“I will tell everything,” Mrs. Brownell promised, “but only upon one condition.”
“What is that?” the lawyer asked.
“My little daughter must not be involved in this sordid mess. She is attending school in Paris and knows nothing about it. May I please have her picture back?”
“I’ll do my best to keep the knowledge of your arrest from her,” Mr. Drew promised as he handed over the photograph.
“I will gladly make a full confession,” Mrs. Brownell agreed, “without the advice of counsel.”
The woman named all the members of the ring of jewel thieves including Mrs. Cartlett. She agreed to dictate the confession later and sign it.
“One more question,” said Mr. Drew. “Did you burn down the Judson mansion?”
“No, no, I had nothing to do with that! The fire was an accident.”
“But you did visit Miss Judson with the intention of stealing the family jewels?”
“Yes, I deliberately brought up the subject with her, inducing her to open the safe. When she wasn’t looking, I took a valuable necklace, a ruby pin, and a diamond-studded watch. Miss Judson carried the other jewels to her room.”
“What became of the stolen articles?”
“I pawned them and gave part of the money to the gang.”
“Do you still have the tickets?” Margaret Judson asked eagerly.
“Yes, I kept them because the jewels were worth far more than I received from the pawnbroker.”
Margaret Judson was overjoyed to learn that every piece of her missing property would be returned. After federal agents had taken away the two prisoners, she thanked Nancy and Mr. Drew for their kindness.
“In helping you we helped ourselves,” the lawyer replied. “Mrs. Brownell’s confession is the beginning of the end for the ring of thieves.”
“I think we are all rather surprised that Martin Bartescue had nothing to do with jewel smuggling,” Nancy commented.
Her father smiled. “Apparently he’s just a boaster.”
Soon after the departure of the federal agents and the prisoners, Mark Wardell, Bess, George, and the three boys appeared at the cabin. They had remained away because they did not want to hamper the work of the detectives. There was general rejoicing because Margaret Judson had been completely vindicated.
“One angle of the mystery baffles me,” Nancy declared as they all sat grouped about Joe Haley’s bed. “I keep wondering who set up the scarecrow that made the bridge seem haunted.”
Mr. Haley, who had enjoyed listening to the account of the day’s happenings, began to chuckle.
“I did it,” he announced. “Inquisitive young campers kept coming here and causing trouble. They bothered my mountain lion and tramped on my flowers. I thought the scarecrow might help to keep people away.
“It kept dogs away too. They used to attack the figure and bark so loudly that I’d always hear them and drive them off before they could come up here and damage my choice plants.”
“Is that why you ran away from me?” Nancy asked. “Because you didn’t want visitors?”
Mr. Haley nodded. “I didn’t want anybody here, but now I’m glad to have friends like you.”
Burt spoke up. “When Dave and I repaired the bridge, we set a new scarecrow in place. He’ll guard your property for a long time to come.”
“There’s still one more thing to be explained,” Bess declared. “What caused the groaning noise we heard so often?”
“I know the answer.” Nancy smiled. “Wait until we walk over the haunted bridge on our way back to the hotel.” She winked at Mr. Haley and whispered to him. He nodded.
Margaret Judson planned to remain with her former gardener and care for him until he could resume his usual duties. Ned, Burt, and Dave were no longer needed.
Mr. Haley grinned. “Now you’ll be free to enjoy several days of fun before you return home.”
Ned winked at the elderly man. “How long do you think Nancy Drew can just have fun? Only until the next mystery comes along—say in three days?”
Nancy chuckled. “Mysteries are fun too. Be sure all of you are around to help solve the next one.”
Ned’s prediction was almost right. Within a couple of weeks Nancy and her friends found themselves deeply involved in another intriguing case, The Clue of the Tapping Heels.
As the young people prepared to leave the cabin, Margaret Judson took the girls aside to tell them that she and Mark Wardell planned to be married as soon as Mr. Haley was better, so he could attend.
“Mark and I expect to rebuild the old mansion,” she revealed. “Joe Haley has promised to take care of the property for us, and we hope to reestablish everything just as it was before the fire.”
“Wonderful!” said Nancy, and the other girls echoed her good wishes.
On the way back to the hotel, everyone talked excitedly about the happy outcome of the mystery. When they reached the middle of the footbridge, Nancy called Bess’s attention to two tall trees.
“There’s the cause of the spooky sound we heard so often.”
“I don’t see—” Bess began, then trailed off into silence.
The wind was rocking the treetops, and as two thick boughs rubbed together, the strange moaning and groaning could be heard.
“Nancy, you’re the greatest,” George declared.
No matter how many mysteries Nancy had solved, her friends never ceased to be amazed each time.
Single file, the group trudged across the bridge, a little sorry their adventure had ended. But there was laughter when Nancy, who came last, paused to shake one limp arm of the flapping scarecrow.
“Good-by, old Mr. Ghost!” she addressed him gaily. “A million thanks for spooking me into a very puzzling mystery.”
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