The Haunted Bridge Part 15

The young detective was mulling over this bit of news when Martin Bartescue sauntered up.

"Oh, here you are," he said with a trace of annoyance in his tone.

"I didn't mean to run off," Nancy replied quickly. "I thought I saw Miss Judson enter the elevator. I want to speak with her. Have you seen her tonight?"

He answered with a mysterious smile, "Let's forget Miss Judson and enjoy this next dance."

Against her will Nancy was led back to the ballroom. She did not try to escape from her partner again. Shortly before the last dance, she found an opportunity to remind Bess and George to follow closely in their car during the ride back to the hotel.

Despite Nancy's fears, the homeward drive proved to be uneventful. She tumbled into bed, tired and discouraged by her unsuccessful detective work that evening.

Nancy wondered if Barty had gone to the dance to meet Margaret Judson. The weary young sleuth fell asleep. At six she was awakened by the alarm on her travel clock.

"Who left that turned on?" Nancy moaned drowsily. Then she remembered having set it herself. Soon it would be time for her to drive to the airport to meet her father.

By seven o'clock father and daughter were seated opposite each other at a table in the airport restaurant.

"Did you have a successful trip, Dad?" his daughter asked as soon as they had given their breakfast order. "What did you learn about the contents of the bra.s.s chest?"

"The New York police said only one article in the entire collection proved to be stolen property."

"The jeweled compact?"

"Yes. The other articles couldn't be identified. Of course, they may have been stolen recently and the theft was not reported. At any rate, the jewelry, with the exception of the compact, is not on the list of articles smuggled into this country by the international gang."

Nancy listened to a more detailed account of her father's visit to New York. Then she revealed her own recent activities.

"I was sure I'd located Miss Judson at Hemlock Hall," Nancy finished. "But she got away before I could talk to her."

"We must trace her," Mr. Drew said. "From the clues you've gathered I'm certain she's the woman we're after."

The lawyer wished to drive without delay to Hemlock Hall to look for Margaret Judson, and Nancy was glad to accompany him. The trip proved to be a waste of time. Although they inquired at the airport, gas stations and various shops, no one could give them any information about Miss Judson's whereabouts.

"Dad," said Nancy, "I'm afraid I'll have to stop sleuthing and hurry back to our hotel. My name is posted to play in the golf tournament at two o'clock."

The Drews ate lunch, then drove to Deer Mountain. Nancy quickly changed to golf clothes and went out on the course. As usual, Chris was her caddy.

The match was close. Nancy, scarcely noticing the pain in her hand, played an excellent game. To the delight of her friends, she won on the fifteenth hole. As she finished out the round, she jokingly asked Chris if he had found her Jimmy Harlow ball.

"I don't think I'll ever find it now," he told her gloomily. "Maybe someone else picked it up."

"Have you noticed anyone in the woods by the bridge?" Nancy asked.

"This morning I saw a man poking a stick around in the mud by the stream."

Nancy pressed for a more detailed description of the person, but Chris was unable to give one. On her way back to the hotel she reflected on the clue that Chris unknowingly had revealed.

"That man he saw may have been the Judson gardener," she thought. "Or possibly someone who was searching for the bra.s.s chest I found buried in the mudbank."

Nancy was afraid it might be too late to locate the man, but she decided to investigate the haunted bridge area immediately. Bess and George were eager to a.s.sist in Nancy's search. The three girls set off across the golf course. They had gone only a few steps when Bess stopped.

"Here comes that pest Barty!" she exclaimed. "Now what'll we do?"

Thinking very quickly, Nancy greeted the new-comer with a warm smile.

"Oh, Mr. Bartescue, did my father see you this afternoon?"

"Why no," he answered in surprise, falling into the trap. "Did he wish to speak with me?"

"Well, he was looking for a tennis partner."

Martin Bartescue had boasted to Nancy that he excelled in several sports. Tennis and golf, however, he claimed were his favorites.

"I see Dad on the terrace!" Nancy cried and motioned for him to join the group.

"Dad, I've found a wonderful tennis partner for you," she declared as he came up.

The lawyer suspected that Nancy wished to rid herself of Bartescue, and agreed to get his tennis shoes and racquet and meet the other man at the courts.

The girls made their way toward the haunted bridge. Dark clouds were moving swiftly overhead, and by the time they reached the woods a strong wind was blowing.

Soon they were within view of the old bridge. Bess shivered and kept close to her companions. Suddenly they were startled to hear the same moaning and groaning sounds which had perplexed them on their first visit.

"Oh!" Bess squealed, clutching George's arm.

Nancy warned her to be quiet, and for several minutes the girls stood perfectly still, waiting for the sound to be repeated. There was only a rustle of leaves in the breeze.

"I believe the noise came from somewhere right around here," said Nancy. "Let's investigate. Maybe we'll find someone's in hiding, playing a joke."

The girls searched through the brush and trees near both ends of the bridge, but found no one. Then they explored the trail they had seen on their previous visit which led along the ravine. Footprints were clearly visible. Had someone used the path within the past twenty-four hours?

A moment later a shrill scream broke the stillness. This time Nancy was certain that the cry had come from some distance up the ravine.

"Let's go!" she urged excitedly. "We'll solve the mystery of these strange sounds yet!"

She darted forward along the path, oblivious to the th.o.r.n.y bushes that tore at her hair and clothing. Suddenly Nancy halted and stared. In a small clearing ahead was a log cabin. Smoke was curling lazily from the chimney.

"I didn't know anyone lived here in the woods," Bess gasped in surprise.

Nancy was debating what to do, when the cabin door opened and a man carrying a rifle emerged.

"He's the same one who was working near the Judson property," Nancy whispered. "I'll bet he's the gardener. Let's see what he's up to with that rifle," she added.

The man shouldered his gun and struck off in the general direction of the Judson property.

"I'm sure he's only going hunting," George declared.

Cautiously the girls followed him. Suddenly Bess tripped over a mossy log. As she fell headlong on the trail, she gave a faint outcry. The man immediately paused and glanced back. The trio crouched low.