CHAPTER VIII
UNAWARE that she was being followed, Nancy walked on, deep in thought. Presently she approached a lonely section of the street, where there was an old cemetery with a high, vine-covered wall. No one was in sight, except the lone man and the unsuspecting girl toward whom he drew closer.
Suddenly the tires of a speeding automobile screeched on the roadway. Startled, Nancy turned her head to see why the driver had stopped so abruptly. As she stared at a green sedan which had pulled up at the curb, the man behind her brushed past. He jostled Nancy’s arm, knocking the paper bag from her hand.
“Excuse me,” he muttered. He stooped and fumbled for a moment with the bag.
“I’ll get it,” said Nancy quickly. Though the man kept his head down and his face turned away, she could see he had bushy hair. Like the customer in the shop, he was tall and wore a dark jacket. Could it be the same man?
Nancy feared that he meant to steal the precious package, but he dropped it at once and hurried away. The driver of the green car alighted and picked it up for her.
“Don’t you remember me?” he asked as he returned the bag. “Why, I’m an old friend!”
“You’re Mr. Dorrance,” Nancy said.
“That’s right and I didn’t even have to wave a handkerchief, did I?”
“Not this time. That pickpocket wouldn’t be likely to speak to me.”
“How about a lift home?” the man inquired.
Nancy politely declined the invitation. “No, thank you. I prefer to walk.” She never accepted rides from persons she did not know well.
“Suit yourself.” The man shrugged. He jumped into his car and quickly drove off.
“I hope my car will be fixed soon,” Nancy thought and walked home without further incident. She went to the kitchen and told Hannah Gruen about borrowing the diamond-and-ruby headdress from Mrs. Alexandra.
“It’s beautiful,” she declared, opening the bag. “Why, it’s not here!”
Dumbfounded, Nancy pulled out a dirt-covered stone.
“The ornament was stolen!” she cried, collapsing into a chair. “I’ve been tricked!”
“How dreadful!” said the housekeeper.
The loss made Nancy feel ill. She knew that the piece had been inside the bag when she had left Mrs. Alexandra’s home. A daring thief either had substituted another bag, or else slipped the stone inside this one in place of the jewel case.
“It was either David Dorrance or that man who brushed against me!” she thought angrily.
Nancy believed that the act had been committed by the stranger who no doubt knew what she was carrying. She felt sure now that he was the man from the shop and that he had followed her. She recalled how he had shielded his face from her.
“I dread telling Mrs. Alexandra,” Nancy groaned, adding, “At least I can notify the police!”
She immediately called headquarters. The lieutenant on duty assured her they would do what they could. But without a good description of the thief’s face it would be more difficult to apprehend him.
“Now the next thing you must do is report the loss to Mrs. Alexandra,” Hannah urged.
“I just hate to!”
“You should do it at once, Nancy.”
“I know,” she answered. “But it’s the most disagreeable task I’ve ever had in my life.”
Leaden feet carried her once more to the home of Mrs. Alexandra. The woman listened in amazement to Nancy’s story.
“The piece did have great value,” the owner acknowledged. “A thief must have seen Anna put it into the bag. No doubt he was watching her through a window.”
Nancy’s spirits dropped lower, for she was afraid she might never be able to repay the great loss. At that moment Anna came into the room. Her mistress told her what had happened.
“Madame Marie,” she said quickly, “the stolen ornament was not the genuine one.”
“You wrapped up the imitation headdress?” the woman cried in relief. “The one Mr. Faber sold to me before he found the original family piece?”
“Yes, Madame, by mistake.”
“Anna, you are the brightest of all my jewels!” the gracious lady exclaimed.
Nancy felt so grateful that she could have hugged Anna.
“I am happy the real ornament is safe,” Mrs. Alexandra declared. “Since I meant you to have the genuine one, Nancy, you may take it now.”
“And risk another theft? Oh no!”
“Then Anna and I will keep the headdress for you until Thursday, if you prefer.”
Nancy rose to leave. “And when I come for it, I may bring a bodyguard!” Her eyes twinkled as she added, “As for your dinner party tomorrow evening, my father and I will bring only your grandson!”
Dinner was ready by the time Nancy reached home. Mrs. Gruen had prepared an excellent meal, but for some reason Carson Drew ate little.
“What’s wrong, Dad?” Nancy inquired, glancing up. “Aren’t you feeling well?”
“Oh, I’m all right.”
“Then you’re worried. Is it about that wallet you lost?”
“Well, I had hoped it would be returned,” the lawyer admitted. “At least the papers in it.”
“You ran an ad in the newspaper, didn’t you?”
“Yes, I offered a reward and no questions asked. Nothing came of it.”
“I’ve had no luck in tracing the pickpocket either,” Nancy said, sighing.
At that moment the discussion was interrupted by the ringing of the doorbell. Nancy went to answer it. At the door stood a good-looking young man, broad-shouldered and deeply tanned.
“Ned!” Nancy cried jubilantly. “It’s great to see you!”
“And you.” He laughed, seizing her hand. “I just happened to be doing an errand near here and thought I’d drop over.”
Ned Nickerson and Nancy were friends of long standing. They enjoyed the same things and frequently went together to parties. Though she had many other admirers, Nancy admitted to herself that Ned was her favorite.
“Are you free for a date tonight?” he asked.
“I have one,” Nancy said with genuine regret. “Why didn’t you warn me you were coming?”
“How about tomorrow night?”
“Mrs. Alexandra, a new acquaintance, has invited Dad and me to a special dinner party. We are to take her grandson, Francis Baum, to see her for the first time. It’s thrilling, Ned! He’s supposed to be a missing prince-”
“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.