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diff --git a/77873-0.txt b/77873-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..981fda8 --- /dev/null +++ b/77873-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5734 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77873 *** + + + + + THE MYSTERY AT LILAC INN + + BY CAROLYN KEENE + + AUTHOR OF "THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK," + "THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE," ETC. + + _ILLUSTRATED BY_ + RUSSELL H. TANDY + + NEW YORK + GROSSET & DUNLAP + PUBLISHERS + + Made in the United States of America + + NANCY DREW MYSTERY STORIES + + BY CAROLYN KEENE + + THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK + THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE + THE BUNGALOW MYSTERY + THE MYSTERY AT LILAC INN + + GROSSET & DUNLAP, PUBLISHERS, NEW YORK + + Copyright, 1930, by + GROSSET & DUNLAP, INC. + + The Mystery at Lilac Inn + + + + + CONTENTS + + + I A CHANCE MEETING + + II RISING TO AN OCCASION + + III A QUEER GIRL + + IV ABOUT THE CRANDALL JEWELS + + V AT LILAC INN + + VI ACCUSATIONS + + VII DAMAGING RUMORS + + VIII MRS. WILLOUGHBY'S CALL + + IX NANCY INVESTIGATES + + X AN ENCOUNTER + + XI A TRIP TO THE INN + + XII A NEW DISCOVERY + + XIII A SURPRISE + + XIV NEW INFORMATION + + XV WHAT MR. DREW LEARNED + + XVI THE STRANGER + + XVII A CRISIS + + XVIII DURING THE STORM + + XIX IN THE STOREROOM + + XX A PRISONER + + XXI DOWN THE RIVER + + XXII SINKING + + XXIII CAPTURED + + XXIV THE SEARCH + + XXV NANCY'S REWARD + + + + + THE MYSTERY AT LILAC INN + + + + + CHAPTER I + + A CHANCE MEETING + + +A bright blue roadster, low-swung and smart, rolled swiftly along the +winding lake road to halt suddenly before a large signboard which +boldly proclaimed to all who chanced that way: + + LILAC INN: CHICKEN DINNERS + OUR SPECIALTY. + +The driver, a pretty girl of perhaps sixteen, attractive in a frock +which either by accident or design exactly matched the blue of the +automobile, smiled whimsically as she read the words. + +"My specialty, too!" Nancy Drew told herself. "The thought of chicken +almost makes me expire from hunger. I think I'll stop here for +luncheon." + +Guiding the car into the side road, she drove beneath a long canopy of +trees and presently came within sight of Lilac Inn. As she swung the +roadster into line with the row of automobiles parked in the yard, it +seemed to her that the old inn had never appeared more picturesque than +on this particular spring day. Huge lilac bushes, heavy with bloom, +completely surrounded the rambling structure, while a well-kept lawn +sloped gently to a crystal lake at the rear. + +Alighting from the roadster, Nancy stood for a moment gazing toward the +lake. So absorbed was she in the beauty of the scene that she failed to +notice the approach of a girl who from appearance might have been her +own age. + +"Nancy Drew of all people!" the stranger cried eagerly as she rushed up. + +Startled at hearing her name called, Nancy Drew wheeled quickly and +then smiled as she recognized a former classmate whom she had not seen +for many weeks. It was not difficult to smile upon Emily Crandall, for +her candid blue eyes, delicate coloring, and almost classical features +gave her a beauty which was the envy of her friends. Though she lacked +Nancy Drew's poise and keen mind, she did possess an unusually sunny +disposition and had a way of accepting life as she found it. + +Since the death of her mother many years before, she had been under +the guardianship of Mrs. Jane Willoughby, a young widow. Unfortunately, +Emily Crandall had never had a great deal of money; but the lack of it +did not appear to trouble her. + +"Emily Crandall!" Nancy exclaimed in genuine delight, gripping her +friend's hand. "What brought you here?" + +"Oh, I was driving to River Heights to see a friend. Mrs. Willoughby +lent me her sedan for the day; but, as luck would have it, the mean +thing stalled. I walked here thinking I might find someone to help me." + +"Perhaps you're only out of gasoline." + +"I'm afraid not. But why worry about such a trifle as a stalled car? +After all, it was fortunate that I was forced to stop here; otherwise +I should have missed you. What are you doing here, anyway? Looking for +another mystery?" + +"I should say not!" Nancy Drew returned emphatically. "I think I've had +enough of mystery to last me a life time. Anyway, if I were looking for +one, I wouldn't choose such a lovely spot as Lilac Inn." + +"Mysteries sometimes pop up in strange places, Nancy, and I must say +you have a faculty for running into them. Everyone said it was a +wonderful piece of detective work when you solved the mystery of the +Jacob Aborn bungalow. I read glowing accounts of your cleverness in +the papers. Just imagine capturing a criminal! I'd be thrilled to +death!" + +"I was glad to help Laura Pendleton regain her inheritance," Nancy said +quietly. "But I'm afraid the reporters exaggerated my part a little." +Then to change the subject: "Have you had luncheon?" + +"No, I haven't, and it's after one o'clock, too. I'm nearly starved." + +"Then why not lunch with me? After that, we can see what can be done +about your car." + +"Suits me," Emily agreed willingly. + +Arm in arm the two girls hurried up the path to the inn. Entering, they +saw that the dining room was crowded, but the head waiter bowed to +Nancy in recognition, and, to the astonishment of persons who had not +received choice tables, they were promptly escorted to a secluded nook +which permitted an excellent view of the lake and the grounds. + +"How do you do it?" Emily asked in a low tone when the girls were +seated. "The waiter gave us the very nicest table in the room." + +"Oh, I've been here before. That probably explains it." + +"You know it doesn't, Nancy Drew; but you're too modest to admit that +you're something of a personage. At the rate you're going, you'll soon +be as famous as your father." + +"Oh, Emily!" Nancy protested. "What possesses you, anyway? Just because +I've solved a few old mysteries--" her voice trailed off as she studied +the menu card. "I can't make up my mind what to order." + +"You're positively the limit," Emily sighed, as she too turned her +attention to the bill of fare. "Food interests you more than an honest +compliment." + +"Right now I'm afraid I must admit it does," Nancy laughed. "You see, +I've driven nearly seventy miles since breakfast. Dad sent me over to +Windlow with some legal papers for Judge Howell. I started back without +luncheon." + +"I'm glad you did, Nancy. Otherwise we'd not have met here." + +Nancy Drew finished writing out her order, and after handing it to the +waiter settled back in her chair. + +"Tell me what you have been doing with yourself this summer, Emily. I +haven't seen you for ages." + +"Can't you guess by looking at my freckles? I've been living at a +cottage on the lake." + +"Alone?" + +"Oh, no! With Mrs. Willoughby. She's a dear, Nancy, but she's not to be +my guardian much longer." + +"Why, how is that?" Nancy inquired in surprise. + +"Well, in less than a week I'll be of age. I'll be eighteen next +Friday. And it's going to be the most exciting birthday I ever had!" + +"You mean because you'll be free from your guardian?" + +"Oh, no. I always liked Mrs. Willoughby. I'm thrilled because I'm to +come into my inheritance." + +"Your inheritance? Why, I didn't know----" + +"Neither did I until last week," Emily broke in. "There was very little +left of my mother's estate, but it seems that by my grandmother's will +I'm to come into the Crandall family jewels." + +"Oh, Emily, how wonderful! I've always heard of the famous Crandall +jewels." + +"They're beauties, Nancy--mostly diamonds, too. Valued at not a cent +less than forty thousand dollars." + +"I'd love to see them." + +"Well, you shall. Mrs. Willoughby is to turn them over to me on Friday." + +"Doesn't it worry you, Emily? I wouldn't know how to take care of such +an inheritance." + +"Well, it does worry me a little," Emily admitted slowly. "But of +course I'll rent a safety deposit box at the bank." + +"I wouldn't delay if I were you." + +"I guess I won't," Emily decided, after a moment of thought. "I've been +in a state of respectable poverty too long to risk losing my fortune +now that I've come into it. However, I won't dispose of the jewels +until after you've seen them, Nancy. Can't you motor out to our cottage +next Friday?" + +"Of course I'll come," Nancy returned eagerly. "I wouldn't miss an +opportunity to see the Crandall jewels." + +By this time the waiter had appeared, bearing a tray of food, and the +girls turned their attention to the good things which were placed +before them. + +"You haven't told me a thing about yourself," Emily presently said to +her friend. "I guess I've been monopolizing the conversation." + +"Oh, there's nothing special to tell. Last summer I had a thrilling +time of it at Melrose Lake, but this year I'm afraid I'll be stuck in +River Heights all summer unless I can find a new housekeeper to take +Hannah Gruen's place." + +"Your servant is leaving?" + +"Yes. Her sister is ill, and she's expecting to be called away any +day now to take care of her. I dread looking for another to take her +place. You don't know where I can find a good housekeeper, do you?" + +"Indeed I don't. I'm afraid you'll have quite a time finding anyone." + +"I don't doubt it," Nancy sighed. "But at least I'll have several days +before Hannah leaves. That will give me a chance to break in a new +girl." + +The two finished their luncheon, and although Emily protested, Nancy +insisted on paying the check. They left the dining room, pausing +outside the door. + +"If you'll excuse me for a minute, I'll make a telephone call," Nancy +said. "I must let Dad know that I'll be late in reaching River Heights, +or he'll be worried." + +Hurrying away, she sought a telephone booth and quickly put in a call +to River Heights. After a brief wait, she heard her father's voice at +the other end of the wire. + +"Hello, Nancy," Carson Drew began before she could say a word. "Jove! +I'm glad you called just now. I've been trying to reach you for the +last two hours." + +"Why, what has happened?" Nancy demanded in alarm. + +"I just received a telegram from Judge Graham--you know, he's one of +the biggest men in the state. He'll spend the coming week-end with us." + +"Oh!" Nancy gasped, but instantly arose to the occasion. "Well, I guess +we can manage it all right. I'll come home just as quickly as I can." + +"I haven't told you the worst, Nancy! Hannah just learned that +her sister has suffered a relapse. She's planning to leave on the +three-twenty train." + +"Leaving to-day?" + +"Yes, with Judge Graham coming! You must get busy at once." + +"I'll rush right home, Dad, and see what can be done. But I'm +dreadfully afraid it will be impossible to find anyone to take her +place on such short notice." + +"Do the best you can, Nancy. I'm depending upon you." + +With that, Carson Drew said good-by and hung up the receiver. + +Nancy Drew stood for a moment staring blankly at the telephone. +She knew that her father, being a man, had no comprehension of the +Herculean task which lay before her. In some way she must find a +satisfactory housekeeper before Judge Graham's arrival, but how it was +to be accomplished she did not know. + + + + + CHAPTER II + + RISING TO AN OCCASION + + +Leaving the telephone booth, Nancy Drew hurried back to where she had +left Emily Crandall and quickly explained that she must start at once +for River Heights. + +"Can't I drop you off at the nearest garage?" she offered. "You can +find a mechanic and go back after your car." + +"Won't it be out of your way?" + +"Not at all. There's a garage about three miles from here." + +"Then I'll certainly accept your offer, because I don't want to camp on +the road all day." + +Nancy led the way to the roadster. Skillfully turning in the narrow +parking space, she drove down the lane to the main road and soon left +Lilac Inn far behind. Presently sighting a roadside garage, she stopped +the car and Emily alighted. + +"Don't forget you're to see the Crandall jewels next Friday," she +reminded Nancy as she said good-by. + +"I won't." + +As Emily stepped back, Nancy shifted gears. The roadster moved slowly +away, and then gathered speed. Nancy Drew drove rapidly, for she was +eager to reach home, knowing that much work was awaiting her. She +glanced at her watch and saw that it was after two o'clock. She must +hurry if she was to get there before Hannah left. + +It was exactly two-thirty when she reached the outskirts of River +Heights. Following the boulevard, she came within sight of her own home +and was relieved to see her father's automobile standing at the door. +That meant that he had not yet taken Hannah to the railroad station. + +Swinging into the driveway, Nancy Drew halted the roadster and sprang +out, but before she could reach the house her father, suitcase in hand, +came out the front door, followed by Hannah Gruen. The housekeeper was +the first to catch sight of Nancy. + +"Oh, Miss Nancy," she began apologetically, "I'm dreadfully sorry to +leave you in a mess like this; but my poor sister----" + +"Of course you must go," Nancy told her quickly. "Don't worry about me. +I'll get along somehow." + +"You're so kind, Miss Nancy. I'll come back just the first minute I +can, but it may be several months." + +"Stay as long as your sister needs you." + +"We must hurry if you're to catch your train, Hannah," Carson Drew +interrupted. "It's a long way to the station." + +He rushed the housekeeper to the waiting automobile and started the +motor. + +"Better get in touch with an employment agency right away," he called +back to Nancy as the car moved away. Nancy watched the automobile until +it was out of sight and then walked slowly toward the house. She knew +that Hannah had indeed left her in a "mess." + +Since the death of her mother many years before, Nancy Drew had managed +the household. On the whole she had engineered everything so skillfully +that her father little dreamed of the heavy responsibility which rested +upon her shoulders. + +As a famous criminal and mystery-case lawyer, Carson Drew found it +necessary to maintain a certain social position, and accordingly Nancy +was frequently called upon to entertain noted professional men. + +She had often been present when Carson Drew discussed important cases +with detectives and police officials, and as a result had become +interested in detective work herself. Her first fame came when she +uncovered "The Secret of the Old Clock." + +Later she solved the mystery of a troubled household, discovering +a hidden staircase and having no end of creepy adventures in an +underground passageway. + +Undaunted by this experience, she risked her life to help Laura +Pendleton. Nancy's unusual adventures in this connection are recounted +in the third volume of the series, "The Bungalow Mystery." + +Now, as Nancy Drew walked slowly toward the house, she was considering +the problem which Hannah Gruen's departure had created. Her father +confidently expected that by the time Judge Graham arrived for his +week-end visit the household would be moving as smoothly as before, but +Nancy, who had tried many servants before she had secured Hannah, was +beset with doubt. + +"I'll telephone the agency right away and see what they can do for me," +she decided. + +Having looked up a number in the directory, she repeated it to an +operator and after a brief wait was connected with the manager of the +best employment agency in River Heights. She stated her wants briefly, +trying not to appear too exacting. + +"We'll do the best we can for you, Miss," came the not too comforting +response. "But right now we have only one servant on hand--a colored +woman." + +"Send her out this afternoon," Nancy ordered in despair. "I must have +someone immediately." + +Replacing the telephone on the stand, she went to the kitchen to take +stock of affairs there. As she had feared, everything was in confusion. +In her haste Hannah had not even ordered the groceries for the +following day. + +Nancy set about putting things in order. While she was making out the +grocery list, she heard her father's car on the drive. + +"Well, did you get a maid?" he questioned a few minutes later when he +entered the living room. + +"Yes, the agency is sending out a colored woman this afternoon." + +Nancy, observing that her father looked tired, refrained from adding +that she feared the worst. + +"I'm mighty glad you found someone," Carson Drew responded in relief. +"You're a wonderful little manager. By the way, I suppose you delivered +those papers to Judge Howell all right." + +"Yes, I found him at the court house and had no trouble. On the way +back I stopped at Lilac Inn for luncheon and ran into Emily Crandall. +She's celebrating her eighteenth birthday this week. According to her +grandmother's will, she's to inherit the famous Crandall diamonds." + +Carson Drew whistled softly. + +"Quite a windfall, I must say. I remember the Crandall jewels very +well. They were very quaint and beautiful." + +"I'm so glad they were willed to Emily. She's never had many pretty +things, especially since the death of her mother." + +"I hope she'll manage to hang on to them after they fall into her +hands," Mr. Drew commented. + +"Oh, I'm sure Emily won't let them slip through her fingers. She's not +in the least extravagant." + +"I wasn't thinking of that. It merely occurred to me that unscrupulous +persons may be interested in those jewels." + +Nancy nodded thoughtfully. + +"I believe she intends to place them in a bank vault immediately." + +"A very wise precaution." Carson Drew lowered his voice as he heard a +heavy step on the porch. Nancy sprang up from the davenport where she +was sitting and rushed to the door. + +"It must be the new housekeeper," she cried hopefully. + +As she opened the door her heart sank within her. It was indeed the +colored woman sent by the employment agency, but a more unlikely +housekeeper Nancy had never seen. She was dirty and slovenly in +appearance and had an unpleasant way of shuffling her feet when she +walked. + +Inviting her into the house, Nancy asked a few questions which the +woman answered in unsatisfactory manner. She was unable to produce +references of any description. + +"I'm very sorry, but I'm afraid you won't do," Nancy told her at last. + +It was with a feeling of mingled disappointment and relief that she +watched the woman depart. As a housekeeper, the Negress was impossible, +and yet she wondered if she had been unwise to let her go. She must +find someone! + +Rushing to the telephone she called a number and was quickly connected +with another employment agency. After a long discussion with the +manager she finally secured a promise that a woman would be sent out +early the next morning. + +"I certainly hope she'll be better than the colored woman," Nancy +sighed to her father. "I don't know why, but I have a feeling this +servant problem will prove my undoing." + + + + + CHAPTER III + + A QUEER GIRL + + +"Oh, Dad, you don't know what a time I've had!" Nancy Drew emitted a +tired sigh as she emerged from the kitchen unfastening her apron. "This +morning the agency sent me an Irish woman, but she was even worse than +the one that came yesterday. She was the most unreasonable housekeeper +I ever interviewed." + +"Poor little girl," Mr. Drew sympathized. "I can't let you do the work +yourself." + +"Well, I think it will be easier on me than to try to break in a new +girl. After the Irish woman left I called another agency and they sent +me a Scotch lassie. She looked promising, but I found she hadn't had a +particle of experience and knew little about cooking. I'm completely +discouraged." + +"I don't wonder, and with Judge Graham coming Saturday night." + +"I'll find someone before that time if I have to coax her away from my +best friend," Nancy declared resolutely. "There's one more agency that +I haven't tried." + +As soon as her father had finished luncheon and had left for his +office, Nancy Drew again went to the telephone and was gratified when +the employment agency promised to send out a girl at once. She was +washing dishes when she heard a sharp knock on the front door. Drying +her hands, she rushed into the hall to answer the summons. + +As she swung open the massive oak door she beheld a tall, wiry, +dark-complexioned girl who obviously was the one sent out from +the agency. She had dark piercing eyes and stared at Nancy almost +impudently. + +Nancy resisted an impulse to shut the door in her face. She did not +like the girl's sly look. On the other hand, she thought that it might +not be fair to judge by appearances alone. Accordingly, she smiled +pleasantly and invited the girl into the living room. + +The stranger seated herself on the davenport, and to Nancy's amazement +proceeded to look the house over most critically, darting quick little +glances from one room to another. + +"She's prying," Nancy thought. Aloud she said: "What is your name?" + +"Mary Mason." + +"Can you furnish references?" + +The girl made no response, but from a dirty pocketbook brought out +an envelope and handed it to Nancy. The envelope contained several +references and Nancy glanced quickly over them. To her surprise, the +girl came highly recommended from her former employers, and it appeared +that she had held responsible positions. Nancy had been on the verge +of dismissing the girl, but in the face of such excellent references +she hesitated. She was not favorably impressed with Mary Mason, for +the girl had a harsh face and a bold manner, but she knew that in +all probability it would be impossible to find another girl before +Saturday. She was left no choice in the matter. + +"You appear quite young to take complete charge of the household," +Nancy began doubtfully. "Do you feel sure you could manage the work? Of +course I will direct you until you learn the routine." + +Mary Mason tossed her head contemptuously. + +"I always work without direction." + +"Indeed?" + +Nancy was still more unfavorably impressed and decided to ask the girl +a few personal questions. + +"Where is your home?" + +"My home?" the girl looked startled, and then said quickly: "I haven't +any real home. I'm an orphan." + +"Oh," Nancy murmured, but for some reason which she could not +understand she found it impossible to feel especially sympathetic. It +even occurred to her that Mary Mason had deliberately told a falsehood, +but she tried to force this suspicion from her mind. Probably it was +only the girl's queer manner. "Your age?" she inquired. + +"Eighteen." + +Again Nancy was surprised, for she had made up her mind that Mary Mason +was at least two years older than that. She next asked a few questions +concerning the work which the girl had done in the past and was better +pleased with her answers. It was evident that she could at least cook +and keep house. Nancy decided that she would put up with her until +after Judge Graham's visit. Perhaps she would adapt herself after she +had been in the Drew household for a number of days. + +"I will try you for a week," Nancy told her. "When can you come?" + +"This afternoon if you want me. What salary can I expect?" + +"Oh, yes, I forgot to mention that. I pay very well indeed, but in +return I expect faithful service. I will start you at fifteen dollars +a week with room and board. And of course you may have one day a week +off." + +Nancy Drew had expected that Mary Mason would express satisfaction at +this arrangement, for the pay was much higher than the average in +River Heights. Instead, the girl scowled darkly. + +"Surely that is enough," Nancy said a trifle impatiently. + +"Oh, I suppose it'll have to do; but it's not as much as I should have." + +"I noticed in your references that you had been receiving only twelve +dollars a week." + +Mary Mason looked confused as though she had been trapped. + +"Well, fifteen will do I guess." + +"Then, if you are satisfied with the wage I will tell you something +of the work. I am sure you will not find it particularly difficult; +but as I stated, I am rather exacting about details. You see, because +of my father's position it is necessary for us to do a great deal of +entertaining." + +"I'll have no trouble," the girl returned indifferently. + +"Then I guess there is nothing more I need tell you until later. I will +have your room ready for you when you return this afternoon with your +things." + +Mary Mason arose to depart. She sauntered across the floor, casting a +last appraising glance about the room. Nancy escorted her to the door +and as she opened it recalled that she had neglected to mention her own +name. + +"I am Nancy Drew," she said pleasantly. + +Mary Mason's indifferent attitude vanished as if by magic. + +"Nancy Drew?" she repeated tensely. + +"Why, yes. You've heard of me perhaps?" + +The girl ignored the question; in fact, she seemed not to have heard +it. As Nancy stared at her in surprise she saw that the color had +drained from her face, leaving it white and frightened. + +"Who are you?" the girl demanded harshly. "You aren't the daughter +of----" + +"Carson Drew," Nancy finished. "You've probably heard of him." + +"Your father is a lawyer?" + +"Yes. He specializes in criminal and mystery cases." + +The announcement had a very peculiar effect upon Mary Mason. She took a +step backward and her hand gripped the door knob. Her eyes dilated with +something that looked like fear. + +"I can't take the position, Miss Drew," she said a trifle shakily. + +"You can't take it? Why not, may I ask?" + +"I--I didn't know your father was a lawyer." + +"What difference can that make?" Nancy asked bluntly. + +"I'll not work in such a place! I wouldn't think of it!" + +"My father will be very kind to you. You need have no fear on that +score. I don't see why you should be afraid." + +"Oh, I'm not afraid," Mary returned hastily. "It's just that I might +get into trouble working at a place where the man of the house is +always mixed up in queer cases. You'll have to find another girl." + +"But it's so late, and I've had such a time! Judge Graham is coming +this week and----" + +"I tell you I won't stay," the girl broke in, becoming more excited. + +"Even if I offer you eighteen instead of fifteen dollars a week? That's +an outrageous amount!" + +"I won't stay here under any condition. Let me out!" + +Nancy Drew reluctantly stepped aside, and Mary Mason rushed out the +door, fairly running across the porch in her haste to reach the street. +Nancy, a puzzled expression on her face, stood in the doorway and +watched her until she had rounded a corner. + +"Can you beat that!" she exclaimed, lapsing into slang. "If she isn't +the queerest girl I ever met! And to think I've wasted nearly an hour +in talking to her!" + + + + + CHAPTER IV + + ABOUT THE CRANDALL JEWELS + + +A less enterprising and resourceful girl than Nancy Drew would have +been hopelessly discouraged at the turn events had taken. In truth, +after Mary Mason's strange leave-taking Nancy was discouraged, but not +hopelessly so. Deciding to transact no more business by telephone, +she climbed into her roadster and set out to make the rounds of the +employment agencies. The afternoon brought nothing but disappointment. +She returned home tired but undaunted, and the following morning +started out early, determined to make one last effort before admitting +defeat. + +It was not until late that day that fortune favored her. After +interviewing no less than six girls who were utterly unfitted for the +place, she chanced upon Mrs. Sadie Carter, an elderly woman who suited +her in every way. Mrs. Carter was neat in appearance and thoroughly +experienced. Her references were of the best and her demands not at all +unreasonable. Nancy was delighted and promptly engaged her. + +It took less than one day in the Drew household for Mrs. Carter to +prove her worth. + +"Don't you worry about a blessed thing, Miss Nancy," the woman said to +her. "I'll tend to everything." + +Nancy, satisfied that the new housekeeper was dependable, was delighted +to be relieved of responsibility, especially as she was eager to call +upon Emily Crandall. She had not forgotten that she had been promised +a glimpse of the famous Crandall jewels and she had no intention of +allowing the opportunity to slip away. + +Accordingly, after an early luncheon she backed her roadster from the +garage and set off for the Crandall cottage on the lake. It was with +high anticipation that she walked up the path to the house. She rapped +on the door, but there was no response. After a little wait, she rapped +again, louder than before. Still no one came to open the door. Somewhat +mystified, Nancy walked around the house. There appeared to be no one +at home. + +"It's only ten minutes after one," Nancy thought, glancing at her wrist +watch. "Emily probably didn't expect me this early. She may come back +later, but I don't believe I had better wait. I can see the jewels at +some later time." + +She returned to the roadster and after a moment's hesitation started +the motor and headed for River Heights again. She had driven less than +two miles when she noted the approach of a sedan. + +"Why, I believe that's Mrs. Willoughby's sedan," she told herself. "It +must be Emily." + +She brought the roadster to a halt and waved her hand. Instantly, there +was a grinding of brakes and the sedan came to a stop alongside. Emily +Crandall sprang from the car and came running over to the roadster. + +"Oh, Nancy, I'm so sorry! I know you must have stopped at the cottage. +I intended to get back before you came." + +"I just wanted to congratulate you on your birthday, Emily." + +"Thanks, Nancy. I'm as happy as a lark to-day." + +"Then you must have received your inheritance." + +Emily Crandall's pretty face clouded. + +"The jewels haven't been turned over to me yet. I shan't get them until +to-night." + +"How is that?" + +"Well, you see they've been kept in a safety deposit box in another +town. Mrs. Willoughby had to go after them to-day." + +"I should have thought you would have gone with her. I know I couldn't +have waited." + +"I did want to go, but Mrs. Willoughby went with a friend of hers--a +Mrs. Potter. I'm not very crazy about her, and, anyway, there wasn't +room in her coupé. I'll see the jewels to-night." + +"Then you'll have to keep them in the cottage all night!" + +"I suppose so." + +"But aren't you afraid, Emily?" + +"Yes, it does make me a trifle uneasy. But I guess they'll be safe +enough. No one knows I'm inheriting them except you and Mrs. Potter." + +"Oh, they'll probably be safe enough for one night," Nancy returned, +for she did not wish to alarm Emily; "but it seems a shame they +couldn't have been left in the safety deposit vault. Then there +couldn't be any risk." + +"That would have been wiser, I suppose," Emily said thoughtfully. "I +wish now I'd told Mrs. Willoughby to leave them in the bank vault, but +I've been perfectly crazy to see them." + +"Can't you telephone her?" + +"I'm afraid it's too late. She'll be on her way home by this time." + +"You'll probably get your jewels all right," Nancy observed. "But it +does seem to me that Mrs. Willoughby is a trifle careless in removing +them from the vault." + +"I guess that's just her way, Nancy. She always has been careless with +things. Oh, dear, I wish I had gone with her!" + +"I'm sorry I said anything, Emily. I didn't mean to disturb you." + +"Oh, I won't worry," Emily laughed. "I'm far too happy. Besides, we +haven't had a robbery in or anywhere near River Heights for years." + +"I think you're a very lucky girl to be coming into such an +inheritance," Nancy said easily. + +"I am lucky!" Emily's eyes began to dance and the troubled frown +instantly melted from her forehead. "And just look at this!" + +Proudly she displayed a glittering diamond on the third finger of her +left hand. + +"Emily Crandall! You're engaged!" + +Emily nodded happily. + +"I'll tell you all about it if you promise you won't repeat it to any +of the girls." + +"Cross my heart." + +"I'm engaged to Dick Farnham. You've met him, Nancy. Don't you +remember? He works at the Granger Manufacturing company." + +"Oh, yes, I remember! I wish you all kinds of happiness." + +"Dick and I would like to get married next fall," Emily went on. "But +right now he isn't making enough for us to live on." + +"If I remember correctly, Dick has excellent chances," Nancy said +politely. + +"Oh, yes, he's certain to work into a better position in a few years. +But it's so dreadfully hard to wait. He has a chance to buy out an +established business for three thousand dollars, too. If he could only +get started for himself, he'd soon make enough so we could get married." + +"Hasn't he any savings?" + +"Oh, yes! But not enough, and this deal requires cash. The worst of +it is that he must raise it within the next few weeks or miss the +opportunity." + +"What a shame!" + +"That's what I think. And I'll tell you what I intend to do, Nancy. You +won't tell?" + +"Of course not." + +"I'm going to sell a few of those jewels and set Dick up in business. I +know he will make good. Of course I intend to keep some of the jewels +and maybe have them reset; but there's no use in keeping them all. +They'd just lie around in a bank vault. Do you think I'm doing wrong to +help Dick?" + +"No, I don't," Nancy returned firmly. "I think it's very generous of +you. I certainly wish you all joy." + +"I felt sure you'd agree with me," Emily said eagerly. "And now since +I've told you all my history, won't you come back with me to the +cottage?" + +"I really haven't time now, Emily; but I'll drive back to-morrow if I +may." + +"Fine! Then you'll get to see the jewels after all. I'll be looking for +you." + +With a wave of her hand, Emily Crandall returned to the sedan and drove +away. + +For several minutes Nancy Drew sat motionless in her roadster, staring +fixedly straight before her. + +"Emily would be broken-hearted if anything happened to those jewels," +she thought. Then she shrugged her shoulders and shifted gears. "What's +the matter with me, anyway? Always borrowing trouble!" + + + + + CHAPTER V + + AT LILAC INN + + +As Nancy Drew drove slowly back toward River Heights she tried to +persuade herself that her fears concerning the Crandall jewels were +groundless. She did not fully succeed in doing this. + +In fact, at the very moment she said good-bye to Emily Crandall, +startling events were taking place only a few miles away. Had Nancy +Drew been at Lilac Inn she would have seen a handsome coupé swing up to +the door from which two elegantly dressed women alighted. Nancy would +have recognized Mrs. Jane Willoughby and her friend, Mrs. Clara Potter. + +As the two women stepped from the car Mrs. Willoughby cast a quick +glance about and nervously clutched a handbag which she carried. Mrs. +Potter kept close at her side. + +"Do you think it was wise to stop here for luncheon?" Mrs. Potter asked +in a low tone. "We can't take any chances, carrying all that precious +jewelry." + +"Hush!" her companion commanded sharply. "No one must know I have it!" + +The two women walked swiftly up the path to Lilac Inn and entered the +dining room. As the hour was early the room was but half filled and +the ladies were led at once to a table by a window. As the two seated +themselves, many of the diners turned to stare curiously, for it was +obvious from the nervous manner in which Mrs. Willoughby clutched her +handbag, that she was carrying something valuable. Mrs. Willoughby, +innocently unaware that she had given herself away, placed the handbag +on the table and sighed in relief as she unfastened her wrap. + +"I'm sure no one suspects that we are carrying valuables, Clara. +However, I shall feel very much relieved when I have Emily's receipt +for what I am carrying." + +"Mercy, but it's warm in here--or perhaps it's the excitement. Don't +you think we should have a window open?" + +"By all means, Clara." Mrs. Willoughby motioned to a waiter. "We would +like this window raised," she told him. + +The waiter glanced curiously at the large handbag which rested upon +the table, for the clasp was ornate, set rather lavishly with stones, +and with a polite bow opened the window. He then took the order and +departed. + +"Did you notice the way he looked at that purse?" Mrs. Willoughby +whispered. + +"Yes, I did. But he couldn't know what was in it, I'm sure." + +"Just the same, I almost wish we hadn't stopped here. This place is +beginning to give me the creeps." + +"I know just how you feel, Jane. I have the same sensation myself--just +as if someone were listening to our conversation." + +Mrs. Willoughby laughed nervously. + +"Aren't we silly, Clara? The other diners aren't paying a particle of +attention to us." + +"That woman over in the corner seems to be watching us, Jane. The one +with the piercing black eyes. I don't like her looks." + +Mrs. Willoughby glanced quickly toward the woman indicated and nodded +in agreement. + +"She does seem to be especially interested in what we are doing, +doesn't she? But of course she can't know that we are carrying +valuables. We haven't told a soul." + +"I suppose we're just nervous. Of course she can't know that the jewels +are in the handbag. After all, the bag is a beauty and well worth +looking at, and it is oversize for ordinary use. Well, here comes the +waiter with our luncheon. We can eat quickly and get away." + +As the waiter placed the steaming dishes upon the table, Mrs. +Willoughby watched him closely. She decided that she did not like the +way he kept looking at her handbag. Finally, he brought the salad, and +before Mrs. Willoughby could stop him he lifted the purse to make room +for the plates. + +"Don't touch that!" she said sharply. + +Mrs. Willoughby had not intended that her voice should carry, but to +her embarrassment several diners glanced at her curiously. + +"I beg your pardon, madam," the waiter said politely, giving her a +quick look. + +"Oh, I see," Mrs. Willoughby murmured apologetically as she saw that +the waiter had merely intended to move the purse to a more convenient +place on the table. "That's all right." + +The waiter returned to the kitchen with his tray and Mrs. Willoughby +and her friend exchanged anxious glances. + +"He must have felt how heavy it was when he lifted it, Clara!" + +"Yes. But I feel sure the help at Lilac Inn is reliable," Mrs. Potter +said comfortingly. "The management would have to be careful, you know, +in order to maintain the excellent reputation of the place." + +"Probably you are right. But I shall keep my eye on that handbag every +minute." + +"Yes, it doesn't pay to be careless." + +Conversation lagged as the two women turned their attention to +luncheon. They were both eager to get away from Lilac Inn, though +neither was willing to admit her growing nervousness. At last, to their +relief, the waiter appeared with dessert and coffee. + +Mrs. Willoughby had scarcely touched a spoon to her orange ice when a +woman who was sitting on the opposite side of the room gave a little +scream of fright. + +Instantly every eye turned her way. Mrs. Willoughby's spoon clattered +against the plate. Mrs. Potter sprang to her feet and she too gave a +cry of alarm. + +"Look at those two automobiles!" + +"Someone is going to be killed!" + +It was all over in an instant. To the horror-stricken diners there came +the sound of a terrific crash. Two automobiles had collided at the +crossroads. + +Chairs were hastily pushed back and everyone rushed to the doors and +windows. For several minutes everything was in confusion. In her haste +to see what had happened, Mrs. Willoughby upset a glass of water. Even +the waiters dropped their trays and ran to the door. + +"I saw it all!" Mrs. Potter cried. "I'm sure someone must have been +killed! The cars came together with terrific force!" + +"Oh, how dreadful!" Mrs. Willoughby moaned. "Why will people insist +upon speeding?" + +"Send for a doctor and an ambulance!" Mrs. Potter cried. + +Several men rushed from the dining room and hurried toward the scene +of the accident. One of the waiters sprang to a telephone and quickly +called the nearest doctor. The room was abuzz with excited conversation. + +"It was their own fault," someone declared emphatically. "I saw it all +from this window. Both cars were going at terrific speed." + +"Oh, I hope no one was killed," Mrs. Willoughby murmured anxiously. + +For a few minutes it seemed that everyone talked at once, relating what +each had witnessed. The commotion died down as the manager of the tea +room, an elderly, pleasant-faced woman, came up the path. + +"It's all right," she informed the diners. "Fortunately, no one was +seriously injured. Both cars were completely wrecked." + +"What a relief," Mrs. Willoughby sighed, as she turned away from the +window. + +Nearly all of the diners went back to their tables and Mrs. Willoughby +and her companion among them. As Mrs. Potter sank down into her chair, +her eyes swept the table in amazement. + +"Oh, Jane!" she cried in alarm. "Your bag! You picked it up, didn't +you?" + +Mrs. Willoughby rushed to the table, her face expressing genuine horror. + +"No, I thought you did!" + +"I didn't touch the bag. When I heard that terrible crash I forgot all +about it." + +"It must be here somewhere. Look under the table." + +[Illustration: "IT MUST BE HERE SOMEWHERE--LOOK UNDER THE TABLE."] + +Mrs. Potter jerked up the table cloth, but there was no sign of the +handbag on the floor. + +"It isn't here, Jane." + +With a low moan, Mrs. Willoughby sank into a chair. + +"Oh, what shall I do?" she wailed. "Someone has stolen it! Emily's +inheritance!" + +"I can't believe it!" cried Mrs. Potter frantically. "The purse must +be here! But perhaps you dropped it in your chair," she suggested +hopefully. + +"No, I've looked there. And it isn't on the floor. Oh, what shall I do?" + +"Are you sure it didn't drop behind the table? Here, let me pull it +out." + +Mrs. Potter grasped the edge of the table as she spoke and pulled it +away from the window. The missing handbag was not revealed! + + + + + CHAPTER VI + + ACCUSATIONS + + +By this time a number of the diners, attracted by the strange actions +and excited voices of the two women, had crowded about them. The +manager came hurrying up to inquire what the trouble was. + +"My handbag!" Mrs. Willoughby wailed. "Someone has taken it!" + +"Oh, there must be a mistake," the manager assured her. + +"There's no mistake. I left it on the table when I ran to the window at +the sound of the crash. I couldn't have had my back turned more than a +minute. When I rushed back to the table my handbag was gone." + +"This is very serious, Madam. Are you certain you did not have the bag +in your hand when you left the table?" + +Miserably, Mrs. Willoughby shook her head. + +"I'm sure I didn't." + +"Someone must have stolen it," Mrs. Potter interposed. "That's the only +explanation." + +"I'll never leave this place until I get my handbag back!" Mrs. +Willoughby screamed hysterically. "I'll have everyone searched!" + +"Just a minute, please," the cool voice of the manager interposed. "Let +me get this straight. How much do you claim that you lost?" + +"Claim?" Mrs. Willoughby cried angrily. "Do you mean to insinuate that +my handbag wasn't stolen?" + +"I am not insinuating anything. I am merely trying to get at the bottom +of the matter. How much money did you have in your purse?" + +"Not a cent in money, but I had a fortune in jewels! Forty thousand +dollars' worth of jewels, mostly diamonds, and they didn't belong to +me!" + +There was a surprised chorus of "oh's" from those who had gathered +about, and at once many of the diners began to search the floor and +near-by tables. No trace of the handbag was found. + +"I regret that such a thing has happened in my tea room," the manager +said, with a troubled frown. "But of course it was very unwise of you +to bring such an amount into the dining room. We provide a safe for our +customers' valuables. Since you did not choose to make use of it, the +management is in no way responsible for your loss. However, I will do +everything in my power to help you recover the jewels." + +"They were stolen by someone in this room!" Mrs. Willoughby cried +excitedly. "I insist that every person be searched." + +The manager hesitated, for she felt that such a procedure might arouse +the ire of her customers, especially those who were socially prominent. + +"I for one am willing to submit to a search," a feminine guest declared +quickly. + +Others expressed their willingness to subject themselves to the ordeal. +Of all the guests, only two women insisted that the search would be an +indignity. One of these, the dark woman who had attracted the attention +of Mrs. Willoughby and Mrs. Potter some time before, tried to slip out +of the door. + +"Don't let her go!" Mrs. Potter cried. "She must be searched with the +others!" + +"I have nothing to conceal," the woman retorted with a show of hauteur. + +"We will see about that," Mrs. Willoughby snapped. + +"You'll see yourself if you persist in this indignity!" exclaimed the +woman, a spot of scarlet flaming into each cheek. + +"Perhaps it will be best for you to submit to the search," the manager +suggested in a conciliatory voice. "If you ladies will step into the +adjoining cloakroom one by one I will make the search myself." + +Again the black-eyed woman began to protest angrily, but her companion, +who had been the only other person to object to the search, said a few +words in an undertone and the enraged woman closed her mouth in a grim +line and said no more. + +While Mrs. Willoughby and her friend waited anxiously in the dining +room, the search was conducted. Within fifteen minutes the clothing +of every guest had been examined, including that of the woman who +had attempted to escape from the inn. The manager shook her head +regretfully as she returned to Mrs. Willoughby. + +"I did not find the jewels." + +"Then some of the help must have taken it." + +"I can vouch for every person in my employ. I demand the highest +references." + +"Well, someone took the pocketbook! It couldn't have walked off by +itself! I saw one of the waiters looking at it and when he brought the +salad----" + +"Jennings has been in my employ for six years," the manager said +quietly. "But if it will rest your mind on that score, I am certain he +will submit to a search." + +"Certainly." + +The waiter stepped forward, bestowing a not too kindly glance upon the +two women. One of the men in the room offered to conduct the search. In +a very few minutes he returned, but without the pocketbook. + +"The kitchen help must be brought in," Mrs. Willoughby insisted. + +"Really this is going a trifle too far," the Manager said impatiently. +"As I told you, I can vouch for all my help. And of course the kitchen +girls never enter this room. It is ridiculous to think that one of them +could have taken your bag." + +"Someone took it." + +"Are you certain that you had the handbag when you came into the dining +room?" This came in a drawling voice from one of the women who had been +searched. + +"Am I certain?" Mrs. Willoughby screamed as she sprang up from the +chair into which she had dropped in exhaustion. "Of course I am!" + +Until this moment Mrs. Willoughby had controlled herself fairly well, +but the realization that people were beginning to doubt her own honesty +entirely unnerved her. She began to pace the floor, wringing her hands. + +"Oh, what shall I do? What shall I do? I'll never be able to face +Emily." + +"Try to calm yourself," the manager begged. + +"I can't be calm! I've lost poor Emily's fortune! Oh, I wish I were +dead!" + +"Jane! Jane!" Mrs. Potter pleaded. + +Mrs. Willoughby paid not the slightest heed to her friend but suddenly +wheeled upon the staring guests. + +"Is anyone missing who was here when the accident occurred?" she +demanded. + +A check-up was hastily made and it was found that two persons were +missing. + +"They're probably at the crossroads helping those poor autoists," the +manager suggested. + +Mrs. Willoughby, becoming more excited every moment, appeared not to +have heard. + +"One of them must have snatched my purse and run away with it!" she +screamed. "Oh, help me catch the thief!" + +She rushed toward the door, but before she reached it gave a low moan +of pain and clutched at a table. She would have fallen to the floor had +not Mrs. Potter caught her in her arms. + +"It's her heart!" Mrs. Potter cried. "The excitement has been too much +for her. Oh, she's fainted." + +Willing hands aided Mrs. Potter in stretching the limp figure out upon +a couch. Someone brought a pitcher of water. A damp cloth was pressed +against Mrs. Willoughby's forehead and her hands were chafed. After a +few minutes she began to revive. + +"What will Emily say when I tell her?" she moaned over and over. + +The bystanders murmured, some sympathetically, some skeptically. + +"She will be all right in a few minutes," Mrs. Potter said. "She has +had trouble with her heart before. Poor thing! I don't wonder that she +fainted." + +As soon as Mrs. Willoughby was able to sit up, the manager suggested +that she be removed to another room. + +"No, I feel better now," Mrs. Willoughby said weakly. "I can walk to +the automobile." + +In spite of the protests of those who had attended her, she insisted +upon departing. Leaning heavily upon Mrs. Potter's arm, she moved +slowly toward the door. + +"I'm sure we'll find the handbag for you," the manager said kindly. + +Mrs. Willoughby shook her head. + +"I'm convinced someone snatched it and ran away. I'll probably never +see the jewels again. Oh, my poor little Emily! How can I tell her?" + + + + + CHAPTER VII + + DAMAGING RUMORS + + +"Ho-hum, but I'm tired to-night. Hard day at the office." + +Carson Drew dropped his hat on the living room table and sank wearily +on the davenport. "By the way, Nancy, I suppose you've heard the bad +news by this time." + +"What news?" Nancy demanded anxiously. "Don't dare tell me that +Judge Graham isn't coming after all the trouble I've had getting a +satisfactory housekeeper." + +"Oh, Judge Graham will get here all right. I was referring to the news +about your little friend, Emily Crandall." + +"Emily? Why, I saw her only this afternoon." + +"But you didn't see the Crandall jewels." + +"Why, no, her guardian was to deliver them later in the day." + +"Read this!" + +Mr. Drew spread out the front page of the evening paper before his +daughter's startled eyes. + +"The Crandall jewels--stolen!" Nancy gasped. "Oh, how dreadful!" + +"I can't say that it surprises me much," Mr. Drew commented dryly. +"Mrs. Willoughby didn't appear to have used an ounce of sense. She +invited trouble by carrying forty thousand dollars' worth of diamonds +unguarded." + +"What a blow this will be to Emily, Dad. Why, she has counted on her +inheritance for everything! Now, she won't be able to help Dick." + +"It's a shame, all right," Mr. Drew agreed. + +"Surely, she won't lose her entire inheritance, Father. The jewels were +never turned over to her. Couldn't Mrs. Willoughby be held responsible?" + +"That's a legal question, Nancy." + +"But the loss was due to her carelessness." + +"Apparently so. But the court would demand absolute proof. Emily would +have to bring suit against her guardian." + +"I suppose she'll never do that," Nancy said thoughtfully. "Emily told +me that she is fond of her guardian." + +"Moreover, it's very doubtful that she could collect a cent if she did +bring suit. Even if she won the case I don't see that she would gain +much." + +"Why, I thought Mrs. Willoughby had a great deal of money." + +"She did at one time. But I've been told that most of it has slipped +through her fingers. Mrs. Willoughby has lived a bit high, Nancy. She +likes to move in gay society and associate with expensive friends." + +"Mrs. Potter for instance." + +"Yes. While her husband was alive, Mrs. Willoughby never had to think +about money matters. Unfortunately, she is not a good business woman." + +"Are you certain she is in straitened circumstances?" Nancy inquired +anxiously. + +"I am sure of it. I was told that only last week she applied at the +bank for a loan of five thousand dollars and was refused." + +"What an unfortunate time for her to lose Emily's inheritance," Nancy +said significantly. + +"Yes, it's beginning to look bad for her. Rumors are circulating even +now." + +"What are people saying?" + +"It's being hinted that Mrs. Willoughby had designs on Emily's fortune +herself." + +"But she was always so kind to Emily." + +"I know. Mind, I'm telling you only what others are saying." + +"What do you believe?" + +"My dear child," and Mr. Drew smiled, "I wouldn't venture an opinion. I +always reserve judgment until I have all of the facts." + +Nancy glanced thoughtfully at the account in the paper. + +"It says here that she fainted when she learned that the bag had been +stolen. That looks as though she felt the loss most keenly." + +"Unless she was acting." + +"You don't think that the robbery was a frame-up, do you?" Nancy asked, +in astonishment. + +"You're a regular detective when it comes to pinning a fellow down," +Mr. Drew complained good-naturedly. "I am merely considering the +possibility. As I understand it, Mrs. Willoughby had access to the +safety deposit box containing the jewels. It would not have been +difficult for her to have pawned them weeks ago, perhaps substituting +paste. Then the little scene at Lilac Inn could have been staged." + +"But this account says that Mrs. Willoughby actually carried a handbag +into the inn," Nancy reminded her father. "Several persons noticed +it--it was conspicuous--and how uneasily she acted. There is no +question that the purse mysteriously disappeared. What became of it?" + +"That's what the police would like to know," Mr. Drew replied. + +"Of course, if Mrs. Willoughby had been staging the whole scene, it +might have been possible for her to have secreted the purse somewhere." + +"Or Mrs. Potter may have taken it." + +"That's another angle to consider, all right. The paper says she wasn't +searched." + +"It's a baffling mystery, Nancy. Perhaps you'd better take a hand in +it." + +"Don't make fun of me, Dad." + +"I'm not. I have great respect for your ability in tracking down a +mystery. In fact, once or twice you've rather shown your old dad up." + +"You know I haven't," Nancy protested, highly pleased. "But there's +something about this mystery that catches my interest, and of course +I'd give anything to help Emily Crandall regain her inheritance." + +"Unless I miss my guess, this Crandall affair will prove more baffling +than any other case you ever attacked. You might try your teeth on it." + +Nancy Drew's eyes began to sparkle, but she shook her head. + +"I wouldn't think of interfering--that is, unless Emily asked me to." + +"Perhaps it's just as well that you shouldn't get mixed up in it. This +isn't an ordinary robbery." + +"Haven't the police any real clue?" + +"They're inclined to suspect Mrs. Willoughby." + +"The police have been known to blunder." + +"Yes. But sometimes, too, they are right, and this time they may not +be far off the track. At least Mrs. Willoughby will bear watching. I +wouldn't enjoy being in her shoes." + +"Nor would I. I met her a number of months ago, but I haven't a very +vivid recollection of what she is like." + +"A charming woman, in appearance at least. However, you can't tell to +what lengths a person will go when in desperate need of money." + +"Emily will be crushed if she learns that her guardian is suspected. I +have a notion to run out to the cottage and see her." + +"Why don't you? I imagine she's all broken up over the loss of the +jewels." + +Nancy glanced at her watch. + +"It's getting late. Still, it won't be dark for at least an hour. I'll +do it!" + +Hurrying to her room, she snatched up her hat and came clattering down +the stairs two at a time. + +"Good-bye, Dad," she called, as she started toward the back door. "I +won't be gone long." + +Mr. Drew did not reply, for just at that moment there was a step on the +veranda. Nancy paused and glanced questioningly toward her father. + +"I'll wait and see who it is," she decided. "It may be someone for me." + +The doorbell rang sharply, but before Nancy could retrace her steps +the housekeeper opened the door. There was a murmur of voices in the +outside hall and then Mrs. Carter appeared with a small calling card +which she handed to Mr. Drew. + +"She says it's very important that she see you to-night," the +housekeeper reported. + +Mr. Drew glanced carelessly at the card, and then his eyebrows lifted +slightly. He turned to Nancy with a peculiar expression. + +"It's Mrs. Willoughby," he said quietly. "I wonder what she wants of +me." + +"Perhaps I'd better leave the room," Nancy suggested. "Mrs. Willoughby +may wish to talk with you privately." + +"Stay if you like and hear what she has to say," Mr. Drew responded. +"You're as much interested in the case as I am." + +He turned to the housekeeper who was awaiting his decision. + +"Kindly ask Mrs. Willoughby to come in." + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + + MRS. WILLOUGHBY'S CALL + + +The housekeeper vanished at Mr. Drew's words to reappear almost at once +followed by the elegant Mrs. Willoughby. Mr. Drew arose and politely +offered her a chair. Mrs. Carter discreetly withdrew. + +"Oh, Mr. Drew, I'm in such trouble!" The visitor stopped short as she +noticed Nancy for the first time. + +"Don't mind my daughter. Anything that you may say will be held in +strict confidence. Nancy is a close friend of your ward's and will help +you if she can." + +"Then you've already heard?" + +The lawyer indicated the evening paper. + +"I read the account in the paper. Were the details correct?" + +"In the main," Mrs. Willoughby admitted reluctantly. "Oh, it's +dreadful! Emily is heartbroken!" + +Nancy, who was studying the woman closely, tried to make up her mind +whether or not she was pretending. Either she was an excellent actress +or genuinely agitated. + +"Mr. Drew, you must help me," Mrs. Willoughby went on. "I feel my +position keenly. Even the police are blaming me. It's so unjust." + +"Has your ward accused you?" + +"Oh, no! Emily wouldn't think of doing that. She's been wonderful. But +the loss of the jewels will leave her destitute. I can't bear to think +that I am the cause of it all." Mrs. Willoughby began to sob into her +handkerchief. + +Mr. Drew glanced quickly at his daughter, and Nancy gave an emphatic +nod of her head, as much as to say that she would like to probe more +deeply into the case and wanted her father to help her. + +"There, Mrs. Willoughby," he said kindly, "don't take on. I will do +anything in my power to aid you." + +"You will? Oh, I'm so relieved!" The woman ceased crying and actually +smiled. "I know everything will be all right now." + +"I am not certain that I can recover the jewels for you," Mr. Drew +pointed out; "so you mustn't build up your hopes too soon. The case +will be a very difficult one." + +Mrs. Willoughby's face clouded again. + +"I didn't ask about your fee," she stammered. "I am afraid I must tell +you that I haven't a great deal of money at present." + +"I assure you my fee will be very reasonable. And now perhaps you will +answer a few questions concerning the robbery." + +"Anything!" + +"Have you any theory as to what became of the handbag?" + +"Oh, yes! I'm sure it was snatched by one of the inn guests at the time +of that frightful automobile accident. When we checked up later, two of +the guests were missing." + +"Are you certain they had not gone to help at the scene of the wreck?" + +"Well, at the time of the crash, a number of persons ran out of the +inn. After the victims had been rushed to the hospital, all came back +except these two." + +"Do you know who they were?" + +"No. Mrs. Potter and I hurried to the crossroads just as soon as I was +able to walk--I fainted, you know. There wasn't a sign of anyone near +the wreck." + +"Perhaps the two who left the inn took the victims to the hospital," +Mr. Drew suggested. + +"That's so. I hadn't thought of that." + +"In that event, their hasty leave-taking would be perfectly natural. Of +course, one of the persons might have snatched your purse and used the +accident as a pretext to get away." + +"That's what I thought," Mrs. Willoughby said eagerly. + +"The clue will bear investigation," Mr. Drew continued; "but I am +inclined to believe it will not lead to anything." + +"After all, it may have been the waiter. I was suspicious of him from +the moment I stepped into the inn. He kept looking at my handbag." + +"I understand he submitted to a search." + +"Yes, I insisted upon it. The jewels weren't found upon his person, but +he might have hidden them." + +"I see by the paper that the handbag was rather larger than those +usually carried and was highly ornamented." + +"Yes, I knew I should need a large bag for those jewels. Still, it was +not so large that it could not be stolen and concealed." + +"Do you recall whether the waiter left the dining room during the +confusion?" + +"I really can't say," Mrs. Willoughby confessed. "I was so terribly +excited myself." + +"Could this waiter have known that you were carrying valuables in your +purse?" + +"He might have heard Mrs. Potter and me talking about it." + +"You were speaking loudly?" + +"Oh, no! We scarcely raised our voices above a whisper." + +"I see." Mr. Drew thoughtfully tapped a pencil against the arm of his +chair. After a moment he studied Mrs. Willoughby again. + +"Tell me, were all of the guests searched?" + +"Yes. Two women protested but finally gave in." + +"How about Mrs. Potter?" + +"Mrs. Potter? I don't understand." + +"Was your friend searched with the others?" + +"Certainly not," Mrs. Willoughby returned a trifle tartly. "It would +have been insulting for me to have requested it." + +"You feel then that she is trustworthy." + +"Absolutely." + +"How long have you known her?" + +"Oh, a year at least." + +"Hm," the lawyer mused. "Mrs. Willoughby, when you ran to the window, +what did Mrs. Potter do?" + +"What did she do?" Mrs. Willoughby asked a trifle impatiently. "Why, I +don't remember exactly. She screamed and rushed to the window too, I +believe." + +"Then she was beside you every moment." + +"N-o," Mrs. Willoughby admitted slowly. "We weren't at the same window. +Really, I can't see the sense of these questions. Mrs. Potter had +nothing to do with the loss of the handbag." + +"Probably not," Mr. Drew agreed soothingly. "But I am trying to get at +the bottom of the affair, and to do that I must investigate every clue." + +"Mrs. Potter is my best friend. She would have no reason for stealing +the jewels." + +Seeing that Mrs. Willoughby was becoming agitated again, Mr. Drew +decided to terminate the interview. + +"I believe I have nothing more to ask you," he told her. + +"You'll get the jewels back for me?" + +"My dear Mrs. Willoughby, I can't make rash promises. As I told you +before, the case is complicated. I will do my best to help you, though +at the present time I am busy with other work. It seems to me that it +might be wise for you to turn the affair over to a detective." + +Mrs. Willoughby shook her head as she arose to leave. + +"No, I've heard a great deal about your work, Mr. Drew, and I want you +to take the case." + +"Very well, I will report to you as soon as I learn anything of +importance. In the meantime, do not discuss the case with anyone." + +The lawyer escorted Mrs. Willoughby to the door and waited until she +had left the porch before turning to Nancy. + +"Well, little Golden Locks, what do you think of her?" + +"Quite frivolous, but apparently honest," Nancy returned slowly. "It's +a real mystery, isn't it? Do you really suspect Mrs. Willoughby?" + +"No, or I shouldn't have taken the case even for your sake and for +Emily's. Still, she is far from being free from suspicion. Any one of a +number of persons might have stolen the jewels." + +"I'd like to meet Mrs. Potter and hear her version of the robbery," +said Nancy slowly. + +"Yes, I must ask her to come to my office to-morrow." Mr. Drew frowned. +"Hang it all, I have an important conference! I really haven't time for +this case." + +"I wish I could take it," Nancy murmured wistfully. + +Mr. Drew studied his daughter meditatively. + +"Well, why not?" + +"I'm afraid it's too complicated for me. Anyway, Emily might feel that +I was interfering." + +"If you're still planning on running out to see her, you'd better +hurry. It's getting late." + +"I'll go now." + +Nancy caught up her hat and with a hurried good-bye dashed out the +back door to the garage. In a few minutes she was speeding toward the +cottage on the lake. + +"I hope Mrs. Willoughby doesn't get there before I do," she thought. +"I'd rather talk to Emily alone." + +After a short drive she came within sight of the cottage and was +relieved to see that a light was shining through the windows. Parking +the roadster, she hurried up the path and rapped on the door. + +"Nancy!" Emily gasped, as she flung open the door to admit her friend. +"Oh, I'm so glad you came!" + +"You've been crying," Nancy observed quietly. + +"I've lost my inheritance, Nancy. Mrs. Willoughby thinks we'll get the +jewels back, but I'm sure we'll not. I was counting on the money so +much! Now I can't help Dick!" + +As Emily Crandall spoke she looked away and tried to keep back the +tears. She did not succeed, and when the two girls entered the living +room she flung herself on the couch and burst into a paroxysm of +weeping. + +"Oh, it's too dreadful, Nancy," she sobbed. "To have this inheritance +come to me and then have it snatched away just when I'd planned to +do so much with it! It's the loss of my grandmother's jewels and my +not being able to help Dick and having to postpone my marriage, all +jumbled into one!" + +Nancy waited for a few minutes, then as the sobs grew quieter said +comfortingly: + +"Perhaps the fortune will be recovered." + +"I'm afraid not. It seems to me the police are just going around in +circles. By this time the thief is probably safe in another state." + +"It's too mean for anything," Nancy went on. "I wish there was +something I could do." + +Emily glanced up quickly as a thought occurred to her. + +"Why can't you help me?" she demanded tensely. "You've helped lots of +other people!" + +"I don't want to interfere. The police----" + +"Oh, the police!" Emily dismissed them with a wave of her hand. "You're +a wonder when it comes to solving a mystery! Will you help me?" + +Nancy Drew hesitated and then nodded. + +"I'll do my best." + +"Oh, fine!" Emily's relief was evident. "The jewels are as good as +found this minute!" + +Nancy Drew smiled at her friend's returning good spirits, but as she +walked down the path a few minutes later the smile faded from her face. +She was eager to help Emily and pleased at an opportunity to "try her +teeth" on a baffling mystery, but well she knew that she faced the most +difficult task of her career. + + + + + CHAPTER IX + + NANCY INVESTIGATES + + +"Since I talked with Mrs. Willoughby last evening, I've decided that I +can't take her case after all." + +Carson Drew pushed back his empty coffee cup as he addressed his +daughter who sat opposite him at the breakfast table. + +"You can't take it? Why not?" + +"I forgot all about a case I have coming up this week. I'll be in +court and shan't have time to think of anything else. I must ask Mrs. +Willoughby to turn the matter over to another lawyer." + +Nancy frowned, for this did not suit her plans at all. + +"Why not turn it over to me, Dad?" + +"But you said you didn't want to get mixed up in it." + +"I've changed my mind. I talked with Emily Crandall last night and she +wants me to help her if I can." + +"Do you feel that you can handle the affair? It has the earmarks of a +baffling mystery." + +"I like them baffling," and Nancy grinned. "If I don't have any luck +you can turn the case over to another lawyer." + +"All right, go ahead. Have you any clue?" + +"Not a one," Nancy admitted. "I thought I would drive over and +interview Mrs. Potter. Then I intend to motor to Lilac Inn and talk +with the manager." + +"An excellent start. I wish you luck." + +"I'll probably need it." + +Ten o'clock found Nancy Drew driving toward the home of Mrs. Clara +Potter. A trifle uncertainly, for she did not know what sort of +reception to expect, she drew up in front of a large white house and +walked toward the veranda. She noticed that the grounds were well kept +and saw a gardener working in the flower beds. + +"Mrs. Potter doesn't appear to be poverty-stricken, at least," Nancy +told herself. + +She lifted the door knocker, and presently was admitted by a trim maid. +Nancy explained that she wished to see Mrs. Potter, and after a short +wait was admitted to the lady's boudoir. Mrs. Potter, languid in an +exquisite lounging robe, was just finishing her breakfast, but she +arose at once to greet her caller. Nancy introduced herself, explaining +her mission. + +"Certainly, I'll tell you all I know about the robbery," Mrs. Potter +declared, offering Nancy a seat. "I feel very sorry for poor Jane, but +I must say she brought disaster upon herself. I warned her that it was +unwise to carry those jewels the way she did." + +Mrs. Potter then gave her account of the robbery, which tallied with +the story Mrs. Willoughby had already given out. + +"Did you see Mrs. Willoughby place the handbag on the table?" Nancy +questioned, when Mrs. Potter had finished her tale. + +"Yes, I did." + +"Did you know that it contained the Crandall jewels?" + +Mrs. Potter hesitated. + +"Well, I didn't actually see the jewels. I went with Jane to the bank, +but I remained in an outside room while she entered the vault." + +"I see. Have you any reason to believe that Mrs. Willoughby might not +have taken the jewels from the vault?" + +"Certainly not." + +"I have been told that Mrs. Willoughby is in rather straitened +circumstance," Nancy said, hoping to draw Mrs. Potter out. + +"Yes, Jane has been having trouble with her finances," the other +admitted. "A few weeks ago I offered to lend her five hundred dollars." + +"She accepted?" + +"Yes. But a few days later she came to me and said that she did not +require the money." + +Nancy felt that this information was valuable, and quickly asked +another question. + +"Do you know where she secured the money which she evidently needed?" + +"I didn't feel that it was my concern." Mrs. Potter looked troubled. "I +hope you don't think that poor Jane planned that robbery herself." + +"I am merely tracing down a number of clues," Nancy replied simply. "I +understand that you were the first to discover that the handbag was +missing." + +"Yes," Mrs. Potter agreed noncommittally, her expression hardening. + +"Have you any theory as to what became of it?" + +"No." + +It was evident to Nancy that Mrs. Potter was no longer willing to +answer her questions; so after a little she said good-bye and left the +house. + +"I wonder if she was trying to hide something," Nancy Drew mused as she +drove toward Lilac Inn. "She certainly closed up quickly enough when I +started to question her about her own actions." + +She was still considering Mrs. Potter's apparent unwillingness to +answer personal questions when she reached Lilac Inn. As it was early +in the morning she found the place deserted of guests and had no +difficulty in finding the manager. + +"Certainly, I'll be very glad to answer any of your questions," the +woman agreed readily after Nancy had explained who she was. "Step into +my office where we shall be undisturbed." + +"Thank you," Nancy returned pleasantly. "But if you don't mind, I would +like to see the table where Mrs. Willoughby sat." + +"Why, of course. Right this way. She sat at this table by the window." + +Nancy glanced at the table and then stepped to the window and looked +out upon the rear veranda. + +"As I understand it, Mrs. Willoughby ran to the window on the opposite +side of the room when the crash came," the manager explained. "From +where she sat it was impossible to see the crossroads." + +"And during the brief time that her back was turned the handbag +disappeared?" + +"So Mrs. Willoughby claims." + +"Do you doubt her story then?" Nancy demanded quickly. + +"I really can't say," the manager evaded. "After the accident took +place, I rushed outside with a number of the others. When I returned I +learned that the purse had disappeared." + +"I have been told that two of the guests failed to return to the dining +room after the accident." + +"I took it upon myself to investigate that angle, Miss Drew. I called +the Mercy Hospital this morning and learned that the victims of the +automobile accident were brought there by two persons who had been +dining here." + +"Then you discredit Mrs. Willoughby's theory that her purse was +snatched by one of the guests." + +"Yes, I do." + +Nancy Drew accepted this for what it was worth, making ample allowance +for the fact that the manager undoubtedly was bent on preserving the +reputation of Lilac Inn. She determined that she would not drop this +clue without a little investigation of her own. + +"How about your help?" she inquired, starting out on a new line. "Are +you sure that everyone in your employ is honest?" + +"Yes. I am very particular. The handbag could not have been taken by +anyone who works at the Inn." + +"How many waiters were in the dining room at the time when Mrs. +Willoughby discovered her loss?" + +"I employ fifteen waiters. Eight or nine were in the room, I should +judge." + +"Were they all searched?" + +"No, only Jennings. He served Mrs. Willoughby." + +"Why were the others not searched?" + +"I did not deem it necessary. They were occupied at tables in other +parts of the room and could not have snatched the purse without being +detected." + +"May I talk with Jennings, please?" + +"Certainly. But it will only be a waste of time. He had nothing to do +with the robbery, I am sure." + +"If you please, I think I will ask him a few questions." + +"I'll call him." + +The manager stepped to the kitchen door. Presently she returned, +followed by Jennings. He was tall, precise in gait, and a trifle sullen +in appearance. He regarded Nancy Drew with obvious misgiving. + +"Jennings," the girl began quietly, "where were you at the time of the +automobile accident?" + +"I was on my way to the kitchen with a tray of dishes, Miss. Someone +let out a scream. I set the tray on a table and ran to the door to see +what had happened." + +"On your way to the door did you pass Mrs. Willoughby's table?" + +"No, Miss." + +"At any time did you notice Mrs. Willoughby's purse?" + +The waiter hesitated before answering this question and Nancy regarded +him sharply. + +"I saw it when I was serving her." + +"And at the time of the alarm?" + +"I did not look that way." + +"Well, I believe that will be all. No, I have one more question. What +do you think became of the handbag?" + +"I couldn't rightly say, Miss. I only know that I didn't like the looks +of that woman with Mrs. Willoughby. She was a queer one." + +"Queer? In what way?" + +The waiter shrugged his shoulders. + +"I can't rightly say--it was just a feeling I had. Now if you've +finished with me I'll go back to my work." + +Nancy nodded absently and the waiter departed with alacrity. + +"Do you wish to question any of the others?" the manager asked politely. + +"Perhaps it won't be necessary. Have you engaged any new help recently?" + +"Indeed, I haven't," and the manager smiled. "I am looking for another +salad girl, but it's a real problem to find the right sort of help. +I've almost given up trying." + +"I can sympathize with you there," Nancy laughed. "I've been having +difficulties of my own. And now I'll not take any more of your time. +Thank you for helping me." + +She said good-bye to the manager and left the Inn. Driving back to +River Heights, she reviewed the conflicting information which she had +secured. After all her work had she really made any progress toward +solving the mystery of the Crandall jewels? True, she had unearthed +a great many clues, but in untangling them might she not lose her +bearings in a hopeless maze of detail? Sorely perplexed and a trifle +discouraged, Nancy Drew admitted to herself that the mystery of Lilac +Inn was likely to prove even more baffling than she had anticipated. + + + + + CHAPTER X + + AN ENCOUNTER + + +Though Nancy Drew had learned little which shed light on the mystery at +Lilac Inn, she had no intention of admitting defeat. On the following +day she again set out in her blue roadster, visiting a number of the +guests who had been dining at the inn at the time of the strange +jewelry robbery. Few of the persons were able to furnish information +which she did not already have, so on the whole the day was wasted. + +The next morning Nancy telephoned the hospital and through the +officials learned the names of the two men who had brought in the +victims of the automobile accident. Calling upon them, she found +nothing to arouse her suspicions. They told a straightforward story, +relating that at the time of the crash they had driven to the scene of +the accident in their automobile, and when no one seemed to know what +to do, had taken it upon themselves to rush the victims to the hospital. + +"Oh, dear," Nancy thought, "I seem farther than ever from the real +solution. I don't know what to do next. Unless I find a genuine clue +I'm afraid I'll have to turn the case back to Dad after all." + +It was no wonder that when Helen Corning, Nancy's particular chum, +dropped in that afternoon to ask her to go shopping she found her a +trifle depressed. + +"You look terribly thoughtful, Nancy," she bantered. "What's on your +mind?" + +"Nothing," Nancy returned gloomily, "and that's the whole trouble." + +"I suppose by that you mean you're head over heels in another mystery. +I know the symptoms by this time. You always get thoughtful and crawl +into your old clam shell." + +"Why my clam shell?" Nancy laughed good-naturedly. + +"Because when you're working on a mystery a fellow can't get a word out +of you." + +"Well, I don't mind telling you this time what I'm working on." + +"What?" Helen demanded eagerly. + +"The Crandall jewelry mystery." + +"Oh, I read all about it in the newspapers! Poor Emily! I felt so sorry +for her. If a thing like that happened to me I never would stop talking +about my hard luck." + +"Emily doesn't do very much talking." + +"No, she always was the quiet sort. Then, I suppose she's trying to +shield her guardian. She was devoted to Mrs. Willoughby. Tell me, +Nancy, do you think Mrs. Willoughby took the jewels herself?" + +"I wish I knew, Helen. I never attempted to solve a more baffling case." + +"Haven't you any clues at all?" + +"On the contrary, I have too many of them. Everyone accuses everyone +else and anyone might be guilty. However, I don't intend to give up +until I've recovered the jewels." + +"I certainly admire your pluck," Helen said enviously. "I wish I had +your brains, too." + +"I wish I had the brains you give me credit for. If I did, I could see +my way through the terrible maze I'm in now." + +"You'll uncover something one of these days." + +"I hope so." Nancy frowned. "But the time is so short. Dad told me this +morning that the police are getting impatient." + +"They haven't learned a thing themselves, have they?" + +"Well, they've questioned Mrs. Willoughby closely and have succeeded in +frightening her so that she couldn't tell them a straight story to save +her life. Dad thinks they will arrest her in a few days if something +new doesn't come to light." + +"How terrible all of this must be for Emily! She's so sensitive." + +"Yes, and I think she trusts Mrs. Willoughby implicitly. She's sort of +depending upon me to straighten everything out." + +"You'll do it too," Helen returned confidently. + +"Oh, Helen, I'm up against it! To tell you the truth, I haven't the +slightest idea who took that jewelry. I've investigated every clue and +I'm just as far from the solution now as I was at the start." + +"You'll find a way out of the tangle," Helen observed. + +"I wonder if I shall." + +"You're letting this thing get the best of you, Nancy. Why not forget +it all for the afternoon and go shopping with me? Your mind may work +more clearly after a little recreation." + +"Perhaps you're right. At all events, my mind isn't functioning at all +now, so I'll go." + +"Fine! My runabout is outside. Get your hat and come on." + +Nancy Drew jumped up from the window seat and quickly found her hat. A +few minutes later the two girls were driving down the boulevard toward +the main part of the city. Helen drove skillfully, and to her elation +found a parking place just in front of her favorite department store. + +"I have a long list of things I want to buy," Helen informed Nancy, as +the two girls entered the store. "I'm invited to a week-end party and I +simply haven't a thing to wear." + +"The old story," Nancy laughed. "Well, I'll just tag along and watch +you shop." + +"Aren't you going to buy anything?" + +"I'm not in particular need of a thing right now, but I may see +something I want as we go along. You lead the way." + +"To the glove department then." + +Nancy stood quietly by while Helen made her purchase and then +accompanied her to the shoe department. After that they went to the +ready-made section and then to the millinery department. + +"Are you going to buy out the whole store?" Nancy demanded at last. + +"It does begin to look that way, doesn't it? I don't usually go on +such an orgy, but this is a special occasion. I'm almost through now. +There's only one more place I must go." + +"Where is that?" and Nancy gave a mock groan. + +"To Hidelberg's for a party dress." + +Nancy lifted her eyebrows. + +"My goodness, but you're getting extravagant, aren't you? How do your +parents manage to keep you?" + +"I know Hidelberg's is the most expensive place in town," Helen +admitted; "but I told you that for this once I'm splurging. It will +never happen again, probably." + +"I was only teasing," Nancy laughed. + +Arm in arm the two girls left the department store. Just outside the +door they met Emily Crandall. The girl was pale and deep circles were +under her blue eyes and her face was drawn. + +"Oh, Nancy Drew, I'm glad to run into you!" she cried when she saw the +two girls emerge from the store door. "Oh, it's just awful! On top of +the loss of my jewels and all that means to me, the police are trying +to fasten theft on Mrs. Willoughby! It's too terrible! You will do +something, won't you, Nancy?" + +Nancy promised again to do what she could. She tried to be encouraging, +but she felt that her words hardly rang true. Then Emily said good-bye +and Nancy and Helen made their way down the street to the exclusive +Hidelberg shop. + +They entered, and were at once taken in charge by a salesgirl. They +were given chairs and after Helen had made her wants known, were +treated to a mannequin parade. + +"Maybe this place is going to be too expensive, after all," Helen said +to her chum when they were not being observed by the salesgirl. "I'd +much rather dash in where the dresses are all on a rack and labeled +'nothing over sixteen ninety-eight.'" + +At last Helen Corning found a dress of pale blue chiffon which entirely +pleased her. She inquired the price in a timid little voice and was +delighted to find that it was not out of reach. + +"You wait here while I try it on," she told Nancy. "It won't take me a +minute." + +After Helen had left, Nancy amused herself by watching the customers +who came into the shop. From experience, she had learned that Helen's +minutes were usually long ones. Now, as the time passed and her chum +did not return, she became a trifle restless and after a few minutes +got up from her chair. As she moved toward the window she chanced to +glance toward the door and saw a girl enter. Before she could turn +aside, they met face to face. To Nancy Drew's surprise, the girl was +Mary Mason. + +For a moment Nancy was so taken aback that she could only stare, but, +recovering quickly, she smiled pleasantly. + +"I didn't expect to meet you here," she said graciously. + +[Illustration: "I DIDN'T EXPECT TO MEET YOU HERE," NANCY SAID +GRACIOUSLY.] + +Mary Mason regarded Nancy with a cold stare. Then, without responding, +she gave an impudent toss of her head and turned aside. + +"Such insolence!" Nancy thought a trifle angrily. "One would think she +was an heiress instead of a kitchen girl! It was lucky I didn't engage +her." Nancy Drew's curiosity had been aroused, and as she waited for +Helen her eyes followed Mary Mason. "I suppose she works here," she +told herself. + +To her surprise, she saw the girl address herself to one of the +saleswomen, and it was evident by her actions that she intended to +purchase a gown. + +"There's something queer about that," Nancy thought. "Surely, a girl in +her circumstance can't afford to buy dresses at such a place as this!" + +She continued to watch, but Mary Mason, becoming aware that Nancy's +eyes were upon her, seemed to grow nervous. After a few minutes she +left the store without having made a purchase. + +"I'm sure she intended to buy a dress, but she knew I was watching +her," Nancy reasoned. + +Just at that moment Helen emerged from the dressing room and came over +to where Nancy was standing. + +"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting so long, but----" + +Nancy cut her short by clutching her by the arm. + +"Come to the window!" she commanded. + +Wonderingly, Helen obeyed. + +"See that girl," Nancy pointed toward Mary Mason who was crossing the +street. "Did you ever see her before?" + +"Why, her face does look familiar. Let me see--oh, now I remember! She +applied at our house for work in the kitchen." + +"You didn't hire her?" + +"No. We didn't like her looks and the position had already been filled." + +"She must have called at your house after she left mine," Nancy said. +"I'd like to know if she finally found a place." + +"I shouldn't be surprised, Nancy. She asked me if I knew of a place +and I suggested that she might find work at Lilac Inn. They're nearly +always looking for help there." + +"Lilac Inn?" Nancy demanded thoughtfully. + +"Yes. I don't know whether she went or not." + +"I'll make it my business to find out." + +"Why, what's it all about, anyway?" + +Nancy Drew ignored the question, asking one of her own. + +"Tell me, do you remember what day it was this girl called at your +home?" + +"Oh, dear, it was several days ago. I don't believe I can remember." + +"It wasn't the day of the robbery, was it?" + +"Why, I believe it was, Nancy. I recall now that I read the account in +the paper that evening." She studied Nancy curiously. "Gracious, you +surely don't believe this girl had any connection with the robbery, do +you? It doesn't seem to me she would have the brains to get away with +it." + +"Probably not," Nancy agreed. "But the clue is worth investigating." + +"I don't see that you have a thing to go on." + +"I haven't," Nancy admitted. + +"What makes you suspicious?" + +Nancy Drew glanced quickly about to see that there was no one standing +near by and lowered her voice. + +"Doesn't it strike you as odd that a girl in Mary Mason's position can +afford to buy gowns at Hidelberg's?" + +"Yes, it does," Helen agreed promptly. "Where do you suppose she got +the money?" + +"That's just what I intend to find out!" + +With that, Nancy Drew dropped the subject and no amount of coaxing +would induce her to bring it up again, though to herself she said: + +"Oh, dear, one more vague clue to clutter up my mind and to make more +difficult the following of any trail." + + + + + CHAPTER XI + + A TRIP TO THE INN + + +After leaving the Hidelberg shop, Helen Corning drove Nancy Drew home +in her runabout. She declined an invitation to remain for dinner. + +"It's getting late and I really can't stop," she said. "I'll see you +again in a few days." + +"If you should hear anything about Mary Mason, I wish you'd let me +know." + +"I certainly will, Nancy; but I imagine you can find her at Lilac Inn. +She probably found work there." + +Helen said good-bye and with a wave of her hand drove away, leaving +her chum standing at the curb. As Nancy Drew walked toward the house +she reviewed the events of the afternoon. The more she considered Mary +Mason's peculiar actions, the more puzzled she became. Where had the +girl secured money? When she had called at the Drew household seeking +work, she had been rather shabbily dressed, but at the store Nancy had +noticed that she was wearing an expensive gown. + +"Of course, it's possible she found work," she reasoned; "but even if +she did, it's not likely her wages would be enough to permit her to +buy dresses at Hidelberg's. I can't understand it at all. Probably I'm +doing Mary Mason an injustice," she told herself; "but I feel I owe it +to Emily to investigate every clue. I wish there were fewer or that a +few of them were clearer." + +Nancy paused on the veranda and glanced at her wrist watch. It was +after five o'clock and she could hear Mrs. Carter bustling about in the +kitchen preparing dinner. + +"I'll have time to run out to Lilac Inn if I hurry," she decided. + +Pausing only long enough to tell Mrs. Carter that she might be a few +minutes late for dinner, she backed her roadster from the garage and +started off down the lake road. Arriving at the inn, she swept up the +driveway and came to a halt in front of the door. There were only a few +automobiles parked near by, and Nancy guessed that the scandal of the +loss of the jewelry had already affected the trade. Entering the inn, +she sought the manager and was conducted to a private office. + +"I'm sorry to trouble you again," Nancy apologized. "But I find I must +ask you a few more questions." + +"I'll answer them gladly," the manager returned graciously. + +"Have you a girl in your employ by the name of Mary Mason?" + +"Mary Mason? No, there is no one here by that name." + +"Perhaps she applied for work." + +"Not that I can recall. Can you describe her appearance?" + +Nancy gave a detailed description of Mary, but when she had finished +the manager of the inn shook her head, + +"I am certain that she never came here. In fact, if she had, I would +have hired her at once, for I am short a girl in the kitchen." + +"That's queer," Nancy murmured, half to herself. "Helen told me the +girl said she would come here." + +"She must have changed her mind. Perhaps she found work at another tea +room." + +"That's possible," Nancy agreed as she rose to leave. "I'll try to find +out." + +Driving back toward River Heights a few minutes later, she was ready to +admit that the trip to Lilac Inn had been unfruitful. Apparently, she +had been unjustly suspicious of Mary Mason, for if the girl had never +been employed at the inn, it was ridiculous to attempt to connect her +with the robbery. + +"Just the same, I'd like to know where she got that handsome dress she +was wearing this afternoon," Nancy thought. "I think I'll try to find +out where she is working." + +Upon reaching home, she found that she was just in time for dinner. +Mrs. Carter had prepared an excellent meal, but Nancy was a trifle +preoccupied as she ate. Carson Drew noticed how quiet she was and +surmised the reason. + +"Not worrying about the Willoughby case, are you, Nancy?" he questioned. + +"I'm afraid I am," Nancy admitted reluctantly. "So far, I've not made +any headway." + +"What seems to be the trouble?" + +"I can't get a real clue. I thought perhaps I had one this afternoon, +but it didn't amount to that!" Nancy snapped her fingers contemptuously. + +"Want me to take charge?" + +"N-o," Nancy returned slowly. "I haven't given up yet." + +"Mrs. Willoughby came to my office this afternoon. She's beginning to +expect results." + +"I'm doing my best, Dad." + +"I know you are, Nancy. I'm not trying to rush you. Only I'm afraid +things are coming to a crisis." + +"You mean the police are going to arrest Mrs. Willoughby?" + +"I'm afraid of it." + +"If I just had a clue--something to start work on!" + +"There are some mystery cases that have never been solved," Mr. Drew +remarked by way of comfort. "This may be one of them." + +"I won't admit defeat!" Nancy retorted, thrusting her chin into the air. + +"Let's thrash this thing out together," Mr. Drew said kindly. "Whom are +you considering as the possible criminal?" + +"Well, there's Mrs. Potter. She was reluctant to give me any +information about herself." + +"What motive would Mrs. Potter have? I understand that she has plenty +of money of her own. She hasn't a grudge against Mrs. Willoughby?" + +"Not to my knowledge. Then of course there is that waiter at Lilac +Inn--Jennings they call him." + +"You questioned him?" + +"Yes, and didn't learn anything of value." + +"How about the persons who were guests at the inn at the time of the +robbery?" + +"I've considered them all. The two who took the auto victims to the +hospital are out of the picture. They had a perfect alibi." + +"And the women who were unwilling to be searched--especially the one +who protested loudly?" + +"I've not learned anything of much interest about her." + +"Wasn't her name Viola Granger?" + +"Yes, it was." + +"That name strikes me as familiar. I'm sure I've heard it somewhere." + +"Can't you remember?" Nancy asked eagerly. + +"Let me see--now I have it! That woman has a prison record!" + +"A prison record!" Nancy exclaimed. "Are you certain?" + +"Yes, the affair happened at least ten years ago, but I have a good +memory for names. As I recall, she was sentenced to five years in +prison." + +"On what charge?" + +"Robbery." + +"Then you think it was she who took the jewels?" + +"The clue may be worth investigating." + +"But I don't see how she could have been the one," Nancy declared, with +a troubled frown. "She was sitting on the opposite side of the room, +a long way from Mrs. Willoughby's table. Several of the guests were +willing to swear that she never stirred from her chair, even when the +others rushed to the windows." + +"H-m, that does seem to explode the theory, doesn't it? Well, take the +tip for what it's worth." + +"I'll see what I can find out about Viola Granger," Nancy promised. +"But I really don't see that she had the opportunity to take the +jewels." + +"Once a thief always a thief, they say, Nancy. Then, with that +excitement, can you be sure that your witnesses knew what they were +talking about?" + +"Perhaps not." + +"After all, Nancy, the police may be right. Suspicion points more +strongly to Mrs. Willoughby than to anyone else. She had motive and she +had the opportunity." + +"Oh, Dad, don't say that! Poor Emily. Oh, I won't let myself think +she's guilty! Emily's a dear, Dad, and that would break her heart, I'm +sure." + +After a time Nancy left the dinner table and went to her own room. She +tried to write a letter, but found that she could not keep her mind off +the Crandall robbery. + +"Emily is depending upon me," she thought miserably. "I'm beginning to +think that I may fail her." + +Over and over she sifted the evidence, but found it impossible to +arrive at a conclusion as to the person guilty of the robbery. At last, +in sheer disgust, Nancy tumbled into bed. + + + + + CHAPTER XII + + A NEW DISCOVERY + + +The following morning Nancy Drew's mood of despondency had fallen +from her. She rose with new enthusiasm and eagerness to continue her +investigations, yet she scarcely knew which way to turn. There were so +many clues which needed unraveling and time was short. + +The problem was somewhat simplified for her when at breakfast her +father volunteered to find out what he could concerning Viola Granger. + +"That will save me a lot of trouble," Nancy told him gratefully. "I +have another clue I want to work on this morning." + +"Anything worth while?" + +"I'm afraid not, Dad. It's a cry of desperation, I fear." + +"Well, good luck." + +"Thanks, I'll need it." + +It was Nancy's intention to learn whether or not Mary Mason had found +employment, for she had not entirely given up the idea that in some way +the girl might be connected with the mysterious disappearance of the +Crandall jewels. To be sure, she did not have a particle of evidence +to back up her theory except the seemingly sudden access of money, and +that, she acknowledged, was too weak a foundation on which to build a +theory. Yet, she told herself, she dared not neglect any pointer, no +matter how feeble. + +She was at a loss to know where to begin her search until she recalled +the references which the girl had displayed when applying at the Drew +household for work. + +"Let me see," Nancy mused, "Unless I'm mixed up on it, I believe she +worked for a woman by the name of Stonewell. I'll look in the directory +and see if I can find a family listed by that name." + +Thumbing through the telephone book, she found several Stonewells and +at length came upon the one she was seeking. + +"Mrs. Howard Stonewell," she read aloud, "fifteen hundred and four +Sixth Street. I'm sure that was one of the names mentioned in the +reference. I'll call her and ask about Mary Mason." + +With her hand on the receiver, Nancy hesitated. After a moment's +thought she replaced the telephone on the stand, deciding that she +could probably secure more satisfactory information by calling in +person upon the woman. + +Accordingly, she went to the garage for her roadster, and while she +was still enthusiastic started on the mission. Nancy Drew was familiar +with River Heights and had no difficulty in reaching Sixth Street, +which was in the better section of the city. Presently she caught sight +of the number for which she was searching, and stopped in front of a +well-built brick house. + +"Mary Mason must have held a fairly good position," she thought, as she +hurried up the walk. + +She rang the bell and was admitted by a maid. Nancy asked to see Mrs. +Stonewell, declining to state her business. Her confident bearing had +its effect upon the servant, who went at once to summon her mistress. +She returned almost immediately, saying that Mrs. Stonewell would see +her in the drawing room. + +"What can I do for you?" Mrs. Stonewell asked pleasantly, as she +offered the girl a chair. + +"I'm not certain that I have come to the right place," Nancy returned. +"You see, I am tracing a girl by the name of Mary Mason----" + +"Mary Mason!" the woman exclaimed sharply. + +"Yes. Did she work for you?" + +"Indeed, she did," Mrs. Stonewell returned dryly. "That is, at one +time." + +"Then, if you don't mind, I'd like to ask you a few questions about +her." + +"Why should I answer them? Is she in trouble?" + +"I can't tell you the details of the case, Mrs. Stonewell, but she is +under suspicion. You will be doing the law a service if you tell me all +you know about her." + +"I see, you're a detective," Mrs. Stonewell said, in an awed tone. +"I'll tell you everything I know about her--which isn't a great deal. +She worked for me five or six months ago. I kept her for a month and +let her go." + +"A month?" Nancy questioned, in surprise. She recalled that in the +reference Mary Mason had displayed it was stated that the girl had been +employed by Mrs. Stonewell for more than a year. + +"Yes, she did not prove satisfactory. I really hated to discharge her, +for she came from a very poor family and no doubt needed the money. +Still, I couldn't put up with her insolent manners." + +"You gave her a good recommendation, I think." + +"Indeed, I didn't." + +"That's odd," Nancy commented. "Mary Mason applied at my home for +work, and I remember that she showed me a recommendation from you." + +"Then it was forged." + +"Have you any idea where this girl is working now?" + +"She changes positions so often that I've given up keeping track of +her. However, I do know that up until yesterday she was out of work. +I happened to meet her on the street and asked her. After turning her +away without a recommendation, my conscience troubled me and I made up +my mind that when I met her again I would make it a point to find out +if she were in need." + +"You offered her money?" + +"No, I didn't," Mrs. Stonewell admitted. "From her clothing it was +apparent that she was well provided with funds. In fact, I was amazed. +I am sure her family can't provide her with luxury." + +"Have you any idea where I can find her at present?" + +"I'm afraid I can't tell you where she lives. I remember she used to +visit a brother of hers who resided in Dockville, but whether or not +she is living with him, I can't say." + +"Dockville? Isn't that up the river?" + +"Yes, about three miles from here. It's a very disreputable section." + +"There's one more question I'd like to ask," Nancy said, as she rose +to depart. "While this girl was working for you, did you ever miss +anything?" + +"No, I can't say that I did. That is, nothing of value. I suspect that +she frequently took food from the kitchen, but that is an old trick of +unreliable help, you know." + +Nancy thanked Mrs. Stonewell for the information and took her +departure. When she stepped upon the running board of her roadster she +was undecided what to do next. Should she drop the search for Mary +Mason or chance an unsuccessful trip to Dockville? + +"To Dockville it is," she determined. + +As Nancy Drew shifted gears she told herself that in all probability +she would waste the entire morning on a wild goose chase. She knew +that it was unwise to devote so much time to Mary Mason when she did +not have an iota of proof that the girl was connected with the mystery +of Lilac Inn, and yet for the life of her she could not force herself +to return home. Until she had talked with Mary she would never feel +satisfied. + +Nancy drove toward the river, zigzagging her way from one street to +another. The pavement was poor, and as she approached the slum district +it became even more bumpy. + +"I'd hate to get a puncture," she thought anxiously. + +At length she reached the district known as Dockville, and, at a loss +to know how to proceed, made a complete circle of the section. She was +confronted with row upon row of tenement houses, all alike and of a +dingy and uninviting appearance. Swarms of dirty children were playing +in the streets, making it necessary for Nancy to watch her driving +closely. + +"I'll never be able to locate Mary Mason here," she thought in dismay. +"I never dreamed so many people could crowd into one section." + +After driving a few blocks, she stopped her roadster and inquired of a +foreign woman where she could find a family by the name of Mason. The +woman shook her head without replying, and Nancy knew that she had not +even understood the question. Going on a little further she stopped at +a drug store, but the druggist was unable to help her. At random she +questioned persons on the streets, but no one had heard of Mary Mason. + +"I guess it's hopeless," Nancy thought in disappointment. "This is +worse than hunting for a needle in a haystack." + +Nancy was convinced that the trip to Dockville had been a wasted one, +but because it was not her nature to give up easily, she was unwilling +to return home without at least one more effort. Without considering +where she was going, she turned into a winding narrow street which led +along the river front. + +She drove slowly, studying the houses critically, though she had little +hope of finding the one for which she was searching. For all she knew, +she might have passed it unwittingly. + +The dwellings on this street were even more squalid and dingy than the +tenements, and were set back a considerable distance from the road. +Apparently, many of the buildings had been deserted, for windows were +broken out, roofs sagged, and the yards were choked with weeds. Nancy +knew that only the most poverty-stricken lived along the docks. There +were few persons to be seen in the vicinity, and those she did pass +stared at her so hard and were so disreputable in appearance that she +hesitated to question them. + +"I'm sure Mary Mason wouldn't live in a section like this," Nancy +decided. + +Without warning she came to a dead-end street which brought her to +an abrupt halt. She managed to turn in the narrow roadway and was +just ready to shift into forward gear when she caught her breath in +surprise. + +Directly across the street, walking toward her, she saw a well-dressed +young girl. There was something familiar about the figure and Nancy +studied the girl intently, taking care to keep hidden behind the +steering wheel. At first she could not believe her eyes, and then she +realized that at last her search had been rewarded. The girl was Mary +Mason. + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + + A SURPRISE + + +"Can it be that Mary Mason lives in this neighborhood?" Nancy Drew +asked herself in surprise. + +There could be no question as to the identity of the girl, for she was +now close enough for Nancy to see her face distinctly. She wore a neat +silk frock, simple in line but unmistakably new and expensive. + +Nancy's first inclination was to call to her, but upon second thought +she decided that such a course would be foolish. It was doubtful that +the girl would tell her anything she wanted to know, and by waiting and +watching she might learn something to her advantage. Accordingly, she +crouched lower behind the steering wheel of her roadster, hoping that +she would not be observed. + +Unaware that she was being watched, Mary Mason continued down the +street, swaggering a trifle as she walked. Nancy saw her turn in at a +dilapidated old house. She paused on the porch, fumbled in her bag for +a key, then unlocked the door and entered. + +"That's where she lives, all right," Nancy Drew decided as the door +closed behind the girl. "Lucky for me that I came this way." + +It was with considerable misgiving that she surveyed the house. From +the road the place appeared deserted. + +"There's something mighty strange about that girl's actions," she +thought. "Surely, she wouldn't live in a place like this unless she +were reduced to the lowest sort of poverty, and her clothing doesn't +indicate that." + +While Nancy was debating what to do next, she heard the rumble of a +delivery auto. Glancing up she was astonished to see it come to a stop +in front of the house Mary had entered. + +"Taylor's Store," Nancy murmured, reading the red sign on the outside +of the delivery wagon. "Why, that's the largest department store in +River Heights! I wonder why it's stopping here?" + +Evidently the driver was somewhat nonplussed at the appearance of the +dwelling, for he studied the number a moment, glanced at a paper in his +hand, and then scratched his head in a puzzled sort of way. + +"I guess this must be the place, all right," Nancy heard him mutter. + +He shut off the motor and climbed out of the van. Going around to the +back, he unlocked the rear doors and took out a number of packages. +They were all sizes and shapes, but one was round like a hat box and +another looked as though it might contain a dress or a coat. In all +there were seven packages. + +"My goodness, those things can't all be for Mary," Nancy told herself. +"Surely, she can't afford them." + +The driver of the van hurried up the walk to the house and knocked +firmly on the door. There was a long wait and it was not until the man +had called out impatiently: "Taylor's Delivery!" that the door swung +open on its rusty hinges. Nancy saw Mary Mason take the packages. She +then closed the door and the driver went back to his wagon. He climbed +in, started the engine, and went clattering on down the street. + +"I'd like to see the inside of those packages," Nancy told herself, +"but I can guess what they contain. It beats me where that girl gets +the money for all her finery. Of course she may buy on credit." + +She realized that such a possibility might put an entirely different +face on the situation. If it were true that Mary had charge accounts at +the various stores, her sudden acquisition of elegant clothes could be +explained. + +"I don't believe a store in town would offer her credit," Nancy +reasoned. + +She had no intention of permitting the question to go unanswered. +Hastily shifting gears, she started after the delivery wagon which had +turned the corner and was traveling northward. + +"I hope I haven't lost him!" Nancy thought anxiously. + +As she turned the corner she caught a glimpse of red far up the street +and was certain that it was the Taylor delivery auto. Speeding up, she +soon overtook the wagon, but contented herself with following close +behind for several blocks. + +It was not until both cars were well out of the slum district that the +driver stopped. This was the opportunity Nancy had sought. She pulled +up behind the delivery wagon and waited until the man had come back +from the house where he had delivered a small package. + +"Are you the delivery man from Taylor's?" Nancy asked, by way of an +opening. + +"Sure. Can't you read the sign?" the driver returned carelessly. + +Nancy ignored the gibe and gave the man a smile which disarmed him at +once. + +"What kin I do for you?" he demanded more graciously. + +"Have you delivered any packages to a person named Mary Mason?" + +"That girl who lives down in Dockville? Sure! I just dropped off seven +of 'em there." + +"I hope you got your money," Nancy said slyly. + +"I sure did," the driver returned, with a broad grin. "Every cent of +it! None of these here C.O.D. gals kin slip it over on me." + +It was on the tip of Nancy's tongue to ask another question, but the +driver climbed into his seat and drove away, leaving her to gaze +thoughtfully after the retreating delivery wagon. What she had learned +left her more perplexed than before. From what the delivery man had +said it was evident that Mary Mason was buying finery from the stores +and paying cash. Again the question that had troubled Nancy from the +very start loomed up. Where had the girl secured her money? + +"It's beginning to look suspicious," Nancy told herself, a trifle +grimly. "This may not be the Lilac Inn mystery, but it is a mystery, +none the less. I may have two cases on my hands." + +She knew that Mary came of a poor family and it was highly improbable +that she had relatives who were providing her with funds. The girl had +no employment, and, what was even more significant, she did not seem +to be interested in finding work. Otherwise, she certainly would have +gone to Lilac Inn at Helen Corning's suggestion. Were these clues or +were they not? + +"I must proceed cautiously," Nancy assured herself. "I might get myself +into serious trouble by falsely accusing her of a crime. So far the +evidence certainly isn't sufficient to warrant any action." + +Nancy had stood so long at the curbing that passersby were beginning +to stare at her curiously. Coming back to reality with a start, she +stepped into her roadster and after a little hesitation headed for home. + +"I don't believe there's any use going back to see Mary to-day," she +decided, glancing at her watch. "It's nearly luncheon time and Mrs. +Carter will be expecting me. I probably wouldn't gain anything by +talking with Mary, anyway. She wouldn't admit a thing. I must think out +my line of action carefully before I try to interview her." + +As Nancy drove slowly toward home she continued to mull over the facts +she had obtained. If only she could correctly interpret the information! + +In reviewing everything she knew about Mary, she recalled that when the +girl had called at her home to secure work she had appeared earnest +enough. Apparently, she had come into her money since that date and +had consequently lost her desire for employment. + +"The thing that puzzles me is how she happened to get money just about +the time of the jewelry robbery," Nancy mused. "Of course there may be +no connection, and again there may be. I remember she seemed startled +when I mentioned that my father was a criminal lawyer. It seems to me +she wouldn't have acted that way if she hadn't been up to something +dishonest." + +And yet, in all fairness to Mary Mason, Nancy was forced to admit +that in her eagerness to find a clue she was getting the cart before +the horse. It was true the girl had refused employment at the Drew +household, seemingly because she was afraid of Nancy's father, but at +that time the Crandall jewels had not been stolen. Perhaps her money +had been secured from a previous dishonest deal. If such were the case, +Nancy, in trying to pin the Crandall robbery upon her, was following +another false clue. + +"Oh, it's all a dreadful mess," Nancy thought in despair. "Every day in +every way I'm getting in deeper and deeper." + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + + NEW INFORMATION + + +It was not until late that evening that Nancy Drew was given an +opportunity to tell her father what she had learned at Dockville, for +he was detained at the office on a special case and did not come home +for dinner. + +"Well, Nancy," he said, as he entered the house shortly after ten +o'clock, "sorry to be so late, but I think I have some news for you +to-night." + +Nancy was eager to tell her own story, but she decided to let that wait. + +"Something about the mystery?" she inquired hopefully. + +"Yes. I learned a few facts which may throw a new light on the affair." + +"I hope the tip is _bona fide_ this time," Nancy sighed. "I've been +trailing false clues so long I'm getting tired of the sport. What did +you learn?" + +"Well, I promised to find out what I could about Viola Granger. I +looked it up at the court house and found that I was correct about her +prison record." + +"But of course that doesn't prove that she was the one who took the +jewelry." + +"No. But she was at the inn at the time of the robbery, and Mrs. +Willoughby and her friend mentioned the peculiar way she scrutinized +them as they entered the dining room. That all looks suspicious. Then I +learned another thing." + +"What was that?" + +"Viola Granger appears to have come into considerable money lately. At +least I was told in confidence at the bank that she made large deposits +during the last week." + +"Do you know the amounts?" + +"Yes, I made it a point to find out. On the twelfth she deposited ten +thousand dollars in a savings account and on the fourteenth something +over five thousand." + +"The twelfth you say. That was only two days after the robbery." + +"Precisely." + +"Oh, dear, this complicates everything," Nancy sighed. "Honestly, +it seems as though everyone in River Heights is coming into money +suddenly." + +"It's a complicated case, Nancy; but really I thought this clue might +simplify things a trifle." + +Nancy shook her head. + +"It seems to me it only makes it worse than before." She remained +silent for a minute and then said slowly: "Dad, doesn't it strike you +that if Viola Granger were really guilty she would be afraid to make +bank deposits so openly?" + +"Yes," Carson Drew admitted. "I thought of that." + +"Do the police know about her money?" + +"Not to my knowledge. Of course they questioned her perfunctorily along +with the others, but I don't believe they learned anything of interest." + +"You haven't told them about the bank deposits?" + +"No, the president of the bank gave me the information in confidence. I +doubt that the police would be interested in the information, anyway. +They have concentrated all their efforts into building up a case +against Mrs. Willoughby." + +"They seem determined to pin the robbery on her whether she's guilty or +not. I think they should sift all the facts before trying to decide who +committed the crime." + +"The case is a little too big for the police," Mr. Drew observed with +a smile. "I understand they grilled Mrs. Willoughby for several hours +last night." + +"How mean! At least--oh, for Emily's sake I hope nothing will come of +that!" + +"They're trying to wring a confession from her. Persistence like that +is all right for hardened criminals, but I'm sure Mrs. Willoughby isn't +in that class." + +"Do you think she had anything to do with the robbery, Dad?" + +"I'm rather inclined to believe she told us the truth that day she +called here, Nancy. Unfortunately, Mrs. Willoughby is very excitable +and the police confuse her easily. Naturally, that tends to throw +suspicion upon her." + +"Are you inclined to believe Viola Granger took the jewelry?" + +"I'm frank to admit I haven't arrived at a definite theory, Nancy. +However, it begins to look as though this Granger woman may have had +something to do with it--provided I'm right about Mrs. Willoughby." + +"What you've told me about her sort of knocks my own theory into a +cocked hat." + +"I didn't know you had progressed as far as a theory, Nancy." + +"Probably it would be more accurate to use the word suspicion instead +of theory. This morning I happened to make a little discovery of my +own." + +Nancy then proceeded to relate what she had learned in Dockville +concerning Mary Mason. Mr. Drew listened intently until she had +finished. + +"I must agree that it does look very queer when a poverty-stricken +domestic buys expensive gowns from the best stores in town," he said +quietly. "Of course that fact alone isn't enough to definitely connect +her with this robbery." + +"No, but it's a clue, don't you think?" + +"Perhaps. It won't do any harm to keep your eye on her." + +"I intend to do that, and I want to find out everything I can about +her. And Viola Granger may be the guilty person after all." + +"I never saw a case which had so many loose ends." + +"Nor did I! This afternoon I felt so encouraged. I thought I'd stumbled +on to something that had a bearing on the case, and now I'm not so +sure." + +"Don't get discouraged," Mr. Drew said kindly. "After all, there may +be something in what you have discovered. Perhaps Mary Mason herself +knows something and someone is paying her to keep silent. There's that +angle. You're certain, I presume, that there can be no mistake about +her buying all of those expensive clothes?" + +"I'm certain that seven boxes were delivered to her, for I saw them +with my own eyes. Of course I can't swear as to what was in them or the +cost of the articles." + +"It might be well to investigate further before making any accusations." + +"I don't know how to find out about the dresses--that is, unless I +called at the store. Do you imagine they would tell me anything?" + +"I'm afraid not. Most stores protect their customers and refuse to give +out anything concerning their accounts." + +"But you know Mr. Hodge at the Taylor Store, Dad. Isn't he one of the +big men there?" + +"Manager." + +"Why not ask him to trace what Mary Mason really bought and what she +paid for the things?" + +"That's a rather ticklish undertaking, Nancy." + +"You've done favors for Mr. Hodge more than once. He ought to do that +much for you." + +"He might do it for me, though I'm sure it would not be according to +the store's policy." + +"Oh, bother their old policy!" Nancy returned impatiently. "He ought +to be glad of a chance to help solve the mystery. Will you ask him +to-morrow?" + +"Yes, if you want me to." Mr. Drew smiled indulgently. + +"Oh, Dad, you think it's perfectly silly, don't you?" Nancy demanded, +somewhat nettled at her father's smile. + +"Not at all," Mr. Drew responded quickly. "I was just thinking how you +always managed to get your own way." + +"Not always. Will you see Mr. Hodge the first thing in the morning?" + +"Yes, and while I'm about it I'll call several of the other leading +stores for you." + +"Fine!" + +"How about the pawnbrokers?" + +"The pawnbrokers?" Nancy questioned, not catching her father's idea. + +"Yes. If this Mason girl actually took the jewels herself and was not a +chance eye witness of the robbery, she'd have to convert them into cash +some way. Through the pawnbrokers would probably be the easiest way." + +"Of course. It was stupid of me not to think of that myself." + +"There are three in River Heights. If you want me to inquire I'll make +it my business to drop in to-morrow morning." + +"I wish you would! If we can trace the jewelry through a pawnbroker the +mystery is as good as solved." + +"Yes," and Carson Drew smiled. "But I'm afraid it won't be that easy." + +Nancy, too, realized that only lucky chance could bring the mystery of +Lilac Inn to a quick termination. However, she felt that she had taken +a step in the right direction and would yet help Emily Crandall regain +her fortune. + + + + + CHAPTER XV + + WHAT MR. DREW LEARNED + + +"What's the idea of having breakfast in the middle of the night?" +Mr. Drew asked the question with good-natured gruffness as he yawned +sleepily. "Why, look at that clock! It isn't seven o'clock yet." + +"I'm sorry," Nancy apologized guiltily as she poured his coffee. "You +see, it was this way. I knew you had a big morning ahead of you and I +wanted you to get an early start." + +"So it would seem, young lady. But, as it happens, I haven't any +special case coming up in court to-day." + +"Dad, you haven't forgotten what you promised to do for me!" + +Carson Drew, who was fond of teasing his daughter, pretended that he +did not know what she meant. + +"You were to see Mr. Hodge and the pawnbrokers," Nancy reminded him +severely. Then she saw the twinkle in her father's eyes. "Oh, you're +trying to tease me!" + +"I won't forget to see them," Mr. Drew promised soberly. + +"And if you should find out anything important, please let me know +right away." + +"All right, I will." + +After her father had left the house, Nancy Drew helped clear away the +breakfast dishes and gave a few orders to Mrs. Carter. She then went to +her room to straighten up and gather together a few things which needed +mending. Bringing her sewing downstairs, she curled up on the davenport +and tried to occupy herself with her work. But try as she would, she +found it impossible to settle down. Every time the telephone rang she +jumped to her feet and ran to answer it. + +"Oh, dear," she thought restlessly. "I know Dad won't call for an hour +or two, anyway; but I seem to be all on edge. I think I'll run out and +see Emily Crandall this morning. It will help kill the time and she'll +probably need cheering." + +Dropping her sewing, she dashed out into the kitchen to tell Mrs. +Carter that she was going for a little drive and would be back in half +an hour. The morning air was cool and crisp, and as Nancy drove toward +the cottage on the lake she felt refreshed. Walking up the path with a +care-free stride, she knocked on the front door. Almost at once it was +opened by Emily. + +"Oh, Nancy Drew!" the girl cried excitedly. "I'm so glad you came. Do +come inside! Tell me, have you good news?" + +Nancy's face clouded. She wished with all her heart that she could give +her friend encouragement. + +"I haven't anything definite to report yet," she returned quietly; "but +I'm hoping to have something soon." + +"Oh, Nancy, you must help me! If you can't do it no one can!" Emily's +face clouded and she clutched Nancy by the arm. "Everything depends on +getting those jewels back. Dick's future and my happiness! And then +there's poor Mrs. Willoughby. The police are trying to brand her as a +thief. Oh, it's too dreadful!" + +"Don't give up hope, Emily. I'm doing everything I can." + +"Oh, you've been wonderful, Nancy. I wasn't blaming you for a minute. +I know I shouldn't expect you to solve a mystery when the police and +professional detectives can't do it." + +"I may do it yet!" Nancy said resolutely. "I haven't given up!" + +"I'll be your slave forever if you get my jewels back!" Emily promised +rashly. + +"If I do, I'll not exact such high pay," and Nancy smiled. "By the way, +is Mrs. Willoughby here?" + +"No, she went to River Heights early this morning. A detective came +after her and took her to headquarters for more questioning. I feel so +sorry for her! They haven't given her a day's rest since the robbery." + +"You think a great deal of her, don't you, Emily?" + +"Indeed I do! She's always looked after me like a mother." + +"Do you know anything about her finances?" + +"Her finances? What do you mean?" + +"Well, to put it bluntly, has she ever been in need of money? Recently, +I mean." + +"Oh, yes. She always worries about debts, though I guess she manages to +get them all paid in some way. Mrs. Willoughby craves pretty things, +but her income isn't sufficient to meet all her wants, and that's the +rub. She buys more than she can pay for." As she spoke Emily glanced +anxiously at Nancy and noticing her sober expression, decided that she +had told too much. "I hope you don't think Mrs. Willoughby had anything +to do with the robbery," she added sharply. "Why, she wouldn't touch a +penny of my fortune!" + +"I'm sure she wouldn't," Nancy returned soothingly. She could see that +Emily was over-wrought. "I intend to help her if I can." + +"Haven't you any idea who took the jewels, Nancy?" + +"Well, I have several ideas; but I'm not sure any one of them is a good +one. However, I think I can promise you that I will solve the mystery +during the next few days--if I ever solve it." + +"If only the police don't arrest Mrs. Willoughby before that time!" and +Emily began to pace the floor. + +Nancy cheered her friend as best she could. When she left fifteen +minutes later, Emily was calm again. + +"I just know things will come out all right," she told Nancy bravely, +as she accompanied her to the roadster. "You've never failed to solve a +mystery yet." + +Nancy Drew had stayed longer at the cottage than she had intended, and +once on the road she drove rapidly to make up for lost time. Her talk +with Emily Crandall had made her more than ever determined to find out +what had become of the Crandall jewels. Though she was inclined to +believe in Mrs. Willoughby, she was keen enough to realize that the +evidence against her was extremely damaging. Unless the evidence soon +pointed strongly in some other direction, the police would have Emily's +guardian behind the bars. + +"Emily would suffer dreadfully from the humiliation," Nancy thought. +"And even if she were later proved innocent, it would ruin Mrs. +Willoughby's social standing." + +Driving up the boulevard she caught a glimpse of her own home and was +surprised to see her father's car parked on the driveway. + +"Oh, I wonder if he found out anything about Mary Mason?" she asked +herself eagerly. + +Bringing the roadster to a halt beside her father's sedan, she sprang +out and ran toward the house. Carson Drew, who had seen her from the +window, met her on the porch. + +"Oh, Dad, did you find out anything?" Nancy demanded before he had an +opportunity to speak. + +Mr. Drew nodded. + +"Come into the house," he suggested quietly. "It may not be wise to let +the neighbors into all our secrets." + +"You're right," Nancy laughed. + +She followed her father into the living room and plumped herself down +in an easy chair which all but enveloped her in its luxurious depth. + +"What did you find out?" she inquired impatiently. + +"Well, I saw Mr. Hodge, as you wanted me to. At first he didn't take +very kindly to the idea of looking up this Mason girl's account." + +"Don't tell me he refused!" + +"No, he finally agreed to tell me what I wanted to know, provided that +we keep the information confidential." + +"Of course." + +"It seems that you were right about the girl's buying clothes." + +"I knew I was," Nancy declared triumphantly. + +"According to Hodge, she's been buying scads of things lately. Mostly +unnecessary articles." + +"Did you find out what she paid for them?" + +"Yes." Carson Drew took a slip of paper from his pocket and glanced at +it. "A hat--fifteen dollars. Dress--forty-nine fifty. Shoes--fifteen. +Scarf--five. Belt--two-fifty. Perfume--eight. Pocketbook--ten +ninety-eight." + +"Imagine paying eight dollars for perfume!" Nancy exclaimed. "And +nearly fifty dollars for a dress when she hasn't even a position!" + +"The whole thing comes to more than a hundred dollars," Mr. Drew +observed, studying the figures. + +"And she paid cash?" + +"The packages were sent C.O.D., just as you thought. She paid for them +when they were delivered." + +"Did you call at any of the other stores?" + +"Yes, at the River Heights Department Store and at Hidelberg's. They +had never heard of her at the River Heights Department Store, but at +Hidelberg's I found that she had bought a dress." + +"She must have gone back and bought it after I met her there," Nancy +said excitedly. "Probably she was afraid I'd see her buy it." + +"That might be." + +"What did she pay for the dress, Dad?" + +"Sixty-five dollars." + +"Why, I wouldn't think of spending that much for a dress myself! Where +does she get the money? I think it looks mighty suspicious." + +"It does look odd," Mr. Drew agreed. "But there's one weak spot in your +hypothesis--besides my suggestion of the other day that some one is +paying her to keep silent." + +"What is that?" + +"This Mary Mason may have come into her money in a perfectly honest +way. I visited all the pawnbroker shops this morning and I'm sorry to +say I didn't find a trace of the Crandall jewels." + +"Would you know the jewels if you saw them, Dad?" + +"Yes, I am sure I would. I saw them a number of years ago, and I pride +myself on having a certain eye for beautiful jewels. Even if they had +been removed from their settings, I would recognize them instantly." + +"Did you describe Mary Mason to the pawnbrokers?" + +"Yes, I gave them the best description I could. I've never seen the +girl myself, but I recalled what you had told me about her. The +pawnbrokers were quite certain they had never seen such a person." + +"I was afraid we'd not be able to trace the jewels that easily," Nancy +sighed. + +"If that girl had anything to do with the robbery, she must have gone +out of town with the loot. Perhaps we had better put a detective on the +case." + +"Oh, don't do that!" Nancy protested quickly. "Please let me work this +out in my own way. Give me a week or ten days. If I can't get anywhere +in that time, then you can call in the regular detectives." + +"Good enough," Mr. Drew agreed, "unless that girl slips through our +fingers." + +"I'll see that she doesn't," Nancy promised emphatically. "I believe +I'm on a track now that will lead to an arrest before another week +is over! Just whose, we can't be sure," she added soberly. "Perhaps +Mrs. Potter's, though I confess that seems unlikely. We'd better look +further into that, though. Perhaps Mrs. Willoughby's; but I hope not +for Emily's sake. She's a good kid, Dad, and it would break her heart +if her guardian had done this thing. Perhaps Mary Mason. Perhaps Viola +Granger. I haven't yet found out where she went after she left Lilac +Inn that day. Perhaps someone we haven't yet suspected." + +"Yes, it's complicated. But good luck to you, Nancy. And now you better +get a little rest to clear that brain of yours." + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + + THE STRANGER + + +Nancy Drew, hoping that she had hit upon a genuine clue at last, +determined to lose no time in gathering evidence concerning Mary Mason. +Yet, in considering her next move she scarcely knew how to proceed. +Probably it would prove futile to question the girl, but she decided to +try the method at last. + +Deciding not to wait until after luncheon, she hurried out to her +roadster. She started the motor, but before she could pull away Mrs. +Carter thrust her head out of the front window and called to her. + +"Miss Nancy, if you're going down town will you stop at the corner +grocery and see why they haven't delivered the things I ordered?" + +"All right, I will," Nancy promised, though she would have preferred +not to have been detained. + +Reaching the neighborhood store, she stopped to do the errand. Upon +being assured that the groceries would be delivered immediately, she +went back to the roadster. + +She was just stepping into it again when her attention was attracted to +a man who was walking down the opposite side of the street. Ordinarily, +she would not have given a stranger a second glance, but there was +something about this man that commanded her attention. + +It was not his clothing which held her eyes, though he was dressed in +a flashy suit, but rather his entire bearing. The man walked with an +exaggerated swagger which unmistakably marked him as a tough. + +From where she stood, Nancy Drew could not see the hard facial lines, +but quite without realizing it she took note of the man's hooked nose. + +Walking rapidly, the stranger continued down the street. Watching him +more from curiosity than anything else, Nancy was about to turn away +when she saw something white flutter from his pocket. + +[Illustration: NANCY SAW SOMETHING WHITE FLUTTER FROM HIS POCKET.] + +"Oh! He lost something!" she thought. "Perhaps it's an important +letter! I'd better run after him and tell him!" + +She dashed across the street and snatched up the bit of white. To her +disappointment it was only an old envelope which the stranger had +dropped. + +"Sold, that time!" Nancy laughed. + +She was on the verge of tossing the envelope into the gutter when she +noticed that it bore a name and address written in a cramped hand. She +scanned it carelessly and her eyes opened wider. + +The name was "Mr. B. Mason" and the address was a street in Dockville. + +"Mason! I wonder if he can be any relation to Mary Mason!" + +Startled at the thought, she glanced down the street and was just in +time to see the man turn at the corner. + +"I wonder where he's going?" she questioned. "I believe I'll see if I +can find out." + +Hurrying after the man, she turned the corner and again caught sight of +him. Though she walked as swiftly as she could, she found it impossible +to overtake him. + +"I believe he's heading for the interurban station," she decided. + +Nancy had guessed correctly. A moment later the stranger turned in at +the station, disappearing inside the building. + +"It will be simple to find out where he's going," Nancy told herself. +"I'll just saunter inside the station myself and wait until he buys his +ticket." + +However, her plans were not destined to be carried into effect, for +at that moment a long, piercing whistle reached her ears. The people +standing on the platform began to gather up their packages and baggage, +and the stranger, who had just entered the station, came hurrying out. +Obviously, he had not had sufficient time to purchase a ticket. + +Nancy began to run. She reached the tracks almost breathless, and +dashed across to the platform only an instant before the interurban +cars thundered into the station. + +"All aboard," the conductor shouted. + +The stranger was one of the first to enter the coach. + +"Oh, I'd give a nickel to know where he's going," Nancy thought +desperately. "I know he didn't have time to buy a ticket." + +"All aboard," the conductor called again, glancing inquiringly toward +her. + +"I feel it in my bones he's some relation to Mary Mason. There wouldn't +be more than one Mason family in Dockville," Nancy went on to herself. +"If I let him get away I may have passed up a valuable clue." + +She came to with a start as she saw that the train was slowly moving +out of the station. Forced to a sudden decision, she ran forward and +impulsively swung herself upon the last coach. The deed done, she +considered her action with a little misgiving. + +"What a foolish thing to do!" she accused herself. "I probably won't +have enough money to take me where that man is going, and I'll land in +some town stranded. Then Dad will have to come after me and I'll get +the parental ha-ha!" + +The train was still moving slowly and Nancy could have changed her +mind, but though she was not certain that she had done a wise thing, +she had no intention of turning back. Walking through the train she +caught sight of the stranger and slid into a seat directly behind him. +The man picked up a newspaper and fell to reading. + +Peering over his shoulder, Nancy Drew observed that he turned to a page +on which there was a reference to the Willoughby robbery. He read the +item through and then tossed the paper aside. + +Presently, the conductor came into the coach, taking up tickets. +Confronted with a situation which might prove embarrassing, Nancy Drew +dug down into her pocketbook. By rounding up all the nickels and dimes, +she found that she had exactly six dollars and eighty-five cents. Not a +great deal, but perhaps it would take her as far as she wanted to go. + +To her relief, the conductor paused beside the stranger before coming +to her. She heard the man explain that he had not had time to buy a +ticket. + +"Where to then?" the conductor demanded gruffly. + +"Winchester." + +In relief Nancy settled back into her seat. Winchester was a large city +some fifty miles from River Heights. She knew she would have enough +money to take her there and back easily. + +When the conductor came to her she had her cash fare ready and received +her ticket without attracting the attention of the man she was +following. + +"I hope he doesn't discover I'm trailing him," she thought. "If he +does, I won't learn a thing." + +The man did not pay the slightest attention to her, but stared out of +the window with a blank expression. Some time later when the porter +called "Winchester" he sprang to his feet and hurried down the aisle to +be one of the first out of the coach. Nancy followed as closely as she +dared, but nearly lost him in the crowd on the station platform. + +To her relief the man did not call a taxi, but set off on foot. Again +he walked rapidly, and it was all she could do to keep him in sight. + +Nancy Drew had frequently visited Winchester and in general was +familiar with the city. She had not walked far until she became aware +that the stranger was leading her into the poorer section, a district +frequented by pawnbrokers, fences, criminals and down-and-outers. Once +the man she was following glanced around, and for a moment Nancy +thought that she must have been seen. But as he continued again she +decided that she had been mistaken. + +She saw the man turn a corner, and hurried faster so as not to lose +sight of him. Turning the same corner a moment later she found to her +amazement that he had vanished. + +"Now where could he have gone so quickly?" she asked herself. "He +couldn't have dodged into an alley, for there isn't one close." + +The only alternative was that the man had entered one of the pawnbroker +shops along the street. + +"I'll wait until he comes out," Nancy decided, with a chuckle. "Then, +after he's out of sight, I'll go in myself and give the pawnbroker +the third degree. Who knows? I may track down those jewels this very +afternoon!" + +Nancy waited patiently for twenty minutes and then, because she was +attracting attention, crossed the street and walked a short distance +only to retrace her steps. She waited another fifteen minutes, and +still the stranger did not appear. + +"I guess I've lost him," Nancy told herself, in disgust. "He probably +saw that I was following him and decided to give me the slip. No use +waiting any longer." + +Because she was not willing to give up easily, she entered several of +the pawnbroker shops on the street and inquired if a man answering the +description she gave had been seen. Usually her polite question was +answered with an indifferent shrug of the shoulders, and at last Nancy +decided that she was wasting her time. + +"Just the same, I believe that man went into one of those places," she +thought, as she slowly made her way back to the interurban station. "If +only I had been a trifle more alert I might have found out something +important." + +Reaching the station, Nancy consulted a time-table and found that a +train for River Heights would leave in ten minutes. She bought her +ticket and sat down to wait, discouraged at the turn her adventure had +taken. + +"Well, I don't consider the time wholly wasted, anyway," she defended +herself. "I'm more than ever convinced that I'm on a track that will +get me somewhere. To-morrow I'll drive to Dockville and see Mary Mason. +And if she isn't willing to tell me what I want to know, I'll find a +way to make her tell. I must solve that mystery of Lilac Inn!" + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + + A CRISIS + + +It was late in the afternoon when Nancy Drew reached River Heights +after her unsuccessful trip to Winchester. + +Finding her roadster where she had parked it in front of the grocery, +she drove directly to her father's office, for she was eager to tell +him everything she had learned. As the door to the inner office was +open, she walked in without being announced. + +"Hello, Nancy," Mr. Drew greeted her. "I'm mighty glad you dropped in. +I've been trying to get you all afternoon. Mrs. Carter said she thought +you had gone to Dockville." + +"I did intend to go there, but something else came up. Did you want to +see me about anything special?" + +"Yes. I've been called out of town unexpectedly. It's about that +Merrill case and I'm afraid I can't put it off. I should get back +to-morrow afternoon at the latest." + +"When does your train leave?" + +"Six forty-five." + +"That doesn't give you much time." + +"No, but my bag is packed. I have it here and now that I've seen you +I'll leave directly from the office. I'm sorry to run off when you're +in such a mix-up about that Willoughby case." + +"Oh, I'll get along all right," Nancy replied. She decided not to +bother her father with the story of her afternoon's adventure. + +"I'll help you all I can when I get back," Carson Drew promised, as +he tossed a number of unread letters into a pigeonhole and locked the +desk. "Things probably won't come to a crisis for several days, anyway." + +Glancing at his watch, he arose from his desk and hastily gathered up +hat and traveling bag. + +"I'll drive you to the station," Nancy offered. + +"Fine! I think we'd better leave at once because I want to get a +Pullman ticket and I haven't a reservation." + +Mr. Drew made a last survey of the room to make sure that he had +forgotten nothing. As he turned toward the door, the telephone jangled. + +"Hang it all!" he exclaimed impatiently. "It would have to ring when +I'm in a hurry!" Dropping the bag, he snatched up the receiver. "Hello? +Yes, this is Carson Drew. What's that?" + +Nancy recognized the tense quality to her father's voice and glanced at +him in startled surprise. She saw by the expression of his face that +the telephone message was disturbing. + +Carson Drew held the receiver to his ear for what seemed to Nancy at +least five minutes. Then he said: + +"Thanks, Williams, for tipping me off," and hung up. When he turned to +his daughter, his face was grave. "Well, this changes everything," he +said quietly. + +"What does?" + +"Jake Williams just called. He has a way of knowing what goes on at +the police station, and when he thinks I'd be interested he passes the +information along to me. He just gave me a tip on the Willoughby case. +Things have come to a crisis sooner than I expected." + +"What do you mean?" Nancy inquired anxiously. + +"The police intend to put Mrs. Willoughby under arrest to-morrow +morning." + +"What evidence have they against her?" + +"Purely circumstantial." + +"I don't see how they can do it." + +"Well, they intend to. Jake tells me the police quizzed her for three +hours straight this afternoon, and she admitted that on the day before +the robbery she had visited the bank vault where the Crandall jewels +were kept. Then on the following day she drove to the bank with +Mrs. Potter and they took the jewels away with them. Naturally, the +admission makes it look bad for Mrs. Willoughby." + +"The police think she went to the bank alone to substitute fake jewels +for the real ones." + +"Undoubtedly." + +Nancy frowned. + +"Even if she did take the jewels, which I hate to believe, that doesn't +explain what became of the handbag which disappeared at Lilac Inn." + +"No, it doesn't." + +"Isn't there something we can do to prevent them from arresting her?" + +"I'm afraid not unless the mystery can be solved before to-morrow +morning. And that's impossible, of course. If I were going to be here +to-night I'd see what I could do, but as it is, I'm afraid we'll have +to let matters take their course. Unless you want me to call in a +detective." + +"Oh, don't do that," Nancy pleaded. "Give me one more day! I made +another discovery to-day that I think may have a direct bearing on the +case. I'm sure I can work this thing out alone." + +"All right," Mr. Drew agreed. "Do what you can while I'm away and after +that, if need be, we can turn the case over to a detective. I'll have +to hurry now or I'll miss my train." + +Nancy drove her father to the station, on the way telling him all that +she had learned in Winchester. Mr. Drew seemed impressed by the story. + +"I think perhaps you're on the right trail," he told her approvingly. + +After Mr. Drew's train had pulled out of the station, Nancy walked +slowly back to her roadster, more thoughtful than ever. It was nearly +seven o'clock, but as the sun did not set until later, it was still +light. + +"I'll drive over to Dockville right now," she decided impetuously. "If +I wait until to-morrow I may miss Mary entirely." + +Once her mind was made up, she did not lose a second. In her enthusiasm +for the adventure before her, she had cast a casual glance at the sky +and had failed to notice the angry black clouds directly overhead. As +she drove along she did think that the air was unusually heavy and that +it was rapidly growing darker, but she attributed it to the late hour. + +Reaching Dockville, Nancy drove toward the house where she had last +seen Mary Mason. Approaching the river, she was alarmed to run into a +misty fog which made it difficult for her to see where she was going. + +At last she made out the Mason house, but wisely stopped half a block +down the street to park. Alighting from the car, she glanced up at the +sky for the first time and noticed the gathering murkiness. + +"I believe there's going to be a storm," she thought uncomfortably. + +Glancing toward the west she saw that the sun was setting behind a bank +of black clouds. In a very few minutes it would be dark. + +Nancy glanced toward the old house and involuntarily shuddered. Though +she was not afraid of Mary Mason, she preferred to meet her in broad +daylight. The old house, which from the front appeared deserted, was +not an inviting place to visit after dark. + +Nancy walked swiftly up the street and paused to survey the dilapidated +house. Had she not seen Mary enter the building, she would not have +believed it possible that such a place was inhabited. + +"It's evident the girl doesn't want anyone to know she lives here," +Nancy thought. + +She was about to go up to the front door when a sudden thought came to +her. Walking to the back of the house, she surveyed the yard curiously. +It sloped down to the river and Nancy was quick to see a path leading +from the house to the water front. Following it, she came to an +improvised dock. + +"I'm sure this path has been used recently," she reasoned. "Otherwise +it would be overgrown with weeds. I wonder who has been landing at +this old dock?" + +The faint chug-chug of a motorboat caused her to glance out toward +the river. Some distance down the stream she saw a high-powered boat +cutting through the water and apparently heading for the very spot +where she was standing. Quickly, she stepped back into the tall bushes. + +"That motorboat is coming toward this very dock!" she told herself +excitedly. + +Crouching low in the brush which afforded a perfect shield from the +river, she waited expectantly. The noise of the motor became louder as +the boat approached, and then suddenly the engine was throttled. + +Overpowered by curiosity, Nancy cautiously peeped out from her hiding +place. She saw that the boat was drifting slowly up toward the dock. +There were three persons visible in the craft, two men and a woman. One +of the men held the wheel while the other stood ready to leap out and +fasten the boat when the dock was reached. + +From where she crouched it was impossible for Nancy Drew to see the +faces of the three persons. Darkness was fast enveloping the river, +but there was still sufficient light for her to make out the figures +distinctly. As her eye fell again upon the girl, she gave a little +start. There was something familiar about her. If only she could see +her face! + +At the risk of being detected, Nancy continued to watch the oncoming +motorboat. She heard a grating sound as the craft struck the dock. One +of the men leaped out and made fast while the other helped the girl to +alight. He said something to her in a low tone, but Nancy could not +distinguish the words. + +Leaving her two companions to attend to the motorboat, the girl started +slowly up the path leading to the house. As she turned toward the tall +brush, Nancy saw her face distinctly. + +The girl was Mary Mason. + +Having made the discovery, Nancy Drew ducked down again into the weeds, +fearful lest she be discovered. To her discomfiture, Mary paused not +six feet from where she was hiding and glanced back toward the dock. + +"Bud, aren't you coming?" she called in a harsh voice. "This is no time +for stalling! We've got plenty to do to-night!" + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII + + DURING THE STORM + + +In a frenzy of excitement, Nancy Drew crouched in her hiding place. She +dared not move, scarcely breathe, lest she agitate the bushes or make a +noise which would attract attention to herself. Mary Mason stood with +her back to the brush, but so close that Nancy could have reached out +and touched her. + +As she waited in an agony of suspense, expecting at any moment to be +discovered, a dozen questions raced through her mind. Who were Mary's +companions and what had they been doing with a luxurious motorboat? +What did Mary mean by saying that there was plenty of work yet to be +done that evening? It was all very puzzling, but Nancy Drew determined +that she would unravel the mystery before she left Dockville. + +Her thoughts were rudely interrupted as Mary called again to her +friends, more sharply than before: + +"Aren't you ever coming?" + +"Say, give a fellow a chance for his life, will you?" came the +rejoiner. "We've got to tie up this boat unless you want it to go +drifting off down the river!" + +Mary muttered something under her breath which Nancy did not catch. +However, she waited for the two men. + +Presently Nancy heard heavy footsteps on the path and knew that the men +were approaching. Though she realized that it was a dangerous thing to +do, curiosity overcame her, and she cautiously arose and peeped from +her hiding place. + +Through the gathering gloom and mist she beheld the two men. The +younger, whom Mary had addressed as "Bud," could not have been more +than eighteen or nineteen years of age, but his face was that of the +hardened criminal. He bore a marked resemblance to Mary, and Nancy +correctly judged that they were brother and sister. She had never set +eyes upon him before. + +"Why, he wasn't the man I followed to Winchester!" she ruminated. "I +wonder who that other man could have been!" + +Glancing toward the older man who was following Bud up the path, she +gave a little start of recognition. It was the stranger with the hooked +nose! + +"He must be a friend of Bud's and happened to be carrying his +address," she reasoned. "That's why I thought he may have been Mary's +brother." + +In her excitement at the discovery, Nancy unwittingly agitated the +leaves of a bush against which she was leaning. She quickly ducked down +out of sight, but to her horror Mary had noticed the movement, slight +as it was. + +"What was that?" she demanded tensely. "I saw those bushes move." + +"Only the wind," Bud answered indifferently. "Don't be such a coward." + +"I'm not a coward," Mary retorted hotly. "But this business we're mixed +up in is beginning to give me the jim-jams!" + +"Aw, lay off on the fighting," the older man interposed bluntly. "It's +going to storm and we've got to make our get-away." + +"Yes," Mary agreed quickly, "we must collect our things and escape +before the river becomes rough." + +"We'll split three ways and settle everything to-night," Bud added. + +"Three ways, eh?" The other man laughed harshly. "I tell you I'll have +more than a third of the swag!" + +"Don't you remember our agreement?" Mary demanded sharply. + +"What do I care for that?" the man snarled unpleasantly. "I furnished +the boat." + +"And who took all the risk?" Mary countered angrily. "Answer me that!" + +"I'll have two-thirds or I'll send you all to jail!" + +"Then you'll go with us." + +"Not much I won't! Tom Tozzle knows how to look out for himself!" + +"Aw, quit that arguing and come on!" Bud interrupted. "We'll settle +this thing in the house." + +To Nancy Drew's disappointment, the three walked on up the path and +disappeared inside the house. After a few minutes, Nancy came out from +her hiding place, trembling with excitement. + +"It's evident they're up to some shady business," she told herself, +"but of course I don't know whether they had a hand in the Lilac Inn +mystery or not. If only I can find out!" + +What she was to do next Nancy Drew did not know. It would be dangerous +to enter the old house, for if she were discovered she would be +entirely at the mercy of her captors. She guessed that the rooms were +bare of furniture and that would make the problem of finding a hiding +place all but impossible. What should she do? + +While Nancy hesitated, the first drop of rain splattered down upon +her hand. Glancing up, she saw that black clouds were swirling about +overhead. + +"There's going to be a terrible storm!" she thought nervously. + +Nancy Drew was by nature a brave girl, but as she glanced up at the +leaden sky she was more than a little disturbed. Almost in an instant +it had grown dark, and the blackness seemed to have a terrifying +quality. The air was warm and heavy. An oppressive quiet was broken +only by the moan and rush of the river. + +Suddenly there was a vivid flash of lightning, followed by a violent +clap of thunder. The clouds seemed to open wide, pouring down a torrent +of rain. + +"Oh!" Nancy gasped, momentarily blinded. + +She could not see a foot ahead of her, but she remembered an old shed +which she had noticed at the rear of the house. In desperation, she +groped her way toward it. A second flash of lightning showed her the +way. Reaching the door, she slipped gratefully inside and shook the +water from her dress and hair. + +"Just my luck the storm had to break at this very minute!" she thought +dismally. "I hope it won't last long." + +She glanced anxiously toward the house which Mary and her companions +had entered. Through the rain she could see a dim light burning in one +of the rooms. Probably at this very moment the three were dividing the +loot they had mentioned. + +"I wonder if they meant the Crandall jewels?" she asked herself. + +The thought drove her to action. Another impatient glance at the sky +convinced her that the storm was likely to last for several hours. If +she waited until the rain ceased, she would learn nothing. + +"I don't mind getting wet," she assured herself grimly. + +Nevertheless, as she stepped out into the pouring rain, a dazzling +flash of lightning caused her to cringe. Resolutely continuing again, +she crept around to the north side of the house. There, to her relief, +she saw a broad piazza partially sheltered by vines. + +Thoroughly soaked, she reached the porch and tiptoed across to a window +which she could see gleaming in the dark. To her disappointment she +found that the blind had been pulled down and she could not see inside. +She could hear a faint murmur of voices, but it was impossible to +distinguish a word. It was tantalizing to be so close and yet not to +be able to learn a thing she wanted to know. Frantically, she glanced +about. She must find a way to enter the house! + +Thinking that she might gain admittance through a cellar window, she +started away from the porch. Just at that moment another flash of +lightning made everything as bright as day, and in that brief instant +of illumination, she saw another window at the east end of the piazza. + +Softly retracing her steps, she reached the ledge and listened. She +could still hear a low murmur of voices from inside, so it was evident +that she had not been seen. Cautiously, she tried the window. At first +it offered stubborn resistance, but as she applied more strength it +slowly gave, accompanied by an alarming creak. + +"I'll be caught if I don't watch out," Nancy thought. + +She waited an instant, but as there was no unusual sound from the +interior of the house, she raised the window until it was high enough +to admit her body. Thrusting head and shoulders through the opening, +she peered inside. At first she could see nothing, but in a moment was +able to make out several rows of empty shelves along the walls of the +room. Evidently, she was looking into an old storeroom. + +"Here goes!" Nancy decided rashly. + +She swung herself through the opening and was about to lower herself to +the floor of the storeroom when she thought of her shoes. They were +soaking wet as well as muddy. If she walked across the floor, she would +leave a trail. + +"No use to court disaster," she chuckled. + +Quickly removing her shoes, she held them in one hand and dropped +lightly to the floor below. Creeping to the far wall, she listened. To +her satisfaction, she found that she could hear what was being said in +the next room. Evidently, the three were engaged in a heated argument. + +"I tell you we've got to settle up to-night and get out while the +getting is good," she heard Tom Tozzle say. + +"Bud and I will never settle on your terms," Mary replied angrily. "You +want too much." + +Tom made a response which Nancy did not catch, but the next moment she +was startled to hear Mary say: + +"Oh! What a vivid flash of lightning! That must have come close. I +wonder if all the windows are down?" + +Nancy glanced guiltily toward the storeroom window. In the excitement +of entering the house she had forgotten to close it. Before she could +make a move she heard Mary say: + +"I can hear water dripping somewhere. I think the storeroom window must +be open. Wait a minute and I'll shut it." + +Desperately, Nancy glanced about for a hiding place. She was convinced +that her own carelessness had trapped her. Had there been time she +would have vaulted out the window, but it was too late for that. + +Her only hope was an empty packing case. Hastily climbing into it, she +flattened herself against the bottom just as Mary Mason opened the +door. + + + + + CHAPTER XIX + + IN THE STOREROOM + + +Carrying an oil lamp, Mary Mason entered the storeroom, and with only +a casual glance about went directly to the window. As she passed the +packing box, Nancy held her breath, fearful lest she be discovered. + +"I don't remember leaving a window open," the girl muttered to herself. +"Why, the floor is sopping wet." + +Hearing the words, Nancy was assailed with a new fear. Undoubtedly, in +moving about the storeroom her clothes had dripped water, leaving a +trail wherever she had gone. If Mary were at all observing she would +realize that an intruder had entered the house! + +Evidently, the girl was too intent upon closing the window to notice +the floor particularly, for Nancy heard her working with the fastening. +Before she could accomplish her task a sudden flash of lightning caused +her to give a little scream of terror. Recoiling, she dropped the +window down so quickly that the glass rattled. + +"Say, don't make so much noise," an impatient voice called from the +next room. "Do you want to have the police down on us?" + +"I suppose you want me to be struck by lightning!" Mary retorted +crossly. + +"Let that window go," Tom Tozzle ordered. "We've got to get away from +here." + +"I'm coming," the girl responded sullenly. + +To Nancy Drew's relief, she left the storeroom without so much as a +glance toward the packing box. + +"That was a close shave," Nancy assured herself grimly as she climbed +from her hiding place. "It was lucky I heard her coming." + +Moving softly across the floor, she again took up her position near the +door. Already she had heard enough to be convinced that Mary and her +friends were mixed up in an underhand scheme, and she intended to learn +everything there was to learn. If only Mary would say something which +would definitely prove that she had stolen the Crandall jewels or knew +something of their disappearance! + +Peeping through a tiny crack in the door, she saw the girl seat herself +at a table opposite the two men. Tom Tozzle sat facing the storeroom +and Nancy could see the calculating, greedy look in his eyes. + +"Now Mary, you might as well be reasonable," she heard him say in a +wheedling tone. "It don't get us nowhere to argue. I wouldn't ask for +two-thirds if I hadn't earned it." + +"That's a good joke!" Mary returned scathingly. "I could have pulled +off this job better alone." + +"Yeah? And how would you have got rid of the stuff? Just answer me +that!" + +"I don't see that you've done so well yourself, Tom Tozzle. You wasted +a whole day at Winchester and didn't come home with a cent of money." + +"I was followed," the man whined. "I'd have been a fool to have gone +direct to the pawnshop. I'd have been arrested with the goods." + +"Who followed you?" Mary demanded sharply. + +"A girl. Never saw her before, but she looked like a detective." + +"Afraid of a girl!" Mary returned scornfully. "It was probably your +imagination anyway." + +"Tom may be right," Bud interposed. "I hear the detectives are getting +pretty active--especially that girl of Carson Drew's." + +"How I hate her!" Mary spit out vehemently. "She always sticks her nose +into business that doesn't concern her. Well, she'd better not come +fooling around me!" + +"The quicker I get out of this town the safer I'll feel," Bud said +uneasily. + +"Before we stir from this house we're going to have an understanding +about shares," Mary replied firmly. She turned to Tom Tozzle. "What did +you do with the jewels you took with you to Winchester?" + +"I put 'em back in the secret compartment of the boat. I'd 've pawned +'em, but I was afraid to after that girl followed me." + +"Have we enough money to make our get-away?" + +"Sure! That last jewel brought a tidy sum. The money we got from it +ought to take us a long way from here. Everything's settled except how +we're to divide." + +"Why worry about that now?" Bud demanded. "As long as most of the +jewels haven't been converted into cash----" + +"I'll not stir a step until it's definitely understood that we're to +share equally!" Mary interrupted angrily. "Why, I'm the one that should +have two-thirds and not Tom Tozzle! If it hadn't been for me, you two +wouldn't have known about the jewels." + +"You sort of stumbled on to 'em accidently yourself," Tom reminded her +unpleasantly. + +"I wouldn't call it accident. I went to Lilac Inn to ask for work in +the kitchen and as I walked past the dining room window I saw Mrs. +Willoughby and her friend sitting there." Mary chuckled evilly at the +recollection. "I noticed that big handbag of hers lying on the table, +and from the way she was acting I knew right off there was something +valuable in it." + +At this point, the girl lowered her voice so that it was difficult for +Nancy to hear. Determined to find out whether or not Mary was the one +who had stolen the jewels, she daringly opened the door a trifle wider. +She thought there was no particular danger, for the room was but dimly +lighted. + +"I was wishing I could get my hands on that bag," Mary continued, +growing more boastful, "when suddenly there was a big smash-up down +the road. Two automobiles had run together. Someone in the dining room +yelled that there had been a bad accident. Everyone got excited and +began running around. + +"This gave me the chance I wanted. When Mrs. Willoughby turned her back +I just reached my hand through the window and took the bag. It was the +easiest job I ever pulled." + +"You might have been caught," Bud said to her. + +"Not Mary Mason! I'm too smart for the police. I just hid behind the +lilac bushes until the excitement had died down. It sure was fun +to hear Mrs. Willoughby carrying on in the dining room and accusing +everyone! When I saw my chance, I slipped away without being seen and +walked to River Heights. Neat, wasn't it?" + +"It was clever work," Bud admitted. + +"Forty thousand dollars' worth of jewels in one haul! Why, that's more +than you and Tom Tozzle have brought in together in the last six years. +Now we've got enough to put us all on easy street if Tom has gumption +enough to convert the jewels into cash." + +"I'll get rid of 'em in a few days," the man promised. "Give me time. +I can't walk into the first pawnshop I come to and dump forty thousand +dollars' worth of jewels on the counter--not unless we all want to land +behind the bars. Now if we can get to Birmingham I know a fence there +who'll turn the trick for us." + +"How far is Birmingham?" Mary demanded. + +"Less than a hundred miles. We can make it easy to-night." + +"In this storm?" + +"Sure!" Tom Tozzle laughed. "I ain't been a riverman for nothing. I +know every crook and turn of this old stream. We'd better get started +too, 'cause the storm's getting worse every minute." + +"Will you agree about the shares?" + +Tom Tozzle hesitated and Nancy saw him study the girl craftily. +Evidently he realized that he could not hope to gain his point, for he +shrugged his shoulders indifferently. + +"Have it your own way." + +Nancy decided to wait for no more. She had heard enough to prove that +Mary Mason had stolen the Crandall jewels and that her brother and +Tom Tozzle were confederates. From their conversation she gathered +that they were all seasoned criminals and had engaged in a number of +questionable deals. + +"This will clear Mrs. Willoughby and every other person who has been +under suspicion," she thought with satisfaction. "I must get away from +here as quickly as I can and bring the police." + +But in planning her escape from the old house, Nancy Drew had waited +too long. + +In her eagerness to hear everything Mary and her friends were saying, +she had opened the storeroom door a trifle farther than she had +intended. Now, as she prepared to make her escape, the conference +between the three confederates abruptly ended. Bud Mason pushed back +his chair and arose. + +Alarmed, Nancy shrank back deeper into the shadow. She thought that +if she remained motionless she would not be seen, for the oil lamp on +the table did not illuminate the corners of the room. Undoubtedly, she +would have escaped detection had not Fate played a most unkind trick +upon her. + +At the very instant that Bud Mason turned his face toward the storeroom +door, a vivid flash of lightning zigzagged across the sky. It revealed +every detail of the room and disclosed poor Nancy, who crouched on the +floor. + +"Who's there?" Buddy called sharply. + +Panic took possession of Nancy. For a moment she could not move, so +great was her fright. Then, with the speed born of desperation, she +bolted for the window. Reaching the ledge, she swung herself upward, +but a rough hand grasped her from behind. + +"Oh, no you don't, young lady!" a harsh voice hissed into her ear. + +Before she could cry out for help, her arms were caught in a viselike +grip and jerked behind her back. A handkerchief was stuffed into her +mouth. She struggled frantically, kicking viciously at her captor, but +it availed her nothing. + +The gag in her mouth choked her and she began to gasp for breath. Then +things went black before her eyes and she knew no more. + + + + + CHAPTER XX + + A PRISONER + + +When Nancy Drew opened her eyes it was to realize that Mary Mason and +the two men were bending over her. She was lying on an old couch and +the gag had been removed from her mouth so that she could breathe more +easily. + +"She's coming around," Bud observed in relief, as Nancy regained +consciousness. "I thought for a minute I'd strangled her." + +"It would have been better for us if you had," Mary said coldly. + +"We're in a mess, that's sure," Tom Tozzle agreed, peering intently +down upon Nancy. "She's the one that followed me to Winchester." + +"And you don't know who she is?" Mary demanded. + +"Never set eyes on her until to-day." + +"Then I'll tell you. Nancy Drew! The daughter of Carson Drew, the +famous criminal lawyer. Does that signify anything to you?" + +"She's been listening to everything we said," Tom Tozzle muttered +unpleasantly. He bent down and grasped Nancy roughly by the arm. "What +did you hear? Out with it!" + +Nancy knew that it would be useless to pretend she had not overheard +the plot, so she boldly defied her captors. + +"I heard enough to put you all behind the bars," she informed them +daringly. + +"Not much you won't!" Mary cried. "After we get through with you, +you'll not go snooping into other folk's business again!" She turned to +her brother and Tom Tozzle. "We've got to get rid of her. If we let her +go she'll tell the police everything she knows and they'll be down on +us in a jiffy." + +"That's right," Tom agreed. "We'll see that she doesn't get away." + +"Not on your life!" Bud put in. + +Nancy realized that the situation was desperate. From what she knew +of the character of her captors, she did not doubt that they would be +merciless in their treatment of her. If only she could think of a way +to escape! She must work quickly or it would be too late. + +Suddenly she remembered a simple trick which her father had told her +was used frequently by detectives. It was an old device, but she +thought it might work in this instance. At least it was worth trying. + +Half rising from the couch, she riveted her eyes on a spot directly +behind her captors and gave a low cry of mingled surprise and joy. +Thinking that Nancy must have left a helper outside who had come to her +aid, the three confederates wheeled about. + +Like a flash, Nancy Drew was up from the couch. She dashed across the +room toward the door. With a cry of rage, the three were after her. + +"Don't let her get away!" Mary screamed. + +Nancy grasped the handle of the door, but at the same instant Tom +Tozzle reached out and caught her by the arm, giving her wrist a cruel +turn. + +"None of your tricks!" he snarled. + +"Tie her up before she tries to get away again," Mary directed. + +"I'll get a rope," Bud cried. + +He ran into the storeroom and returned a moment later with a heavy +cord. Nancy's hands were then tied securely behind her and she was +again flung down on the couch. + +"I guess you'll not get away this time," Tom laughed evilly. + +As Nancy felt the cord cutting into her flesh, she realized that her +chances of escape were slim indeed. Tom Tozzle had done his work far +better than had Stumpy Dowd, the rascal who had once imprisoned her in +an abandoned cottage. Then, by dextrous twisting and squirming, she +had managed to loosen her bonds, but this time she felt that there +was no chance of doing this. The cords would not give an inch, and the +slightest movement on her part brought excruciating pain. + +"What are we going to do with her?" Bud demanded practically. + +"Leave her here and let her starve," Mary suggested cruelly. "It would +serve her right for meddling." + +"Somebody might find her," Tom objected. "Then she'd be sure to set the +police after us." + +"That's so," Mary agreed. "Maybe we'd better take her along in the +motorboat." + +"She'll be a nuisance," Bud protested. + +"We can drop her off at an old cabin I know of," Tom put in. "No one +would think of looking there for her." + +"How far is it from here?" Mary asked. + +"About forty miles." + +"Maybe that's as good a place as any," the girl admitted, after a +moment's thought. + +"Sure it is," Tom urged. "We can leave her there until we decide what +to do with her." + +"If we play our cards right there ought to be some extra money in this +deal," Bud observed slyly. "Old man Drew should come across heavily to +save his only daughter." + +"My father won't pay you a cent!" Nancy broke in furiously. "He'll +track you down and see that you all land in prison!" + +"Not much he won't!" Tom sneered. "He'll be only too glad to fork over +the cash when we get through with him." + +Nancy subsided, for she realized that she only wasted breath by arguing +with her captors. How worried her father would be when he learned that +she had been kidnapped! She did not doubt that in his anxiety for her +safety he would turn over any sum demanded by the conspirators. She +felt sick at heart to think that she had brought so much trouble upon +her father. If only she had used more caution and had brought the +police with her when she visited the Mason house! + +"Well, let's be getting out of here," Tom Tozzle said to his two +companions. "It's late, and we ought to be on our way." + +Mary Mason glanced anxiously out of the window. + +"It's storming worse than ever," she announced uneasily. "I don't like +to start now." + +"We've got to," Bud insisted. + +"But the river is so high. I can hear the water pounding against the +dock." + +"It's going to storm all night," Tom broke in. "It won't do us no good +to wait." + +"I suppose you're right," Mary gave in reluctantly. "I'll get the +things ready." + +She went to the kitchen, returning in about ten minutes with a package +which she dropped down on the table. + +"There's enough food to last us a couple of days if necessary," she +informed her companions. + +"Then I guess everything's ready," Tom said with a critical glance +about the room. "The motorboat is loaded with gas and is a r'aring to +go. She'll ride this storm like a bird." + +Now that the time of departure had arrived, Tom Tozzle was in high +spirits. The storm held no terrors for the veteran riverman, but rather +offered a challenge which he was eager to accept. Mary and Bud Mason +did not share his enthusiasm for the adventure. + +As Nancy Drew thought of what was in store for her, she shuddered. She +knew that it was dangerous to attempt a journey on the river during +the storm, and the reckless gleam in Tom Tozzle's eye told her that he +would probably prove a foolhardy pilot. Her unpleasant meditation was +rudely interrupted as Bud grasped her by the shoulders and pulled her +to her feet. + +"Hold on there," Tom cried. "We can't take her that way. She'll let out +a yell the minute she gets outside." + +"Gag her," Mary directed. + +"Oh, please don't put that thing in my mouth again," Nancy pleaded. "I +promise I won't cry out for help." + +"Gag her," the girl repeated coldly, paying not the slightest attention +to Nancy's plea. + +Tom Tozzle brought out the hateful gag from his pocket, and, in spite +of Nancy's vigorous protests, it was jammed down her throat. + +"Don't put it in too tight," Bud warned. "We don't want her to pass out +on us again." + +Tom Tozzle went to the back door and looked out into the storm. + +"The coast is clear," he announced. "Not a person in sight. We can make +it now." + +A heavy shawl was thrown over Nancy and the two men grasped her +firmly by the arms. She was half-dragged, half-carried down the +steep path which led to the river. Reaching the dock, she was shoved +unceremoniously into the motorboat. The others climbed in. Tom started +the motor and Bud cast off the rope. + +Nancy Drew heard the angry roar of the river as the boat moved slowly +away from the dock. The dreadful journey had begun. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI + + DOWN THE RIVER + + +It was not until the motorboat was well under way that Nancy Drew +received the slightest attention from her captors. Powerless to help +herself, she lay where she had fallen in the bottom of the boat. + +The shawl, which in a measure had protected her from the storm, had +slipped from her head and shoulders, and she was subjected to severe +discomfort from the pelting rain. Though Mary, who was well protected +by a slicker, stood only a few feet away, she did not make a move to +help Nancy. Rather, she seemed to take pleasure in seeing the girl +uncomfortable. + +Through a blinding wall of rain the motorboat rushed downstream. Tom +Tozzle stood grimly at the wheel, his head thrown back in a defiant +attitude. The swirling, rushing water beat against the sides of the +little craft, occasionally sweeping over the gunwale. + +Though the current was incredibly swift, the riverman applied more +power with reckless abandonment. The boat fairly shot through the +water. + +"Aren't we going pretty fast?" Bud ventured doubtfully. + +Tom laughed derisively. + +"I know this old river like a book." + +"But we might run into something." + +Tom Tozzle made no response, but neither did he reduce the speed of +the boat. For obvious reasons, the conspirators were cruising without +lights save for a small one in the cabin, and Nancy Drew knew that this +added to the danger of the voyage. She wondered where the mad race +would end. Perhaps in a crash against a floating tree or log. + +It was not until she was thoroughly drenched by the rain that Bud came +over to where she was lying and helped her to her feet. + +"You may as well be inside," he said gruffly, shoving her into a tiny +cabin. + +"Getting mighty thoughtful of our prisoner, aren't you?" Mary inquired +sarcastically, as she followed the two inside. + +"Well, Carson Drew won't pay us a cent if she dies of pneumonia," he +defended himself. "How about the gag? Hadn't we better take it out of +her mouth?" + +"And have her calling out for help when we pass the first boat? Not +much!" + +"She's liable to strangle with that thing rammed down her throat. Here, +this will do just as well and it'll be a lot more comfortable." + +He took a clean handkerchief from his pocket and, folding it several +times, tied it across Nancy's mouth. She shot him a grateful glance as +he removed the old gag. + +"She'll slip that thing off," Mary protested. + +It seemed to Nancy that the girl was bent on torturing her as much as +possible and was infuriated because her brother was attempting to make +her a trifle more comfortable. + +"I've tied it good and tight," Bud assured Mary. "Anyway, you can stay +here and keep your eye on her. No need to stand out in the rain. Tom +and I will keep watch." + +The two girls left alone together, Mary faced her prisoner with +undisguised hatred. + +"Thought you'd be smart, didn't you?" she sneered. "Well, I guess this +will teach you a lesson!" + +[Illustration: "THOUGHT YOU'D BE SMART, DIDN'T YOU!" SHE SNEERED.] + +Unable to make a retort, Nancy coldly turned her back, but even this +did not stop the girl, for she was bent upon gloating over her victim. + +"You're a great detective!" she jeered. "You found out a few things, +but a lot of good it will do you. After this experience you'll be glad +to give up the snooping business!" + +Nancy Drew's eyes flashed fire. Though she was not one to give vent to +rage, it seemed to her that if her hands were free she would certainly +fly at Mary Mason. + +"Wouldn't you give plenty to get your hands on the Crandall jewels?" +the girl went on boastfully. "Well, you never will! And you're sitting +not six feet from them this minute!" + +Nancy's anger flickered away in an instant. She was startled at this +information which Mary had dropped unwittingly, but she tried not to +betray her interest in what the girl was saying. From her hiding place +in the storeroom she had heard Tom Tozzle mention that the jewels had +been hidden in a secret compartment of the motorboat. Probably they +were now in the very cabin where she was imprisoned. If only Mary Mason +would go on and tell her the location of the secret compartment! + +However, the girl said no more about the jewels. She realized that +already she had told too much. + +Involuntarily, Nancy's eyes swept the little cabin. If only she could +think of a way to save the Crandall jewels! From the conversation +which had taken place inside the old house she knew that some of the +stones had already been disposed of through unscrupulous fences +and pawnbrokers, but it was certain that the bulk of the Crandall +inheritance remained intact. + +Mary, studying her victim fixedly, thought she read the girl's mind. + +"Don't worry, you'll never get away," she gloated. "What's more, you'll +never see those jewels. I was only joking when I said they were hidden +in here. Tom has them." + +"She's lying," Nancy told herself. + +"Five thousand dollars' worth of the jewels have been sold already," +Mary went on, "and it won't be hard to get rid of the other diamonds. I +intend to live high." + +She strutted across the cabin and preened before a mirror, smoothing +out a wrinkle from the silk dress which she wore. In disgust, Nancy +again turned her back. + +After a few minutes, Mary sat down in a chair and tried to interest +herself in an old paper which she found on the table. After reading +less than a column, she tossed it down impatiently and went to the +window. + +Nancy thought that the storm must be steadily increasing in violence, +for the motorboat was pitching and tossing on the water like a wild +thing. Mary opened the window for an instant, and a sheet of rain and +flying skud came through the aperture. + +"This is terrible!" the girl muttered. + +After pacing up and down the cabin, she again seated herself. Nancy +noticed that the color had faded from her face, and guessed the reason. + +Presently, Mary buried her head in her hands and gave a little shiver +of revulsion. + +"O-oh, I'm getting sick!" + +Nancy had not been disturbed by the rocking motion of the boat. Though +she had made many voyages, including one ocean trip, she had never been +seasick in her life. Nevertheless, she was far from comfortable as she +sat in the stuffy little cabin. Her clothing, which was thoroughly wet, +clung tightly to her body and the gag bothered her a great deal. + +As Mary's discomfort increased, she began to carry on a great deal. +Finally, she slumped down on an old cot at one end of the cabin and, +save for an occasional groan, remained quiet. + +"Now is my chance!" Nancy told herself grimly. + +Taking care not to make a sound which might arouse the girl, she +wriggled about in her chair and tried to free her hands from the cords. +In vain she struggled. It was impossible to loosen her bonds. At last +she gave up in despair. + +Even more than before, she realized the hopelessness of her situation. +Should anything happen to the motorboat, she was entirely at the mercy +of her captors, and from the indications, they would not care what +became of her anyway. + +While Nancy Drew was occupied with unpleasant meditation, Bud Mason +came staggering into the cabin. He gave a little groan and sank down +into the nearest chair. Mary stirred on the cot and glanced up at him. + +"What's the matter?" she asked listlessly. + +"Can't you see? I'm seasick." + +"I wish this old tub would stop rocking. I'm about under myself. Why +doesn't Tom tie up?" + +"That old seahorse? He likes this kind of weather." + +"Tell him we've got to tie up. I can't stand this rocking much longer." + +"I'll see what he has to say," Bud mumbled, and went out of the cabin. + +Above the roar of the storm, Nancy caught the sound of angry voices and +knew that the two men were arguing. Evidently, Tom Tozzle was unwilling +to halt. + +This Bud confirmed when he returned to the cabin a few minutes later. + +"Well, what did he say?" Mary demanded impatiently. + +"Nothing doing. He says we're going to get a hundred miles down the +river before we stop." + +"I wish he'd get sick--the stubborn fool!" Mary flared indignantly. +"Who does he think is running this affair, anyway?" + +"Well, he's running the boat, at least. I wouldn't want the job of +trying it." + +As Bud finished speaking, the motorboat gave a sudden swerve which sent +him reeling against the table. + +"We nearly struck something that time!" he cried excitedly. + +Rushing to the window, he looked out into the storm and was just in +time to see a large yacht steam by. + +"We might have been run down!" he exclaimed. "This settles it! I'll +make Tom tie up for the night!" + +He strode from the cabin, to return presently with the news that the +riverman had agreed to turn toward shore. + +"Running so close to that other boat gave him a good scare," he +informed his sister triumphantly. "He says he's willing to tie up for +the night now." + +"Good enough!" Mary replied. "I'm glad he's coming to his senses. +There's no use risking our lives trying to get away when the police +aren't on our trail. We can go on again in the morning when the river +isn't on the rampage." + +Buttoning his slicker more tightly about him, Bud Mason again stepped +out into the storm. As he opened the cabin door a cold blast of wind +rattled the window, and Nancy caught a glimpse of angry waters washing +in great sheets over the decks. She was relieved that Tom Tozzle had +agreed to halt, for it was a mystery to her how the little boat had +managed to keep afloat. Then, too, if they tied up for the night, there +was a possibility that she might find a means of escape. + +Several minutes elapsed, and from the sound of the motor, Nancy knew +that they must be approaching shore. Mary Mason rose from the cot and +staggered over to the window. + +"We're coming up to the dock," she observed, more to herself than for +Nancy's benefit. Suddenly she gave a wild scream of terror. "There's a +yacht bearing right down on us! Oh, we're going to hit!" + +Above the roar and whistle of the wind, Nancy heard Bud cry out in a +hoarse voice: + +"About, Tom! About!" + +Nancy struggled frantically with her bonds, but was helpless. Before +she had time to cry out, there came a terrific crash and the sound of +splintering wood! Then Nancy Drew felt herself hurled headlong across +the cabin. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII + + SINKING + + +At the wheel of the motorboat, Tom Tozzle had failed to realize the +danger until it was too late. Not until the bow of a large private +yacht suddenly loomed out of the darkness did he attempt to bring the +boat about. + +As the two boats came together with a sickening crash, it seemed that +the smaller craft must split from end to end. Cries of alarm went up +from the yacht. + +Bud braced himself for the impact, and though his arms were nearly torn +from their sockets, managed to hold to the side of the boat. Tom Tozzle +fared less fortunately. He was hurled overboard. + +For an instant after his companion had been flung into the river, Bud +stared stupidly at the black, swirling water, as though unable to +comprehend what had happened. + +"Tom can't swim a stroke," he muttered. + +Nervously, his hands clenched and unclenched, but the current was +running swiftly and he lacked the courage to attempt a rescue. Rather +than risk his own life, he would see his friend drown before his eyes. +As he stood trembling at the rail, watching the spot where Tom Tozzle +had disappeared, a peculiar crackling noise caused him to wheel about. + +For the first time he became aware that the boat was listing sharply, +and the crackling sound made him think that a fire had started from the +engine. In another moment, the flame might reach the gasoline supply! +He darted into the cabin. + +"Come on, Mary!" he shouted. "We've got to get out of this! The +motorboat may blow up! Hurry!" + +"Where's Tom?" + +"Flung overboard!" + +"Didn't you save him?" + +"I couldn't--the current's too swift. Come on, or we'll both be blown +sky-high!" + +Bud grasped his sister by the hand and dragged her toward the door, but +she held back. + +"The jewels, Bud! We must get them!" + +"There isn't time! There may be an explosion, and, anyhow, this boat is +listing more every minute!" + +"But we can't go without them." + +"I tell you we must! The boat that rammed us may belong to the +government patrol. They'd jail us in a minute if we were caught with +the loot. Come on!" + +Against her will, Mary was dragged to the door. As she looked out and +saw that water was washing over the deck, she became panic stricken. + +"We'll never make shore," she wailed. "I can't swim a stroke." + +"The boat's almost up to the dock. We can jump for it." + +Bud glanced back and saw Nancy lying on the floor where she had been +flung at the time of the collision. "How about it?" he demanded of his +sister. "Shall we cut her loose?" + +He groped in his pocket for a knife, but Mary grasped his hand roughly. + +"Don't be a fool!" + +"But we can't let her drown!" + +"Who's to know? The boat will sink before anyone can get to her." + +"But----" + +"If we set her free she'll tell everything she knows, and that will +mean our finish. Come along before it's too late!" + +Bud closed the door of the cabin, and Nancy Drew was left to her fate. + +In deserting their captive, Mary and Bud Mason assumed that they left +her securely bound and gagged; but such was not the case. When Nancy +had been flung to the floor by the crash, the gag across her mouth had +loosened. At first she was too stunned to realize what had happened, +and it was not until the cabin door closed behind Mary and Bud that she +found her voice. + +"Help! Help!" she screamed. + +There was no answering cry. Cold sweat broke out on Nancy's brow as +she realized that there was little hope of a rescue. She could feel +the boat listing. At any moment it might plunge beneath the waves. She +tugged desperately at the cords which held her a prisoner, and again +she raised her voice in the frantic call: + +"Help!" + +There was a long moment of silence, a moment which to Nancy Drew seemed +an eternity. Then, from far away, she heard an answering shout. + +"Hello, there! What's the matter?" + +"Save me! Save me!" Nancy screamed as loudly as she could. "I'm locked +up in the cabin!" + +From the vicinity of the dock, she heard an excited murmur of voices. +Someone shouted: + +"Don't let these two persons get away until we find out what's up!" + +Though Nancy Drew was fearful lest the motorboat sink before help +reached her, she was calm enough to be pleased that Mary and Bud Mason +had been apprehended. When it seemed to her that she was surely doomed, +the door of the cabin was flung open. + +"What's the matter?" a gruff voice demanded. "The door isn't locked and +the boat's touching the dock. Why don't you step out?" + +"I'm bound!" + +At the time of the accident, the cabin light had been extinguished. +Someone now lighted a match and there was a chorus of exclamations as +Nancy was disclosed on the floor. + +"Get her out of here quickly!" one of the men shouted. "This boat will +go down any minute." + +To Nancy's relief, someone darted over to her and cut the thongs. She +sprang to her feet, but her limbs were so numb that she would have +fallen had not one of the men grasped her by the arm. + +As she was rushed to the door, she thought of the Crandall jewels, but +knew that there was no time to stop for them. She was half dragged and +half carried along the deck to the span of water which separated the +boat from the dock. + +"Jump!" one of the men commanded sharply. + +Blindly, Nancy jumped. As her feet struck the dock, willing hands +reached out to aid her. The three men who had saved her sprang after +her and likewise reached safety. + +"Just in time!" someone murmured. + +Nancy, still weak from the ordeal through which she had just gone, +wheeled about and gazed toward the motorboat. She saw that it was +rapidly sinking. + +"The Crandall jewels!" she thought miserably. "They'll go to the bottom +of the river." + +She dared not go back to the cabin, and yet there must be some way to +save Emily's inheritance! Frantically, she glanced up and down the dock +and then out across the water. As she saw that the yacht was standing +by close to the sinking motorboat, a sudden idea came to her. + +Running along the dock until she stood opposite the yacht, she hailed +the captain who was at the rail. + +"Don't let that motorboat sink!" she cried. "There's a valuable cargo +aboard. Can't you use grappling hooks and save it?" + +"We'll try it, Miss," came the reassuring response. + +Now that Nancy Drew had done all she could to save the Crandall jewels, +she recalled what Bud had told his sister about leaving Tom Tozzle +to drown. Horrified at such inhumanity, she glanced toward the inky +waters, willing, if need be, to attempt a rescue herself. + +"I'm afraid it's too late," she told herself. + +However, at that moment a cry went up from the crowd which had gathered +on the dock. Nancy turned just in time to see two bedraggled men +climbing out of the river. She recognized Tom Tozzle instantly and knew +that the other man had rescued him. + +"I'm glad he was saved," she told herself. + +The charitable thought was not of long duration, for the next instant +she saw Tom Tozzle tear himself away from the man who was holding him. +Heading for a group of old building and sheds near the dock, he ran +like one possessed. + +"Stop him!" Nancy yelled. "Don't let him get away! He's a thief!" + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII + + CAPTURED + + +As Nancy Drew cried out in alarm, several persons broke from the crowd +on the dock and ran after Tom Tozzle. They chased him across the road +and were rapidly gaining on him when he slipped behind a group of old +shacks and vanished. + +"Oh, I hope they get him!" Nancy murmured. + +Since her rescue from the ill-fated motorboat, events had transpired +so quickly that she had not had time to think of Mary Mason and her +brother. Her first thought had been to save the Crandall jewels. Now, +as she pushed her way through the crowd, she wondered if the two had +managed to escape. + +It was therefore with relief that she caught a glimpse of them as +the light from a lantern fell full upon their faces. They were being +questioned by a man who wore a naval officer's uniform. + +Nancy guessed from what she had overheard while still a prisoner in the +cabin, that they had been captured the moment they leaped from the +motorboat. Undoubtedly, her own cries for help had made their hasty +departure appear suspicious. She must accost them before they told an +improvised story which might gain them release. Eagerly, she pushed +forward. + +"It may be as you say," she heard the naval officer tell them, "but I +can't let you go until the police come." + +"The police!" Mary fairly shrieked. + +With a vicious jerk of her arm she freed herself from the retaining +grasp and broke through the crowd, striking out furiously at those who +would have blocked her path. Her action was a signal for Bud to do +likewise. Before the astonished officer realized what was going on, +he wriggled free and ran in the opposite direction from that Mary had +taken. + +"Stop them!" Nancy shouted. "They're both thieves! Don't let them get +away!" + +A few of the persons on the dock made a half-hearted attempt to stop +the two, but for the most part they were too astonished to realize +what it all meant. Fortunately, the naval officer was quick to recover +himself and darted through the crowd after Bud. + +Nancy did not stand idle. Quick as a flash, she was after Mary. The +girl had the start of her by a dozen yards, but Nancy was an excellent +runner, and in this instance she was spurred on by righteous anger. + +Mary cast an anxious glance over her shoulder and saw that she was +being overtaken. Bending her head low, she increased her speed, +throwing every iota of her strength into the mad race for freedom. +Nancy ran easily, but she too doubled her efforts. + +Mary reached the road, but there she was overtaken. Nancy reached out +and grasped her by the shoulder, but the girl managed to squirm away. +She darted off again, but a dozen long strides brought Nancy even +with her. This time she did not attempt to hold her, but, getting a +trifle ahead, tripped her up. As Mary went sprawling on the ground, she +emitted a cry of rage. + +"I guess the tables are turned this time," Nancy observed dryly. + +Mary gave her a glance of hatred and tried to scramble to her feet. + +"Oh, no you won't," Nancy said, and promptly sat down on her. + +She was not required to maintain such strict vigilance, for just then +several men ran up to take charge of the girl. + +"What's the idea?" one of them demanded. "Has she stolen something?" + +"No, I haven't!" Mary spit out. "Let me go or I'll have you all +arrested for this outrage!" + +"Keep a close watch on her," Nancy directed calmly. "And will someone +please call the police?" + +Assured that there was no danger of Mary's making another break for +freedom, she hurried to the dock to find out what had become of Bud. +To her relief, she saw that the naval officer had collared him and was +dragging him back by main force. + +"We have them all now except Tom Tozzle!" Nancy exclaimed. + +"They've caught him too," someone in the crowd observed. + +A moment later two men came up with the riverman in custody. From his +battered appearance it was obvious that there had been a scuffle and +that he had not fared particularly well. + +"The fellow's a tough customer," one of the men who had captured him +observed. "We cornered him in a shed." + +"Have you charges to prefer against these three persons?" the naval +officer questioned, turning politely to Nancy. + +"Indeed, I have! They are criminals of the worst sort. First they stole +forty thousand dollars' worth of jewels from a friend of mine and----" + +"It's a lie! All a lie!" Mary Mason broke in. + +"And I happen to know that they are wanted for a number of smaller +thefts," Nancy continued, without paying the slightest attention to the +interruption. "Then when I discovered what they were about, they made +me a prisoner and took me aboard their boat, bound hand and foot. When +we were rammed by the yacht, they left me to drown." + +"That's so." The two men who had rescued Nancy confirmed this +statement. "When we found her she was tied up all right." + +"The motorboat was running without lights," a quiet voice put in. +"Otherwise my yacht wouldn't have run her down." + +Everyone turned and saw that an elderly, dignified man in uniform had +joined the group. Nancy instantly recognized him as the captain of the +yacht. + +"This is Captain Dudley," the naval officer said by way of +introduction. "There isn't a more careful man on the river. You can +depend on his word." + +For the benefit of Captain Dudley, Nancy repeated her story, but when +she had finished, Mary Mason again denied the accusations made against +her. + +"It's all a trumped-up story," she repeated. "It's true she was tied up +and gagged, but for a very good reason. We caught her trying to steal +our jewels!" + +"That's right!" Bud agreed quickly. + +Nancy Drew was aghast at the statement. For a moment she was so taken +aback that she could not say a word, and Mary was quick to press her +advantage. + +"It's only her word against the three of us," she declared boldly. "Let +her prove her story if she can." + +Captain Dudley glanced at Nancy with troubled eyes. + +"Can you do that?" he asked. + +"Certainly I can if you give me time," Nancy announced quietly. "I am +sure the police will have a record----" + +"Time!" Mary fairly screamed. "She wants time so she can get away!"' + +"Be calm, please," the captain ordered. "We'll thrash this thing out." + +"If her story is true, let her produce the jewels she claims we stole!" +Mary continued. + +She cast a triumphant glance at Nancy, feeling that she had scored +heavily. + +"I'm afraid I can't do that," Nancy admitted reluctantly. "The jewels +were in the motorboat, and it sank to the bottom of the river." + +"That's just an excuse," Mary retorted. "The jewels never were in the +boat." + +"We'll have a way of proving whether or not your story is true," +Captain Dudley said quietly. "As it happens the motorboat isn't on the +bottom of the river." + +"What?" Mary gasped. For the moment she was completely taken aback. + +"Thanks to the timely suggestion of this young lady you are accusing, +my men slung grappling hooks into the boat and we managed to keep her +afloat." + +"Oh, I'm so glad!" Nancy exclaimed in relief. + +"All right," Mary said viciously. "Let her find the jewels if she +claims they're on board. That's all I've got to say." + +"You can do that, Miss--" the captain hesitated as he remembered that +he had not heard Nancy's name. + +"Drew," she supplied automatically. + +"Drew!" Captain Dudley repeated in astonishment. "You're not any +relation to Carson Drew, by any chance?" + +"He is my father." + +"Jove! I know him well!" + +He turned to the crowd with decision. + +"Gentlemen, I can vouch for this girl. Her father is a famous criminal +lawyer in River Heights." + +The captain's words had an effect upon the bystanders, and it was +obvious that they were again swinging over to Nancy's side. "Call the +police," they began to murmur. + +"You're not giving us a fair chance," Mary insisted, in her most +injured manner. "All we ask is that Nancy Drew produce the jewels." + +"Perhaps the matter can be settled more quickly if you do," the captain +suggested to Nancy. "Of course you know where to find them." + +"Yes," Nancy murmured uncomfortably, "I think so." + +She knew by the pleased look that Mary Mason shot her that the girl +felt she had won her battle. + +"She thinks I shan't be able to find the jewels," she told herself +grimly. "And maybe I shan't!" + +Though she confidently believed that the Crandall jewels were hidden +somewhere inside the cabin of the motorboat, she was not certain that +such was the case. Even if they were, she might not be able to find the +hidden compartment. If so, she would stand condemned in the eyes of the +crowd, and before she could prove the truth of her story, Mary Mason +and her companions would manage to slip away. + +"I've got to find those jewels!" she told herself. "Everything depends +upon it now!" + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV + + THE SEARCH + + +"Miss Drew, you may as well wait in one of the sheds where you'll be +out of the rain," Captain Dudley said, addressing Nancy. "I'll have the +motorboat dragged up to the dock where it will be safe to board her. It +will take only a few minutes." + +"Thank you," Nancy replied quietly. + +"Since you're through questioning me, I want to go to a hotel," Mary +Mason declared angrily. "My clothes are soaking wet and----" + +"If you make the slightest disturbance, we will call the police without +waiting for Miss Drew to produce the jewels," the captain told her +severely. + +"She can't do it!" + +"Take the three prisoners into the boat-house," Captain Dudley ordered. + +In spite of her protests, Mary was marched along with the others. +Though no compulsion was placed upon Nancy, she followed, to get out of +the rain which had chilled her to the bone. Her serene expression did +not disclose that she was troubled, but in reality she was in far from +a comfortable state of mind. Only too well she knew that if she failed +to produce the Crandall jewels it would only be a case of her word +against that of Mary Mason. + +"If I just knew where to hunt!" she told herself anxiously. + +She was soberly contemplating the work before her when Captain Dudley +came to the door to inform her that the motorboat had been brought to +the dock. + +"You can go aboard her now," he told her. + +"I insist upon being present when the search is made," Mary put in +angrily. + +"Very well," the captain said, after a brief hesitation. "I'll give you +every opportunity to prove your story." + +Soberly, Nancy Drew followed the captain to the motorboat, while Mary, +guarded by the naval officer, brought up the rear. + +"Perhaps I'd better keep all of the bystanders away," the captain +suggested to Nancy. + +"By all means." + +Not without misgiving, she stepped aboard the boat and entered the +cabin. Fortunately, everything was as it had been left at the time of +the accident, for the rain had extinguished the fire as quickly as it +had started. Critically, Nancy Drew surveyed the room, wondering where +to begin the search. + +"Well, produce the Crandall jewels if you know where they are!" Mary +brought out triumphantly. + +Nancy did not make a response, but began to open the drawers of the +table. As she had half-expected, she found nothing. Undaunted, she made +the rounds of the walls, tapping upon them sharply with her knuckles. +To her disappointment, there was no indication of a hollow behind any +of the panels. + +"Didn't I tell you?" Mary demanded of the captain. "Now will you let me +go?" + +"I'm not through searching yet," Nancy said sharply. "I know the jewels +are hidden here somewhere." + +"Take all the time you need," Captain Dudley told her kindly. + +Again Nancy Drew surveyed the room. She could not admit defeat, and yet +she was at her wit's end. + +As her eyes roamed over the walls again, her attention was attracted +to a round-faced wall clock which had stopped at the hour of twelve. +The timepiece was very ordinary in appearance, and Nancy might not have +given it as much as a second glance had she not chanced to look toward +Mary Mason. + +The girl was staring fixedly at the clock and for one fleeting instant +there was an expression of stark terror in her smoldering eyes. The +next moment she looked away from the wall indifferently, but Nancy Drew +was not to be deceived. + +She rushed eagerly over to the clock. It was far above her head, but by +mounting upon the cot she found that she could reach it. + +"Well, of all the silly things!" Mary burst out, but there was a tremor +to her voice. + +Quickly, Nancy reached up and opened the glass door of the clock. The +cardboard face did not appear to be securely in place, and upon impulse +she began to pry at it with her fingers. + +"Here's my knife," Captain Dudley offered. + +"Thank you, that's just what I need." + +Nancy took the knife and pried off two tiny screws. The face then +dropped down into her hands. + +"Oh!" she cried. "The secret compartment! I've found it!" + +She had expected to view the "works" of the clock, but instead beheld +a round metal box which fit snugly into the wall. The clock was only +a clever sham. To her delight, she found that the metal box could be +removed from the wall. + +Placing it on the table, Nancy surveyed Mary Mason triumphantly. + +"I guess this proves my story, doesn't it?" + +She fumbled with the catch on the box and lifted the lid. There before +her was an array of jewels such as she had never viewed before in her +life. Brilliant diamonds mounted in old-fashioned rings and quaint +bracelets. Pendants of rubies and broaches of sapphires. For a moment, +Nancy Drew was so dazzled by the display that she could only stare +open-mouthed. + +"My word!" Captain Dudley exclaimed, breaking the silence. "What a +collection!" + +"They belong to Emily Crandall, a friend of mine," Nancy explained. +"I'm afraid some of the jewels are missing." + +Captain Dudley turned sternly upon Mary. + +"What have you to say for yourself now, young lady?" + +Mary's arrogant air had fallen completely from her. She looked crushed +and beaten. + +"Well, I guess you have the goods on me," she admitted with a shrug of +her shoulders. + +"Do you admit that Miss Drew's story is true?" + +"Yes, I stole the jewels." + +"What have you done with the ones that are missing?" Nancy broke in. + +"Out with it!" Captain Dudley commanded sharply. "It will go harder +with you if you try to keep anything back." + +"We pawned several of the diamonds," Mary admitted grudgingly. + +"Where?" Nancy demanded. + +"At a pawnshop Tom Tozzle knows about in Winchester. It's a place on +Bond Street." + +"I know the locality," Nancy told the captain. "It's possible that +we'll be able to recover the jewels. I believe it's a law that +pawnbrokers must not accept stolen goods." + +"The first thing to do is to land our prisoners in jail," the captain +suggested. "If you'll take charge of the jewels, Miss Drew, I'll step +out and call the police." + +Within fifteen minutes the authorities had arrived at the dock and the +three prisoners were handcuffed and hustled into the patrol wagon. + +"We've been on the watch for this jane nearly a year," one of the +policemen told Nancy. "She's wanted for half a dozen smaller thefts. +You've done a good night's work, young lady." + +"I live in River Heights," Nancy returned, with a smile. "If you need +me to testify, I'll be at your service." + +After the patrol wagon had departed, the crowd began to disperse. For +the first time Nancy Drew realized that the hour was late. + +"Why, it's after four o'clock," she said in astonishment, as she +glanced at her wrist watch. + +"Won't you do me the honor of taking breakfast at my home?" Captain +Dudley asked. "My wife will be delighted." + +"At this hour?" Nancy laughed. She shook her head. "No, I must get +back to River Heights just as quickly as I can. Poor Mrs. Willoughby +is under suspicion for the theft of the Crandall jewels and the police +intend to arrest her." + +"Then of course I won't try to hold you here. When you see your father, +give him my kindest regards." + +"I will," Nancy promised. "And now, if someone will tell me where I can +get a taxi-cab----" + +"I'll be glad to drive you to River Heights in my car," the naval +officer volunteered. "If you intend to take those jewels with you, +you'll need someone to go along as a guard." + +"Perhaps you are right. I shall be delighted to accept your kind offer." + +During the night the storm had blown itself out, and as Nancy Drew +stepped into the automobile she noticed that the sky had cleared. +Gazing toward the east, she was surprised to see that the sun was about +to peep over the horizon. + +"Ho-hum," she yawned sleepily. "It's been a terrible night, but I +wouldn't have missed it for anything! I only hope I get home safely +with these jewels. As soon as I deliver them, I'm going to bed and +sleep a month!" + + + + + CHAPTER XXV + + NANCY'S REWARD + + +Even to the casual wayfarer who chanced to pass Lilac Inn on a certain +evening late in July, it must have been apparent that an unusual affair +was in progress. The inn was aglow with gay, twinkling lights and the +grounds were as brightly illuminated as though it were day. Colored +searchlights played over the rippling waters of the lake. From the +largest of the private dining rooms came the soft, blended notes of +cello, violin, and harp. + +Grouped about a long table sat many distinguished-looking men and +women, but as they chatted together one would have noticed that their +eyes frequently turned toward a young girl who occupied the seat of +honor. Indeed, Nancy Drew had never appeared more lovely than on this +evening when she occupied the limelight. + +"Oh, Mrs. Willoughby, it's the grandest party I ever attended," she +sighed dreamily, addressing her hostess. "It was perfectly marvelous +of you and Emily to give it for me. I don't deserve it at all." + +"Hear! Hear!" several of the guests laughed. + +"My dear Nancy," Mrs. Willoughby said, with a bright smile. "I owe you +more than I can ever repay. Why, if it hadn't been for you, I would +probably be in jail at this very minute," and she shuddered a bit. + +"Surely, not as bad as that," Carson Drew remarked lightly. "They +couldn't have held you on such flimsy evidence." + +"But I would have been arrested," Mrs. Willoughby insisted, "and that +would have been dreadfully mortifying. Nancy saved me a great deal of +embarrassment." + +"She saved more than that for me," Emily Crandall broke in. "I'd never +have seen my jewels again if she hadn't found them for me." + +"Did you finally recover them all?" Mrs. Potter questioned, with +interest. "I thought part of them had been pawned." + +"Nancy got them all back for me," Emily declared proudly. "That is, +all but about three hundred dollars' worth, and I can afford to lose +that much. You see, she traced them to a pawnbroker in Winchester and +had him arrested for accepting stolen goods. He was forced to give +everything back." + +"It really wasn't hard to trace the jewels," Nancy observed quietly. + +"I guess nothing is very hard for you," Mrs. Willoughby laughed. +"Really you seem to have a genius for solving mysteries." + +"Speaking of mysteries," Carson Drew broke in. "Mrs. Willoughby has +never explained to us why she went to the bank vault on the day before +she planned to deliver the jewels." + +"It was silly of me, wasn't it? And it made the police so suspicious! +Well, to tell the truth, I was worried about Emily's jewels, and I +wanted to make certain that they were safe in the vault. Of course I +knew they would be there but, well, I guess I'm the nervous sort. The +police wouldn't believe me when I told them. Under the circumstance, I +suppose it was natural for them to suspect me." + +"The fact that you were known to be in hard circumstance made the case +look worse, too," Mr. Drew remarked. + +"Yes, at that time I thought I might have to borrow money, but +fortunately an investment has turned out much better than I expected, +so I'm still a woman of means." + +"I guess we were all under suspicion," Mrs. Potter observed dryly. "I'm +sure Miss Drew considered me as the possible villain." + +"Not seriously," Nancy laughed. "Though you must admit you didn't take +kindly to my questions." + +"No, I didn't," Mrs. Potter admitted soberly. "And I sincerely +apologize for the way I failed to co-operate. You see, at first I +thought you were trying to throw suspicion on me and I was afraid to +tell you anything." + +"And then there was that young woman, Viola Granger," Mr. Drew +remarked. "She attracted my attention because of her prison record. I +wasn't able to explain her sudden acquisition of money." + +"Where did she get it?" Mrs. Willoughby inquired curiously. "I never +heard." + +"In a perfectly legitimate manner. I have been told she invested in +a wild-cat oil scheme and, as luck would have it, they brought in a +gusher." + +"And poor Jennings!" Emily said reflectively. "We did him an injustice." + +"I was positive he was the one who took the handbag," Mrs. Willoughby +said regretfully. "However, I've tried to make it up to him by giving +him a generous present." + +"I'm glad to see that Lilac Inn is doing a thriving business again, +too," Mr. Drew remarked. "For a time it looked as though the scandal +might ruin the trade." + +"The manager certainly has Nancy to thank," Emily said earnestly. + +Nancy laughed. + +"She's done it already. This afternoon she told me that anytime I +wanted to I could come out here for dinner and bring my friends--and it +wouldn't cost me a cent!" + +"It's mighty nice to have a smart little daughter," Mr. Drew declared, +with a twinkle in his eyes. "Reduces the board bill, for one thing." + +"Dad, you mercenary creature!" + +"Seriously, I am proud of you, Nancy." A tender note crept into the +lawyer's voice. "It was a clever piece of detective work. I admit that +when you started out, I didn't have much hope that you'd solve the +case." + +"I was doubtful myself, Dad. Especially when they tied me up and left +me on that motorboat to drown." + +Mr. Drew shook his head sadly. + +"You'll worry me into an early grave with all your wild adventures." + +"I hope not, because I intend to have a lot more," Nancy returned +gayly. And she did, as you will find in reading of her further +adventures in solving mysteries. "After all, I'm only following in your +footsteps." + +"Well, all's well that ends well. That Mason girl and her confederates +are locked up where they'll make no more trouble." + +"I didn't hear how the trial came out," Mrs. Potter remarked. + +"They admitted their guilt," Mr. Drew returned. "So there wasn't a +trial. The judge gave them long sentences. They were wanted for a +number of other robberies." + +"It's a wonder that girl didn't steal Mrs. Stonewell blind when she +worked there," Emily observed. + +"Yes," Nancy agreed, "when I learned that she hadn't taken anything, +I was thrown off the track a little. I suppose she was planning a big +haul and was discharged before she could carry her plans into effect." + +"Mrs. Stonewell was lucky to escape without having her whole house +carted away." + +"She called me on the telephone yesterday and thanked me for being +instrumental in Mary's capture. I guess she read the account in the +paper." + +"I think everyone must have thanked you except me," Emily said soberly. + +"Why, Emily Crandall! What do you mean? It seems to me you've thanked +me a million times a day ever since I got those jewels back." + +"But I mean in a material way. You ought to charge a commission for +recovering the jewels. Let me see, ten per cent of forty thousand +dollars would be----" + +"I don't do business that way," Nancy laughed. "You know very well I +won't take a penny of your money." + +"Nancy has always made it a point never to accept a money reward," +Carson Drew stated, coming to his daughter's aid. + +"Oh, dear, I was afraid she wouldn't! And for that reason I came +prepared!" As she spoke, Emily brought out a small package and handed +it to Nancy with a flourish. "There!" she cried. "Don't you dare refuse +to accept it, either!" + +"Why, Emily, what are you giving me?" Nancy asked in surprise, as she +fumbled at the silver ribbon. + +"It's just a souvenir to show you how much I appreciate all you've done +for me." + +Nancy unwrapped the little package while the others watched eagerly. As +the folds of tissue paper fell away she beheld the gift--a beautiful +bracelet set with precious stones. It was one of the quaintest pieces +in the Crandall collection. + +"Oh, Emily!" Nancy gasped in delight. "Oh, how lovely!" + +"You can have the jewels reset if you like." + +"I wouldn't think of it! I love it the way it is! But, really, I +shouldn't take this bracelet, Emily. It represents a great deal of +money." + +"It's little enough to offer you for everything you've done. You'll +keep it, won't you?" + +Nancy hesitated and then nodded her head. She saw that Emily would be +crushed if she refused the gift. And then, she would have found it +difficult to have given back such an exquisite piece of jewelry. + +After she had thanked her friend for the gift, someone proposed a +toast, and to Nancy's embarrassment, everyone sprang to his feet to +give it with a will. At last, however, the party broke up. + +Nancy was turning to leave when Emily drew her aside and led her out +upon the veranda. + +"There's something special I wanted to tell you, but I didn't like to +shout it out when the others could hear," she began in a confidential +tone of voice. "Dick and I are going to be married next month." + +"Oh, I'm so glad, Emily. I wish you all happiness and prosperity." + +"Thanks. I want to ask a special favor." + +"Go ahead." + +"Will you serve as maid of honor at my wedding?" + +"Anything you like, Emily. I'll even be ring bearer if you ask it." + +"I knew you wouldn't fail me. Oh, it seems as though I have more +happiness than I deserve." + +Emily gazed out across the lake and gave the gentle sigh of the love +lorn. Nancy squeezed her hand understandingly. She, too, turned to +watch the twinkling lights on the water. + +"The end of a perfect night," Nancy Drew said softly. "And what could +be more fitting than that the mystery of the Crandall jewels should +fade out just where it began--at Lilac Inn." + + + THE END + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77873 *** |