The Clue Of The Tapping Heels Part 7

"Yes, indeed," Nancy replied, and Bess added, "Bring home something extra special to eat, will you?" Mrs. Bealing laughed.

When she had gone, Nancy suggested that the girls go to the bas.e.m.e.nt once more to try to find out why the tapper had been there.

"I'm sure he was hunting for something," she said, and reminded the others about the mysterious telephone caller. "He may have meant secrets to do with this house."

She led the way to the bas.e.m.e.nt. The door to the kitchen was left open so they could hear anyone who might call.

A second intensive search of the room was begun. Except for occasional conversation among the girls there was total silence in the house.

They were investigating a far corner when Bess suddenly grabbed Nancy's arm. "I hear it!" she said in a hushed voice. "The tapping! It's upstairs somewhere!"

On tiptoe the girls dashed to the steps and rushed up to the kitchen.

CHAPTER VI.

The Secret Room

THE three girls quickly went through all the first-floor rooms, opening closet doors along the way. No one was hiding and there were no visible footprints or fingerprints to indicate that anyone from the outside had sneaked in.

"The tapping must have come from the second floor," Nancy whispered. "I wonder if Miss Carter heard it or if she's asleep."

Bess and George went up the back stairway to the second floor, while Nancy took the front. Each bedroom was investigated but there was not a sign of an intruder. Finally they arrived at Miss Carter's closed door. No sound came from within.

"Even if she's asleep, I think we should wake her up," Nancy said.

She knocked and in a few seconds the actress's sleepy voice called, "Come in."

She was still in bed. At once Nancy apologized for having awakened her. "We heard tapping sounds in the house. Were you knocking on the wall?"

"No, my dear."

"Did you hear the tapping sounds?" George asked the actress.

Miss Carter gave the girl a most engaging smile. "When I take a nap, I'm practically unconscious," she replied.

Bess said feelingly, "Please go back to sleep. When you wake up, I'll bring you tea and cookies."

"That's very sweet of you," Miss Carter said.

The girls retreated and closed the door. In the hall Nancy reminded her friends that the tapper might have been up on the third floor but had come down and escaped from the house before they had left Miss Carter's room. They went up to the attic and walked around.

"Nothing here," said George.

"Maybe not," Nancy replied, "but somebody has been in this attic."

"How do you know?" Bess spoke up.

"That chest has been moved," Nancy answered. "I'm positive it was over here before."

The girls shifted several other objects, hoping to find a clue to the mystery. But they saw no trace of a trap door or loose boards.

"Well, I guess it's back to the bas.e.m.e.nt," George said. "Okay, Nancy?"

"Okay."

When they reached the bas.e.m.e.nt, Nancy stood in the center of the floor and slowly turned in circles. Bess and George watched their friend in fascination. They knew enough not to ask what was going through her mind.

Presently Nancy stopped turning and walked over to the rear wall of the bas.e.m.e.nt. She tapped on the panels.

"Girls," she said, "do you realize that this bas.e.m.e.nt is not so large as the first floor of the house?"

"I hadn't noticed," Bess replied. "But what you say isn't unusual, is it? Lots of people have a small cellar compared to the size of their house."

Suddenly Nancy said, "Wait here."

She dashed up the stairs and outdoors. The young sleuth walked round and round the house examining the foundation. Finally she went back to the bas.e.m.e.nt, and beamed her flashlight inch by inch along the rear wall.

"What do you suspect?" George finally asked, curiosity getting the better of her.

"An opening in this wall," Nancy answered. "Suppose you girls start at the other end and hunt for a clue."

Just before they all reached the center of the wall, Bess exclaimed, "Here's a place that looks as if a rat had gnawed it!"

Nancy studied the edge of the beveled board. She tried pulling it forward with her fingernails. Though t moved a fraction of an inch, she could not budge it any farther.

George was already looking around for a tool and found one made of steel with a hooked end. It was lying on a shelf above the panel. She inserted the hook in the gouged-out spot.

"Be careful!" Bess warned. "We don't know what may be behind that wood. Some hidden object could shoot out and harm us!"

George had dug the hook deep into the wood and with Nancy's help the panel began to move. When it turned at right angles to the wall, Nancy shone her flashlight beyond. The three girls gasped. Before them was a fully furnished bedroom.

"The bed has been slept in recently!" Bess exclaimed.

"It's a secret room!" Nancy cried out. "Oh, girls, this is a wonderful clue!"

There was a switch just inside the movable panel which illuminated three lamps. An open door to one side revealed a fully furnished bathroom. Nancy hurried inside and felt a towel and washcloth.

"They're damp!" she called. "Someone has been here very recently. I'm sure this is the hide-out of the tapper."

"And here's his razor," said George, rushing in.

Bess admitted that she was frightened. "The intruder certainly has a key to this house," she declared. "I think all the locks should be changed at once."

Nancy agreed. Bess offered to go tell Miss Carter even if she had to awaken her again.