Chapter 19 The Clue of the Tapping Heels by Carolyn Keene
The Corner Table
“Well, well, this is indeed a pleasure,” the elderly actor said heartily as he bowed to the girls. “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
“We were just leaving,” Bess murmured, slightly embarrassed.
“Please don’t go on my account,” the man declared. “My business with Miss Barrett isn’t of a private nature. We’ll all have a pleasant chat together.”
The girls did not know just what to reply, for they felt certain that Beverly Barrett did not wish them to remain. However, the actor guided them back into the living room.
“You seem upset about something, Miss Barrett,” he observed in surprise as he saw the young woman’s face.
“These girls have told me the most distressing thing. Really, I can’t believe it. Please, Mr. St. Will, tell me that it isn’t true.”
“Tell you that what isn’t true, my dear young lady?”
“These girls claim that Miss Carter is living in poverty, so she cannot possibly afford to back me further for a theatrical career.”
“Has Miss Carter been helping you financially?” Mr. St. Will inquired in astonishment.
“Why yes, I’ve accepted money from her.”
“She did not tell me that,” the actor murmured. “I suspected that she had lost much of her fortune, but I never dreamed that she is in dire need. Can this be true?”
He turned to Nancy and her chums, and his look of distress made them regret that so much had been revealed to him.
“Miss Carter has been too proud to let anyone learn of her situation,” Nancy told him.
“I’m sure I don’t know what I’ll do if she’s not able to send me any money,” Miss Barrett declared. “Such a dilemma! Mr. St. Will, you’ll have to advise me.”
At the moment the actor was far more concerned with Miss Carter’s predicament than he was with that of the spoiled young actress. He scarcely heard her plea as he turned to question Nancy.
“I wish you had told me this before I left River Heights,” he said. “It is unthinkable that a woman of Miss Carter’s talent should be in want.”
“She has given generously of her money to others,” Nancy revealed. “If she could be relieved of the financial burden I imagine that she would have enough for herself.”
“I suppose you refer to me,” Miss Barrett said with a toss of her head. “I took only what Miss Carter was willing to give. How could I know that she is in poverty?”
“You might have visited her once in a while,” Mr. St. Will remarked accusingly. He picked up his hat and cane as if to depart.
“You’re not going?” the young woman cried in alarm. “You promised a part in a play for me, and said we were to dine at the Ritz.”
“I don’t feel exactly in the mood for dinner,” the man said reluctantly. “Perhaps some other time——”
“No, it must be tonight. Why, I bought a new gown especially for the occasion.”
“In that case I couldn’t possibly disappoint you,” the actor replied politely.
Nancy and her chums, feeling that they had no reason for remaining longer, hastily said good-bye and left the apartment. Before they had taken a dozen steps down the hall Mr. St. Will came hurrying after them.
“Just a minute,” he called. “I mustn’t let you get away without learning your address.”
“We’re staying with my aunt,” Bess told him. “I’ll write the apartment number on a card for you.”
“I’ll call tomorrow morning if it will be convenient,” the actor suggested. “I should like to hear more about Miss Carter’s difficulties. Perhaps among ourselves we can work out something in her behalf.”
“By all means come,” Nancy invited, as her chum gave the man the address. “We must help all we can.”
After leaving the apartment building the girls dropped into a moving picture show. When they left the theatre it was almost six o’clock.
“We have an appointment to meet Aunt Helen at the Black Cat Restaurant to have dinner,” Bess reminded her chums, glancing at her wrist watch. “We must step lively or we’ll keep her waiting.”
When the girls reached the place they were relieved to find that Mrs. Miller had not arrived yet. In five minutes the woman came hurrying toward them with several packages.
“I’ve been shopping all afternoon and I’m tired and hungry,” she laughed. “The food at this place is so delicious,” she said enthusiastically, “that many people come here. It’s always crowded. I hope we can get a table.”
The head waiter remembered her, so with a smile and a bow he led the party to seats near a window. As soon as Nancy had given her order she gazed about the filled room.
“Tell me how you amused yourselves today,” Mrs. Miller requested.
“We called on Miss Barrett, but I can’t say that we had a very pleasant time,” Bess replied with a grimace. “She created a scene. First she took us to be maids, then told us we weren’t the type to become actresses!”
“Miss Barrett is very self-centered,” George added. “She seems to feel that it is her right to be supported.”
Nancy had not been listening closely to the conversation.
“Girls,” she said in a low voice. “I wish you’d glance across the room at that table in the corner.”
“Is someone we know—” Bess started to say, then finished quickly, “Fred Bunce and his wife!”
“They probably feel safe here in New York!” George exclaimed. “Will you call the police, Nancy?”
“I think I’ll just watch them for a little while,” her chum returned. “We may be able to learn more that way.”
“I wish we could hear their conversation,” Bess said eagerly.
“There are no empty tables near them,” Nancy pointed out. “Even if we could change our seats, Mr. Bunce would see us. That would ruin our chances.”
Without appearing to do so, Mrs. Miller and the girls kept watch of the couple. They ate their own dinners rapidly so that they could finish by the time the Bunces were ready to leave. When the pair arose Nancy and her party quietly followed them.
The man summoned a cab. Mrs. Miller, realizing the importance of maintaining the contact, promptly hailed another. The driver had no difficulty in keeping the vehicle in sight, for apparently the two ahead had no suspicion that they were being followed. The chase took them to the offices of a steamship company.
“Mr. Bunce has not seen you,” Nancy said to Mrs. Miller. “Would you mind going inside the building to learn what he is doing there while we girls wait out here in the cab?”
“Yes, he’d be sure to recognize us,” Bess and George agreed.
Mrs. Miller was gone only a few minutes. When she returned her eyes were dancing with excitement.
“I do believe I’d make a good detective,” she laughed, sinking back into the seat.
“Tell us what you learned, Aunt Helen,” Bess pleaded.
“Mr. Bunce inquired about steamship tickets to South America.”
“South America!” Nancy exclaimed. “That means he intends to leave this country before the police strike his trail. Perhaps I should notify the authorities right away.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Bunce won’t embark immediately,” Mrs. Miller revealed. “They bought tickets for the Tasmania which doesn’t sail until Thursday.”
“That gives us time to accomplish a lot,” Nancy said thoughtfully.
At that moment the couple came out of the steamship offices. They were so busy talking that neither of them glanced toward the waiting cab. They stepped into their own vehicle and drove away.
“Follow that taxi,” Nancy directed their driver. “Be sure to keep it in sight.”
The two cabs threaded their ways through the dense traffic, presently drawing up in front of the Windham Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. Bunce disappeared inside.
Nancy waited a few minutes. Then, following them, she examined the register. She learned that the couple were occupying Room Number 208 on the second floor.
“I’ve found out everything I need to know,” she reported to Mrs. Miller and her chums. “The Bunces probably will stay at this hotel until they sail for South America.”
“Then it should be an easy matter to have them arrested,” Bess said in satisfaction. “Will you go to the police now, Nancy?”
“I was just thinking—” the girl replied slowly. “It seems to me our best move would be to telephone Detective Keely for instructions. After all, this is his case and he has been assigned to capture Fred Bunce.”
“We’ll find a long distance telephone at once,” Mrs. Miller nodded.
She gave an order to the driver and the cab rolled away swiftly.