"Keene, Carolyn - Nancy Drew 022 - The Clue in the Crumbling Wall" - читать интересную книгу автора (Keene Carolyn)

"No, no."
"I wish you'd tell Nancy Drew about your sis-
ter," Lieutenant Masters urged. "Nancy's a detec-
tive and will try to find out what happened to
Juliana."
"You really will?" Mrs. Fenimore looked at the
girl hopefully. "You see, Julie went away by her-
self for a month's rest and never was heard of
again."
"Have you any idea at all where she may have
gone?" Nancy asked. "Do you think she disap-
peared deliberately?"
"No. I can't believe that, and I keep telling
Joan I'm sure her aunt will come home someday."
Mrs. Fenimore explained that the dancer had
been engaged to a wealthy manufacturer named
Walter Heath.
"Five years after her mysterious disappearance,
he died and left Heath Castle to Juliana. He tried
to trace her before his death but was unsuccessful.
There's a provision in his will which stipulates
that it Juliana does not claim his estate within five
years, it is to be sold and the money given to
charities he specified. The time is almost up."
After a pause Mrs. Fenimore went on, "The
grounds of Heath Castle were beautiful once,
with walled gardens and sunken pools. Now I'm
told it looks like an overgrown jungle, full of
weeds. Nevertheless, I am hoping Julie will be
found and can come to claim the castle."
The story deeply interested Nancy. She could
hardly wait to begin the search for the missing
dancer. She was also eager to visit Heath Castle!
She mentioned this to Mrs. Fenimore.
The woman smiled. "I'll lend you a key to the
front door that Walter left with me to give to
Julie. Joan dear, bring my jewel case here."
The little girl hurried off to get it. In a few
moments she returned with the box. Her mother
took the key from inside and handed it to Nancy.
"I wish you luck," Mrs. Fenimore said.
Before Nancy and Lieutenant Masters left the
house, they helped Joan prepare supper for her-
self and her mother. Wishing to spare Mrs. Feni-
more any further worry, they refrained from dis-
cussing the child's thieving instincts in depth.
As they drove away. Nancy remarked, "It's pos-
sible Juliana met with foul play."
"Yes," said Lieutenant Masters. "If that's true,
you may find yourself up against a dangerous ad-