The Clue Of The Velvet Mask Part 22

After eating the delicious picnic lunch Bess had prepared, Nancy drove her friend home, then went straight to her father's office. Through people he contacted she learned that at the time the Blue Iris Inn was sold, all the furnis.h.i.+ngs had been disposed of at auction. She asked his advice about telling the police her suspicions.

"Well, actually you haven't much to go on," he said. "Find out first whether Tombar himself bought some of the furnis.h.i.+ngs at the auction."

Nancy set off for the auctioneer's shop. A short distance from it she met Mr. Lightner.

"I'm glad I ran into you, Miss Drew," he declared cordially. "After you left my office I was trying to reach you by telephone."

"I've been for a ride in the country."

"I've arranged for you to attend the party this evening. It's to be a masquerade. What would you like to wear?" He added, smiling, "Lightner's costumes are at your disposal."

"How about my being a maid in the women's cloakroom?"

"Very good.A splendid place for scrutinizing guests. Come with me now and I'll find an outfit for you."

Nancy decided to postpone her call to the auctioneer's office. At the entertainment company she selected a well-tailored black dress with white collar and cuffs and a dainty ruffled cap.

"I have some news for you," Mr. Lightner said, walking with Nancy to the front door. "I'm taking Linda Seeley back."

"Oh, I'm so glad!"

To have Linda reinstated in the firm was a great relief to Nancy. Nevertheless, if the series of thefts which had damaged the company's reputation continued, Linda might be blamed again.

"That makes this party tonight an important one," Nancy thought. "Oh, I do hope everything goes along without trouble!"

Upon arriving home Nancy was pleasantly surprised to find Ned Nickerson lounging on the porch.

"Schoolbooks are locked up," he joked.

"Ned! I'm glad to see you!"

"What's in the box? A new dress for a date with me tonight?"

"Maybe." Nancy told him of her plan to play the part of a maid at the Dwight party.

"How about coming with me? I think I could get you in as a checkroom boy. Want to help me catch a couple of masked thieves?"

"Well," Ned replied, "since you put it that way, the answer is, naturally, yes. But what do I know about checking men's hats or coats?"

"It's easy, and maybe you'll spot one of the Velvet Gang. I'll telephone Mr. Lightner."

Arrangements were made for Ned to obtain a uniform and a.s.sist the regular checker.

"Now bring me up to date on the recent happenings," Ned urged Nancy. "Remember, we didn't have a chance to talk alone on Friday night."

Rapidly she related how the thefts threatened Mr. Lightner's company with ruin. She told him about Peter Tombar and Ralph Snecker, and their apparent a.s.sociation.

"I'm inclined to think that both of them are mixed up in the thefts," she concluded. "The Velvet Gang may be working with them. At any rate, I want to investigate the Blue Iris Inn further."

"I'm surprised that you and George haven't been out there tearing the place apart board by board," Ned remarked, grinning.

At mention of George's name, Nancy sobered and told him of their friend's unhappy state of mind.

"Her parents are worried and so am I," she said. "We can't understand what's wrong."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Ned said.

He went home to dinner but was back at the Drews' by seven o'clock.

"You're a very handsome checkroom boy!" Nancy declared when she saw him in his uniform. "How do I look?"

"Lovely, but not natural. What a hairdo!"

"I had to disguise myself as much as I could."

"Be careful tonight, both of you," Mr. Drew advised as the couple left the house. "I'll wait up until you're home safe."

Mr. Lightner, who had arrived early, was waiting for Nancy. He whispered that every precaution had been taken to avert another robbery and no trouble was expected.

"Six plainclothesmen are here to watch the guests. Nothing can go wrong."

Nancy and Ned were a.s.signed to separate cloakrooms upstairs. Nancy found herself paired with a rather indifferent maid named Hilda.

"All we have to do is stay here and help the ladies with their things," the girl told Nancy. "Just don't get the stuff mixed up, that's all."

For the next hour Nancy checked guests' belongings efficiently, and quickly hung them on racks. Many of the costumes worn were very lovely and she recognized some as having been rented from Lightner's. Masks were of every form and shape. Nancy could not identify anyone.

After the dancing had started in the ballroom below, Mr. Lightner came upstairs. He informed Nancy that no guest had appeared without a properly marked admission card.

Relieved that no suspicious person had been observed, Nancy relaxed a little. Hilda stretched out comfortably on a lounge.

"We'll have a few hours now with nothing to do," she advised Nancy. "Take it easy before the rush starts."

Nancy preferred remaining alert and was standing near the door when a tall man in a striking costume came up and presented a check.

"Madam needs her coat," he said in low tones. "A long dark-green one. Hurry, please."

Nancy glanced intently at the stranger. She could not see his face plainly, for a white silk scarf that matched his Moorish costume served to mask the lower portion. His intense black eyes disturbed her, however.

She knew the coat he meant without comparing the numbered tickets, for there was no other like it. Deliberately she took her time, pretending she could not find the garment.

"Hurry!" the man urged again, speaking with a slight British accent.

More suspicious than ever that he was the thief she had previously encountered, Nancy purposely turned her back and maneuvered to run her hand into the inner pocket of the coat. Instantly her fingers encountered something made of cloth and very soft.

She quickly took out the object. It was one of the masks used by the daring members of the Velvet Gang! After tucking the velvet hood back in the pocket, she took the coat from the hanger and handed it to the man. With a suggestion of a French accent, she inquired:

"Madame is ill? She is leaving the party so soon? Perhaps I can help her?"