The Sign Of The Twisted Candles Part 14

The three set off with dire warnings from Hannah Gruen. As they reached the driveway leading to the inn, Nancy suggested that she and her companions walk the rest of the way and go cautiously.

"Good idea," her father agreed.

He locked the car and they set off on foot. Not a word was spoken. The three walked as noiselessly as possible, but were puzzled as to why the watchman did not come to see who was approaching.

Nancy thought, "If the Jemitts are here, maybe they knocked him out!"

The Drews and Mr. Hill circled the house, but did not see the watchman. "I don't like this," Nancy's father said. "But let's walk around once more."

As the two men started off, Nancy did not follow. She was contemplating the front of the building. Her eyes swept up and down the sprawling contours, then stopped at the window of the tower room.

"Is that a light?" she suddenly asked herself.

The window seemed to show a lesser degree of darkness than the blank panes elsewhere in the house. Nancy looked more sharply.

"I believe the window has been covered so a light won't s.h.i.+ne through," she said to herself. "That certainly looks like a crack of light at the bottom."

Nancy started for the front door but realized that her father had the key. She could not afford to lose a moment in investigating the tower room. But how would she get in?

Suddenly the young detective remembered the ladder on the porch roof, where Krill had played his trick on her. Perhaps it was still there!

Flanking the porch steps on either side were stout lattices. Nancy reached through the vines and gripped the st.u.r.dy wooden support. Her toes found a foothold, and she was soon stepping over the edge of the porch roof.

Yes, there was the ladder! It was slow work to handle the ladder without making a sound, but Nancy managed to rest the top rung just below the sill of the tower window.

She carefully mounted the rungs. The ladder gave a sickening lurch as she came close to the top. Nancy reached up and clung to the sill.

She did not dare look downward for fear of losing her balance. With most of her weight supported by her hands Nancy continued her climb. Two steps more, and she was able to put her forearm on the sill and curl her fingers around the iron peg that once had held shutters. Cautiously Nancy raised her head until both eyes were on a level with the window frame.

Nancy could hear the low rumble of a masculine voice! Frank Jemitt's!

Taking infinite pains to retain her balance, she thrust her fingers under the edge of the window. Nancy was rewarded as the sash moved upward half an inch, an inch, and yet another half inch. Then the frame gave a tiny squeak and seemed to stick. For one breathless moment Nancy ducked her head and waited to see if anyone came to the window to investigate.

To her relief, the voice droned on without interruption. Nancy again dared to raise her eyes to the level of the sill. The cloth had evidently been fastened to the inner frame, not to the sash, because the gap she had made by raising the window was still covered.

Although Nancy could not see inside the tower room, she could hear plainly what Frank Jemitt was saying: "-you and that Drew girl spent a lot of time up here. I'm sure you know where the papers I want are hidden. Don't sniffle. Where are they?"

No answer.

Jemitt went on, "And there are hidden treasures in this room. If you'll tell us where the stuff is, you'll get your share. If you don't, then you got to be hurt until you do."

"I've told you I don't know," a weepy-voiced girl answered. Carol!

The relief Nancy felt at having located her friend was instantly dispelled by Jemitt's next threat.

"I'll give you one minute more to tell, and then you'll get a taste of this whip!"

Mrs. Jemitt added her own threat. "What's more, if you won't tell us, we'll get Nancy Drew as easy as we got you. We'll set a trap for her because we'll make you phone her to come to see you secretly. Then you can watch us force her to tell!"

"Oh, please don't," Carol begged. "I'll do anything for you, but don't harm Nancy."

"Time's up!" Mrs. Jemitt said.

Nancy, shaken with horror, lifted the cloth that hung over the window. She peered in on a strange drama.

Carol, her new dress rumpled and her hair in disarray, stood leaning against the old desk-table with the secret drawer, not three feet from Nancy. Her face was turned in profile as she stared at Frank Jemitt. His wife stood with arms folded, an evil smile on her face, while he slowly rolled up his sleeves. Then he picked up a thick willow reed.

"Open the closet, Emma," he said. "We'll stick this girl in there when we're through with her."

Mrs. Jemitt turned toward a door in the wall.

Nancy had less than a minute to act! While the attention of the couple was momentarily diverted, she reached through the opening and tapped on the desk.

"Carol!" she whispered.

At the voice coming out of nowhere Carol's overwrought nerves snapped. She screamed loudly and toppled to the floor.

"What's going on?" Jemitt cried.

He wheeled and saw the fluttering cloth at the window. With a snarl he rushed forward, his hands thrust out. Nancy was sure he meant to topple the ladder on which she swayed.

CHAPTER XX.

Startling Confession AT that moment a m.u.f.fled scream reached the ears of Nancy's father and Mr. Hill.

"What was that? It came from upstairs in the house!" Mr. Drew exclaimed. "Quick! Inside!"

He unlocked the front door and the two men rushed in. Snapping on lights as they went, the two ran to the second floor.

"No one here," said Mr. Drew. He led the way to the tower room, two steps at a time. The door to it was closed but not locked. An intruder had evidently opened it! Mr. Drew burst in, followed by the banker.

An amazing and uncanny scene met their gaze. Nancy Drew's head and shoulders were framed in the window as if she were standing on air. Frank Jemitt's arms were thrust through the opening, in the act of pus.h.i.+ng Nancy backward. The young detective's hands were clutching the man's wrists to prevent her from falling.

Carol's arms were clasped around Jemitt's waist, straining to pull him away from Nancy. And Mrs. Jemitt was just in the act of bringing down the heavy willow reed across Carol's shoulders!

"Stop!" thundered Carson Drew, leaping forward.

With one sweep of his arm he sent Mrs. Jemitt reeling aside. Raymond Hill grabbed her husband, while Mr. Drew reached out the window to rescue Nancy. He was not a moment too soon, for the ladder on which she was standing slipped from under her and crashed to the ground.

Mr. Drew helped Nancy through the window, while Carol guarded the door toward which her foster mother had dashed.

"Let me go!" Jemitt croaked. He was being half choked by Mr. Hill's grasp.

The banker released his prisoner, who staggered into a corner, clutching at his throat.

"Nancy, are you all right?" her father asked.

"Yes, Dad, but you came just in the nick of time."

"Oh, Nancy," Carol cried out, "you were almost hurt because of me! It was my scream that gave you away."

"But it was what warned us," Mr. Drew told her. "Raymond, please go down to the phone booth and call State Police headquarters. Ask them to send troopers to take charge of two prisoners."

As Mr. Hill went off, Nancy turned to Jemitt. "Where's the watchman?"

"See if you can find out," was the surly reply.

"I can answer that," Carol spoke up. "My foster father punched him. While the man was kind of groggy, Mr. Jemitt tied his arms and legs and gagged him. He's in the big closet under the stairs on the first floor."

"I'll get him," Nancy volunteered. "Come on, Carol."

The guard, shamefaced at having been trapped a second time, eagerly took charge of the two prisoners. While waiting for the State Police car to arrive, the Jemitts made a full confession. Many of Nancy's hunches had been correct. Jemitt also said he had put the snake in the box to frighten off any burglars.

By this time the police had arrived and the Jemitts were in custody.

After they had gone, Mr. Hill asked, "Now what do we do? Shall we call it a night?"

Nancy answered quickly, "No, let's not. I want to phone all the beneficiaries of Asa Sidney's estate and ask them to come here at once."

The others turned questioning eyes toward Nancy. She went on, "During my search in the tower room I came across a hidden letter from Mr. Sidney marked 'For Carol Wipple. To be opened in the presence of Peter Boonton, Jacob Sidney, Anna and Bess Marvin, and Louise and George Fayne.' I think it will explain why he left most of his money to you, Carol."

"Oh!" the girl exclaimed.

"Do you mind if they come?" Nancy asked.

Carol sighed. "We may as well get it over with."

Nancy went to the telephone. In turn each one she called was glad to hear that Carol had been found and was shocked to learn of the Jemitts' cruelty. The relatives demurred, however, about coming to the inn at that late hour, but finally consented.

"Carol, when did you last eat?" Nancy asked when she rejoined the others.

"Not for a long time. I lost my appet.i.te."

"Then let's have a bite before the Sidneys and Boontons begin to arrive."

Carol managed a smile. "I guess I'll need some strength. Nancy, I let the Jemitts into your house and they threatened me, and made me come here. How can you ever forgive me?"

Nancy smiled. "You're already forgiven. Now let's look for some food."

The kitchen cupboards had little in them but Nancy found canned chocolate milk, potted ham, and some relatively fresh bread. She made a sandwich and heated the milk. Carol had just finished eating when the Marvins arrived. Within a few minutes all the relatives had a.s.sembled.

"Miss Drew, your reason for getting me out here this late," said Jacob Sidney, "had better be good."

"I'm sure it will be," Nancy replied. "Will you all please come up to the tower room."

Carol grabbed Nancy's hand as they ascended the steps. She was trembling.

"Don't be afraid," Nancy whispered. "I have a hunch there's a wonderful surprise for you in the letter."

Mr. Drew unlocked the door to the tower room and the many candles were lighted. When everyone was seated, the lawyer briefly outlined what had happened since they had last been together, told of the recovered treasures, and the Jemitts' part in stealing some of Asa Sidney's property.

"And now Nancy will show you where she found the letter to Carol," he concluded.

A great hush came over the room as his daughter walked to the desk-table. She pushed the big Bible aside and pressed the secret spring. As the lid of the hidden compartment flew up, the onlookers gasped.

"There are many papers in here," Nancy said, "but the letter on top is the one to be read now."

She gave it to Carol, but the overwrought girl's hand shook so hard she dropped the envelope.

"Nancy, please read it for me," she begged.

There was a pause as Nancy picked up the letter. Again she gave Carol a chance to read it, but the other girl only shook her head. "Please."

"All right." Nancy opened the letter and began to read.

" 'My dear Carol, " 'This letter is the confession of a stubborn, selfish old man. For many years I have known the secret of your ident.i.ty, but have not revealed it for two reasons: the feud in my family and the fact that I wanted to keep you near me. I have no direct descendants, but you are my great-grandniece.' "

At that revelation there were exclamations of surprise in the room and whisperings among the Boontons and Sidneys. Carol kept her head down, eyes closed. Her face was pale, and she sat perfectly still.

Mr. Drew said, "Go on, Nancy."

" 'There were only two people who ignored the senseless feud and for this reason were ostracized from their families. They were John Boonton, brother of Anna Marvin and Louise Fayne, and Helen Sidney, daughter of Jacob Sidney. When their families would not let them marry, they eloped, and later had a baby whom they named Carol after my little girl who died. That baby is you, Carol, my dear!' "

Suddenly Bess Marvin rushed to Carol. "You're my cousin!" she exclaimed, hugging the speechless girl.

George ran forward. "And you're a Boonton! You're Carol Boonton!"

Tears of joy streamed down Carol's cheeks. She smiled through them and looked at Nancy. "Oh, Nancy, if it hadn't been for you, I might never have known this!"

Nancy hugged her new friend while Mrs. Marvin said, "I shall ask the Fernwood Orphanage to appoint us as foster parents."

Mrs. Fayne said, "I want to share in this."

Mr. Drew had risen and asked for silence. "There is more to the letter. Nancy, please finish it."

Everyone sat down again and she went on.

" 'You will wonder how I learned all this. I was a director of the Fernwood Orphanage at the time you were brought there, Carol, by the rector of a nearby church. You were about two years old. He had found you near the altar, crying. A search for your parents proved hopeless.

" 'You were such a dear little thing and reminded me so much of my own little girl I asked that the orphanage change the name they had given you to Carol. The whole thing haunted me and I began some private detective work. I found out that a little while prior to the rector finding you, there had been an automobile accident not far away. The couple in it were killed. They proved to be Mr. and Mrs. John Boonton.

" 'A further search by me revealed that they were relatives of my wife, and among some papers they had left at a boarding house was a picture of you, Carol. Just as I was wondering what to do about revealing this secret, the Jemitts offered to become your foster parents. At a Board of Directors' meeting I said I would give my consent only if the Jemitts came to work here.