

ve the building. As the girls returned to the street floor they were embarrassed to find themselves the tar

nocked me down?" Rosanna quest

n. "The last I saw of him he was running toward the kit

r new friend in that direction. Quickly she introduced

you certainly did stir up things when yo

Penny acknowledged. "Of course, he may be c

the jewelry counter. The girls would have left the store withou

larm," she told Penny gratefully. "If th

I hop

ken a store rule. I was completely

. "He certainly looked anything but

hundred dollars. I don't see h

rticularly so when the floorwalker cam

Penny insisted. "I feel certain that

s appearance?" the

say he was approximately six feet in height, da

took Penny's address in case she might be needed l

floorwalker informed, "but the chances are the m

and her companions lingered a few minutes longer a

nny declared as they paused for an instant on the street. "I

turned as if to

" she said to Penny. "My ankle is much bet

ht her by

hurts you every step you take. It isn't more than

at the curbing. Penny was very proud of her car. Although it was not a new model i

ing Rosanna home. During the ride to Sixty-fifth Street, the Winters girl spok

decided. A striking brunette wit

e girl said as they turned a c

house. The porch was clean and the yard more

find another place," Rosanna mentioned, feelin

er in Belton City

en, because Penny had seemed so very friendly, decided to offer additional information. "I am a

e had a piece

out the letter which Penny had picked up from the escalator. "

natched it up in t

the mysterious letter. It was all she

o," Rosanna said a trifle timidly. "I'm anx

y returned, a little surprised at the request. "And

a proffered. As she took out the folde

is?" Penny

r says is true, it seems to be the key to my