The Secret in the Old Attic by Carolyn Keene

the stillness of the night. Nancy, posted near the old servants’ quarters, counted eleven.
    From a distance came another sound. Something was stirring. Nancy stood erect, listening intently.

    Nancy was not fooled by the threat
    She was puzzled. One moment she thought she heard a soft padding, as if someone were sneaking among the pine trees toward the house. The next minute she was sure light footsteps were approaching from the front of the mansion.
    “Maybe the thief has an accomplice,” she said to herself.
    There was no doubt of it. Two figures were coming nearer and nearer. Nancy held her breath!

CHAPTER XV
    Wallpaper Clue
     
     
     
    As Nancy waited, the two shadowy forms crept closer. The one coming across the lawn appeared first. Then suddenly the voice of the other cut the air from among the trees.
    “Nancy! Where are you?”
    Mr. March!
    His ill-timed call from the pine grove served as a warning to the intruder. Instantly he turned and fled.
    Nancy dashed from her hiding place. As she pursued the running figure, the young detective shouted to her friends to join in the chase.
    They came quickly, but the race was futile. The night swallowed up the stranger. As the discouraged girls returned to the house, Nancy explained what had happened.
    George was annoyed. “It’s bad enough to have missed capturing the thief, but now he’s been warned that we’re looking for him.”
    “We’ve probably missed our chance, too, of finding out how he gets into the house,” added Nancy in disappointment.
    “Oh, why did Mr. March have to pick out just that moment to look for us?” Bess complained.
    “I suppose he meant well,” said Nancy.
    The elderly man was apologetic over his untimely appearance. He had grown uneasy about the girls, he explained, and had come outside to make sure they were all right. When he could find no one, he had become fearful that something had happened to them, and had called out, unaware of the nearness of the intruder.
    It was agreed that the mysterious stranger certainly would not return that night, so the girls went to bed. Upon awakening the next morning, Nancy heard faint music from a distance.
    “Mr. March has the radio on early,” she thought.
    When Nancy reached the dining room, she found him already at the breakfast table with Susan. But neither of them was eating. They were listening to a man singing.
    “One of my Daddy’s pieces, Nancy!” cried the little girl.
    As Nancy listened, she realized this composition was somewhat different from the others Mr. March attributed to his son. It was a beautiful love song in waltz time. Three words caught the girl’s attention. “My heart’s desire—”
    “Where have I heard that phrase before in connection with this mystery?” she mused.
    For nearly an hour the melody continued to haunt her. Then suddenly she knew why. Running to Mr. March, she exclaimed:
    “I believe you were right in the first place about the clue to the missing music.”
    “How’s that?”
    “Why, those letters written by your son to his wife! The words ‘My heart’s desire’ appear in one of them!”
    “So they do,” the elderly man agreed.
    Nancy was eager to read the love letters again. Since they were still at her own home, she decided to go there at once.
    But before Nancy could leave, Susan called her upstairs to admire the child’s “dress up” costume. Holding up a trailing skirt with one hand, she flourished a silk parasol in the other.
    “I found these in a hall closet. Let’s go down and show Grandpa!” Susan said eagerly. “Do I look like a real grown-up lady now?”
    “Those high-heeled shoes certainly make you seem taller.” Nancy smiled. “Watch out, or you’ll trip!”
    As they started down the stairway, the child stumbled on the steps. Nancy, who was only a few steps behind, grabbed Susan just in time. But the sharp-pointed parasol got out of control and tore a jagged hole in the wallpaper. It revealed several bars of