The Eskimo's Secret by Carolyn Keene Read Free Book Online Page A

remember where I’ve seen the ones like them.”
    The next section was devoted to research on the entire sculpture. There were notes about the owner, Franklin Cole, and his collection of Eskimo art, which included more than just the one piece. Only after she’d finished that did she find the more interesting part of the research that Alana had done and written down:
    The Tundra has been a part of legend for quite some time. It is reputed to be the key to the mysterious disappearance of the ivory treasures of Seal Bay, a small Eskimo com-munity once said to be the home of the most talented Eskimo carvers in the world.
    These artists refused to sell any of their works, claiming they were a treasured part of their worship. The village fell on hard times, yet they still refused to sell and gradually all the collectors gave up—all but one. Franklin Cole continued to pressure the starving people.
    At this time, according to legend, Qing- goq, the most talented artist of the village, gathered all their works and took them into the wilderness to hide them. The only piece left was his own masterpiece, the Tundra. This he refused to sell.
    The hard times continued, mostly due to manipulations and tricks by Cole, and in the end the villagers decided to sell the Tundra to Cole in return for his promise never to enter Seal Bay again.
    The legend ends with the story that the artist was enraged by the sale of his masterpiece to the man he considered the enemy of the village. He cursed the village and refused to return the treasures he’d hidden.
    The story ended there and Nancy shook her head. It was fascinating, but she could see no relationship between an ancient legend and what was happening now. She flipped forward through the notebook, seeking more notes, something that would make this notebook valuable enough to risk capture by whoever had sought it at the Steele mansion.
    There was nothing. The rest of the pages were blank.
    “What did they want?” she asked herself, looking around the anonymous hotel room in frustration. “What does this notebook have to do with the theft of the Tundra and how is Alana involved?”
    The price of Carson Drew’s freedom was finding Alana, and Nancy obviously wasn’t going to be able to do it here. But where could she begin?
    “Tod!” Nancy realized. She looked at her watch, feeling it must be nearly midnight, but it was just after seven P.M. TWO quick phone calls located him at the nearby hospital. Not giving herself time to think ahead, Nancy hid the notebook in her suitcase, then picked up her purse and keys and hurried out of the hotel.
    The hospital was fairly busy as visiting hours were ending, but Nancy had no trouble finding Tod’s room. The door stood open, but she knocked anyway. His face was a mass of scrapes and bruises, but his grin seemed real enough.
    “Nancy Drew, what are you doing here?” he asked.
    “Well, since you missed our meeting this afternoon, I thought I’d come here and talk to you,” Nancy began, feeling suddenly out of place and uncomfortable.
    “You might be better off staying away from me,” Tod said, his grin fading. “Either that or stay off the streets. Don’t you know what happened to me?”
    “Who did this to you?” Nancy asked. And why, Tod?”
    Tod began shifting in the bed, his eyes evading hers. “How would I know? It was an accident. Someone wasn’t watching where he was going and I was cutting across the middle of the block. Just an accident.”
    “That’s not what the officer told us,” Nancy said.
    “What officer? When?” Tod stopped his squirming. “What are you talking about?” “There was a . . . someone got into the Steele mansion while I was downtown waiting for you. They searched Alana’s room and mine. Do you have any idea what they were looking for?” Their eyes locked for a moment and Nancy had the strong feeling Tod was trying to decide something.
    “Probably Alana’s notebook,” Tod said at last, “if she