The Mystery of the Fire Dragon - Carolyn Keene [36]
The three girls finally went down the steps and exchanged gay greetings with Ned through the wire fence. Then the four travelers entered the low, white administration building. Here they went through the immigration formalities and customs examination. Finally they collected their baggage, then hurried to meet Ned in the waiting room.
“It’s sure good to see you,” the young man said, giving Mr. Drew a hearty handshake and kissing each of the girls. “I have a jalopy outside. I guess we can all crowd into it.”
“Did you get us hotel accommodations?” Mr. Drew asked him.
“Yes, at the Peninsula Hotel. That’s right here in Kowloon and I’m sure you will like it.” He chuckled. “Since prices here are lower than in the States, I engaged a three-bedroom suite with a living room. Nancy may want to entertain one or more villains.”
“Including yourself?” Nancy teased.
“Call me anything you like,” Ned responded, “but just let me stick around.”
“How much time can you spend away from Chung Chi College?” Nancy asked him.
“A few days. Well, shall we go?”
Ned escorted the group outside the building. Two porters stowed the luggage in Ned’s small foreign car, then everyone got in. Bess giggled. “It’s a tight squeeze!”
As the visitors approached the business section of Kowloon, they became more and more intrigued with the city. Most of the buildings were not more than three stories high, and Chinese signs hung everywhere. There were many Western people walking about, but the bulk of the populace was Chinese. Native men, women, and children wore pants and loose-fitting straight jackets. Most of the suits were black and plain, but here and there one would see someone wearing a beautifully embroidered garment.
Presently Ned drove to the hotel and residential area, where the streets were broad. The Peninsula Hotel was a large, attractive building. They entered the long, curving driveway and alighted at the front entrance.
“This is very charming,” Mr. Drew remarked as the travelers walked through the lobby to the registration desk.
The whole central section was filled with couches, lounge chairs, palms, flowers, and tea tables. People, seated in groups, were sipping tea and eating small cakes.
As soon as the Drews and their friends had unpacked and freshened up a bit, they met in their living room. Ned demanded to hear all about the mystery on which the three girls had been working. When they finished telling him, he whistled and said:
“You really picked a honey this time, Nancy. So you think Chi Che might be a prisoner here in Hong Kong?”
“I believe there’s a good possibility. But even if she isnÄt, I’m sure this is headquarters for the smuggling ring, and that she knows their secret. If the leaders can be rounded up, Chi Che will automatically be released.”
“I’m ready to help,” Ned said. “Nancy, when, where, and how do I start?”
The young sleuth thought for a moment, then she replied, “I want to show you something in my handbag.”
Nancy obtained the bag from her bedroom and took out the two pages which she had torn from the book on Asia. “These are the sheets which upset Mr. Stromberg. Lily Alys said the words ‘mah-jongg sets’ had been underlined. I don’t believe she noticed in which shop. Now’s your chance to be a detective, Ned.”
The young man took the sheets and read them carefully. Then a smile spread over his face. “I think I have a clue for you, Nancy,” he said. “One of these shops is owned by a man named Lung. The word lung was the original Chinese name for dragon.”
“Of course!” Nancy said excitedly. “I remember now! Grandpa Soong told us that. Let’s go there first thing tomorrow morning.”
“Fine,” Ned agreed.
“George,” said Bess, “this is our chance to go shopping for clothes and souvenirs.”
The next morning Nancy and Ned started out directly after breakfast. They took Ned’s car to the ferry, parked it, and went by boat to Hong Kong Island. As they crossed the bay, Nancy marveled at the surrounding scenery. The harbor was filled