The Mystery at Lilac Inn by Carolyn Keene Page B

she heard as she had approached the grove the previous night. She told John of this. “Perhaps,” she said, “whoever wore the flippers was to meet my impersonator and leave by boat.”
    “Or perhaps the diver was aboard but got out of the boat away from shore and swam underwater to avoid being detected,” John guessed.
    Nancy nodded and thought, “If this is the case, it eliminates Maud Potter as a participant in the rendezvous.”
    Nancy’s mind flitted over possible suspects. One of the gardeners? He could easily have skin-diving equipment without anyone knowing it.
    As Nancy and John walked toward the river, following the flipper treads, she asked, “John, do you know what ‘blue pipes’ are?”
    “Sure. Lilacs,” he said matter-of-factly.
    Nancy hesitated, then revealed her theory about the term being a code or a signal. “It could even mean Lilac Inn.”
    He raised his eyebrows in amazement. “Wow! Some shrewd deducing!” he exclaimed.
    John stopped suddenly and grasped Nancy’s arm. As the girl stared at him in surprise, he said excitedly, “Nancy! You’ve given me a terrific idea! I can’t explain until—well, someday you’ll understand.”
    Nancy’s curiosity was piqued. She naturally did not ask John what he meant. But she was certain that he was tackling some secret problem. What was it?
    By now the couple had reached the river. John pointed out three flipper prints in soft dirt patches along the bank.
    Nancy scanned the area. “I’d like to have a look underwater here,” she said. “John, would you like to make a skin-diving date?”
    John grinned. “You couldn’t keep me ashore.”
    The two returned to the inn. Nancy went first to the phone and called her father. Since she did not want to mention specific details in case someone was eavesdropping, she merely told him that “last night’s meeting was most interesting.”
    “I understand,” Mr. Drew said.
    “Also, Dad, is it all right if I go skin diving? John will accompany me.”
    Mr. Drew gave his permission. “Perhaps you’ll see some unusual fish,” he added meaningfully.
    “Could be, Dad. I’ll let you know.”
    After Nancy had said good-by, she and John confided their plan and the reason for it to Helen, Emily, and Dick.
    “All right,” said Emily worriedly, “but watch out for spear throwers.”
    Soon Nancy and John, ready for skin diving, were back at the riverbank. They had decided to search underwater from the area of the flipper prints to the place Nancy had spotted the sharklike object.
    They adjusted their face plates and tanks, and then they descended. Down—down they went, finally reaching the muddy bottom.
    Their eyes darted here and there, observing schools of little fish; but nothing out of the ordinary came to sight. Nancy and John continued on, until they reached the place where Nancy had been before. They linked hands and walked cautiously along the river bottom.
    Nancy pointed out the rocky overhang from which she had seen the shark shape projecting, John nodded.
    To Nancy’s disappointment, there was no sign of anything resembling the mysterious object. What had it been, she puzzled? A sunken boat that might have since drifted away?
    Suddenly John stumbled and dropped Nancy’s hand. Startled, she saw that his foot was wedged between two rocks obscured by weeds. He bent down and tugged, but to no avail.
    At once Nancy went to his assistance. First, she pulled away the plant life surrounding the rocks. Then gently she tried to ease John’s foot loose. It would not budge.
    Nancy worked desperately to dislodge one of the rocks. Finally, with John’s help, she succeeded in moving one of the stones. John’s foot was free!
    Exhausted, the couple rose to the surface and swam toward shore, gulping in fresh air. As soon as they sat down on the bank, John thanked Nancy for coming to his rescue. “You’re a wonderful partner to have around, Nancy—sleuthing or skin diving,” he said.
    Nancy smiled.