(#20) The Clue in the Jewel Box (7 page)

“Wish he’d stay missing,” Ned muttered. “Well, how about tomorrow afternoon?”

“Fine, if you’ll get me home in time to dress for the dinner party.”

“All right, we’ll take in the carnival,” Ned said. “Everything from fortune-telling to the roller coaster.”

The following afternoon the two arrived at the carnival grounds. They mingled with the crowd, enjoying the various amusements.

Finally Ned bought tickets for the roller coaster. As the car dashed madly down each incline, Nancy held her breath and clung to Ned. He enjoyed this so much that he suggested a second ride.

“No, let’s try something else,” Nancy pleaded. “How about the Ferris wheel?”

“Too tame.”

“After that wild ride I crave something mild.”

“Then up we go,” Ned gave in reluctantly.

He bought tickets, and they sat down in one of the cars. Soon the giant wheel began to turn. It moved very slowly. The motor which rotated it made a loud, racking noise.

“Terrible!” Ned complained. “Sounds as if it’s going to fall apart!”

“It’s pokey, too,” Nancy admitted. “Oh, well, the torture won’t last long.”

Just then the Ferris wheel came to a grinding halt. The car in which Nancy and Ned were seated remained stationary at the very top. Minutes elapsed, but still the wheel did not start.

“What’s the matter with this thing?” Ned demanded, peering over the side.

Below, he could see two men working over the machinery. Persons in the lower cars close to the ground were being helped out.

“We’re stuck up here!” Ned exclaimed.

CHAPTER IX

Ferocious Dog

“THEY’LL fix it soon,” Nancy said. “In the meantime, let’s enjoy the view.”

“The sun’s hot and I’m thirsty.”

“We might ask one of the men to pass us up some cool drinks,” Nancy suggested.

“Now that’s a cool idea,” Ned said, grinning.

He called to the men below, asking them to send up both food and drink by means of long poles, which could be handed from car to car. Other trapped passengers took up the cry.

At first the request was looked upon as a joke, but as time wore on and the wheel did not move, Ned asked a second time. Others added their pleas, and finally they were answered.

After another hour had elapsed, Ned teased Nancy, “Still enjoying the view?”

“It’s getting monotonous,” she said, shifting into a more comfortable position. She glanced at her watch worriedly. “If I don’t get home soon, I’ll be late for Mrs. Alexandra’s dinner.”

Ned replied soberly, “Wish I could do something.”

“I asked Francis Baum to come to our house at six-thirty,” Nancy put in restlessly. “Katherine Kovna has been invited, too,” she added, and told Ned about the designer.

“I guess the workmen expect to get the machinery fixed any minute now,” Ned said a little later to encourage her. “Cheer up!”

Nancy settled back into her seat again, forcing herself to remain calm. Her gaze roved to the curious crowd which had gathered some distance away to stare at the motionless Ferris wheel. As she idly watched, a wiry built man, who walked with short, quick steps, edged close to another man. Deftly he removed a wallet from the hip pocket of the unsuspecting victim and turned to slip away in the crowd.

“Ned!” Nancy exclaimed, clutching his hand. “I just saw a pickpocket take a man’s wallet! We must do something!”

“What can we do?”

Together they shouted, trying to attract the attention of someone on the ground. But other trapped passengers were making so much noise that no one paid any attention.

“It’s no use now,” Nancy said. “The pickpocket’s gone, and we’ll probably be here forever! Oh—”

Suddenly the Ferris wheel began to move. The cars jerked violently.

“Here we go!” Ned exclaimed jubilantly.

The next instant the cars raced downward at a breath-taking speed. The machinery was completely out of control!

The Ferris wheel made a complete revolution, stopping with a terrific jerk. Once more the car in which Ned and Nancy were imprisoned stopped at the top.

“That was horrible!” Nancy exclaimed.

In the car beneath them two little girls began to whimper with fear. The younger child stood up and started to unfasten the safety bar.

“I won’t stay on this thing another minute!” she screamed hysterically.

Nancy, thoroughly alarmed, leaned far over. She spoke to the frightened children soothingly.

“Just look!” Nancy said cheerfully. “A photographer has come to take your picture.”

The prospect of having their pictures taken on the Ferris wheel took the children’s minds off their predicament. They sat down again and even smiled as the shutter clicked.

A moment later the Ferris wheel started to revolve. Everyone sat tense, fearful of another wild ride. But this time the cars moved slowly and one by one came to a stop. The passengers alighted.

“At last!” breathed Nancy as she and Ned were released. “If we hurry, I can still reach home in time to change for dinner.”

“Just a minute!” interposed the photographer.

Before Nancy could duck her head, he had snapped the picture.

“The nerve of that guy!” Ned exclaimed.

Nancy laughed to cover her irritation. “I really must get home!”

The couple soon reached the Drew house.

“I wish you had been invited to the dinner, Ned,” Nancy said regretfully.

“All I ask is that you don’t pay too much attention to that prince.” He chuckled. “I’ll pick you up for Helen’s picnic. ‘Bye.”

As he drove away, a taxi drew up nearby. Katherine Kovna, dressed in a white evening gown with matching coat and beaded bag, alighted at the curb. She was alone because Helen and Jim Archer, although invited, had been unable to accept.

“Am I early?” Katherine inquired.

“You’re exactly on time,” Nancy replied. “I’m the offender. But it won’t take me long to change.”

After explaining briefly what had occurred, she led Katherine into the house. Mr. Drew was just coming down the stairway, very handsome in his navy-blue dinner jacket and bow tie.

“Nancy, what delayed you?” he asked.

Again Nancy offered her excuses. Mrs. Gruen, entering the room, urged her to hurry.

“Isn’t Francis Baum here?” Nancy asked as she took the stairs two steps at a time.

“Not yet,” her father answered.

Nancy was ready in record time. As she surveyed herself in a long mirror, she decided that the pale tangerine gown was attractive and appropriate.

“Baum still hasn’t arrived,” Mr. Drew said when Nancy appeared. “Are you sure he understood he was to come to our house?”

“Oh, yes, Dad. I called him this morning.”

Mrs. Gruen, who stood at the front door, said, “Someone’s coming down the street. He’s dressed in sports shirt and slacks, though.”

“Then it couldn’t be Mr. Baum,” Nancy replied. “He’d be wearing dinner clothes.”

“All the same, it looks like him. He has a suitcase and a German shepherd dog!”

“A dog!” Nancy’s face darkened. “I can’t believe he brought that animal! I told him that his grandmother is afraid of large dogs.”

Darting to the window, she saw that the young man approaching was indeed Francis Baum.

“Guess I’m a little late,” he remarked, stepping into the hall.

“Why did you bring the dog?” Nancy asked.

“Can’t I take him along?”

“I don’t think your grandmother would want Rudy at her dinner party.”

“Well, then I’ll have to leave him here.”

“Here?” Hannah Gruen asked sharply.

“Just overnight. He’s harmless.”

“I won’t be here to look after him,” the housekeeper said coldly. “I’m going to a movie.”

“Oh, he can stay outside,” Francis Baum said carelessly. “I’ll tie him by the garage.”

He seemed unaware that he had caused the slightest inconvenience.

“I suppose you’re eager to see your grandmother,” Mr. Drew remarked.

“Oh, sure,” he replied, but his tone lacked warmth. “What’s she like?”

“Decidedly formal,” Nancy warned him.

“Maybe she won’t let me eat with you in these clothes.” He grinned. “But she’ll soon like me.”

Nancy avoided looking at her father and Katherine. They all felt sick at heart, knowing that Mrs. Alexandra could not fail to be disappointed upon meeting her grandson.

Mr. Drew parked in front of the house, which glowed with lights, and followed the others to the door. It was opened by Anna.

Upon entering, Mr. Drew’s gaze wandered to an unusual card tray on the hall table. Constructed of copper, it was decorated with colored bits of enamel in a flower-and-leaf design.

“That’s a sample of wonderful old enamel work,” he said to Nancy.

“You’ll see many other treasures, unless they have been put away,” she said.

In the living room Mrs. Alexandra, gowned in rich maroon velvet trimmed with real lace, greeted her guests. Her eyes were moist as she kissed Francis Baum on either cheek. If his appearance startled her, she did not show it.

“Michael,” she said tenderly, leading him to a sofa, “I have prayed we would be reunited.”

“I’m glad to know you,” he replied. “But I thought my name was Francis. Guess Mom was afraid to call me Michael.”

Nancy thought she detected a slight start on the part of her hostess. It seemed strange that his nurse would have had a royal child call her “Mom.”

“Michael Alexandra is your true name,” the former queen explained. “Do you recall anything of life at the palace?”

Francis squirmed uncomfortably. “I remember seeing some parades. That’s all.”

An awkward pause followed. It was broken by Anna announcing dinner. As the double doors of the dining room were opened, Nancy drew in her breath at the beautiful table setting. Orchids formed the centerpiece, the cloth was made of rare lace, and at each place was a name card.

Francis Baum found his chair at once and sat down without waiting for the others. To cover his mistake, Mrs. Alexandra quickly seated herself. It was evident to all that she meant to spare her grandson embarrassment.

The first course was a compote of rare fruits served in fragile hand-blown glass cups. The service plates were of rich dark blue and gold, with hand-painted bouquets. The handles of the knives and forks were inlaid with mother-of-pearl.

Nancy and Katherine were so impressed by all the splendor that they felt as if they were dining in fairyland. A glance at Francis Baum, however, brought them to earth quickly. The young man made one mistake after another, both in his table manners and in his attempts at conversation.

“He certainly has forgotten everything he ever was taught,” thought Nancy.

Dessert was served on dainty plates of salmon pink and gold. Their decorations of enamel were so unusual that Mr. Drew commented on the fine work.

“It is indeed remarkable,” Mrs. Alexandra admitted, pleased by his interest. “At one time, only the ladies of the court had dessert served on these plates.” She smiled. “But now I am sharing this secret with you gentlemen.”

She turned to Francis Baum. “Michael dear, do tell us something of your life here in America,” she urged gently.

“Nothing to tell,” he mumbled, avoiding her gaze. “I didn’t have a chance to get much education—too busy working.”

“You shall have an opportunity to learn now, Michael. You’ll have a tutor.”

“I’ll need to find out how to handle myself in society,” the young man admitted. “You can teach me the ropes yourself, though. Right?”

Mrs. Alexandra looked slightly distressed at her grandson’s crude remarks. The next instant she smiled. Arising, she indicated that the long dinner had ended.

The guests returned to the living room, from which many art treasures had been removed. The Easter egg, too, had disappeared. Nancy was disappointed that her father would not have an opportunity to hear the nightingale’s song.

Realizing that Mrs. Alexandra no doubt wished to be alone with her grandson, the guests soon offered excuses for leaving. Francis Baum followed Nancy into the hall and whispered:

“How about you and me having a date soon?”

“Thank you, I’ll be very busy—for some time,” Nancy said.

“Oh, do it as a favor to my grandmother.”

Nancy was glad that Mrs. Alexandra’s appearance in the hall at that moment made it unnecessary for her to reply. The Drews and Katherine departed, leaving Baum in his new home.

“It’s difficult to believe that he’s related to Madame Alexandra,” Nancy said to Mr. Drew after taking Katherine to the Archer residence. “If Mrs. Alexandra hadn’t been so firmly convinced that his credentials were authentic, I’d have thought he was an impostor.”

“Training may make young Baum into a new person,” Mr. Drew declared. “Let’s hope so.”

When they reached home, Mr. Drew went directly to the garage. He and Nancy alighted. The windows in the house were dark, evidence that Mrs. Gruen had not returned.

As the Drews neared the side door, they were startled to hear an angry growl. Baum’s dog had broken away from the rope and was crouched on the top step, ready to leap on Nancy and her father.

“Let’s try the front door,” she suggested.

The annoying animal followed them. He became increasingly unfriendly, and would not let them come within several yards of the entrance.

“What’ll we do, Dad?”

“It’s too late to telephone the dog warden.”

“We can’t stay outdoors!” said Nancy.

Mr. Drew nodded grimly.

“I know what we’ll do,” he said with satisfaction. “Just follow me, Nancy.”

CHAPTER X

Amazing Revelation

MR. DREW led the way to the home of their neighbor Mr. Gleason. Grimly he told Nancy that he would call Francis Baum and ask him to come for his dog at once.

“That’s a good idea,” she agreed.

The owner of the animal was not cooperative. But when Mr. Drew remained firm, Baum reluctantly agreed to take him away.

“Who does that fellow think he is, anyway?” the lawyer demanded.

“Merely a prince.” Nancy giggled. “Since he has the title, he feels he should act the part.”