Read Online The Nancy Drew Sleuth Book by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online
Authors: Carolyn Keene
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been thoroughly swept and vacuumed.
Honey was disappointed. “I was hoping so much that we’d find Mother’s cameo,” she said.
Nancy urged her not to be discouraged. “We’ve only started!” she pointed out.
Just then an elderly African American man walked into the car. He had a round, pleasant face and curly gray hair.
When Mrs. Rushmore saw him, she exclaimed, “Oh, you’re Kalef. You were my porter while I was on a trip last year.”
The man shook hands with her. “Indeed, I was,” he said. “And I remember you. You’re Mrs. Rushmore—one of the nicest ladies I’ve ever helped.”
“Thank you,” Mrs. Rushmore said, and introduced the girls. “Are you on another train now, Kalef?” she asked.
“No. As a matter of fact, the trip with you was the last one I made. I’ve been working in the office ever since.”
Kalef went on to say that he had asked to serve this particular car because he had been born near Mount Rushmore. “That’s why I remember your name,” he told Honey’s mother. “Every time I get a chance to see this old car, I walk up and down the aisle. It reminds me of my boyhood and my days as a porter.”
“Did you know I lost my valuable cameo on that trip?” Mrs. Rushmore asked.
“Yes. I’m sorry about that. The police interrogated everyone who had been in the Mount Rushmore sleeper, and so did the insurance people. But we didn’t find your pin.”
“Is there anyone else who might know something about it?” Nancy asked. “Anyone who was in the car after you arrived in River Heights, but before the police came?”
Kalef scratched his head. “River Heights was the last stop. But now that you mention it, someone did come in for a moment.”
“Someone you knew?”
“Yes. I know him well. He’s one of the switch-men out in the freight yard.” Kalef paused, then added, “But if you’re thinking that he’s a thief, I’m sure you’re wrong.”
“But he might give us a clue,” Nancy said. “Would you mind taking us to him?”
“I’ll be glad to,” Kalef said.
They left the car, pulling the door shut to lock it.
“Now, you be careful,” the man warned. “This is a dangerous place. Be sure to look in all directions.”
The girls promised to and set off with him.
Suddenly Kalef stopped short. “I just had an idea. Once a year they have an auction over in the warehouse. It’s for unclaimed articles lost on trains or in the station. Today they’re having one. Maybe your cameo is there, Mrs. Rushmore, and you could claim it!”
“The police and the insurance company asked the Lost and Found department last July,” Mrs. Rushmore replied. “It had not been turned in.”
Kalef shrugged and went on at a fast pace. He was ahead of the group when he disappeared behind another car. As the detectives hurried to catch up to him Peg suddenly screamed. “Look out!”
A trainman’s work car was coming toward them at high-speed. To the girls’ dismay, it was switched onto the very tracks they were walking on!
“Oh!” Martie cried out. She seemed frozen to the spot.
Nancy grabbed her hand and yanked the girl along with her. “Jump!” she yelled.
The others leaped across the track. They were none too soon. The conductor of the work car had seen them, but too late to brake to a stop. If the girls had not moved quickly, they would have been run over!
“Oh, dear!” Mrs. Rushmore exclaimed. “I had no idea there would be such danger!”
“It’s my fault,” Nancy told her. “I promised we’d all be careful.”
By this time Kalef had run back. He looked in horror when he realized what might have happened and was about to argue with the conductor of the work train, but Nancy cut him short.
“Never mind. Take us to see the switchman, please.”
Again the group followed Kalef, but now they looked in all directions before proceeding. A few minutes later, he led them to the switchmen’s tower. A tall, blond fellow was just coming down the iron
Honey was disappointed. “I was hoping so much that we’d find Mother’s cameo,” she said.
Nancy urged her not to be discouraged. “We’ve only started!” she pointed out.
Just then an elderly African American man walked into the car. He had a round, pleasant face and curly gray hair.
When Mrs. Rushmore saw him, she exclaimed, “Oh, you’re Kalef. You were my porter while I was on a trip last year.”
The man shook hands with her. “Indeed, I was,” he said. “And I remember you. You’re Mrs. Rushmore—one of the nicest ladies I’ve ever helped.”
“Thank you,” Mrs. Rushmore said, and introduced the girls. “Are you on another train now, Kalef?” she asked.
“No. As a matter of fact, the trip with you was the last one I made. I’ve been working in the office ever since.”
Kalef went on to say that he had asked to serve this particular car because he had been born near Mount Rushmore. “That’s why I remember your name,” he told Honey’s mother. “Every time I get a chance to see this old car, I walk up and down the aisle. It reminds me of my boyhood and my days as a porter.”
“Did you know I lost my valuable cameo on that trip?” Mrs. Rushmore asked.
“Yes. I’m sorry about that. The police interrogated everyone who had been in the Mount Rushmore sleeper, and so did the insurance people. But we didn’t find your pin.”
“Is there anyone else who might know something about it?” Nancy asked. “Anyone who was in the car after you arrived in River Heights, but before the police came?”
Kalef scratched his head. “River Heights was the last stop. But now that you mention it, someone did come in for a moment.”
“Someone you knew?”
“Yes. I know him well. He’s one of the switch-men out in the freight yard.” Kalef paused, then added, “But if you’re thinking that he’s a thief, I’m sure you’re wrong.”
“But he might give us a clue,” Nancy said. “Would you mind taking us to him?”
“I’ll be glad to,” Kalef said.
They left the car, pulling the door shut to lock it.
“Now, you be careful,” the man warned. “This is a dangerous place. Be sure to look in all directions.”
The girls promised to and set off with him.
Suddenly Kalef stopped short. “I just had an idea. Once a year they have an auction over in the warehouse. It’s for unclaimed articles lost on trains or in the station. Today they’re having one. Maybe your cameo is there, Mrs. Rushmore, and you could claim it!”
“The police and the insurance company asked the Lost and Found department last July,” Mrs. Rushmore replied. “It had not been turned in.”
Kalef shrugged and went on at a fast pace. He was ahead of the group when he disappeared behind another car. As the detectives hurried to catch up to him Peg suddenly screamed. “Look out!”
A trainman’s work car was coming toward them at high-speed. To the girls’ dismay, it was switched onto the very tracks they were walking on!
“Oh!” Martie cried out. She seemed frozen to the spot.
Nancy grabbed her hand and yanked the girl along with her. “Jump!” she yelled.
The others leaped across the track. They were none too soon. The conductor of the work car had seen them, but too late to brake to a stop. If the girls had not moved quickly, they would have been run over!
“Oh, dear!” Mrs. Rushmore exclaimed. “I had no idea there would be such danger!”
“It’s my fault,” Nancy told her. “I promised we’d all be careful.”
By this time Kalef had run back. He looked in horror when he realized what might have happened and was about to argue with the conductor of the work train, but Nancy cut him short.
“Never mind. Take us to see the switchman, please.”
Again the group followed Kalef, but now they looked in all directions before proceeding. A few minutes later, he led them to the switchmen’s tower. A tall, blond fellow was just coming down the iron
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