Chapter 15 The Clue of the Broken Locket by Carolyn Keene
A Plan Disrupted
“Who in the world can this woman be?” Nancy asked herself in bewilderment. “If she isn’t the mother of the twins, why is she so interested in them?”
Carson Drew likewise was puzzled at Miss Brown’s refusal.
“If you don’t accept the position, I’m afraid the babies will suffer,” Nancy said sadly. “The nurse Mrs. Blair now has is absolutely incompetent.”
The woman twisted her handkerchief nervously. She seemed torn between emotions.
“I wish I could accept the position. I’ll think it over.”
“Good!” Mr. Drew approved. “Where can we reach you?”
“I’ll come back here,” the woman said hastily.
“Do so in two days, then,” Nancy suggested, “At this same hour.”
Regretfully, she accompanied the woman to the door.
“Do you think we’ll ever see her again, Father?” asked Nancy, returning to Mr. Drew.
“I think we will,” the lawyer responded thoughtfully. “She doesn’t strike me as the sort of person to break a promise.”
Nancy had no intention of remaining idle for the next two days. The following morning she visited Jolly Folly with the express purpose of questioning Rodney.
When he could not be found around the house she searched the garage. She discovered him sitting on a bench behind the building, absorbed in a letter which he was writing. He hastily thrust the paper into his pocket as she came up to him.
“A beautiful day,” Nancy remarked casually. “Do you mind if I sit beside you? The view of the river is excellent from here.”
The chauffeur obligingly made room for her on the bench. Nancy tried in vain to draw him into a cheerful conversation. Rodney gazed moodily toward the gleaming waters.
“Some days I feel like going down there and jumping in!”
“Why, Rodney!” Nancy exclaimed, shocked by the sentiment. “How can you say such a thing?”
“You’d say it too if you’d gone through what I have.”
“The war, you mean?” Nancy asked gently.
“The war and other things. I was gassed. Look at me now! A shadow of my former self. Look at this nose! Twisted out of shape.”
“You’re far more conscious of your appearance than other people are, I’m sure, Rodney.”
The chauffeur laughed harshly.
“My own relatives wouldn’t recognize me—if I could find them!”
Nancy sat up very straight at this.
“If you could find them?” she repeated softly. “Then you have lost your family?”
The man inclined his head gloomily.
“I had a sister once—a twin. We were separated and I’ve never been able to find her. I haven’t tried lately because she’d hate to see me the way I am now.”
“What was her name?” Nancy asked, scarcely daring to hope that the answer would be the one she sought.
“Ruth.”
With an effort, Nancy masked her elation. It would not do to excite Rodney by telling him that she thought she had discovered his long-lost sister. If the evidence which Doctor Stafford could provide should fail to confirm her theory, Rodney would be plunged into deepest despair. Better to keep her suspicions to herself until she had the proof.
“Ruth Brown is a common enough name,” she reflected. “For all I know, there may be two Ruths. There isn’t much resemblance between the two, either.”
As if he had read part of her thoughts, the chauffeur remarked moodily:
“Ruth and I were twins, though not the identical type. Even when we were young, people said we didn’t look a great deal alike. Since the war, I’ve changed so that my best friends wouldn’t recognize me.”
Nancy arose to leave.
“Rodney, I want you to do me a favor.”
“Certainly, Miss Drew.”
“Can you come to my house tomorrow afternoon at five o’clock?”
“I think so. Tomorrow is my day off duty.”
“Then I’ll expect you without fail. Don’t forget the hour.”
With that Nancy hurried away, leaving the chauffeur to stare after her in bewilderment.
Driving rapidly toward River Heights, she reviewed in her mind the many strange facts she had accumulated. Rodney had a twin sister named Ruth. Reverend Stafford had told her that the twins he had baptized were christened Rodney and Ruth. Now, if the church record would only reveal that the last name was Brown, certain jagged pieces of her jigsaw would fit.
“I’ll see the minister the first thing tomorrow,” she decided. “I must have all the evidence possible before Ruth and Rodney call at my home.”
Nancy did not sleep well that night, for she was thinking over what might transpire the following day at the appointed hour of five. Immediately after breakfast she called at Reverend Stafford’s home. The man conducted her to his study.
“I was hoping that you would drop in today,” he said cordially. “At last I have located the record you want.”
Nancy’s eyes sparkled.
“Reverend Stafford,” she said breathlessly, “were the twins you christened named Ruth and Rodney Brown?”
The pastor stared incredulously.
“How did you know?”
“I didn’t, but now I am convinced I have found the pair whom you baptized so many years ago.”
After telling the minister her story Nancy thanked him for his assistance in the case, and left the house in high spirits. A block down the street she heard her name called. Turning around, she saw Bess Marvin waving to her.
“I’ve been trying to catch you for half a block!” Bess laughed as she came up puffing. “You must be dreaming. I called your name six times.”
“I am up in the clouds,” Nancy admitted. “This is going to be a red letter day in my life. At five o’clock I reunite the separated twins, Rodney and Ruth Brown!”
Such a sweeping statement demanded an explanation, which Nancy was only too glad to give. Bess listened, enthralled.
“Oh, you’re a genius!” she praised. “Perhaps you’ll soon clear up the parentage of Jay and Janet, too.”
“I’m afraid that won’t be accomplished so easily.”
“You can do anything,” Bess maintained staunchly. “Besides, you have a wonderful clue. This is your chance to test it out!”
“What do you mean?”
“Rodney is the father of the babies—I feel convinced of it! After you have reunited him with his sister, he’ll feel like a new man. Ask him a few leading questions while he is in the mood to answer.”
“It’s an embarrassing subject,” Nancy smiled.
Bess revealed her annoyance.
“Don’t you think he is the father?”
“I’m reserving judgment until after the interview.” Nancy glanced down at her wrist watch. “I must run now or I’ll be late for luncheon. Tomorrow I’ll tell you how everything came out.”