The Mystery of the Fire Dragon - Carolyn Keene [45]
“First, the police were not able to locate the man who left the farmhouse with the heavy boxes. We think someone saw you and Mr. Nickerson leaving the place and warned him to disappear.
“We did raid the farmhouse and found that the owner and his workmen have been beating gold objects of all kinds into small flat pieces. We believe that these have been smuggled out of the country inside various containers.”
“Mah-jongg sets!” Nancy exclaimed.
“Possibly,” Mr. Soong agreed. “Every one of the goldbeaters insisted he was innocent of any wrongdoing. They finally admitted they thought something illegal was being done with the gold, but did not know what.”
Mr. Soong went on to say that a police guard had been placed at the farmhouse to seize any suspicious callers. “No one has come there yet,” he said, “but the police uncovered a great many gold objects, which probably were stolen from shops and homes and brought there to be beaten into small pieces.”
The Chinese now changed the subject and invited Nancy and her friends to attend a big garden party to be given by a relative of his. “The party will be held tomorrow evening. Special fireworks will be displayed and I’m sure you will enjoy them. You have probably guessed that I am about to ask you to do a little detective work while there.”
“I will be glad to,” said Nancy eagerly.
Mr. Soong said that at his request his friend had invited several special guests. “They may or may not be involved in the mystery we are all trying to solve. You know two of them—Mrs. Truesdale and Mr. Lung.”
Nancy could hear the ex-police chief give a sigh of hope. “Anyhow, it is just possible my twin brother’s wish will be realized during the party. But the police require the help of you and your friends. Will Miss George Fayne please come looking as much like my niece as possible?”
“I am sure she will be happy to,” Nancy responded.
“That is very fine,” Mr. Soong said. “I will meet you at the hotel as darkness falls.”
Nancy would have liked to hear more, but Mr. Soong divulged nothing further. She thanked him for the invitation and accepted it with alacrity.
CHAPTER XIX
Symbolic Fireworks
MR. DREW came in so late during the evening that Nancy did not see him until the following morning at breakfast. At her request the meal was served in the living room of their suite. After the waiter had left, the girls brought the lawyer up to date on the happenings of the day before.
He looked at Nancy intently. “Thank goodness you’re safe, my dear. I suppose there is no use asking you to give up work on this case, now that it seems so near a solution.”
Nancy smiled. “Of course you know the answer would be no.” Then she told him about the invitation to the party that evening and how Mr. Lee Soong hoped there would be another break in the mystery. “Will you be able to go with us?” she asked.
The lawyer shook his head. “My assignment here has proved to be a tough one, and tonight I must confer with the disagreeing heirs. But I too hope to get a break in the case by tomorrow.”
“I suppose there won’t be any detective work for us today, Nancy?” Ned asked.
“I can’t think of any before tonight.” Nancy smiled.
“Then let’s all do some sight-seeing. First thing I know,” the young man said ruefully, “your father and you will wind up your cases and fly back to New York without having seen half the interesting things around here.”
George asked Ned what he had in mind. “You most certainly should take the tramway up Victoria Peak. Then we’ll drive out to Chung Chi College. I want you to meet some of the fellows. We’ll have lunch with them and then go to the international volleyball game between the United States and Japan against Free China and India.”
“It sounds very exciting,” Nancy answered.
Bess smiled, her dimples deep. She did not say what the others thought she was going to; that the date sounded entrancing. Instead,