Chapter 14 The Mystery at the Ski Jump by Carolyn Keene
Flashing Skates
Nancy dashed down the broad stairs of the ice arena two at a time. A sign indicated that the dressing rooms were to the left. But as she headed in their direction, a uniformed attendant blocked her path.
“Not so fast, young lady! Nobody’s permitted back there but the skaters.”
“But I’m Nancy Drew!” In a flash of inspiration she showed him her driver’s license.
The man looked at the name “Nancy Drew” and stepped aside. “I don’t understand. I thought Miss Drew came in before,” he said in confusion. “You’ll find your room straight ahead. Look for your name.”
The corridor was crowded with men and women skaters in colorful costumes. Nancy wandered hastily among the performers. She studied the face of each woman in the hope that she might recognize Mitzi Channing. But Mitzi was not there.
Suddenly an eager voice at her elbow asked, “Nancy! Are you looking for me?”
She turned to see Chuck Wilson, very dashing in a black-and-red pirate’s suit.
“Oh, no, Chuck, I wasn’t looking for you. That is, not exactly,” Nancy said.
“Say, what’s this about your entering the skating contest?” Chuck asked. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It’s all a mistake,” Nancy answered. “I’ll explain later, Chuck. There’s no time now.”
“Very well. Just as you say.”
Nancy edged quietly past the dressing rooms until she came to the one with her name on it. Tensely, she raised a hand and knocked. There was no response. Nancy took a deep breath. She turned the knob and entered, closing the door behind her.
The dressing room was empty!
The young detective felt sick with disappointment. To be so near Mitzi Channing, and then to lose her again!
Nancy made a quick survey of the room and everything she saw confirmed her suspicions. Mitzi Channing had been here and very recently. The scent of her unusual perfume was thick in the air. And a hairbrush and bits of make-up lay scattered on the dressing table.
On a chair was the costume which Mitzi evidently intended to wear in the waltz number. It was a white satin dress with a short ballet skirt and a pair of white skating shoes.
Apparently something had scared the woman away. Who could have warned her? Had she seen Nancy come into the auditorium?
The girl returned thoughtfully to the crowded corridor and began to question the skaters waiting here. No one recalled seeing a woman who resembled Mitzi Adele.
Chuck Wilson came over to Nancy. “I have a solo part in the first number,” he told her. “I’d like to have you see it. Why don’t you go back and watch? There’s plenty of time for you to get into your costume. Your number isn’t on for forty minutes.”
“I’m not going to skate,” Nancy answered, “because I’m not the girl who signed up for that Skaters’ Waltz.”
“What!”
“It’s a long story, Chuck, but you can do me a favor and answer two questions.”
“Okay, if it’ll help.”
“First, did you speak about me to anyone here? I mean after that announcement on the loud-speaker.”
Chuck looked embarrassed. “Well, maybe I did mention to some of the performers that I know you,” he admitted. “And I said that you were with your father in the auditorium.”
“Where were you standing while you were talking?” Nancy asked. “Anywhere near the door of the room with my name on it?”
“W-why, yes, we were,” Chuck replied. “Say, will you tell me what all the mystery is about? I have a right to an explanation.”
“Please, Chuck, not with all these people around.” To herself Nancy said, “So that’s how Mitzi found out I’m here! She knew she didn’t dare skate under my name after finding out I was here.”
“Is Miss Drew here? . . . Miss Nancy Drew?”
The speaker was a short, plump man with a carefully waxed mustache. He stood in the center of the corridor, looking extremely upset.
“That’s Mr. Dubois, the manager of this show,” Chuck whispered.
“I can give you some information about her,” Nancy volunteered.
The man motioned her and Chuck into a room and closed the door behind him. “Speak up quickly, mademoiselle,” he urged. “In thirty minutes this skater from the United States must perform. And now I can find her nowhere!”
“I don’t think you will find her,” Nancy said calmly. “I’m sure she has left. That woman isn’t Nancy Drew at all. That’s my name. This other woman is wanted by the police and was using my name. She’s Mitzi Channing.”
The manager threw his hands in the air. “Nancy! Mitzi! Police! What does it matter to me?” he wailed. “I have a show to put on. She was magnificent.”
“Then you know her?” Nancy asked eagerly.
“Yes. No. Listen, girl, don’t you accuse me of having anything to do with a criminal.”
“I’m not accusing you of anything,” Nancy replied quickly. “But surely you want to help catch a thief. Please tell me what you know about the skater who ran away.”
Mr. Dubois calmed down. He could tell little about the woman, but his description identified her as Mitzi Channing. She and a man had walked into the office during the afternoon and asked for a tryout. From Mr. Dubois’ account Nancy was sure she had not heard of the man, who had given his name as Smith.
“They were excellent skaters,” the manager said, “so I gave them permission to waltz. Funny thing, the woman wouldn’t allow her partner’s name to be announced.”
“I can understand that,” Nancy mused. “Thank you for the information.”
A bell sounded. Mr. Dubois and Chuck hurried out, for the show was to begin. Nancy went to a telephone and called the police, alerting them about the Channings and their confederates.
Back in the auditorium, Mr. Drew became more and more anxious as the program continued, and Nancy failed to return. Once, he even considered leaving his seat and going in search of his daughter. But he decided against this.
The lawyer knew that she worked fast when on a mystery case, and he trusted her to act intelligently and keep a level head.
He had assumed that the late entry in the waltz number would be scratched. The lawyer was amazed, therefore, when a second announcement was made that Miss Nancy Drew from the United States would skate next. Her partner would be Charles Wilson.
“Why, that’s Chuck!” Mr. Drew gasped, completely perplexed.
He blinked unbelievingly as his client, in close-fitting black slacks and an open-necked white satin shirt, glided out gracefully on the ice. The band had swung into the melodious strains of a waltz. With him was a golden-haired girl in a white satin ballet costume. Mr. Drew’s eyes widened in even greater astonishment.
His daughter!
The two skaters danced together in perfect unison, and then spun off on separate tangents. While Nancy executed some simple steps, her partner jumped and whirled in perfect timing with the music.
All this time Nancy’s eyes had been roaming among the spectators, because half an hour before, while Chuck was skating his first number, she had conceived a daring plan. When he returned to the corridor, Nancy had congratulated him, then asked:
“Do you think I danced that waltz well enough with you last night to try it on skates?”
“Why, sure. You’re super,” Chuck replied. “What’s on your mind?”
“There’s not enough time to tell the whole story,” Nancy said, “but I’d like to take the place of that woman who called herself Nancy Drew.”
The girl detective, on a sudden impulse, had figured that by doing this she might get a clue to the runaway skater. One or more of Mitzi’s friends might be in the auditorium. Not knowing of her disappearance, they would have stayed.
“When I come on,” Nancy thought, “the change will be noticed. One of Mitzi’s friends may reveal himself. I’ll notify the building police to hold for questioning anyone who tries to leave the building before the show ends.”
Turning to Chuck, she said, “Will you skate with me if Mr. Dubois will let me, and if I can borrow a costume and skates?”
“You bet I will.” He grinned. “And we’ll probably get a prize.”
“Oh, no,” Nancy said quickly. “I don’t skate that well. I—I just want to prove something.”
She pleaded with him not to try anything tricky. She would leave the fancy steps to him.
“You’re to put on the show,” she said. “While everyone’s watching you, I’ll be doing a little detective work.”
“Detective work?” Chuck asked, puzzled. After she had explained her idea to him, he said, “I see. Okay. Request granted.” Then he made a face. “I was hoping you just wanted to skate with me.”
“I do,” Nancy said quickly. “But to tell you the truth, I’m scared to death.”
“Nothing to be afraid of,” Chuck said cheerily.
Mr. Dubois had been co-operative. Chuck had assured him Nancy was both a good dancer and a good skater. The manager had introduced Nancy to a girl her age and size. Willingly the girl had offered to lend Nancy her skates and an extra costume she had with her.
Despite Chuck’s words of encouragement, Nancy’s heart had pounded with fright when the loud-speaker had announced their number. But gradually, with Chuck’s confident voice guiding her, she had lost her nervousness.
Now, as he glided toward her, and the waltz on skates was about to end, he grabbed Nancy’s wrists, swept her from her feet, and spun round and round in a grand finale. When the music blared the last note, he set her down, saying:
“Good girl! Take a bow!”
Nancy was a bit dizzy, but she obeyed. Applause rang in her ears.
As her vision cleared, she noted that a tall, heavy-set man had risen from his seat and was hurrying toward an exit. R. I. Channing, Nancy thought! She turned excitedly to her skating partner.
“Come on, Chuck,” she urged. “Let’s get back to the dressing rooms quickly. I think the mystery is about to be solved!”