Jim Archer relieved the farmer of the reins, and the horses started off. Bess began to sing a familiar song. The others joined in.
“Why so quiet, Nancy?” Ned asked when he noticed she was not singing.
“Oh, just thinking,” she replied. “Ned, will you do me a favor?”
“Just name it, and it’s done.”
“I’ll tell you about it later.”
An hour later Jim brought the hayrack safely into the parking lot of the Red Lion Inn. One by one the young people climbed out, brushing wisps of hay from their clothing.
“We’re sights, but it’s worth it!” George laughed as she straightened her short, wind-blown hair. “And I’m hungry!”
“Look who’s here!” said Bess, nudging Nancy.
Michael and a tall young man whose face they could not see quickly crossed the parking lot and entered the restaurant. Nancy’s heart began to beat excitedly. Michael’s companion had bushy hair and wore a dark jacket!
“He’s the man who stole the jeweled ornament from me!” she thought. “I’m sure of itl”
Quietly she told the others. “Seeing them together makes me think that Michael was behind the theft,” she said.
“Are you going to call the police?” Bess asked.
“Not now,” Nancy replied. “We may learn something by watching the two of them.”
The young people trooped into the old inn. It was a long, brick building with a stone chimney at each end. The candle-lighted interior had been restored with its Colonial furnishings.
“What a delightful place for a party!” said Katherine. “Now we find Richard.”
Ned learned from the headwaiter that the artist had not arrived yet.
“That’s odd,” said Nancy. “We’re late too.”
“Maybe he changed his plans at the last minute,” Helen suggested a while later.
Katherine was quiet, and the others realized that she was very much embarrassed. Twice Michael had come to the table and asked her to dance. She not only had refused, but changed seats to be near Nancy.
“I worry about Richard,” she said.
“If I only knew his address, I could telephone,” Nancy said thoughtfully.
Katherine volunteered the information that Mr. Ellington lived at an apartment house known as the Warrington Arms. She and Nancy left the room and looked for a booth in the hall. A friend who lived with him answered.
“No, Mr. Ellington is not here,” he told Nancy. “About an hour ago he called from Harbortown, saying he planned to go directly to the Red Lion Inn.”
Thanking the man for the information, Nancy hung up and turned to face her friend.
“He should have been here long ago,” she said, growing more alarmed, “Harbortown is only a mile from here.”
“What happened to him?” cried Katherine. “Maybe his car go off road—an accident!”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Nancy replied quietly. “It seems to me that we should call the police.”
CHAPTER XVII
Telephone Tip
NANCY immediately telephoned the police department. No accidents had been reported within the past hour, and no one of Richard Ellington’s description had been reported in trouble.
“I guess we worried unnecessarily,” Nancy thought in relief. “But it’s strange that he should be delayed so long.”
As she opened the door of the booth, Nancy was surprised to find that Katherine had gone. Instantly she knew why. Michael was walking in Nancy’s direction. She would have passed him with only a cold nod if he had not blocked her path.
“Miss Drew, may I say something to you?” he asked in a wheedling tone.
Nancy was surprised at the young man’s change of attitude toward her. What did his sudden friendly overture mean?
“I want to apologize for the way I’ve acted,” he went on. “I said some things I didn’t mean.”
“I’ll accept your apology,” Nancy replied.
“We ought to be good friends. Grandmother wants it that way.”
“Yes, I guess she does,” Nancy said. After a pause she added, “Suppose I come to the house tomorrow to tea. Will you be there?”
“Tomorrow? Uh—no—yes. I had some business to attend to, but I’ll put it off.”
Nancy felt sure the man had some ulterior motive for being so polite and friendly.
“Grandmother thinks I’m tops now,” Michael went on. “She’ll keep on thinking that if Anna will just mind her own business. The old busy-body keeps telling Grandmother not to give me money. I have to baby Anna along all the time. Why don’t you put in a good word for me?”
Nancy smiled, realizing now why the man had adopted such a cordial attitude.
“So you think I have influence with Anna?” she asked.
“Sure. Whatever you say goes with her. How about it?”
“We’ll see,” Nancy replied. “Be sure to be at home tomorrow afternoon. By the way, who was the man with you?”
Michael showed surprise at the question but answered, “I don’t know. I picked him up a little way from here.”
Before Michael could query Nancy about her interest in the stranger, she moved on to rejoin her friends.
Katherine Kovna and everyone else was relieved to hear that Mr. Ellington had not been in an accident.
The young dress designer’s evening, however, was spoiled. The others were very kind to her, and the boys saw to it that she danced a great deal. While Nancy and Ned were dancing together, he asked what she thought of Richard Ellington not making an appearance.
“I’m really worried that something has happened to him,” she replied. “He’s too much of a gentleman not to have sent word.”
“Well, if he wasn’t in an accident, what else would have delayed him?” Ned persisted.
“Lots of things. Thieves could have waylaid him, knocked him out, and stolen his car.”
“Then let’s get out of here and go look for him,” Ned suggested.
He was glad of an excuse to walk in the moonlight with Nancy. As they followed the road that wound in and out along the river, Ned felt only the romance of the evening.
But Nancy’s thoughts kept reverting to the mystery. It was an eerie night. Now and then clouds would obscure the moon, causing grotesque shadows to flicker across their path.
“Ned, what was that?” Nancy stopped short, gripping his arm. “I saw a figure hiding behind that giant pine tree,” she whispered. “We’re being followed.”
“Why should anyone follow us? Come on,” he urged. “You want to find Ellington, don’t you?”
Somewhat dubiously, Nancy allowed herself to be led on down the road. She kept her gaze fastened on the line of trees. Suddenly the moving shadow appeared again.
“Ned, I’m sure we’re being spied upon!”
The boy started toward the trees, but Nancy pulled him back.
“We’re in danger,” she cautioned. “I can’t explain more now, but we must go right back.”
Quickly she turned and began to run, Ned at her heels. Not until she was within the rays of light from the inn did she slow down to a walk.
“Now tell me what’s going on,” Ned panted.
“Something of tremendous importance is at stake. I don’t trust Michael, and I feel his being here tonight is to establish an alibi. I have a plan that I was going to carry out tomorrow, but I think I should do so tonight.”
“The one you wanted me to help you with?”
“Yes. Get Jim and wait here for me. I’ll locate our victim!” she replied tensely.
Scarcely had Ned vanished into the inn when Nancy saw a tall man coming hurriedly along the road. He was Michael’s companion. Quickly she ducked behind a bush.
“He must be the one who followed Ned and me,” she thought.
The man passed close to where she crouched. Without noticing her, he entered the inn.
“I’ll trail him!” Nancy determined.
As she entered the hallway of the in
n, she saw him go into the dining room. Nancy was about to follow when from a half-closed telephone booth she recognized a familiar voice.
“Everything’s going as planned,” Michael said in a mocking tone. “Yes, I’m with Nancy Drew now. How’s my dear grandma? Ha! Ha!”
Nancy moved closer, but she heard no more. Michael lowered his voice, and a moment later came from the booth.
“Now what was the significance of that conversation?” the bewildered girl asked herself. “Michael couldn’t have been talking to Anna. He’s up to something!”
With no suspicion that he was being observed, Michael started to return to the dining room. Quickly Nancy walked up to him.
“Wouldn’t you like to join some of us in the garden?” she asked sweetly.
The young man looked surprised but accepted the invitation. Nancy suggested he wait for her by a little pool. He went outside just as Ned returned with Helen and Jim.
“How would you like to expose an impostor?” Nancy whispered.
“What!” said the three in unison.
“Anything you say,” Jim agreed.
“I’m convinced that the man known as Michael Alexandra is not a prince,” Nancy whispered tensely.
“What do you want us to do?” asked Jim.
“How are you at kidnapping?”
“Expert.” Ned grinned.
“It must be a neat, noiseless job. We’ll all walk down to the pool, where Michael is waiting. When I give the signal, overpower him and I’ll tell you what to do.”
“Leave it to us!” Ned replied.
The young people wandered into the garden. They paused at the pool, forming a circle about the unsuspecting Michael. Then, at a signal from Nancy, Jim and Ned closed in from the rear.
Before the captive could make a sound, they had covered his mouth. Lifting him bodily they carried him behind some bushes and put him down. No one would be apt to notice them in that spot, but there was enough light from a nearby lamp for them to see. Nancy spoke up quickly.
“If you don’t yell for help, we’ll allow you to talk,” she told him.
Ned removed his hand from the young man’s mouth.
“What’s the idea?” Michael demanded. “You can’t treat me like this! I’m a prince—”
“How can you prove it?” Nancy demanded. “With the letter and photograph. You took them to Grandmother yourself!”
“I gave her certain proofs—yes. But how do I know where you obtained them? They may have belonged to another person.”
“That’s a lie,” Michael mumbled, struggling hard to break away from Ned and Jim.
Nancy resumed coolly, “I know that you have been robbing Mrs. Alexandra.”
“You can’t prove a thing! You’re bluffing! Grandmother is satisfied that I am the lost prince.”
“If you’re the missing Michael, you can prove your identity right now,” Nancy retorted.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he protested savagely.
“You will in a moment.” Nancy smiled as she turned to Ned and Jim. “Boys,” she said, “please remove this man’s shoes and socks.”
“What’s the big idea?” Michael protested furiously. “You can’t take off my shoes!”
“Oh, can’t we?” mocked Jim. “Just watch us!” While their captive struggled and fought, he and Ned stripped off the shoes and socks.
“I wish we had a flashlight,” Nancy commented.
“Here’s one in the prince’s pocket,” Ned said sarcastically. He handed it to her.
To the surprise of the young people Nancy flashed the light directly on the soles of Michael’s bare feet.
“You are an impostor!” Nancy exclaimed
“Just as I thought!” she exclaimed. “You are not Mrs. Alexandra’s long-lost grandson! You are an impostor!”
“That’s not true,” the young man whined. “Why are you looking at my feet?”
“If you actually were Michael Alexandra, you would know the answer without asking!”
“You’re just trying to cheat me out of my inheritance.”
Nancy was stern as she faced the captive. “You’ll never obtain another penny from Mrs. Alexandra! Your little game has ended.”
Michael stared sullenly at the group.
“Okay, I’ll admit I’m not Michael Alexandra.”
“Where did you obtain your so-called credentials?” Nancy asked sharply. “I mean the letter and picture and toy?”
“Found ’em on a train seat coming into River Heights.”
“Then the real Prince Michael may be somewhere near here!” Nancy exclaimed. She asked the impostor, “Where is he?”
CHAPTER XVIII
Cornering a Thief
“I DON’T know who the guy is, or where he went,” the man insisted sullenly.
“Did you see him?” Nancy persisted. “What did he look like?”
Michael shrugged. “Don’t remember.”
“What’s your real name?” Nancy asked.
Michael did not reply. Suspecting that the police would be summoned, he sat down on the ground, waiting for a chance to escape.
Nancy went into the inn and telephoned headquarters. Then she spoke to the others at the table, asking two of the young men to locate Michael’s companion. He could not be found anywhere, and Nancy assumed he had learned about what was going on and had left. A police car soon arrived and took away the prisoner.
“Let’s go inside,” Helen said. “Then you can tell us, Nancy, how you found out about the mark that will identify the lost prince.”
“I’ll tell you about it later,” the young detective replied. “In this public place someone might overhear me.”
Nancy followed the others toward the inn. After going a short distance she paused.
“Something else wrong?” Ned inquired.
“I can’t help being worried about Mrs. Alexandra and Anna,” she confessed, frowning.
“With the impostor in the hands of the police,” Ned answered, “they should be safe.”
“That’s the point, Ned. The prisoner is a clever thief, and he may have accomplices.”
“But his pals wouldn’t be likely to make trouble for Mrs. Alexandra without a go-ahead from him.”
“I’m not so sure of that. He’s the one we know so he’d have to establish an alibi. Ned, I heard him talking on the phone a while ago.”
“What did he say?”
“ ‘Everything’s fine. I’m with Nancy Drew now. How’s my dear grandma?’ He asked that mockingly, almost as if he knew she might be in trouble.”
“Do you think any of his pals are at the Alexandra house tonight?”
“That’s just what I’m afraid of, Ned. When I learned what the clue in the jewel box was, I advised Mrs. Alexandra not to give Michael any more jewels or art objects to sell. If she acted on my suggestion, then he probably realized his little game was nearing an end.”
“And figured he had to clean up fast,” Ned stated.
Nancy nodded in reply. “He may have arranged for his pals to rob the house tonight. I overheard Michael tell Anna he probably wouldn’t be home. When I asked him if he’d be there tomorrow, he seemed uncertain at first.”
“I see what you mean about establishing an alibi!” Ned exclaimed. “Say, his pals may be robbing Mrs. Alexandra at this very minute!”
“Let’s go to her house!”
“I’ll ask Jim to come with us,” Ned said.
Jim was more than willing to accompany the couple, and Katherine insisted upon going along. They found an empty taxi parked near the inn.
“Take us to the ferry right away!” Ned urged the driver.
“If we miss the next boat, there won’t be another along for half an hour,” Jim added, glancing at his watch.
Ten minutes later the taxi arrived at the dock. An instant before the gates were lowered, the cab was driven aboard. The ride across the river took its usual time, but to Nancy it seemed hours before the boat docked.
“Now to 47 Downey Street!” she urged the driver as the taxi rolled off the ramp.
The car sped through the streets, drawing up at last before the darkened house.
Jim paid the driver, and the young people went up the walk. Ned rang the doorbell but no response came from within the house. Again he pressed the button, holding his finger on it a long while.
“That’s enough to wake anybody,” he declared.
“I’m going inside,” said Nancy. “I wonder if all the doors are locked.”
“This one is,” Jim reported, testing the knob.
The young people circled the house and tried the rear door. It too was locked, but Ned scrambled up a trellis to a window. The sash raised without difficulty. Ned crawled through and unlocked the back door.
“The house is certainly quiet,” he reported in a whisper. “If the neighbors see us, they may report us as burglars.”
“We can explain why we’re here,” Nancy replied, switching on lights as she walked through to the living room.
When the young people reached it, they were appalled by the sight before them. The expensive tapestries had been stripped from the walls. Many of the silk chair coverings had been slashed. All the art objects were missing.
“The house has been ransacked!” Nancy cried.
“What has become of Mrs. Alexandra and Anna?” Katherine cried, picking up a torn white apron.
“I’ll look upstairs,” said Nancy.
She started up the dark stairway, calling the names of the women. There was no answer.
Jim and Ned followed close behind her, groping for an electric switch.
“There must be one here somewhere,” Nancy murmured, inching her way along the upper hall.
The next instant she stumbled over a body lying on the carpet.
“Ned! Jim!” she called, bending over the form.
Just as Nancy shouted that she had found someone lying on the floor, Ned’s groping fingers located the electric switch at the top of the stairs. He pressed the button.