The London Deception by Franklin W. Dixon Page A

“Mr. Paul, someone left this on the counter,” the clerk said, handing it to him. “It’s addressed to Mr. Kije.”
    â€œâ€Šâ€˜From an anonymous donor,’ ” Mr. Paul read the outside of the envelope aloud before opening it.
    As Joe walked beside him, Frank leaned over and whispered. “That’s a strange way to invest in a show.”
    Mr. Paul pulled a check from the envelope, then gasped. “It’s a bank check for three thousand pounds.”

7 The Anonymous Donor
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    â€œThree thousand pounds?” Frank said quietly to Joe. “Exactly how much Mr. Paul said he needed to save the show.”
    â€œWho did you say left this?” Mr. Paul asked the box office clerk.
    â€œI don’t know. I didn’t see anyone,” she replied, then returned to her post.
    â€œWell, boys,” Mr. Paul said, smiling genuinely, “maybe we’re not closed yet after all!”
    As the Hardys followed Mr. Paul into the theater and down the side aisle, Joe ran into Jennifer. Joe felt oddly embarrassed encountering his new friend, who had become a suspect since the last time he saw her.
    â€œWhere were you today, Joe?” Jennifer asked. “We haven’t had one disaster, it’s been dull as dirt.”
    â€œYou heard about the fire the night before last?” he asked.
    â€œHeard about it?” she replied. “I had the police knocking on my door at two o’clock in the morning.”
    â€œYou think someone stole the dressing room key from your chain?” Joe asked.
    â€œSomeone must have,” Jennifer replied, “but I don’t know how.”
    â€œHave you ever used the key?” Joe asked.
    Jennifer shook her head.
    â€œMaybe it was never on the chain.” Joe went on. “Who issued you your keys?”
    â€œMr. Jeffries,” she replied.
    Frank had stopped to listen and decided to try to provoke a reaction from the young technician. “What were you working on in here last night, Jennifer?”
    Jennifer wrinkled her forehead. “I wasn’t here,” she replied, puzzled. “And the crew knocked off about five-thirty.”
    Joe frowned at Frank. He knew his brother had tried to catch Jennifer off guard and let something slip, but Joe felt sure she wasn’t involved. “We heard someone in here using power tools at about eight last night.”
    â€œDon’t know, Joe,” Jennifer replied with a shrug. “I locked the place up when I left.”
    â€œJennifer, this concerns you, too,” Mr. Paul called from the stage, where he had assembled the cast and crew.
    â€œIf you’re dropping the ax on this show,” Emily said loudly to Mr. Paul, “can we get on with it?”
    As Jennifer started toward the stage, Joe held Frank back a moment. “Instead of questioning Jennifer, why aren’t we talking to Emily Anderson?”
    â€œI don’t see Ms. Anderson scaling ladders and escaping from rooftops,” Frank replied, watching the refined older woman elegantly pacing across the stage. “Besides, why would the star of a show try to sabotage it?”
    â€œI overheard her on the phone telling someone named Ian to stall someone named Schulander until she found out whether this show was being canceled,” Joe informed him.
    Frank raised an eyebrow. “That does sound suspicious.”
    Chris came running down the aisle on the other side of the theater. “Sorry I’m late!”
    â€œAll is forgiven today, Chris. An anonymous donor has given us new life,” Mr. Paul said, then turned to his stage manager. “Corey, if you would run the scene at the headmaster’s office with Emily and Chris, I need to deliver this check to Mr. Kije and get the deposit to the costumers.”
    â€œCan’t you just send someone?” Lista asked.
    â€œNo, this I need to do myself,” Mr. Paul replied, then hurried from the