Read Online (#16) The Clue of the Tapping Heels by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online
Authors: Carolyn Keene
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rushed out of here as if a cyclone were chasing him.”
Nancy was so appreciative of the woman’s assistance she could have kissed her. But she merely said:
“I suspect that the cats the man was selling had been stolen from a home where I’m staying. I called the police and here are two detectives. They doubted my story, so I am very grateful to you for helping me out.”
The woman turned to the detectives. “Everything I’ve just said is true. Besides, I can easily believe that the man is a thief. He acted very odd right from the beginning—shifty-eyed and sort of scared—and wouldn’t let the judges look at his Persians. Even the cats didn’t seem to like him. He was having a hard time with them.”
The taller detective turned to Nancy. “I’m sorry I thought you were kidding us.” Then he quickly defended himself. “The police get so many phony calls I guess we’re kind of rough on people sometimes.”
He then asked for a full description of the suspect. The woman in booth thirty-one gave a clear picture of the man.
“Short and kind of stocky. He walked with quick steps. As I said he was shifty-eyed and acted nervous. He had dark hair and eyes. I guess that’s all I can tell you about him.”
The detective said she had been a great help and they would try to locate the man. The detectives said good-by to everyone and left. After Nancy had thanked the woman again, she and Bess hurried back to their own booth.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get a look at that man’s Persian cats,” Bess said. “He probably took the list of the purchasers so there’s no chance of tracing him or the cats.”
“I’m afraid not,” Nancy agreed. “Let’s just hope they found good homes.”
The girls were delighted that George had sold two cats and within a few minutes Nancy sold one. By now the crowd had dwindled and it was approaching closing time.
“Oh dear!” said Bess. “Do you suppose we’ll have to take Abatha back home? Miss Carter needs the money and will be disappointed that we didn’t sell all the Persians. Should we lower the price?”
“I don’t want to do that,” said Nancy.
She took the Persian from its cage and fondled the fluffy animal. Maybe her gesture would appeal to some prospective buyer!
Among the people who stopped at the booth was a little boy. His pockets were stuffed with boxes of popcorn and candy. In one hand he carried a curled-up paper whistle.
He walked close to the cat and gave a great blow on the whistle. Not only did it make a loud noise but the curled-up section flew out at the little animal and hit it in the face.
“Oh, you naughty boy!” Nancy cried as the cat leaped from her arms.
To her dismay, it scooted up a post and onto a crossbeam. She turned toward the cat and held up one hand.
“Don’t be frightened,” she said soothingly. “I won’t let him do it again. Please come down.”
The cat paid no attention, so Nancy climbed up on a chair and reached for it. But the cat scooted farther away and climbed high onto a rafter of the auditorium.
“Oh dear!” said Bess. “What are we going to do now?”
Nancy continued to cajole the Persian to climb down, but without success. Bess and George tried persuading the cat to come back, but they had no luck either.
“There’s only one thing left to do,” said Nancy. “I’m glad I wore pants.”
She caught the beam above, hoisted herself onto it, and walked along it to the rafter. Then she began climbing toward the cat.
“Oh, Nancy,” Bess wailed, “please come back!”
“Oh, Nancy,” wailed Bess, “that’s too dangerous! The cat isn’t worth it. Please come back.”
Nancy assured Bess she would be all right and continued to climb. Onlookers began to gather and offer all kinds of advice. Most of the men urged Nancy to go on but to be careful. The women begged her to come down.
Bess had turned her back on the scene. She was ashen. Her lips were moving and George assumed she was praying for
Nancy was so appreciative of the woman’s assistance she could have kissed her. But she merely said:
“I suspect that the cats the man was selling had been stolen from a home where I’m staying. I called the police and here are two detectives. They doubted my story, so I am very grateful to you for helping me out.”
The woman turned to the detectives. “Everything I’ve just said is true. Besides, I can easily believe that the man is a thief. He acted very odd right from the beginning—shifty-eyed and sort of scared—and wouldn’t let the judges look at his Persians. Even the cats didn’t seem to like him. He was having a hard time with them.”
The taller detective turned to Nancy. “I’m sorry I thought you were kidding us.” Then he quickly defended himself. “The police get so many phony calls I guess we’re kind of rough on people sometimes.”
He then asked for a full description of the suspect. The woman in booth thirty-one gave a clear picture of the man.
“Short and kind of stocky. He walked with quick steps. As I said he was shifty-eyed and acted nervous. He had dark hair and eyes. I guess that’s all I can tell you about him.”
The detective said she had been a great help and they would try to locate the man. The detectives said good-by to everyone and left. After Nancy had thanked the woman again, she and Bess hurried back to their own booth.
“I’m sorry I didn’t get a look at that man’s Persian cats,” Bess said. “He probably took the list of the purchasers so there’s no chance of tracing him or the cats.”
“I’m afraid not,” Nancy agreed. “Let’s just hope they found good homes.”
The girls were delighted that George had sold two cats and within a few minutes Nancy sold one. By now the crowd had dwindled and it was approaching closing time.
“Oh dear!” said Bess. “Do you suppose we’ll have to take Abatha back home? Miss Carter needs the money and will be disappointed that we didn’t sell all the Persians. Should we lower the price?”
“I don’t want to do that,” said Nancy.
She took the Persian from its cage and fondled the fluffy animal. Maybe her gesture would appeal to some prospective buyer!
Among the people who stopped at the booth was a little boy. His pockets were stuffed with boxes of popcorn and candy. In one hand he carried a curled-up paper whistle.
He walked close to the cat and gave a great blow on the whistle. Not only did it make a loud noise but the curled-up section flew out at the little animal and hit it in the face.
“Oh, you naughty boy!” Nancy cried as the cat leaped from her arms.
To her dismay, it scooted up a post and onto a crossbeam. She turned toward the cat and held up one hand.
“Don’t be frightened,” she said soothingly. “I won’t let him do it again. Please come down.”
The cat paid no attention, so Nancy climbed up on a chair and reached for it. But the cat scooted farther away and climbed high onto a rafter of the auditorium.
“Oh dear!” said Bess. “What are we going to do now?”
Nancy continued to cajole the Persian to climb down, but without success. Bess and George tried persuading the cat to come back, but they had no luck either.
“There’s only one thing left to do,” said Nancy. “I’m glad I wore pants.”
She caught the beam above, hoisted herself onto it, and walked along it to the rafter. Then she began climbing toward the cat.
“Oh, Nancy,” Bess wailed, “please come back!”
“Oh, Nancy,” wailed Bess, “that’s too dangerous! The cat isn’t worth it. Please come back.”
Nancy assured Bess she would be all right and continued to climb. Onlookers began to gather and offer all kinds of advice. Most of the men urged Nancy to go on but to be careful. The women begged her to come down.
Bess had turned her back on the scene. She was ashen. Her lips were moving and George assumed she was praying for
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