The Scarlet Slipper Mystery by Carolyn Keene

Author:Carolyn Keene [Keene, Carolyn]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Penguin USA, Inc.
Published: 2011-11-22T17:58:53+00:00

CHAPTER XI

Signs of Tampering

BESS did not pull ahead when the traffic light turned green. She was too shaken by the threatening message Nancy had just received.

Horns began to sound and George urged, “Move, Bess!”

Bess drove on, then said worriedly, “Whoever wrote that note means business, Nancy. Oh, please give up the case before you run into real trouble.”

“This doesn’t scare me,” Nancy declared. “Writers of anonymous notes are always cowards, and I don’t intend to be frightened by one!”

Bess turned to George for moral support, but her cousin agreed with Nancy. She suggested that her friend open the other two notes.

“Oh, I hope they’re not the same kind!” Bess said fearfully.

Nancy quickly examined the two answers and reassured her friends. One letter offered a painting that obviously was not one of the group Henri had painted. But the other note, which had been telephoned in, looked. like a lead.

It was from the Elite Dancing School in Stanford, and described an oil painting the school was willing to sell. It depicted a ballet dancer in pink-and-white tulle, with an indistinct background of trees.

“That’s just the way Henri described the background to me,” said Nancy excitedly.

“Let’s go right over to Stanford and look at it!” George urged.

“But we can’t do that,” Bess broke in. “Nancy and I have classes at the dancing school.”

“Bess is right,” said Nancy. “We’ll go tomorrow morning.”

When the girls arrived at the school, George left the others, arranging to meet them at nine the next day.

Bess had the first group of young ballerinas, Nancy the second. Both girls carried on with their usual enthusiasm but were surprised at the small attendance in the classes. More than half the pupils were absent.

“This is very strange,” Nancy thought. “I wonder what the trouble is.”

She made a list of the absentees and began telephoning their parents. Nancy explained to those she reached that she was sure the Fontaines would return soon to resume teaching.

In her conversations with the various mothers, Nancy noticed a reluctance to discuss the subject. Finally she talked to Mrs. Muller, a neighbor, and asked, “Has anyone been in touch with you regarding the Fontaines?”

“How did you know?” the woman said in surprise.

“Maybe it’s my instinct,” Nancy replied with a chuckle. “Just what have you heard?”

Mrs. Muller told her that several mothers, including her, had received anonymous letters informing them that the Fontaines had disappeared because they were wanted by the police. The letters indicated that the dancers were involved in a serious scandal, which would reflect on the children if they continued at the school.

“How wicked!” Nancy exclaimed. “Mrs. Muller, there isn’t one word of truth in that story!”

“How can you be sure?” the woman asked.

“Because my father is handling the affairs of the Fontaines and knows all about their dealings. I’m sure you realize that I wouldn’t be involved with them if anything dishonest were going on. My friends and I have worked hard to keep the school running, and naturally our success depends upon the cooperation of the parents.

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