Chapter 10 The Clue of the Tapping Heels by Carolyn Keene
A Boat Disaster
Nancy’s first act upon reaching home was to search the garage for her father’s tool chest. It was in its usual place on the shelf by the window. When she lifted the lid, she was surprised to see that it was empty; everything in the box had been removed.
“That’s queer,” she reflected. “The last time I used the rose shears everything was here.”
Nancy went to the kitchen door and called to the housekeeper.
“Hannah,” she asked, “do you know what became of the garden tools?”
“Aren’t they in the garage?” inquired the woman, opening the door. “That’s where your father always keeps them.”
“The box is empty. I thought perhaps he took out the things and put them some other place.”
“No, I’m sure he didn’t, Nancy.”
“Then I’m afraid someone has stolen the tools. Have you noticed anyone prowling about the garage, Hannah?”
“No, I haven’t. Oh, wait, there was a fellow around here yesterday. He was a colored man looking for work.”
“Did you see him near the garage?”
“I was just trying to think,” the housekeeper answered slowly. “He talked with me a long time and I couldn’t seem to discourage him. As I went into the house I do recall that he walked toward the garage.”
“Can you describe the man, Hannah?”
“Well, no, I can’t, except that he had freckles.”
“A colored man with freckles?” Nancy asked. “I never heard of such a thing, Hannah.”
“Well, perhaps not really freckles,” the housekeeper corrected. “But he had light colored spots on his skin that made me think of freckles.”
“I shouldn’t be surprised if the man you saw ran off with our tools. I wonder if Mr. Bunce sent him here?”
“Mr. Bunce? Why should he send the colored fellow to steal, Nancy?”
“It’s my guess that something was hidden in our tool chest, perhaps by Bunce himself, and he was afraid to return for it.”
“I declare, you talk in riddles,” Mrs. Gruen said impatiently. “What could be hidden in the tool box except tools?”
“The Woonton letters,” replied Nancy. “Detective Keely believes as I do that the prowler who broke into our house may have secreted the papers somewhere in the garage.”
“That seems far-fetched to me. Why wouldn’t the thief keep the papers once he had them?”
“You remember you and I were conducting a rather intensive search for the man, Hannah. Dad drove up with Ned about that time. Probably the thief became frightened and did not wish to risk being caught with the letters in his possession.”
“What makes you think he would hide them in the garage?”
“Because we found a torn note in Fred Bunce’s house which suggested that the papers might be in our tool box. At least that’s the way we interpreted the writing.”
“And the tool box is empty?”
“Yes. I’m afraid Bunce sent this colored man here to get the papers. He decided to make off with the tools as well.”
“I wonder if anything else is missing,” Hannah said anxiously. “Your father will be annoyed to hear about this.”
The housekeeper went with Nancy to the garage. As they searched about diligently a young man appeared in the doorway.
“Hello,” said Ned Nickerson pleasantly.
“Oh, you startled me!” Nancy laughed, whirling around. “I half expected to see a colored man leering at me.”
“Well, that’s complimentary, I must say,” the youth returned with a grin. “I’m pretty sunburned but I didn’t know I looked as dark as that.”
Nancy told him about the missing tools and her theory that they had been taken by a colored person who had visited the house the previous day.
“Why, I met a darky on the street yesterday!” Ned exclaimed. “He stopped me and asked me how to find the Carson Drew home. He said he was looking for work.”
“Did the man have freckles on his face?” Hannah asked quickly.
“He was marked in some peculiar way. Yes, I guess you would say he had freckles.”
“Then he’s the same man!” the housekeeper cried. “Let’s call the police and tell them to arrest him.”
“We have no proof that the fellow stole the tools,” Nancy reminded the woman. “You didn’t actually see him enter the garage, did you?”
“No——”
“We haven’t enough evidence to ask for an arrest, then. But I’m satisfied that he is the thief.”
Ned helped Nancy and Mrs. Gruen search the garage. Save for the contents of the tool box nothing appeared to be missing.
“Will you be busy tomorrow afternoon?” Ned asked Nancy after the woman had gone back to the house.
“Well, I usually manage to find something to do,” the girl laughed.
“I was thinking you might like to go for a steamer ride on the river. Our college club has chartered the Goodtime. The cruise starts at four o’clock and we’ll have dinner aboard the boat.”
“Oh, I’d love it, Ned!”
Nancy looked forward to the outing and was glad that Ned came early for her, because upon reaching the Goodtime they were able to have their choice of deck chairs. Soon other young people began to crowd aboard and it was evident that the ship would be filled to capacity.
As the vessel glided smoothly away from the dock, the orchestra started playing. Ned claimed the first dance, and then generously presented his college friends to Nancy.
“I wish you’d be especially nice to Harlan Bailey,” he whispered to her. “He’s not a very good dancer and some of the girls give him the cold shoulder. But he’s a good scout.”
Nancy found Harlan to be a sad looking youth with a very serious face. She readily understood why he was not popular with the girls, for as they attempted to dance he kept stumbling over her feet. The young man apologized several times as his face flushed with embarrassment.
“We might sit out the remainder of the dance,” Nancy finally suggested as tactfully as she could. “It’s stuffy in such a crowded room.”
The Drew girl did not find it easy to talk to the youth until she discovered that he had traveled extensively. She encouraged him to tell of his adventures in foreign countries, and soon was ready to agree with Ned that he really was an interesting person.
“I like South America better than any other country,” Harlan declared. “After I’ve finished my law course I’m hoping to go back there and live.”
Nancy mentioned that her father was a lawyer and suggested that her companion might be interested in calling upon him some time.
“I’d be almost afraid to do it,” the young man confessed. “Your father is so famous and I’m just a student.”
“That wouldn’t make a bit of difference to Dad,” Nancy laughed. “He’ll be glad to give you all the help he can.”
The couple chatted for a time about South America. In the course of the conversation Nancy mentioned the name of Ralph Woonton.
“Why, I knew him when I was eight years old!” Harlan exclaimed. “He and his wife lived next door to me. I came back to the United States but they remained.”
“Tell me, did the Woontons have any children?” Nancy asked eagerly.
“No, they lived alone except for a funny colored man who worked for them. He had queer spots on his face.”
Nancy became excited at this bit of information, but before she could ask another question her attention was drawn toward a deck hand who seemed to be having difficulties with Captain Staff.
“Don’t let me catch you in that room again, Penello,” the officer said curtly. “Now get back to your quarters!”
“Yes, sir,” the swarthy man muttered, moving off.
The fellow turned away, but in a moment glanced back at Captain Staff, giving him a look of deep hatred.
“That man will make trouble if he has the chance,” Nancy thought. “I wonder what he was doing to deserve a reprimand?”
Captain Staff walked away toward the bridge while the deckhand Penello disappeared from view. Nancy and Harlan continued their conversation for a time, the former asking many questions about Mr. and Mrs. Woonton and the colored man who had worked for them in South America. Presently Ned came to claim the next dance.
“I hope Harlan didn’t prove to be too much of a bore,” he remarked as he swung her out on the dance floor.
“Quite the contrary, Ned. He told me lots of interesting——”
Nancy never finished the sentence, for without warning the vessel gave a sudden lurch, and she and the other passengers were flung sideways, some of them crashing against the wall.
“We’ve struck something!” Ned cried, trying to help Nancy who had been hurled into a chair.
The floor remained at a slant so that furniture slid to the starboard side of the boat. Several terrified girls began to scream. Others fought for the exits. In vain did Nancy and Ned try to calm the fears of those around them. In a moment the first mate came running to the doorway of the salon.
“We’ve struck another boat, but there is no danger!” he shouted. “Keep calm! The vessel is not sinking!”
The dancers paid no heed to the words. With one accord they rushed for the open deck, all crowding to the starboard side.
“Keep back!” ordered Captain Staff. “Don’t crowd the rail! Some of you get over to the other side.”
Nancy and Ned, realizing the danger, started to obey, but the other passengers were too frightened to heed the command. Suddenly the ship seemed to quiver and shake itself. The deck tilted.
“The boat is overweighted!” Nancy cried in terror. “We’re going over!”