The Secret of the Wooden Lady by Carolyn Keene Page B

box.”
    George said he had not learned the name of the man who had been hanging around town, so she had accompanied the boy on a tour of the streets to find him. Having no luck, they went to the drugstore. George had learned from the description that the suspect had had a prescription filled under the name of Lane.
    “Lane!” Nancy exclaimed. “The man who kidnapped Captain Easterly!”
    “I’m afraid so,” George said. “Our enemies are closing in!”
    When Captain Easterly heard all the stories, he became very much excited. “Those pirates won’t get the better of us!” the skipper shouted. “Nancy, that treasure is still on the clipper. Rogers hid it so well nobody could locate it. We’re going to search her from stem to stern to find it!”
    The skipper had no suggestions about where the treasure might be hidden. It would be an every-man-for-himself hunt.
    “But first, I’m going ashore and hire a guard for the night, while you girls rustle up some supper,” he told them.
    He was not gone long, and when he returned, Captain Easterly said a detective would arrive about ten o’clock and cruise around in a boat during the night.
    As soon as the supper dishes were washed, the girls were ready to start their search for Captain Rogers’ treasure. The captain already was poking around in the hold.
    “I was thinking,” Bess said, “we haven’t ever really taken the chart room apart.”
    “Now that’s an idea I could work on!” George said. “Bess and I will take the chart room, Nancy, while you help the captain.”
    It seemed to Nancy that the likeliest spot for Captain Rogers to hide his treasure would be in his private quarters. When she reached the cabin, the door was ajar. She was tempted to hook it open, since it was a hot, still evening, but she had an uneasy feeling that someone might sneak up behind her while she was working. So Nancy closed the door behind her and snapped the catch.
    With a sense of security, Nancy approached the built-in bookcase and began to remove the volumes from one section. Behind a South Sea Island manual she found a half-filled tobacco can. Not very exciting, she thought.
    Next, Nancy removed the second section of books, and beamed her flashlight closely against the paneled wall. Something caught her eye; a small knot in the wood which stood out a quarter of an inch.
    Quickly she removed it, inserted her forefinger in the knothole, and pulled gently on the panel. With a loud scraping sound it came loose. Behind the panel lay a carved box!
    Nancy’s heart was beating wildly. Was the treasure inside? She lifted the box. It was very heavy. Setting it on the bunk, Nancy lifted the lid and gasped.
    Gold coins!
    Excitedly she dumped the contents of the box on the bunk. As she did so, she heard a click behind her, then a footstep.
    Nancy wheeled—and stood speechless. Flip Fay was standing there!
    He smirked, evidently pleased at the young detective’s dilemma. The door was still closed and locked. It seemed as if The Crow had come through the wall!
    “Let out one peep and it’ll be your last!” Flip leered, shaking a fist.
    With his eyes leveled upon Nancy, he quickly crossed the cabin and stood with his back against the door.
    “Now before I take that treasure,” he said, “I have a thing or two to say to you, Nancy Drew.”
    His impudent, drawling voice brought Nancy to her senses. She was more angry now than frightened. And she was determined to outwit him.
    “I don’t intend to let you take anything,” she said coolly.
    Nancy tossed her head in a gesture of defiance, but she was really looking desperately around the tiny cabin. If there were only a way of summoning help!
    The man’s lips curled in a crafty smile. “Don’t act too smart, Nancy Drew. Because I got a little deal to make with you. If you and your friends don’t squeal on me, I won’t hurt you.”
    “And if we do?”
    Flip Fay made an angry sound. “You’ll regret it. Now move, so I can get