The Scarlet Slipper Mystery Read Online Free Page A

for her to enter. Mr. Drew met the group at the garage. When Nancy mentioned her suspicion about the spy, her father said that he had been the man strolling opposite their house. He was relieving her friends for a few minutes. Along with Hannah and the girls, he had been fearful for Nancy’s safety.
    The Fontaines were introduced and escorted into the house. There they met Hannah Gruen, who threw her arms around Nancy. When Nancy explained the reason for her long absence, the housekeeper visibly shuddered and Bess cried, “Oh, Nancy, I knew this would be a dangerous case!”
    The Fontaines looked very uncomfortable and Bess regretted her remark. She apologized, explaining she had not meant it the way it sounded. There was danger for all concerned and she hoped the mystery would be solved soon.
    To cover the embarrassment, Hannah, who had drawn all the drapes, invited everyone to share a midnight snack of sandwiches and milk she had prepared. As they ate, the young people relaxed. Half an hour later Mr. Drew drove Bess and George home.
    Helene was shown to a guest room on the second floor by Nancy, and Henri was taken to one on the third by Hannah. Over and over the Fontaines expressed their great gratitude. Nancy and Hannah, in turn, said they hoped that the brother and sister would be comfortable and happy during their stay.
    “And don’t be bashful about asking for anything you want,” the kindly housekeeper added.
    At breakfast the following day Helene said she had her first request. In the excitement of the sudden move she had forgotten about a coaching job she had undertaken.
    “It’s the big charity show to be given in the Civic Center,” Helene explained. “Nancy, would you mind getting in touch with Mrs. Parsons, the chairwoman, and telling her I will have to give up the coaching? I suggest that she get one of the other teachers in town to replace me.”
    Nancy knew Mrs. Parsons and said she would stop at her home on the way to the dancing school. At nine-thirty she rang the bell at the Parsons’ home.
    “Good morning, Nancy,” the woman said, and invited her caller in. After Nancy had relayed Helene’s message, Mrs. Parsons exclaimed, “Oh, dear, the whole show is falling apart! First I lose my solo dancer; now my coach is resigning!”
    “I’m sorry,” said Nancy sympathetically. “But surely one of the other teachers in town can help you out.”
    “Maybe. But you know how it is. Nobody wants to be second fiddle,” Mrs. Parsons said. “But that doesn’t bother me as much as losing my prize dancer. Nancy, she’s marvelous!”
    “Who is she?” Nancy asked.
    “Millie Koff. She and her father were staying at the Claymore Hotel. They didn’t expect to leave for some time. Then late last night they checked out with no explanation.”
    Mrs. Parsons paused a moment, then said, “Nancy, I’m going to tell you a little secret. I have an idea the Koffs may be in some kind of trouble. Millie once confided in me that she had come to this country from Centrovia and—”
    “Centrovia!” Nancy echoed, startled.

CHAPTER IV
    A Vicious Caller
    “Oh, please tell me more about the Koffs!” Nancy begged Mrs. Parsons.
    “Well, I don’t know much, my dear,” she replied. “Mr. Koff is a writer—he’s a very eccentric, excitable person. He and his daughter Millie have been staying at the Claymore Hotel. She is a talented dancer, so we asked her to perform in the charity show. I believe she studied abroad.”
    A physical description of Mr. Koff fitted the man who had sat across the aisle from Nancy during the plane trip. She asked Mrs. Parsons if she might use her telephone, and when the woman nodded, Nancy called the Claymore Hotel.
    During other cases on which she had worked, Nancy had become acquainted with the manager. After identifying herself, she asked for the forwarding address of the Koffs.
    “I’m sorry, Nancy,” the manager replied, “but they did not leave one. Are they involved in some