Password to Larkspur Lane by Carolyn Keene Page B

land in what is now Missouri. I presume their descendants still live in or near St. Louis, although I have no records to prove that.
    Sincerely yours,
Abelard de Gotha”
    “Does that help you in any way?” Mr. Stone asked.
    “Indeed it does,” Nancy replied. “I’ll try to reach any Eldridges in St. Louis.”
    Nancy thanked the jeweler and hurried back to the car. Mrs. Corning joined her a few minutes later. After new plates had been put on the car, Nancy headed for the lake. When they reached it, she went upstairs to leave her purse. As she opened the bedroom door, there was a cry of:
    “Hi!” Bess and George rushed across the room and hugged her.
    “Oh, Nancy, I’m so glad to see you!” Bess exclaimed.
    George, with an affectionate grin, added, “You’d think we’d been separated for two years instead of two weeks!”
    Bess was blond, pretty, and somewhat plump. Her cousin George, a brunette with a short hair-cut and classic features, gave every indication of being a fine athlete.
    “Nancy, I’m just bursting to tell you something,” said Bess.
    “No!” George protested quickly. “You promised not to breathe a word.”
    Bess gave a great sigh. “I don’t know which is harder: to keep on a diet or keep in a secret.”
    Nancy laughed. “How long before you’ll tell me?”
    “This afternoon,” said George, “you’ll see for yourself.”
    “If I don’t wither from curiosity first,” Nancy said, chuckling.
    After lunch Mrs. Corning insisted that the girls sit on the beach to exchange news and take a swim. Though Nancy would have preferred working on the St. Louis lead, she put her plans aside to please her hostess.
    Presently the three visitors appeared in swim suits and beach coats. Nancy’s turquoise suit set off her smooth suntan perfectly, while Bess looked attractive in a butter-yellow one. George was a trim contrast in sea green.
    “How pretty you all are!” their hostess remarked.
    She led them down a back stairway, through the small utility room next to Morgan’s bedroom, and out to the gravel driveway.
    “There’s the way to the beach,” she said, showing them a footpath which led into the woods.
    As the three girls started down the path, George asked, “Where did you see the blue fire?”
    Nancy pointed across the slope. “Near that end of the house.”
    “I hope I don’t see it at all,” muttered Bess.
    Before long, they came out on a flat, narrow bit of shoreline a short distance from a dock. A little girl of five was playing on the edge of it, while two women sunned themselves in beach chairs above the waterfront.
    “Marie!” called one of the women. “Be careful!”
    Nancy and her friends sat down on the dock, enjoying the attractive scenery. A circling speedboat roared toward them. The girls realized that it was going to pass very close to the dock.
    Suddenly little Marie jumped up to wave. “Marie Eldridge!” cried the same woman. “Come here!”
    Nancy was startled to hear the name Eldridge, but before she could question the child, Marie lost her balance and toppled into the water. The woman screamed and her companion cried out:
    “The boat! It’ll hit her!”
    Nancy had already leaped to the end of the dock. Without hesitation she dived in after the child, directly in the path of the oncoming boat!

CHAPTER IX
    Surprises
    As Nancy hit the water the prow of the speedboat loomed overhead. Swiftly she put one arm around the floundering child, and placed the palm of her hand over Marie’s face. At the same time Nancy plunged below.
    Down, down, down! The little girl squirmed, but Nancy held her firmly. Looking up through the green water, she saw the black keel of the speedboat whiz past in a froth of bubbles.
    Instantly Nancy shot to the surface. Barely thirty seconds had elapsed but it seemed like an eternity. Sunlight dazzled her eyes as the strong arms of Bess and George reached down and lifted the child to the dock.
    “Marie!” Nancy panted. “Is she—is