The Clue Of The Velvet Mask Part 14

Before she could turn, Nancy was suddenly grasped from behind. She tried to scream, but it was choked off as a large hand was clamped over her mouth.

Shoved roughly into the room, she was pushed face down, among the summer wraps on the bed and pinned in a viselike grip.

CHAPTER IX.

Indelible Evidence

"GOOD work!" Nancy heard the woman thief exclaim. "Serves the little sneak right!"

"I thought something was amiss up here," replied her male accomplice, speaking with an exaggerated English accent.

Still maintaining a tight hold on Nancy, her captor chuckled softly. "I fancy she'll not interfere again soon."

His partner removed an armful of the coats and jackets, then rolled the bedspread tightly around Nancy. The woman piled the clothing on top of her.

"Make sure she won't meddle any more!" the woman cried.

"No time, my dear," the man answered. "We shall be forced to make a hasty exit. The maid will be returning."

"Then cut out that silly accent and let's get out of here!" his companion muttered.

Just when Nancy thought she surely would suffocate, the man suddenly released his grip. The couple raced from the room.

Nancy struggled to untangle herself from the heavy bedspread and its burden of coats. When she finally got to her feet and stepped into the hall, the man and woman were not in sight. Just then the maid who had gone for the tea opened a door from the back stairway.

"Gracious!" she exclaimed, staring at Nancy. "What happened to you?"

For the first time Nancy realized how disheveled she must look. Her dress was rumpled and her hair mussed.

"The woman who pretended to be ill is a thief! She and some man tried to smother me. Did you see anyone running out?"

"No, miss," the startled maid replied, setting her tray on a hall table.

Nancy said, "Maybe they're hiding in one of the bedrooms. Come on. Let's look for them!"

They searched the bedrooms, looking in closets and every possible hiding place until they were satisfied no one remained on the second floor. Nancy combed her hair and smoothed her dress before going downstairs. In the kitchen she found Tombar directing the caterers.

"Guests aren't allowed in here," he said icily.

Nancy was not intimidated. "I came to get a sandwich," she said, picking up one from a tray. "I'm simply starved."

She smiled and closed the door. At that moment a burst of applause indicated that the musicale was ending. A moment later the guests began going toward the dining room for tea.

Nancy located the hostess, introduced herself, and whispered what had happened.

"I don't know whether that woman took anything or not," she said. "You'd better check."

Together they went upstairs. Mrs. Elkin said that she disliked parties with detectives standing around and had refused to have any.

"Every person on my list is a friend," she said. "I don't see how a thief could have slipped in."

Mrs. Elkin cried out in dismay when she discovered that several pieces of valuable jewelry were missing. She immediately called the police, who offered to send a woman plainclothes detective.

"I may have a clue," Nancy said as they were waiting. "Possibly the thief left a coat here that will identify her."

When the woman detective arrived from headquarters, she took charge of the coats. The hostess was asked to identify each guest as she came for her wrap. Finally all the coats had been claimed except a long blue linen one with large pockets.

Nancy struggled to untangle herself

"The owner is not coming for this coat, that's evident!" Nancy said. "My guess is it was worn by the thief!"

Picking it up, she examined the coat for clues. In one pocket was a make-up kit. The other contained a velvet hooded mask! Nancy tore open the st.i.tching of the lining. There were no numbers on this mask.

The policewoman ripped the lining of the coat. Nothing had been hidden inside, and the garment had no marks of identification.

"I'll take the coat, mask, and kit to headquarters," she said.

After Nancy reached home, Linda Seeley telephoned to apologize for her absence from the musicale.

"Mr. Tombar sent me on a trifling errand instead," she explained. "I guess he thought I wasn't capable of handling the affair."

Nancy remarked that Mr. Tombar himself had not performed too efficiently and told of the robbery.

"Oh, how dreadful!" Linda cried.

After the phone call, Nancy sat lost in thought. Suddenly an idea came to her. She would have a chemical a.n.a.lysis made of the ink notations which she had discovered on the lining of the first hooded mask.

In the morning she went to a laboratory and was informed by one of the chemists that the fluid was rather uncommon. It was new and was sold exclusively for marking garments.

"Then any number of dry cleaners might have similar ink?" Nancy asked.

"Not necessarily," the chemist replied. "This particular type of ink is pretty expensive."

Nancy was excited. Did the Lightner Entertainment Company use it? she wondered. At noon she found Linda at the drugstore soda counter and asked her how costumes and masks were marked.

"Oh, we use a special indelible ink that lasts forever," Linda replied.

"Could you let me borrow a bottle of it?"

"Why, I guess so. How soon do you want it, Nancy?"

"Right away if possible."

"Wait here and I'll see if I can slip one out of the supply room," Linda said.