Part 24 (2/2)
The two girls hurried to their rooms to change. Ned, Burt, and Dave sat down in the lobby, while Nancy went to the desk to inquire for mail.
”Any letters for me?” she asked.
The desk clerk handed her two envelopes. One was plain, the other bore the hotel insigne. Nancy decided instantly that the latter was from Bartescue. She opened it and was not mistaken. It said:I won my golf match today and hope the rain did not cause you to lose yours. Important business calls me away from the hotel, but I hope to see you before you return home.
”Important business,” Nancy mused as she tucked the letter into her pocket. ”I wonder if it concerns Margaret Judson!”
She opened the second letter, and was astonished to learn that it was from the young woman she hoped to find that night. The typed message and signature read: The bearer of this note said that you wish to see me. Please write your message and leave it tonight before nine o'clock in one hand of the fountain statue.
Margaret Judson
Nancy read the note a second time to be sure that she had fully absorbed its amazing contents, then turned to the desk clerk.
”Can you tell me who delivered this letter?”
”I was not on duty at the time, Miss Drew.”
Nancy wondered if the messenger could have been Bartescue. She would have to wait and ask the day clerk when he came on duty.
By this time Bess and George had returned. Before they went off with Burt and Dave, Nancy told them about the two notes. Afterward she showed Ned the one from Margaret Judson.
He grinned. ”It looks as if your hunch is correct, Nancy. You may meet the mysterious lady before the evening is over.”
”Ned, let's walk into the garden. I need a moment to figure out what to do. I'm not certain which statue Miss Judson means. It's probably the large one at the rear of the hotel. I think that's the only statue connected with a fountain.”
”Let's look,” Ned suggested.
Without appearing to be particularly interested in the surroundings, the couple walked slowly about the hotel grounds. Finally they stopped at the fountain, pretending to watch the goldfish in its basin.
”I've decided to leave a blank sheet of paper here, Ned. I would write a note but I'm a little suspicious Margaret Judson didn't send me that letter.”
”You think it's a forgery?”
”It could be. I'd like to compare Miss Judson's signature with the one on Mr. Haley's photograph, but I won't have time now to go back to the cabin.”
Ned looked at his watch. ”No, I guess you won't. It's almost nine o'clock.”
”We must work quickly. Wait here, Ned, please.”
Nancy ran back into the hotel, but soon reappeared with a folded paper in her hand. The couple sat down on a nearby bench and waited until the grounds were deserted. Then Ned leaned across the stone basin of the fountain and placed the sheet of paper in the upraised hand of the marble figure.
”Now we'll act as if we're returning to the hotel,” Nancy whispered.
”Later,” said Ned, ”we can sneak back here to see if anyone comes for the message.”
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