The Sign of the Twisted Candles by Carolyn Keene Page B

old piece. Dainty dancing figures moved around the top. Nancy was about to lift the music box from its hiding place when there was a knock on the door. Instantly she replaced everything and hurried to open it.
    Carol stood there. She whispered, “They’re home! You’d better scoot!”
    “You’re right. Listen, Carol. Tell Mr. Sidney I found a gorgeous music box but didn’t have time to take it to him.”
    “How marvelous! It’ll make him very happy.”
    The two girls rushed down the stairs. Carol ran to the kitchen, while Nancy dashed out the front door. No one was in sight and she drove off quickly.
    It was not until she reached home that Nancy recalled Bess’s rebuff. Despite the exciting story she had to tell at dinner about her afternoon’s search, the diamond bracelet, and the music box, the young sleuth became glum and did not eat much.
    “What’s happened to your appetite?” Hannah Gruen asked her.
    “Nothing.”
    Mr. Drew regarded her thoughtfully. “Now then, partner!” he said, rising from the table and putting an arm about his daughter’s shoulders. “Out with it! Something’s bothering you.”
    “Oh dear! You always know, don’t you?” Nancy said with a pensive smile. “Dad, for some reason connected with Asa Sidney’s case, George and Bess are angry with me. George won’t speak to me at all, and Bess snubbed me this afternoon.”

    The panel with the curved candle
dropped into her hand!
    Nancy’s lip quivered at the memory.
    “Hm!” the lawyer said. “That’s too bad.” He frowned. “Some people are hard to understand. Why should the Marvins and Faynes poison the minds of their daughters with a family feud so old it concerns none of them? It’s pitiful. I don’t know how to help you, Nancy. You’ll have to accept the situation, I’m afraid, and trust that time will set matters straight.”
    “I suppose,” said Nancy, “that both sides are suspicious of you for being Asa Sidney’s counsel, and for that reason George and Bess are forbidden to be friends with me.”
    Mr. Drew nodded. “You’ll have to let events prove that neither you nor I have meddled in the affairs of the family.”
    “I’m disappointed in George and Bess just the same.” Nancy sighed again.
    The lawyer looked at his daughter sympathetically and decided that the best way to mend Nancy’s hurt feelings was to lead the discussion into other channels.
    “I’m afraid Mr. Sidney’s case is more complicated than we realize,” he remarked. “It’s a big puzzle.”
    Nancy instantly became alert. “What’s the trouble?”
    “I have a strong hunch there’s systematic pilfering that’s draining the old man’s fortune,” her father said.
    Nancy asked, “Do you suspect anyone besides the Jemitts? Surely Peter Boonton and Jacob Sidney are not dishonest, no matter how badly they act.”
    “We can safely rule out Boonton and Sidney,” Mr. Drew said.
    “Let’s call on Asa Sidney tomorrow morning and see what we can find out,” Nancy suggested.
    That night she slept uneasily. She kept thinking of the big sleuthing job ahead of her and of the problem with Bess and George. At breakfast she ate little. Her father sat lost in thought, with Hannah Gruen hovering over them, coaxing them to try her waffles.
    The telephone rang and she went to answer it. Nancy heard Hannah say, “I can’t hear you at all! Who is this?”
    “I’ll take it, Hannah,” Nancy said quietly as she hurried into the hall.
    “Nancy Drew speaking. Who is this?”
    “Oh, Nancy!”
    The exclamation came faintly over the wire, ending in a deep, shuddering sigh.
    “Hello? Who is this? VVho’s speaking? What’s the matter?”
    “Nancy—something—something—”
    “Is this Bess? Or George?” Nancy demanded.
    “Nancy, this is Carol. Oh, please come at once! Something awful has happened. O-oh!”
    There was a sharp click, then silence. Carol had hung up, leaving Nancy in a state of mingled surprise and alarm. She ran to her