Mystery of the Brass-Bound Trunk

by Carolyn G. Keene

  Bess said, “Probably we’ve not seen the last of those two villains. Nancy, they threatened that if we said anything about their being here and trying to take the trunk, we’d be harmed!”

  Nelda added, “And they insisted that they’d be back. They want that trunk!”

  “This is serious,” Nancy stated. “I think I’ll call Rod Havelock. He goes off duty just about this time. Maybe he’ll come up here and give us some advice as to what we should do about this.”

  She phoned the purser’s office and found that the assistant was indeed about to leave. “I’ll see you in a few minutes,” he promised.

  While waiting for him, Nancy told Bess and Nelda about the accident in the hold, and that George was in the infirmary.

  Bess, already distraught, burst into tears. “Oh, my poor cousin! Nancy, tell me exactly what happened and how she is!”

  Nancy reported that the doctor had said George would be all right, but she must remain in bed for twenty-four hours.

  “That isn’t so bad,” Bess said finally. “I’m glad she was not seriously hurt.”

  A few minutes of silence followed, then Nelda said, “Obviously those two men weren’t plumbers. Do you think they might have been passengers in disguise, Nancy?”

  “I do. But I’d like to check with the maintenance crew, anyway, just to make sure. Could you two identify the men?”

  Both Bess and Nelda were sure they could, provided the men’s beards were real.

  There was a tap on the door. Bess and Nelda jumped, but Nancy told them she was sure it was Rod Havelock. She opened the door and the assistant purser stepped inside. He greeted the girls pleasantly. “What’s your problem?” he asked. “I’ll be glad to help if I can.”

  When he heard about the accident in the hold and the episode in the cabin, his expression became grave.

  “Those two intruders must have watched Nancy and George leave, and they knew only Nelda and Bess were in the cabin,” he reasoned. “And they thought they could handle the two of you. What did they look like?”

  When he heard about the beards, he shook his head. “No one in the maintenance crew fits that description as far as I know. But I’ll make some inquiries and see if those so-called plumbers are part of the crew elsewhere.”

  “Thank you,” Nancy said. “Now, we have something to show you.”

  She got the key to the mystery trunk and swung open the lid. She held up the worn workman’s clothes and the wigs.

  Havelock whistled. “Obviously the owner of this trunk is an artist in disguises,” he said. “Maybe he’s a criminal and is afraid to claim his property for that reason.”

  He stared off into space a couple of seconds, then added, “In thinking this over, I believe the trunk should not be taken to the hold.”

  “You mean we should keep it here?” Nelda asked.

  “If we do, we’ll get into trouble!” Bess added.

  Havelock shook his head. “I have an idea. The adjoining cabin is vacant. It had been booked, but the people who were supposed to occupy it missed the ship. I’ll get you keys for it.”

  He pointed to a connecting door in the girls’ room. “You see, the two open into each other, and each has a connecting door that can be opened only from the inside. I’ll unlock both and leave the keys with you.”

  “And we’ll hide the trunk in the other cabin?” Bess asked.

  “Yes. We can carry it quietly from here to there and hide it in the wardrobe. Heinrich won’t go in since no one is staying in number one thirty.”

  “That’s a great idea,” said Nancy. “Then we can investigate the trunk further. I really can’t believe that someone would want these clothes so badly that he would threaten people. Perhaps something much more valuable is hidden in the trunk!”

  Havelock nodded. “You may have a point there. By the way, did you find your own trunk in the hold?”

  “I caught a glimpse of it,” Nancy replied, “just before the ship gave a great roll and knocked some of the cargo over. But I think I could locate it.”

  “What happened to Pieter?” Rod Havelock asked.

  “He was taken to the infirmary along with George, who hit her head. Perhaps he’s still being treated. I don’t know how serious his injury is.”

  “I’ll find out,” the assistant purser offered. He picked up the telephone and called the infirmary. The nurse told him that Pieter was being kept there until the following afternoon, but that he was not seriously hurt.

  Havelock hung up and turned to Nancy. “Pieter will be all right. Now suppose we get your trunk up here and put it where the other one is. If the intruders should come again, you can let them have a closer look and they’ll realize it’s not what they want.”

  “Good idea,” Nancy said. “But suppose they see us bring it up?”

  “We’ll have to do it at night when everyone is in bed. How about two-thirty A.M.? By that time the entertainment will be over and most people will have retired. I doubt that we would meet anybody then.”

  “Great!” Nancy was excited at the prospect of the adventure, and also about having her own clothes.

  At bedtime, when the other girls changed into their nighties and robes, Nancy put on a pair of blue jeans and a sweater of George’s. The three girls tried to sleep but it was hopeless. Finally they began to whisper.

  “How do you suppose those two men knew the mystery trunk was in our cabin?” Bess asked.

  “Perhaps they saw the porter carry it in,” Nancy replied. “Or they might have found out it was not in the hold and questioned all the stewards until they located it.”

  Nelda said, “I wonder if Heinrich is entirely innocent or if he’s somehow mixed up in the mystery. He knew there was nothing wrong with our shower, and since he works on the ship, wouldn’t he know the plumbers?”

  Nancy shrugged. “Not necessarily. Sometimes they hire people just before a trip. As for the shower, they could have told him there was a leak somewhere else, which could have been caused by our pipes.”

  “I think he’s honest,” Bess said. “Merely inquisitive.” She looked at her watch. “Nancy, it’s almost two-thirty. You’d better get ready to go.”

  Just then there was a tap on the door. As Nancy walked toward it, Bess warned. “Watch out. It may not be Mr. Havelock after all!”

  CHAPTER VII

  Nelda Is Missing

  NANCY opened the corridor door an inch and looked out before admitting the caller. She was pleased to see Rod Havelock standing there. “Come in,” she said.

  The assistant purser stepped inside, closed the door, and took a ring of keys from his pocket. He walked over and greeted the other girls. “I have all the keys you’ll need for the adjoining cabin,” he said. “I suggest that you hide them until Nancy and I get back from our little excursion.”

  Rod grinned and explained what each key was for. “The one with the blue mark will open the connecting door from this cabin to one thirty. Beyond it you’ll find another door, which opens into the other cabin, but you can’t unlock it from this side.”

  “You mean we’ll have to enter cabin one thirty from the corridor?” Bess asked.

  “That’s right. With the yellow key. And this red one opens the connecting door from one thirty to one twenty-eight. I suggest that you bolt the corridor door from the inside and leave the bolt in place. Then unlock the connecting door from one thirty and leave it open for the rest of the trip so you can go next door without stepping into the hallway. Is that clear?”

  “It’s as clear as mud.” Bess giggled.

  Rod went on, “I think all of us should know where you are going to hide the keys. Does anyone have an idea?”

  The girls looked around and finally Nelda pointed out that there was a tiny drawer on the back wall of their wardrobe.

  “That’s a good suggestion,” Rod Havelock agreed. “Here, take them.”

  He handed the keys to Nelda, who immediately put them in the hiding place. Then he said to Nancy, “Let’s g
o!” He peered into the corridor and announced that no one was in sight. “Come on!”

  Nancy slipped the key to one twenty-eight into her pocket, then the two set off. They did not rush but walked on tiptoe to avoid calling attention to themselves.

  They reached the iron stairway to the boiler room and descended. The men on duty nodded to Havelock but did not ask any questions as the couple headed for the hold. Rod unlocked the heavy steel door, then he switched on the overhead lights.

  “I’m glad the lights were fixed,” Nancy said, crossing the heavy plank floorway. She led the way toward the area where she had seen the trunk she thought might be hers. It was still there, but crewmen had evidently piled up some of the baggage that had fallen down.

  “That’s my trunk, all right,” the girl stated. For the first time she noticed that a net had been stretched across this part of the hold to keep the baggage in place. But the upheaval caused by the meteor had torn it to shreds.

  Rod said, “I think we can get it out of there easily enough.” He smiled. “You look like a strong girl.”

  As Nancy examined the baggage around her own piece, she suddenly found herself staring into the face of a rat. It seemed to be wedged tightly between her trunk and a heavy box.

  “Oh!” She let out a stifled scream.

  “What’s the matter?” Rod Havelock asked anxiously.

  Nancy explained and the assistant purser came to look at the little animal himself.

  “We’ll just let him loose,” he said. “The rat will be more scared of us than we are of him. He’ll run off in a hurry.”

  Reaching up, he yanked aside the trunk next to Nancy’s. But the menacing rat did not scoot away as predicted!

  Suddenly Nancy began to laugh. “Rod, he’s dead!”

  Havelock laughed too. “The joke’s on us, all right,” he remarked.

  He lifted the rodent by the tail and flung it off to one side. Then he and Nancy set to work to loosen her trunk. By manipulating it from side to side, they were finally able to pull it forward.

  “We’d better be careful of the box on top of it,” Nancy said. “We don’t want to break anything.”

  Gently the box was shoved backward so it would not fall. Then Rod and Nancy took hold of the leather handle on each side of her trunk and eased it out. It was tedious work, but finally it was released.

  After they had carried the trunk to the door and set it down, the assistant purser said, “My, this is heavy! Nancy Drew, are you sure there isn’t part of a gold mine from South Africa in there?”

  The girl laughed. “No, but I bought a lot of gifts and souvenirs.”

  She assured her companion that she was strong enough to carry the trunk with his help. He clicked off the light and locked the hold. Then he opened the door that led into the engine room and called softly to one of the men, “Will you help me get this up the stairs, please?”

  “Ja, ja,” a burly engineer replied, and came over.

  Nancy was glad he asked no questions. The two men lugged the trunk up to the deck above, then the engineer returned to his post.

  Nancy picked up one end of the trunk, and again she and Rod tiptoed along corridors until they came to cabin one twenty-eight.

  Nancy unlocked the door and the two carried the brass-bound piece inside and set it down. The lights were on, and Bess was seated on the side of her bed.

  “We got it!” Nancy said jubilantly.

  Bess showed no enthusiasm and made no comment. Instead she cried out, “I’m dreadfully worried. Nelda has disappeared!”

  “What!” Nancy exclaimed in disbelief. “Where? When? How?”

  “I don’t know,” Bess replied miserably. “I had fallen asleep but heard a slight noise and woke up. I thought it was you. When I turned on the light and looked around, I discovered that Nelda was not here.”

  “Where do you suppose she went?” Rod Havelock asked.

  Nancy and Bess had no idea.

  The assistant purser added practically, “Wherever she’s gone, I’m sure she’ll be back.” Then he said in a whisper, “I suggest that we move the mystery trunk into the cabin next door as soon as possible, and put yours under your bed, Nancy, before you have any more inquisitive visitors coming here to try to take it away from you.”

  Nancy opened the girls’ wardrobe and pulled out the little drawer in back of it. The keys were gone!

  Bess cried out, “Someone has been here and taken Nelda away and stolen the keys! And it’s all my fault for not staying awake!”

  Nancy was alarmed. She said, “I don’t understand, though. If that’s the case, why didn’t the intruder take the mystery trunk with him?”

  There was complete silence. Suddenly Nancy had an idea. She walked toward the door and tried the knob. The door was not locked, and neither was the one on the other side!

  Quickly Nancy stepped into cabin one thirty. The light was on. As she looked around, Bess and Rod walked in. All of them stared at a heap on the bed covered with a blanket. Could it be Nelda?

  Bess cried out, “M-maybe she’s d-dead! Oh, I can’t stand it!”

  Nancy, too, was fearful that the people who had threatened Nelda had really carried out some horrible scheme. While Bess was sobbing and still blaming herself, Nancy walked over to the bed and pulled off the blanket. Nelda lay there She did not move!

  “She’s asleep!” Rod said.

  “Are you sure?” Bess sobbed.

  Nelda was awakened by the vo ces. She looked around wildly. “Help! Helpl” she exclaimed.

  Nancy touched the girl gently. “Nelda, wake up, please!” she said.

  “No! No! I’m awake,” Nelda insisted. “But some awful man who knew about my trouble back home phoned me after you left the room. Bess was asleep and didn’t hear it. He said he would throw me overboard if I ever mentioned the Johannesburg incident to anyone!”

  “Oh, how awful!” Bess wailed.

  Nelda went on, “I didn’t know what to do. My first thought was to run. Then I remembered this vacant cabin and decided to come here. I took the keys out of the little drawer and opened all the doors. But I locked the corridor door of cabin one thirty and bolted it from the inside.”

  There was no doubt that Nelda was wide awake. The others were shocked by her story.

  Rod Havelock was very disturbed and said, “It’s a fact now that you have one or more enemies aboard, Nelda. So don’t ever go anywhere alone, or stay in the cabin by yourself. You might be in grave danger!”

  The girl promised to do what he said, and Nancy assured her that she and her friends would certainly protect her. Then she told how she and Rod had brought her trunk from the hold and would put the mystery trunk into the wardrobe of cabin one thirty.

  This was accomplished with the help of the two girls, then Rod locked the connecting door from one twenty-eight to one thirty and handed the girls the keys.

  “Good night,” he said, “although it’s really morning.” He looked at his wrist watch. “Only three hours sleep for me. I’d better go.”

  When he had left, the girls restored the keys to their hiding place in the wardrobe. Nancy’s trunk was shoved under the bed, where the other one had been, then Nelda heaved a sigh of relief. “I feel so much better now!”

  Nancy smiled. “I’m glad. Let’s get some sleep. I’ll unpack in the morning, because I’m much too weary now.”

  As Bess and Nelda settled under the covers, Nancy began to undress. Suddenly Bess said, “I just had a horrible thought. That man who telephoned might have broken in here and thought I was Nelda! He would have thrown me overboard by mistake!”

  Nancy tried to make light of the matter, but the words seemed to stick in her throat. She realized it could have happened!

  CHAPTER VIII

  Sign Language

  AFTER breakfast Nancy, Bess, and Nelda hurried back to their cabin. It had just been tidied by Heinrich. He was about to leave, but stood staring at Nancy’s brass-bound trunk. Upon seeing the girls, he said, “
Good morning, ladies,” and quickly left the cabin.

  “Snooping again,” Bess remarked.

  Nancy wondered if the steward realized it was a different trunk from the one that had been under her bed before. She mentioned this to the others.

  “Oh, I’m sure he noticed,” Nelda said. “I just wonder if he’ll tell others.”

  George said, “I have never trusted that man. I predict that one of these days we’re going to find out he has something to do with the mystery.”

  “He could be an informer and nothing more,” Nancy said.

  Within minutes there was a knock on the door. Nancy opened it. Lou, the locksmith, stood there. He smiled, said good morning, and added, “I brought something unique to show you.”

  He stepped into the room and took a complicated-looking lock with no lid from his pocket. Then he produced a key with many notches in it. “I thought you young ladies might be interested in seeing this master key and lock. It’s something new. I picked it up in Rotterdam just before we left.”

  To Nancy, the mechanism of the lock looked like the intricate workings of a very fine watch. She mentioned this to Lou.

  “You’re right,” he said. “And they’re just about as hard to devise, maybe harder.”

  Nelda said, “Please show us how the key works.”

  Lou inserted it into the keyhole, then said, “Now watch carefully.”

  The girls’ eyebrows raised in admiration as he turned the key and the various parts began to move—the pins, tumbler, springs, the driver spool, bolt spring, cam, and finally the roller bolt. He explained each part, opening and closing the lock several times.

  “Fabulous!” Bess remarked. “It would take a great brain to figure this out.” She giggled. “Not one like mine.”

  “This key is a master key,” the locksmith went on, “but not a simple one like some.” He said that probably only six locks were made like this one, but each slightly different. “This particular key, though, could open all of them,” he added.