(#20) The Clue in the Jewel Box by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online Page A

her breath. She had not expected anything so beautiful. The rubies and diamonds twinkled brilliantly.
    “It is yours to keep,” said Mrs. Alexandra, smiling.
    Nancy protested that she could not accept such a valuable gift. It was not until she realized that her refusal was offending the woman that she agreed to wear the hair ornament in the fashion show.
    “But immediately after the final showing on Saturday night I shall return it.”
    “Then I must find some other way to express my appreciation,” Mrs. Alexandra insisted.
    While Anna wrapped the jeweled hair ornament, Mrs. Alexandra eagerly talked of her grandson. What was the young man like?
    Nancy was far too kind to give her true impression of him. That morning Francis Baum had phoned her to ask some questions about his grandmother. He had seemed more interested in Mrs. Alexandra’s wealth than in anything else.
    “Your grandson should be very happy here,” she said finally.
    “Everything is nearly ready now for his arrival. Anna and I will welcome him tomorrow night with a grand dinner to celebrate. I am glad that you and your father are coming.”
    Nancy gazed about the living room with troubled eyes. A few of the art treasures had been put away, but many remained. Fragile glass stood on small antique tables. The slightest push against them would cause disaster.
    “I can’t help wondering what Mr. Baum’s German shepherd dog will do to this room,” she remarked.
    “My grandson has a dog?” Mrs. Alexandra asked.
    “Yes, he has. And it isn’t very well trained.”
    “Oh dear! I’m afraid of large dogs. What shall I do about it?”
    “I’ll handle the matter for you, if I may,” Nancy offered. “I am certain I can induce your grandson to give up his dog.”
    “Oh, thank you so much,” the woman said.
    Relieved by Nancy’s reassuring answer, the woman now spoke of Mr. Faber. She explained that his grandfather had been a distinguished personage in her country.
    “Not only was he a great jeweler, but he perfected a formula for noncrackable enamel.”
    “But I thought no such method exists todayl” Nancy exclaimed, astonished.
    “Unfortunately it was lost. You must ask Mr. Faber to tell you all about it.”
    Mrs. Alexandra suddenly seemed weary. Nancy had intended to speak of the singing nightingale and his strange song, but decided to do so another time.
    As soon as Anna appeared with the jeweled hair ornament in a paper bag, Nancy rose from her chair and said good-by.
    As she left the house, the young sleuth thought, “I’m afraid Mrs. Alexandra will be disappointed when she meets her grandson.”
    Nancy was so busy thinking about him that she failed to observe a tall shadowy figure watching her from around the corner of the building. He nodded in satisfaction at sight of the paper bag in her hand.
    Waiting until she had gone a short distance down the street, he stealthily followed Nancy.

CHAPTER VIII
    Nancy Is Robbed
    UNAWARE that she was being followed, Nancy walked on, deep in thought. Presently she approached a lonely section of the street, where there was an old cemetery with a high, vine-covered wall. No one was in sight, except the lone man and the unsuspecting girl toward whom he drew closer.
    Suddenly the tires of a speeding automobile screeched on the roadway. Startled, Nancy turned her head to see why the driver had stopped so abruptly. As she stared at a green sedan which had pulled up at the curb, the man behind her brushed past. He jostled Nancy’s arm, knocking the paper bag from her hand.
    “Excuse me,” he muttered. He stooped and fumbled for a moment with the bag.
    “I’ll get it,” said Nancy quickly. Though the man kept his head down and his face turned away, she could see he had bushy hair. Like the customer in the shop, he was tall and wore a dark jacket. Could it be the same man?
    Nancy feared that he meant to steal the precious package, but he dropped it at once and hurried away. The driver of the green car