The Clue In The Old Stagecoach Part 26

"I never heard that," Judd Hillary spoke up. "Why didn't somebody tell me?"

No one bothered to answer the man, but the captain said he had just had an FBI report on Ross Monteith, who used many aliases. Actually he was a confidence man who went with his wife to summer hotels looking for unwary victims.

"Monteith's work here was of a rather different kind, after he met Hillary and learned about the supposed ore," the officer added. "I daresay he had you hoodwinked, Hillary."

"I'll say he did, the skunk!" Judd Hillary burst out. "And he's the one who told me to get rid of Nancy Drew!"

"Let's hear your story, Monteith," the captain ordered.

The confidence man, beaten, said he had a Geiger counter in his cane and had been using it to try finding the valuable ore. "The only time it ever worked was right up at Camp Merriweather, but the clicking was caused by a big stone somebody rolled out of the garden into the woods there. It has traces of uranium in it, I think."

As the story of the Monteiths went on, Nancy and the others learned that the couple had overheard Nancy tell the other girls that Mrs. Strook had sent for her to solve a mystery. Ross and Audrey had followed them and eavesdropped. Hearing about the clue in the old stagecoach, they thought there might be a fortune hidden in it and were determined to obtain it before Nancy could. They were responsible for the hiring of the thugs, one an ex-seaman, to hijack Mrs. Pauling's stagecoach to search it, and to ransack the Strook home and tie up its owner.

Nancy asked if Ross had found anything in the envelope after using the sleeping gas. He admitted he had not. After a few more formalities, the prisoners were led away to be put in cells.

Bess gazed after them compa.s.sionately. "Oh, why can't people be honest?" she murmured.

As Nancy and her friends were leaving police headquarters, Art Warner walked in. "I have news for you," he said, smiling excitedly. "The cornerstone will be opened at four o'clock this afternoon. You'll be there of course. Do you think Mrs. Strook will be well enough to come?"

"I'm sure nothing could keep her away," Nancy replied. "We'll drive right to her house and tell her."

Before leaving, the young sleuth told about the capture of the Monteiths and the others, and gave him a sketchy account of their confessions.

"So all the mysteries are solved except what's in that cornerstone," Art Warner said. "Four o'clock can't come soon enough for me."

Nancy and her friends were very prompt for the ceremony. They had stopped for Mrs. Strook, who wore a very pretty pale-blue dress and matching hat. The Zuckers had been notified and were there to add their compliments.

Marjory whispered happily to Nancy, "My husband has secured a nice outdoor job with Camp Merriweather. They're going to build a new addition to the lodge."

"Oh, I'm so glad to hear that!" said Nancy.

At the edge of the crowd she could see John O'Brien and waved him to come forward. "You had a big hand in solving this mystery," she whispered to him, and he grinned. Mrs. Pauling, too, was present and congratulated Nancy warmly.

At last the mayor stepped forward. He gave the a.s.sembled audience a short resume of AbnerLangstreet's life, then read the letter.

"I wish he'd get busy and open that cornerstone," George whispered impatiently to Nancy and Bess.

Finally the moment for which they had been waiting arrived. A workman chipped out the masonry around the large stone on which were the words:ERECTED A.D. 1851

After the use of a crowbar, and much tugging, he and two other workmen lifted the cornerstone out and set it on the ground. Behind it was a small metal box. The mayor pulled this out, and as a hush fell over the crowd, he raised the lid and took out an envelope.

"This says," he told the waiting group, " 'ToFrancisville from AbnerLangstreet.' "

No one spoke as the mayor opened the envelope and put his hand inside. When it came out he was holding five blocks of four stamps each.

Mrs. Strook, standing close by, gave a gasp. "Why, these are Benjamin Franklin stamps of 1851 with the gum still on them! They're worth a fortune!" she exclaimed. "One stamp like these will bring $7,500. That would mean each block can be sold for at least thirty thousand dollars!"

A cry of astonishment went up from the crowd. Then Art Warner spoke up. "Why, they would bring enough money, when added to what Francisville can raise, to build a fine new school for our town!"

"That's right," the mayor agreed, and the other officials bobbed their heads. None of them could believe the town's good fortune.

There were tears in Mrs. Strook's eyes. "Bless my Great-uncle Abner!" she said. "There were times when I doubted his story. But Nancy Drew, here, never lost faith. All the credit for solving the mystery goes to her."

The town officials were loud in their praise of the young sleuth and her friends. As Nancy smiled she put an arm around Mrs. Strook. "This is the person who started the whole thing," she said. "She should have the credit."

The mayor said he agreed. "We must have a special celebration as soon as the old stagecoach is restored," he said. "Anybody have a suggestion as to what we might do?"

"I have!" John O'Brien spoke up, stepping forward. He told about how Nancy and her friends had dressed in costume and been photographed in the old stagecoach at Bridgeford. "I'd like to see them do the same thing here in Francisville, but make it part of a parade with real horses."

The crowd cheered and applauded, giving their approval to the idea. Nancy thanked everyone but said, "I think the pa.s.sengers in the old stagecoach should be people who live in your town."

"No," said the mayor quickly. "You shall have the honor." Then he raised his hand over her head. "Nancy Drew, detective, is hereby proclaimed an honorary citizen of Francisville because of the fine work she has done for our town!"

The response was thunderous but Nancy hardly heard it. She was reflecting on how well everything had turned out for Francisville. For a brief moment she wondered whether her next mystery would be as much of a challenge. Although she had no way of knowing, The Secret of the Fire Dragon was to prove just as baffling and exciting.

When the applause had died down, Bess whispered, "You see, George, there was something to the clue in the old stagecoach. You lost your wager. Now you owe Nancy and me each a hand-knit sweater!"

George frowned, then said, "All right. This adventure was worth itl"

end.