Penny and her father were tired, and shortly after ten o'clock went to their rooms. Mr. Gandiss' problem interested them, though they felt that he had greatly overrated their ability in believing they could contribute to a solution of the mystery.
"I'm not certain I care to become involved," Mr. Parker confessed to Penny, who in robe and slippers had tiptoed into his room to say goodnight.
"But Dad, we can't decently refuse," Penny returned eagerly. "I think it would be fun to try to catch those thieves!"
"Well, we'll see," yawned Mr. Parker. "Skip back to bed now."
Penny read a magazine for an hour, and then switched off the light on the night table. Snuggling down under the silk coverlet, she slept soundly.
Sometime later, she found herself suddenly awake, though what had aroused her she could not guess. The room remained dark, but the first glimmer of dawn slanted through the Venetian blinds.
Penny rolled over and settled down for another snooze. Then she heard a disturbing sound. The wooden blinds were rattling ever so slightly, yet there was no breeze. Next her startled gaze focused upon a hand which had been thrust through the window to stealthily push the blinds aside.
A leg appeared over the sill, and a dark figure stepped boldly into the bedroom.
Terrified, Penny sat up so quickly that the bed springs creaked a loud protest. Instantly the intruder turned his face toward her.
"Keep quiet!" he hissed.
With mingled relief and indignation, Penny recognized Jack. He tiptoed to the bed.
"Now don't let out a yip," he cautioned. "I don't want Mom or my father to hear."
"Well, of all the nerve!" Penny exclaimed indignantly. "Is this my room or is it your private runway?"
"Don't go off the deep end. All the doors are locked and the servants have orders not to let me in if I am late."
"It's nearly morning," said Penny, hiding a yawn. "Where in the world did you go?"
"Town," Jack answered briefly.
Penny began to understand the cause of Mr. Gandiss' worry about his son.
"Now don't give me that 'holier than Thou' line," Jack said, anticipating a lecture. "I'm not going to the dogs nearly as fast as the old man believes. He's an old fossil."
"You shouldn't speak of your father that way," Penny replied. "After all, hasn't he given you everything?"
"He tries to keep me tied to his apron strings." Jack sat down on the bed, stretching luxuriously. "Mom isn't quite so unreasonable."
"Both of your parents seem like wonderful people to me."
"Maybe I know 'em better than you do," Jack grinned. "Oh, they're okay, in their way. Don't get me wrong. But my father always is trying to shove me around. If it hadn't been for your open window, I'd have had to sleep out in the cold."
"And it would have served you right too! You went off without saying a word to your parents, and worried them half to death. Now kindly remove your carcass from this bed!"
"Oh, cut the lecture," Jack pleaded, getting up and yawning again. "Gosh, I'm hungry. Let's find something to eat in the kitchen."
"Let's not," retorted Penny, giving him a shove. "Clear out of here, or I'll heave the lamp at you!"
"Oh, all right, kitten," he said soothingly. "I'm going. Remember your promise not to go wagging your tongue about what time I got in."
"I didn't promise a thing!"
"But you will," chuckled Jack confidently. "See you in the morning."
He tiptoed from the room, and Penny heard him stirring about in the kitchen. The refrigerator door opened and closed several times. Then at last all became quiet again.
"The conceited egg!" she thought irritably. "Now I'm so thoroughly awakened, I can't possibly go back to sleep."
Tossing about for a few minutes, she finally arose and dressed. Deciding to take an early morning walk about the island, she moved noiselessly through the house to the kitchen.
There she paused to note the wreckage Jack had left in his wake. The refrigerator door was wide open. As she closed it, she saw dishes of salad, chicken, pickles and tomatoes in a depleted state. Jack had topped off his feast with a quart of milk, and the bottle, together with, a pile of chicken bones, cluttered the sink.
