(#26) The Clue of the Leaning Chimney by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online Page A

a moment longer. Then the peephole snapped shut and the door flew open. A man stood in the doorway, looking Nancy up and down. He was tall and slightly stoop-shouldered, with a sharp, inquisitive face and a thatch of bristling red hair.
    “Geology problem!” he snorted. “You’re too pretty for such heavy thoughts. But come in!”
    As Nancy followed the professor into the living room she noticed that he walked with a limp.
    “Have a chair!” he said. Mr. Monroe seated himself, looking straight at Nancy. “Well, young lady,” he asked, “what’s on your mind?”
    After Nancy introduced herself, she told of her search for a deposit of China clay. Monroe said he knew of none in the state.
    “I’ve heard,” Nancy went on, “that it may be identified in some way with a leaning chimney.”
    Miles Monroe scoffed. “First time I ever heard of using a chimney to find a vein of kaolin!”
    “Kaolin?” repeated Nancy.
    The professor replied, “That’s what geologists call the fine white clay used in the manufacture of china and porcelain. The name comes from the Chinese Kaoling. It’s a mountain in China which yielded the first kaolin.”
    Nancy eagerly absorbed this new knowledge as Miles Monroe added:
    “Kaolin is formed by the weathering of granite and other rocks. Then the clay is washed free of the quartz and mixed with feldspar, flint, and so forth to make porcelain.” He smiled wryly. “You may as well know what it’s all about if you’re looking for the stuff.”
    “Of course,” Nancy agreed. “But I had hoped you’d be able to tell me about a pit of China clay in this region. It’s supposed to be near Masonville.”
    Professor Monroe rubbed his nose. “Don’t know much about the land around Masonville,” he replied. “Had to give up my field trips when I injured my leg in a fall six years ago. That’s when I retired. Before that, I lived in Philadelphia.”
    “Well, I’m sorry to have bothered you,” Nancy said, rising.
    “Say, wait a minute!” Miles Monroe burst out suddenly. “There’s one section I had an interest in and was always going to get to. It’s a stretch of woods several miles out of River Heights toward Masonville.”
    He gave her directions for reaching it.
    “There’s an abandoned Civil War iron mine and smelter out there, I was told. It may have a leaning chimney. If you find a China clay pit, I would like to know about it.”
    Nancy thanked him for the information. She was glad to have the lead, slim as it was.
    Professor Monroe walked to the door with her, and she went down to her car. Then she drove to George’s home.
    Her friend was mowing the front lawn. Seated on the ground was Bess, clipping a hedge.
    Nancy tooted her horn. The two girls looked up and ran to the car.
    “I’m going for a short drive in the country. Just got a new lead on the leaning chimney,” Nancy told them. “Want to come along?”
    Bess eyed her friend suspiciously. “What do we have to do?” she asked.
    “What difference does it make as long as it’s fun!” scoffed George. She slid into the seat beside Nancy.
    “Okay. I’ll go tell your mother where we’re going, George.”
    Bess returned in a moment and hopped into the convertible. Nancy headed for Three Bridges Road.
    “Oh, my goodness!” Bess exclaimed as they neared Hunter’s Bridge. “This awful place again!”
    “But this time we’re not stopping,” Nancy reassured her, and Bess sighed in relief.
    Shortly after crossing Hunter’s Bridge they came to a narrow gravel road which veered to the right. Nancy turned the car onto it.
    After traveling about eight miles from River Heights, she pulled up under a tree and stopped. The three girls got out and started through the woods to search for the abandoned mine.
    They walked for nearly an hour among trees and through stony pastures, climbing old, rotted fences and slapping at insects. Bess’s enthusiasm began to wane.
    “I’m tired,” she moaned. “Let’s go back.