Тайна загадочной лестницы [with w_cat]

[1106] "I don't know. Honest I don't," Greenman insisted. "Part of the plan was for somebody to follow the taxi. After a while Mr. Drew was to be given a whiff of somethin'. It didn't have no smell. That's why our taxi driver didn't catch on. And it didn't knock the rest of us out, 'cause you have to put the stuff right under a fellow's nose to make it work."

[1107] "And the person who was following in a car and took my father away, who is he?"

[1108] "I don't know," the prisoner answered, and Nancy felt that he was telling the truth.

[1109] "Did you get any money for doing this?" Nancy asked him.

[1110] "A little. Not as much as it was worth, especially if I have to go to prison. The guy who paid us for our work was the one in the car who took your father away."

[1111] "Will you describe him?" Nancy requested.

[1112] "Sure. Hope the police catch him soon. He's in his early fifties—short and heavy-set, pale, and has kind of watery blue eyes."

[1113] Nancy asked the prisoner if he would dictate the same confession for the police and the man nodded. "And I'm awful sorry I caused all this worry, miss. I hope you find your father soon and I wish I could help you more. I guess I am a coward. I'm too scared to tell the name of the guy who talked me into this whole thing. He's really a bad actor—no tellin’ what'd happen to me if I gave his name."

[1114] The young sleuth felt that she had obtained all the information she possibly could from the man. She went back to Captain Rossland, who for the second time was amazed by the girl's success. He called a stenographer. Then he said good-by to Nancy and Helen and went off toward Greenman's cell.

[1115] On the way back to Twin Elms, Helen congratulated her friend. "Now that one of the kidnapers has been caught, I'm sure that your father will be found soon, Nancy. Who do you suppose the man was who took your father from Greenman and his friend?"

[1116] Nancy looked puzzled, then answered, "We know from his description that he wasn't Gomber. But, Helen, a hunch of mine is growing stronger all the time that he's back of this whole thing. And putting two and two together, I believe it was Willie Wharton who drove that car.

"And I also believe Wharton's the one who's been playing ghost, using masks at times—like the gorilla and the unshaven, long-haired man.

"Somehow he gets into the mansion and listens to conversations. He heard that I was going to be asked to solve the mystery at Twin Elms and told Comber. That's why Gomber came to our home and tried to keep me from coming here by saying I should stick close to Dad."

[1117] "That's right," said Helen. "And when he found that didn't work, he had Willie and Greenman and that other man kidnap your dad. He figured it would surely get you away from Twin Elms. He wanted to scare Miss Flora into selling the property, and he thought if you were around you might dissuade her."

[1118] "But in that I didn't succeed," said Nancy a bit forlornly. "Besides, they knew Dad could stop those greedy land owners from forcing the railroad to pay them more for their property. That's why I'm sure Gomber and Wharton won't release him until after they get what they want."

[1119] Helen laid a hand on Nancy's shoulder. "I'm so terribly sorry about this. What can we do next?"

[1120] "Somehow I have a feeling, Helen," her friend replied, "that you and I are going to find Willie Wharton before very long. And if we do, and I find out he really signed that contract of sale, I want certain people to be around."

[1121] "Who?" Helen asked, puzzled.

[1122] "Mr. Barradale, the lawyer, and Mr. Watson the notary public."

[1123] The young sleuth put her thought into action. Knowing that Monday was the deadline set by the railroad, she determined to do her utmost before that time to solve the complicated mystery. Back at Twin Elms, Nancy went to the telephone and put in a call to Mr. Barradale's office. She did not dare mention Comber's or Willie Wharton's name for fear one or the other of them might be listening. She merely asked the young lawyer if he could possibly come to Cliffwood and bring with him whatever he felt was necessary for him to win his case.

[1124] "I think I understand what you really mean to say," he replied. "I take it you can't talk freely. Is that correct?"

"Yes."

[1125] "Then I'll ask the questions. You want me to come to the address that you gave us the other day?"

"Yes. About noon."

[1126] "And you'd like me to bring along the contract of sale with Willie Wharton's signature?"

[1127] "Yes. That will be fine." Nancy thanked him and hung up.

[1128] Turning from the telephone, she went to find Helen and said, "There's still lots of daylight. Even though we can't get inside Riverview Manor, we can hunt through the outbuildings over there for the entrance to an underground passage to this house."