done to make the bridge safe.
“You won’t be able to cross the ravine to return to your hotel,” Ned told her. “I’ll drive you back.”
“Thanks, Ned, but that won’t be necessary. I want you to meet Professor Wardell.” She pointed toward a dark corner of the room. “He has offered to take me in his car, which is parked at the Judson estate.”
The stranger rose from a chair and came forward. As the boys were introduced, Ned glanced at the man with a puzzled look. He was wondering how Wardell had become acquainted with Nancy. Even her explanation that he was Mr. Haley’s nephew did not lessen Ned’s feeling of jealousy.
Nancy gave him a warm smile as if to reassure him. Then she asked Ned to take good care of the patient while she and the professor went to the hotel.
“I don’t seem to be of much use at anything else,” Ned muttered, turning away.
During the drive to Deer Mountain Hotel, Nancy told her companion more about her father. The professor said he was eager to meet the lawyer.
When they reached the lobby, Nancy said, “Will you, please, wait here while I go to Dad’s room?”
He nodded and she went to the elevator. Nancy stopped a moment at George and Bess’s room but the cousins were not there.
“Dad!” she cried, bursting in upon him. “I’m almost certain that the carved chest I found in the ravine is Miss Judson’s missing property! I’ve brought Professor Wardell here. He’s her former fiancé. I want you to talk to him.”
Mr. Drew smiled. “You work fast, Nancy. I’d like very much to meet him.” After hearing his daughter’s full story, including the rained-out golf match, he said, “Bring Professor Wardell up to my room where we can talk privately.”
Nancy hurried downstairs to get the professor. He and Mr. Drew immediately liked each other. Nancy listened tensely when her father broached the topic of his search for Miss Judson.
“I appreciate your opinion, sir,” Professor Wardell said respectfully after he had listened to a summary of the evidence against the young woman. “But I cannot believe that Margaret knows anything about the jewel thefts. She was always so honorable and comes from a fine family. She couldn’t possibly have any connection with a gang of thieves and smugglers.”
“Nevertheless,” said Mr. Drew, “there are a few clues which seem to connect her with the affair. For instance, one of the stolen items is a jeweled compact. We know that Miss Judson had one.”
“That is not proof of her guilt,” said the professor.
“Of course not,” agreed Mr. Drew. “It could easily be coincidence.”
Nancy spoke up. “Did you ever hear Miss Judson speak of Martin Bartescue?”
“Why yes. I believe she met him in Europe.”
Nancy and her father exchanged quick glances.
“Is Bartescue under suspicion?” Wardell asked.
“Yes,” Carson Drew answered gravely, “but so far the evidence against him is purely circumstantial. If only we could find Miss Judson, she might be able to clear up the mystery surrounding both of them.”
“I have no idea where Margaret is,” the professor replied. “She might be staying with a cousin in Rock City.”
“You’ve never inquired?” Nancy asked in surprise.
“No,” Wardell answered in a low tone. “I didn’t want to force my attentions on Margaret. I don’t feel I should seek her out deliberately without some indication on her part that she wants to see me again. I still believe, however, that if I could talk with her, everything might be explained and cleared up.”
Professor Wardell arose to leave, saying he was already late for an important meeting.
“I’ll be waiting eagerly to hear from you, Mr. Drew. Your daughter has my address at Andover. When I’m not there I usually can be reached at my office in the science building.”
After he had gone, Nancy and her father discussed the case for a few minutes.
“In spite of all the evidence against Margaret Judson,” said Nancy,
“You won’t be able to cross the ravine to return to your hotel,” Ned told her. “I’ll drive you back.”
“Thanks, Ned, but that won’t be necessary. I want you to meet Professor Wardell.” She pointed toward a dark corner of the room. “He has offered to take me in his car, which is parked at the Judson estate.”
The stranger rose from a chair and came forward. As the boys were introduced, Ned glanced at the man with a puzzled look. He was wondering how Wardell had become acquainted with Nancy. Even her explanation that he was Mr. Haley’s nephew did not lessen Ned’s feeling of jealousy.
Nancy gave him a warm smile as if to reassure him. Then she asked Ned to take good care of the patient while she and the professor went to the hotel.
“I don’t seem to be of much use at anything else,” Ned muttered, turning away.
During the drive to Deer Mountain Hotel, Nancy told her companion more about her father. The professor said he was eager to meet the lawyer.
When they reached the lobby, Nancy said, “Will you, please, wait here while I go to Dad’s room?”
He nodded and she went to the elevator. Nancy stopped a moment at George and Bess’s room but the cousins were not there.
“Dad!” she cried, bursting in upon him. “I’m almost certain that the carved chest I found in the ravine is Miss Judson’s missing property! I’ve brought Professor Wardell here. He’s her former fiancé. I want you to talk to him.”
Mr. Drew smiled. “You work fast, Nancy. I’d like very much to meet him.” After hearing his daughter’s full story, including the rained-out golf match, he said, “Bring Professor Wardell up to my room where we can talk privately.”
Nancy hurried downstairs to get the professor. He and Mr. Drew immediately liked each other. Nancy listened tensely when her father broached the topic of his search for Miss Judson.
“I appreciate your opinion, sir,” Professor Wardell said respectfully after he had listened to a summary of the evidence against the young woman. “But I cannot believe that Margaret knows anything about the jewel thefts. She was always so honorable and comes from a fine family. She couldn’t possibly have any connection with a gang of thieves and smugglers.”
“Nevertheless,” said Mr. Drew, “there are a few clues which seem to connect her with the affair. For instance, one of the stolen items is a jeweled compact. We know that Miss Judson had one.”
“That is not proof of her guilt,” said the professor.
“Of course not,” agreed Mr. Drew. “It could easily be coincidence.”
Nancy spoke up. “Did you ever hear Miss Judson speak of Martin Bartescue?”
“Why yes. I believe she met him in Europe.”
Nancy and her father exchanged quick glances.
“Is Bartescue under suspicion?” Wardell asked.
“Yes,” Carson Drew answered gravely, “but so far the evidence against him is purely circumstantial. If only we could find Miss Judson, she might be able to clear up the mystery surrounding both of them.”
“I have no idea where Margaret is,” the professor replied. “She might be staying with a cousin in Rock City.”
“You’ve never inquired?” Nancy asked in surprise.
“No,” Wardell answered in a low tone. “I didn’t want to force my attentions on Margaret. I don’t feel I should seek her out deliberately without some indication on her part that she wants to see me again. I still believe, however, that if I could talk with her, everything might be explained and cleared up.”
Professor Wardell arose to leave, saying he was already late for an important meeting.
“I’ll be waiting eagerly to hear from you, Mr. Drew. Your daughter has my address at Andover. When I’m not there I usually can be reached at my office in the science building.”
After he had gone, Nancy and her father discussed the case for a few minutes.
“In spite of all the evidence against Margaret Judson,” said Nancy,
Similar Books
