The Clue Of The Velvet Mask Part 1

The Clue of the Velvet Mask.

CHAPTER I.

Suspicious Masquerader.

"You look lovely, Nancy, and very mysterious," said Hannah Gruen, housekeeper for the Drew family, as she smiled fondly at the slender, t.i.tian-haired girl.

Nancy had just finished dressing for a masquerade party. Costumed as a Spanish senorita, she wore a red gown with a long sweeping skirt and a black lace mantilla and carried a matching mask and fan.

She was glancing at herself in a mirror when her father, tall handsome Carson Drew, a criminal lawyer, walked into the living room.

"Bewitching!" he exclaimed. "And don't let any of the party thieves ruin your evening."

Nancy's blue eyes peered at him eagerly. "Dad, tell me what you mean."

"All right. The police are looking for a gang who rob homes while a party is going on. A masquerade would be an ideal place for them to carry out a theft."

"Oh!" exclaimed Mrs. Gruen. "It sounds dangerous."

"Now, Hannah, don't worry," Nancy said, giving the woman an affectionate hug.

Nancy's mother had died when she was a little girl and the housekeeper had lived with the Drews ever since. Both Hannah and Mr. Drew were very proud of the many baffling cases eighteen-year-old Nancy had solved.

"I hope the thieves show up tonight," Nancy said. Dropping the fan and mask into her father's hands, she put on gold hoop earrings.

"Ah! Now you're really a siren," Mr. Drew teased. "By the way, where is Ned? He'd better get here soon or you'll both be late."

Ned Nickerson, a college student who dated Nancy, was to take her to the party at the Hendrick estate in River Heights. Gloria Hendrick had been one of Nancy's school friends.

As Nancy glanced anxiously at the clock the doorbell rang. "There he is now!" she exclaimed and ran to open the door. She greeted the attractive football player with a sweeping curtsy.

"Wow!" he exclaimed with a quick intake of breath. "You look terrific, Nancy! What a getup! I'm sorry I'm late. I had to drive Dad and Mother to the theater. Wish they could have seen you first."

"Never mind the compliments." Nancy laughed, pulling Ned into the living room. "I have a costume for you. Please change quickly."

"Not so fast! Do I have to go in fancy clothes?"

"Now, Ned, you promised. Besides, you'll like the outfit. Linda Seeley selected it personally."

"Who's Linda?" Ned demanded suspiciously.

"We used to go to school together. She now works at the Lightner Entertainment Company."

Nancy produced a large cardboard box, opened it, and removed an eighteenth-century Spanish grandee's costume.

"Isn't it marvelous, Ned? A plumed hat and high-heeled boots! A white neck ruff, too, and lace cuffs!"

Ned gave an indignant snort. "You expect me to wear that?"

"You'll make such a distinguished-looking escort," Nancy coaxed. "Please, Ned."

"Oh, all right," Ned acquiesced with a grin. He went to the upstairs guest room and ten minutes later appeared on the stairway landing. a.s.suming a theatrical pose, he asked, "How do I look?"

"Cool," Nancy replied.

Self-conscious, Ned came down the stairs to help Nancy with her cloak. Mr. Drew walked with them to the young man's car.

"If Nancy involves you in a mystery, Ned, be careful of those rented clothes," the lawyer said jokingly.

"Ned, Dad says we should keep our eyes open at the party."

"What's up?" Ned asked.

"If you've been reading the papers, you may know that thieves are suspected of sneaking into parties given by wealthy people living in the River Heights area. Thousands of dollars in gems and other valuables have been stolen."

"You think they may show up at Gloria's party?" Ned asked.

Mr. Drew shrugged. "I'm advising you and Nancy to be on the alert. The ringleader must be an unusually cunning crook," the lawyer went on. "He and his gang have been eluding the police for months."

Nancy and Ned a.s.sured him they would be on the lookout for any troublemakers. Then they drove directly to the Hendricks' home.

The gala affair was in full swing when they arrived. Dancers filled the ballroom which blazed with light from crystal chandeliers.

"I don't recognize anyone," Nancy declared as they watched the masqueraders.

A short-skirted ballerina and her escort in a minstrel suit danced nearby, doing the latest steps. Pierrot and Pierette sailed past, then a wooden soldier and china doll.

a.s.suming a theatrical pose, Ned asked, "How do I look?"

Presently Ned and Nancy were recognized by two of their closest friends. The two rushed over to greet them. Bess Marvin, a slightly plump, blond girl, was dressed as a Southern belle. The other girl was Bess's cousin George Fayne. With her slim figure, George was convincingly disguised as a pageboy.

"Hi!" she exclaimed enthusiastically. "It's a wonderful party, but the dance floor is packed."

"Any villains here?" Nancy asked, and told her friends of her father's warning.

"Oh, how dreadful!" Bess exclaimed as her escort Dave Evans joined them.

"If there are any thieves here, they're masked," said George. "Just the right kind of party for a mystery, too."

"Oh, stop it," Bess begged, and offered to show Nancy and Ned where the checkrooms were.

She and George led the way upstairs, together with Dave and George's escort Burt Eddleton. After they had left their wraps, Nancy suggested pausing a moment in the second-floor library to look at the art treasures.

The room contained many valuable paintings, antique vases, and a priceless collection of miniatures in a gla.s.s case. Some were solid-silver figurines ; others, portraits painted on porcelain. One of these, a likeness of Marie Antoinette, was especially attractive. Nancy noticed that the case was not locked.

"This is just making it easy for a thief," she remarked.