Part 3 (1/2)
The paper had been torn in half, and the remainder of the strange message was missing!
CHAPTER III.
Ghost in the Cave
As Nancy reread the mysterious words, Bess Marvin approached the table.
”Thank goodness the last customer has gone!” she exclaimed, pulling off her ap.r.o.n.
”Uh-huh,” Nancy replied, her mind on the strange message.
”You're not listening!” Bess accused. ”What is it you're reading, Nancy?”
”A paper I found on the ground after one of my customers left. He was an elderly man, Bess, and he said he had come to Candleton to find a bell that had been made by Paul Revere!”
Nancy handed the paper to her friend to read and waited for her comments.
”Do you suppose the man thinks the gems are hidden in the Revere bell? Why, it's another mystery, Nancy!”
”Not so loud,” the young detective warned with a quick glance around her. ”If the contents of this paper should become known, some dishonest person in Candleton might start buying all the old bells around and selling them at a fancy profit.”
”What is an x.x.x bell, Nancy?”
”I don't know, but my guess is the three X's might be the trademark of the maker.”
”Wouldn't it be marvelous if we could find one ourselves!”
”That's an idea,” Nancy said with a smile as she folded the paper. ”We should return this to the customer who lost it. I wish I knew his name.”
Neither Dora nor Mrs. Chantrey could provide any information about the elderly man. They were sure he had never been to the Salsandee Shop before.
”If the paper is valuable and belongs to him, he'll come back here to look for it,” Nancy reasoned.
Mrs. Chantrey sealed the message in an envelope and dropped it into a desk drawer, instructing Dora to give it to the stranger should he call. Then, grateful to the girls for their efficient help, she insisted they stop work and return to her house.
”I'll go with you,” she declared. ”Dora will be able to take care of the few customers who may drop in between now and closing time. But first we'll have some dinner.”
The moon was rising as the three girls later walked along the beach with their hostess. Farther up White Cap Bay they glimpsed a light-house, and Mrs. Chantrey pointed out Whistling Oyster Cove and Bald Head Cliff.
”Such picturesque names!” George remarked, stooping to pick up an odd-shaped sh.e.l.l. ”Is fis.h.i.+ng the chief occupation here, Mrs. Chantrey?”
”I'd say the making of salt-water taffy is!” She chuckled. ”But seriously, there's one interesting spot you must visit,” Mrs. Chantrey went on. ”Mother Mathilda's Candle Shop.”
”Did those lovely ones at the Salsandee Shop come from there?” Bess inquired.
”Yes. You may have noticed they're lightly perfumed.”
As Bess and George asked questions about the village and its inhabitants, Nancy remained unusually quiet. She was concerned about her father's absence. Deep in thought, she was startled when her hostess suddenly asked about him.