“It’s such a big house,” Bess said gloomily, “Mrs. Eldridge might be hard to find.”
“It’s also possible she’s not here any more,” George said. “The gang knows the police are after them and they may have moved her.”
When they reached the car, Nancy hid in the back again and George drove. At the Comings’ Bess was asked to go in first and make sure Morgan was in his room.
“No use having him learn my secret,” Nancy remarked. “Thorne might get it out of him before I’m ready to have it known.” Learning the coast was clear, she scooted up to her room.
Mrs. Corning had dinner ready, so a tray was prepared for Nancy. The others ate in the dining room, then went upstairs.
“Now tell us your plan for capturing the thieves if they come,” Mr. Corning urged.
Nancy said, “Here it is. First, remember that the crystal-garden room has two doors—one to the hall, the other to the TV room. Each has a key that’s now on the inside.”
Her host nodded.
Nancy went on, “The boys will be outside. Dave will be watching in the shrubs bordering the flagstone area; Burt, at the top of the patch which leads to the dock; and Ned, on the garage roof.
“As soon as the thief—or thieves—enters the house, Ned will signal with a walkie-talkie to Mr. Dennis at the camp and he will call the police. Meanwhile, Burt and Dave will be ready to tackle anybody watching on the outside. We girls will lock any intruders in the crystal room.”
“But suppose they see you?” Mrs. Corning asked.
“They won’t,” said Nancy. “Bess and George will hide across the hall in the kitchen. I’ll be in the TV room. As soon as the thieves enter, I’ll lock the adjoining door. At the same time, the girls will slip across the hall and quietly lock that door.”
Mr. Corning asked what he and his wife should do.
“I suggest you go to your room as usual,” Nancy replied. “That will cause less suspicion.”
At nine o’clock the lights were put out on the first floor, the couple retired, and the girls took their posts. Nancy held the door to the crystal room open a crack, put the key on the outside of the lock, and watched. It seemed that she stood for ages before the other door opened.
There was a click and the light went on in the glass cabinet. Nancy gripped the key, ready to shut the door. Suddenly she froze. Only one figure approached the cabinet.
Morgan! A thief!
He was carrying a large suitcase, which he put on the floor. Nancy watched, hardly daring to breathe, as he took a small tool from his pocket and picked at the cabinet lock.
A few minutes later he pulled the glass door open. Then he swung back the lid of the suitcase. Nancy saw that it was divided into compartments and heavily padded with velvet.
“A special carrying case,” she thought.
As the man’s trembling hands reached toward a fragile crystal flower, he suddenly drew back.
“No!” he whispered hoarsely. “I can’t do it!” He buried his face in his hands with a sob.
Nancy hurried to his side. “Morgan!” she said softly. The man whirled and gave a gasp.
“Don’t be afraid,” she said quickly. “Let me help you.”
He groaned and sank into a chair beside the cabinet. “How can you know—all this?”
“I know part of it,” she replied. “Where is the gang? You were to let them in, weren’t you?”
The man stared at her, amazed.
“Yes, but Thorne changed his mind. He said I should steal the crystal flowers and deliver them in this special case he gave me. I used to be pretty good at lock picking,” he added, flushing miserably.
“That’s how Thorne got his hold over you, isn’t it?” asked Nancy. “He knew you’d been in prison and he helped forge your references.”
The thief pulled the glass door open
The houseman nodded. “I wanted to go straight and I did. I wouldn’t hurt the Comings for anything. But Thorne—He wouldn’t leave me alone. Kidnapped me. Held me on a big estate. Said the larkspur would be the signal for this theft. I’d have to deliver—or else.”
“There’s a Mrs. Eldridge being held prisoner there, too,” said Nancy. “Did you see her?”
“Eldridge?” Morgan repeated. “I think I heard the name, but—” Suddenly he broke off. “Listen! There they are!”
The sound of a low whistle came from outside. Nancy flew to the switch and snapped off the light in the crystal case.
“I’ll close it,” Morgan whispered. The door clicked shut. “What—what shall I do?” he stammered.
“Listen,” Nancy said quickly. “We’ll have to get them in here. I have a trap set, but you must go out and tell the men you need help—that you’re too weak to carry all the loot.”
“They’d never believe me. I’m no good at acting.”
“There must be some way to get them in here,” Nancy declared. “Suppose you just don’t go out.”
Morgan gave a bitter laugh. “They’ll go away. And then in a day or so I’ll disappear and never come back. Thorne will see to that. He won’t stand for any double cross.”
Nancy had an idea. “Come with me!” She led the way into the hall.
At once the kitchen door opened. “What’s up?” George whispered. “Where’s the gang?”
Nancy drew Morgan into the dark kitchen and explained to the girls. “But I’ve thought of a way to lure the gang into the house,” she said. “If they find out I wasn’t injured and am still working on this case, they’ll come after me.”
Bess caught her breath. “You don’t mean you’d let them know?”
“Morgan will tell them,” said Nancy. “Bess, you stay here and George will take over the door of the TV room. I’ll go out with Morgan. If they don’t believe him, I’ll let them see me and then run in here. That should do it.”
“No!” said the houseman. “I won’t let you, Miss Drew. Adam Thorne is dangerous. He will stop at nothing. It’s too big a risk for you.”
“I’m not afraid,” said Nancy.
Suddenly Morgan darted away and ran through the utility room. Nancy dashed after him, calling:
“Morgan! Come back!”
“No!” he called. “I’m telling Thorne, I won’t do it. I don’t care what happens to me!”
Nancy raced outside and grasped the panting man.
“Thorne,” he called, “I won’t do it!”
“Morgan!” Nancy cried frantically. “Come inside!”
An instant later powerful hands gripped Nancy’s shoulders and swung her away from the houseman. She reeled and fell backward in the darkness. Nancy struck the gravel driveway hard and blacked out.
CHAPTER XIV
The Matching Necklace
As NANCY’S eyes fluttered open, she saw Bess’s anxious face bending over her.
“Oh, thank goodness!” Bess exclaimed. “She’s coming to.”
George and Mrs. Corning stood at the other side of the bed. “You’re in your room, dear,” said Mrs. Corning. “How do you feel?”
Nancy sat up, frowning. “My head aches, but otherwise I’m all right. What happened?”
“The boys found you on the driveway,” said George. “The gang got away.” She explained that the boys had seen three men scuffling and finally one had been carried off through the woods. By the time the boys had rescued Nancy, their search for the others was hopeless.
“They took Morgan, then?” Nancy asked. “I was afraid of that.” She told how she had been pulled away from the houseman.
“Lucky the thug didn’t know it was you,” said George, “or you’d have been kidnapped, too.”
“The boys are waiting in the kitchen,” Bess put in. “I’ll go down and tell them you’re awake.”
“Let’s all go,” said Nancy. “I think I could do with a glass of milk and some crackers, if you don’t mind, Mrs. Corning.”
The woman’s face broke into a smile and she said, “That’s the best news I’ve heard yet. Now I kno
w you’re feeling better.”
As Bess and George served cake and glasses of milk, Nancy and the boys exchanged stories.
Dave raised his glass of milk. “Here’s to General Drew!”
The others echoed the toast enthusiastically. “I guess I wasn’t such a good general tonight,” said Nancy. “I certainly lost the battle.”
“The campaign’s not over,” Burt told her cheerfully.
Ned smiled and patted Nancy’s shoulder. “Better luck tomorrow.”
Mrs. Coming cleared her throat. “Nancy dear, I’m afraid we had better—”
“Oh please, Mrs. Corning! I know what you’re going to say—that I’d better give up the case. But please give me another day to find out exactly what’s going on at Larkspur Lane.”
Ned and the others backed up Nancy’s plea.
Mrs. Corning hesitated. “Well, all right, but we can’t wait longer than tomorrow night.”
“I’ll do my best to solve the mystery by then,” Nancy said quietly. To herself she added, “And no mistakes, Nancy Drew!”
Next morning the girls again started out early. As before, Nancy hid in the back of the car and George drove. The sky was overcast, but Nancy’s spirits were light. Some miles from the lake she took the wheel, her eyes shining with excitement.
“I don’t see how you can be so cheerful,” Bess grumbled. “You were knocked out last night and now you’re going into more danger.”
Nancy smiled. “I never felt better.”
Familiar with the way now, she was able to make good time to the spot where the sign “L. S. LANE” marked the battle line.
“We’re in enemy territory now,” she remarked. “From now on, caution must be our password.”
Nancy drove past the half-concealed driveway and into the woods, where she parked the car behind a tangle of creeper and bittersweet.
“No one will notice it here,” Nancy said. “Now let’s strike through the woods ahead and see how close we can come to the house without using the road.”
Cautiously the girls worked their way around bramble and bush until the roof of the gatehouse came into view. They crept closer and looks of dismay came over their faces.
Tilted back in a chair against the gatepost was a man whom Nancy assumed was the gatekeeper. At his feet lay a brindled Great Dane, his tongue lolling and his eyes alert.
Nancy gasped. “That’s the beast that tackled me at the flower show!” she whispered. “Let’s hope he doesn’t scent us.”
George said, “There’s certainly no chance of getting in here. Let’s go on!”
Nancy led the way to the right, still well within the trees, always keeping the tall fence with its border of larkspur in view. After trudging through the woods for a quarter of a mile the girls found that the fence turned to the left. It continued in a straight line up the shallow slope along the flower-lined enclosure.
“Ugh, it’s rough traveling,” Bess shuddered. “I’m afraid of snakes.”
“Want to wait here?” George asked.
“I certainly do not,” Bess retorted. “I’d be scared to death by myself.”
Smothering her fears, Bess followed Nancy and George through the tangled undergrowth. At one point they came to a place where a clump of trees partially concealed the house. Nancy called a halt for rest and consultation. She and George sat down.
“This wouldn’t be a good spot to climb the fence,” George observed, leaning back on her elbows. “You’d rip your skirt on that barbed wire.”
Nancy looked at her in surprise. “You’d do more than that! Don’t you see?” she asked, pointing to the top of the enclosure.
“I see a fence and two strands of barbed wire stretched along the top,” George replied.
“Notice how the wire is fastened to the supporting posts.”
“It’s attached to little porcelain knobs. What does that have to do with it?”
“Those knobs are insulators, which means the wire is charged with electricity. If you touch it, you will probably set off an alarm and get a bad shock besides. You could be killed.”
George gave a low whistle.
“It’s a regular fort,” said Bess. “Yet how peaceful it all looks!”
Through the wire fence the girls could see other flower gardens, occasional clumps of trees, and a view of the rear of the gatehouse. It was truly a lovely spot, except for the sinister strands of charged wire.
“Rested?” Nancy asked. “Let’s go!”
Since they were now approaching the house, the girls moved even more warily. Bess stepped gingerly, afraid of putting her foot down on a snake.
“It would be just like those people to let a couple of thousand rattlesnakes and copperheads loose around here,” Bess muttered. “Ugh,” the worried girl cried suddenly, and jumped sideways, clutching at her cousin. Caught off balance, George stumbled and fell, giving a muffled yelp.
“What happened?” Nancy whispered excitedly, turning back to them.
“I stepped into a hole, and I—I think my ankle is sprained,” George said, her face white.
Nancy’s heart sank. If any of them should become helplessly injured, detection would certainly follow.
“Oh, it’s all my fault,” whispered Bess. “I’m sorry, George. I thought I stepped on something alive.” Her eyes filled with tears.
George managed a grin. “Take it easy. I’m not dying.”
Nancy knelt beside George, and with deft fingers felt the injured ankle, wishing that Dr. Spire were with them now!
“I’m sure it’s not broken,” she said softly.
George rubbed her ankle gingerly. “Go on, you two. I’ll wait for you here.”
“You sure you’re all right?” Nancy asked.
“Yes. Go on, please.”
Nancy and Bess resumed their cautious advance to the top of the rise. There they had a full view of all the grounds.
Surrounding the house was a wide lawn with gravel walks and flower beds. In the rear was a huge meadow which Nancy surmised was used as a landing field for the airplane. The craft was not in sight.
Just below the brow of the hill, and connected with the house by a long arbor, was a group of outbuildings—a carriage house evidently converted into a garage, a good-sized barn, and a chicken yard.
“Listen,” Nancy said, raising a finger. “I heard cooing.”
“Pigeons!” Bess exclaimed.
The girls moved ahead until they were behind the carriage house, where they saw a small wooden building which had no window on their side. Here they rested in the shade until aroused by soft cooing and the sound of a man’s voice.
“You’re getting better!” the listeners heard through the wooden walls. “I guess you’ll be able to work again if we keep you warm with this electric light. That’ll cure you!”
There was more cooing. Then the unseen man said, “You ought to be ashamed taking a couple of days getting to the boss’s place and arriving there lame at that! And why did you go to Drews’, you half-witted barnyard goose?” A door closed and all was silent.
“Did you hear what that man said?” Bess asked with a catch in her voice. “He mentioned your name!”
“Yes. That was the man I met at Tooker’s estate. I recognized his voice,” Nancy said as she walked ahead.
Once past the outbuildings, the girls saw a lichen-covered sundial surrounded by a grassy court. In it stood a number of wheelchairs, each occupied by an old lady.
A large woman in a nurse’s uniform had her back to the girls. She seemed to be administering to one of the elderly women.
“It looks like a real nursing home,” Bess whispered. “Perhaps our suspicions are all wrong.”
Nancy put a finger to her lips. The nurse turned and walked toward the fence.
“That’s the woman who stole my handbag!” Nancy exclaimed softly.
“The one who took the bracelet?”
“Yes. She’s in league with Thorne and Tooker, I feel sure.”
“One
of those old ladies may be Mrs. Eldridge,” Bess said, “but how can we find out?”
“I don’t know yet, but I’ll think of something,” Nancy replied. “Meanwhile, we’d better go back and help George to the car. If she were discovered, she’d have no way to escape.”
The girls hurried back to their companion and the three made their way down the hill. George limped along as quickly as she could, but progress was slow. When they had nearly reached the gatehouse, the girls paused and George sat down on a stump to rest.
Suddenly Nancy seized Bess’s arm and pointed among the trees. On the other side of the wire barrier was an old woman, dozing in a wheelchair.
“Stay here,” Nancy whispered. “I’m going closer.”
Bess clung to her friend’s arm. “No! Suppose they catch you!”
“I must talk to that old lady,” said Nancy. “She may be able to help us.”
Nancy crept cautiously toward the fence. When she was a few feet away, still screened by bushes, she stifled a gasp. The elderly lady wore a necklace which looked like the gold bracelet Dr. Spire had given Nancy as a clue.
“The missing Mrs. Eldridge!” Nancy murmured excitedly.
CHAPTER XV
Daring Plans
“Do I dare go closer?” Nancy wondered, watching the woman behind the fence.
Just then the old lady awakened and for a moment sat up straight in her wheelchair.
“Oh dear!” she said. “I thought—I guess I dreamed I was—”
Her wrinkled chin twitched and she leaned back with closed eyes. Tears crept from under her lids.
Nancy was about to speak when she spotted a white figure hurrying down the hill. The nurse!
“So there you are!” she said harshly, drawing near the old woman. “I thought so! Trying to hide again!”
A sob escaped the elderly patient.
“Come now, stop that crying!” the nurse commanded. “If you act like a baby, you will have to be treated like one.”
The old lady lifted a fragile, blue-veined hand in protest, but let it drop limply.
“Very well, Mistress Contrary, you may sit there for half an hour,” the nurse snapped. “Lucky for you I’m tender-hearted, or I’d take some of your privileges away. See that you’re here when I come back.” She strode up the hill.