Mystery Call

There was a moment of shocked silence as the young people and their guests stared at the message in the dust on the old mahogany table. Then, everyone began to talk at once. Most of them thought it was a joke.

" I bet somebody's having a good laugh at us right this minute! " said a girl named Denise.

" Okay, who did it? " Mike Jordan chimed in, examining the faces clustered around the table.

" Speak up! "

His words brought a chorus of laughter. But there were others, Gwen Jethro and Lenny Arthur among them, who thought that the message might mean danger.

" I think we ought to forget about this mansion, " Gwen spoke up, looking around nervously at the rest of the group. " Let's try to find another big old house."

" She's right, " Lenny said. " Why ask for trouble? "

But Ned pointed out, " There really is no other house around that's as suitable as this. And remember, time is short. I think this is a prank. It's just the sort of message someone would leave in a spooky old house."

" What do you think, Nancy? " Bess asked.

Nancy shook her head with her finger on her chin and a thoughtful look on her pretty face. " I believe we should be careful, but not allow ourselves to be frightened off."

" Come on! Let's finish going through the rest of the house. And then I vote we start picking up the junk on the kitchen floor."

" Good idea, " George Fayne agreed. " Let's get busy! "

Tony Traynor, however, clapped his hands for attention. " People, I'd like to stay and help, but I have an appointment in the city. Nancy, I'll let you know about that TV commercial as soon as possible. I'm sure you'll be marvelous and just what the sponsors are looking for. Good-bye, everyone! I'll try to look in again as you get on with your film! "

Lenny and Gwen and another girl were still against the idea of staying in the mansion unless the warning message had been proved to be not serious. So they, too, left.

Even though Nancy and her two friends were not members of the film club, they stayed and helped with the cleaning for about an hour. One of the first chores carried out by the group was to open the shutters and pry up some of the creaky windows to give the old house a thorough sunning and airing.

At last, the three girls mounted their horses.

" Don't forget about the date we made for tonight, " Ned called out to Nancy as she and her friends rode off.

" I won’t." she grinned. " See you later."

It was already late afternoon when the girls arrived back at the stables, and they started for home immediately. When Nancy finally pulled into the Drews' long driveway, she jumped out of the car and hurried into the house.

Hannah Gruen, the Drews' cheerful housekeeper, turned from a pan of curry sauce she was stirring to greet her. Hannah had been with Nancy and her father ever since Mrs. Drew’s death when Nancy was only three years old.

" You had a phone call this afternoon, dear, " Hannah reported. " It was some man. He said he needed your help in solving a mystery. But he didn't leave any name or number and just said he'd call back."

Any hint of a mystery was always enough to start Nancy's imagination working. " It sounds interesting! " she exclaimed. " I wish I knew what it was all about, but I guess I'll just have to wait until he calls back."

Then Nancy glanced at the kitchen clock. " I have to hurry and get ready, Hannah. Ned's taking me to dinner and a dance at Westmoor University! "

Forty-five minutes later, she was ready and waiting when the college boy arrived. Ned gave an appreciative whistle, and Hannah said, " Oh, Nancy, you look so lovely in that dress! It goes beautifully with your hair! "

Nancy smiled and thanked her.

" Mm, something smells delicious! " Ned exclaimed as a mouth-watering odor wafted from the kitchen.

Hannah's face showed her pleasure at his remark. " You know I'd love to have you two change your plans and eat dinner here."

" That sounds tempting, " Ned said, " and thank

you, Mrs. Gruen, but I have a reservation for us at the Lobster House." He looked at his watch, then at Nancy. " We'd better get going! "

Over a delicious meal of seafood, they chatted about Ned's film and how to achieve some of the effects he was hoping for. But when the waiter brought dessert, Ned asked, " Nancy, what do you really think of that message printed in the dust? ''

" I'm not quite sure. It was odd the way Gwen and Lenny acted so upset. It was almost as though they were trying to discourage the rest of the club.''

Nancy paused, then went on slowly, " Didn't you say Lenny was angry because your script was chosen over his? I wonder—could he have written the message himself? "

" Could be, " Ned said. " I'm trying to remember in what order we arrived at Grimsby Mansion. Let's see. I was there first with the key that Mr. Ullman loaned me. Then the two cars with the other club members pulled in, a minute or two apart. About five minutes later, Tony drove up. Then you and Bess and George rode in from the woods."

" Well, that doesn't sound as though Gwen or Lenny had a chance, " Nancy concluded. " But I think we'd better keep our eyes open. Maybe those three who left were just pretending to be nervous because they wanted an excuse not to do any work."

Over dessert, Nancy told Ned about her mysterious caller who had left no name or number. Both wondered if the call might have any connection with the afternoons disturbing turn of events.

The gym at Westmoor was cheerfully decorated and it echoed with lively chatter when they arrived for the dance. The band was already set up, tuning their instruments and testing the sound system.

Although Nancy and Ned were greeted by many friends, their attention was instantly drawn to some other guests, notably several members of the film club at Burnside Tech.

" They have entered the movie contest, too, " Ned confided with a grin. " They've probably come as enemy spies."

" Okay, mums the word! " Nancy joked back. " Pass it along."

Soon after the music began, Gwen Jethro and Lenny Arthur danced by. They glanced slyly at Nancy and Ned, then looked at each other as if sharing some private joke.

" Uh—oh, " Nancy murmured to Ned. " I bet those two are up to something." But she quickly forgot about their unpleasant smiles as her enjoyment of the evening grew.

On one occasion, however, she danced with young, bespectacled Professor Walter Barnes, who was acting as Westmoor's faculty advisor to the film club.

" I'm sorry you won't be able to play in our film, " he said, startling the girl. " I feel sure you would have done a wonderful job."

Nancy looked at him in amazement. " But I thought I was going to."

" I thought you couldn't, " Professor Barnes replied with a frown. " I've assigned the role to Gwen Jethro."

He went on to explain that he had been working steadily at his office all Saturday afternoon, trying to catch up on his overloaded schedule, and had discovered an unsigned note on his desk. It said that Nancy would not be able to play in the clubs movie as expected because she was going to be in a TV commercial.

" The commercial isn't definite yet, " Nancy informed him, " and, anyway, I certainly wouldn't let it interfere with the film."

" So it wasn't you who left the note, as I assumed." The kindhearted professor looked confused and unhappy over the mix-up. " I'll see what I can do, Nancy. Unfortunately, I have just filled out and mailed the entry form for the film contest, and it lists Gwen Jethro as the actress in the ingé nue role."

He added apologetically, " I’ll check to see if I can change the assignment again. It's rather awkward. You see, I already had to get special permission from the contest sponsors to enter our film club as a contestant after the June 30th closing date. I hope I won't have to disappoint you, Nancy."

The music came to a stop as the band paused for a break. Nancy and the professor were joined by Ned and Sara White, one of the girls in the film club.

Nancy told them what had happened.

" What a mean trick! " Sara exclaimed. " I wonder who wrote that note? " But as their eyes met, Nancy could tell instinctively that there was no doubt in Sara’s mind as to who the guilty party was, even though she did not like to say so openly in front of Professor Barnes.

" This is really awful, " Ned remarked. " Do you think there's any chance of getting it changed, Professor? "

" We'll just have to see, Ned."

The two girls and Ned walked to the refreshment table, where Nancy discovered Gwen staring at her triumphantly. The look reminded her of Gwen's and Lenny's sly smiles earlier.

" Three guesses who slipped that note on Professor Barnes's desk! " Sara murmured.

Although disappointed, Nancy knew that the professor would do whatever he could to remedy the situation. Meanwhile, worrying would not help and would only spoil the evening for herself and Ned.

Just then they were joined in the line by Dr. Frieda Davis and her distinguished-looking husband. She was a young, dark-haired computer specialist on the faculty of Westmoor's business administration department.

" Hello, Ned. How did you get on with Mr. Ullman? "

Dr. Davis knew everyone of importance in the local business community, and it was she who had helped to arrange for the use of Grimsby Mansion by the film club.

" We got along just fine, thanks to you, " Ned responded. " The club is going to do some cleanup work in exchange for the favor."

Then he introduced Nancy and Sara.

" Dr. Davis, is there anyone besides Mr. Ullman who can get into the mansion? " Nancy asked.

" Not that I know of The Grimsby’s had no relatives, and the place has been vacant a long time. Why do you ask? "

Nancy told her about the threatening message traced on the dusty table top.

" How strange! " Dr. Davis looked startled. " I remember last year Mr. Ullman said he had discovered some hippies using the house. But I think he changed the locks at that time. He could tell you more about it."

When the couple returned to the dance floor, Nancy said she intended to find out about the hippies. " And let’s ask Mr. Ullman if he's had any trouble since then with other intruders in the house."

" Good idea, " Ned agreed, but until they were on their way home again, they said no more about it.

However, when they turned onto North Road, which ran along the edge of Brookvale Forest, Nancy glanced out of the window to her right.

To her horror, the sky was glowing red over the treetops!

" Ned, look! " she exclaimed. " That must be a fire! And it’s coming from the direction of Grimsby Mansion! "