Not until Penny was nearly home did it occur to her that she had forgotten to look at the photograph of Jimmie Davis.
"Oh, well, it doesn't matter," she thought.
As she drove the roadster into the garage, Mrs. Gallup came down the path to meet her.
"I'm sorry to be so late," Penny said quickly before the housekeeper could take her to task. "A million and one things detained me. Dad's home, I suppose?"
"No, he isn't. But someone has been trying to get you on the telephone for the past hour."
"It may have been, but it didn't sound like his voice. Listen, isn't that the phone now?"
They could hear the bell ringing inside the house. Penny ran to answer it. As she took down the receiver, she was greeted by a masculine voice. But it was not the detective who had telephoned.
"Yes," Penny returned quietly, aware from the other's tone that she must prepare herself for bad news.
"Don't be alarmed, Miss Nichols, but your father has been hurt."
"We're not sure yet. He is still unconscious. Can you come at once?"
"It won't be necessary. A taxi has already been sent for you. It should be there by this time."
She hung up the receiver and turned to the housekeeper who was hovering anxiously at her elbow.
"Dad's been hurt," she said tersely to hide her emotion. "I don't know how badly for I couldn't learn the details. I must go to him at once."
"Oh, you poor thing," Mrs. Gallup swept the trembling girl into her arms.
They clung to one another for an instant, then Penny resolutely brushed away her tears.
"It probably isn't as bad as we fear," she said hopefully.
Catching up her pocketbook from the table, she hurried out upon the porch to wait for the taxicab.
As a dark colored cab stopped in front of the Nichols residence, Penny ran to the curbing before the driver could alight.
"You were sent here to take me to my father?" she asked.
The driver kept his head lowered so that Penny could not see his face clearly, but she was too troubled to notice anything wrong.
"Is Father badly hurt?" she questioned anxiously.
"I can't tell you, Miss. I was only told to come here for you."
The driver opened the door, and Penny stepped into the car. They sped away.
Presently Penny noticed that the taxi man seemed to be avoiding the main streets of the city. She thought little of it until she chanced to catch a glimpse of the driver's face in the mirror. She had never viewed such a hardened countenance. The man appeared to be watching her every move. It gave her a sudden chill.