Chief McGinnis said, “Nancy, I believe you’ll have to turn your talents to this case.” There was a twinkle in the eyes of the good-natured officer.
“Too busy today,” she joked in return.
Homeward bound, Nancy began to wonder whether this latest theft had been committed by the same man who had stolen her father’s wallet, and who was also responsible for the purse snatchings in River Heights.
“Somehow I must recover the money for the Boys Club, and the valuable papers Dad lost!” she thought resolutely. “This afternoon, I’ll be at Helen’s picnic for Katherine. Maybe tomorrow a new clue will come my way!”
The young people were to go by motorboat far up the river to Star Island. The outing promised to be an especially enjoyable one.
Ned Nickerson came for Nancy in his car. Upon reaching the dock, the couple found that the other picnickers had arrived ahead of them. Ned’s college friend Bob Dutton escorted Katherine. George Fayne and an athletic young man, Burt Eddleton, had come together, and Bess had brought her favorite date, Dave Evans.
“Everyone is here,” Helen declared, counting all of her guests, who numbered twelve.
Two motorboats, to be operated by Jim Archer and Ned, had been rented for the outing. The passengers were divided between the crafts, and Jim started off. The ropes of Ned’s craft were about to be cast off when a shout came from shore.
“Hey, wait a minute!” Francis Baum ran to the dock, followed by his dog. Thinking that he might have a message for her from his grandmother, Nancy asked Ned to wait. In a low voice she told him that the newcomer was Mrs. Alexandra’s grandson.
“What’s up? A boat trip?” the prince demanded as he reached the group.
“You guessed it,” Ned answered shortly.
“How about taking me along?”
“The boats are filled now. Otherwise-” Dave started to say.
“Oh, you can make room for me,” Michael insisted, jumping aboard and squeezing in between Nancy and Bess.
The dog also leaped into the craft. Before he could be made to lie down, he had put his dirty paws on Bess’s beige slacks, soiling them badly.
“Oh!” she cried out.
“Hey, pitch that beast out on the dock!” Ned ordered. “We’re not going to take him.”
Nancy was concerned that Mrs. Alexandra might be hurt if the prince told her about the boys’ attitude. She nudged Ned, and he became silent. She now presented Michael to the group, being careful not to reveal the identity of Mrs. Alexandra.
“Why don’t you tell your friends I’m really Prince Michael?” he urged. “It’s not everybody who has a queen for a grandmother.”
Those in the group who did not know the story looked at him in amusement. They thought he was joking, and Nancy made no comment.
“How did you know about our picnic?” she asked quietly.
“I didn’t,” he said with a grin. “I just happened to be walking my dog down here. Lucky, wasn’t it?” No one replied.
As they edged away from the dock, a sleek speedboat cruised past. Beside its driver, who was a sad-faced young man, sat a little boy. Michael ducked low.
“Is he afraid of being seen by that other man?” Nancy asked herself.
As the trip proceeded, Bess, Ned, and their friends paid little attention to Michael. They had started singing. Nancy, crowded by the dog, presently climbed over the seat, and perched herself on the afterdeck of the boat.
“Lots of room back here!” she shouted.
The others continued to sing and did not join her. She became interested in watching the speedboat, which was about to pass them again.
It was not until the channel buoy had been rounded that Bess glanced over her shoulder. Then she screamed.
“Stop the boat, Ned! Quickly! Nancy’s gone! She must have fallen overboard!
Ned swung the motorboat in a wide arc, while the worried young people looked across the water. They saw a figure swimming some distance away.
“It’s Nancy!” cried Bess, pointing. “She’s holding up a little boy!”
Another boat also was speeding toward the scene. Ned, however, was the first to reach Nancy. Many hands pulled her and the little boy aboard. Immediately he began to cry.
“You’re all right,” Nancy said, putting her arms around him and hugging him dose to her.
Between sobs the boy said, “Mr. Ellington’s going to scold me for falling off his boat.”
Both Nancy and Ned hastened to console the boy. “Oh no! He knows it was just an accident that could happen to anybody.”
“Look, here is your boat now,” Nancy said as it drew alongside.
“That’s Mr. Ellington,” the boy said, pointing to the handsome man at the wheeL
The man looked frightened as he realized by what a narrow margin a tragedy had been averted.
“You had him before I knew he was overboard,” he said shakily. “If anything had happened to Buddy Farrell, I couldn’t have faced his parents,” he declared. “He’s the son of the superintendent of the apartment house where I live.”
Buddy was handed over to Mr. Ellington. As the two boats separated, Nancy remarked that the sad-faced young man seemed very nice.
“Too stiff to suit me,” cut in MichaeL
“Mr. Ellington is a talented commercial artist,” said Katherine. “I see some of his drawings at an exhibit. He sell them, I think, to magazines. Helen say he will be at the fashion show, and I must make impression on him!”
“What is his first name?” Nancy asked.
“I do not know. He sign all his drawings R. H. Ellington.”
Star Island soon came into view, and the boat was tied to a dock near a sandy beach. Helen and Jim’s group already had arrived. All the young men except Michael offered to carry the picnic hampers to a spot among the trees.
Nancy introduced Michael to the others, then said, “Let’s go for a swim!”
“The prince will have a chance to show us his skill,” Ned added.
Michael smiled in a superior way. “Sorry, I didn’t bring swim trunks.”
“I’ll let you have mine,” Jim offered. “We’re about the same size.”
“No, thank you,” the young man declined. “I never wear anybody else’s clothing.”
The others felt certain that he was giving these lame excuses because he was a poor swimmer. While they dived and raced in a sheltered cove, he amused himself by throwing sticks into the water for his dog to retrieve.
“Can’t you play that little game somewhere else?” Ned demanded crossly.
“So sorry,” Michael replied, but he kept on throwing sticks in the swimming area.
“I’ve had my fill of that guy!” Ned muttered.
“So have I,” added Bob Dutton.
Out of earshot of Nancy they formed a plan to be put into effect if Michael should annoy them any more. The young people decided to dress. Nancy’s clothing had dried.
The girls were ready first and began to set out the lunch. Michael took several sandwiches for his dog without asking permission.
“I wish those boys would hurry,” Helen said after fifteen minutes had gone by.
Presently the youths turned up, broad grins on their faces. Nancy suspected they were up to some trick.
As the food was passed, it became evident that the prince had not learned anything about good manners from his association with his grandmother. He was as greedy as ever.
“Michael,” said Ned, addressing him abruptly, “will you do us a favor?”
“What is it?” Michael asked suspiciously.
“Katherine left her coat in the motorboat. Dash down and get it for her,” Ned replied, giving the girl a wink.
The young man considered a moment, and then smiled at Katherine. “I’ll do it for you. But when I get back, I’ll expect a reward.”
“You’ll get it,” Ned promised.
As Michael started toward the beach with his dog, Nancy glanced questioningly at Ned. Instantly the boys arose and hurriedly stuffed the remaining food into the hampers.