Read Online The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online Page A

I heard someone prowling around outside. I grabbed this old musket—guess it’s been here since the inn was built. It’s not loaded, but I figured it might scare away an intruder.”
    John grinned. “Nancy and I were your ‘prowlers.’ ” He explained that they had tried all the doors in their search for Helen.
    The women and girls started upstairs. John and Mr. Daly, carrying his musket, said they would “stand guard” for the rest of the night.
    As Emily showed Nancy and Helen to their room, she said firmly, “This awful experience has made me decide to call the police first thing in the morning!”
    “Oh, Emily, thank goodness!” Helen exclaimed in relief. “If there is some kind of maniac loose at Lilac Inn, you’ll be doing the right thing.”
    Emily stepped closer to the girls. “When the police arrive,” she whispered, “I’d appreciate it if you still don’t mention the diamond theft.”
    Her friends, though surprised, promised not to say a word about it.
    “You see,” Emily went on softly, “it’s not for my sake, but Aunt Hazel’s. I can’t explain any more right now. You go to bed. I’ll call you if I need you.”
    Nancy and Helen were too polite to ask further questions. Nevertheless, Nancy fell asleep wondering about Emily’s request. When the young sleuth awoke in the morning, her first thought was of the bomb. When had it been planted? While she was skin diving?
    “The person who placed the bomb might have been seen by someone connected with the inn,” Nancy speculated.
    Helen awoke just then, and Nancy asked how she felt. “Fine, except for a slight headache.” Helen shuddered. “Last night seems like a terrible dream!”
    A few minutes later Emily knocked on the door with clothes for Helen and Nancy to borrow. While they dressed, she reported that a trooper from the Benton State Police Barracks would be over shortly to inspect the burned cottage.
    “John checked the lilac grove at daybreak,” she added. “There were lots of footprints of various sizes, but no sign of any suspicious person.”
    “Maybe I was dreaming I saw the ghost,” Helen said. She felt the back of her head. “But this bump is real!”
    The three girls went down to breakfast. John, Mrs. Willoughby, and Maud were already at the table. No other guests were in the room. Nancy gave her order to Anna.
    At a nearby table the waitress Jean Holmes was arranging flowers in a copper vase. The girl smiled shyly at Nancy, picked up the bowl, and walked toward the bay window. As she started to place the flowers on the wide sill, Jean gave a startled cry. She dropped the bowl, scattering flowers and water on the floor.
    Everyone at the table stared out the window. Two men were peering in. Nancy recognized them and jumped to her feet in surprise.

CHAPTER X
    “Blue Pipes”
    THE unexpected sight of the two men peering through the dining-room window had startled Nancy, but in a happy way. She recognized the observers as her father and the state trooper, Lieutenant Brice.
    As Jean apologized for her clumsiness and went to the kitchen for her broom and mop, Nancy hurried to the hall. She greeted her tall, handsome father and the officer who had come to her rescue when her car was forced into the ditch.
    “Nancy, are you all right?” was Carson Drew’s first question.
    “Oh, just fine, Dad. What a nice surprise to see you!” She kissed him affectionately. With a smile she added, “I didn’t expect to see you again so soon, Lieutenant Brice.”
    The officer grinned. He explained that he had been assigned to investigate the cottage fire. When he arrived at Lilac Inn, he had met Carson Drew, who had just driven up. The two men were completing a quick tour of the grounds when they passed the dining room and looked in.
    Mr. Drew chuckled. “I thought I’d surprise you, Nancy, but I didn’t expect to scare that waitress.”
    “So many upsetting things have happened here, Dad,” Nancy said, “I guess everyone’s a