Part 6 (1/2)

Whispering, Nancy instructed her friends to hold the man's attention while she explored. In her purse she had a list and description of pieces taken from the Follett home. Mrs. Tenney had also provided her with a sketch of the George Was.h.i.+ngton tables.

As Nancy wandered about, she saw that Mr. Zinn's pieces were mainly pine and maple, while the articles on the list were described as dark wood. But suddenly, in a comer, she saw a small cherry table. It matched the sketch perfectly!

Meanwhile, Bess and George were asking Mr. Zinn questions about some old pewter mugs.

Abruptly, the dealer whirled around, looked for Nancy and said, ”Where is your friend?”

”Maybe she's up in one of the lofts,” Bess stammered.

The antique dealer eyed the cousins suspiciously. ”Might she be snooping for some reason?”

At that moment Nancy hurried toward the group.

”Did you find something you like?” the chubby man asked, looking at Nancy intently.

”Yes, one piece interests me very much,” the detective replied. ”It's that small, unusual cherry table in the corner.” She led the way back and pointed out the article.

”Oh, that,” Mr. Zinn said. ”It's not expensive -just a copy I made of a George Was.h.i.+ngton antique. A very good copy, I might add. I am a cabinetmaker as well as an antique dealer.”

”Where is the original piece?” George asked.

”Well, actually, there are two of them,” Mr. Zinn said. ”One is in River Heights. I've no idea where its mate is, although I've searched and made many inquiries. I'd like to have it!”

The girls exchanged glances. Evidently Mr. Zinn did not know that Mrs. Follett had owned the matching table!

His eyes gleaming, the man went on, ”The original tables have hidden drawers in them. It's said that one holds a great secret.”

Nancy, Bess, and George looked startled. Did Mrs. Tenney know this? Could it be one of the reasons she suspected her cousin of taking the antique furniture?

”Please tell us more,” Nancy urged.

The dealer said that the River Heights table had belonged to his recently deceased great-aunt, Mrs. Sara Follett. Her belongings were to be divided between himself and his cousin, Mrs. Tenney, a resident of that town.

He sighed. ”It will be difficult to apportion the furniture, once the estate is settled. I'm sure we'll both want the Was.h.i.+ngton table. Anyway, I'm waiting to hear from the lawyer now.”

”Do you think it contains the secret?” Bess asked.

”No, I purchased that antique for my aunt,” Mr. Zinn said. ”I learned of its secret drawer while it was in my shop being refinished. An old friend from Lancaster recognized the table from a picture he'd seen in a book of antiques. He said we ought to look for the secret compartment he'd read about, which we did. But when we finally found it, the hidden drawer was empty!”

”What a shame,” George said.

”I agree. So the secret must be in the drawer of the matching antique table. That is why I'd like to find it before someone else does,” the dealer concluded.

Nancy decided that it was only fair to tell Mr. Zinn what had happened. Unless he was a clever actor, he was not aware of the furniture theft. She said that she and her friends were from River Heights and his cousin was her neighbor.

”Mrs. Tenney asked me to accompany her to your great-aunt's mansion a few days ago,” Nancy went on. ”When we got there, we found that the place had been burglarized. The antiques in the library have been stolen!” she announced.

”What!” Mr. Zinn shouted. His face turned red and his neck muscles grew taut. ”The furniture-stolen?”