The Clue of the Broken Locket by Carolyn Keene Page B

stay, but out of consideration for Cecily, she agreed. They turned the canoe around and began to paddle back toward the cottage. Nancy kept looking over her shoulder, hoping the apparition would appear. Cecily, on the other hand, was wishing just as hard that it would not. The lake remained dark.
    When they reached the cottage dock, Nancy glanced up. She glimpsed a man’s shadowy figure moving off among the trees around the cabin.
    “The prowler!” Nancy thought.

    Nancy dashed after the prowler
    She leaped from the canoe and made a wild dash after the man. But he began running too. There was enough light from the cottage and the rising moon to help Nancy keep track of the fleeing man. But he had too much of a head start and soon she lost sight of him completely.
    “He certainly acted guilty,” Nancy told herself.
    Cecily had beached the canoe and was carrying the paddles to the cottage. Nancy met her. “What in the world made you dash off?” Cecily asked.
    When Nancy explained, Cecily’s eyelids flickered worriedly. She was silent as the two girls went inside. Nancy told Bess and George of her fruitless chase. Cecily kept clasping and unclasping her hands nervously. Nancy was about to try reassuring her when suddenly Satin aroused from a half-sleeping posture, arched his back, and stared into the next room, which was dark.
    “What does he see?” Bess whispered.
    Without warning, the cat shot into the room. There was a slight squeak and in a few seconds Satin emerged triumphantly, a mouse in his mouth! He placed it at Bess’s feet.
    “Oh, how horrible!” Bess cried out. “Take that thing away!”
    Satin, as if he understood, carried the mouse back into the dark room. Unexpectedly Cecily smiled. “He’s having himself a feast, I suppose.”
    George said, “I wish Satin had pounced on that vandal and sunk his teeth into the fellow!”
    The girls laughed, then Cecily lapsed into her unhappy mood. A few minutes later she arose. “I just can’t stand not seeing or talking to Niko any longer! If you’ll drive me to town, I’ll catch the late bus for Baltimore, and maybe see the last part of his performance.”
    She consulted her watch and discovered that it would be nip and tuck as to whether she could make the bus in time. Nancy agreed to try. As Cecily tossed a few things into her suitcase, Bess and George declared that Nancy should not go alone.
    “Your father wouldn’t like it one bit,” said George.
    “We’re going with you,” Bess insisted, “vandal or no vandal.”
    Nancy hugged the cousins. “I’m sure it isn’t necessary, but I love you both for it.”
    Cecily just managed to make the bus and everyone heaved a sigh of relief. Next, Nancy drove to the local police headquarters and went inside. Chief Stovall, a friendly, husky man, was on duty. She introduced herself and gave a quick report on the cottage entry. The chief listened attentively.
    “We have a very limited force here, Miss Drew,” he said. “But we’ll do our best to nab the prowler. Offhand, I can’t think of anyone I’d suspect among our villagers.”
    Nancy’s thoughts flashed to the Driscolls—but she had no proof of her suspicions about them, and said nothing. She mentioned having seen the phantom launch.
    Chief Stovall grinned. “I’ve heard those reports, and I certainly don’t disbelieve you, Miss Drew. I’ve been out to the lake several evenings, for that purpose. But until I see it for myself, there is nothing I can do.”
    “I understand.” Nancy smiled, and said good night. She, Bess, and George returned to the cottage, wondering in what kind of condition they would find it. Fortunately, no one had broken in, and the three friends settled down to read and write letters.
    Satin, too, had curled up by the fire, which was now burning brightly. But suddenly he stood up and stared at the outside door.
    George grinned. “Bess, maybe he’s going to get you another mouse.”
    But her grin faded as the silence