The Mystery in Dracula's Castle

by Vic Crume

  Alfie turned toward the steps leading down to the beach. "Not that way," Jean said. "It's late. We'll take the bush path. It's shorter."

  They walked along in silence until Leonard exclaimed, "Look at that!" He pointed to a large drainpipe about four feet across and half covered by rusty, bent screening. "It used to be a cave, I bet," Leonard said excitedly.

  Alfie sighed. "Honestly, Leonard. How could a cave 'used to be? If it ever was, it still is, isn't it?"

  Jean laughed. "It's no cave — now or ever," she said, "just a big drainpipe. The other end comes out at Town Lake. It makes a kind of little waterfall there whenever we get a really heavy rain."

  She looked down at Leonard. "You know — I've just been thinking. I hate to say it, Leonard, but I know now why my dad calls Watson 'Trouble.'"

  Leonard looked hurt. "He's just curious, that's all," he said loyally. "Aren't you, Watson?" He looked around. No Watson was in sight.

  "Oh no! Not again," Alfie groaned.

  "I'll go back and get him," Leonard said, swirling his cape.

  Jean grabbed at it. "No you don't! Don't worry, Leonard. That dog can take care of himself. He knows the way home. Come on, kids. It's late."

  Watson was not a dog to give up easily — not where a bright shiny treasure was concerned. And luck was with him!

  Broom in hand, Noah Baxter opened the storage-room door. As he swept a heap of sooty ashes outside and whisked them into the sand near the entrance, Watson saw his chance. When the man's back was turned, he scooted through the door and lost no time in reaching that interesting top floor.

  Keith Raynor was sitting at the table working carefully on the very thing Watson had come to view — and take home, if possible.

  Keith lifted the third ruby from its setting, put it into a small box on the table, then began to chip lightly at the setting of the fourth ruby.

  Watson trotted over, sat down by the chair, and thumped his tail cheerfully to signal his arrival.

  Keith looked down. "How did you get in here?" he asked. Then a worried look came over his face. "Noah!" he called. "Are those kids back again?"

  "No," came the answering shout.

  Watson thumped his tail again and whined pleadingly.

  Keith put down the necklace. "You hungry?"

  Watson obliged with a sad whine and Keith pushed back his chair. "Okay. Okay. I'll get you a cookie or something."

  When Keith disappeared down the stairs, Watson leaped onto the empty chair. From there it was no trouble at all to seize the glittering gold necklace. He didn't stop to admire it — there would be time for that later. He bounced down from the chair, rushed for the stairs, and nearly collided with Keith Raynor on his way back up.

  "Hey!" Keith exclaimed. "Couldn't you wait?"

  Watson bounced past him, the necklace swinging from side to side.

  "Noah!" Keith shouted, horrified. "Stop that mutt! He's got the jewels!"

  Too late! Watson was already out the door and into the knee-high grass on the land side of the lighthouse.

  In seconds, Noah and Keith were in hot pursuit.

  "Where'd he go?" Keith panted, searching for any movement in the grass.

  "Over there!" Noah leaped ahead.

  They were just in time to see Watson scramble under the rusty mesh of the drain that Leonard had noticed only a few minutes before.

  "You stay on top and see where this thing ends," Noah ordered. "I'm going after that mutt."

  He wrenched off the wire meshing and crawled into a dark wet tunnel.

  Watson, paw deep in water, heard loud splashing noises behind him. He sped forward, making a hasty turn when the drainpipe suddenly swerved in another direction.

  Behind him, head bent down and crawling as fast as he could, Noah failed to see the turn. Thump. The sound of his head hitting the drainpipe wall echoed along the length of the tunnel. Watson put on even more speed.

  Ahead, some light filtered into the tunnel from an overhead grating and the hollow sounds of Watson's and Noah's chase caught Keith's ear. He quickly spotted the grating and bent over it. "Am I going the right way?" he called into it. "It's hard to tell."

  Noah's hollow-sounding voice came back loudly.

  "How do I know?" he shouted back angrily. "Keep going."

  Just then the tunnel sloped steeply downward. Watson skidded along for a short distance before the surface beneath his paws flattened out again. Noah Baxter came sliding and sloshing after him.

  Outside, Keith reached the end of the long drainpipe where it hung out over Town Lake below.

  Carefully, he stretched out over it and took an upside-down look into the pipe. "I see him!" he yelled. "Noah! You got him now!"

  Watson could see that the situation was desperate. Behind him Noah Baxter was floundering onward. In the opening ahead of him, an upside-down face had suddenly appeared.

  Deciding it was better to go on than go back, Watson gathered himself for the big break to freedom, plunged ahead — straight out into space and made a daring dive into the lake below.

  Flying through the air above him came Noah Baxter. And almost at the same moment, Keith Raynor made his dive for the Daumier jewels.

  At the very last moment, Watson might have lost the race, except for one thing: Keith and Noah collided going into the water.

  It was the chance that Watson needed. While the two men were still holding their heads, sputtering and treading water, Watson paddled briskly toward shore, the necklace still tightly held in his mouth.

  To Keith Raynor and Noah Baxter, it was a terrible sight!

  CHAPTER 6

  Alfie Booth was still sound asleep, but the morning sunshine on Leonard's side of the room awakened him.

  He blinked sleepily, yawned, and stretched — and suddenly his toes met damp, gritty sand.

  He lifted the covers and peered down toward the foot of the bed. "Watson! What happened to you?"

  Watson thumped his tail in a sleepy greeting, then immediately closed his eyes.

  "What a mess!" Leonard said disgustedly, looking at the sandy sheet. "We've got to get it cleaned up before Mom sees it or you'll be sleeping outdoors from now on."

  The little dog waded out of a tangle of sheets and blankets — the slightly soiled Daumier necklace still dangling from his jaws.

  Leonard's eyes widened. "Where'd you get this?" he asked as he took the necklace from Watson and rubbed it against his pajamas. The four rubies, set in gold, sparkled in the morning light.

  "Wow!" he gasped.

  "What's that?" Alfie spoke from his bed.

  "It's mine," Leonard answered. "Watson gave it to me."

  "That mutt been thieving again?" Alfie asked.

  "He just found it," Leonard answered.

  Alfie yawned. "Yeah — in some junkyard."

  "You don't find gold and rubies in a junkyard," Leonard replied.

  "Gold and rubies! Leonard, they're glass. Anybody would know that."

  Leonard didn't bother answering. He swung the necklace in the light. Suddenly, and for the first time, he became interested in Alfie's movie.

  "Dracula can wear it," he said generously.

  Alfie sighed. "That's dumb. Dracula doesn't wear a necklace. He wears a ring."

  "Why?"

  "Because it's part of my story, that's why. That's what's left of Dracula after his body's gone."

  "Ugh!" Leonard made a face.

  Alfie got up and reached for the Dracula cape that was flung over the back of a chair. He put it on and leaped up on his bed, waving his arms wildly over his head. "Sure. The stake is pounded in. Dracula turns into ashes. The wind spreads the ashes in the air. And all that's left is Dracula's ring. The End!"

  "He could wear a necklace too," Leonard said stubbornly.

  "A ring, Leonard, a ring — like the one we saw in the jewelry store!" Alfie jumped out of bed. "Hey! you might not be so far off after all. Maybe your necklace is worth something."

  "What?" Leonard eyed Alfie suspicious
ly.

  "Get dressed," Alfie ordered. "I've a great idea."

  Noah Baxter was keeping a watchful eye on the Booth cottage. Sooner or later those kids would appear, and Noah planned to be around when they did. He slumped down in the Volkswagen and waited for Alfie, Leonard, and that villain, Watson.

  Luck was with Noah. Mrs. Booth came to the door just as Leonard was slipping a rope leash over Watson's head. "Where are you going, boys?"

  "Just to the jeweler's, Mom," Alfie said. "We'll be back soon."

  "Jeweler's?" Mrs. Booth looked a little puzzled. "Well, all right, but be back in twenty minutes. Don't let Watson get into mischief."

  That was all Noah needed to hear. He started the car and, looking straight ahead, drove past the boys.

  Before heading for Bill Wasdahl's shop, he stopped at the lighthouse to pick up Keith.

  Bill Wasdahl was polishing a silver teapot when the boys came into the shop. He looked up. "Get that dog out of here!" he exclaimed.

  "Don't worry, Mr. Wasdahl, we've got him on a leash," Alfie said. "Anyway, we've come on business."

  He turned to Leonard. "Show him the necklace, Leonard."

  Leonard stepped forward and held it out.

  Bill Wasdahl's eyes widened, and suddenly, he became very friendly. "I'll have to have a better look," he said smiling.

  "It must be worth something," Alfie said. "About thirty dollars?"

  "Afraid not," came the reply. "It's only costume jewelry."

  "I bet it's worth as much as that Dracula ring," Alfie said.

  Leonard pulled back. "Alfie! You said we would just find out if my necklace is worth anything."

  Before Alfie could answer, Bill Wasdahl leaned across the counter. "You've been good kids…keeping that dog away and everything. Let me have the necklace. I'll trade it for the ring."

  "Great! Leonard, give him the necklace."

  Leonard pulled back again, and Alfie stepped over to him. "This is a good deal. Come on."

  Bill Wasdahl smiled. "It's a lady's necklace. Not for a real boy like you."

  "I like it," Leonard said stubbornly.

  "Leonard!" Alfie pleaded. "Trade."

  But Leonard turned and hurried to the shop door. Alfie rushed after him, and both boys nearly collided with Keith Raynor on his way into the shop.

  "Hey, watch it! What's the matter?" Keith asked.

  "Leonard won't trade that dumb necklace," Alfie said. "And we really need Dracula's ring instead."

  Bill Wasdahl hurried around from in back of the counter. "I'll tell you what I'll do, Leonard. I'll give you two rings for it. One for each of you. Now that's downright generous."

  Leonard's jaw set. "No!"

  "What's so special about that necklace?" Keith asked.

  "It's rubies and gold," Leonard said. "That's special."

  Keith smiled. "Really? May I see it?"

  Leonard unclasped his treasure and handed it over.

  "It's just costume jewelry," Bill Wasdahl said.

  Keith nodded. "Yes. And some of the stones are missing too. Can't be worth much."

  "I don't care." Leonard reached out for the necklace.

  Keith lifted it a little higher. "I could use it, though. I'm working on a collage now where these might fit in. A collage is —"

  "I know," Leonard said quickly. "We make them in school all the time. You can use shells and scraps of almost anything."

  Keith looked at him. "You're right, of course. But Leonard, these fake rubies would help me a lot, and I'd pay you hard cash. How much are you willing to sell them for?"

  Leonard grabbed the necklace dangling from Keith's fingers. "I'm not selling," he said firmly, stuffing it into his pocket.

  There was a tense silence, then Alfie spoke. "Okay. Let's go home. I've got a movie to make."

  Keith Raynor's thoughts raced. How could he get the necklace back? And what about Noah, who was standing guard across the street? What would he say if Keith came out of the jewelry shop without the Daumier necklace?

  Suddenly Keith smiled. "Alfie, I'll have some free time tomorrow. Would you like to film inside the lighthouse?"

  Alfie's eyes glowed. "In Dracula's Castle? Really?"

  Keith nodded. "There's only one thing — no dog."

  "Watson goes wherever I go," Leonard said.

  Alfie ignored this. "You have a deal, Mr. Raynor," he grinned. "But Jean will have to come. Jean Wyndham. She's Dracula's victim."

  Keith frowned and hesitated. "Well, all right. Okay." He patted Leonard's shoulder, looked past him at Bill Wasdahl, and grinned triumphantly.

  Noah Baxter watched as Keith worked on the fake necklace that they planned to switch with the Daumier original. Keith had given up working in the lantern gallery. It was inconvenient and at night it was too conspicuous.

  "Aren't you finished yet?" Noah grumbled. "We don't have forever you know."

  Keith lifted a piece of red glass and set it into position. "Don't rush me," he said slowly. "This has to look right."

  "Come on!" Noah exclaimed. "That kid isn't going to spot the difference when we switch them."

  "He might," Keith replied.

  Noah grunted, turned away, and picked up the box containing the dynamite. He started for the stairs.

  "Where are you going with that?" Keith asked, looking up.

  "Locking it up in the lantern gallery with the rest of the dynamite — and the fireworks you bought for your guests. You and your big ideas…telling those kids they could film their dumb picture here." Noah's voice trailed off as he circled up the iron stairs.

  When he returned to the workroom he was carrying the empty box.

  "What'd you unpack it for?" Keith asked. "You do your work and I'll do mine," Noah replied. "Just get that necklace finished, Raynor."

  Noah Baxter couldn't have done a nicer thing, Alfie felt, when they arrived for the filming next day. His toughest prop problem had been finding a coffin for Dracula — and the pine dynamite box was just about the right size for Alfie's leading man.

  In fact, Leonard, lying in it with eyes closed, pearly fangs glinting, and a touch of catsup on his lips and chin, looked horrible enough even for Alfie.

  "Mr. Baxter," Alfie said excitedly, "you stand here and hold the movie light so it shines down on Dracula. Wow! The necklace looks great! Jean, when you come up, you look revolted, but you bravely hammer in the stake right through Dracula's heart. Then, Dracula, you — "

  Keith interrupted. "Alfie, isn't that too…er, realistic? It sounds dangerous to me."

  Alfie shook his head. "Don't worry, Mr. Raynor. It's the effect I'm after. Actually, Jean hammers down the stake in the space between Dracula's ribs and his arm. But it will look great."

  Alfie turned toward his cast. "Okay. Keep your eyes closed, Leonard, and remember to shriek when you feel the stake is driven in. Now, positions please. Action."

  Jean, her hair piled high on her head, and wearing the evening gown she had worn at the Junior Prom, closed in on Dracula. She shuddered, put the stake in place, and lifted the hammer high.

  Wham! Leonard shrieked loudly, and Alfie called out, "Great shot. You can get up now, Leonard."

  Keith tilted the light away, and Leonard started to sit up. "I can't," he said anxiously. "Something must have happened to me!"

  Alfie sighed and walked over to the pine box. "Leonard, nothing's happened to you. Your cloak is just nailed to your coffin — that's all." He tugged at the stake. It wouldn't budge.

  "Here," Keith elbowed Alfie aside. "Let me try it."

  He pretended to struggle with the stake as he felt in his pocket for the fake necklace in case a quick switch could be made.

  But it was hopeless. Too many pairs of eyes were watching, and both men realized it. So Keith quickly jerked the stake free. "There you are, kid. Dracula can rise from his coffin again!"

  "Okay," Alfie said briskly, as his brother was helped out of the pine box. "Next setup. On the stairs. Makeup!"

  "Next setup!" No
ah exclaimed. "I thought you'd just killed off Dracula."

  "Oh, I can work that in anywhere," Alfie replied.

  "What I need now is something with real atmosphere." He turned to Jean. "This time I'll film the action on the stairs, using your shadows on the walls. You'll run up the stairs, Jean. Leonard, you'll follow. Okay. Lights, please. Action."

  Alfie's idea was good, but he hadn't counted on Dracula tripping on his long cape and stumbling forward. "Cut!" he called. "Now we'll start again. Leonard, watch that cape. Action!"

  This time, Dracula made it safely up the stairs. Jean, a terrified expression on her face, thrust out her arm. Dracula hissed, took a step backward, and grabbed for the staircase railing. He missed.

  "Leonard!" Jean screamed.

  Noah Baxter sprang up the stairs. Before Leonard could fall, Noah caught him — and caught the Daumier necklace too.

  "Thanks, Mr. Baxter," Leonard said. "It's this stupid cape. Alfie, do I have to wear it?"

  "We have to have this scene," Alfie answered heartlessly.

  "But in a safer location," Jean said, her voice firm.

  "The shadows —" Alfie began to say. Then he had an idea. "What about trapped on the walkway that goes around the top of the lighthouse? That would be great. The only escape — hundreds of feet down the jagged rocks and the crashing waves!"

  "You mean the walkaway around the lantern gallery," Keith said. He glanced at Noah. "What do you think?"

  Noah nodded. "Why not?"

  Everybody but Noah Baxter started to climb up to the lantern gallery. He lingered behind to place the fake necklace on the iron steps where Leonard could find it later. But as he took it from his pocket, a "ruby" fell out, plinked on the iron steps and shattered on the floor below. Noah frowned, then he pocketed the fake necklace once again and went on up the stairs to join the others.

  Out on the walkway, he and Keith exchanged glances. "I started to explain to our guests how the light and foghorn used to help the ships at sea," Keith said, "but Alfie wanted to get right on with his filming."