Chapter 3 The Clue of the Tapping Heels by Carolyn Keene
The Guardian
“Yes, I withdraw the charges,” Fred Bunce muttered. “I guess that Gus Woonton’s death couldn’t have been helped.”
The man’s admission that he had been in the wrong came as a surprise to the group of neighbors. Many of the men began to feel that after all they may have judged Miss Carter too severely. When the woman politely asked them to leave, after promising she would do all she could to keep her pets from causing anyone further annoyance, they quietly departed.
Fred Bunce lingered until the door had closed upon the last intruder. Nancy and her chums thought that he meant to berate Miss Carter again for Gus Woonton’s death, but he seemed to have lost all his bluster. He said meekly enough:
“I feel very bad about the boy’s death. Of course, I stand ready to take care of all funeral expenses. I’ll attend to everything. The boy can be buried in the Woonton family plot.”
“Very well, Mr. Bunce,” Miss Carter replied.
“Then everything is settled,” the man said in relief. “Neither of us will have to worry about Gus Woonton any more.”
No one spoke until the man had left the house. Then Miss Carter said in a troubled voice:
“Somehow I cannot trust him. He has no feeling whatsoever for poor little Gus. I believe he’s actually relieved because the boy is dead, though he acts otherwise.”
“I think so too,” Nancy admitted quietly.
Bess glanced at a clock on the mantel and arose hurriedly.
“It’s getting late,” she observed. “Girls, how about our starting for home?”
“Yes, we really ought to be going,” Nancy agreed, though she gazed doubtfully at Miss Carter.
“Now don’t you worry about me,” the woman said quickly. “I’m quite myself now. I’ll have no trouble at all in getting around.”
To prove her words she arose from the couch and took a step forward. The girls saw her wince with pain. She pressed her hand against her back and sank down on the sofa again.
“You’re not really able to be up and about,” Nancy protested. “It seems to me the wisest thing you could do would be to remain in bed for a few days.”
“Oh, I can’t do that. I have my pets to feed and the house to keep in order.”
“Couldn’t you get someone to help you for a week or so?” suggested George.
“I hardly feel that I can spare the money for a maid,” Miss Carter returned in embarrassment.
The girls had taken a liking to the kind-hearted and attractive woman and really wanted to help her. During their brief visit they had observed that she was not a very efficient housekeeper, and surmised that she might be impractical in money matters as well.
It occurred to Nancy that Mrs. Bealing, who was a relative of Hannah Gruen, would be just the person to set the household to rights. The woman was economical and an excellent manager. The Drew girl was sure that she would work for a very small sum of money, and that a matter of twenty-five cats would not disturb her greatly.
“I know just the person for you, Miss Carter!” Nancy declared.
“But I really cannot afford a housekeeper.”
“I doubt that Mrs. Bealing will charge you very much,” the girl replied. “She’s a kind soul who loves to look after folks. If you’ll consent to having her I’ll ask her if she will come.”
“You’re very kind to me,” Miss Carter said gratefully. “So few persons take any interest in my welfare.”
After making the woman as comfortable as possible the girls sped back to River Heights. Through Hannah Gruen Nancy communicated with Mrs. Bealing, who promised that she would go to Berryville if transportation could be provided for her. Later that same day the lawyer and his daughter drove the woman to Miss Carter’s home.
“I hope you’ll not mind a few cats,” Nancy laughed as she led the housekeeper up the walk. “The place is overrun with them.”
“I don’t much blame the neighbors for creating a disturbance,” Carson Drew remarked. “Twenty-five cats is just about twenty-four too many.”
Nancy had brought several quarts of milk for Miss Carter’s pets. After introductions had been made she thought she would return to her car for the food. Before she could reach the door of the house she heard strange tapping sounds.
“Was that someone knocking?” she asked.
“I didn’t hear anything,” replied Carson Drew. He had been too engrossed in his conversation with Miss Carter to notice anything going on around him.
Nancy went to the door, but as no one was there she decided that probably she had been mistaken. She went to the car, and as she returned with the milk saw that the garden was deserted. Scarcely had she closed the door when she heard the tapping sound again. This time the others noticed it too.
“Perhaps a woodpecker is on the roof,” Mr. Drew said carelessly. He continued his talk with Miss Carter. “Now, concerning your difficulty with the neighbors—you need not be annoyed by having them come to you with their demands. If you keep your cats on your own grounds I doubt that they can prove you are maintaining a nuisance.”
“Dear me, how will I be able to keep my pussies happy in their cage?” Miss Carter asked.
“Have you ever considered giving away some of your pets?” asked the lawyer.
“Well, no——”
“You probably would wish to keep all your beautiful Persians,” Mr. Drew went on, “but it must be difficult to feed and care for so many strays.”
“Each week more of them come to my door begging for food,” Miss Carter admitted. “My Persians are well trained but the others cause me endless worry. I’d not mind letting them go if I could find someone who would take them.”
“I know a veterinary who might relieve you of their care,” Mr. Drew replied instantly. “If you wish I’ll arrange to have him come here tomorrow.”
Miss Carter remained silent for so long that the lawyer expected her to refuse the offer. Finally she thanked him for his kindness and said that he might make any arrangements he considered wise.
“I’ll hate to part with my cats,” she told Nancy. “I wish you could be here when the man comes for them.”
“I’ll try to run over,” the girl promised. “I’m sure you’re making a wise decision, though.”
“There is one thing I should like to ask,” Miss Carter said, turning toward Mr. Drew again. “I am afraid you’ll think that I am greedy when I bring up the matter——”
“No one would ever accuse you of such a thing,” Carson Drew smiled. “What is your question?”
“I have paid out a fairly large sum of money to the Riverside Home for the care of Gus Woonton. I was very glad to have done it although rightfully the burden should have fallen upon Fred Bunce.”
“The lad’s guardian?”
“Yes. I am sure he had money in trust for the boy, but was unwilling to spend it on him. Several times he and his wife went away from home for a week at a time and left poor Gus to shift for himself.”
“How could they!” remarked Nancy.
“What makes you believe that the man held money in trust for the boy?” inquired Mr. Drew.
“I have no proof, but for a long while I’ve been suspicious of Mr. Bunce. Then, when he was so eager to relieve me of paying the boy’s funeral expenses, I thought again that Gus must have had means. Fred Bunce isn’t the kind of a man to spend his money on someone else.”
“I agree with you,” Nancy nodded.
“Coming to the point,” Miss Carter went on, “I should like to know if it would be possible for me to recover from Mr. Bunce any of the money which I advanced for the boy’s care.”
“That would depend upon the administrator of the estate,” replied Mr. Drew. “No doubt Fred Bunce will try to secure the appointment.”
“Then it’s hopeless,” the woman sighed. “Fred Bunce never would admit that Gus left a penny. And certainly if he did, he’d never give me any of it.”
She spoke no more of the matter. In a few minutes Nancy and her father left the house, bidding the woman a cordial good-bye.
“Dad, why don’t you have a talk with Mr. Bunce?” the girl suggested hopefully as the two walked toward their car. “He lives in this neighborhood.”
“Miss Carter isn’t a client of mine, Nancy.”
“I realize that, Dad, but I know she cannot afford to engage a lawyer. She’s too proud to come to you and ask you to help her.”
“I’m not sure that I could do so if I wished. If the boy Gus left any money, Bunce probably will be clever enough to get every penny of it for himself.”
“Not if he were to deal with you,” Nancy said flatteringly. “Oh, Dad, I do wish you’d talk with that man and ask him a few questions. Miss Carter is deserving of help.”
“Where is the Bunce place?” Mr. Drew asked, beginning to give in to his daughter’s desires.
“See that white cottage?” Nancy pointed eagerly down the street. “It won’t take us a minute to talk with the man.”
She tugged at her father’s arm and he allowed her to lead him down the street.
“This isn’t to my liking,” he declared, frowning. “I’m doing it just to please you, remember.”
Nancy and her father approached the homestead, observing that the garden had not been well tended. The grass had been allowed to grow very long, and dense bushes which lined the walk were in need of trimming.
As the two turned in toward the house, Nancy suddenly stopped short. Carson Drew glanced at his daughter in astonishment.
“What do you see?” he asked, for her gaze had centered upon a group of bushes near the corner of the cottage.
“Someone was watching us from behind the foliage,” she said tensely. “As we came up the walk I distinctly saw a dark figure slip around behind the house!”