The Mystery at the Moss-Covered Mansion Read online

  “That’s too bad,” the young detective told herself. “Maybe if Croft had been more aggressive, he wouldn’t have been dismissed from NASA.”

  When Nancy queried him about the driver of the truck with the explosive oranges, Croft described him minutely.

  At once Nancy thought, “It is true then that this man could have passed as Mr. Billington!”

  Croft went on, “The driver said he was Mr. Billington, whom I don’t know. He had all the proper credentials with him, so of course I let him in. The last I saw of him he was turning toward the food supply depot and I assumed that was where he went.”

  “And he didn’t?” George asked.

  Mr. Croft smiled. “A guard got aboard and took him there. Fortunately the explosive oranges were discovered before any damage was done. But it’s my opinion he intended to blow up part of the rocket while it was still in the Vehicle Assembly Building.

  “I’m mighty sorry about the whole thing, but I don’t think I should have been dismissed. The explosives had been put in the oranges very cleverly and they looked innocent enough in the sacks.

  “I hope someday I’ll be reinstated.” Mr. Croft heaved a great sigh. “By the way, I was taken to identify Mr. Billington. He and the impostor look enough alike to be twins.”

  The girls felt sorry for Croft. They realized his dismissal had been necessary. After the saboteur was caught, perhaps Croft would be exonerated.

  Nancy told him that her father was the lawyer who had been retained to defend Mr. Billington, but that he in turn had engaged the services of Johnson Datsun.

  Croft said he had heard of Mr. Datsun. “He’s a very fine lawyer. If anybody can straighten out this case, I’m sure he can.”

  “But it’s not just a legal matter,” Bess spoke up. “It’s a mystery too. Nancy’s an amateur detective and—”

  Nancy smiled. “And with the help of my two good friends here, I have solved some mysteries.”

  Mr. Croft’s eyes opened wide. “That’s wonderful,” he said. “I always wanted to be a detective, but I wasn’t cut out for that kind of work. The nearest I came to it was checking people’s credentials when they entered the Space Center.” He sighed again.

  Nancy stood up. Bess and George took the cue from her and arose also.

  “Mr. Croft,” said Nancy, “if you should hear or recall anything that might help us solve this mystery, will you telephone me?”

  “I’ll be glad to,” the man replied. Nancy gave him the Billingtons’ address and telephone number, then the girls left.

  Upon reaching home, they found Hannah Gruen quite excited. George asked, “Have the Resardos pulled another fast one?”

  “No,” the housekeeper replied. “I haven’t seen them all day. But I think I’ve picked up a clue for you. If I’m right, it may spell trouble or danger for you, Nancy, and your father.”

  “What do you mean?” Nancy queried.

  Hannah produced the day’s newspaper. She pointed out a personal. It read:

  “Dorothy’s son has just released trunk. It is empty. Advise at once where to find contents.”

  Immediately the three girls read words numbered 1, 5, 9, 13. These said, “Dorothy’s released empty where.”

  Bess said, “They don’t make sense.”

  Hannah was eager to tell her clue. “But put the first letters of those words together,” she said. “They spell Drew.”

  “Wow!” George exclaimed. “What could this possibly mean?”

  Nancy did not answer. She had not yet figured out the meaning of the personal but one thing was certain—someone was sending a message which could have dire consequences for her and her father and possibly her friends. She was worried but did not speak her thoughts aloud.

  Bess admitted that she was scared. “I think we’d better give up our sleuthing and leave here,” she declared.

  George said, “Bess, you know as well as I do that the thrust of a hundred-thousand-pound rocket couldn’t force Nancy to give up this case.”

  Nancy smiled. “A wild thought just occurred to me. Suppose this reference to Drew has something to do with our interest in the Webster house. We already know that Mr. Scarlett has gone on vacation. For some reason unknown to us, the people who use the code may not want us here and encouraged Scarlett to go away. What we must do is find out that reason.”

  Hannah Gruen reminded the girls that their dinner was ready. “The meal will be spoiled if you don’t eat it now.”

  Nancy, Bess, and George washed their hands and combed their hair, then sat down at the table with Hannah. All had good appetites and thoroughly enjoyed the delicious roast beef. They were tidying up the kitchen when Bess remarked, “The Resardos missed a good dinner, but we certainly didn’t miss them.”

  “Maybe they’re not coming back at all!” George said with a grin. “It would please me if I never saw that couple again.”

  “I agree with you,” said Mrs. Gruen.

  That evening the phone was kept busy. First Nancy called her father and told him all she had learned that day.

  After hearing the whole story, he observed, “It’s evident that someone or a group is keeping an eye on us. The situation could become dangerous.”

  “But you’re not going to let them scare us away, are you?” Nancy asked.

  She was sure her father was going to say no and he did not disappoint her. He warned Nancy, however, to keep alert for trouble.

  “I’ll get back there as quickly as I can,” he added.

  Nancy had just put down the phone when it rang. The voice at the other end said, “Well, I’m glad I got you at last. I’ve been trying for hours to get hold of you.”

  “Hi, Ned!” Nancy said. “We can hardly wait for the house party to start, but we haven’t been idle. There’ll be lots to tell when you boys arrive.”

  “No doubt,” Ned said. “I’ve never known a time when you weren’t doing as much as three people. I have just one favor to ask—that you have this mystery solved before Burt and Dave and I arrive. We want to have fun.”

  “Why, Ned,” said Nancy, a teasing tone in her voice, “I thought you adored solving mysteries and tracking down villains.”

  Ned laughed. “You’re right. Okay, Nancy,” he added, “I’ll help bring this mystery to a quick termination!”

  “Actually there are two mysteries,” said Nancy. “The explosive oranges and the spooky-looking grounds of an estate on this island. When I get a chance I’m going to investigate the place.”

  “I’ll take the spooky one,” Ned answered.

  Nancy laughed. “I hope to have at least one of them solved before you arrive.”

  Ned chuckled, then became serious. “Watch your step. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

  After he and Nancy had said good night, she joined the other girls. Within seconds there was another call.

  “Maybe it’s Burt,” George spoke up.

  “And maybe you’re both wrong,” Hannah remarked. “The call might be for me—from Herb. He said he’d phone and make a date to call on us. I think he was very much impressed with you three girls.”

  As Hannah had predicted, the caller was Herb, who told her he had been put on special assignment. “I won’t be able to come over to the Billington house until after the lift-off.”

  “By that time we’ll probably be gone,” Hannah said, “but give us a ring anyway.”

  The girls were giggling when Hannah returned. Bess teased her. “Did Herb want to make a date to take you up in a rocket?”

  The housekeeper flushed slightly but joined in the banter. “Don’t think I didn’t catch on. He wanted to see you girls!”

  Just then the phone rang again. Burt and Dave were calling. Both boys were eagerly looking forward to the house party at the Nickersons’ and sent their best wishes to Hannah and Nancy.

  By bedtime the Resardos still had not returned and everyone wondered if the couple would put in an appearance.

  As the group was about to go ups
tairs the telephone rang again. Nancy, nearest the instrument, answered.

  “Is this Nancy Drew?” a man asked.

  “Yes.”

  “This is Patrick Croft. I’ve been trying to call you but your line has been busy. A man phoned me around eight o’clock. He sounded like the driver I let into the Base with the oranges. He told me I was to have nothing more to do with Nancy Drew or I’d be harmed.”

  “That’s dreadful!” Nancy said.

  The words were barely out of her mouth when Patrick Croft gave a cry of panic. “Someone’s breaking in!” he shouted. “Help! Help!”

  CHAPTER VII

  False Information

  THE phone connection remained on but there were no voices. Evidently Patrick Croft had run away from the instrument without hanging it up. Nancy could hear banging and shouting, then a crash, as if the intruder had broken open the door.

  Nancy hung up, waited a few minutes for the connection to be broken, then called police headquarters. She told the sergeant on duty what had happened at Croft’s house. He assured her that two officers would be sent there immediately.

  Nancy rushed upstairs to tell Hannah and the girls of Croft’s predicament. “I’m going over to see what happened!”

  “Not by yourself,” Hannah spoke up firmly. “We’ll all go. This is shocking. Poor Mr. Croft!”

  With Nancy at the wheel, they covered the distance to his house in a short time. A police car and an ambulance stood in front and sympathetic neighbors had begun to gather.

  “Oh, he’s been hurt!” Bess exclaimed.

  Nancy pulled up to the curb and jumped out.

  Patrick Croft was just being brought out on a stretcher. He was unconscious and his face the color of pale alabaster.

  Two policemen followed. After the ambulance pulled away, Nancy spoke to the taller officer, telling him she was the person who had phoned headquarters.

  “I’d like to explain to you in more detail what I know about the attack tonight.”

  “Come with me, miss,” said the officer, and added, “My name is Regan.”

  He led the way back into the house, then took a notebook and pencil from a pocket. “Tell me everything you can,” he said. “Sometimes a small detail that the average person considers unimportant can prove to be a valuable clue.”

  Nancy knew this very well from her own sleuthing experiences. She introduced herself and told where she was from, then said, “Mr. Croft was a security guard at NASA. He’s the one responsible for allowing the truck with explosive oranges to come onto the Base.”

  “Oh you know about that,” the officer replied.

  Nancy nodded, then related Patrick Croft’s telephone conversation verbatim.

  “So Croft thought the caller might have been the truck driver,” Officer Regan observed. “If he wasn’t Mr. Billington, have you any idea who he is? And why did the person who phoned not want Croft to contact you?”

  “I don’t know the man’s name,” Nancy answered. “That’s what I’m in Florida to find out. My father and a local lawyer are trying to solve this case and prove Mr. Billington innocent.”

  “I see,” the policeman said. “Poor Croft was beaten into unconsciousness so it will be some time before he’ll be able to answer any of our questions.”

  Regan told her that there was only one set of clear footprints but this was not a help in identification because the intruder had worn flippers.

  “Also, the man must have had on gloves,” the officer said, “because he left no fingerprints.”

  The word flippers caught Nancy’s attention and she remarked, “The man you’ll be looking for could be a snorkeler.”

  “You’re right,” Regan admitted. Then he asked, “By the way, have you and your friends visited the Real Eight Museum of Sunken Treasure yet?”

  “No, we haven’t.”

  “Do by all means. It’s most interesting, even though a little terrifying if you visualize what happened during one of the worst hurricanes on record. Well,” the officer said, “I must go. Thank you for your information.”

  He escorted Nancy outside. His fellow officer produced a padlock for the broken front door and pocketed the key. The police car pulled away. A curious group of neighbors who had gathered finally dispersed.

  Hannah and the girls started home. On the way Nancy said she felt largely responsible for what had happened to Croft.

  Hannah asked, “How could you possibly be responsible?”

  Nancy replied, “We know there are people who don’t want us working on Mr. Billington’s case. They’re probably watching all our movements. They found out I went to Croft’s house today and figured he had told me all he knew about the case. That’s why he was beaten up!”

  “How terrible!” Bess said angrily.

  “Here’s another possibility,” said George. “Suppose Croft is actually one of the gang? He might have been the inside man.”

  Hannah spoke up. “If Croft is one of the gang, why would they beat him up?”

  “Because,” George replied, “he was given a job to do at the Base and he bungled it.”

  Nancy remarked, “That’s good reasoning, George. I don’t happen to agree with it, though. I think Croft was given the beating to keep him from saying any more. He may suspect other people whom he didn’t tell us about.”

  When she turned into the Billingtons’ driveway, George said, “The Resardos’ car is here.”

  “That Antin is a cheat!” Hannah burst out. “Mr. Billington pays him for working in the grove and taking care of these grounds. He hasn’t touched the lawn or garden since we came. The grass is getting so brown I put on the sprinkler today.”

  The housekeeper unlocked the rear door and turned on the light. “How about a little ice cream before we go to bed?” She went to the refrigerator to take some out.

  Nancy glanced at her watch. It was after eleven o’clock. “I wonder if it’s too late to call Mr. Datsun,” she said to the others. “I think I should tell him what happened tonight.”

  Hannah, Bess, and George agreed, so Nancy went to the phone and picked it up. Someone was using it!

  As the young detective listened, a man said, “Got it straight? R-day.”

  George had followed Nancy to the hall. Nancy made motions indicating that her friend was to run upstairs and see who was on the extension phone.

  As George took the steps two at a time, Nancy heard a man’s muffled reply, “Okay.” The connection was cut off.

  George came down the stairs to report that she had found no one using the extension phone up there.

  “The call must have been made from the orange packing house,” Nancy declared.

  Hannah had come to see what was troubling Nancy. After hearing about the conversation, she said firmly, “Nancy, you’re not going to that place to find out. It’s too dangerous. Anyway, the person who used the phone has probably left by this time.”

  Nancy agreed. “But I think Antin should investigate,” she said. “I’m going upstairs and tell him.”

  George gave a sardonic laugh. “He won’t thank you for waking him up.”

  “I don’t care,” Nancy replied, and mounted the stairway. She knocked on the Resardos’ door. There was no response, but after a second knock, a woman’s sleepy voice said, “Who’s there?”

  “It’s Nancy Drew, Tina. I’d like to speak to Antin. It’s very important.”

  There was a long pause, then finally Tina came to the door. “Antin can’t see you now. He’s taking a bath.”

  “Please tell him that some prowler is in the packing house. He’d better go find out about him.”

  “Okay, I’ll tell him.”

  Nancy returned to the first floor. She and the others ate their ice cream, but Antin Resardo did not appear.

  “Some more of his indifference,” George remarked. “He’s a surly person.”

  “Yes,” Bess spoke up. “He’s no help at all around here. I certainly think Mr. Billington should be told.”
/>   “You can bet he will be,” Hannah informed her.

  When they finished the ice cream, the girls washed and dried the dishes and spoons. Then they put out the lights and followed Hannah up the stairway. Suddenly Nancy turned back.

  “What is it?” Bess asked her.

  “Listen!” said Nancy. “I think someone is using a key to open the kitchen door.”

  Led by Nancy, the group tiptoed down the stairway and went toward the kitchen. The rear door opened just as Nancy clicked on the overhead light. They were astounded to see Antin Resardo coming in.

  “You weren’t taking a bath at all as Tina said!” George cried out. “You were in the orange packing house phoning!”

  Nancy walked up to him. “What does R-day mean?” she demanded.

  Antin gave a start, then suddenly his face flushed with anger and he glared at the young detective.

  “You little sneak!” he yelled.

  The next second he grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her so hard Nancy felt as if her head would snap off.

  CHAPTER VIII

  Doubting Workmen

  “STOP that!” George yelled at Antin.

  She grabbed his arm and as Nancy staggered away, George buckled the man’s knees and flipped him over her shoulder. He fell to the floor with a crash.

  “Good for you, George!” exclaimed Bess in glee.

  Antin had been taken completely by surprise and had had the wind knocked out of him. Slowly he arose.

  Meanwhile Hannah had rushed to Nancy’s side and asked, “Are you all right? That was a contemptible thing to do to you!” she said. “Antin, hereafter don’t you ever dare lay a finger on Nancy or any of the rest of us!”

  Nancy assured Hannah she would be her normal self in a few minutes and flopped into a chair. Antin looked at her, then said grudgingly, “I didn’t mean to hurt you. I’m sorry if I did. You make me see red when you act suspicious of me. You mentioned my taking a bath. By the time I finished, Tina was asleep.

  “It worried me that since I’d been away all day the machinery might not have been switched off in the packing house. I went to investigate.