Password to Larkspur Lane Read Online Free Page B

apartment tomorrow evening at six? I’ll tell you all about it then. Besides, Jim would love to see you.”
    “I wouldn’t miss it,” Nancy replied, “but I think it’s only fair to tell you I’m already working on a mystery.”
    Helen smiled. “Then this is just one more. You’re so clever, Nancy, I’m sure you can solve both at once!”
    Nancy laughed. “Give me a hint.”
    Helen explained that her Grandmother and Grandfather Corning had recently moved to Sylvan Lake. “They have a dreamy stone house on a hill. It is beautiful. But now Gram and Gramp are afraid to stay there because of something queer that keeps happening.”
    “What is it?” Nancy asked.
    Helen glanced at her watch. “I’d love to tell you, but I must run. See you tomorrow. We’ll drive out to the lake and have dinner with Gram and Gramp. Thanks a million, Nancy!”
    As Helen Archer hurried away, Nancy stood on the sidewalk musing. “Um—another case.” Then she turned toward home.
    When Nancy reached it, Effie opened the front door. “I heard you drive in,” she said in a loud whisper. “The pigeon man’s here.” She gestured toward the living room. “He’s very good-looking.”
    “Thank you,” said Nancy, and went to greet the caller, hoping he had not heard Effie.
    A tall blond man in his twenties got up as she entered. He introduced himself as Donald Jordan, secretary of the local branch of the Pigeon Fanciers association. He showed her his credentials.
    “I’m so glad you came,” said Nancy. “Please sit down. I’ll get the pigeon and the message.”
    Nancy hurried to the garage and saw with relief that the bird seemed stronger.
    “Oh, I hope Mr. Jordan won’t take you away,” she murmured to the bird. “I want you to get well enough to fly to your home loft. Then I’ll follow you!”
    Nancy carried the pigeon to the living room. Mr. Jordan examined the bird gently, noting especially the number on its leg band. Then Nancy took the message from her purse and handed it to him.
    “This is the second pigeon seen in this area with an unregistered number,” he said. “The other was found dead on the highway. I mentioned it to a detective friend of mine. He thought criminals might be using this means of communication, thinking it safer than telephone or telegraph or letter.”
    Nancy nodded and told him she had reported the incident to the police.
    “Good. That saves us the trouble.” The young man arose. “Well, thank you for notifying me, Miss Drew. Now I’ll take the bird and—”
    “Oh, please don’t!” Nancy exclaimed.
    Mr. Jordan looked surprised. “Surely you don’t want to be bothered with a sick pigeon?”
    “I don’t mind,” said Nancy. “I’d like to try to nurse it back to health.”
    The young man shook his head. “I’m afraid there’s not much chance, but if that’s what you want, it’s okay with me.”
    He made copies of the leg-band number and the strange message, then wished her luck and left. Nancy returned the pigeon to the garage. She immediately went to Hannah Gruen’s room to tell her about the latest developments in the case.
    “And about time,” said the housekeeper. “I never hear any news up here.”
    “How are you feeling?” Nancy asked.
    “Much better. If it wasn’t for that fussy doctor, I’d be up and working like I should.”
    Nancy laughed. “You just take it easy while you have the chance!”
    Late in the afternoon Mr. Drew called to say that he could not be home until nine o’clock. To keep Hannah company, Nancy and Effie ate supper on trays in her room and afterward watched a television play.
    At the end, Effie sniffed in disappointment. “Not enough love,” she commented. “Now that handsome Mr. Kyle should have—”
    She stopped speaking as the front doorbell rang. “Dad must have forgotten his key,” Nancy remarked. “I’ll go.”
    She hurried down the stairs and started to open the door. Instinct told the young sleuth to be cautious. She