The Clue in the Jewel Box Page 7

  “You guessed it,” Ned answered shortly.

  “How about taking me along?”

  “The boats are filled now. Otherwise—” Dave started to say.

  “Oh, you can make room for me,” Michael insisted, jumping aboard and squeezing in between Nancy and Bess.

  The dog also leaped into the craft. Before he could be made to lie down, he had put his dirty paws on Bess’s beige slacks, soiling them badly.

  “Oh!” she cried out.

  “Hey, pitch that beast out on the dock!” Ned ordered. “We’re not going to take him.”

  Nancy was concerned that Mrs. Alexandra might be hurt if the prince told her about the boys’ attitude. She nudged Ned, and he became silent. She now presented Michael to the group, being careful not to reveal the identity of Mrs. Alexandra.

  “Why don’t you tell your friends I’m really Prince Michael?” he urged. “It’s not everybody who has a queen for a grandmother.”

  Those in the group who did not know the story looked at him in amusement. They thought he was joking, and Nancy made no comment.

  “How did you know about our picnic?” she asked quietly.

  “I didn’t,” he said with a grin. “I just happened to be walking my dog down here. Lucky, wasn’t it?” No one replied.

  As they edged away from the dock, a sleek speedboat cruised past. Beside its driver, who was a sad-faced young man, sat a little boy. Michael ducked low.

  “Is he afraid of being seen by that other man?” Nancy asked herself.

  As the trip proceeded, Bess, Ned, and their friends paid little attention to Michael. They had started singing. Nancy, crowded by the dog, presently climbed over the seat, and perched herself on the afterdeck of the boat.

  “Lots of room back here!” she shouted.

  The others continued to sing and did not join her. She became interested in watching the speedboat, which was about to pass them again.

  It was not until the channel buoy had been rounded that Bess glanced over her shoulder. Then she screamed.

  “Stop the boat, Ned! Quickly! Nancy’s gone! She must have fallen overboard!

  Ned swung the motorboat in a wide arc, while the worried young people looked across the water. They saw a figure swimming some distance away.

  “It’s Nancy!” cried Bess, pointing. “She’s holding up a little boy!”

  Another boat also was speeding toward the scene. Ned, however, was the first to reach Nancy. Many hands pulled her and the little boy aboard. Immediately he began to cry.

  “You’re all right,” Nancy said, putting her arms around him and hugging him dose to her.

  Between sobs the boy said, “Mr. Ellington’s going to scold me for falling off his boat.”

  Both Nancy and Ned hastened to console the boy. “Oh no! He knows it was just an accident that could happen to anybody.”

  “Look, here is your boat now,” Nancy said as it drew alongside.

  “That’s Mr. Ellington,” the boy said, pointing to the handsome man at the wheeL

  The man looked frightened as he realized by what a narrow margin a tragedy had been averted.

  “You had him before I knew he was overboard,” he said shakily. “If anything had happened to Buddy Farrell, I couldn’t have faced his parents,” he declared. “He’s the son of the superintendent of the apartment house where I live.”

  Buddy was handed over to Mr. Ellington. As the two boats separated, Nancy remarked that the sad-faced young man seemed very nice.

  “Too stiff to suit me,” cut in MichaeL

  “Mr. Ellington is a talented commercial artist,” said Katherine. “I see some of his drawings at an exhibit. He sell them, I think, to magazines. Helen say he will be at the fashion show, and I must make impression on him!”

  “What is his first name?” Nancy asked.

  “I do not know. He sign all his drawings R. H. Ellington.”

  Star Island soon came into view, and the boat was tied to a dock near a sandy beach. Helen and Jim’s group already had arrived. All the young men except Michael offered to carry the picnic hampers to a spot among the trees.

  Nancy introduced Michael to the others, then said, “Let’s go for a swim!”

  “The prince will have a chance to show us his skill,” Ned added.

  Michael smiled in a superior way. “Sorry, I didn’t bring swim trunks.”

  “I’ll let you have mine,” Jim offered. “We’re about the same size.”

  “No, thank you,” the young man declined. “I never wear anybody else’s clothing.”

  The others felt certain that he was giving these lame excuses because he was a poor swimmer. While they dived and raced in a sheltered cove, he amused himself by throwing sticks into the water for his dog to retrieve.

  “Can’t you play that little game somewhere else?” Ned demanded crossly.

  “So sorry,” Michael replied, but he kept on throwing sticks in the swimming area.

  “I’ve had my fill of that guy!” Ned muttered.

  “So have I,” added Bob Dutton.

  Out of earshot of Nancy they formed a plan to be put into effect if Michael should annoy them any more. The young people decided to dress. Nancy’s clothing had dried.

  The girls were ready first and began to set out the lunch. Michael took several sandwiches for his dog without asking permission.

  “I wish those boys would hurry,” Helen said after fifteen minutes had gone by.

  Presently the youths turned up, broad grins on their faces. Nancy suspected they were up to some trick.

  As the food was passed, it became evident that the prince had not learned anything about good manners from his association with his grandmother. He was as greedy as ever.

  “Michael,” said Ned, addressing him abruptly, “will you do us a favor?”

  “What is it?” Michael asked suspiciously.

  “Katherine left her coat in the motorboat. Dash down and get it for her,” Ned replied, giving the girl a wink.

  The young man considered a moment, and then smiled at Katherine. “I’ll do it for you. But when I get back, I’ll expect a reward.”

  “You’ll get it,” Ned promised.

  As Michael started toward the beach with his dog, Nancy glanced questioningly at Ned. Instantly the boys arose and hurriedly stuffed the remaining food into the hampers.

  “We pulled the motorboats to another dock,” he explained. “Here’s where we leave Prince Charming! Come on!” Ned urged. “A ferryboat touches Star Island every two hours. His highness can get home on that.”

  Nancy felt that they should not desert the young man, but was overruled. Keeping out of sight, the young people slipped down to the dock and boarded the two boats. The roar of the motors brought Michael sprinting madly along the beach.

  “Hey, wait for me!” he shouted.

  “Can’t hear you,” Bob called through cupped hands. “Louder!”

  Michael shouted again and again. Finally, as the boats sped away, he slumped down on the beach.

  “It was a mean trick—” Nancy began, but Ned interrupted her.

  “He deserved it. Don’t waste any of your sympathy on him. Save it for Mrs. Alexandra.”

  When the young people reached River Heights, they all went to a movie.

  The next morning Nancy dropped in to see Mr. Faber about her father’s birthday gift. The antique dealer said, “I think I have found just the right gentleman’s box for Mr. Drew.”

  He showed her a handsome brown leather chest trimmed with silver.

  “It’s beautiful!” she said and lifted the lid. “And in wonderful condition,” she added, gazing at the velvet-lined trays for jewelry.

  “I hope your father likes it,” he said anxiously. “Madame Alexandra asked me to make a special effort to please him.”

  “How nice of her!” Nancy exclaimed. “Have you seen her recently?”

  “No, but Michael was here early this morning.”

  “Michael?”

 
“Yes, he brought me a ring to sell for Madame Alexandra.” Mr. Faber’s face became troubled. “I gave her the best price I could, but it worries me that she must sell her treasures.”

  “Maybe Prince Michael is an expensive grandson to have,” Nancy remarked.

  “Ah, yes!” Mr. Faber said with concern. “It is a pity Madame can deny him nothing.”

  When Nancy reached home, Mrs. Gruen gave her an urgent message from Anna.

  “She called twice,” the housekeeper said. “Mrs. Alexandra is very troubled. Anna wants you to come at once.”

  “Of course I’ll go,” Nancy agreed. “I wonder if Michael had anything to do with her condition.”

  A few minutes later she arrived at the Downey Street home and asked Anna if he had been the cause of Mrs. Alexandra’s agitation.

  “I don’t see how Michael can be responsible,” the maid replied. “He has been away most of the morning.”

  “He was at Mr. Faber’s,” Nancy said. “I thought maybe his selling the ring for Mrs. Alexandra might have upset her.”

  “Michael sold a ring for Madame Marie?” Anna’s eyes opened wide at this bit of news.

  “Didn’t you know about it?” Nancy asked.

  “I certainly did not!” Anna returned with displeasure. “If I had known—But now it is too late. Madame Marie has spent money most lavishly the past couple of days.”

  “Is Michael here now?” Nancy asked.

  “He came in about ten minutes ago,” the woman replied. “He tied up that dog of his, and went off somewhere. He was in a dreadful mood.”

  “Did he tell you what had disturbed him?”

  “Only that some acquaintances of his had left him stranded on an island yesterday,” Anna continued. “A fisherman took him off in a small boat. He had to row part of the way to shore, and blistered his hands.

  “I am glad it happened,” Anna declared, her black eyes flashing. “Michael will require many lessons to make a gentleman of him.”

  “May I see Mrs. Alexandra now?” Nancy asked.

  As the two started upstairs, the dog began to bark. The disturbance was so loud that Nancy and Anna hastened to a window to see what was wrong. To their dismay, the huge animal had broken the rope and was attacking the mailman.

  “Oh! Oh!” moaned Anna, covering her eyes.

  Nancy ran out the front door, determined to help the man. Her eye fell on the garden hose ready for use on the lawn. Unable to reach the faucet to turn on the water, she seized the hose and tried to lash at the dog.

  “Run!” she shouted.

  The mailman scrambled into the vestibule, his uniform ripped from the knees down.

  Nancy whirled and faced the animal defiantly. With a snarl he made a leap for her face.

  CHAPTER XII

  A Puzzling Secret

  NANCY might have been bitten by the vicious dog if the letter carrier had not acted quickly. As she dodged the animal, the man leaped from the vestibule, seized the hose from her hand and beat off the dog.

  Nancy ran toward the cellar door and yanked it open. When the animal followed her, she got behind the door. As he shot down the cellar stairs Nancy slammed the door shut. He was trapped!

  In the meantime, the letter carrier examined his torn trouser legs. “Are you the owner?” he asked Nancy.

  “He belongs to Mrs. Alexandra’s grandson.”

  “The dog must be turned over to the authorities.”

  “I agree with you,” Nancy said. “If he’s allowed to stay here, someone may be bitten. I’ll call the dog warden at once.”

  Anna, who had witnessed the scene from indoors, offered no objection to the decision.

  “The dog has greatly upset Madame Marie. It should go,” Anna said quietly.

  Nancy telephoned the city pound, and presently a man arrived to take away the dangerous animal. Rudy resisted capture, but eventually was subdued.

  “It is a great relief,” Anna sighed as she prepared a tray of food for her mistress.

  A bell in the kitchen jingled. Anna explained, “It is Madame Marie. Come and see her.”

  Nancy followed Anna upstairs to a large room. The walls were draped with silk hangings, the floor covered with a beautiful Oriental rug. A canopy of blue velvet with gold fringe hung above a large four-poster bed that had graceful figures of swans carved on the headboard.

  “This is a queen’s room indeed,” thought Nancy as she and the woman exchanged greetings.

  Mrs. Alexandra, her face pale, tossed restlessly on a lace-covered pillow.

  “Anna, why were you so long in coming?”

  “I came as quickly as I could, Madame. There was a slight disturbance—”

  “The dog?”

  “Yes, but he will annoy you no more.”

  “I am so glad. His constant barking makes my head ache.” She went on, “Anna, bring my clothing. I cannot remain any longer in bed.”

  “But, Madame, you must rest. I will bring your luncheon tray.”

  “I have no appetite.”

  “I’ll sit beside you while you eat,” Nancy offered, “and you can tell me of life at court.”

  She knew that the woman frequently forgot her present troubles while talking of happy past events.

  “I will taste the food,” Mrs. Alexandra murmured politely.

  Nancy and Anna raised the woman up in bed, bracing her with cushions. The maid then brought water in a silver basin. After washing her mistress’s hands, she dried them on a towel of fine linen. The woman’s initials and a royal crown were embroidered on it.

  At first Mrs. Alexandra ate sparingly. But as Nancy encouraged her to talk about life at the palace before the start of the Revolution, she seemed to forget her unhappiness. Soon she had finished the entire meal.

  “Madame Marie, would you not enjoy showing Miss Nancy a few of your things?” Anna said, delighted that her mistress’s spirits were lifting. “The orchid silk sachet bags we use to scent your clothing, for instance?”

  “I should love to see them—everything!” Nancy said.

  At a nod from Mrs. Alexandra, Anna brought one of the perfumed little bags and laid it in Nancy’s hand. It was decorated with a hand-embroidered monogram.

  “And here is one of Madame Marie’s handkerchiefs,” Anna said. She was holding a dainty square of white batiste, embroidered in brown, with a lace border. “The skillful mendings were made by Madame herself,” the maid explained.

  “Even queens in my country are taught to be thrifty.” Mrs. Alexandra smiled. “Anna, bring out the porcelain bowls.”

  “But, Madame—”

  “Nancy is our friend, Anna,” she said irritably. “Your caution annoys me at times. You keep everything hidden because you are afraid we shall be robbed. Why, you even distrust my grandson!”

  The maid bit her lip but made no reply. She went over to a carved mahogany chest, unlocked it with a huge brass key, then removed porcelain bowls, enamel figurines, and other treasures.

  “Do not forget the Footman!” Mrs. Alexandra ordered. “Perhaps Nancy can guess his secret.”

  Anna took out a rotund, lifelike figurine of porcelain. It stood about eight inches high and was unusual, but not as attractive as some of Mrs. Alexandra’s other treasures.

  “This and my Easter egg are my most prized possessions,” the woman declared gaily. “The little statue looks like my own private footman at the palace. But also, he is special. Nancy, can you guess why?”

  The girl shook her head, waiting expectantly.

  “The figurine represents one of the most courageous of the court servants. My footman helped me escape during the Revolution. When I fled, I took this little object with me.”

  “Is it your jewel box, Mrs. Alexandra?”

  “Yes. Is it not clever? I shall now reveal to you how it opens.”

  The woman reached for the small statue, but before she could show Nancy its secret, footsteps were heard on the staircase.

  “Quick, Madame!” exclaimed Anna.

>   With amazing speed she snatched the Footman from Mrs. Alexandra and locked it in the chest, along with the other art treasures, then quickly hid the key under the rug.

  “It is only Michael,” Mrs. Alexandra said, recognizing her grandson’s step.

  “Nevertheless it is well that the treasures be kept out of sight,” Anna insisted soberly.

  Michael did not enter, but went on to his own room. Nancy, not wanting to meet him, thanked Mrs. Alexandra and said good-by. But she determined to come again soon to find out if the Footman were the jewel box mentioned in the nightingale’s song.

  As she was walking away from the house, Michael hurried after her. With flashing eyes, he confronted her.

  “I heard you talking to my grandmother,” he stormed. “What’s the idea of coming here? First you left me stranded on Star Island—”

  “That was none of my doing,” Nancy replied coldly. “I will say, though, that you deserved it.”

  “And then you deliberately got rid of my dog! One of the neighbors told me!”

  “Your dog attacked the letter carrier. Rudy’s been sent away for ten days’ observation.”

  “If Rudy bit anyone, you probably made him do it!”

  “How ridiculous!”

  “I’ve caught on to the fact that you’re trying to turn everyone against me,” Michael went on, “especially Grandmother.”

  “That isn’t true.”

  The unpleasant man edged closer to Nancy. “If you come here again, you’ll get more than you bargained for!”

  Before Nancy could voice an objection to his threat, he reentered the house, slamming the door behind him.

  “I’ll come here as frequently as I wish!” Nancy thought angrily. “At least as long as Mrs. Alexandra wants me! He is the one who should be kept from the house. He isn’t bringing his grandmother any happiness, and I’m afraid she already has given him more money than she can afford.”

  For the first time in her life Nancy regretted having solved a mystery. By finding Prince Michael and restoring him to his grandmother, Nancy feared she had only added to the unhappiness of the gracious former queen.

  In returning home, she chose the familiar way, which led past Mr. Faber’s shop. While still some distance from it, she noticed a man walking toward her with short, quick steps. He resembled David Dorrance. Though the man glanced at her, he passed with no sign of recognition.