The Tables Turned

John Horn trudged on as long as he could, then directed the others how to go. Dave and Burt, the first to reach the cabin, yelled Nancy's name. There was no answer.

Eagerly they charged up to the door. When they failed to open it, Burt said, " Focus your flashlight here, Dave... Padlocked, eh? "

" We'll try a window, " his friend suggested. " If necessary, we'll break the glass."

" Hey, is she there? Have you found Nancy? " George called as she and Bess came hurrying up to join the boys. Chuck and Ned were close behind.

" We don't know yet, " Dave said. " This door is locked. We're going to try getting in a window."

" All of them are boarded up, " Ned recalled,

" But we'll get inside if I have to tear this shack apart."

George was using both fists to hammer on the unyielding door. " Nancy! " she shouted. " Nancy, it's George. Can you hear me? " There was no response.

Meanwhile, Burt and Dave were working on a window. " Here's a loose board, " Burt yelled excitedly. " Pull! "

Snap! It came off so quickly they nearly lost their balance.

Burt played his flashlight inside the cabin. He could not see much in the clutter of furniture.

Dave was already pulling at another board. Together the boys yanked it off and broke the locked window just as Aunt Eloise came up.

" Nancy! " she called fearfully, but the hoped-for response did not come. By this time Ned was through the opening and flashing his light around. Suddenly the beam revealed the girl, lying on the floor, numb with cold and barely conscious.

" Nancy! " Ned cried.

" I'm—so—glad—you—found me, " she whispered faintly. " I'm—so—terribly—sleepy."

One by one the others climbed through the window. Seeing Nancy, tears streamed down Bess's cheeks. " You're—you're all right, aren't you? " she sobbed.

Ned and Dave untied the ropes that bound Nancy's hands and ankles.

" Of course she is, " George told her cousin.

Aunt Eloise kissed her niece, saying, " Don't worry, honey. We'll get you out of here right away. George, where's that Thermos bottle? "

Nancy was given a few sips of hot coffee then wrapped in the blanket and carried out through the window. Burt and Dave insisted upon riding Nancy back to the hotel on a " chair" they made by interlocking their fingers.

A sense of relief, together with the stimulant, brought some warmth to Nancy's body. As the group neared the inn, she was able to talk again.

" As soon as we get inside, " she said, " call the police. Tell them it was Channing and his friend Dunstan Lake who kidnapped me. Lake is a man! "

" Oh no! " George groaned. " But don't talk now. Save your strength."

" I must say this much, " Nancy persisted. " Explain to the police that those men were going to meet Mitzi at a camp somewhere. Dunstan Lake's a short, ugly fellow with beady eyes."

" I'll tell them, " Ned promised.

Aunt Eloise would not hear of Nancy's making the long trip to her house. Instead, she engaged a room for her niece and asked Bess to spend the night with her. Nancy was put to bed, and Miss Drew called in the house physician. After he had prescribed treatment, the doctor remarked:

" You had a narrow escape, young lady, but you'll be all right in the morning. Lucky you knew enough to keep exercising, or you might have frozen to death."

Nancy smiled wanly, and very soon was sound asleep. When she awoke the next morning, Bess, fully dressed, was seated beside her, and a breakfast tray stood on the bureau.

" I'm glad you're awake, " she said. " How do you feel? "

" Fine. All mended." Nancy hopped out of bed.

After washing her face and combing her hair, she sat down to enjoy some fruit, cereal, and hot chocolate.

" Are you all set for some simply marvelous news? " Bess asked.

" You bet. Don't keep me in suspense."

At that moment there was a knock on the door, and Aunt Eloise walked in with George. They were happy to see that Nancy had fully recov­ered, and said the anxious boys were waiting downstairs.

" I was just going to tell Nancy the big news, " Bess said. " Listen to this, Nancy. The police have captured the Channings and Dunstan Lake! "

" Honestly? Oh, that's great! I was so afraid—"

" The troopers found their camp, " George interrupted. " Nancy, do you realize what this means? That you've rounded up the whole gang, just as you hoped to do."

" With the help of all of you, including the state troopers, " Nancy was quick to say. " Did Mitzi and the others confess to everything? "

George shook her head. " They won't own up to one single thing. Hypers! The way that Channing woman plays innocent makes me furious! "

As Nancy continued to eat, Aunt Eloise remarked, " This place is full of excitement. The Wells Ranch was robbed again last night."

" What! Oh, my goodness! " Nancy cried.

She suddenly took the breakfast tray off her knees and jumped to her feet.

" That experience I had last night must have frozen my brains, " she wailed. " Why, I've forgotten the most important evidence of all! "

" What evidence? " George wanted to know.

" The snow statue. Bess, hand me my clothes, quick! And, George, bring the boys up here in five minutes. There's not a moment to lose."

When the youths arrived, Ned demanded to know what all the excitement was about.

Nancy took a deep breath. " I'll tell you. Ned and Chuck, remember when we saw a man ski down Big Hill and wondered why? "

" I sure do. He was crazy."

" Maybe not so crazy as you think, " Nancy replied. " When you and Chuck left me, I saw the man in a white sweater conceal a bulky pouch in one of those big snow statues."

" You did? " Ned cried. " Nancy, why didn't you mention? "

" I was so cold and tired I forgot about it until just now, " Nancy confessed. " Let's run down to the lake. Oh, I hope the pouch is still there! "

Before they could leave the room, the telephone rang. Aunt Eloise answered.

" It's police headquarters, Nancy. They want to speak to you, " she said, handing over the instrument.

" Miss Drew, this is Chief Wester, " came a man's voice. " We have those three suspects in jail, but they're a hard-boiled lot and refuse to admit a thing."

" I can identify them, " Nancy said confidently.

" I know you can point out the men as your abductors, " said the police chief. " But Mrs. Channing demands her release and we haven't any charge against her."

" Just call Mrs. Clifton Packer at River Heights, " Nancy advised. " The diamond earrings Mitzi Channing is wearing were stolen from her. And the police at Masonville will tell you that Mitzi is wanted there for shoplifting."

" Thanks. You've helped a lot, " said the chief. " And, Miss Drew, will you come to headquarters and be present when we question the trio again? I haven't told them that you were rescued."

" I'll drive over this morning, " Nancy promised.

She repeated the conversation to her friends and added, " Now, about the snow statue. I suspect that the Channing fur racket, which hasn't been cleared up, will be revealed in about ten minutes."

" How? " Bess asked, wide-eyed.

" When we see what's in that hidden pouch. Why, where are the boys? " she asked, starting out the door.

Aunt Eloise smiled and put a restraining hand on her niece's arm. " They're acting as your deputies, dear. Let's sit here quietly until they return."

It was hard for Nancy to wait, but she knew her aunt was concerned about her. Twenty minutes later they heard pounding footsteps in the corridor and the boys burst into the room.

" We found it! " Dave cried.

" Yes sir-ree! Mission accomplished! " Ned said, grinning and waving a bulky, canvas-covered bundle at Nancy.

" Open it! " Bess urged. " I can't wait to see what's inside."

Tensely, the group gathered around while Nancy loosened the cord and peered within.

" Furs! " George gasped. " Why, it looks like mink."

" It is, " Nancy nodded, pulling several soft lustrous pelts from the bag. " We must turn these over to the police at once. I believe they belong to Mr. Wells."

Nearing the bottom of the bag, Nancy gave an exclamation of glee. Sewn to one of the pelts was a small tag: Wells Mink Ronch.

" Oh, Nancy, you've done it again! " Bess shrieked. Nancy hardly heard the remark.

Her hand had touched a paper at the bottom of the sack. It proved to be one of the stock certificates to which was attached a note:

Jacques: Made a neat deal on the earrings. Send Bunny Reynolds a dividend to keep her from hollering when she finds out. Sid

" This is all we need, " said Nancy, rising. " Ned, will you come to police headquarters with me? "

" You bet. I drove your car over here this morning." It took only half an hour to get there. Nancy handed the bag of mink pelts to Chief Wester at once and explained what it held.

" Fine work, Miss Drew, " he said as he shook hands with her. The chief suggested that she go into his office for the interview with the prisoners, and that Ned wait for the right moment to bring in the loot.

" I got in touch with Mrs. Packer and the Masonville police, " the chief went on as he closed the outer office door. " They both confirm what you told us about Mitzi Channing." He called to a guard to bring in the prisoners through the rear-office door.

Upon seeing Nancy, the Channings and Dunstan Lake looked at one another nervously.

" Miss Drew is here to identify you men as her abductors last night, " the chief said, " What have you to say for yourselves? "

" Not a thing, " Channing managed to say in a tense voice. " I never saw her before."

" Me neither, " Dunstan Lake added, moistening his dry lips.

" What about you, Mrs. Channing? " the officer asked.

" I could say a great deal about that meddlesome little sleuth, " Mitzi snapped, glaring at Nancy. " As for your outrageous charges, we deny every one of them."

" Miss Drew has just brought something that may refresh your memories, " Chief Wester said coldly.

He flung open the front-office door. " Mr. Ned Nickerson, will you come in, please? " he called.

The chief took the pouch from Ned's hands and laid it on his desk. The prisoners stared in stunned silence.

" The evidence in here is enough to convict you, " Wester said. " Nancy Drew saw you put this bag in the snow statue not long after the pelts were stolen, Channing, or Jacques Fremont, which I believe is the name you use in Canada."

To Nancy's surprise, it was Mitzi who broke down first. Sobbing, she advised the men to admit their part in the racket.

" It'll go easier with us, " she said. " But someday I'll get even with you, Nancy Drew, for what you've done."

The men finally confessed. Lake was the leader and had thought up the scheme of stealing the furs from the various ranches and secreting them in the snow statue while going for another haul.

" Ned and I must be leaving, Chief Wester, " said Nancy. " Only I'd like to ask Mr. Channing a question first." Turning to the dejected prisoner, she inquired, " Did you send me a telegram and sign my father's name to it? "

" Yes. You were always on our trail and we wanted to get rid of you until we could make our haul and escape. We hoped to catch you alone on your way to the hotel before you phoned your father."

" And one of you was eavesdropping at my aunt's cottage to find out if I was going to the inn? "

" I was, " Dunstan Lake admitted as the prisoners were taken away.

The chief thanked Nancy again, then she and Ned started for Aunt Eloise's lodge.

" I guess this ends the Mystery at the Ski Jump, " Ned remarked as he turned into the camp lane. " It was exciting, but I'll be glad to just sit and talk to you awhile. In two days the old grind at Emerson begins again. Nancy, don't you dare get involved in another mystery before the winter carnival at Emerson."

" I promise, " the young detective replied laughingly, but secretly hoped another mystery would turn up very soon. It did indeed, and came to be known as The Clue of the Velvet Mask.

Nancy and Ned had barely stepped inside the lodge when George cried, " Look! Someone's coming in a car. Could it be John Horn? "

" Not in a car." Bess giggled. Their visitor was not the old trapper but Mr. Drew. He and Nancy embraced joyfully.

" When Aunt Eloise telephoned me you were lost, Nancy, " the lawyer said, " I took the first plane I could get. Poor Hannah was frantic too."

" Have you told her I'm all right? " Nancy asked. " Yes. I phoned her from the inn. She was certainly relieved. And Hannah sent you a message, Nancy. Mitzi's skating partner Smith and that man Ben in New York who printed the Forest Fur Company stock have been arrested."

" Serves them right! " George stated firmly.

" And by the way, " Mr. Drew went on, " while I was at Longview, I talked to Chuck. John Horn came in too. You'll all be pleased to know that, with the old trapper's sworn testimony, Chuck is sure to regain most of his inheritance. His uncle had put the money into his own bank account, but fortunately hadn't spent much of it." Then Mr. Drew smiled at his daughter. " Chuck asked me to deliver a message. He thinks the successful outcome of his case and Nancy's calls for a celebration. He has invited all of you to be his guests at dinner at Longview tomorrow night."

" Hurrah! " Bess shouted. " A party! "

The next morning Mr. Drew was obliged to return to River Heights. The young people spent the day enjoying winter sports, then changed to suits and dresses. When they arrived at the inn they found that Chuck had engaged a small, private dining room where places were set for ten persons. John Horn and Mr. Wells were to join the party. There were colorful favors at each plate and a special menu, with the promise of dancing afterward. When dessert was brought in, their host rose from his chair.

" This is a happy occasion for me, " Chuck announced. " I've not only had gratifying news from my lawyer, Mr. Drew, but I've made some grand, new friends, among them one of the world's cleverest detectives."

Nancy found herself blushing as the others applauded. " I've been given the pleasure of making some presentations. Mrs. Packer has asked the police to present her diamond pin to Nancy because of the wonderful way in which she tracked down the thief. And here it is! "

" Oh, Nancy, it's beautiful! " gasped Bess.

" B-but I don't deserve this, " the embarrassed girl protested.

" Indeed you do." Chuck smiled. " You deserve it and more." As he spoke, the ski instructor laid a gaily wrapped box on the table before Nancy. " This, " he told her, " is from Mr. Wells, John Horn, and me."

There was a great hush as Nancy lifted the box lid. Inside were several glossy mink pelts-enough to make a lovely stole. Nancy's eyes were moist with emotion. She did manage to thank them all, saying she would wear the lovely fur piece in remembrance of her adventure at Big Hill.

As the young people arose to attend the dance, Mr. Wells called Ned, Burt, and Dave aside. There was a howl of laughter. Then Ned came walking forward with a deer head held in front of his face. " For our fraternity house, girls. The old deer invites you to come to Emerson and help hang him over the fireplace! "

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