Read Online The Clue of the Broken Locket by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online

outside was broken. The girls heard the porch step creak.

CHAPTER X
    An Exciting Find
    LIKE a flash Nancy was at the front door of the cottage. She flung it open. A handsome, blond young man stood there, his hand lifted as if to knock.
    “Niko Van Dyke!” she cried out involuntarily.
    He smiled broadly. “You recognize me?”
    Nancy, smiling, said, “I not only recognize you, but I’m terribly relieved to see you. Please come in.”
    “You mean you thought I was a burglar?” Niko asked as they all took seats.
    “Well, we had a prowler here today who did a lot of damage and I was afraid he might be returning.”
    To Nancy’s surprise, the young musician said, “I saw him, but I didn’t know that he had already broken into the cottage. He was carrying an ax. When he spotted me, he ran off toward the misty end of the lake.”
    “You saw him!” Bess exclaimed, coming forward. “What did he look like?”
    When Niko described the man, Nancy looked at the other two girls significantly. He must be Vince Driscoll!
    “What time did you see him?” Nancy asked.
    When Niko told her, Nancy realized that Vince had rushed over to the cottage while she was locked on the roof—and before Bess’s return—and damaged its contents. This must mean that the Driscolls were trying to frighten the girls away from the area.
    Suddenly Nancy realized that Niko no doubt was looking for Cecily. Quickly she introduced herself and the others, then explained how they happened to be staying there.
    “Cecily isn’t here now?” Niko asked, a look of disappointment on his face.
    “She’s on her way to Baltimore,” Nancy replied.
    “Baltimore! But why?”
    “To see you,” Nancy replied. “It’s a shame—you just missed her. We put her on the bus not long ago.”
    “Is she coming back here?” Niko asked.
    Nancy nodded. “She has been trying day and night to get you on the phone.”
    “I’ve been pretty much tied up,” Niko explained. “I wanted to come here as soon as I got Cecily’s message, but this is the first chance I’ve had. The Flying Dutchmen are taking a night off. I’ve been very upset. Cecily may have told you that we had a disagreement and I felt pretty bad about it.”
    Somewhat embarrassed, Niko admitted that upon arriving at the village that afternoon he had walked for hours along the lake trying to think of a way to persuade Cecily to marry him right away. It was during that time he had seen the suspected vandal.
    “If only I’d come directly here! But I hesitated, not knowing just how Cecily felt,” Niko added dejectedly.
    Nancy smiled sympathetically. “Cecily is very eager to get things straightened out too. That’s one reason why I’m relieved to see you. Now I have a chance to tell you this.”
    Niko’s sad expression vanished. Suddenly he looked happy and boyish. “I’m crazy about Cecily and want to marry her soon.”
    “She told us that too,” said Bess. “We three hope she’ll change her mind and not put off the wedding too long. Of course you know about the iron bird. We’ve all been helping her look for it, but haven’t had any luck so far. There seems to be a mystery connected with the house and grounds where we think the bird is.”
    George spoke up. “But Nancy will solve it. She’s a detective and a very good one.”
    Niko looked surprised. “I’ve never met a girl detective before, I sure wish you luck on this case. Cecily wants to find the fortune for us, but I keep telling her I can earn enough, and we don’t have to live in grand style.”
    Nancy and her friends were impressed by the young man’s sincerity. George spoke up. “Are you staying in town tonight or going back to Baltimore?”
    “I’m staying at Mrs. Hosking’s guest house,” he replied. “But I must leave tomorrow morning.”
    A mischievous look suddenly came into Niko’s eyes. “I tell you what. I’ll come back here tomorrow night after our performance. But don’t tell Cecily when she returns.