Read Online (#39) The Clue of the Dancing Puppet by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online Page A

Chuck Grant. He came right back at them, and the conversation went on for several seconds. Then all three left.
    “Right after that, I missed my necklace. It hadn’t fallen to the floor, so I was sure the man who stood behind me had taken it.”
    Nancy told herself that any thief who could have done this without attracting attention must indeed be amazingly adept.
    Mr. Burke added, “My wife became very excited and started running after the two men. They also started to run. I must admit it made them look guilty.” He sighed. “But you saw what happened.”
    “Where did Chuck Grant go?” Nancy asked.
    “Oh, he had walked off in another direction. I believe he was sitting at one of the tables with a young lady.”
    “Tammi!” Nancy thought. For a fleeting second she wondered if there could be any possible connection among Tammi, Chuck, and the two men. But instantly she put the idea out of her mind. It was too improbable!
    “Well, thank you for telling me,” said Nancy. “I must go now. A friend is waiting!”
    As the two girls left the grounds of the Green Acres Restaurant, Nancy told George the whole story. “Instinct tells me this journey wasn’t a complete waste of time,” she added.
    “And instinct tells me,” said George, “that in view of what happened last night on the road, we’d better roll up our windows and lock the doors.”
    “You’re right,” Nancy agreed.
    There was only moderate traffic on the road, and the girls came within view of the Van Pelt estate without interference. Nancy heaved a sigh of relief and turned into the driveway. But a moment later she jammed on her brakes. There was a roadblock of sawhorses across her path.
    “Well, for Pete’s sake!” said George.
    She was about to get out and remove the horses, which she recognized as part of the theater’s stage props when, without warning. brilliant lights were flashed into the two girls’ eyes from each side of the convertible!

CHAPTER XI
    The Incriminating Mark
     
     
     
    NANCY and George blinked in the strong glare of the bright flashlights.
    “Roll down your windows!” a man’s voice ordered.
    Nancy paid no attention to the order. George too remained adamant.
    Although the girls’ eyes had not become entirely accustomed to the light, they could vaguely make out that the persons holding the flashes were masked men. Nancy was sure that the one who had spoken was trying to disguise his voice.
    “I said roll down your windows,” he warned.
    Instead of obeying, Nancy put her hand on the car’s horn. She held it down, and in the stillness of the night it reverberated loudly.
    “Stop that!” the man on her side ordered.
    Nancy paid no attention. But after she felt sure the alarm must have been heard, she took her hand off the horn. Nancy did not touch the window, but called through it, “Why did you stop us?”
    “Because we want to ask you a few questions,” the masked man replied. “You didn’t have to call for help. We’re not going to hurt you.”
    Nancy waited for him to go on. He looked across the top of the car and the girls could see the other man nod. Finally the one alongside Nancy said, “Why are you girls snooping around this place?”
    He received no answer. The girls kept watching the men closely.
    “You’re cool customers,” said the masked man who was doing the talking. “But you won’t keep so cool if you stay here. I’m warning you that the Van Pelt estate is a dangerous place. The sooner you get out, the better.”
    “And if I don’t choose to go?” Nancy countered, hoping that help would soon be coming from the house.
    “You haven’t seen anything yet around here,” the stranger went on. “The theater, the house, and the grounds are haunted!”
    Nancy and George almost laughed. One moment the speaker sounded like a hoodlum, and the next he was talking like a frightened child about the place being haunted. There was a pause, with no one saying anything. Suddenly the girls became