(#24) The Clue in the Old Album Read Free

background, for her parents did not live with the tribe and never told her, Naturally, I never have breathed the truth.
    “My granddaughter is very headstrong. She doesn’t study in school, and runs off whenever it suits her fancy. If I leave her with adults or other children, she disgraces me by the things she says and does.”
    “Perhaps if you took Rose away for a year,” Nancy suggested, but Mrs. Struthers shook her head.
    “We did travel abroad for many months, but that only seemed to arouse wanderlust and a desire for freedom in her. Personally I enjoy traveling, and it gives me an opportunity to collect dolls. This means a great deal to me. I have been searching for one particular doll. Now I must stop, but I want you to continue the search. You will be given money to do it. I shall not be satisfied until I find the doll.”
    “Is it a rare one?” Nancy asked, intrigued by the assignment.
    “Yes, the doll is connected with Rose’s past. If I tell you my secret, you must never repeat it to her.”
    Nancy and George said they would respect the woman’s wishes.
    “When my beloved daughter lay on her deathbed, she talked half-deliriously about a doll. Almost her last words were, ‘The doll! It’s gone! Oh, Mother, you must find it for Rose.”’
    “What did she mean?” George asked.
    “I tried to find out, but Enid was too ill. I thought she said, ‘Important. Very important. Clue—’ ”
    At this instant a piercing shriek filled the air. Nancy was on her feet immediately and ran outside in the direction of the sound. George and Mrs. Struthers followed.
    A car was driving away from the house with Rose half in, half out, of one of the open back doors. She was struggling with a woman.

CHAPTER III
    Nancy’s Assignment
    “NANCY!” George cried. “Mrs. Struthers has fainted!”
    “Take care of her,” Nancy directed. “I’m going after Rose.”
    The young detective dashed to her car and hopped inside. Before she could start the motor, Rose had fallen to the side of the road. Nancy jumped out of the vehicle and raced to her.
    “Are you hurt?” she asked anxiously, picking Rose up. “What happened?”
    The girl clutched Nancy tightly and seemed more frightened than harmed. “I’m—all—right, I guess, but I don’t ever w-want to see those awawful people again.” She sobbed hysterically.
    Nancy realized that the child was so overwrought that it would be hard to get a clear account from her of what had happened. “Had you ever seen them before?” she asked.
    “N-no, they just stopped in front of the house and asked about Gran’s d-dolls. I told them to come in, but they said no, we had callers.”
    “Then what happened?”
    “The woman said it would be better if I brought out one of the rare dolls, so I d-did. When I held it up to show her, she grabbed it. I tried to get it back, but just then the man started the car, and I was half in it!” She shuddered.
    “There, there, Rose, you’re all right now,” Nancy soothed her, “although you did have quite a fall. Try to describe the people.”
    “They were real mean-looking, and the woman had funny red hair. I never thought they’d steal Gran’s doll.”
    “Which doll was it?” Nancy asked.
    “The one on the music box, holding the fan,” Rose said, as Nancy led her back to the house.
    Mrs. Struthers had revived and was relieved that her granddaughter was safe. “Oh, my dear child!” she exclaimed and hugged Rose. “Are you all right?”
    “I’ll be okay in a jiff, Gran,” Rose told her, wriggling out of the embrace.
    “What happened?” Mrs. Struthers asked. After Nancy had related Rose’s story, the woman said,
    “Thank goodness you girls were here.”
    Although Mrs. Struthers was concerned over losing one of her precious dolls, she protested when Nancy suggested notifying the police. “I wish to avoid publicity. I’d prefer having you help me, Nancy. If you’ll come tomorrow, I’ll tell you the rest of my