(#19) The Quest of the Missing Map by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene [Keene, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin USA, Inc.
Published: 2011-11-22T17:58:49+00:00

CHAPTER XI

Clue to a Treasure

THE automobile had pulled away so swiftly that Nancy barely had time to jot down its license number. She ran into the house to call the police, thinking a patrol car might be able to capture the kidnappers.

With Mrs. Chatham hovering at her side, Nancy quickly reported what had happened, then hung up the phone. She turned to the widow.

“Please tell me what you know about the Browns.”

“They introduced themselves as Mr. and Mrs. Fred Brown, and said they were trying to find the widow of Captain John Tomlin. They claimed to have known him well before his death.”

“Did they question you about the map?” Nancy asked.

“They hinted that Captain Tomlin had told them a great secret before his death and warned me to be on my guard if I were his widow.”

“On guard?”

“It seems that an unscrupulous man—they wouldn’t give his name—is determined to get hold of a valuable paper belonging to my first husband.”

“Of course they referred to the map!”

“I thought so but pretended otherwise. The Browns advised me to leave Rocky Edge before the man might threaten or harm me. I told them I wanted a friend to hear their story before I made any decision. I didn’t mention your name.”

“My sudden appearance must have given them a great shock,” Nancy commented.

“I wonder how much they really know about the lost map,” Mrs. Chatham said.

“Probably not much. They may believe you have it here. Either they’re working with that man who hid in the studio, or else they hope to outwit him and get it themselves.”

Mrs. Chatham walked nervously to the French window and gazed into the garden.

Nancy said, “I suggest you hire guards. The Browns may sneak back and search for the map.”

Mrs. Chatham promised to attend to the matter directly.

“Do you feel we should give up the proposed trip to New Kirk?” the widow asked as she walked with Nancy to the convertible.

Nancy replied quickly, “Considering what has happened, I think it’s very important to learn the contents of your husband’s safe-deposit box.”

“Then I’ll see your father as soon as I can,” Mrs. Chatham declared.

After saying good-by, Nancy picked up Bess and George and said she wanted to go home via Wayland and stop at the police station.

“I’d like to talk to the chief, but not on the phone from here. Mrs. Chatham is too upset.”

Nancy told the girls about the mysterious couple who had come to call and finished just as she reached the police station. There was no news of the Browns, but the chief confirmed Nancy’s suspicion that the one clear footprint recently made by the intruder at the Rocky Edge studio belonged to Spike Doty.

“Spike first appeared locally while a seaman on a river steamer. After a prison sentence for burglary he was released and went to New York. We lost track of him. But we’ll keep looking for Spike and the Browns, too.”

On the way back Bess and George picked up their car. When Nancy reached home she found a special-delivery envelope from Bill Tomlin’s father.

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