Read Online The Sign of the Twisted Candles by Carolyn Keene - Free Book Online Page B

I know, and it’s full of memories of his kindness to me. I’d like to remain here—where I can see you often, Nancy.”
    “Don’t worry, Carol. And for the next few days I’m going to stay with you all the time. Our darling housekeeper, Hannah Gruen, is coming out to be with us.”
    “Oh, thank you,” Carol said. “That makes me feel so much better.”
    Mrs. Gruen arrived by taxi at lunchtime and the girls went down to meet her. She carried two suitcases, one of them Nancy’s.
    After expressing her sympathy to Carol, she asked, “What was being sent from this mansion in a truck?”
    When Nancy and Carol said that they didn’t know, Hannah went on, “There were several cartons. Here comes the man now who helped load them.” Jemitt was striding toward the group from the kitchen.
    “Hannah, this is Mr. Jemitt,” Nancy introduced him. “I’d like—”
    “This place is closed,” he said abruptly. “Didn’t you see the sign? No meals, no rooms.”
    Mrs. Gruen said with dignity, “I have been invited to stay here.”
    “By whom?” When Jemitt was told, he sneered, “Well, don’t expect my wife and me to wait on you.”
    As he started to leave, Nancy said, “What were you sending from here in cartons?”
    “What do you mean?”
    Nancy explained and Jemitt answered, “Just some personal things. Your father told me and my wife to get out of here, so I’ve started packing.” He hurried off.
    “Hm!” said Mrs. Gruen. “I guess I’ve moved into a hornet’s nest.”
    Nancy nodded in agreement, then whispered, “I wish I had my car here. I’d follow that truck.”
    “You can do it, anyway,” Hannah Gruen told her. “Mose Blaine drove me here in his taxi. I had him wait in case you wanted to pick up your car. It’s at your father’s office.”
    “Oh you dear!” Nancy cried. She grabbed her purse, rushed from the inn, and jumped into the taxi. “Did you notice which direction that truck took?” she asked the driver.
    “Yes. It went east.”
    “Please follow it,” Nancy directed.
    Mose Blaine looked surprised but did as she requested. Nancy said, “Don’t break the law, but go as fast as you can.”
    The man grinned. “This buggy’s kind o’ old, Miss Drew, and it’s got rattles and creaks. I always say it groans with machinery rheumatiz pains.”
    Nancy smiled as she bounced and swayed on the rear seat. The taxi did not catch up to the truck until it pulled into the yard of a storage warehouse. Nancy asked Mose to wait for her at the curb. She waited until the driver of the truck went into the warehouse, then stepped out and walked into the yard. Pretending to give the cartons a casual glance, she looked for markings. One box lay on its side. Bold crayoned words read:
    FRANK JEMITT
VALUABLE
SPECIAL STORAGE
    Were the contents of the cartons the property of Asa Sidney? Nancy wondered as she hurried back to the taxi. She directed Mose to Mr. Drew’s office. When she reached it, Nancy paid the amount on the meter, gave the driver a generous tip, and stepped out.
    He thanked her, then said, “Ain’t you goin’ to tell me what the mystery is?”
    Nancy chuckled. “Someday, maybe.” She headed for the office building.
    Mr. Drew was amazed at her story and remarked, “You’re on the job all right. When you arrive back at the inn with your own car, I doubt that Jemitt will suspect you followed the truck—and that’s just as well.”
    As soon as Nancy returned to the Sidney mansion, she had lunch, then arranged with Mrs. Gruen and Carol to work subtly on one of two aspects of the case: they were to watch every movement of the Jemitts. She herself would continue to look for hidden articles.
    The afternoon and evening wore on with no unusual happenings and no luck in her search. Hannah Gruen helped with the preparation of meals and tidied the house. In this way she was able to keep track of Mrs. Jemitt, while her husband’s comings and goings were watched by Carol.
    Nancy had found no