Penny Nichols and the Black Imp

In Short

When a priceless Rembrandt is stolen from the Gage Galleries during a prestigious art unveiling, initial suspicion falls upon Amy Coulter, an impoverished young sculptress whose entry, "The Black Imp," was bypassed for the prize. Determined to clear her new friend's name, Penelope "Penny" Nichols—the sharp-witted daughter of a noted detective—launches her own investigation. As Penny uncovers a sophisticated art-duplication scam, a stolen pearl necklace, and a hidden gambling ring, she repeatedly outsmarts professional criminals and corrupt elites alike to expose the real mastermind behind the gallery theft.

The Story

The story opens at the Gage Galleries in Belton City, where teenage Penny Nichols and her reluctant friend Susan Altman attend a private unveiling of the Huddleson prize statuary using passes provided by Penny's father, detective Christopher Nichols. Shortly after art critic Hanley Cron awards the five-thousand-dollar prize to an entry called "Winged Night," the gallery is thrown into lockdown following the theft of a small, priceless Rembrandt painting. Cron immediately directs suspicion toward Amy Coulter, a struggling sculptress who left the room abruptly after her own entry, "The Black Imp," was passed over.

Believing in Amy's innocence, Penny visits the young artist's modest apartment and learns that Amy is the daughter of a famous, deceased painter. Driven to exonerate her, Penny begins investigating the gallery patrons. Her suspicions deepen when she attends a high-society party hosted by the wealthy Mrs. Dillon. There, Penny secretly discovers a small Rembrandt displayed in the library. When she tries to investigate further, a sudden holdup occurs, and two armed men attempt to rob the partygoers. During the chaos, a bullet is fired into the wall, but the thieves escape.

As Penny probes deeper, she discovers that Mrs. Dillon's painting is actually a clever forgery. The real Rembrandt is being used in an elaborate racket run by Hanley Cron and his criminal associate, Hoges. The pair show the authentic masterpiece to wealthy, unsophisticated buyers, invite them to place a hidden mark on the back for authentication, and then swap it for a counterfeit bearing the duplicate mark before delivery. Because the buyers believe they are purchasing stolen goods on the black market, they are afraid to report the fraud to the police.

Meanwhile, a secondary conflict emerges involving "Diamond Max" Lynch, a notorious casino owner who attempts to bribe Penny's father to stop an investigation into his establishment, the Red Rose. Lynch soon entangles himself with Cron's art ring. Amidst these overlapping schemes, Mrs. Dillon's ten-thousand-dollar pearl necklace is stolen in broad daylight outside Cron's studio building. Penny pursues the thief up a fire escape, only to be confronted by Cron, who denies anyone entered his room.

The investigation reaches a critical turn when a mysterious man in gray steals a plaster copy of Amy's "The Black Imp" from Penny's own bedroom. Realizing the statue itself holds the key to the mystery, Penny tracks the suspects to an abandoned, run-down building. While searching the top floor, she is captured by Cron, Lynch, and Hoges. They bind, gag, and lock her in a closet before fleeing with forty thousand dollars in illicit proceeds.

During their escape, Hoges carelessly discards a burning cigarette, setting the building ablaze. Fighting through smoke and flames, Penny heroically breaks free from her bonds, shattering her wrists against the lock, and rescues both the original Rembrandt and Mrs. Dillon's stolen pearls from the burning room. She alerts the police, leading to the prompt arrest and confession of Cron and his syndicate. In the aftermath, the rigged Huddleson contest is declared void; months later, a fair re-judging awards the grand prize to Amy's "The Black Imp."

How It Unfolds

The gallery theft Penny and Susan attend the Huddleson prize unveiling at the Gage Galleries, where critic Hanley Cron awards the prize to "Winged Night." Minutes later, the building is locked down after a small Rembrandt painting is reported missing, and Cron publicly casts suspicion on departing contestant Amy Coulter.

An unholy alliance Penny's father, detective Christopher Nichols, refuses a bribe from "Diamond Max" Lynch, the sinister owner of the illegal Red Rose casino. Lynch threatens retaliation, establishing a backdrop of organized crime that eventually intersects with the gallery theft.

Infiltration at the party Penny attends an elaborate party hosted by Mrs. Dillon, where she discovers a suspiciously similar Rembrandt hanging in the library. During the evening, armed robbers crash the gathering, firing a bullet into the wall before fleeing into the night.

The fire escape chase Mrs. Dillon's ten-thousand-dollar pearl necklace is snatched outside an apartment building, and Penny chases the thief up an exterior fire escape. The trail leads directly into Hanley Cron's studio, but the critic smoothly denies seeing any intruder.

Tracking the gray suit Penny shadows a suspicious, gray-suited man through the city's dilapidated district to a multi-story building. After learning he paid fifty dollars in back rent for an empty top floor, she realizes the location serves as a front for illicit transactions.

The midnight burglary A prowler climbs the rose trellis outside Penny's house, enters her bedroom window, and steals her plaster duplicate of "The Black Imp." Christopher Nichols discovers a size-eleven footprint and a strand of gray wool left behind on the ledge.

The trap closes Penny unravels the secret of the duplicate paintings by eavesdropping on Cron, Hoges, and Max Lynch as they prepare to fleece another buyer. However, the men discover her hiding spot, tie her up in a closet, and abandon her as a fire breaks out in the hallway.

Escape and exoneration Penny breaks free from the burning building while salvaging the original Rembrandt and the stolen pearls. Her evidence enables the police to round up the syndicate, clear Amy's name, and ultimately award "The Black Imp" its rightful prize.

The People

Penelope "Penny" Nichols The adventurous, quick-witted daughter of a famous detective, Penny wants to solve crimes and protect the innocent. Armed with keen observation skills and a complete lack of personal fear, she refuses to let authority figures intimidate her. She begins as an inquisitive amateur assisting her father and ends the mystery as a fully proven investigator capable of breaking organized crime syndicates.

Amy Coulter An impoverished, soft-spoken sculptress who wants only to earn an honest living and honor the legacy of her late father, a famous artist. Standing accused of a major art heist due to her sudden departure from the gallery, she lacks the resources or confidence to defend herself. Through Penny's friendship and intervention, she transforms from a hunted suspect into an acclaimed, prize-winning artist.

Hanley Cron A arrogant, cold-hearted art critic who uses his social position to orchestrate high-stakes frauds. He seeks wealth through extortion, bribery, and fake art distribution. Unscrupulous to the end, he shows no hesitation in leaving a teenage girl locked in a burning building to cover his escape.

Christopher Nichols Penny's father, a principled and highly capable private detective who wants to uphold the law while keeping his daughter safe. Though he initially advises Penny to avoid impulsive conclusions, he comes to respect her tactical mind and ultimately offers to make her an official partner in his agency.

"Diamond Max" Lynch A flashy, sinister gambling boss who uses crooked lawyers and political influence to operate above the law. He seeks to expand his criminal reach into art theft, but his arrogance ultimately leads to his downfall alongside Cron.

In Its Own Voice

"Someone has stolen a priceless Rembrandt painting from the adjoining exhibition hall!"

An attendant locks the doors of the Gage Galleries, announcing the shocking crime that launches the central mystery.

"I don't see that Amy Coulter has any connection with the disappearance of the painting in the adjoining room."

Penny speaks up courageously against Hanley Cron's public accusations, establishing her unwavering loyalty to her new friend.

"The game's up. If Christopher Nichols ever finds his daughter, he'll put the heat on us right."

Hanley Cron admits defeat to his accomplices in his studio, realizing that Penny's detective work has completely dismantled their forty-thousand-dollar racket.

What It's Really About

Beneath its fast-paced mystery beats, the story explores the contrast between authentic artistic merit and the corrupting influence of commercial greed. Hanley Cron represents an art world driven by status, bribery, and exploitation, where wealthy socialites like Mrs. Dillon buy fine art not out of aesthetic appreciation, but as empty status symbols. Conversely, Amy Coulter represents pure creative devotion, creating art despite severe poverty.

The narrative also examines justice and civic duty. While criminals like Diamond Max Lynch hide behind legal loopholes, bribes, and corrupt sheriffs, Penny and her father demonstrate that integrity, methodical observation, and personal courage are necessary to protect the community from predatory schemes.

Why Read It Today

Penny Nichols and the Black Imp offers a charming, nostalgic window into 1930s juvenile detective fiction. Readers who enjoy classic mystery tropes—hidden panels, street shadowing, forged masterpieces, and brave young sleuths—will find it an engaging, briskly paced adventure.

The book's appeal lies in Penny's infectious energy and resourceful independence. Unlike many period stories where female leads play passive roles, Penny actively drives the plot: she tails suspects through urban slums, climbs fire escapes, sees through sophisticated fraud schemes, and physically frees herself from life-threatening traps.

Modern readers should note that the text reflects the straightforward, somewhat simple prose style typical of early mid-century series fiction. Characters are defined in clear terms of good and evil, and the plot relies on occasional convenient coincidences, such as character encounters in public places. However, the period setting—complete with running boards, roadsters, dial-less telephones, and classic high-society ballrooms—gives the story an authentic vintage atmosphere that mystery enthusiasts will thoroughly enjoy.

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