Chapter 20 The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk by Carolyn Keene
Scattered Clues
Bess and George could not control their excitement as they related their adventures since taking leave of Nancy at Nestrelda’s home.
“We followed Mr. Halifax just as you told us to do,” Bess revealed, speaking rapidly. “First he stopped at a store to telephone, but we weren’t able to hear the conversation. Then he drove on to the offices of Halifax and Lopes.”
“How was the last name spelled?” asked Nancy eagerly.
“L-O-P-E-S. This is the part that will surprise you, Nancy. They’re manufacturers of luggage!”
“That doesn’t astonish me at all,” smiled Nancy. “What else did you learn?”
“George and I decided to try to find out if your missing trunk was there. We knew Mr. Halifax wouldn’t recognize us, so we went in and pretended we wished to buy something. I think we examined every trunk in the place!”
“And yours wasn’t there, Nancy,” added George regretfully.
“We didn’t even see one which remotely resembled it,” added Bess.
“Did the shop have a repair department?” asked the cousins’ chum.
Bess glanced at Nancy in surprise. “Why, yes, I believe it did. We didn’t go back there, however.”
“Then you missed the most likely place. I have a hunch my trunk may be there. Tomorrow I’ll find out!”
Nancy went on to explain that during her chums’ absence a repairman had attempted to carry away Nestrelda’s trunk.
“It’s queer why that piece of luggage is in such demand,” commented Bess. “I simply can’t figure it out.”
Nancy had a hunch, so while waiting for dinner, the girls made a thorough examination of the mysterious brass bound trunk. They emptied the various trays and turned them upside down. They tapped the bottom and the sides for secret compartments.
“I can’t for the life of me see why anyone would want this trunk,” Nancy said, rocking back on her heels. “Yet there must be a reason.”
“Nothing is hidden in it,” added Bess wearily. “We’ve gone over every inch of it, I’m sure.”
“Girls, you recall this same trunk was put off at Crestmont,” Nancy went on.
“It might not have been the same one,” interposed George.
“I believe it was. Now that leads to an interesting possibility. If the Joslins had possession of it for an entire day——”
Nancy did not finish. Instead, she sprang to her feet and ran to phone to Nestrelda. A few minutes later, her face flushed with triumph, she returned to report to her chums.
“I’ve just been talking with Treldy,” she explained. “She told me that her mother gave her the new brass bound trunk just before she sailed from New York. It was supposed to be a gift from her stepfather as well. He insisted that she use it even though all her belongings already had been packed in an old trunk.”
“Strange they couldn’t have given her the new one ahead of time,” commented George.
“That’s my point exactly,” declared Nancy, her eyes sparkling. “Mr. Joslin kept the luggage until the very last minute because he must have hidden something in it!”
“But we’ve looked everywhere,” protested Bess.
“I know. The trunk seems to be empty.”
“Has Treldy any suspicion of what may be wrong?” questioned George after several moments of silence.
“I am sure she doesn’t. She told me over the phone that Senora Zola is greatly upset about everything that has happened. She plans to take the Laurel Hall girls to Rosario tomorrow.”
“And will Treldy leave too?” asked Bess.
“Yes, she promised to send me her address as soon as she arrives there. I don’t know what she expects to do about this trunk. She didn’t mention it, so I didn’t offer to send it.”
Leaving her chums to chat with Mrs. Purdy, Nancy went to her bedroom. As she looked toward the river, she noticed Harold Sand seated on a bench not far away. It was the first time that the girl had obtained a really close view of the young man and she made the most of her opportunity to do so now.
“I keep feeling I’ve seen him in an entirely different rôle,” she told herself, “yet he must be a stranger to me. I couldn’t have met him before that day in River Heights when he struck my car.”
Bess’s camera, which the girls had used on their sightseeing tour, lay on the dresser. Obeying a sudden, irresistible impulse, Nancy picked it up and stole outside. Keeping shielded by bushes, she crept forward until she was within a few feet of the young man. Focusing the camera upon him, she snapped a picture and quickly retreated.
“He didn’t even see me,” she told herself as she replaced the camera on the dresser. “Won’t Bess be surprised when she discovers an extra picture on the roll!”
Two hours remained before dinner would be served. Nancy’s next move was to suggest to Bess that they take the films to a nearby shop which promised to develop pictures “while you wait.”
Immediately falling in with the suggestion, Bess and George made the trip. In a short time the film was ready. Nancy let her chums look at the pictures first.
“Oh, this one of a cathedral came out grand!” exclaimed Bess in delight.
“This picture of me standing by the statue is awful!” declared George. “I’m going to tear it up!”
“What is this?” demanded Bess as she came to the one Nancy had snapped. “I can’t recall having taken it.”
“Neither can I,” said George, peering over her cousin’s shoulder. “Why, it looks like that young man, Harold Sand! Nancy, is this some of your work?”
“Maybe.”
“Nancy Drew, we might have guessed why you were so eager to have the pictures developed!” cried Bess, laughing at the joke which had been played. “Why did you take the snapshot?”
“I can’t really say. It was just an impulse, but I’m glad I did it. The picture may be useful later.”
“You can frame it and keep it on your dresser,” teased George, as the three started for home.
Nancy smiled as she studied the picture of Harold Sand.
“Notice anything about this pose?” she asked presently.
“Why, no,” answered George and Bess together.
“I think I do,” replied Nancy mysteriously. “The hands——”
She did not tell her chums what she thought, for just then they arrived at the Purdy home and were told by Manuela that a young man was waiting for them in the patio.
“He looks like Henry Washburn!” Nancy whispered, quickening her step. “Just the person I want to see!”
While on board the Patrician she had given her address to the traveler, little dreaming that he ever would visit her. After greetings were exchanged, Nancy showed Henry the cablegram which she had received from her father.
“I can’t imagine why Mr. Drew would want to get in touch with me,” the young man said in bewilderment.
“Neither can I,” replied Nancy, “unless it concerns your business dealings with the luggage firm.”
“But Mr. Trenton looks after our contracts. I have nothing to do with them.”
“Anyway, it’s important for you to contact my father,” insisted Nancy, refolding the cablegram. “Will you send him a message tonight?”
“I’ll do better than that. I’ll get in touch with him at once by telephone.”
“Oh, that would be fine!” approved Nancy. “You can make the call from here.”
While waiting for connections to be established, the young people hovered near the instrument. Gradually it became apparent to Nancy that Henry Washburn wished to speak with her alone, so she made an excuse for drawing him into the garden.
“I suppose you wonder why I came here tonight,” he said hurriedly after the door had closed behind them. “The truth is, I need your advice.”
“I’m always glad to give that,” laughed Nancy, “though I can’t say how good it is.”
“I—I hardly know how to begin,” he said self-consciously. “You are a good friend of Nestrelda, aren’t you?”
“I like her very much,” said Nancy carefully.
“So do I. Until I met her I was sure I wanted to marry Doris, but now I don’t know. Treldy swept me off my feet—she is such a tempestuous, lovely girl.”
Nancy smiled at the contradiction of terms and waited for him to go on.
“Do you think it would upset everything if I should tell Mr. Trenton I cannot marry Doris?”
Nancy answered frankly, “It would cause difficulties of one kind or another. I am confident of that.”
“But a man has a right to marry the girl he loves!”
“Indeed he has. But are you sure that Treldy is the girl for you? It might be only a passing fancy, you know.”
“I hardly think so,” the young man responded soberly. “My feeling is very sincere.”
“If I were you I would do nothing for a few days,” Nancy advised him. “Give yourself time to think over the problem very carefully.”
Before she could continue, Bess came to the door, crying excitedly that the long distance call had been put through. Henry Washburn hastened to the telephone.
Nancy stood close by as the young man talked with Mr. Drew. She gained no inkling of the conversation, for Henry’s comments were confined to “yes” or “no,” and a few meaningless remarks. However, she noticed how pale his face had become, and his expression grew increasingly grave. At last he handed the phone to the girl so that she might say a few words to her father.
“Hello, Dad,” she said, and was thrilled as his voice came back to her clearly.
“Having a nice time?” he inquired as casually as if he were talking across a room instead of an ocean.
“Wonderful, Dad. I met a friend of yours today, a Mr. Harry Halifax.”
“Never heard of him, Nancy.”
“You’re positive he was never associated with you in any dealings?”
“Of course. Nancy, here’s a bit of news which may interest you. Mrs. Joslin was caught in Boston yesterday for stealing a diamond necklace.”
“She’s been arrested?”
“No, she convinced the jewelers it was a mistake. They let her go!”
“A mistake!” cried Nancy indignantly. “Why, almost the same thing happened in New York. I could tell you——”
“Not over such an expensive telephone,” interrupted her father with an amused chuckle. “Sorry to say good-bye, but tolls mount. Take care of yourself, my dear.”