The Mystery at Lilac Inn - Carolyn Keene [12]
Anna gave Nancy a curious look. “Why do you ask?”
The young detective explained that Emily Willoughby wanted to be sure no one had been hurt by an unexpected fall during the blackout.
Nancy left the kitchen and hurriedly went through the other first-floor rooms, but saw no one. As she walked back toward the private dining room, Nancy met Mr. Daly in the lobby. He told her that he had found nothing wrong with the lighting system.
“I can’t understand what happened,” he said, then added, “I just heard from Emily about the missing jewels. How dreadfull”
John came in at that moment and said he had found no prowler on the grounds. “By this time the jewel thief is undoubtedly far away,” he concluded.
As Nancy returned with him to the private dining room, she was deep in thought. Logically, the only ones who could have taken the diamonds were she and her four dining companions! “But that’s absolutely unlikely,” Nancy told herself. She reported her findings to the others.
Maud Potter’s eyes narrowed. “I suppose you think Emily should search us!” she said nastily to Nancy.
“Maud!” Emily protested. “Nancy meant no such thing.”
Maud paid no attention, but turned on Mrs. Willoughby, who was still pale. “You can blame yourself, Hazel—announcing in a public dining room this morning that you were going to get Emily’s diamonds!”
“I know.” Mrs. Willoughby sighed. But Emily put a comforting arm around her, and gave Maud a look of disapproval.
“Let’s all search this room,” Nancy proposed quickly. “We might find some clue.”
Everyone but Maud readily agreed. She sat sullen-faced, while the others looked carefully in corners and under tables and chairs.
Nancy herself was scrutinizing the area where Emily had sat. Suddenly her keen eyes spotted three tiny pale-purple lilac buds on the floor. One —two—three—she counted, then saw a fourth bud lying near the wall to the right of Emily’s chair. Aside from the centerpiece, there were no other flowers in the room.
“How did lilac buds get in here?” Nancy mused. There was no sign of footprints near them.
Saying nothing, Nancy picked one up. It was fresh. She looked at the wall thoughtfully and closely.
Everyone watched in amazement as the titian-blond girl began to tap the wall, then listen intently.
Nancy motioned them not to say a word. She continued tapping, until she tried one spot which sounded different. It had a hollow ring. Nancy pressed against the wooden wall. Suddenly a panel slid aside noiselessly.
CHAPTER VI
Uncanny Recoveries
JOHN and the others gaped in astonishment as the panel in the wall slid open. “Nancy, you’re terrific!” John exclaimed, handing her his flashlight.
Everyone crowded behind Nancy, as she beamed the light into a wood-walled closet. It had a musty odor.
“I don’t remember seeing this in the floor plans of the inn,” Emily said, puzzled, as Nancy stooped and shone the flash on something on the floor. It was a crushed, but still fresh lilac flower!
“It was those other blossoms which made me think there might be a concealed entrance into this room.”
“Nancy, you’re a genius,” said Mrs. Willoughby. “I never dreamed this spot was here. The thief must have been hiding in the closet.”
“But where did he go?” John asked.
Nancy was feeling the rear wall of the closet. Her fingers touched a small metal latch. She turned it. A second panel slid open soundlessly. Beyond was the coat closet off the lobby of the inn!
“This must be how the jewel thief got in and out of this dining room,” Nancy announced. She walked on into the lobby, followed by the others.
“Look!” Helen exclaimed, and pointed to a lilac bud near the front door.
Nancy examined the bud which proved to be fresh and moist. “The thief probably wore a sprig of lilacs. That makes me think the person was a woman.”
Mr. Daly agreed with Nancy. He admitted that he