After making a brief inspection of the car Mr. Nichols turned his own sedan over to Penny, directing her to take it home while he attended to the stripped roadster and reported to the police. Susan had promised to spend the night at the Nichols home, so the girls drove directly toward the house on Hilburn Street. Despite Mr. Nichols' matter-of-fact attitude regarding the theft, they considered it an event of major importance. They were so absorbed in an animated discussion of the affair that they were taken completely by surprise when a policeman held up his hand for Penny to stop. "Now what have I done?" she murmured in alarm, bringing the sedan to a sudden halt at the curbing. "I hope I haven't crashed a light." The officer stepped up to the car window. "Aren't you Miss Nichols?" he questioned. "Why, yes, I am." Penny was slightly relieved at his tone. "I recognized your car and knew you lived in the neighborhood. I thought I'd give you a friendly warning." "A warning? I don't understand." "We're on the lookout for a crook who vanished somewhere in this vicinity," the officer explained. "In fact, he ran through the hedge which borders your place." "Did you search the grounds?" Penny asked with interest. "Yes, but he made his get-away. I just thought I'd tip you off to be careful." "We'll be on the lookout," Penny promised. "Thanks for telling us." The officer moved aside and she drove on again. "I've had almost enough excitement for one evening without encountering a desperado," Susan declared with a little shiver as they approached the Nichols residence. "I wonder why they're after the man?" "He's probably a jail breaker," Penny returned carelessly. Susan studied her chum admiringly. "You're the most casual person I ever knew, Penelope Nichols. Didn't that warning give you the creeps?" "To tell you the truth I didn't think much about it. The man would be miles from here by this time." Nevertheless, as she turned the car into the gravel driveway, Penny's keen gaze swept the dark grounds. Susan likewise surveyed the yard anxiously. Suddenly she uttered a low cry, nervously clutching her companion's arm. "I saw a shadow just then!" she whispered tensely. "I do believe someone is hiding in the lilac bushes!" CHAPTER II Inside the Trunk Penny instantly halted the car on the driveway, peering in the direction which her chum indicated. "I don't see anyone," she insisted. "Perhaps the shadow you saw was caused by that big tree." She pointed to a large oak which shaded the rear porch of the Nichols' home. Its swaying boughs did produce grotesque silhouettes upon the path near the lilac bushes. "You may be right," Susan admitted reluctantly. "Only I was almost positive I saw someone." "I think your nerves are a tiny bit on edge to-night," Penny laughed. Even so she was not quite sure Susan was mistaken.