The Mystery of the Locked Room by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, juvenile, mystery
Publisher: Distributed Proofreaders Canada
Published: 1938-06-15T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XIII

Mrs. Crandall’s Mistake

“I’ve searched for Louise everywhere,” Jean declared. “I’m afraid something has happened to her, for she was guarding the house.”

“Oh dear,” Mrs. Crandall murmured in distress, “it is all my fault. I should have kept watch myself. I intended to do it, but I was so tired and sleepy. I thought I would doze only for an hour and then without alarming the girls stay up for the remainder of the night. I slept so soundly that I did not awaken until a short while ago.”

“Was Louise in her bed at that time?”

“I confess I did not look to see. Oh, Jean, I’m glad you have come, for if Louise really is missing I may have made a dreadful mistake.”

“A mistake? What do you mean, Mrs. Crandall?”

“When I awakened I heard a noise in the kitchen,” the headmistress explained. “I went to investigate and saw a shadowy figure vanishing into the storeroom. Feeling certain that it was the mysterious ghost, I softly closed the door and locked it.”

“You may have shut Louise up in the storeroom!” Jean gasped. “She was supposed to be guarding the house.”

The two hastened to the mansion. Jean unlocked the door of the storeroom, and as she flashed her light into the interior, Louise was revealed sitting with her back to the wall.

“It was all my fault,” Mrs. Crandall admitted ruefully. “I thought you were the intruder, Louise, and so I locked the door. I fear I shall never make a detective.”

Mrs. Crandall was induced to return to bed, leaving Jean to maintain watch until morning. Long after the house became silent she sat up listening, wondering if she would hear the boards creaking again on the floor above; but there was no further disturbance.

In the morning Louise spoke of her idea regarding a hidden staircase which might lead to a room on the third floor. She and Jean decided that as soon as they should be alone in the house again they would complete their investigation by examining the flooring of the entire dwelling as well as the walls of the living and dining rooms.

The Danas thought too that it would be well for the party to search every foot of ground in the immediate vicinity, for Mrs. Crandall had told them that at least ten acres would be included in the proposed camp site. Therefore after breakfast Helen, Evelyn, Jean, and Louise set out on a hike to explore the grounds.

“I think Mrs. Crandall is growing more interested in this place each day,” Helen declared, after they had walked for over ten minutes. “When we first came she said we would have to return immediately, but now she appears perfectly willing to extend our visit.”

“This place is ideal for a camp,” Louise remarked thoughtfully. “Excluding the expense of making a road and building cabins, it would cost very little to put everything in shape. Until the profits should warrant the construction of tennis courts and bridle trails, sports could be confined to the lake.

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