George begged off from the trip because her leg was sore and bruised.
Nancy and Bess changed into smart cotton knit suits. A short time later the girls drove off with Donna Mae in Nancy's car. Within an hour they had selected three different clown suits for the boys from Emerson College.
"Before we start home," Nancy said to Donna Mae, as they were leaving the costumier's, "I'd like to drive down to the waterfront."
Donna Mae agreed, so Nancy headed for the docks. As she drove past the many wharves, the young sleuth looked intently for any towboats that might be moored there. Presently she came to one and stopped.
"I want to run in here a minute," she said. "Be right back. Wait in the car, will you?"
Fortunately, the towboat owner, a Captain Runcie, was on board. Nancy inquired if he had ever been asked to move the stranded River Princess. When he said no she told him about the ball and the Havers' plans.
"Captain Runcie, would you consider trying to tow the showboat out of the bayou?" Nancy asked.
"I'll be glad to look her over and let you know."
"Then could you come to the Haver home and talk to the Colonel?"
"I'll be there early tomorrow morning," Captain Runcie promised.
"Thank you very much," said Nancy. "We'll be looking for you."
When she returned to the car, Nancy said nothing about her errand because she felt Donna Mae might be upset to learn that Alex had not explored every possibility in having the old boat moved. At once the girl complained about Nancy's secrecy.
The young detective merely laughed and said, "I'm full of secrets, all right. But I'll let you in on one. My next stop will be the police station."
"Oh!" Donna Mae cried out. "Why?"
"I still hope to track down my stolen car,” Nancy replied.
When they reached police headquarters, she went inside alone and introduced herself to the captain in charge. "Is there any news about my missing car or the man who stole it?" she asked.
"No, there isn't, Miss Drew," the captain replied. "But we do have a little news that may be a clue. My men made a thorough search of the room that fellow rented. In it they found a suitcase full of women's clothes."
"A suitcase?" Nancy exclaimed. "Maybe it's my stolen bag!"
CHAPTER XVIII
The Simmering Cauldron
THE POLICE captain looked at Nancy in surprise. "Your suitcase?"
Nancy explained that a suitcase of hers had been in the luggage compartment of her stolen car. "Were there any initials on the bag you found?" she asked.
"There had been," the officer replied. "They'd been scratched off."
Nancy asked to see the bag. Using his desk phone, the captain requested a sergeant to bring the suitcase to his office.
Upon seeing it, Nancy cried out, "It is mine! Oh, I hope my mother's fan and shawl are still inside!"
Quickly she lifted the lid. Her clothes were intact. Rummaging among them she found that the heirlooms were there.
“Oh, I’m so relieved!” she said happily. “I’d rather lose my car than this shawl and fan!”
The captain smiled understandingly. “I’m glad that we could recover them for you,” he said. “But actually it was you, Miss Drew, who discovered the house where the suitcase was hidden.”
At that moment the officer’s phone rang and he picked up the receiver. After listening a few moments, he put down the instrument and turned to Nancy.
“Well, this seems to be your day for recovering things. Your stolen car has been found in an out-of-town secondhand lot.”
“Oh, how wonderful!” Nancy exclaimed.
The captain went on to say that the man who had brought the car in had given the name Ralph Winter and said he came from New York City. “He had a bill of sale, so naturally the lot man did not suspect the car had been stolen.”
“If it is my car,” said Nancy, “then the bill of sale must have been forged.”
“You’re quite right,” the captain agreed. “The car is yours, all right. My man checked the serial numbers.”
“Was the thief caught?” Nancy asked.
“Not yet,” the officer answered. “But we’ll lend out an alarm. The man bought a gray sedan.”
“Did my description of the car thief fit this man?” Nancy inquired.
“Yes, it did—dark, slender, forty years old. Small, piercing black eyes. Low forehead, hair rather coarse and stiff.”
Nancy smiled. “He’s the one, all right.” She thanked the captain for all his help and left headquarters.
When Nancy appeared at the car carrying her suitcase, Bess’s eyes grew large. “Your stolen bag!” she said unbelievingly. “Is everything in it?”
“Everything,” Nancy answered. Turning to Donna Mae, she said, “Even my mother’s shawl and fan, which I can now use at the ball.”
“I know you will look simply adorable!” Donna Mae cried out ecstatically.
On the way home Nancy announced that she would like to stop at Uncle Rufus’s cabin. Donna Mae became a little impatient. She wanted to hurry home and talk with Alex.
“Oh, I shan’t be long,” Nancy promised her.
When they reached the tiny cabin in the bayou, no one was around. Nancy suggested that the other girls wait in the car while she looked to see if the old man was in the rear of his property. She had detected the smell of smoke and thought that Uncle Rufus might be burning brush.
As the young sleuth rounded the corner of the house, she stood still in amazement. In the center of the yard a large tripod had been erected over a log fire. Swinging from the tripod was a huge iron caldron. Back of it stood Uncle Rufus, waving his arms back and forth slowly and muttering to himself.
Uncle Rufus was waving his arms and muttering
Nancy hesitated about interrupting the voodoo preacher-doctor. He probably was brewing a potion from herbs and uttering prayers for its success and efficacy whenever it might be used by his patients.
It was fully two minutes before Uncle Rufus looked up. Seeing Nancy, he left his work and walked towards her. "Good day," he said affably. "I 'spects you wonder what's in this here herb pot." The elderly man chuckled. "It's a secret, but effen you need a tonic, it'll fix you up right quick."
Nancy smiled. "I'll let you know if I need one."
She told Uncle Rufus she had stopped to ask him if he would do some detective work for her.
He grinned. "If you con -fine, it to the bayou, I will," he said.
"Oh, I will," Nancy promised.
She went on to tell him about the weird scenes and sounds on the River Princess but did not mention the part that the De la Vernes had played. She watched the old man's face intently to see if he showed any signs of guilt. He definitely did not. Instead, he scratched his head and looked perplexed.
"This here is a big puzzlement to me," he said. "Once in a while I hear a tom-tom, but lots of our folks got them. I’se sure none of those people goes near that ole showboat."
Nancy mentioned the fact that perhaps some people were using a record player there.
"Maybe so," Uncle Rufus nodded. "But none of my people," he denied stoutly. "Maybe I do know somethin', though, that might help you. Last night when I was out paddlin' I stopped to listen to an ole owl. He's wisdom, you know, an’ I thought I might learn somethin' from him."
Uncle Rufus went on to say that a short distance from him he had heard two men speaking. He was sure from their accents that they were white men from the North.
"What they said was kind o’ queerlike. One said, 'I guess the old gal hasn't any pirate gold after all.' The other man said, ‘I’m goin' to keep at her till I find out'!"
Uncle Rufus asked Nancy if she could figure out what they meant, but the young detective shook her head. "That's a hard one," she said. Then she asked, "Uncle Rufus, would it be possible for you to watch the showboat for a few nights? If you learn anything, come the Havers’ home and tell me."
The voodoo doctor smiled. "That will be easy detective work," he said, chuckling. "Is that all you want me to do, Miss Nancy?"
"That's all for now. And thank you very much."
She hurried back to the car and told the others what the old man was doing. "He's a great character in these parts," Donna Mae said. "It's said that Uncle Rufus has brought about a good many cures."
When the girls reached Sunnymead, George was waiting for them on the patio. Donna Mae went off to find Alex, and George gestured that she would like Nancy and Bess to follow her at once to the second floor.
"I wonder what's up," Nancy thought as she mounted the staircase.
George led the way into Nancy's bedroom and closed the door. "Well, I think I've really picked up a good clue," she said.
Excitedly George went on to say that she had spent almost an hour with Alex. "I got him to talk about New York, his travels and his education. He showed me a lot of pictures."
"But what's the clue?" Bess asked impatiently.
George looked intently at the two girls as she replied, "I think Alex Upgrove is a fake!"
"What!" Nancy and Bess exclaimed.
"I mean it," George went on. "In our talk I tried to trip him and I think I succeeded. He contradicted himself several times. I'm convinced he's either posing as Alex Upgrove from New York or else his name is Alex Upgrove, but he's claiming a position of wealth and social standing to which he isn't entitled."
George opened a bureau drawer and brought out a picture. "Much as I hate flattery, I used some of it on Alex and got him to let me borrow this picture." She made a wry face. "I think he believes I have a crush on him."
Nancy and Bess stifled giggles, then looked at the photograph. It showed a group of students at Oxford University.
George pointed to one in the rear row. "That's Alex Upgrove," she explained. "Is he the man who's going to marry Donna Mae or did he help himself to this picture of someone who looks very much like him?"
"Well, it certainly looks like him,” Bess said.
"Yes, it does," said Nancy. Then she snapped hen fingers. "I have an idea. You remember Mrs. Bartolome telling us that Mr. de la Verne is an Oxford graduate and has always kept up his interest in the university?"
"Yes," said George, "but Alex would have been at Oxford long after Mr. de la Verne. How could he identify the person in this picture?"
"I know it's a long shot," said Nancy. "But Mr. de la Verne may have other pictures or records of Oxford graduates. Let's go and see him, with the excuse that we're returning Mrs. Farwell's ornamental hairpin."
Nancy looked at her wrist watch. "If we hurry, girls, we can just make the trip before dinner. Come on!"
CHAPTER XIX
A Missing Suspect
TO AVOID meeting Alex or any of the Haver family, Nancy, Bess, and George slipped quietly down the back stairs and left the mansion. They hurried to their car and drove to Mrs. Farwell's home.
Nancy rang the bell and Mr. de la Verne opened the door. He bowed, then said:
"This is an unexpected pleasure. Please come in."
The girls stepped inside and Nancy introduced the elderly man to her friends. After greeting them, he indicated a small living room filled with beautiful antique mahogany furniture. When they were seated, Nancy drew the jeweled hairpin from her purse.
"I came to return this," she said.
Henry de la Verne hesitated a moment, then arose. "My sister is not too well today, but I will see if she is able to join us."
He was gone fully five minutes, but at last returned with Mrs. Farwell. Though her face was lined and her eyes slightly dulled because of her failing health, she was still a very pretty woman. The girls were touched by the affectionate and chivalrous manner with which her brother treated her. The callers arose and he introduced them. Mrs. Farwell nodded her head graciously as each girl was named.
“I found one of your valued possessions, Mrs. Farwell,” said Nancy. “I’m so happy to be able to return it to you.”
Louvina Farwell took the proffered hairpin and stared at it for several seconds. Then she stood up very straight, gave a little toss of her head, and looked directly at the girl detective. To Nancy’s astonishment, the woman’s eyes indicated she was perfectly rational.
“Do sit down again, my dears,” urged Mrs. Farwell. After her brother had helped seat her in a chair, the woman asked, “And where did you find my missing heirloom, Nancy?”
“On the old showboat, the River Princess. ”
“How very odd!” Louvina remarked. “I feel so sorry about the River Princess. Henry and I had such wonderful times on it when we were children. It is too bad that storm and flood ruined it.”
“Would you like to see the River Princess restored and moved out of the bayou?” George asked.
“Indeed I would,” Mrs. Farwell replied promptly. “And I would like to see performances given on it again.” She turned to her brother. “Wouldn’t it be fun, Henry, to go to one of those old-time shows again?”
“Yes, it would,” Henry replied. He gave Nancy a surprised glance, as if to say, “I was all wrong about the effect on my sister of the restoration of the River Princess. ”
Nancy, encouraged by the friendly trend of the conversation, asked impulsively, “Before your grandfather owned the showboat, did pirates ever pilot her?”
“Oh, no,” Henry answered quickly. Then, as his sister started to speak, he tried to switch to another topic of discussion.
But Louvina would not be diverted from the pirate story. She laughed as if in recollection and her eyes lost some of their dimness. She said, “Nancy, my dear, no pirate ever owned the River Princess. But there was a story that several of them hid a chest of gold coins under a bulkhead of the showboat during the time my grandfather owned it. This happened when no one was aboard.”
"Oh, how exciting!" Bess burst out. "Did they return to get them?"
"Not that anyone ever knew," Mrs. Farwell replied. "As a matter of fact, some very disparaging remarks were made about my wonderful grandfather—people said that he was in league with the pirates."
"Why, how dreadful!" said Bess.
"It certainly was," Mr. de la Verne agreed. "Well, now that my sister has told you of our family skeleton, I’ll finish the story. I myself looked for that pirate gold many times before the River Princess was abandoned, but it never came to light."
Nancy was convinced now that at last she had discovered the reason for the showboat's being "haunted". At the present time, someone who had learned of the old story was trying to find the pirate gold—and did not intend to have anyone interfere with his endeavor!
"Just today," Nancy said aloud, "I asked Uncle Rufus to watch the River Princess at night and report to me anything strange he saw going on there. He overheard a remark in which I think you'll be interested."
The young detective told about the two men in the canoe and their mention of pirate gold.
“I’m sure they’ll never find it," said Henry de la Verne, "because the whole story probably was made up by some showboat rivals of my grandfather's."
Louvina backed up her brother in this theory. Then, suddenly, she said, "I am very tired. If the girls will excuse me, I think I'll go to my room and lie down."
"Oh, please do," said Nancy quickly. "But Mr. de la Verne, may we stay a little longer and talk to you? I want to ask you some questions about Oxford University."
"I shall be happy to answer them," the elderly man said with enthusiasm. "I'll be back in a few minutes." He assisted his sister from the room but returned shortly.
Briefly, Nancy told about Alex Upgrove, and that his engagement to Donna Mae Haver was to be announced at a ball the Havers were giving.
"Here is a picture of Alex taken at Oxford. I was wondering if you could find him in your directory of graduates."
The elderly man took the photograph. Then he ushered the visitors into an adjoining room which was lined with bookshelves, and pulled out several volumes. Presently he announced to the girls that an Alex Upgrove from New York City was indeed a graduate of Oxford University.
Mr. de la Verne then looked through a volume of pictures. This book was put back on the shelf, and he took down another. Presently he exclaimed:
"I've found what you're looking for!"
The girls eagerly crowded around him and looked at the group photograph. It was exactly like the one which George had borrowed from Alex Upgrove. But the face of the man who stood in the place indicated for Alex was not that of the man they knew at Sunnymead.
"George, you were right about Alex being a fake!" Bess cried out.
"This is very unfortunate," said Mr. de la Verne.
Nancy raised her head thoughtfully. As she stared out of a window, she was startled by a face framed in one of the panes.
Alex Upgrove!
When the young man realized that Nancy had caught him spying, he took to his heels and sprinted out of sight. Nancy alerted the others and the three girls dashed from the house after him. A few minutes later the roar of a car some distance away told them that he had escaped.
"I'll bet he'll never show up at Sunnymead again," George predicted.
"Well, that's fine with me," Bess declared. "And I'm glad for Donna Mae's sake that he's been found out. Maybe now she'll come to her senses and be her former self!"
They returned to the house and apologized to Mr. de la Verne for their hasty exit.
"I'm sorry you didn't catch up with that pretender," he said. "I will notify the university of what has happened. While you were gone, I studied the photograph you brought, under a magnifying glass. There has been a very clever photographic substitution."
"This Alex Upgrove, if that's his name," said George, "must be after big stakes to have gone to so much trouble.”
"I'll bet he's after the pirate gold," Bess ventured.
The girls thanked Mr. de la Verne for his help, then sad good-bye and hurried back towards Sunnymead.
"How in the world are we ever going to tell Donna Mae the truth?" Bess asked apprehensively.
"Maybe we won't have to," Nancy suggested. "She may find out about Alex herself!"
When the girls drove into the parking area of the Havers' estate, they gave gasps of surprise and delight. On the patio with Donna Mae were three boys—tall, athletic, brown-eyed Ned Nickerson; blond, heavy-set Hurt Eddleton, and rangy-built, green-eyed Dave Evans. The girls hurried to greet them.
"We convinced the university we ought to look over the football situation down here for next year," Ned said with a laugh after greetings were over.
"And it happened to coincide with a mid-year vacation," Burt grinned.
In the conversation which followed, Nancy noticed that Donna Mae was unusually charming and gracious. She exhibited such happiness that the other girls were sure she had heard nothing adverse about Alex Upgrove. And how they hated to tell her!
Suddenly Donna Mae announced, "Dinner will be served soon. We won't wait for Alex. He had to go out and said he might be detained."
The girls exchanged quick glances but made no comment. Excusing themselves, they hurried upstairs to change into flowered bouffant dresses.
"For the sake of Ned, Burt, and Dave," said Nancy, as she and the others started downstairs, "I suggest that we be as gay as possible during dinner. If Alex doesn't show up later on, then we'll have to tell Donna Mae what we've learned about him."
Though at times it was difficult for the three girls to play their lighthearted parts, they succeeded very well. But later, on the terrace, Colonel and Mrs. Haver brought up the subject of Alex.
"Where did he go?" they asked their daughter.
Donna Mae said she did not know. Another hour went by. Still he did not come.
Nancy took Ned aside and whispered the news about Alex. "If you don't mind, I'd like to tell the Havers privately what I know."
Ned chuckled. "I can take a hint," he said, grinning. "I might have known you'd have a big mystery to solve. Okay, we fellows will hit the sack."
Presently he and his friends excused themselves and went upstairs. Donna Mae fidgeted, then said worriedly, "I can't understand where Alex is."
Nancy decided not to wait any longer in revealing what she had discovered. She walked over to Donna Mae and her parents. "I'm afraid that Alex is not coming back," she said gently. "Bess and George and I learned earlier this evening that he has been misrepresenting his background. He was there when we found it out and he ran away."
"What do you mean?" Donna Mae asked quickly.
Nancy told about the substitution in the photograph. Colonel Haver's jaw set firmly. Donna Mae went white and the others thought she was going to faint. But suddenly she began to cry.
“That d—dreadful, that deceiving, that horrid man!" she burst out.
Mrs. Haver, who was seated beside Donna Mae, put an arm round her daughter. "This is hard, I know, dear, but think of the disgrace and unhappiness for you if you had married a person like that. We have probably been spared a great deal of embarrassment, too."
Her mother's words made little impression on Donna Mae. She could think of nothing but the overwhelming chagrin of the moment. As she alternately wept and laughed hysterically, her father asked Nancy if she thought Alex was in any way connected with the mystery of the showboat.
"I'm afraid that he is," the young detective replied. "In fact, I am convinced Alex is in league with the man who stole my car. And that many other strange things which happened were meant to keep me from coming here to solve the mystery."
"But what is the mystery?" Colonel Haver asked.
Nancy told him of the rumor about pirate gold being hidden on the River Princess. The Havers were amazed to hear this. They eagerly discussed the possibility of the ancient coins being on the showboat. Donna Mae momentarily forgot her troubles and even joined in the conversation.
But as the group started for bed, she again broke into another fit of hysteria. Nancy went to Donna Mae's room with her and tried to soothe the agitated girl.
To the young detective's wonder, Donna Mae revealed a new worry. "Nancy, I've just realized what a dreadful thing I've done to Charles, and he didn't deserve it."
Although Nancy felt sorry for the girl, and was sure Donna Mae still loved Charles, she was a little irked at her fickleness. Nevertheless, she endeavored to comfort Donna Mae, who finally fell asleep.
The next morning Donna Mae appeared quite composed. She talked very little during breakfast, but later asked the three girls to come to her room. To their surprise and relief, Donna Mae seemed to have a more mature attitude.
“I’ve been very stupid," she said. “All this has taught me a good lesson. I know now that I still love Charles—and have all the time. I shan't go running after him. But if he'll take me back, I'll be very happy."
The girls had no chance to comment, for just then, Mammy Matilda knocked on the door to say that Captain Runcie, the towboat owner, was downstairs. "Colonel Haver would like you all to come and talk with him."
When they reached the first floor, Colonel Haver said, "Nancy, you and Bess and George have done such a wonderful job so far in solving the Sunnymead mystery, I want you to take over the final part. I suggest that you three and Ned, Burt, and Dave go with Captain Runcie to the River Princess. He will see what he can do about moving it."
The girls were delighted with this arrangement and three canoes were brought to the dock. Nancy and Ned stepped into the first craft and took Captain Runcie with them. When the group reached the River Princess, the towboat owner said he would remain outside and make some calculations.
The three girls began showing their escorts round the showboat. Ned, poking into various crannies with his flashlight, said laughingly, "I'm not going to give up until I find that pirate treasure."
In their search he and Nancy finally reached the hold of the old vessel. Walking on the dry part, they beamed the light back and forth.
Suddenly Nancy stooped down and said, "Ned, here's something interesting I missed before. They may be a clue." She pointed to a series of knotholes on one of the wide boards in the center of the deck.
"But this isn't under a bulkhead, as the legend said," Ned objected.
Nancy smiled. "Those pirates were clever. Do you realize we're standing under a bulkhead of the theatre on the upper deck? Ned, let's try lifting up this board."
"Okay. But with what?" Ned asked, looking about.
Not far away Nancy spotted a crowbar which she had seen Charles use the day she had visited the boat the first time. Ned hurried to pick it up, then started to pry up the section of floor.
Nancy waited breathlessly. Would her hunch pay off? Suddenly, with a ripping sound, the floorboard came up.
"Oh!" she exclaimed excitedly.
Beneath the board was another board, old and rotted, and below this, a metal chest!
Nancy and Ned, after a few tugs, lifted the lid, revealing a mass of gold coins!
"We've found it! We've found it!" Ned cried out. He ran his hand through the coins. "There must be fifty thousand dollars' worth!”
As he and Nancy did a little dance together to express their glee, they were completely unaware of two sinister figures who suddenly arose from behind a pile of crates and rags nearby. The two men held stout sticks in their hands. Quietly and stealthily they leaped towards the couple and brought the sticks down full force on their heads. Nancy and Ned slumped to the deck.
Above, Bess and Dave were just completing a tour of the first deck. A few minutes later they came towards the entrance to the hold. Bess suddenly yelled in alarm:
"Smoke's coming from the hold. The showboat's on fire! Nancy and Ned are down there!"
CHAPTER XX
A Masquerader Unmasked
FEARFUL that Nancy and Ned were trapped in the hold of the River Princess, Bess cried out their names in terror. There was no answer.
"We must do something!" the girl wailed.
At this instant George and Burt arrived. Quickly Bess and Dave told them of their fears for Nancy and Ned. The two boys tied handkerchiefs over their noses and mouths, turned on their flashlights, and rushed down the steps. Reaching the smoke-filled hold, Burt and Dave peered round frantically.
"There they are—over there!" Burt pointed. Nancy and Ned lay on the floor, unconscious. Quickly the two boys swung the prostrate forms over their shoulders, covered Nancy's and Ned's mouths and noses with their hands, and dashed up the steps. The injured couple were laid on the deck.
Bess knelt down beside them. "See those lumps on their heads! They've been hit."
As George and Bess began to try reviving their friends, Burt, Dave, and Captain Runcie grabbed fire buckets still hanging on the deck and rushed down into the hold.
“Oh, do be careful!" Bess called after them.
In a few minutes Nancy and Ned regained consciousness. Both sat up and asked groggily, "What happened?"
Bess said someone must have knocked them out in the hold. "And there's a fire down there, too. Do you know anything about it?"
"We didn't see any fire," Ned replied.
Down in the hold, Captain Runcie and his two companions were busily sloshing water from the listed side of the deck on to the burning section. In a short time they had the flames out. When they returned, Dave asked Nancy and Ned how they felt. Reassured they would be all right, he asked if the couple had seen anyone in the hold.