written them? The paper appeared old, the ink
slightly faded.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if Walter Heath had
written this,” she told Hannah Gruen.
“I know how you might find out!” the house-
keeper said.
“How?”
“Walter Heath was a member of the River
Heights Historical Society before his death. I’m
sure the society has specimens of his handwrit-
ing.”
“Hannah, you’re a genius!” Nancy cried, giv-
ing the woman a hug. “I’m off to the Historical
Society this very minute!”
Luck was with the young detective. On labels,
books, and pieces of furniture which Walter
Heath had given to the organization’s museum
she found several samples of the deceased estate
owner’s handwriting.
“It’s the same as that in the note!” Nancy ob-
served excitedly. “Now, if only I can find the miss-
ing part of the message 1 But Daniel Hector may
have the rest!”
Nancy decided to seek her father’s aid once
more and asked him to talk to the lawyer about
the Heath case. Carson Drew did, and then re-
ported to his daughter. “Hector certainly was
reluctant to discuss the case.”
“Didn’t he tell you anything?” Nancy asked.
“Nothing worth mentioning. As soon as I spoke
of Heath Castle and the button factory, he dosed
up as tight as Salty’s clams!”
“Did you mention Juliana’s name?”
“Yes. Mr. Hector stressed that he was still
searching for her.”
The Heath Castle mystery was no nearer a solu-
tion than before. Eager as Nancy was to revisit
the estate that afternoon, she found it impossible.
Her father had made her promise not to go there
alone. Neither Bess nor George was free to ac-
company her until the next day.
The next day, after Sunday church services,
the three girls set out in Nancy’s car, carrying a
picnic lunch. On the way Nancy explained the
latest developments in the mystery. She added,
“Nothing must drive us away from the castle
grounds until we’ve investigated every nook and
corner!”
Soon the familiar ivy-covered front boundary
wall loomed ahead. Nancy parked beneath a cool
tunnel of overhanging trees. The car was well
hidden.
She and her friends got out and walked to the
rusty gate and peered between the bars. The
grounds seemed as deserted as ever, but suddenly
the girls heard dogs barking.
“Listen 1” Nancy exclaimed. An instant later
she added, “They’re inside the grounds!”
“And coming closer,” Bess said nervously.
“That settles it. We can’t possibly go in now!”
She wanted to return to the car, but George
and Nancy lingered, reluctant to leave. Soon they
glimpsed two large black-and-white hounds.
“Dangerous-looking brutes,” George com-
mented. “Evidently they’ve been left here on
guard.”
When the dogs saw the intruders they barked
louder than ever. One of them came to the gate,
growled fiercely at Nancy, and clawed the iron
bars with his front paws.
Instead of retreating, she spoke soothingly to
him. “Hello, old fellow. When did you come to
live here?”
To the amazement of Bess, the animal began to
wag his tail. Nancy reached a hand through the
gate and patted his head.
“Be careful!” Bess warned sharply.
The other dog had stopped barking and now
came forward, too. Nancy stroked his head.
“These dogs are not vicious,” she said. “Girls,
I’m sure we can explore the grounds safely.”
“I’m willing to try if you are,” George said.
Bess was afraid of the dogs but agreed to go.
“I’ll climb over first,” Nancy said. “If they
don’t attack me, you two follow.”
George and Bess watched uneasily as their
friend climbed the crumbling wall. On the ledge
she hesitated a moment. The dogs had set up a
loud barking again. Nancy realized that although
the animals had been friendly to her on the op-
posite side of the enclosure, there was no guaran-
tee they would let her enter the grounds.
“Don’t attempt it!” Bess called.
Nancy spoke gently but firmly to the hounds.
Then, taking a chance, she lowered herself gradu-
ally. One of the dogs leaped up to her. Nancy’s
heart began to beat wildly, but she showed no
fear.
“Easy, boy,” she murmured. To her relief, the
animal became friendly once more.
“It’s all right,” Nancy called to her friends, and