Chapter 21 The Clue of the Tapping Heels by Carolyn Keene
The Search
When the actor arrived at Mrs. Miller’s apartment, Nancy explained why the girls had gone to the railroad station, likewise reporting her telephone conversation with the Superintendent of the Riverside Home.
“The mystery seems to deepen,” Mr. St. Will commented. “We know that the Woontons had no son, so who is this boy called Gussie?”
“Bunce is probably the only person who can answer that question,” Nancy replied. “Detective Keely is on his way to the Windham Hotel to arrest the man. I look for important developments any minute now.”
“I trust that when this matter is settled Miss Carter will receive just compensation for the money she spent on the boy,” the man declared in a sober voice. “Until yesterday I had no idea that she was in dire need.”
“I am afraid I offended Miss Barrett deeply,” Nancy said. “I felt that she should know the truth, though.”
“You did the right thing in telling her. Last evening I had a long, fatherly talk with Miss Barrett. I am afraid she didn’t like my remarks, but I know I gave her some excellent advice.”
“How does she feel about accepting Miss Carter’s money, now that she understands the situation?” Nancy inquired.
“At heart Miss Barrett isn’t a bad sort, though she is inclined to be selfish and considers her career before anything else. She really has a deep affection for Miss Carter. She agreed with me that she could not expect support from her under the present circumstances.”
“Has she made any plans?” Nancy asked hopefully.
“The girl has no money of her own. She has tried to obtain a leading part in a play but so far has been forced to accept minor rôles.”
“Do you agree with Miss Carter that the girl really has talent?” Bess questioned curiously.
“Yes, I do. Miss Barrett has been well trained. I believe she will get along fine on the stage.”
“I’m sorry to be the person to have punctured her little air castle,” Nancy said with honest regret. “I wish something could be worked out so that she might go on with her career.”
“Last evening I broached a little plan to Miss Barrett. I have in mind purchasing the rights to ‘The Tapping Heels,’ paying a sum which will grant Miss Carter security. I intend to give the leading part to Miss Barrett, and if the play proves successful she will be assured of many years’ work in excellent rôles.”
“That would work out like magic!” Nancy cried enthusiastically. “There’s only one catch in the whole thing.”
“What is that?”
“Don’t you think Miss Carter may suspect that you are trying to help her?”
“It will be an easy matter for me to have an agent purchase the play,” Mr. St. Will smiled. “I realize as well as you do that the woman is proud. I would not offend her for anything in the world.”
At that moment the telephone rang. Mrs. Miller, thinking that it must be for her, excused herself to answer it. She returned to say that the call was for Nancy.
“I’ve given our number to no one save Detective Keely,” the girl remarked as she hurried away. “Probably he has arrested Fred Bunce!”
She was not mistaken in believing the message to be from the detective but he was not telephoning to report success in his mission.
“The Bunces have cleared out, bag and baggage,” he said. “The clerk tells me they left about fifteen minutes before I reached here.”
Nancy was dismayed by this news, for it had not occurred to her that the couple would leave the hotel until they were ready to sail for South America. She blamed herself for losing contact with them for it would have been easy for her to have notified the police of their presence the previous evening.
“I suppose they are too clever to have let anyone know where they are going,” she said slowly.
“Yes, the clerk asked them for a forwarding address but they told him they expected no mail. They called a taxi and disappeared.”
“There’s still a chance we can catch them at the boat when it sails Thursday.”
“Yes,” the detective agreed, “unless Bunce should change his mind about leaving on that particular day.”
“It does appear that he’s somewhat suspicious,” Nancy admitted.
“If you’re not busy I’ll drive over to your apartment and we’ll discuss the situation,” the detective proposed. “Maybe between us we can think of some way to get on his trail again.”
“By all means come over,” Nancy invited “but I’m afraid I’ll not be able to offer any helpful suggestions.”
She returned to the living room to report the discouraging news.
“Oh, isn’t that too bad!” Bess said in disappointment. “And we thought we had the case practically solved, too.”
Nancy turned toward Mrs. Miller. “When you followed Mr. and Mrs. Bunce into the steamship office do you think either of them noticed you?” she asked the woman.
“I’m sure they didn’t,” Mrs. Miller answered promptly. “Even if they had they couldn’t have known of my connection with you.”
“Do you suppose Bunce could have bought the tickets for another couple?” Nancy reflected.
“I never thought of such a thing at the time,” Bess’s aunt replied. “Mrs. Bunce insisted upon an outside stateroom and was rather disagreeable because most of the accommodations were sold.”
“It’s queer, their leaving the Windham Hotel in such a hurry,” Nancy said, frowning thoughtfully. “I have a feeling they know they’re being followed and are doing everything possible to throw us off their trail.”
Detective Keely voiced a similar opinion when he reached the apartment a short time later. He had found no trace of the couple although he had telephoned nearly every hotel in the city.
“Either the man has registered under another name or he’s gone into hiding in a private rooming house,” the man declared. “It will be a real job to find him now.”
“I should have notified the police last night.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” Mr. Keely returned. “I’d have made the same mistake myself. We’re dealing with a very foxy fellow.”
After discussing the case for several minutes the detective arose to leave. He had taken down the address of the Black Cat Restaurant and intended to keep watch of the place in addition to maintaining a plainclothesman at the docks to watch the travelers on all outgoing steamers.
Shortly after Mr. Keely had gone away Horace St. Will said that he too must leave. “I have a little packing to do before my train departs,” he remarked.
“You’re not leaving New York so soon?” questioned Nancy in surprise.
“Yes, my business here is finished. I shall return to Berryville, probably on the midnight train.”
“We thought we’d start home today too,” laughed Bess, “although we hadn’t made up our minds which train we’d take.”
“Your visit hasn’t been half long enough,” Mrs. Miller protested. “Why, you’ve not even seen the city.”
“We’ll have time for that this afternoon, Aunt Helen. Our parents are looking for us back home.”
Nancy was sorry that she had not made arrangements to remain longer in New York for she wished to be on hand when the Tasmania should sail on Thursday. She rather thought that her father would be glad if she were to stay longer, but that would mean Bess and George would have to go back without her. Their parents had been firm in specifying the time they must be back in River Heights.
“After all, there’s nothing more I can do here,” she reflected. “Detective Keely will handle everything efficiently. If anyone is capable of capturing Fred Bunce he will be the one.”
Mr. St. Will remarked that he hoped the girls would decide to take the midnight train. He then bowed politely to Mrs. Miller and took his leave.
“Dear me, I didn’t suppose you were serious about returning home so soon,” Aunt Helen protested. “If you’re determined to go, we must try to see everything we can this afternoon.”
Nancy, Bess, and George had not believed that so much could be crowded into the remaining hours. They visited Chinatown, the Battery, the museum of art and many other places of absorbing interest. Wherever the girls went they kept an alert watch for the Bunces, though more for the fun of it than anything else, as they really did not expect to encounter the couple.
Mrs. Miller took her visitors to dinner at a downtown hotel, and later they all went to the theater. At the conclusion of the performance they rushed back to the apartment for their suitcases, then rode by taxi to the station.
“We’ve had a glorious time, Mrs. Miller,” Nancy declared with shining eyes.
“Yes indeed,” George echoed gratefully.
Bess did not add her tribute just then, for the group had entered the waiting room, where she caught sight of Mr. St. Will.
“Well, well,” the actor said heartily as the girls came toward him, “I had just made up my mind that you were taking another train.”
“We had such an exciting time seeing the city that we nearly missed this one,” Nancy laughed.
“Oh, you have plenty of time,” the actor assured her. “The train is in but there’s no hurry.”
He walked leisurely along with Mrs. Miller while the girls followed at a little distance. Suddenly Nancy stopped short.
“Look over there!” she said tensely, nodding her head toward one of the gates. “That man is Fred Bunce, and he’s talking with two colored men!”