The Strange Message in the Parchment Read Online Free Page B

height and build. Both wore hats pulled far down, so she could not see the color of their hair or their skin.
    “Hm,” Mr. Flockhart said, “I’ll alert the State Police to keep an eye open.” He went to the hall telephone to call them.
    While he was gone, Nancy stared at the parchment over the mantel. Then she got up and stood beneath it, taking in every detail.
    When Mr. Flockhart returned to the room, he said, “I see you have already started looking for clues to solve the mystery of my parchment.”
    Nancy admitted that she had noticed only one thing so far. She could not find an artist’s name on it.
    “That’s right,” he agreed.
    “The first picture,” Nancy went on, “is of a lovely woman but she’s not doing anything to indicate what part she is playing in the message.”
    “That’s true,” Mr. Flockhart replied. “What about the second one?”
    Nancy studied it for several seconds. “A portrait of the upper part of a man, but a rear view,” she said. “All I can see is that he seems stocky and has dark hair. That’s not much help.”
    “No, it isn’t.”
    “The third picture is the most intriguing of all,” Nancy went on. “See that group of angels in flowing robes floating in the heavens? And the one in the center is holding an infant. All the others are looking at it adoringly. It’s just beautiful. Only a very fine artist could have painted that.”
    Nancy now concentrated on the fourth painting, the scene of a sailing ship being rammed by a steamer.
    “I think it’s an accident that really happened,” Junie said. “Nancy, what’s your guess?”
    “I don’t know. Perhaps the steamer is wrecking the sailing ship intentionally. I’m sure there’s a message here. But what?”
    Turning to Mr. Flockhart, she asked, “From whom did you buy this parchment?”
    “From my neighbor, Sal Rocco,” Junie’s father replied.
    Nancy instantly remembered the unpleasant man and became very thoughtful. “Did he tell you where he got it?”
    “He said he bought it at an auction, but was tired of it and agreed to sell the parchment painting to me.”
    “Does he know what it means?”
    “No. I asked him if there was any story to it, and he said not as far as he knew.”
    “Have you ever taken this parchment out of its frame?” Nancy went on.
    “No,” Mr. Flockhart replied. “Why?”
    “There might be a message on the back, or at least a clue to one.”
    “Good idea,” Mr. Flockhart said. “Let’s take it out right now!”

CHAPTER V
    Bird Attack
     
     
     
    THE mystery picture was carefully framed, and looked as if it had never been opened. Mr. Flockhart removed the backing, then slid out the parchment. He held it up for the others to see.
    “It’s even more beautiful out of the frame!” Junie exclaimed.
    Mr. Flockhart handed the picture to Nancy, who turned it over.
    “Here’s an initial,” she noted. “It’s an A.” She flipped the picture over to look at the front again. In a moment she exclaimed, “The A is directly in back of the baby who is being held by the angel!”
    Mr. Flockhart said, “I wonder if it has anything to do with St. Anthony.”
    The others doubted this, and Junie asked, “Is there another notation on the back?”
    Nancy looked closely. “Yes, there is,” she said, excited. “In the lower right-hand corner are the initials DB, and under it is printed Milano.”
    “Milano?” Mr. Flockhart repeated. “That must mean Milano, Italy, although there is one in Texas.”
    Nancy turned to him. “I assume Mr. Rocco is Italian. Perhaps he brought the parchment from Italy.”
    “That’s a logical guess,” Mr. Flockhart replied. “He might have bought it at an auction over there.” He smiled at Nancy. “I can see why you are known as such a good detective. Just by taking the parchment out of the frame you’ve come up with a couple of clues already!”
    “Oh, don’t compliment me now,” she answered modestly. “Wait until I’ve solved the