Read Online (#30) The Clue of the Velvet Mask by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Carolyn Keene
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the company president admitted. “But perhaps Mr. Tombar had other reasons as well. After all, the girl has been under suspicion.”
“Unjustly so, I’m sure, Mr. Lightner. She wasn’t even at that musicale where there was a robbery.”
“I know,” Mr. Lightner said. “But there were other parties and certain thefts right here which raised doubts as to her honesty.”
“If I could prove she’s innocent, would you take Linda back?” Nancy asked.
“Why—uh—yes. Of course, that is, with Mr. Tombar’s okay.”
Nancy realized that Linda would need a reference to secure a new job. She could not get one from her ex-employer.
Nancy thought quickly. She could only help Linda by catching the thieves! Nancy must get an invitation to the affair on June twenty-sixth.
“Mr. Lightner,” she said, “you know, of course, that I’ve been trying to help Dad solve the mystery of the party thieves.”
The man smiled. “Yes, he told me even I was under suspicion for a time!”
“May I go to the lecture at the Claytons’?” Nancy asked.
He readily gave his consent, telling her to meet him there at seven-thirty Wednesday evening.
“I’m taking personal charge,” he informed her. “I’ve decided it’s high time I did a little investigating of my own.”
“Then Mr. Tombar won’t be there?”
“No,” Mr. Lightner replied. “He’s in a huff about it, too. But that’s beside the point.”
Further conversation revealed that Peter Tombar was annoyed also because Mr. Lightner had asked him not to take such long lunch hours.
Nancy smiled. “The man must have been driving out into the country a good deal,” she thought. “Well, if he doesn’t do that any more, another clue is washed out.”
Speaking again of the lecture, she suggested that as a precautionary measure all the cards of admission be marked with a special swirl. Then no uninvited person could possibly slip in without being detected. Mr. Lightner immediately agreed to Nancy’s proposal.
“I have the list here, ready for addressing,” he told her. “Shall we mark them now? I’ll have a messenger deliver them this evening.”
The work was done quickly. Each card was marked on the reverse side.
“It’s essential that we tell no one what we’ve done,” Nancy advised Mr. Lightner. “Not even your secretary or Mr. Tombar.”
“Surely both of them can be trusted.”
“Nevertheless, let’s keep this as our own secret.”
“Very well,” Mr. Lightner said. “I’ll personally check every invitation at the door.”
After lunch Nancy went to Mr. Johnson’s office to inquire what progress had been made in recalling the charge plates. She learned that they were coming in very slowly. He said that he did not dare push the matter, lest any dishonest employee get an inkling of what lay behind the scheme.
“I’ll let you know if anything turns up,” the credit manager promised.
Nancy had a long talk with her father. Mr. Drew said he had decided to take the Lightner case, thanks to his daughter’s fine sleuthing. But the company owner refused to believe that any of his present employees were dishonest.
“His clients are getting a bit impatient and want to start their suits,” Mr. Drew revealed, “but we’re stalling for time.”
“If I could only discover something worth while!” Nancy sighed.
She spent the rest of the day with George, who had sent for her. The listless girl was in no better spirits and Nancy missed her friend’s help in sleuthing. All she could do was humor George.
Bess was out of town, leaving Nancy with a lonesome feeling.
“But I mustn’t give up, even for a second,” she determined.
The distraught George again begged Nancy to give up the case. “You—you simply must stop working on it,” she pleaded.
“George, whatever has happened to you?” Nancy asked. “This case is no different from others I’ve worked on.”
“It’s much more dangerous. Nancy, please—”
The young sleuth patted
“Unjustly so, I’m sure, Mr. Lightner. She wasn’t even at that musicale where there was a robbery.”
“I know,” Mr. Lightner said. “But there were other parties and certain thefts right here which raised doubts as to her honesty.”
“If I could prove she’s innocent, would you take Linda back?” Nancy asked.
“Why—uh—yes. Of course, that is, with Mr. Tombar’s okay.”
Nancy realized that Linda would need a reference to secure a new job. She could not get one from her ex-employer.
Nancy thought quickly. She could only help Linda by catching the thieves! Nancy must get an invitation to the affair on June twenty-sixth.
“Mr. Lightner,” she said, “you know, of course, that I’ve been trying to help Dad solve the mystery of the party thieves.”
The man smiled. “Yes, he told me even I was under suspicion for a time!”
“May I go to the lecture at the Claytons’?” Nancy asked.
He readily gave his consent, telling her to meet him there at seven-thirty Wednesday evening.
“I’m taking personal charge,” he informed her. “I’ve decided it’s high time I did a little investigating of my own.”
“Then Mr. Tombar won’t be there?”
“No,” Mr. Lightner replied. “He’s in a huff about it, too. But that’s beside the point.”
Further conversation revealed that Peter Tombar was annoyed also because Mr. Lightner had asked him not to take such long lunch hours.
Nancy smiled. “The man must have been driving out into the country a good deal,” she thought. “Well, if he doesn’t do that any more, another clue is washed out.”
Speaking again of the lecture, she suggested that as a precautionary measure all the cards of admission be marked with a special swirl. Then no uninvited person could possibly slip in without being detected. Mr. Lightner immediately agreed to Nancy’s proposal.
“I have the list here, ready for addressing,” he told her. “Shall we mark them now? I’ll have a messenger deliver them this evening.”
The work was done quickly. Each card was marked on the reverse side.
“It’s essential that we tell no one what we’ve done,” Nancy advised Mr. Lightner. “Not even your secretary or Mr. Tombar.”
“Surely both of them can be trusted.”
“Nevertheless, let’s keep this as our own secret.”
“Very well,” Mr. Lightner said. “I’ll personally check every invitation at the door.”
After lunch Nancy went to Mr. Johnson’s office to inquire what progress had been made in recalling the charge plates. She learned that they were coming in very slowly. He said that he did not dare push the matter, lest any dishonest employee get an inkling of what lay behind the scheme.
“I’ll let you know if anything turns up,” the credit manager promised.
Nancy had a long talk with her father. Mr. Drew said he had decided to take the Lightner case, thanks to his daughter’s fine sleuthing. But the company owner refused to believe that any of his present employees were dishonest.
“His clients are getting a bit impatient and want to start their suits,” Mr. Drew revealed, “but we’re stalling for time.”
“If I could only discover something worth while!” Nancy sighed.
She spent the rest of the day with George, who had sent for her. The listless girl was in no better spirits and Nancy missed her friend’s help in sleuthing. All she could do was humor George.
Bess was out of town, leaving Nancy with a lonesome feeling.
“But I mustn’t give up, even for a second,” she determined.
The distraught George again begged Nancy to give up the case. “You—you simply must stop working on it,” she pleaded.
“George, whatever has happened to you?” Nancy asked. “This case is no different from others I’ve worked on.”
“It’s much more dangerous. Nancy, please—”
The young sleuth patted
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