Neatly packed was one of the most exquisite wedding dresses they had ever seen. With it were very pointed high-heeled white satin slippers, now yellowed with age.
The lovely veil looked so fragile that the girls were afraid to touch it, but they did pick up the ivory-handled, hand-painted fan which had been the French queen’s gift to Abigail Rorick.
“It’s beautiful!” Nancy exclaimed
At the bottom of the chest lay a velvet jewel case. Uncle John asked Nancy to open it. Within, pinned to the satin lining of the case, were two exquisite miniatures painted on ivory. They were framed with jewels.
“How gorgeous! They’re portraits of Louis Phillipe and his queen!” she exclaimed.
Everyone continued to stare at the array of beauty for several minutes. Then finally George said, “Wait until you hear the rest of what happened while you were away.”
When she finished, Uncle John and his housekeeper were open-mouthed with amazement.
“Treasures! Gifts! The phantom in jail! A secret passageway uncovered!” Mr. Rorick exclaimed. He added, “I can never thank you girls enough. What can I do to show my appreciation?”
Nancy laughed. “Don’t forget that you took us in when we were homeless. That was a very big favor.”
Uncle John declared that the solving of the two mysteries was cause for a celebration. “We’ll have it right here. I’ll engage caterers to serve the food. Among the guests will be people from the university and officials of the town of Emerson.”
“And Mrs. Palmer,” put in Nancy. “I promised to tell her the outcome of the mystery.”
“Certainly,” said Uncle John. “Then together you girls and I will present the chest of gold coins to the town officials and the wedding gown and other pieces to the university museum.” Suddenly he grinned. “But not these precious miniatures. These I will keep and give to the first of you three girls to be married!”
Nancy, Bess, and George blushed and Nancy quickly changed the subject by saying she wondered what her next mystery would be. It was not long before she became involved in The Mystery of the 99 Steps.
“Perhaps the museum would like the piece of ribbon we found in the Indian cave,” Nancy suggested.
A strange look came over the old man’s face. “You—you found that place!” he exclaimed. “Why, I could have told you all about it and the ribbon, too. I used to play there as a boy. Why didn’t you tell me?” he added.
“I thought I did,” said Nancy, and was sure she had. “But,” she added politely, “I’m afraid I forgot. I’m sorry.”
The old man chuckled. “Think nothing of it, my dear,” he said. “All of us forget things now and then—even,” he added, patting her hand, “the best of young lady detectives!”
The Phantom of Pine Hill Page 12
