The Secret in the Old Attic Read Online Free Page B

Nancy asked Mr. March. “They were stored in the horsehide trunk. They’ll bring a good price.”
    “You mean they’re worth money?”
    “Indeed they are. Mr. Faber will be glad to get them. I’ve only begun my search of the attic. Let’s hope there are many more salable treasures up there.”
    “I take it you didn’t find any of Fipp’s music?”
    “Not yet. I’ll have another look tomorrow,” Nancy promised.
    As she was about to leave the house, Effie came running toward her.
    “Oh, Miss Nancy, you’re not going to be away long, are you?” she cried out. “I won’t draw a comfortable breath till you return!”
    “I’ll be back in the morning.”
    “Morning!” Effie shrieked. “I can’t stand it here without you. Creaking sounds, men prowling about at night—Oh, Miss Nancy, please come back and sleep here.”
    “I’m afraid if it’s as bad as you say, I won’t be able to sleep.” The young detective grinned. “Well, I’ll try to get back,” she said and went to her car.
    Her first stop was Leonard’s Garage. The owner had equipment for removing fallen trees and promised to go out to Pleasant Hedges at once. Then Nancy went on to Faber’s Antique Shop and received a sizable check for Mr. March. Finally she dropped into her father’s office to tell him her plans and also to report what had happened at the March mansion.
    “You say Effie saw a man prowling about?” Mr. Drew asked.
    “Yes,” Nancy replied. “And I found footprints going around the house.”
    “I don’t like that,” said Mr. Drew. “If you go back to the mansion, Nancy, I don’t want you to take any unnecessary chances.”
    “I won’t.”
    Nancy hugged her father and left his office. Before going home she bought a few toys for Susan. Later she packed them, together with some groceries, the portable radio and her clothes, in a suitcase. After an early supper she drove back to Pleasant Hedges.
    “Oh, I’m so relieved to see you!” Effie cried.
    Presently Nancy turned on her radio to a station which was broadcasting popular music. She asked Mr. March to listen carefully.
    “Perhaps you’ll hear the song you recognized the other night,” she suggested. “If you should, please jot down the station, the orchestra, and if it is announced, the name of the composer.”
    “Nothing would please me more than to expose the impostor!” Mr. March declared. “I want the world to know Fipp wrote that song!”
    The elderly man carried the radio upstairs. Meanwhile Nancy decided to do some more hunting in the attic. Unfortunately her flashlight battery was dead, so she went to the kitchen for a candle.
    Effie began to chatter. “This house ain’t so bad in the daytime, but when it starts gettin’ dark, the shadows just sort of leer at you!”
    Nancy laughed. “Nonsense!”
    She opened a cupboard and took out a long white candle.
    Effie looked at her questioningly. “What are you planning to do now?”
    “There’s no light in the attic,” explained Nancy, “and my flashlight battery is dead.”
    “You’re not going up there tonight!” Effie exclaimed, aghast.
    “I’m sure nothing will happen to me, Effie, and I want to help Mr. March if I can.”
    The maid shrugged her shoulders in resignation as Nancy set the candle in a holder. She left the kitchen, went to the second floor, and stopped at the foot of the attic stairway. There she touched a match to the wick and held the candle high in her hand as she ascended cautiously. Just as she reached the top of the steps, the light went out.
    Nancy’s heart began to pound. Was someone up there? She shook off her momentary fear.
    “It was only a draft from that leaky window,” Nancy told herself. She struck an extra match and relighted the wick.
    Nancy stepped into the attic. The candle flickered again and nearly went out. Something moved.
    “My own shadow, of course,” she reasoned. “But how grotesque I look!”
    Nancy’s eyes focused on a massive wardrobe which