The Mystery at Lilac Inn - Carolyn Keene [7]
Nancy hugged the pleasant-faced woman, who said that Police Chief McGinnis had stopped at the house to investigate the burglary.
“No silver or other valuables are missing,” Hannah went on. “But your room is a mess. Whoever was here must have been after something you keep there.” The woman frowned worriedly.
Nancy dashed up the stairs. What a sight met her eyes as she entered her room! Bureau and chest drawers were open, their contents spilling out. Perfume bottles lay overturned on her dressing table. Clothes had been pulled from the closet and flung onto the bed and floor.
Mrs. Gruen, who had followed Nancy, explained, “Chief McGinnis wanted me to leave everything like this for you to see.”
Nancy nodded. “How was the house entered?”
“Through the back door,” Hannah replied. “The chief said the intruder must be an expert lock picker and burglar. He left no fingerprints.”
Nancy hurried into her father’s bedroom. Nothing here had been disturbed apparently. She went into the adjoining den and was relieved to see that the thief had not broken into the safe.
“The only thing missing from here is my picture,” Nancy reported to Hannah.
“Oh, dear! What does it all mean?” the housekeeper asked worriedly.
Before Nancy could continue, the phone rang, and she answered it.
“Miss Nancy Drew?” a woman asked.
“Yes.”
“This is Burk’s Department Store. I’m Mrs. Reilly of the fine jewelry department. I made a terrible mistake when I sold you that watch this morning. The price was one hundred and twenty-five dollars, not fifty as I told you. Do you still want to keep it?”
Utterly astounded, Nancy said, “Mrs. Reilly, I didn’t buy a watch this morning! I was out of town.”
“Isn’t your charge account number 10-4875?”
“Wait, please. I’ll check.”
Nancy hurried to open the desk drawer where she had put Burk’s charge plate. Its leather case was there, but the metal plate was not inside. “It has been stolen!” Nancy exclaimed.
With a sense of foreboding, she returned to the phone. “I’ll drive right down to see the manager,” Nancy said. “My charge plate has been stolen, I’m afraid.”
Nancy paused long enough to tell Hannah of her discovery, and to notify Chief McGinnis. The officer said he would meet her at the store manager’s office.
Just as she was about to enter Burk’s, Nancy stopped short. To her amazement, she saw Maud Potter entering the Empire Employment Agency office across the street.
“Now what’s up?” Nancy wondered. “Is Maud trying to engage a waitress for the inn, too?”
Puzzled, she hurried into the department store and took an elevator to the third-floor office of the manager, Mr. Goldsmith.
“I’m Nancy Drew,” she greeted him pleasantly. “I want to explain—”
She got no further. With a stern look, the manager said curtly, “I know all about the watch you claim not to have bought early this morning. But how about those other items you carried away?”
Dumfounded, Nancy could only echo, “Other items?”
Grimly the manager continued, “I don’t know what your game is, Miss Drew. But unless you have a twin, you owe Burk’s Department Store for merchandise worth two thousand dollars!”
CHAPTER IV
Address Unknown
NANCY felt she must be dreaming. Not only had the thief charged two thousand dollars to her account, but the store manager seemed to believe that Nancy herself had made the purchases.
“I must have a double!” she thought. “Doris Drake’s friend Phyl was right in thinking she was talking to me. Someone is impersonating me! It’s possible this person or a friend of hers broke into our house, took the charge plate, and some of my clothes for her to wear!”
Outwardly, Nancy tried to appear calm. “I couldn’t have bought those things, Mr. Goldsmith,” she insisted. “This is the first time today I’ve been in Burk’s.”
For answer, the manager pressed a buzzer. Three women entered. He introduced them as Mrs. Reilly, Miss Coogan, and Mrs. Watson,
“Mrs. Reilly sold you the watch,” said