Read Online (#15) The Haunted Bridge by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Carolyn Keene
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seated opposite each other at a table in the airport restaurant.
“Did you have a successful trip, Dad?” his daughter asked as soon as they had given their breakfast order. “What did you learn about the contents of the brass chest?”
“The New York police said only one article in the entire collection proved to be stolen property.”
“The jeweled compact?”
“Yes. The other articles couldn’t be identified. Of course, they may have been stolen recently and the theft was not reported. At any rate, the jewelry, with the exception of the compact, is not on the list of articles smuggled into this country by the international gang.”
Nancy listened to a more detailed account of her father’s visit to New York. Then she revealed her own recent activities.
“I was sure I’d located Miss Judson at Hemlock Hall,” Nancy finished. “But she got away before I could talk to her.”
“We must trace her,” Mr. Drew said. “From the clues you’ve gathered I’m certain she’s the woman we’re after.”
The lawyer wished to drive without delay to Hemlock Hall to look for Margaret Judson, and Nancy was glad to accompany him. The trip proved to be a waste of time. Although they inquired at the airport, gas stations and various shops, no one could give them any information about Miss Judson’s whereabouts.
“Dad,” said Nancy, “I’m afraid I’ll have to stop sleuthing and hurry back to our hotel. My name is posted to play in the golf tournament at two o’clock.”
The Drews ate lunch, then drove to Deer Mountain. Nancy quickly changed to golf clothes and went out on the course. As usual, Chris was her caddy.
The match was close. Nancy, scarcely noticing the pain in her hand, played an excellent game. To the delight of her friends, she won on the fifteenth hole. As she finished out the round, she jokingly asked Chris if he had found her Jimmy Harlow ball.
“I don’t think I’ll ever find it now,” he told her gloomily. “Maybe someone else picked it up.”
“Have you noticed anyone in the woods by the bridge?” Nancy asked.
“This morning I saw a man poking a stick around in the mud by the stream.”
Nancy pressed for a more detailed description of the person, but Chris was unable to give one. On her way back to the hotel she reflected on the clue that Chris unknowingly had revealed.
“That man he saw may have been the Judson gardener,” she thought. “Or possibly someone who was searching for the brass chest I found buried in the mudbank.”
Nancy was afraid it might be too late to locate the man, but she decided to investigate the haunted bridge area immediately. Bess and George were eager to assist in Nancy’s search. The three girls set off across the golf course. They had gone only a few steps when Bess stopped.
“Here comes that pest Barty!” she exclaimed. “Now what’ll we do?”
Thinking very quickly, Nancy greeted the new-comer with a warm smile.
“Oh, Mr. Bartescue, did my father see you this afternoon?”
“Why no,” he answered in surprise, falling into the trap. “Did he wish to speak with me?”
“Well, he was looking for a tennis partner.”
Martin Bartescue had boasted to Nancy that he excelled in several sports. Tennis and golf, however, he claimed were his favorites.
“I see Dad on the terrace!” Nancy cried and motioned for him to join the group.
“Dad, I’ve found a wonderful tennis partner for you,” she declared as he came up.
The lawyer suspected that Nancy wished to rid herself of Bartescue, and agreed to get his tennis shoes and racquet and meet the other man at the courts.
The girls made their way toward the haunted bridge. Dark clouds were moving swiftly overhead, and by the time they reached the woods a strong wind was blowing.
Soon they were within view of the old bridge. Bess shivered and kept close to her companions. Suddenly they were startled to hear the same moaning and groaning sounds which had perplexed them on their first
“Did you have a successful trip, Dad?” his daughter asked as soon as they had given their breakfast order. “What did you learn about the contents of the brass chest?”
“The New York police said only one article in the entire collection proved to be stolen property.”
“The jeweled compact?”
“Yes. The other articles couldn’t be identified. Of course, they may have been stolen recently and the theft was not reported. At any rate, the jewelry, with the exception of the compact, is not on the list of articles smuggled into this country by the international gang.”
Nancy listened to a more detailed account of her father’s visit to New York. Then she revealed her own recent activities.
“I was sure I’d located Miss Judson at Hemlock Hall,” Nancy finished. “But she got away before I could talk to her.”
“We must trace her,” Mr. Drew said. “From the clues you’ve gathered I’m certain she’s the woman we’re after.”
The lawyer wished to drive without delay to Hemlock Hall to look for Margaret Judson, and Nancy was glad to accompany him. The trip proved to be a waste of time. Although they inquired at the airport, gas stations and various shops, no one could give them any information about Miss Judson’s whereabouts.
“Dad,” said Nancy, “I’m afraid I’ll have to stop sleuthing and hurry back to our hotel. My name is posted to play in the golf tournament at two o’clock.”
The Drews ate lunch, then drove to Deer Mountain. Nancy quickly changed to golf clothes and went out on the course. As usual, Chris was her caddy.
The match was close. Nancy, scarcely noticing the pain in her hand, played an excellent game. To the delight of her friends, she won on the fifteenth hole. As she finished out the round, she jokingly asked Chris if he had found her Jimmy Harlow ball.
“I don’t think I’ll ever find it now,” he told her gloomily. “Maybe someone else picked it up.”
“Have you noticed anyone in the woods by the bridge?” Nancy asked.
“This morning I saw a man poking a stick around in the mud by the stream.”
Nancy pressed for a more detailed description of the person, but Chris was unable to give one. On her way back to the hotel she reflected on the clue that Chris unknowingly had revealed.
“That man he saw may have been the Judson gardener,” she thought. “Or possibly someone who was searching for the brass chest I found buried in the mudbank.”
Nancy was afraid it might be too late to locate the man, but she decided to investigate the haunted bridge area immediately. Bess and George were eager to assist in Nancy’s search. The three girls set off across the golf course. They had gone only a few steps when Bess stopped.
“Here comes that pest Barty!” she exclaimed. “Now what’ll we do?”
Thinking very quickly, Nancy greeted the new-comer with a warm smile.
“Oh, Mr. Bartescue, did my father see you this afternoon?”
“Why no,” he answered in surprise, falling into the trap. “Did he wish to speak with me?”
“Well, he was looking for a tennis partner.”
Martin Bartescue had boasted to Nancy that he excelled in several sports. Tennis and golf, however, he claimed were his favorites.
“I see Dad on the terrace!” Nancy cried and motioned for him to join the group.
“Dad, I’ve found a wonderful tennis partner for you,” she declared as he came up.
The lawyer suspected that Nancy wished to rid herself of Bartescue, and agreed to get his tennis shoes and racquet and meet the other man at the courts.
The girls made their way toward the haunted bridge. Dark clouds were moving swiftly overhead, and by the time they reached the woods a strong wind was blowing.
Soon they were within view of the old bridge. Bess shivered and kept close to her companions. Suddenly they were startled to hear the same moaning and groaning sounds which had perplexed them on their first
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