Mystery of the Glowing Eye - Carolyn Keene [41]
Before anyone could comment, they heard a loud knock on the front door. One of the officers went to answer it. The caller proved to be Tim Rooney. He laughed and said, “You all look as if you expected a monster. I’m just plain old Tim Rooney.”
George spoke up. “It wouldn’t have surprised us if a monster had arrived. Actually we thought the caller might be a wizard.”
“Where did you get that idea?” Mr. Rooney laughed.
Nancy told him what had been discovered during his absence. He was intrigued by the story of the ancient gang of wizards.
“I’m not one of them,” he said, smiling, “although I have a reputation for being able to open any locked door with my special keys. Miss Drew, here’s the key to the museum attic. Hope you catch your man real soon!”
The officers made a moulage of the strange heel print, and left after they had warned the group not to take any chances. The girls talked with Professor Titus for several minutes, then he walked into the room where the glowing eye had shone on the wall.
“Listen!” Bess said suddenly. “I hear a car coming!”
The girls wondered who was arriving. They felt sure it was not Crosson nor one of Cyclops’ pals. A few seconds later there was a loud knock on the door. Nancy asked who was there.
Two male voices said, “Your guards for the night.”
The girls burst out laughing. Burt and Dave!
Bess quickly pulled open the front door and the boys walked in.
Burt was grinning. “We thought you girls needed more protection.”
Just then Professor Titus returned to the group. “So you boys didn’t trust me to take care of them alone?” he asked, his eyes twinkling.
Burt and Dave knew he was teasing them, but they were a little embarrassed.
Dave said, “Sorry, Professor. Of course you could have done the job, but we’d kind of like to hang around.”
“That’s a lame explanation,” the man replied, pretending to be as critical as he was sometimes known to be in his classroom.
Nancy spoke up. “Now that you boys are here, we’ll put you to work. First, we’ll tell you all about this evening’s events, then give you jobs.”
The two boys were astounded at the latest developments and Dave said, “As usual more things can happen to Nancy Drew and her friends in two hours than might happen in two years to somebody else.”
The young detective smiled, then said, “Let’s watch this museum closely. I suggest we divide forces and spread out.”
“Good idea,” Burt said. “Where do you want to station me?”
“Suppose you and I go to the attic,” Nancy answered. “Wait until you see that fabulous laboratory!”
She went on to assign jobs to the others. Professor Titus and George were to station themselves near the panel where the glowing eye had been seen. “Bess and Dave, how about guarding the front door?”
The group quickly dispersed and went to their individual posts. Nancy and Burt hurried upstairs to the second floor, then Nancy opened the attic door with the key she had just received. She flicked on the light switch and closed the door. Burt followed her up the steps and in a moment he was gazing in awe at the equipment.
Nancy, in the meantime, heard what sounded like a helicopter. Was it Crosson? She quickly turned off the light and told Burt to look out the window with her.
They could see a helicopter descending in the field behind the museum!
“Burt, I’ll bet it’s Crosson!” Nancy exclaimed.
Together they watched the whirlybird. Both had the same thought: Was it the robot craft which had landed on Nancy’s front lawn in River Heights?
“Maybe Crosson and Ned are in it!” Burt suggested.
The helicopter settled to the ground but instantly went up again. It circled for a few minutes, then took off.
“Maybe someone dropped out,” Nancy remarked.
“And he may come into the museum!” Burt added.
Just then they heard a scream from the first floor!
CHAPTER XIX
The Captive
WHO had screamed? Someone in their group or an intruder?
Nancy was torn between two theories: the cry might have