Nancy Drew 36: The Secret of the Golden Pavillion by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Girls & Women, Thrillers & Suspense
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 1959-01-01T05:08:42+00:00

CHAPTER XIII

A Valuable Discovery

THE GIRLS found most of the Ponds’ neighbors in their gardens. Nancy, Bess, and George discreetly inquired of one after another if they were acquainted with the couple. In each case the answer was the same. The Ponds had rented the house very recently and no one knew them. They appeared to be unsociable and were away from the house a great deal.

“Are they Hawaiians?” Nancy asked an elderly man.

“Oh, I think not. I’m sure that they are from the mainland,” he replied.

When the girls returned to the car, one of the women to whom she had spoken earlier was waiting for them. Nancy wondered if she had further information, but the woman merely smiled and asked if the girls were going into Honolulu. Upon learning that they were, she asked for a lift, explaining that her husband was using their car that day for a business trip.

“We’d be happy to take you,” Nancy said, and they all got in.

On the way, the passenger, whose name was Mrs. Ayers, pointed out a thickly branched tree with dense foliage. “That is a monkeypod,” she said. “Many of them grow on the island of Kauai, and the wood is brought here to be made into attractive pieces. I’m going to a shop now that specializes in these pieces to buy a wedding gift.”

“The tree certainly looks top heavy,” Bess remarked. “Its long limbs seem to be way out of proportion with the size of the trunk.”

“Is the wood hard?” George asked.

“Yes,” Mrs. Ayers answered. “It’s very durable, and won’t warp or crack.”

“I’d like to look at some of the wooden pieces,” Nancy remarked. “We want to take home some gifts and this is a good chance to purchase them.”

When they reached the Waikiki Beach section, Mrs. Ayers told Nancy where to park and the four walked to the shop. After looking over the many attractive articles on display, George selected a snack server, Bess a tray, and Nancy a salad bowl with wooden fork and spoon.

“Not far from here,” Mrs. Ayers told the girls, “is an extremely interesting jewelry shop. It specializes in ivory pieces. If you have time, I’d suggest you drop in there.”

She went to the door with the girls and pointed out the shop. With a “thank you so much” and an “aloha” to Mrs. Ayers, the three hurried up the street and entered the jewelry store.

The display case intrigued the girls. Ivory pins, earrings, necklaces, and bracelets were delicately carved in patterns of various Hawaiian flowers.

“I see just the right gift for Aunt Eloise,” said Nancy, and asked the clerk the price of a pin and earring set carved in the ginger flower design.

“Will you mail this directly to New York?” Nancy inquired.

“I’d be very glad to,” the clerk replied.

After the sale was completed, the girls returned to the convertible, and this time headed straight for Kaluakua. As they parked in the driveway, Ned greeted them with a friendly gibe.

“For Pete’s sake, where have you

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