Mystery Of The Tolling Bell Part 25

"Have you any theory about it?" George asked.

"Do you suppose," Nancy said, "that some gas could have escaped from crevices in the rocks where I was standing?"

"Did you smell anything unusual?" Bess put in.

Nancy said she had not noted any strange odor other than a sweet one like that of the wild flowers on the cliff.

Later that afternoon, at Nancy's suggestion, the three girls called upon Mother Mathilda.

"I want to ask her if she knows anything about the cliff that might throw some light on my experience," she said.

To the disappointment of Nancy and her friends the woman could offer no explanation. So far as she knew, no gases or fumes had ever exuded from crevices in the rocks.

"I'm glad you dropped in," the elderly candlemaker said. "When you were here the other day, I forgot to tell you about Amy Maguire."

"You mean the daughter of the Maguires who lived on the cliff?" Nancy inquired.

"Yes. She was an adopted daughter. Amy turned out to be a wild one. As long as Grandpa Maguire was alive she behaved herself pretty well. After his pa.s.sing, she made her Ma a heap o' trouble, running off to marry a no-good."

"Someone you know?"

"No, and I never did hear his name, nor what became of the couple. But I know her Ma was heartbroken, and her Pa took it kind of hard, too. They never mixed with other folks after that."

"What a shame!" Bess commented.

As the girls rose to leave, the woman timidly inquired if any progress had been made in tracing Monsieur Pappier, the Mon Coeur stock swindler.

Nancy a.s.sured her that Mr. Drew was working on the case. "We are hoping that both he and Madame will be caught within the next few days," she added.

"I hope," said Mother Mathilda, "that he's sent to jail for at least twenty years! And that she's punished, tool Will I get my money back, do you think, or will the scamps have spent it?"

"No one can tell that until the swindlers are caught. But let's hope you'll recover a good part of it."

Nancy's words cheered the woman. Grateful to the girls for taking so much interest in her troubled affairs, she insisted upon presenting each of them with four delicately perfumed candles.

"I used good perfume this time, and the entire batch turned out perfectly," she declared proudly.

A little later, at the Chantrey home, Nancy learned from June Barber that during her absence she had received a telephone call from Yorktown. Knowing that it was from her father, she stayed indoors for the next hour, and as she had expected, he telephoned her again.

"Nancy, I've been trying to get you," he began in an excited voice. "Can you come to Yorktown right away?"

"Certainly, Dad," she replied.

"Good!" the lawyer declared. "The police are holding a woman who may be the seller of Mon Coeur perfume. You're needed to identify her."

"I'll come as fast as I can," Nancy promised.

She explained the purpose of her trip to George and Bess. Then she headed her convertible toward Yorktown, maintaining the maximum speed allowed. When Nancy reached the town, she went directly to police headquarters.

As she entered the building the young detective saw her father talking to the desk sergeant. Seeing her, Mr. Drew rushed across the room.

"I'm glad you're here, Nancy!" he exclaimed. "If you're able to identify the prisoner we may crack the case!"

"Where is the woman, Dad?"

"She's in a cell now. But you'll have to select her from a lineup. Think you can do it?"

"I'll try."

"The woman will not be wearing a costume, which may confuse you," Mr. Drew warned. "You'll be given only one chance to identify her. If you fail, she'll be released."

"If I've ever seen the woman before, I'll recognize her," Nancy said quietly. "Tell the police I'm ready."

CHAPTER XVIII.

The Hidden Door

As Nancy, her father, and two police officers stood behind a screen, other policemen escorted five women across a small stage which was brilliantly lighted.

All were heavy-set, dark-complexioned, and wore street clothing. Blinking under the bright lights, they stared straight ahead.

Nancy gazed at each woman in turn. Then, without the slightest hesitation, she said, "The one in the center is the perfume seller. She is known to me only as Madame."

"Good!" Mr. Drew praised her. "That makes the identification positive."

After the prisoner had been led away, he told Nancy he previously had identified the same woman as the one who had accompanied him in the taxi to Fisher's Cove.

"The woman who drugged you!" Nancy cried out.

"I'm convinced of it. We'll place charges against her."

Nancy learned that Madame, who had been posing as a Spanish woman while in Yorktown, had been caught by the police as she sought to sell Sweet Chimes perfume to the proprietor of a beauty salon. She had denied knowing Mr. Drew or having anything to do with the Mon Coeur firm.

"She refuses to tell us anything about her confederates," the lawyer added. "Fortunately, a number of names and addresses were found in her pocketbook when it was searched. The police are checking them now."

As Nancy and her father stepped into the corridor, they came face to face with Madame, who was being taken to her cell by two policewomen. Seeing the girl, she suddenly halted and glared at her.

"Your meddling did it!" she cried furiously. "You're responsible for my being held here! But just wait until I get free! Just wait!"

Nancy made no reply, and the woman, still muttering threats, was led away.

"Madame speaks English without an accent," Mr. Drew observed. "The truth is, she hasn't a drop of foreign blood. She was born in New York City and her name is Martha Stott."

"Monsieur Pappier hasn't been found yet?"

"No, but the police are hard on his trail. They think he's in hiding around here, but I can't stay in Candleton to await his capture. I must fly back to River Heights tomorrow. Have an important case coming up in Federal Court."