Chapter 7 The Clue of the Velvet Mask by Carolyn Keene
Strange Numbers
While Mrs. Gruen watched, Nancy ripped out the silk lining of the velvet mask. To her disappointment, nothing had been hidden inside.
“I guess I was wrong,” she admitted ruefully. “I thought jewels or something valuable might have been tucked under the padding.”
“I’ll sew the lining back in,” the housekeeper offered. “Not tonight, though. I’m too sleepy. Just leave the mask beside my sewing machine.”
As Nancy started to fold the lining, she noticed that some numbers were written on the reverse side.
“What’s this?” she wondered aloud. “The number of this mask?”
Carrying it to a brighter light, Nancy studied the numbers. They read: 626 628 71 75.
“What do they mean?” Mrs. Gruen asked.
“I wish I knew,” Nancy replied.
“The ink appears fairly fresh,” Mrs. Gruen remarked. “Not faded as it would be if the cloth were old.”
“The numbers may be a code. I wonder—”
“Better forget the mask tonight and get some sleep,” Mrs. Gruen advised. “It’s late.”
“I’ll go to bed soon,” Nancy promised, stifling a yawn. “I’m sure Dad will call.”
At this moment the telephone rang and Nancy hastened to the hall to answer it. This time it was her father.
“I’m so glad to hear from you. How’s everything?” Nancy asked cheerily.
“Fine on this end. How about you?”
His sleuthing daughter reported her work on the case.
“You haven’t been idle, I can see that,” he praised her.
Nancy then told him of her latest discovery and that the numbers in the mask puzzled her.
“Read them to me,” the lawyer suggested.
After Nancy did so, he said, “Very interesting. They sound like dates.”
“You mean 626 is June twenty-sixth?”
“Yes. And the last one’s the Saturday after the Fourth of July.”
“Oh, Dad, you’re wonderful. That’s probably exactly what they are—dates. Dates for robberies! The woman in the Javanese costume put them in so she wouldn’t forget them, or someone wrote them down before giving her the mask so that she would have a record of them.”
“Nancy, here’s a suggestion. Call the Lightner Entertainment Company in the morning and find out if they coincide with parties they’re arranging. But be discreet in asking questions.”
“I will!” Nancy assured him. “And, Dad, when are you coming home?”
Mr. Drew said that unless something unexpected came up he would return from Amster the following evening.
“We miss you,” she said. “By the way, you’re at the Excelsior, aren’t you?”
As Nancy said good-by, she heard a creaking sound outside the front door. Thinking someone was arriving, she went to open it, but no one was there.
“My imagination, I guess,” she decided, and went up to bed.
Hopeful to have some information for her father by the next evening, Nancy telephoned Linda Seeley at nine o’clock the following morning. Without explaining where she had obtained the dates, she asked if Lightner’s had any parties scheduled for them.
“Yes, we do have for the first two you mentioned,” Linda answered without hesitation. “I know, because I’ve worked on them myself. Wait, I’ll check the others.”
In a moment she returned to say that July first was on their books, but the office had no record of the fourth one.
“Nancy, if you’re still working on the theft, you’d better be wary,” she advised hurriedly. “After what happened last night at the reception and later, I’m getting scared.”
“What happened later? Did something new develop?”
“Rather!”
“Tell me,” Nancy urged.
Still Linda hesitated. “I think someone may be listening on the line,” she finally said in a hushed voice. “Hang up. I’ll call you back.”
Nancy followed instructions. In less than five minutes the telephone rang.
“I’m sorry,” Linda apologized. “Maybe I’m acting silly, but I was sure someone was listening in.”
“You can’t be too careful,” Nancy agreed. “Where are you now?”
“I slipped into the back room. I’m using a private line this time, so we can talk safely.”
“What were you about to tell me, Linda?”
“That our establishment was robbed of costumes and masks last night!”
“No!”
“Mr. Lightner hasn’t reported the theft to the police yet,” Linda went on. “I think that he’s afraid to because of the publicity. Anyhow, he and Mr. Tombar were together a long while in the private office this morning. They had an argument because I could hear them shouting at each other. But the upshot of it was they didn’t report the theft.”
“Tell me what was stolen, Linda.”
“Mr. Tombar has the inventory, but I know some of the articles that are missing. For one thing, the Indian masks from Mr. Lightner’s private office.”
“What else?”
“Two valuable masks kept only for exhibition purposes.”
Nancy asked her to describe them as best she could.
“They’re ancient Greek religious masks,” Linda explained. “Actors in those days used them in theatrical productions. One face represents Joy and the other Sorrow.”
“I’ve seen similar ones in museums,” Nancy replied, jotting down notes about the missing items. “Don’t they have a sort of megaphone arrangement?”
“Yes. The masks have a circular passage for the voice to come through. They were made that way so that the actors’ voices would carry in the big outdoor amphitheaters.”
“What costumes are missing?” Nancy asked. She was trying to figure out if the thief had been after any special types.
“Oh, I can’t tell yet, exactly,” Linda replied. “We’re still checking the wardrobe closets. Several black dominoes are gone, though, and some women’s disguises.”
Nancy wanted to ask more questions, but Linda suddenly warned her that she must end the conversation.
“Mr. Tombar is coming! I hear his voice!” she declared nervously. “He mustn’t find me here at this telephone. I’ll get in touch with you later.”
“Just one thing,” Nancy interposed. “Has a masquerade party been scheduled for any of those dates I told you about?”
“No, only other types of parties,” Linda whispered. “I’ve really got to slip away now. Good-by!”
Hanging up the receiver, Nancy sat at the telephone a moment, absorbed in thought. Why had so many masks and costumes been stolen? Did the thieves intend to sell them, or was it their plan to use the disguises in their own work?
“Mr. Tombar will probably point to this robbery as an excuse to discharge Linda,” she thought.
The girl’s meditation was cut short as she heard Togo, her small terrier, barking excitedly at the window. He had risen up on his hind legs and was scratching at the sill, as if trying to get out.
“Togo, what’s wrong with you?” Nancy demanded.
Her pet almost never barked unless he detected an unfriendly dog near by or thought that someone was trying to break into the house.
Mrs. Gruen already had gone to the window. Nancy joined her, peering into the sunny side yard. They glanced around expectantly, but there was no one in sight.
“Togo, you were really fooled this time,” Nancy scolded him. “No one’s out there.”
The little terrier continued to bark, however, not at all convinced by his mistress’ words. He ran to the front door, jerking his head and scratching frantically with his paws to tell Nancy that he wanted to go out.
“What can be the matter?” she said, frowning. “I’ve never seen him so persistent.”
She ordered her pet to come away from the door and lie down. To her vexation, the usually obedient Togo paid no attention to her command.
By now he was beside himself, and jumped against the door, turning his head beseechingly to Nancy. She started toward the dog, but whirled around at a sharp exclamation from Hannah.
“Togo did sense someone lurking near the window!” the housekeeper declared. “Nancy, I just saw a long, moving shadow fall across the porch.”
Nancy dashed for the door. “Then our house is being watched!” she cried, recalling the sound that she had heard the night before.