The Girl Detective Megapack: 25 Classic Mystery Novels for Girls

by Mildred A. Wirt

  After it was evident that they had lost him, Enid stopped the engine. They listened for a few minutes but there was no sound of a motor boat.

  “I guess we may as well turn back!” Madge said in disgust.

  “It was all my fault,” Enid grieved. “Of course, I had to stumble over that old rope!”

  “It wasn’t your fault, honey,” Madge comforted. “It was just a bad break of luck.”

  Enid was silent as they slowly steered back toward The Flora. Madge too, was occupied with her own thoughts. She wondered what could be the meaning of the midnight visit. Had the prowler come for the purpose of ransacking the cabin or was it possible that he had brought some message?

  The girls were thoroughly chilled by the night air before they reached the yacht. Yet, the adventure had made them far too nervous to even consider going back to bed. After lighting nearly all of the lamps, they screwed up their courage and entered Mr. Burnett’s cabin. A hasty glance about assured them that nothing had been touched.

  “I guess he didn’t have time to do any damage,” Enid declared. “What do you suppose brought him here tonight?”

  “I wish I knew.”

  “Well, I think Rex was right about staying here alone. It was a terribly foolish thing to do. I’ll not spend another night here without a guard.”

  After a time they settled themselves in deck chairs, and there, snuggled down under steamer rugs, they spent the remainder of the night. For some reason they felt safer out in the open where they could see any boat that might approach. Occasionally, they dozed off, but for the most part they maintained a vigilant watch.

  At dawn they stretched their cramped limbs and went to Enid’s cabin to freshen up. Hot coffee revived their spirits and strengthened their morale. As the sun beat down upon the deck it was difficult for them to believe that they had spent such a harrowing night.

  “We must report to the police immediately,” Madge advised. “They may attach special significance to what happened during the night.”

  Soon after breakfast, Mr. Burnett’s cook and three sailors appeared upon the scene, and after she had given them orders for the day, Enid was ready to leave.

  “It’s a relief to know someone will be at the yacht while we’re gone,” she said to Madge as they drove away in the motor boat. “Jose the cook was quite broken up to hear about Father. And the sailors too have always liked him.”

  At the police station, the girls related the happenings of the night. While the authorities offered no comment other than to ask a few questions, it was plain that the incident puzzled them. Enid had hoped the police would have good news to report, but seemingly, the case was at a standstill.

  “There’s very little we can do until some communication is received from the kidnappers,” Mr. Randall told her. “Rest assured a demand for ransom will be made soon.”

  “But more than twenty-four hours has elapsed already,” Enid protested. “If those men were after money I should have thought they would have left a note behind at the time of the kidnapping.”

  The girls spent over an hour at the station and left more discouraged than ever. Although Enid was trying desperately to maintain her courage, she was beginning to fear that she might never see her father again.

  Before returning to their motor boat they stopped at a street corner to purchase newspapers. The story of the kidnapping had been spread out on the front page in bold print and their own photographs stared them in the face.

  “Oh, dear,” Enid lamented, “it’s dreadful to get you mixed up in this. I invited you here for a pleasant vacation and instead, plunged you into all this publicity.”

  “I’m here to help,” Madge assured her. “If only we had something to work on!”

  They walked on to the water front and were just boarding the motor boat when Madge clutched her friend by the arm.

  “See that man over there! He’s the one I told you about—the boatman who ran away and left me aboard the yacht.”

  Enid turned to look.

  “Oh, I think I’ve seen him before. I don’t know his name but I’m sure he’s all right. He probably didn’t understand that you wanted him to wait.”

  “Just the same, I’d like to talk with him again,” Madge said quietly.

  They started toward the man but without seeming to observe their approach, he moved swiftly away to lose himself in an alley.

  “See that, Enid! He knew we intended to question him!”

  “Why, he didn’t even see us coming.”

  “I think he did,” Madge insisted. “He pretended not to be looking our way, but all the while he was watching out the corner of his eye. One of these times I’ll catch him unaware!”

  Since there was slight chance he would return, the girls went back to their boat and soon reached The Flora. They were informed by a sailor that during their absence Rex had been there. A number of reporters had called too, but had not been permitted to board the vessel.

  “After lunch I must straighten up Father’s cabin,” Enid remarked to her chum. “I’d do it now only I have a headache. I believe I’ll lie down for an hour or so.”

  After her friend had gone to her room, Madge sat out on deck and tried to read. Soon the magazine fell to her lap and she stared thoughtfully out across the bay. At length she arose.

  “I may as well put Mr. Burnett’s cabin to rights,” she decided. “I know it’s a task Enid dreads.”

  She found the cabin door unlocked and entered. Everything was just as she had discovered it the morning of her arrival at Cheltham Bay. After a preliminary survey, she began at one corner of the room, straightening rugs and rearranging furniture. She picked up newspapers, books and articles which had been hurled to the floor in the desperate struggle.

  In righting the objects on the desk, her attention was attracted to a scrap of paper which had fallen to the floor. Madge did not recall having noticed it there before. Thinking that it must have blown from the desk when the door was opened, she bent down and picked it up.

  She gave it a casual glance and then stared in blank astonishment.

  “Great jumping snakes!” she exclaimed. “Where did this come from?”

  With the paper clutched tightly in her hand, she darted out the door and ran toward Enid’s cabin.

  CHAPTER VIII

  An Important Communication

  Madge flung open the cabin door and burst in upon Enid who was lying upon the bed, though fully awake.

  “Look at this!” she cried. “I found it in your father’s cabin just now.”

  “What is it?” Enid demanded, abruptly rising.

  “It’s a communication from those men who kidnapped your father. Read it!”

  Enid snatched at the paper and eagerly scanned the message. It read:

  “Deliver the Zudi Drum Bowl on midnight of the 29th at the white birch on Cedar Point if you wish to save your father. Come alone and communicate with no one. If the police learn of this note, your father’s life will be the forfeit.”

  The note was signed with three triangles and a strange symbol, unlike anything the girls had ever seen before.

  “How dreadful!” Enid gasped.

  “What does it all mean?” Madge demanded. “Did you ever hear of this thing they call the Zudi Drum Bowl?”

  Enid nodded soberly. Her face was very white.

  “Oh, Madge, I’m afraid we’re dealing with a band of the worst sort of criminals,” she half whispered. “This isn’t an ordinary kidnapping case. It’s the Zudi Drum that has caused all the trouble.”

  “Tell me what it’s all about,” Madge commanded. “This note is Greek to me.”

  “You know Father collects antiques and the like,” Enid explained. “He has things from all over the world. The Zudi Drum Bowl is one of his most cherished trophies.”

  “Just what is it?”

  “It’s a sort of drum used in former times by a primitive tribe of Indian natives. It looks like a huge jar, elaborately decorated, but the mouth
has an overhanging lip so that when a dried skin is stretched over the opening, it can be used as a drum. It was used only for special ceremonial meetings, I believe.”

  “How did your father get possession of it?”

  “It was during our trip to India, two years ago. He purchased it from an antique dealer and paid a steep price for it too.”

  “If it is so valuable that may explain why the kidnappers are trying to get it.”

  “The drum would have slight value to anyone not interested in antiques. I can’t understand how the news leaked out that it was in Father’s possession. He took pains to keep the matter quiet.”

  “Where is Cedar Point?” Madge questioned next.

  “Up the bay about fifty miles, I’d judge. In a most desolate locality.”

  “You have no intention of going there, of course.”

  “Oh, but I must!” Enid cried. “It’s the only way to save Father. The Zudi Drum is valuable, but I can’t consider the cost.”

  “I was thinking of other things besides the value of the trophy,” Madge said slowly. “I was thinking of your own safety. You mustn’t go to Cedar Point alone, Enid. Turn the note over to the police. They’ll know how to deal with the situation.”

  “Oh, no, I can’t do that! For Father’s sake we must obey orders implicitly. I’ll give them the Zudi Drum Bowl—anything they ask.”

  Madge saw that it was useless to argue with Enid in her present distraught state of mind. However, she did not give up the idea of trying to persuade her chum to her way of thinking at a later time. She believed that they were dealing with a clever band of criminals, a group of men who would stop at nothing to further their own schemes. It seemed to her that if Enid went alone to Cedar Point, she would only invite trouble. Even if the Zudi Drum were turned over to the kidnappers, there was no assurance that Mr. Burnett would be released.

  “I wish Jack French were here,” she thought, “he would know what to do.”

  “I’m not sure where the Drum Bowl is,” Enid broke in upon her reflection, “but I know it’s not here on the yacht. Father must keep it with his other valuables at home. The place has been closed up for weeks.”

  “But your home is two hundred miles up the coast, Enid.”

  “I know, I must find some way to get there.”

  “Today is the twenty-seventh,” Madge reminded.

  “Perhaps Rex will take me in his amphibian. I’ll get there somehow.”

  Madge made no further attempt to discourage Enid, for she scarcely knew what was the wisest course to follow if they were not to disclose their information to the police. It struck her as most singular that the kidnappers would go to such lengths to secure possession of a trophy which apparently was highly valued only by collectors. She could have understood a demand for a large sum of money but no such request had been made.

  “I wonder how the note was left in Father’s room?” Enid mused. “I’m sure it wasn’t there yesterday.”

  “No, the detectives surely would have found it for they went over the place with a fine tooth comb.”

  “I don’t see how it could have been left while we were away this morning either,” Enid went on reflectively. “With the sailors here, it would have been impossible.”

  “My guess is that the note was left by last night’s prowler.”

  “We were in the cabin after that.”

  “Yes, but we didn’t really look around much. We were too frightened. And naturally, we never dreamed that he had left a note behind.”

  Madge was troubled by another thought which she decided not to confide to her chum, lest it worry her unnecessarily. It occurred to her that the kidnappers were in close touch with the situation aboard the yacht, else they could not have known of Enid’s release. The note obviously had been addressed to her, though her name had not been mentioned.

  “Someone is keeping close watch here,” she reflected uncomfortably. “Likely enough, our every action is known.”

  Enid broke in upon her thoughts to suggest that they both return to Mr. Burnett’s cabin, as she was curious to see exactly where the note had been found. They spent perhaps fifteen minutes in the room, finding no further evidence of the midnight prowler.

  “I’ll ask the sailors if they permitted any stranger on deck while we were gone this morning,” Enid announced, “though I’m confident the note was brought here last night.”

  She questioned the men in turn, only to learn that Rex had been the sole person to come aboard.

  “I hope he comes back before evening,” Enid said anxiously. “If he can’t take me to my home at Bay City, I must find another means of getting there.”

  “You’re still determined to go through with it?” Madge asked.

  “Oh, yes, it’s the only way of saving Father.”

  Madge started to speak, then waited as one of the sailors approached. He paused to address Enid.

  “I beg your pardon, Miss Burnett. While I was swabbin’ down the deck, I found this here doodad. I thought maybe it belonged to you.”

  He dropped a tiny trinket into her hand and turned away.

  “It doesn’t belong to me,” Enid said. “Have you lost anything, Madge?”

  “Why, no, what is it?”

  Enid extended the palm of her hand upon which lay a small jade pin.

  “I think I’ve seen that before, or one just like it,” Madge said, a queer note in her voice. “Mind if I borrow it for a little while? I may be able to find the owner, and if I do, I’ll promise interesting developments!”

  CHAPTER IX

  A Jade Pin

  “You’re welcome to the pin,” Enid declared readily, turning it over to her chum. “It’s a curious piece of work. To whom do you think it belongs?”

  “Unless I’m very sadly mistaken, I saw a pin like that the day I arrived at Cheltham Bay,” Madge responded. “The boatman who brought me out here was wearing it.”

  Enid could not resist a smile.

  “You’re bound to connect that poor man with the kidnapping, aren’t you, Madge? I’m sure the pin couldn’t have been the same. I’m not an expert on stones but this looks expensive to me. What you saw must have been an imitation.”

  “Possibly,” Madge returned, a trifle nettled. “Just the same, if you don’t mind, I’d like to keep it for a few days.”

  “Keep it as long as you like, only I don’t see how you hope to trace the owner. If you show it to that boatman he’ll claim it whether he’s the owner or not.”

  “I know better than to do that,” Madge smiled. “I have another scheme in mind.”

  Before she could explain, they heard a loud hail from windward and turned to see Rex coming toward the yacht in his motor boat. They returned the greeting and a few minutes later he climbed aboard.

  “Any news?” Enid inquired hopefully.

  Rex shook his head regretfully.

  “That’s what I came to ask you. I can only stop a minute because I must get back.”

  The girls related all that had befallen since they had last seen him and showed him the note which had been received from the kidnappers.

  “Of course you’ve told the police about this?” he demanded.

  “No, I don’t dare,” Enid explained. “I’m certain that if the authorities interfere in any way, my father will be made to suffer. I intend to turn over the Zudi Drum Bowl as they request.”

  “But Enid—”

  “No, please don’t try to make me go against my judgment. Capture of the kidnappers is a secondary question with me. My only purpose is to secure Father’s release.”

  Madge sent Rex a glance which warned him that he would only upset Enid by arguing further with her. Reluctantly, he permitted the subject to drop.

  “The Zudi Drum is at our summer home in Bay City,” Enid went on. “I must get there somehow. I was wondering if—”

  “Let me take you,” Rex broke in. “We can make the trip in a few hours with the amphibian.”

  “Oh, I was
hoping you’d suggest it! When can we start?”

  “I can’t go today because my plane is having a few minor repairs made. How about tomorrow?”

  Enid instantly agreed and it was decided that the three should start after breakfast the following day. Soon after final plans had been made, Rex announced that he must hurry back to the mainland.

  “Mind if I ride along?” Madge asked quickly. “I haven’t written a word to my aunt or uncle since I left Loon Lake, and I think I’ll send them a telegram telling them I arrived safely.”

  Rex promptly extended a hearty invitation and Madge went to the cabin for her hat. Before going back on deck she carefully placed the jade pin in her purse.

  Enid insisted that she was too tired to make another trip to the city, and Madge did not urge her. While she would have greatly enjoyed her chum’s companionship, she was looking forward to a private talk with Rex. Then too, she had a special mission in Cheltham Bay which she felt she could attend to much better alone.

  Rex helped her into the motor boat and Enid watched until they were well away from the yacht. Before Madge could bring up the subject which was foremost in her mind, Rex spoke.

  “I think Enid is making a serious mistake not to tell the police about that note. We can’t let her go to Cedar Point alone. Why, anything might happen to her.”

  “We must prevent it if we can,” Madge returned quietly. “But just how can it be managed?”

  “We might go to the police ourselves with the story.”

  “No, that wouldn’t do. Enid would never forgive us. And if harm should befall her father, we’d be largely responsible.”

  “Then, I don’t see what we can do. Unless we strand her tomorrow at Bay City! I might pretend the amphibian broke down.”

  Madge considered this suggestion a minute before shaking her head.

  “I’m afraid that won’t do either. Enid would simply go wild. And such a scheme might ruin all chances of ever finding Mr. Burnett. No, we must think up a better plan. We’ll have another day to consider it.”

  “I’d be glad to go to Cedar Point myself if Enid would permit it.”

  “We’ll find some way, Rex. But it won’t be easy, for Enid is set upon obeying those kidnappers to the letter. We must protect her against herself.”