The Hidden Window Mystery
Page 12
The whole group went back to the old library and started to work. A few minutes later, Nancy discovered a note stuck between two of the bricks. Spreading it open, she began to read the faded but still legible writing. Then, excited, she called the attention of the others to it and handed the note to Sir Richard. He read it aloud.To the finder of this note:
This stained-glass window is being covered up to preserve it during the war between the North and South. Our family has called itself Grayce since coming to this country from England in 1849. My father was Sir Henry Greystone. If none of my descendants is living when this window is found, will the finder please notify whoever is then Lord Greystone.
Bruce Grayce
Sir Richard’s eyes were moist as he stared at the note. Then, in a calm voice, he said, “This is the last proof I needed.”
As he paused, a car was heard driving up quickly to the house. “Maybe it’s the police!” Annette said, and she rushed to the hall.
She was right. An officer came to the door and asked if everyone in Ivy Hall would please step outside. In his car sat Alonzo Rugby, Mrs. Dondo, and their husky confederate.
“These three have been advised of their rights and have made a full confession,” the officer reported, “but if any of you wish to question them, please go ahead.”
It developed during questioning that Nancy’s suspicions of Rugby and Mrs. Dondo had been correct. For some time the brother and sister had been trying to work a little racket in which they accused people of stealing letters that contained cash.
Alonzo Rugby, having read the Continental article about Sir Henry Greystone’s offer, had decided to make an imitation window. The sight of Nancy’s peacock sketch had disturbed him, because he had thought she might have found the real stained-glass window and copied the peacock on it. Later, he had changed his mind.
When Mrs. Dondo had learned through eavesdropping that Nancy was going to Virginia to hunt for the window, she had notified her brother. In order to keep the girl detective from uncovering his scheme, Rugby had first sent the fake telegram, then caused both accidents involving Susan’s automobile.
“What did you hope to gain by injuring us?” Nancy asked Rugby.
“I wanted to postpone your sleuthing long enough for me to complete my job,” he said. “Then when you showed up at Mr. Bradshaw’s I got desperate, since I had stolen some drawings and old glass from him.”
Rugby admitted wearing a stocking over his head in the automobile and also when looking in the window at Susan’s home. Then later he had knocked Nancy unconscious. Alarmed that she would learn his secret, he had entered the Patterson home with Mrs. Dondo, who had come from River Heights to help him.
“I wanted to make sure,” he said, “that Nancy Drew had not found the real window and I had to do some hacking to satisfy myself.”
Mrs. Dondo said sourly, “I searched the girls’ baggage to see if there were any letters telling where it might be.” She looked away. “And helped myself to a few articles.”
“Well, I guess that concludes the questioning for the time being,” the police officer spoke up. “Unmasking these swindlers must have been mighty exciting, Miss Drew.”
Nancy agreed, but in many ways regreted that the intriguing mystery was ending and not just beginning. But soon she was to start on one of the most unusual adventures she had ever encountered, The Haunted Showboat.
After the prisoners were driven away, Nancy telephoned Seven Oaks. Susan, overjoyed to hear the good news, declared, “I’ll tell the Bradshaws right away!”
A little later Nancy received a call from Mark Bradshaw himself. The artist apologized profusely for his recent unfriendly attitude and thanked her for discovering the truth about Rugby.
When Nancy rejoined the group in the Ivy Hall library, everyone was staring at the exquisite stained-glass window in silent admiration.
Presently Sir Richard said dreamily, “The knight and the peacock have traveled many miles across the ocean and will have to recross it before being restored to their original home.”
At that moment the telephone rang, and Sheila went to answer it. When she came back, her eyes were shining happily. She stood in the center of the floor and said dramatically, “Never again will I say that peacocks bring me bad luck. My agent just called—I’m to have a wonderful starring part in a new Broadway play! And, Annette, you can go to college as you’ve been hoping!”
“Oh, I’m so happy for us,” said Annette, hug ging her mother. “And we’ll spend vacations at Ivy Hall!”
Nancy and Bess expressed their delight at the turn in the Pattersons’ fortune. George said it was great news. Then, grinning, she looked at the girl detective who had been responsible for a large part of it.
“Well, Nancy,” she said, “besides solving this whole mystery and exonerating innocent people, you’ve even proved that peacocks are above suspicion!”