Chapter 2 The Clue of the Velvet Mask by Carolyn Keene
A Daring Theft
Nancy and Ned reread the mysterious note several times, trying to figure out its meaning.
“There’s a trellis company in River Heights,” Ned declared thoughtfully. “It’s not called the Eastport, though. And it doesn’t sell window sash or any secondhand lumber.”
“That’s not it, I’m sure, Ned.”
“Maybe the word trellis refers to the one in the garden.”
“Yes, and the trellis is on the east side of the house.”
“Sure! East trellis! But where do we go from there?”
“The man in the black cloak was looking up at the second-floor windows of the library, Ned. Does that suggest anything?”
“A robbery!”
“Right. If we can decipher this note, we may be able to stop it.”
“The code’s beyond me, Nancy.”
“I don’t believe it’s actually in code. But if one drops out certain unessential words—”
“Say, I get it!” Ned broke in. “ ‘East trellis—second window—cash.’ ”
“The second window opens into the library,” Nancy reminded him. “Probably it’s unlocked. This note must mean that there’s plenty of cash or valuables for any thief who climbs that trellis.”
“How do you interpret the second sentence of the message? ‘In case of rain every cloud has a silver lining.’ ”
“That has me puzzled unless—why, that must be it!”
“What, Nancy?”
“In case—silver. The silver miniatures in the glass case!”
“You’ve hit it!” Ned exclaimed. “I’ll bet they intend to pull a job here tonight—at any minute!”
“We’ll have to work fast to stop them. Ned, station yourself at the trellis and keep watch. I’ll rush up to the library and see what’s going on there.”
“Better notify the police.”
“Just as quickly as I can reach the library,” Nancy assured him. “I noticed a telephone there—if the wires haven’t already been cut.”
The two separated. Nancy looked quickly about the ballroom, hoping to see some of her friends, a member of the Hendrick family, or Linda Seeley. But every person who might have aided her seemed to have disappeared. Nancy ran swiftly up the circular stairway which led to the second floor.
The moment was a critical one. In the past, however, the girl detective frequently had been called upon to think fast in an emergency. Because of this unusual ability she was well known and respected in River Heights.
Adored by her many friends, Nancy also was admired for her ability to solve mysteries. Her first case, turned over to her by her father, had been called The Secret of the Old Clock. Since that time Nancy had helped countless persons and faced many dangers for them, her latest adventure being known as The Mystery at the Ski Jump.
Nancy’s mother had died when the girl was very young. Since then, Mrs. Gruen had managed the Drew household. She loved Nancy as her own daughter and worried about the dangerous situations in which the young detective often found herself.
Now, intent only upon preventing a robbery at the Hendrick home, Nancy gave no thought to personal danger. She reached the first landing, beyond view of the ballroom. There she was stopped short. Confronting her was a feminine masquerader in a glittering Javanese costume.
Could she be the woman who was supposed to have worn a black velvet hooded mask? Now she had on a black lace face mask, probably the one that Nancy had lost.
For an instant the two stared at each other. Nancy caught a glimpse of dark, piercing eyes and a cruel mouth. Her observations went no further, for without warning the lights went out.
At that same instant the woman seized Nancy’s wrists in a strong grasp and thrust a hand over the girl’s mouth.
Nancy struggled frantically to free herself. With her hooded mask she was at a disadvantage. She was amazed at the strength of the woman masquerader. The two scuffled on the landing, while in the ballroom below there were calls and cries of alarm.
The woman tried to rip off the hooded mask, but instinct told Nancy to hold onto it. Then as suddenly as she had been seized, the girl was released. The woman in the Javanese costume raced down the stairs and disappeared in the darkness. Recovering her breath, Nancy removed the mask and groped her way up the staircase.
Suddenly the lights went on and Nancy hurried along the hall. Before she could reach the library, a maid came running from it.
“Help! Police!” she screamed. “The house has been robbed!”
Nancy stopped the frightened girl, advising her to be quiet and not start a panic on the crowded floor below.
“Quick!” she urged the maid. “Tell me what happened. Did a thief break into the library?”
“Y-yes. Fifteen minutes ago,” the maid informed her. “Through the window. I had my back turned. Suddenly a hand was clapped over my mouth from behind. My hands were tied quick as a flash. Then a blindfold was slipped over my eyes, and I was gagged.”
“How did you get them off?”
“I managed to free myself just as the lights went on. But everything’s been taken except the wall paintings!”
“The silver miniatures too?”
“Yes, miss—all that could be carried off easily.”
“Which way did the thief go? Down the stairway or out the window?”
“I couldn’t say. He went as quietly as a cat.”
“It was a man? Not a woman in a Javanese costume?”
“She was the lookout, I think. Before I was grabbed I saw her wandering around on the second floor.”
From the maid’s account, Nancy knew that the daring robbery had been well planned. Undoubtedly the masquerader who had seized her on the landing had been stationed there to see that the real thief made a successful getaway.
Shutting off the lights had served a good purpose. Under cover of darkness, the thieves had escaped!
Though convinced that it was already too late to capture any member of the bold gang, Nancy raced downstairs. Reaching the garden, she called Ned’s name. His answering shout informed her that he still remained on guard at the trellis.
“What happened?” he demanded as she ran up. “I saw the lights go off.”
“The house has been robbed!”
“Not the library?”
“Yes, and the thief must have escaped through the window.”
“No one has come down the trellis since I’ve been here.”
“Then either he got away before you went on guard or he slipped out of the house while the lights were off,” Nancy declared, and then added, “What’s this?”
She stared at a tiny piece of cloth which had snagged on a protruding nail in the trellis.
“It must have been torn from that man’s cloak!” Nancy exclaimed as she removed it. “Ned, it’s a good clue. Come on. Let’s see if that man who danced with me is still around.”
Re-entering the house, Nancy and Ned looked for him, but he was not among the guests who now had removed their masks. The couple learned that the police had been summoned by Linda Seeley. The girl was deeply distressed, fearful that the Hendrick family, despite her warning to them, might blame her for what had taken place.
“I was afraid that this very thing would happen!” she moaned. “If only a closer check had been made of the guests!”
Nancy and Ned instigated a search of both the house and grounds, but as they had expected, no trace was found of the woman in Javanese garb or the man in the black robe. An empty parking space near the entrance to the grounds indicated that they had probably left by automobile.
The scream of a siren announced the arrival of a police car. Detectives inspected the library, ascertaining that the thief had entered through the second-story window. From information provided by Nancy and the maid, it was deduced that the man had been aided by at least two others inside the house—probably the woman in the Javanese costume and someone who turned off the lights.
All guests were subjected to a thorough questioning. The officers listened attentively when Nancy and Ned told their story and showed the note, the piece of cloth, and the velvet mask.
“You’re Miss Nancy Drew, the girl detective, aren’t you?” asked one of them.
“Yes, Lieutenant Kelly,” she replied.
“Well, we’re certainly obliged to you for this evidence,” he said, examining the articles. “You say that man you danced with had on a mask like this one?”
“Yes. And, Lieutenant Kelly, would you mind letting me take the mask home? I’d like to show it to my father. He said that I might run into one of the party thieves tonight. I’ll bring the mask to headquarters any time you want it.”
Kelly thought a moment. “I guess it’s all right, Miss Drew. Maybe you’ll figure out a clue from it,” he complimented her. “I’ll phone you when we need it.”
In the meantime his assistant, Detective Ambrose, a brusque young policeman, had sought out Linda Seeley and was bringing her to the group.
“You’re in charge of this party?” he was saying gruffly.
“Yes, officer,” Linda replied meekly. “That is, I am in the absence of Mr. Tombar. At the last minute he had other business to attend to, so he asked me to substitute here for him.”
The detective shot rapid-fire questions at the frightened girl. Who was Mr. Tombar? What company had arranged the party? What precautions had been taken to guard the valuables? Why hadn’t invitations been checked more carefully?
Feeling that the detectives were trying to blame her, Linda answered hesitantly. The questions became more pointed. Suddenly Ambrose said:
“You’d better come along to headquarters.”
“You’re accusing me?” Linda gasped. “On what grounds?”
“You’ll find out. Just follow me,” Ambrose ordered.
Bursting into tears, the girl ran to Nancy.
“Don’t let them take me to jail,” she pleaded, clinging to her friend.
Mrs. Hendrick moved forward. “Why, this is dreadful!” she said. “Do you have to arrest her, officer?”
“Sorry, but I must do it.”
“I swear I had absolutely nothing to do with the robbery!” Linda cried out. “Oh, Nancy, you’ve got to help me!”