Chapter 1 The Clue of the Velvet Mask by Carolyn Keene
A Suspicious Masquerader
“You look lovely, Nancy, and very mysterious,” said Hannah Gruen, housekeeper for the Drew family, as she smiled fondly at the slender, blue eyed girl.
Nancy had just finished dressing for a masquerade party, which she was attending with Ned Nickerson. Costumed as a Spanish señorita, she wore a red gown with a long sweeping skirt and a black lace mantilla.
Peering at herself in the full-length mirror, Nancy straightened a black wig which covered her naturally wavy, golden hair. Her friendly blue eyes peered mischievously above a fetching black lace mask.
“Thank you, Hannah,” she remarked, and added gaily, “that’s just the way I feel—almost as if something exciting might happen at the party tonight!”
“Oh, no!” exclaimed the housekeeper. Sighing, she added, “But I know those hunches of yours.”
At this moment tall, handsome Carson Drew, Nancy’s father, walked into the living room and sat down in his favorite chair. “You look very bewitching,” he said. “But don’t let some black-eyed villain creep into the evening.”
Nancy laughed. “I make no promises.”
Actually, Mr. Drew was very proud of the many baffling mysteries Nancy had solved. He was proud, too, of her quick mind and striking beauty. Never had she appeared more lovely than on this June night as she stood in the lamp’s glow, gazing mischievously at him over her huge black fan.
“There’ll never be too many mysteries for me,” Nancy declared. Dropping the fan into her father’s lap, she put on a pair of gold hoop earrings.
“Ah! Now you’re really a siren,” Mr. Drew joked. “By the way, where is Ned?”
Ned Nickerson was a college student, who dated her now and then.
“He’d better get here soon or you’ll both be late.”
It was now eight thirty. Ned was to have called at eight o’clock to don a costume Nancy had rented for him from the Lightner Entertainment Company.
The masquerade party was to be held at the Hendrick estate. Gloria Hendrick had been one of Nancy’s school friends and had requested that everyone come early.
As Nancy glanced anxiously at the clock, the doorbell rang. “There he is now!” she exclaimed.
Nancy ran to open the door, and greeted the good-looking college football player with a sweeping curtsy.
“Wow!” he exclaimed with a quick intake of breath. “You’re dynamite, Nancy! What a getup! And I’m sorry to be late. I had to drive Dad and Mother to the theater. Wish they could have seen you first, though.”
“Never mind the compliments.” Nancy laughed, pulling Ned into the living room. “I have a costume for you. Please put it on quickly.”
“Not so fast! Do I have to go in fancy clothes?”
“You’ll like the outfit. Linda Seeley selected it personally.”
“Who’s Linda?” Ned demanded suspiciously.
“We used to go to school together. She now works at the Lightner Entertainment Company.”
Nancy produced a large cardboard box. Opening it ceremoniously, she spread out an eighteenth-century Spanish grandee’s costume.
“Isn’t it handsome, Ned? A plumed hat and high-heeled boots! A white neck ruff, too, and lace cuffs!”
Ned gave an indignant snort. “You expect me to wear that?”
“You’ll make such a distinguished-looking Spanish grandee,” Nancy coaxed. “Please, Ned.”
“Oh, all right, since you’re such a pretty Spanish lady,” Ned acquiesced with a grin. “Those trousers look skimpy, though.”
“I’ll help pour you into them,” Mr. Drew offered.
The two retired to an upstairs bedroom. During the next ten minutes weird sounds filtered down to Nancy and Mrs. Gruen. They were certain that the costume would be ripped to shreds before Ned’s muscular body could be encased in it.
But presently he appeared on the stairway landing. Assuming a theatrical pose, he asked, “How do I look, Nancy?”
“Oh, wonderful! The costume fits perfectly.”
Self-conscious, Ned came down the stairs to help Nancy with her cloak. Mr. Drew walked with them to Ned’s car which was parked in front of the house.
“If Nancy makes you help solve a mystery, Ned, be careful of those rented clothes,” the lawyer said jokingly.
Ned promised, saying he hoped something exciting would turn up.
“It may at that,” Mr. Drew replied. “Keep your eyes open at the party.”
Nancy glanced quickly at her father. “Why, Dad, you sound as if you thought something might go wrong! Have you some information you’re keeping to yourself?”
“Possibly.”
“Then tell us! Why all the mystery?”
“If you’ve been reading the papers, you know that one or more clever thieves have been attending parties given by wealthy people living around River Heights. Thousands of dollars in gems and other valuables have been stolen from their homes.”
“You think he may show up at Gloria’s party?” Nancy gasped.
“Well, it would be a likely place. I have no direct tip, Nancy. I’m merely advising you and Ned to be on the alert.”
Nancy was intrigued. “Who knows?” she mused. “We may even capture this thief if he should be present this evening.”
“The leader is an unusually smooth crook,” the lawyer went on. “He’s been eluding the police for months.”
Nancy would have plied her father with further questions if it had not been so late. Assuring him that they would be on the lookout for any troublemakers, she and Ned drove directly to the Hendricks’ home.
The gala affair was in full swing when they arrived. Dancers filled the ballroom which blazed with light from the crystal chandeliers overhead.
“I don’t recognize anyone,” Nancy declared as they watched the masqueraders.
A short-skirted ballerina and her escort in a minstrel suit danced near by, doing intricate Charleston steps. Pierrot and Pierette sailed past, then a wooden soldier and china doll. Among the more unusual characters were Harlequin and Punchinello, the latter with a realistically humped back.
Presently Ned and Nancy were recognized by two of their closest friends. Bess Marvin, a plump, jolly girl, was dressed as a southern belle. Another girl, George Fayne, who was her cousin, rushed over to greet them. With her short haircut and slim figure, George could fool anyone in her disguise as a boy.
“Hi!” she exclaimed enthusiastically. “It’s a wonderful party, but the dance floor is packed.”
“Any villains here?” Nancy asked, and told her friends of her father’s warning.
“Oh, how dreadful!” Bess exclaimed as her escort, Dave Evans, came up.
“If there are any villains here, they’re masked,” said George. “Just the right kind of night for a mystery, too.”
“Oh, stop it,” Bess begged, and offered to show Nancy and Ned where the checkrooms were. She and George led the way upstairs, together with George’s escort, Burt Eddleton, and Dave. After they had left their wraps, Nancy suggested pausing a moment in the second-floor library to look at the art treasures.
Although small, the room contained many rare paintings, antique vases, and a priceless collection of miniatures in a glass case. Some were solid-silver figurines, others portraits painted on porcelain. One of these, a likeness of Marie Antoinette, was especially attractive. Nancy noticed that the case was not locked.
“This is just making it easy for a thief,” she remarked.
“Not so loud or you’ll have a detective at our heels,” Ned cautioned.
“I doubt that there’s one in the place,” George replied. “Gloria’s parents never seem to worry about their valuables.”
“Oh, let’s forget about robberies,” Bess pleaded. “This is supposed to be a gay party.”
“Right-o,” approved Ned, seizing Nancy’s hand. “Let’s dance.”
For the next half hour the young people had a wonderful time. The music was superb and Nancy forgot everything but Ned’s expert leading. After a samba which left her rather breathless, she saw Linda Seeley standing near the refreshment table. The girl was not in costume, and obviously had attended the party as an employee of the Lightner Entertainment Company. Nancy took Ned over and both lifted their masks.
“Oh, hello, Nancy,” Linda greeted her. “Did you approve of the costumes I sent out?”
“Perfect. The party’s lovely, too.” Nancy introduced Ned.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it, because I planned the party—or rather my company did. I wouldn’t be here tonight except that my boss, Mr. Tombar, couldn’t come at the last minute. I do so hope everything goes all right.”
“Of course it will.”
“The truth is, we didn’t plan on so many people.”
“Crashers?” Ned asked.
“I’m afraid so. We warned the family to be careful about admitting only guests who could present invitations, but they didn’t want anyone checked at the door.”
As the night wore on, the ballroom became very warm. Seeking the cool air outside, Nancy and Ned sat awhile on a garden bench. Then they decided to dance again. As they arose, Nancy searched in vain for her mask.
“I must have dropped it somewhere on the path,” she declared.
Quickly they retraced their steps. The mask was nowhere in sight. As they continued to look for it they heard footsteps on the shadowy, gravel path.
A tall man dressed in a flowing, black broadcloth cloak appeared. As his back was turned to them, he did not notice the watching couple.
The man, who was unmasked, paused to examine a rose trellis which extended from the ground to the second story of the house. He put his left foot on it and reached up with his right arm.
“What’s he up to?” Ned muttered.
The masquerader must have heard the question, for he stepped down quickly. Even then, Ned and Nancy did not see his face. Abruptly the man scooted down the path and hastened back to the house.
“Ned, do you suppose he intended to climb the trellis to the library?” Nancy asked.
“It would make a handy ladder.” The young man strode over to inspect it.
At the base he picked up a black velvet hooded mask. Ned thought that the man in the black cloak might have dropped it.
“Since you can’t find your mask, Nancy, try this one for size,” he suggested.
Normally, Nancy would have done no such thing. But instinct told her that she might be on the trail of the mysterious party thief!
“I’ll wear the hood until we see the man in the black cloak,” she agreed.
Returning to the ballroom, she and Ned found the floor even more crowded. In vain, Nancy looked about for the mysterious stranger. Then, unexpectedly, he cut in on Ned!
But now he wore a mask exactly like the one Nancy had on! Before Ned could recover from his surprise, the stranger waltzed away with Nancy.
“I had a deuce of a time finding you in this crowd,” he scolded irritably. “Why didn’t you wear the Oriental costume you said you would? If it weren’t for the mask, I never would have recognized you.”
Nancy remained silent, but her heart was thumping. Someone in an Oriental costume must have dropped the mask Nancy was wearing.
“You nearly wrecked our plan, stupid!” the man went on. “Can’t you ever learn to obey orders?”
The dancer in the black cloak now saw Ned coming to reclaim his partner.
“Here comes that pest again,” he muttered. “Get rid of him as soon as you can.”
A moment before Ned tapped him on the shoulder, the man thrust a note into Nancy’s hand. She managed to hide her astonishment as they danced away, but once beyond the man’s view, Nancy paused beside a cluster of palms. Tersely she explained to Ned what had happened.
“I’m sure that man is the party thief. He mistook me for someone else because of this hooded mask.”
She unfolded the message which had been thrust into her hand and read it in an undertone.
“ ‘Eastport Trellis Company offers secondhand window sash on cash terms. In case of rain every cloud has a silver lining.’ ”
“It must be a hoax, Nancy!”
“I don’t think so,” she replied soberly. “No, Ned, this message is in code. We must decipher it! The safety of the Hendricks—and everyone here—may depend on what we find out!”