“This is very fine and most unique,” Mr. Drew declared, his fingers exploring the intricate work.
Suddenly he gasped in astonishment. Somehow the lawyer had pressed a tiny, hidden spring along the side of the gentleman’s box. A false bottom was revealed, and in it was a slip of paper.
“Now what can this be?” Mr. Drew asked as he scanned the strange figures on the sheet.
“Until this moment I did not know that the box had a secret opening,” put in Mr. Faber.
“Hm! A formula of some sort,” Mr. Drew said.
“Perhaps the long-missing process of enamel making!” exclaimed Mr. Faber. “At one time my father had it in his possession.”
Mr. Drew offered the paper to the man, saying, “Then this belongs to you.”
Mr. Faber retreated a step. “No! No! It is yours too. I can take back nothing.”
Mr. Drew turned to his daughter. “What do you think, dear? After all, you are the one who solved this whole mystery.”
Nancy locked arms with her father. “I think you should remain a lawyer and I an amateur detective. The formula is Mr. Faber’s.”
Everyone applauded this idea. Now that the mystery had come to a close, Nancy began to wonder when and where her next adventure would take place. It proved to be an exciting one, called The Secret in the Old Attic.
Mr. Faber had started to speak. “Any profit I make I want to share with all of you. My gift will include a large donation to the Boys Club and a wedding present to the prince and his bride.”
Mrs. Alexandra smiled at everyone. “I sincerely hope for continued friendship among us all, and I give especially warm thanks for my great happiness and good fortune to our darling Nancy Drew.”
Carolyn Keene
