The Mystery at Lilac Inn - Carolyn Keene [16]
“It ... it’s the jinx again ...” Emily sobbed. “I should have known. Oh, poor Dick! All our plans are spoiled.”
“I’m not so sure,” Nancy said. “I have a feeling the thief substituted these fakes for the real diamonds. I know it sounds funny ...”
“Huh!” Maud exclaimed. Turning to Nancy, she said, “An awful lot of funny things have happened since you came to Lilac Inn.”
“That’s enough, Maud!” Emily brushed away her tears. “I won’t have you insulting my friends. Anyway, maybe Nancy’s right.”
“Oh, I forgot. Nancy’s a famous detective!” Maud said sarcastically.
Helen and Nancy kept still with difficulty. Nancy wondered why Maud had become so antagonistic toward her.
In silence, the four reached Nancy’s car. As the others got in, Nancy stopped a newsboy to buy a River Heights morning paper. Nancy opened her change purse. Simultaneously, a woman coming from the opposite direction jostled Nancy’s arm.
The purse dropped to the pavement, scattering change in every direction.
“Oh, bother!” Nancy exclaimed.
Emily jumped out of the car to help retrieve the money. A moment later she gave a startled cry and pointed to the ground.
Lying beside the ten-cent piece was a small diamond brilliantly reflecting the sunlight!
The expression on Nancy’s face brought Helen and Maud hurrying from the car. Emily picked up the diamond.
“Is this yours, Nancy?” she asked.
“N—no, I never saw it before,” Nancy stammered, completely astounded.
Maud looked smug. “Try and make anyone believe that. It’s one of your diamonds, Emily!”
Nancy was too horrified to speak. Helen came to her friend’s defense. Glaring at Maud, she dedared, “If Nancy says she knows nothing about how the diamond got in her change purse, it’s true!”
“Of course it is,” Emily backed her up. “Oh Maud, why are you always so hateful?” Turning to Nancy, she said, “Someone has tried to throw suspicion on you. But why?”
“I don’t know,” Nancy replied. “If that’s the case, I wonder if that woman who bumped me might be in league with the jewel thief.” To herself she added, “Maybe my impersonator is trying to throw suspicion on me!”
She paid the boy for the paper, then asked him and the others if they had noticed the woman. Unfortunately none of them had.
Nancy suggested that they have the new-found stone appraised, so the group re-entered Fabian’s. The jeweler was surprised but obligingly put on his eyepiece.
“This is a perfect one-carat diamond!” he exclaimed. “If you’re interested in selling, I’ll be happy to make an offer.”
“Not today, but I may be back.” Emily smiled.
She and her friends returned to the convertible and Nancy headed for Lilac Inn. She speculated to herself on the imitation gems. “The thief learned the number and shapes of Emily’s diamonds, and had the artificial ones made to match as closely as possible. Very clever.”
Her thoughts were broken into by Maud asking Emily, “When are you going to tell Dick about the theft of your jewels?”
“When I get ready,” was the cool reply.
As they turned into the Lilac Inn driveway, Emily sighed. “Aunt Hazel will be dreadfully upset to hear about the substitution of the gems.”
“It’ll put her to bed for a week,” Maud prophesied unfeelingly. “Well, I’ll see you all at lunch.”
The noon meal was a rather uncomfortable one. Mrs. Willoughby was obviously dejected and ate little. Maud maintained an almost sulky silence. Nancy was preoccupied, though somewhat disappointed that John was not present. Also, a startling idea had come to her about the diamond in her purse: The noise which had awakened her during the night might have been made by an intruder leaving, perhaps by the bathroom window, after planting the diamond.
After luncheon Anna the waitress beckoned Nancy aside and handed her a note. “I just took this message from Mr. McBride on the phone. I was passing the desk and answered the ring.”
Nancy thanked the girl and read the message. “Nancy: I’ve found an important clue to the case. Come in your canoe to the dock where you saw the man with the crew cut. Wear your diving gear.”
Nancy was intrigued.