The Mystery of the Fire Dragon - Carolyn Keene [0]
Title Page
Copyright Page
CHAPTER I - Mystery in New York
CHAPTER II - The Dragon Clue
CHAPTER III - Campus Sleuthing
CHAPTER IV - A Disappointing Wait
CHAPTER V - A Convincing Disguise
CHAPTER VI - The Chase
CHAPTER VII - Strange Thefts
CHAPTER VIII - Angry Neighbors
CHAPTER IX - Bess Is Missing
CHAPTER X - Bookshop Detectives
CHAPTER XI - A Suspect Escapes
CHAPTER XII - Flight Plans
CHAPTER XIII - An Ominous Dream
CHAPTER XIV - A Hidden Microphone
CHAPTER XV - The Mah-jongg Dealer
CHAPTER XVI - A Chinese Puzzle
CHAPTER XVII - Pursuit of the Sea Furies
CHAPTER XVIII - A New Assignment
CHAPTER XIX - Symbolic Fireworks
CHAPTER XX - The Escape
“Let your prisoner go at once!” Nancy demanded
Copyright © 1989, 1961 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved.
Published by Grosset & Dunlap, Inc., a member of The Putnam &
Grosset Group, New York. Published simultaneously in Canada. S.A. NANCY DREW MYSTERY STORIES® is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster,
Inc. GROSSET & DUNLAP is a trademark of Grosset & Dunlap, Inc.
eISBN : 978-1-101-07739-9
2008 Printing
http://us.penguingroup.com
CHAPTER I
Mystery in New York
“WHAT else does Ned say, Nancy?” Mr. Drew asked. He was listening intently to a letter his daughter was reading.
“Ned likes being a college exchange student in Hong Kong, and he has actually learned to speak some Cantonese, Dad!”
“Excellent. That, together with his study of Chinese culture, should make him very valuable in a number of fields,” Mr. Drew commented.
Nancy nodded. “He’d like to go into the United States Intelligence Service.” Suddenly her serious mood changed. “Dad, listen to this.” She read, “‘Nancy, can’t you find a mystery to solve in this far-off colony, so I might show you around?’ ”
Mr. Drew’s eyes twinkled. “Mystery or no mystery, Nancy, you just might get to Hong Kong sooner than you think!”
“What!” the attractive, blue-eyed girl exclaimed. “You mean—?”
Before Nancy could finish the question, the telephone rang and she went to answer it.
“Aunt Eloise!” Nancy cried out. “How super to hear from you! Are you in New York?”
“Yes, right in my apartment. I want you to rush here. A most peculiar thing has happened. A real mystery for you to solve.”
The young blond detective was intrigued and could hardly wait to get the details from her aunt.
Miss Eloise Drew, sister of Nancy’s father, lived alone and taught school in the city. Her large old-fashioned apartment had been converted into two separate apartments. Each had its own entrance from the hallway.
“Two wonderful Chinese people moved in next door to me a few weeks ago,” Aunt Eloise began. “We’ve become good friends. That’s why I want to help them. There’s a darling old man we call Grandpa Soong and his granddaughter Chi Che, an orphan. She’s eighteen, and a student at Columbia University here.
“This afternoon, when I returned from a teachers’ meeting, I found a strange note on the floor. It had been shoved under the locked door between my apartment and the Soongs’.”
“And what did it say?” Nancy asked eagerly.
“It was short and unfinished,” Aunt Eloise went on. “I’ll read it:
Grandpa must think I am visiting student friends from Columbia. The police must not be notified I am away or Grandpa will be harmed. I am in grave danger because I have found out that—’ ”
“The note ends there?” Nancy asked.
“Yes, unfortunately. Well, you see why I need you here. I feel that Chi Che is depending on me to help her but I don’t know where to begin. I thought you might bring Bess and her cousin George with you.”
“I’d certainly like to, Aunt Eloise, but Dad has just been talking about a trip to Hong Kong. Hold the phone while I ask him about his plans,” Nancy requested.
After hearing the story, the tall, distinguished-looking lawyer smiled and said, “We won’t be leaving for Hong Kong for a week. In the meantime, go to New York if you wish.”
Nancy hurried back to the telephone. “I’ll come tomorrow, Aunt Eloise. What time will you be back from school?”
“Between four and