Nancy Drew Files – Case 22 – The Clue in the Crumbling Wall
Nancy Drew Files – Case 22 – The Clue in the Crumbling Wall
Contents
I An Urgent Request
II Heath Castle
III A Runaway Boat
IV The Haunted Walk
V Suspicious Figures
VI A Mysterious Explosion
VII A Puzzling Message
VIII Locked In!
IX Trap Door
X In Search of a Clue
XI A Warning
XII Secret Entrance
XIII TREASURE!
XIV Cinderella’s Slipper
XV Salty’s Plight
XVI News OF Juliana
XVII KiDNAPPED!
XVIII Tower Trouble
XIX Release and Capture
XX A Last Surprise
CHAPTER I
An Urgent Request
“Hurry, Nancy!” Hannah Gruen called anx-
iously. The Drews’ housekeeper held the front
door open as jagged lightning cut the sky.
Nancy raced madly toward the door, her red-
dish-blond hair flying in the wind. “Made it!” she
gasped, laughing, as great drops of rain pelted
the driveway.
The attractive, eighteen-year-old girl stepped
into the hall and stopped in surprise. Behind
Hannah stood a slender young policewoman in a
blue uniform.
“This is Lieutenant Masters, dear,” said Han-
nah. “She arrived just before your car turned into
the driveway.”
“I can’t stay long. Nancy,” the officer said, “so
I’ll come right to the point. Will you help solve a
mystery?” The woman’s dark eyes gazed into
Nancy’s steadily. “I’m sure you can do it.”
Nancy was amazed, but merely said, “I’d like
to hear about it. Won’t you come in and sit
down?” She led the officer into the living room.
Nancy’s zest for adventure came to her nat-
urally from her father, Carson Drew, a well-
known lawyer. While helping him, she had solved
her first case. The Secret of the Old Clock. Since
then she had been successful in finding the solu-
tions to several mysteries, the most recent one
The Secret in the Old Attic. By now Nancy had
an outstanding reputation, even with the police,
as an amateur sleuth.
“Chief McGinnis recommended that I ask
you,” Lieutenant Masters said, seating herself on
the sofa. “He told me you have great insight into
character.” The trim, dark-haired officer ex-
plained that she had just joined the River Heights
Police Department. “This case is related to one
of mine. I’m in charge of juvenile offenders.”
“Then your mystery involves a child?”
“Yes. A pretty little eight-year-old girl named
Joan Fenimore. She’s been in trouble with the
law and will be in more, I’m afraid, unless we can
find her aunt. Nancy, have you ever heard of
Juliana Johnson?”
“She was a dancer, wasn’t she?” Nancy asked.
“Yes. She disappeared ten years ago at the
height of her career.”
“And she’s Joan’s aunt?”
“Yes. Juliana must be found within the next
three weeks or lose an inheritance that a friend
willed to her. If we can find her, surely she’ll
help Joan and her mother and make a new way
of life for Joan.”
“Three weeks!” Nancy repeated. “That means
I haven’t a moment to lose!”
The lieutenant’s grave face broke into a smile.
“Then you’ll take the case?” she said. “I’m so
gladi” She glanced at her watch and rose quickly.
“I must go now. The rain has stopped. I was on
a call in this neighborhood and decided to drop
by on the chance you were at home. Could you
meet me at headquarters about three o’clock this
afternoon?”
“Certainly,” Nancy replied.
“Fine! I’ll tell you all about it then, and we’ll
go see Joan and her mother. By the way,” she
added when they reached the door, “do you know
Heath Castle, a big estate some miles outside of
town?”
“Yes, I do,” Nancy said. “I’ve seen it from the
river. It’s that spooky-looking place with those
stone towers and the high walls around it.”
“Find out all you can about the place,” Lieu-
tenant Masters said. “It’s Juliana’s inheritance.
And thank you. Nancy. Little Joan really needs
your help!”
After the policewoman had left. Nancy went
to the kitchen and told Hannah about the mys-
tery.
“Now you’re happy!” the kindly, middle-aged
woman said fondly. “You have a new easel I just
hope it won’t be dangerous.” Mrs. Gruen had
been with the family since the death of Mrs. Drew