Chapter 22 The Mystery of the Brass Bound Trunk by Carolyn Keene
Nancy’s Disappearance
At the Purdy home George and Bess became increasingly alarmed over their chum’s prolonged absence. When the dinner hour approached and still she did not come, they were convinced something had happened to her.
“If Nancy had been delayed and nothing else she would have telephoned,” reasoned Bess. “She never would allow us to worry this way.”
Mrs. Purdy shared the girls’ uneasiness. Upon learning the purpose of Nancy’s visit to the luggage shop, she insisted upon motoring there at once.
“The place is closed, as I expected,” Bess said to the others as they came in sight of the sign above the door. “Nancy can’t be here.”
“We must notify the police,” decided the girls’ companion. “I am responsible for Nancy, and if anything should happen to her I never would forgive myself.”
Officials were consulted immediately and provided with a description of the missing girl. There was nothing that could be done so Mrs. Purdy, George and Bess returned home to wait and hope.
The night wore on slowly. For Nancy’s friends there could be no sleep. Mrs. Purdy made a pot of strong coffee. George walked the floor. Bess spent the time crying and running to the door hopefully whenever a car came down the road.
“It’s four o’clock,” she said finally, going to a window for the hundredth time. “The sun will be up soon. What will we do if the police can’t——”
She stopped talking, for just then a taxi drew up at the house. George and Mrs. Purdy joined Bess at the window.
“It’s Nancy!” they cried together.
There was a concerted rush for the door. The next moment Nancy, weary and disheveled, was clasped in loving arms.
“Oh, where have you been all this time?” Bess demanded accusingly. “We’ve been so terribly worried.”
“I managed to get into all that trouble you warned me against. Here I am, though, safe and sound, but terribly tired.”
While Nancy bathed, changed her clothes, and ate breakfast, she related how she had happened to be locked in the luggage shop.
“How did you finally get out?” asked George.
“I was just going toward the door when I heard a noise. I thought someone was after me. I must have fainted just then—that blow on my head was probably worse than I thought. I came to about three o’clock, lying on the floor where I’d fallen. Pretty soon I caught sight of the watchman. I scratched on the door like an animal does who is trying to get out. He came to investigate and opened the door.”
“Did he ask you many questions?” inquired Bess.
Nancy chuckled softly. “He didn’t see me. When he went into the building to find the animal, I slipped out the door.”
“You must have had a dreadful time until you escaped,” Mrs. Purdy murmured sympathetically.
After the woman had left, Nancy took her chums outside and gave them further news.
“My evening wasn’t very pleasant, I admit. Now that it’s over, I’m really glad it all happened.”
“You’re glad!” exclaimed Bess incredulously.
“Yes. I didn’t find my trunk but I have a good idea where it is.”
“Where?”
“Girls, do you remember that day in the telegraph office when Mr. Joslin sent a cable to someone?”
“Yes,” nodded Bess, “only at the time we didn’t know who he was. The message had your name in it and the day of your sailing. ‘Drew La Plata Saturday.’ ”
“Then later in New York,” Nancy reminded her chums, “I saw Mr. Joslin again. He was sending another message which made use of the words Lopes and Imperio.”
Bess leaned across the table. “Then you believe Nestrelda’s stepfather has some connection with Halifax and Lopes.”
“I do.”
“Where does Imperio come in?” asked George, puzzled. “That clue doesn’t fit.”
Nancy went to the telephone desk and picked up the directory. Turning to the I’s, she scanned the list of names until she came to the one she sought.
“Here it is. The Hotel Imperio. Now, unless my reasoning is all wrong, we’ll find Mr. Lopes and possibly Mr. Halifax living at this address. It came to me suddenly that the men would have my trunk at their hotel. I’m going there at once to find out.”
“Wouldn’t it be wiser to notify the police?” Bess suggested nervously.
“I haven’t enough proof to turn the case over to them.”
“At least you must not go alone,” said George. “Bess and I will tag along and see that you don’t get into mischief!”
Shortly after nine o’clock Nancy and her chums reached the hotel and talked with a clerk who spoke English. At mention of Mr. Halifax’s name the man shook his head.
“No one here by that name.”
“Dear me, did I say Halifax?” said Nancy, correcting herself. “I meant to ask if Mr. Lopes has a room here. They are partners, you know.”
“Lopes? Yes, we have a man here by that name. But he is out of the city for a few days.”
This news pleased Nancy, but she pretended otherwise.
“Oh, how disappointing! Mr. Lopes is keeping a trunk for me, and I must get into it. I can’t possibly wait until he returns.”
“What else can you do, Miss?”
“Couldn’t you let me into the room?” Nancy pleaded in her most beguiling way. “You must have a master key.”
“We do have one, but Mr. Lopes left no orders about a trunk.”
“He must have forgotten then—so careless of him. In case you doubt me I can describe the trunk.”
“What is it like?”
“It is steamer size, brass bound, and has my initials, N. D., also in brass. Please, as a special favor to me will you see if it is in the room?”
The clerk found Nancy’s smile hard to resist.
“I don’t remember that any such trunk came into the hotel,” he answered, frowning. “This is hardly regular, but I’ll look in 369 and see if it is there.”
The man took a key from the hook and went upstairs. Ten minutes later he returned with the information that the trunk which Nancy sought was in Mr. Lopes’s room.
“It will take me only a moment to get what I need,” said Nancy in a wheedling tone. “I’ll bring the key back again.”
“I have no authority—” the clerk began, but his resistance weakened. “Oh, all right, take it. I hope I won’t be blamed.”
“I’ll explain everything to Mr. Lopes when I see him,” said Nancy. “I am sure he will understand.”
The man’s suite on the third floor was one of the most luxurious in the hotel. Heavy carpets padded the floor of the three rooms; the furniture was expensive and new.
“What a glamorous place!” murmured Bess in awe. She moved across the room to peer into the bathroom, an ultra modern study in glass and colored tile.
Nancy led the way to the bedroom. As she opened the door, her gaze immediately fell upon the brass bound trunk.
“It’s mine, all right,” she declared triumphantly.
“Let’s call the police,” suggested George.
Nancy shook her head. “I have other plans,” she stated mysteriously.
The trunk had been left unlocked, and the lid lifted readily. At first glance Nancy thought that none of her belongings had been touched, but as she looked carefully, she decided that a number of garments had been repacked.
“Does that red scarf belong to you?” questioned Bess, pointing to an article on the top shelf.
“Yes, I bought it in River Heights just before I packed,” responded Nancy.
She reached for the scarf. As she lifted it up, a hard object dropped from it onto the carpet.
“A bracelet!” exclaimed George, stooping to retrieve it. “How careless you are with your jewelry, Nancy.”
“That bracelet doesn’t belong to me,” said Nancy quietly. “I never saw it before in my life.”
“Then where did it come from?” gasped Bess. “Could Mr. Lopes have put it in your trunk?”
“He must have.”
“How could he have unlocked the trunk?” asked George in bewilderment.
“A skeleton key, no doubt.” Nancy took the trinket from Bess and examined it closely. “This looks like a valuable piece of jewelry to me. The red stones may be rubies, and the sparkling ones are diamonds.”
“Take it for evidence and let’s get out of here,” George said uneasily.
“I shouldn’t care to have this bracelet in my possession.”
“You believe it is stolen?”
“That’s my guess, George. I’m leaving it exactly where I found it.”
Nancy quickly replaced the piece of jewelry under the scarf and closed the trunk. The girls then left the suite, returning the key to the desk clerk.
“Now what is our next move?” asked Bess as Nancy hailed a passing cab.
“We’re going back to Mrs. Purdy’s. I want to look at Treldy’s trunk once more.”
Bess and George could not figure out what Nancy hoped to find. They reminded her that a careful search already had been made.
“We may not have looked closely enough,” insisted the Drew girl. “For Treldy’s sake I trust everything will be all right.”
When they reached the house, the girls learned from Mrs. Purdy that during their absence Mrs. Trenton had telephoned. She had left her address and requested that Nancy call her if convenient.
“Perhaps you should contact her at once,” suggested her hostess.
“I will,” Nancy promised. “I’ve wanted to get in touch with her for several days.”
Upon phoning Mrs. Trenton at the hotel where she was staying, she inquired casually about Doris. The woman hesitated, then offered the information that her daughter had gone away for a visit with friends.
“I wish you would give her a message when she returns,” said Nancy evenly. “Tell her I saw Henry Washburn last night. He has been called back to the United States unexpectedly.”
“Called home?” Mrs. Trenton echoed in a half frightened voice. “I wonder why?”
“I don’t know all the details. I believe it was some matter relating to his father’s estate.”
Mrs. Trenton’s voice held an unsteady tone as she thanked Nancy for the information. After urging her to come for a visit at the earliest possible moment, she hung up the receiver.
“Mrs. Trenton was deeply disturbed to hear that Henry had started for America,” Nancy reported to her chums. “Evidently he didn’t tell Doris he was leaving.”
Closeting themselves in their bedroom, the girls once more examined Nestrelda’s trunk, hoping to find some clue that had been overlooked previously. The search was as fruitless as the first one had been.
“What are you looking for, Nancy?” questioned George. “Do you think Treldy might have hidden some jewelry in her trunk too?”
Nancy did not reply, for at that moment there came a light tap on the door. Before she could open it the maid peered in.
“He’s here now,” Manuela whispered.
“Who is here?” inquired Nancy patiently.
“Senor Sand. You have been asking for him every day.”
“So I have,” agreed Nancy, laughing. “Well, thank you for telling me.”
“You’ll find him in his room,” the maid added as she slipped out the door.
“What would we be doing with Mr. Harold Sand?” chuckled Bess when they were alone again. “He’s just another mystery.”
Nancy closed down Nestrelda’s trunk and arose to her feet.
“You’re wrong this time, Bess,” she said dramatically. “Follow me, and I’ll prove the truth of my words!”