(#30) The Clue of the Velvet Mask (7 page)

The young detective immediately recognized it as a charge plate issued by some department stores. The names and numbers on it had been flattened by a train passing over them, but the words “Tay” and “House Acc” were visible.

“Tay,” Nancy mused. “I wonder if that could be Taylor’s in River Heights. Maybe one of the thieves works there? Tomorrow I’ll ask their credit manager if he can identify this house account charge plate.”

Elated, Nancy returned to the doctor’s office. George was still drowsing. Mrs. Marvin arrived in a little while and was very much concerned when she heard the details of what had happened. The physician assured her that the girl was well enough to travel but would probably sleep all the way home. He suggested George have no visitors for a couple days.

George awoke as the others were discussing the subject of masks. “Let’s not talk about masks,” she pleaded. “We’ve had enough of them forever!”

The subject was not mentioned again during the remainder of the trip to River Heights. George herself had little to say. Though she insisted that she felt fairly well, her face remained pale and she was shaky.

Nancy did not see her the next day. Mrs. Fayne kept her daughter in bed and allowed no visitors as the doctor had suggested. She reported that George had slept restlessly and had talked incoherently in her dreams, mostly about the Velvet Gang.

“Poor George!” Nancy thought unhappily. “It’s really my fault! I never should have allowed her to masquerade as me.”

On her way to see the credit manager of Taylor’s Department Store, Nancy went over the thieves’ activities. Since the night of the Becker wedding, no more robberies had been reported. Yet not for a moment did she believe that the thieves had left the vicinity. When the proper time arrived, they would strike again—possibly on the days indicated in the black hood.

Nancy was admitted to the office of Mr. Johnson, the credit manager of Taylor’s. Without telling him of the previous day’s experience, she mentioned a possible tie-in between the party thieves and the plate she carried.

Mr. Johnson examined the plate carefully. “It’s one of ours all right,” he said. “This was issued to an employee. But to tell you his or her name—that’s impossible.”

“Impossible?” Nancy asked, disappointed.

“Taylor’s has several hundred employees to whom charge plates have been issued.”

“You must have a record of every one,” Nancy reminded him.

“We have. But the number of this plate has been obliterated. I couldn’t interview all our workers on such slim evidence.”

“I know how the checkup could be made without very much work,” Nancy said.

“How?”

“By elimination. Ask all your employees to turn in their plates on a pretext of changing them. Naturally the person who lost this one wouldn’t be able to.”

Mr. Johnson considered the suggestion.

“You present your case very well, Miss Drew.” He smiled. “I’ll do it, even though it does inconvenience us.”

Satisfied, Nancy next called at her father’s office. He promptly put aside his work.

“Nothing new to report. Mr. Lightner came in to see me this morning. He’s still worried about those threatened lawsuits. We’re stalling for time. And what’s your news?”

Nancy told him, then said she was going to follow Tombar that noon.

“At a safe distance,” Mr. Drew cautioned. “And tell me, what do you hope to find out?”

Nancy explained about seeing Tombar bring a package from the entertainment company the same day the telltale cloak disappeared.

“He shook me off his trail rather pointedly when I followed him,” she said. “And he’s perfectly horrid about Linda without any reason. Maybe he’s afraid she’ll find out something.”

“Better keep your suspicions to yourself until you have some evidence to back them up.”

“I promise, Dad.”

Nancy phoned Linda Seeley, who told her that Mr. Tombar had not come in that day.

“And the mysterious torn black cloak has never been returned,” Linda reported. “But I have something else to tell you,” she said. “Come over at lunchtime, will you?”

At noon the two girls met at a soda counter and sat down side by side. Linda said that everything was going well at the office.

“But I suppose something could happen at any time. Nancy, how would you like to attend a musicale?”

“When?”

“Tomorrow afternoon. At the Elkin home on Kenwood Boulevard. The affair will be very plush. It’s to introduce the French singer Madame De Velleaux.”

“Is your company in charge?”

“Yes, and Mr. Lightner says he’ll get you an invitation if you’re interested. I’ll be there.”

Nancy decided instantly. She would enjoy the concert and there was the possibility that one of the party thieves might put in an appearance. Tomorrow would be the twenty-first of June, and 621 was one of the dates in the hood.

“Where shall I meet you, Linda?”

“I may have to go early,” the other replied. “Tell you what! I’ll send your invitation by messenger. Then if I’m held up, you won’t be kept waiting at the door.”

The next day, upon reaching the Elkin home, Nancy presented her invitation to the butler at the front entrance. The hall and living room were richly furnished and held many priceless art objects. She went upstairs and laid her light coat on one of the beds. As far as Nancy could observe, there was not a single plainclothesman on duty.

She went downstairs and lingered near the front door so that she could scrutinize all new arrivals. A few minutes later Nancy caught sight of Peter Tombar. He saw her at the same moment and came over.

“Well, well,” he said with false geniality, “so you’re an admirer of Madame De Velleaux?”

“I’ve never heard her sing,” Nancy replied. “Is Linda Seeley here?”

“Linda isn’t coming,” he said shortly.

“Is she ill?”

“No. She was needed elsewhere. I sent her to another house. I’m taking over here myself.”

Nancy remained silent, wondering whether the excuse he had given was really what lay behind Linda’s failure to appear.

“How did you get in?” Tombar asked Nancy abruptly.

“By invitation.”

“And where did you get the invitation?” the man growled. “Your name wasn’t on the guest list.”

Nancy smiled sweetly. “Perhaps you didn’t look carefully enough.”

Deciding not to give the man an opportunity to question her further, Nancy sauntered away. She entered the music room and seated herself in the last row near the door. A few minutes later the concert began.

After sitting there long enough to make it appear that she had come only to hear the singer, Nancy left to start her sleuthing. She tiptoed out and stood in the main hall a moment. The other rooms on the lower floor appeared to be deserted. Meeting one of the maids, she asked her if she knew what had become of the man from the Lightner Entertainment Company.

“No, miss, I don’t,” the maid replied. “I’ve been upstairs. The only person up there is the sick lady.”

“Someone ill?”

“Yes, miss. One of the guests. Just a few minutes ago she asked me to get her a cup of tea from the kitchen. I’m going for it now.”

“Where is the lady?”

“In the bedroom where the guests left their coats.”

The maid hastened to the kitchen. Nancy hesitated a moment, mulling over the information. Was the woman really ill? The errand might have been a way to get rid of the maid!

Silently Nancy mounted the stairway to the bedroom and opened the partly closed door. A slim woman stood at the dresser, hurriedly removing jewelry from the top drawer!

In the mirror Nancy caught a fleeting glimpse of a hard, brazen face. She knew instantly that she had seen the woman before. The Hendricks’ ball perhaps? Yes, that was it! This was the woman who had worn the Javanese costume!

Now Nancy had caught her red-handed. She must bar the exit and call for help!

Before she could turn, Nancy was suddenly grasped from behind. She tried to scream, but it was choked off as a large hand was clamped over her mouth.

Shoved roughly into the room, she was pushed face down, among the summer wraps on the bed and pinned in a viselike grip.

CHAPTER IX

Indelible Evidence

“GOOD work!” Nancy heard the woman thief exclaim. “Serves the little sneak right!”

“I thought something was amiss up here,” replied her male accomplice, speaking with an exaggerated English accent.

Still maintaining a tight hold on Nancy, her captor chuckled softly. “I fancy she’ll not interfere again soon.”

His partner removed an armful of the coats and jackets, then rolled the bedspread tightly around Nancy. The woman piled the clothing on top of her.

“Make sure she won’t meddle any more!” the woman cried.

“No time, my dear,” the man answered. “We shall be forced to make a hasty exit. The maid will be returning.”

“Then cut out that silly accent and let’s get out of here!” his companion muttered.

Just when Nancy thought she surely would suffocate, the man suddenly released his grip. The couple raced from the room.

Nancy struggled to untangle herself from the heavy bedspread and its burden of coats. When she finally got to her feet and stepped into the hall, the man and woman were not in sight. Just then the maid who had gone for the tea opened a door from the back stairway.

“Gracious!” she exclaimed, staring at Nancy. “What happened to you?”

For the first time Nancy realized how disheveled she must look. Her dress was rumpled and her hair mussed.

“The woman who pretended to be ill is a thief! She and some man tried to smother me. Did you see anyone running out?”

“No, miss,” the startled maid replied, setting her tray on a hall table.

Nancy said, “Maybe they’re hiding in one of the bedrooms. Come on. Let’s look for them!”

They searched the bedrooms, looking in closets and every possible hiding place until they were satisfied no one remained on the second floor. Nancy combed her hair and smoothed her dress before going downstairs. In the kitchen she found Tombar directing the caterers.

“Guests aren’t allowed in here,” he said icily.

Nancy was not intimidated. “I came to get a sandwich,” she said, picking up one from a tray. “I’m simply starved.”

She smiled and closed the door. At that moment a burst of applause indicated that the musicale was ending. A moment later the guests began going toward the dining room for tea.

Nancy located the hostess, introduced herself, and whispered what had happened.

“I don’t know whether that woman took anything or not,” she said. “You’d better check.”

Together they went upstairs. Mrs. Elkin said that she disliked parties with detectives standing around and had refused to have any.

“Every person on my list is a friend,” she said. “I don’t see how a thief could have slipped in.”

Mrs. Elkin cried out in dismay when she discovered that several pieces of valuable jewelry were missing. She immediately called the police, who offered to send a woman plainclothes detective.

“I may have a clue,” Nancy said as they were waiting. “Possibly the thief left a coat here that will identify her.”

When the woman detective arrived from headquarters, she took charge of the coats. The hostess was asked to identify each guest as she came for her wrap. Finally all the coats had been claimed except a long blue linen one with large pockets.

Nancy struggled to untangle herself

“The owner is not coming for this coat, that’s evident!” Nancy said. “My guess is it was worn by the thief!”

Picking it up, she examined the coat for clues. In one pocket was a make-up kit. The other contained a velvet hooded mask! Nancy tore open the stitching of the lining. There were no numbers on this mask.

The policewoman ripped the lining of the coat. Nothing had been hidden inside, and the garment had no marks of identification.

“I’ll take the coat, mask, and kit to headquarters,” she said.

After Nancy reached home, Linda Seeley telephoned to apologize for her absence from the musicale.

“Mr. Tombar sent me on a trifling errand instead,” she explained. “I guess he thought I wasn’t capable of handling the affair.”

Nancy remarked that Mr. Tombar himself had not performed too efficiently and told of the robbery.

“Oh, how dreadful!” Linda cried.

After the phone call, Nancy sat lost in thought. Suddenly an idea came to her. She would have a chemical analysis made of the ink notations which she had discovered on the lining of the first hooded mask.

In the morning she went to a laboratory and was informed by one of the chemists that the fluid was rather uncommon. It was new and was sold exclusively for marking garments.

“Then any number of dry cleaners might have similar ink?” Nancy asked.

“Not necessarily,” the chemist replied. “This particular type of ink is pretty expensive.”

Nancy was excited. Did the Lightner Entertainment Company use it? she wondered. At noon she found Linda at the drugstore soda counter and asked her how costumes and masks were marked.