The Crooked Banister

by Carolyn Keene

  Bess said, “Wait until you see the robot running around knocking people out!”

  Nancy told what had happened to her and to the electrician “It seems incredible,” Thomas remarked, “but I’m not too surprised to hear it. From the time Rawley was a little boy he was always building weird and ingenious things.

  “His talent and education as an engineer should have been turned to good use,” he went on. “It’s most unfortunate that he chose to lead the wrong kind of life. Our family argued with him and tried to persuade him to do something worth while, but he’d always laugh off the suggestions.”

  Nancy led the way into the kitchen and unlocked the closet door. Stripped of his animation, the robot seemed forlorn and beaten.

  “From what you’ve told me,” Thomas said, “I think this is a good place to keep him out of mischief.”

  The group went into the living room and sat down. Thomas proceeded to tell the others why he had come to Rawley’s house.

  “When I learned that you people weren’t at the motel or at my sister’s, I assumed you were here, so I drove out. At the foot of the hill my car ran out of gas. And here’s some disturbing news.”

  Thomas said he had been visited by Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Aldrin from New York City. Like Mrs. Melody they had been cheated by Rawley, who had been using an assumed name. They had been unable to track him down.

  “But they saw the newspaper picture of him,” Thomas went on, “and came directly to me. They’re demanding the return of a large sum of money plus damages.”

  Mrs. Carrier frowned. “For what?” she asked.

  Thomas said that apparently Rawley had helped himself to certain identification cards and business papers from a realty company in New York City. “They handle the rentals of luxury apartment houses.”

  According to the Aldrins’ story, Rawley had posed as a member of the firm and had taken the Aldrins to a large building. He had informed the doorman that Mr. and Mrs. Cooper, who were out of town at the moment, were giving up their apartment and the Aldrins were interested.

  “Rawley showed the Cooper apartment to which he had a key. Evidently he had taken it from the realty-company office.”

  “Where does the large sum of money come in?” Mrs. Carrier asked.

  “The Aldrins said they would take the apartment and then were told that they would have to pay three months’ rent in advance. Mr. Aldrin agreed and Rawley made out a receipt on the realty company’s billhead and gave them a fake lease.”

  Thomas said Rawley had told his clients there was a bonus payment in connection with taking over the apartment before the Coopers’ lease ran out. Mr. Aldrin had also paid that fee.

  George spoke up. “It seems to me Mr. Aldrin wasn’t on the ball. He should have investigated Rawley’s story to see if it were true before he turned over the money.”

  Thomas smiled. “I’m afraid there are too many people in this world who are easily taken.”

  “I suppose so,” George agreed.

  Thomas went on, “The most shocking part of the story is that the Aldrins insist my sister and I make good on every penny they gave to Rawley!”

  “We can’t do that!” Mrs. Carrier cried out. “We’ve already paid out a lot of money because of him. Besides, there’s no telling how many more people may make demands on us.”

  “I’m afraid you’re right,” Thomas said. “Legally, of course, none of these people can collect from us. I keep hoping that money or other valuables of Rawley’s will be found to reimburse these claimants.”

  “You mean hidden in this house?” Bess asked.

  “Probably.”

  Mrs. Carrier asked if her brother would like to look over the rest of the place.

  “Yes, indeed.”

  They walked into the hall. Thomas stood still and gazed at the crooked stairway. The next second he bounded up the steps, twisting and turning as he went. He had almost reached the top when he tripped. The next moment he lost his balance and came rolling down!

  “Oh!” Mrs. Carrier cried out.

  Nancy made a leap for the stairway and dashed up. She was able to stop Thomas before he crashed to the bottom. He got up sheepishly and sat down on one of the steps.

  “Are you all right?” Nancy asked him.

  “I guess so,” he replied. “Hereafter I’ll have more respect for this crazy invention of my brother’s.”

  Mrs. Carrier and the other two girls came up the steps to make sure Thomas was all right. He insisted that he was.

  “I probably have a few bruises, but that’s all. No broken bones.”

  The group went upstairs. While Thomas made a tour of the rooms, Nancy again looked for a clue to the missing man’s whereabouts.

  She mentioned her search to Thomas, who said, “I have a suggestion. Maybe there’s a computer hidden some place. Rawley would be capable of making his own program tapes for the robot. If we find the computer, possibly we will discover something that would help us track down Rawley.”

  A hunt was started. Nancy told Thomas that none of the searchers had investigated the basement. They found a concealed door at the back of the pantry which opened onto a stairway leading downward. There were many wall switches which lighted the place brilliantly.

  “I’m sure Rawley worked down here,” Thomas remarked.

  There were several rooms. One had a sliding door which contained a large computer and a small one.

  “You were right about your brother doing the programming himself,” Nancy told Thomas. The group searched but found no clue to the man’s whereabouts.

  The other rooms were inspected but yielded nothing of value except a small printing press.

  As the group returned to the first floor, Nancy kept telling herself that there must be other secrets in this house. Where were they and how was she going to find them?

  “Rawley Banister is clever, if not honest,” she thought. “He probably figured it would be a great joke on his family to make them hunt for any valuables that might be hidden here.”

  She stopped to gaze once more at the crooked stairway. Why had it been built this way? Why did the one railing end part way up in a wall? Why was the hall not balanced?

  “We’d better go,” Mrs. Carrier called. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m starved.”

  Bess laughed. “Me too.”

  Thomas invited them to lunch.

  “But I need a lift to the foot of the hill.” He chuckled ruefully. “When I ran out of gas, I signaled a passing motorist to send somebody there and put in a few gallons and charge it to me. I hope he did.”

  Thomas climbed into Nancy’s car and they all rode to where he had left his. Fortunately, gasoline had been put in and he led the way to an attractive restaurant near a river on the outskirts of Mountainville.

  As they walked in, Thomas said, “That couple just coming from the dining room are Mr. and Mrs. Aldrin. I don’t want to talk to them now.”

  He could not escape them, however. Spotting him at the entrance to the room, the couple hurried to his side.

  “So we meet again!” said Mr. Aldrin. “Is this lady your sister?”

  Thomas nodded, then introduced the group to the Aldrins.

  “Have you come to any conclusions about reimbursing my wife and me?” the man asked in a loud voice.

  “No,” Thomas replied. “If I have any news, I’ll get in touch with you.”

  There was an embarrassing pause. Suddenly Bess broke the silence. “Nancy Drew is a detective. Maybe you’d like her to work on your case.”

  Mr. Aldrin’s answer was a loud haw-haw, followed by, “She’s only a girl!”

  His wife laughed uproariously. “Can you imagine such a thing? I can see a headline now—

  TEEN-AGE GIRL CAPTURES CON MAN!”

  Nancy was embarrassed. Her face flushed with anger as patrons in the restaurant stared.

  CHAPTER VII

  Burning Water

  “COME!” said Thomas Banister.

 
He took Nancy by the arm and led her to a secluded table in a corner of the restaurant. His sister and the other girls followed.

  When they were seated, Mrs. Carrier burst out, “Those people are dreadful! How rude of them to make such a remark!”

  “I agree,” said Bess. “I’d just like to tell them what a terrific detective Nancy is!”

  George recommended that they forget all about the Aldrins. “We don’t even know if they’re honest,” she remarked. “They could have made up the whole story about being cheated by your brother in order to get money from you.”

  Thomas nodded as a waitress approached them. After menus had been passed around, he asked, “What would you all like to eat?”

  Mrs. Carrier chose cream of tomato soup and chicken salad.

  Bess asked haltingly, “Would you mind if I concentrate on dessert?” She hesitated a moment, then said, “Just a small hamburger and a large fudge nut sundae with a piece of cake?”

  Nancy expected a tart comment from George about her plumpish cousin’s selections, but she said nothing. Apparently George only criticized Bess when the three girls were alone.

  Thomas smiled and said if that was what Bess wanted, she certainly should have it. The others ordered simple luncheons and the waitress went off.

  A few minutes later Bess murmured, “Guess what! Mrs. Aldrin is coming our way.”

  “What!” Mrs. Carrier exclaimed.

  The woman who had been so sarcastic and unpleasant a short time before smiled affably as she approached the table.

  “I came to apologize,” she said, looking at Nancy. “It was rude of my husband and me to make fun of your ability as a detective. We realized afterward that we had heard of your father and you. Please forgive us and try to find the man who swindled us.”

  “I think,” Nancy answered, “that you should consult my father. He’s a lawyer. As you said, I’m only a teen-age detective.”

  “But,” Mrs. Aldrin said, “I understand you are very clever. Exactly how much do you charge an hour?”

  Nancy’s eyes flashed. “If you have heard about me, you must know that I’m strictly an amateur. I work on mysteries because I enjoy them and do not accept money for solving them. I still say you should consult my father. Yours is a legal matter.”

  Mrs. Aldrin seemed lost for an answer. She looked toward the doorway where her husband was standing and beckoned him to come over. He walked to the table, an expansive smile on his face.

  His wife said, “Nancy Drew tells me that our case should be handled by her father.”

  “Oh yes?” Mr. Aldrin said. “Well, my wife and I have decided to give it to both of you. Shall I get in touch with your father or will you, Miss Drew?”

  Nancy said she would prefer having Mr. Aldrin make the contact. “If Dad wants me to work on the case, he can let me know.”

  Mr. Aldrin did not comment. Instead he said, “I have been doing a little detective work myself. I went back to the apartment house where the Coopers live and talked with the doorman. He said he had seen the impostor at a sports event. He had immediately told a policeman about him, but the faker had disappeared by that time.”

  Although Nancy felt that this was a very slim clue, she remarked, “Perhaps the doorman will see the suspect again and have him arrested.”

  Thomas spoke up. “If we hear anything about Rawley’s whereabouts, we’ll get in touch with you. I have your card so I know where to find you.”

  The Aldrins went off when the waitress appeared with a tray of food. While eating, Nancy and her friends tried not to talk about the mystery but it kept popping up.

  Finally Nancy said, “Do you think that perhaps Rawley comes back to his house at night when he is sure no one will be around?”

  “It’s possible,” Thomas replied. “Tell you what. Suppose we go out there tonight. I’ll pick you up at eight o’clock.”

  “Great!” Nancy said “We’ll be ready.”

  When the girls reached their motel room, Nancy received a telephone call from Thomas Banister. He said a business matter had come up and he would be unable to take the group to his brother’s house that evening.

  “Perhaps we can make it tomorrow night,” he suggested. “I’ll call you.” A few minutes later the phone rang again. Nancy answered.

  “Ned!” she cried out in delight.

  “Hi! How is everything?” he asked. Nancy was fond of the tall, handsome football player from Emerson College and dated him almost exclusively.

  “How did you find out I was here?”

  “From Mrs. Gruen,” Ned replied.

  “I left home in such a hurry I didn’t have time to let you know,” Nancy said. “And since I’ve been here, it seems as if every minute has been taken up with the new mystery.”

  She was surprised and pleased when Ned announced that he and Burt and Dave, George’s and Bess’s favorite dates, were free that evening and would like to drive over.

  “Wonderful!” Nancy said. “Will you stay overnight?”

  Ned thought this would be best since it was a rather long distance from where the boys were working. Fortunately they had the following day off from their summer jobs of selling insurance.

  “The company is giving its employees a holiday. We’d rather spend it with you girls than go on the company’s picnic.”

  Nancy chuckled. “And I’ll bet you’re hoping to help on the mystery.”

  Ned admitted this was true. “I’ll hang up now,” he added. “See you later.”

  When Nancy told Bess and George the good news, they were thrilled.

  George said, “How about the six of us going out to Rawley’s house tonight? I’d like to show the boys that fantastic place.”

  Bess added, “And if the con man is there, I’d rather the boys capture him than we girls.”

  The three arrived at the motel just before eight o’clock. Burt Eddleton was a short blond husky youth. He liked George because of her interest in sports. Dave Evans was also blond but rangy. He had smiling green eyes and liked to tease Bess. Over ice cream sundaes Nancy briefed the boys on the mystery.

  “Wow!” Ned exclaimed. “This case sounds like a weirdo.”

  “Wait until you see the funny house and the crazy stairway that the Crooked Banister built,” Bess said.

  The boys looked at her, puzzled. She giggled and explained. “Rawley Banister, it seems, was always getting into trouble. He nicknamed himself the Crooked Banister.”

  George added, “And the stairway in his house is as crooked as he is.”

  “Let’s go!” Ned urged.

  The young people got into his car and set off. Nancy said they would have to pick up the key from Mrs. Carrier, and directed Ned to her house. Nancy hurried inside and explained.

  “Of course you have my permission to go there,” Mrs. Carrier said. “And I’m glad the boys are going along. I’ll get the key.”

  Nancy slipped it into her handbag and returned to the car. Twenty minutes later they were driving up the wooded road that led to Rawley’s house. By the time they pulled into the clearing at the top of the hill, the moon was shining brightly and the fantastic house stood out clearly. But what interested them most was the reddish glow in the deep moat.

  “The water’s on fire!” Nancy exclaimed as everyone jumped from the car.

  Bess, who was closer to the moat, suddenly cried out, “The bridge is gone!”

  “But what could have happened to it?” George burst out. “Did it fall into the water and burn up?”

  “I doubt that,” Nancy said. “It was a metal bridge, remember? It couldn’t catch on fire.”

  Bess spoke up. “Do you think it was dragged away?”

  Nancy studied the ground for evidence of this. There were no marks.

  George asked practically, “How are we going to get across to the house?”

  “That’s a good question,” Dave answered.

  “I have an idea,” Nancy spoke up. “These woods are full of saplings. If we could find s
ome that are tall enough to reach across the moat, we could build our own bridge.”

  Bess asked, “But how could you cut them down? Unless Ned has an axe in his car.”

  “I don’t,” he replied. “But most saplings bend easily and if you push them far enough they will crack off. Come on, fellows. Let’s see what we can do.”

  The six young people went into the woods. In the bright moonlight they had no trouble finding tall, slender young trees and soon had felled several. They lugged them to the edge of the moat and one by one dropped the upper section of each onto the far side. Soon a reasonably stable bridge was constructed.

  “I’ll go over first to be sure it’s safe,” Ned offered.

  “Oh, Ned,” Bess called, “don’t take a chance! You might fall into the fire! Wait until the flames die down.”

  Ned paused a moment. “Suppose all of you hold the saplings in place so they can’t roll. I’m sure I’ll be all right.”

  He inched along the crude bridge to the other side, then turned and shouted, “Okay, everybody!”

  One by one the young people crossed to the lawn in front of the house. Nancy thought of Hannah Gruen’s remark about her getting into hot water. She had come close to doing so!

  Burt said, “Do you think it was Rawley who got rid of the bridge? And if so, is he here or did he run away?”

  Nancy spoke up. “Since Rawley sent a key to his sister and said she’s in charge, I doubt that he’d destroy her only means of getting across to the house.”

  “Then who did it?” Dave asked. “Somebody caused the fire on that water.”

  All were convinced that if Rawley were in the house, he would do one of two things: hide from them or try to harm them, perhaps using the robot.

  “I don’t think we should go in,” Bess stated flatly. “Let’s surround the house and wait for Rawley to come out.”

  “But suppose he isn’t here?” Nancy countered. “You know, all this might have been done by someone else—either a pal or an enemy of his.”

  After debating what to do, Ned suggested that they take a vote as to whether they would enter the house or not. There were five votes for going inside and only one for staying outdoors. That was Bess’s.