The Strange Message in the Parchment by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene [Keene, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin USA, Inc.
Published: 2011-11-28T16:16:02+00:00

CHAPTER XII

Telltale Glove

WHEN Mr. Drew answered the phone, he asked how Nancy was, and how she was progressing with the mystery. Hearing that she was very enthusiastic about her work, he added, “Hannah Gruen and I are both very busy and we keep well, but I must say we miss you very much.”

He now began to tell her about his interview with the United States Immigration Department. He said they had made a thorough search and could not find a Salvatore Rocco who had come into the United States from Italy about ten years before, with or without the baby he claimed was his nephew. The lawyer said he was sorry he did not have better news for his daughter.

“Oh, I’m not discouraged,” Nancy assured him quickly. “I assume that Mr. Rocco either sneaked into the country with the baby, or came here under an assumed name.”

“No doubt you’re right,” her father agreed, “and it would be almost hopeless to track down this man under such circumstances. But let me know if you get any more clues I can help with,” he added.

Nancy now brought him up-to-date on the mystery and ended by telling him about Diana Bolardo. “Do you think it would be a good idea to find out if anyone by that name entered this country either to stay or to visit during the past ten years?”

The lawyer thought it was a good idea. “However, if the woman is living in Rome, it won’t be necessary.”

Nancy said she would let her father know the instant Mr. Caspari told her what his grandparents had found out.

“And now,” Mr. Drew said, “I have a surprise for you. The police caught the girl who stole your jacket.”

“Really? How wonderful! What did she say?”

The lawyer reported that the girl had noticed Junie carrying the coat in a see-through bag and felt she had to have it. She followed Junie from the station, found the Drews’ door open and tiptoed in. “Her case comes up in two weeks. I guess you’ll have to testify against her. Incidentally, she’s a known petty thief and hitchhiker. She wasn’t acquainted with the man in whose car you saw her.”

“Too bad,” Nancy said with a sigh.

By the time she had finished her call, Junie had gone outdoors to visit the barn where the newborn lambs were kept. As Nancy sat thinking about the case and what to do next, Mr. Flockhart came in.

“Why so pensive?” he teased. “Did the phone call upset you?”

Nancy told him about the conversation, and then changed the subject. “I was thinking about something else. Would it be possible for me to obtain a piece of parchment the size of the one that was stolen? I’d like to try painting on it to see how close I can come to imitating the four original paintings.”

The owner of Triple Creek Farm said he would be glad to let Nancy have a piece of his finest parchment. With a twinkle in his eyes he added,

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