The Secret in the Old Attic by Carolyn Keene Page B

than a girl I know who has very few clothes. Do you suppose your mother would be willing to pass on a few of Jean’s clothes that she has outgrown?” Nancy asked.
    “I’ll ask her,” Diane offered with a shrug. “Come in.”
    The invitation delighted Nancy. This was her chance to see what kind of art objects the Dights favored. Perhaps they would be interested in buying some of Mr. March’s antiques. If she could obtain something to sell them, she might have a reason for calling on Mr. Dight at his office.
    Left alone, Nancy gazed with interest about the luxuriously furnished living room. Against one wall stood a mahogany case with glass shelves. On them was an array of beautiful, unusual old bottles.
    “The very thing!” Nancy thought in delight.
    She went over to examine the collection. One had the face of George Washington etched in it, another that of Dolly Madison. As Nancy stood gazing at a lovely old blue perfume bottle, Diane came downstairs.
    “There you are,” she said, tossing a heap of garments onto a sofa. “Mother says to take them all if you like.”
    Nancy thanked her for the clothing, and then expressed interest in the bottle collection.
    “Oh, that’s Mother’s hobby,” Diane replied indifferently. “She spends a great deal of her time at antique stores trying to pick up bargains. She’d rather have an old bottle than something new.”
    “Many old things are far prettier than new ones,” Nancy remarked.
    “I don’t think so. And especially bottles. Anyway, it’s my opinion one collector in the family is enough.”
    Nancy was tempted to make a retort, but wisely kept still. Diane certainly was a disrespectful and conceited daughter.
    “Thank you for the dresses,” she said, gathering them up. “Little Susan will be delighted to have them.”
    From the Dight home Nancy drove directly to Pleasant Hedges. She had seen some old bottles in the attic there!
    Nancy showed Mr. March the dresses she had obtained for Susan. They were very pretty, and gave no evidence of having been worn.
    “Mrs. Dight was good to send my granddaughter such fine clothes,” he said gratefully, “but I can’t accept charity.”
    “That isn’t necessary.”
    “You mean there’s some way I can show my appreciation?” he asked.
    “In your attic are several nice old bottles. They’re standing way back under the eaves,” Nancy told him. “Mrs. Dight collects bottles. I’ll see that she gets one, if you like, in return for these dresses.”
    “Do that. I remember the bottles, now that you speak of them.”
    “May I sell some of them?” Nancy asked.
    “Yes, yes. Every penny helps. You might give the blue flowered one to Mrs. Dight.”
    Excited that her scheme had worked so far, Nancy went to the attic. Though the sun was pouring in through the one small window, she had to light a candle in order to look in the far corners of the room.
    Finally she came to the bottles. There were four which were fairly large in size and several smaller ones. All were exquisite.
    Nancy lifted up the bottles one by one. The color of the glass indicated that they were old and valuable.
    “This must be the blue one Mr. March spoke about!” she said, examining the bottle. “It’s beautiful. Mrs. Dight is lucky to get this in exchange for a few dresses!”
    Placing all the glassware in a box, she started for the stairway.
    “Oh, I hope my plan works!” She sighed. “I can accomplish two missions if all goes well!”
    With Effie’s help Nancy washed each bottle until it shone.
    “What are you going to do with these?” the maid asked.
    “Try to sell them to the husband of a woman who collects old bottles,” Nancy said.
    She spent most of the afternoon reading and talking to Susan. After she had said good-by to Mr. March and his granddaughter, Nancy went to pick up the old bottles in the kitchen.
    “You’re coming back tonight?” Effie asked fearfully. “I don’t feel well enough to stay here without you, what