Chapter 6 The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene
An Invitation to Sleuth
“Who is this?” Nancy asked.
But the caller had cut off the connection. What had happened to her? Nancy wondered. Certainly she had sounded very distressed. Nancy hung up and waited for a second call, but the phone did not ring.
“Who was it?” Mr. Drew asked, coming into the hall.
Nancy told what had occurred.
“You didn’t recognize the voice?” he remarked.
“No, so I can’t call back. Oh dear, someone is in trouble, I just know it. And here I stand helpless to do a thing! It’s maddening!”
“It certainly is,” her father said. “Well, dear, I must run down to the office.” Presently he left the house.
After seeing that Hannah was comfortable, Nancy went to her bedroom and thoughtfully opened the closet door.
“This is as good a day as any to start Dad’s investigation,” she thought.
Nancy took out a two-piece navy-blue dress which made her look older than her eighteen years. Next, she found a pair of comfortable low-heeled pumps.
For several minutes Nancy experimented with various hair styles. She finally chose a simple off-the-face arrangement. Nancy put on tiny pearl earrings, dusted her nose lightly with powder, and finally added a dash of lipstick.
After she had changed her clothes and given herself a final appraisal, Nancy went to Hannah’s room to tell her she was going out for a while.
“Gracious, Nancy,” said the housekeeper, giving the girl a sharp glance, “you look awfully businesslike today. Where are you going?”
“Dad asked me to look up something for him,” she said. “I’ll be back in time for lunch.”
“Don’t worry about that,” said Hannah. “I can get around. Have a good time, dear.”
When Nancy left the house she consulted the list Mr. Drew had given her. Mrs. William Farley, the first name on the paper, lived on Acorn Street, seven blocks from the Drew residence.
Nancy set out at a brisk pace, rehearsing in her mind the approach on which she had decided. One of the girl’s favorite community projects was a recreational youth center located in downtown River Heights. The center always needed volunteer helpers as well as entertainers for the children.
“A good way to find out something about Dad’s suspects,” Nancy decided, “is to see how they will respond to a needy cause. And I’ll be telling the truth when I say that I’m working for the organization.”
This resolved, Nancy soon reached a modest white house which was set back from the street a short distance. The front walk was outlined with pink and white petunias and the grass was well tended.
Nancy rang the bell. The door was opened almost immediately by an elderly woman with wavy white hair and the greenest, most alert, eyes Nancy had ever seen.
“Yes?” she inquired pleasantly.
Nancy introduced herself, then explained the purpose of her call. She was invited inside.
“Please be seated,” said the woman, sitting down herself. Nancy chose a Duncan Phyfe rocking chair covered with a black floral print.
The hostess smiled. “I’d be glad to help you with your project, my dear,” she said, “although I have no talent. Also, I don’t leave this house very much. I’m a recent widow, you see, and I haven’t been too well lately.”
Nancy expressed sympathy and said she understood completely. She liked this friendly little woman on first sight.
“Would a small check help your cause?” the widow asked. “Perhaps you could buy some equipment for the children.”
“That would be wonderful,” Nancy said. “But I’m not soliciting funds.”
Mrs. Farley smiled shyly. “I realize this,” she said. “But there’s so little I can do to help others. Mr. Farley left most of his estate, which was modest, in trust. And I have only a tiny income to live on.”
The woman arose, and despite Nancy’s protests, went to the desk where she wrote out a check.
Nancy thanked her profusely, for she realized that this was a sacrifice on the widow’s part.
“I’m glad I can help,” said Mrs. Farley. “Please come see me again and tell me how the youth center is coming along.”
Nancy promised to do this. After a few more minutes of conversation, she bade Mrs. Farley good-by and left the house.
“If I’m a judge of human nature,” thought Nancy, “that woman never did a mean thing in her life!”
When she reached the sidewalk, Nancy took out Mr. Drew’s list from her handbag. Thoughtfully she crossed out Mrs. Farley’s name.
Herbert Brown, the next suspect, lived in River Heights Estates, a rather exclusive housing area located on the outskirts of the city.
“It’s kind of a long walk,” Nancy told herself. “But it will do me good.”
As Nancy strolled along, she was so engrossed with her thoughts that she failed to notice a tan sedan whose driver cruised by, honked the horn, then pulled over to the curb.
As the door opened, a good-looking young man about eighteen called, “Hi, Nancy!”
To her surprise, she saw Don Cameron, who had been a fellow student in River Heights High School. Nancy had, in fact, gone to the Spring Prom with the tall, black-haired boy.
“Hello, Don,” she said. “What are you doing home? I thought you were working on your uncle’s farm this summer before going to college.”
Don grinned engagingly. “I’ve been picking string beans and berries and hoeing potatoes for nearly a month,” he replied. “But I have a leave of absence to attend my sister’s wedding this Friday.”
Nancy had read of Janet Cameron’s wedding plans in the River Heights Gazette two weeks before. “Jan must be excited!” she exclaimed.
“Everyone at home is going ’round in circles,” Don stated, laughing. “Bill Bent, my brother-in-law-to-be, is no better.
“By the way, Nancy,” Don continued, “I intended calling you later today. If you’re free Thursday afternoon and evening I’d like to have you go to a barbecue party with me. It’s being given in honor of Jan and Bill.”
“I’d love to,” said Nancy. “Where will it be?”
“At the Herbert Browns’ home in River Heights Estates,” Don said. “Their daughter, Lynn, is Jan’s maid of honor.”
Herbert Brown! One of the possible suspects in the bank security theft! Nancy could scarcely conceal her excitement. Although she did not like the idea of spying on a host, here was an excellent chance for her to find out what Mr. Brown was like.
“What time does the barbecue begin?” Nancy asked.
“I’ll call for you at four,” said Don.
He offered to drive Nancy home, and she hopped in beside him. When the young sleuth entered the house, she found Hannah in the living room.
“My goodness,” the housekeeper exclaimed, “you haven’t solved the mystery already!”
“I gave up,” Nancy teased.
“What!”
With a grin Nancy told why she had postponed her trip. “I’ll get some lunch for us,” Nancy offered, “and then drive to the other two places on the list.”
Hannah chuckled. “Since you said you’d be home,” she said, “I prepared a fresh fruit salad—it’s in the refrigerator. And rolls ready to pop into the oven.”
“You’re a fine patient!” Nancy scolded.
“I feel better keeping busy,” Hannah countered.
Nancy asked whether there had been any telephone calls in her absence.
“No. But you did get a post card in the mail.”
Nancy went to the mail tray in the hall and recognized Helen Corning’s writing. The message read:
Dear Nancy:
Aunt June and I have decided to take a week’s automobile trip up North. Will return directly to River Heights. Plan to stop and see Laura Pendleton on our way. Hope Hannah is better.
Love,
Helen
Nancy read the card aloud and commented, “I hope Helen lets me know how everything is at the Aborns’ home. Anyway, I’m going to call Laura myself in a few days to find out how she is and make a date with her to come here.”
“Do you think her guardian will let her leave his care so soon?” the housekeeper asked, as she reached for her crutches.
When there was no reply, Hannah looked out toward the hall. Nancy’s normally rosy complexion was deadly white. She looked as if she were about to faint!