Carolyn Keene - The Clue in the Crumbling Wall

"Have you any idea at all where she may have gone?" Nancy asked. "Do you think she disappeared deliberately?"

"No. I can't believe that, and I keep telling Joan I'm sure her aunt will come home someday." Mrs. Fenimore explained that the dancer had been engaged to a wealthy manufacturer named Walter Heath.

"Five years after her mysterious disappearance, he died and left Heath Castle to Juliana. He tried to trace her before his death but was unsuccessful. There's a provision in his will which stipulates that it Juliana does not claim his estate within five years, it is to be sold and the money given to charities he specified. The time is almost up."

After a pause Mrs. Fenimore went on, "The grounds of Heath Castle were beautiful once, with walled gardens and sunken pools. Now I'm told it looks like an overgrown jungle, full of weeds. Nevertheless, I am hoping Julie will be found and can come to claim the castle."

The story deeply interested Nancy. She could hardly wait to begin the search for the missing dancer. She was also eager to visit Heath Castle! She mentioned this to Mrs. Fenimore.

The woman smiled. "I'll lend you a key to the front door that Walter left with me to give to Julie. Joan dear, bring my jewel case here."

The little girl hurried off to get it. In a few moments she returned with the box. Her mother took the key from inside and handed it to Nancy.

"I wish you luck," Mrs. Fenimore said.

Before Nancy and Lieutenant Masters left the house, they helped Joan prepare supper for herself and her mother. Wishing to spare Mrs. Fenimore any further worry, they refrained from discussing the child's thieving instincts in depth.

As they drove away. Nancy remarked, "It's possible Juliana met with foul play."

"Yes," said Lieutenant Masters. "If that's true, you may find yourself up against a dangerous adversary."

When the two young women walked into headquarters a little later, the desk sergeant said, "You're in luck. Miss Drew!" He held up her stolen purse. "A patrolman found it in a trash can. Nothing but the money and the pearl was taken."

Nancy was thrilled. "I'm especially glad to have my driver's license and car registration back," she said, "and the credit cards. Please thank the patrolman for me."

The following day Nancy related Mrs. Fenimore's story to her closest friends, Bess Marvin and George Fayne, who had dropped in. The two girls were cousins and helped Nancy when she was working on a mystery. Bess was blond and slightly plump. She was less inclined toward adventure than her spunky cousin, an attractive brunette, who liked athletics and was proud of having a boy's name.

Bess said soberly, "It's a shame about Joan and Teddy. I'll help you all I can with them."

George was eager to pursue work on the mystery. "What are we waiting for?" she asked. "Why not go now and explore the castle?"

Cautiously Bess asked, "Will it be safe?"

"It won't be easy," Nancy warned her friends. "I was told the undergrowth is like a jungle. Maybe the best way to get there is by motorboat up the Muskoka River."

Twenty minutes later the three girls rented a small motorboat at Campbell's Landing. The craft was old and the engine clattered and threw oil, but it was the only boat available.

"Lucky we all know how to swim," Bess said with some misgiving as they pulled away from the dock. "I have a feeling this old tub leaks and may sink before we go very far."

"We'll be all right if George keeps busy with the bailer!" Nancy laughed, heading the craft upstream.

The river was wide near town, but the upper reaches were narrow and twisted and turned at such sharp angles that fast travel was out of the question. At the wheel. Nancy kept an alert watch for shoals. Water was slowly seeping in at the bow.

"It's really pretty out here, but so wild." Bess commented, her gaze wandering along the solid line of trees fringing the shores.

"Better forget the scenery for a while," Nancy advised, "and give George a hand with the bailing. If you don't, our shoes will be soaked."

The water was coming in faster now. Both Bess and George worked vigorously, dipping the water and throwing it over the side.

"Listen!" Nancy said presently. "What's that?"

Bess and George stopped bailing to look around. They had heard no unusual sound.

"Another boat!" Nancy exclaimed as the noise of an engine grew louder. "But where is it?"

Just then a small blue-and-white craft shot into view from Harper's Inlet, one of the river's many small hidden bays.

"Look out!" Bess cried in alarm.

The pilot in the oncoming boat seemed to be unaware of the girls in their little craft. At high speed he raced straight toward it. Desperately Nancy spun the wheel. There was not enough space to clear.

With a splintering crash the two boats collided!

CHAPTER III A Runaway Boat

The speeding boat which had struck the girls' craft now veered sharply away and raced down- stream.

Meanwhile, the impact had caused Bess to lose her balance. She hit her head on the side of the boat and toppled into the water.

Instantly Nancy turned off the motor. If Bess were unconscious, there was no time to lose! George had already dived over the side. When she located her cousin, she grasped the inert form with her left arm and struck out with the other for the boat. Nancy leaned over and helped pull the unconscious Bess aboard.

"Is she-?" Nancy began.

At that moment Bess opened her eyes and coughed several times. Nancy patted her on the back.

"I'm-all-right," Bess said weakly. "Our boat-" She tried to point.

For the first time the others realized that water was filling the craft at an alarming rate through a small hole in its side.

"Quick, George! Pail!" Nancy cried.

George picked up the bucket she had been using before and started to work. Nancy crumpled up a newspaper lying on the bottom of the boat and stuffed the hole with it. In a tackle box she found a small burlap sack, which she rolled up and added to the paper. In a moment the inflow of rushing water was reduced to a trickle.

"Good!" George panted and sat down. "Now we can chase that other boat!"

It was not in sight, however, and Nancy decided it would be useless to try pursuing the faster craft. She turned her attention to Bess.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"All right. But I'd like to go home."

"We will," said Nancy. "I'm afraid this boat can't stand much more."

"I wish we hadn't lost the fellow who ruined it," said George. "If I ever see him-"

"Would you recognize him?" Nancy asked.

George said she would not, and Bess had not gotten a good look at him either.

"I saw him," Nancy said slowly. "I'm sure I'd recognize his face. And he was thin and wore a light-blue cap."

The girls dreaded returning to Campbell's Landing with their damaged craft. But when the owner saw the damaged craft, he was not angry.

"It won't cost more than twenty-five dollars to repair it," he assured them. "My boat rental insurance will take care of it."

After saying good-bye, Nancy drove her friends home. As Bess got out of the car, she said, "I'm sorry our trip to Heath Castle was ruined."

Nancy smiled. "We'll go another time."

The following day's investigation unearthed no clue to the identity of the boatman. Though Nancy described him and his blue-and-white craft to several persons, not one of them was able to identify it. Finally she thought of Salty the clam digger.

"I'll drive down to his place on the river and talk with him," she told Hannah Gruen. "He might also know something about the Heath estate."

Nancy invited Bess to go along and proceeded toward the river. Salty's home was very quaint. Once it had been a small, attractive yacht. Now it was a beached wreck, weathered by sun and rain. Its only claim to any former glory was the flag which flew proudly from the afterdeck.