The Secret in the Old Attic Read Online Free PDF

said, rising also.
    Nancy went to the room assigned to her, but could not sleep. She kept thinking about the skeleton and the man Effie had seen outside the house. Time and again she roused at unfamiliar sounds on the grounds and in the house. Then the next time she opened her eyes it was morning.
    “Nearly eight o’clock!” she said in astonishment, looking at her watch. “I did get some sleep after all. I believe I’ll hurry home and have breakfast with Dad before he goes to his office.”
    Explaining to Mr. March that she would return later, Nancy drove to her own house. There she found her father in his study examining something under a microscope.
    “Oh, hello,” he greeted her, looking up from his work and kissing her. “I thought maybe you’d come and eat with your old dad. Any adventures last night?”
    “None, except that a skeleton and I got a little chummy.”
    “What!”
    She related all that had happened at Pleasant Hedges, adding that she planned to investigate the wardrobe further.
    “That attic is a strange place indeed,” Mr. Drew commented. Then he turned to a problem of his own. “I’m glad you came back, Nancy, or I believe I would have driven out to get you.”
    “Something wrong?”
    “Not exactly. But I’m puzzled. See these?”
    He pointed toward his desk. On it lay two white silk women’s scarves, which appeared to be identical.
    “What in the world are you doing with those?” Nancy asked.
    “Another case.” Her father smiled. Then he added, “Take a look at these two scarves. Does the material appear exactly the same to you?”
    Nancy examined them carefully. “I can see no difference.”
    “Nor can I, even under a microscope,” declared her father.
    Nancy fingered the material as Mr. Drew paused. He stared into space, as if puzzled about something.
    “What’s the problem?” Nancy asked.
    “The scarves were manufactured by separate concerns,” Mr. Drew explained. “My client Mr. Booker—president of the Booker Manufacturing Company—contends that another company has stolen his formula for making the special material used in them, and could ruin his business.”
    “What’s the name of the other company?”
    “The Lucius Dight Corporation.”
    “I know the place!” Nancy exclaimed. “Mr. Dight’s daughter Diane was in one of my classes in school. She’s a little older than I am. You say her father has stolen something?”
    Mr. Drew looked concerned. “Is Diane your friend, Nancy?” he asked.
    “No, Dad, I wouldn’t call her that. She goes around with an entirely different crowd. Diane’s an attractive-looking girl, but she’s spoiled and willful.”
    “It’s fortunate she’s not a particular friend,” Mr. Drew said, much relieved, “because I’d like you to do a little sleuthing for me on this case.”
    “I’d love to!”
    “I thought so. While you and I eat breakfast, I’ll tell you what I heard from Mr. Booker yesterday afternoon.”
    Father and daughter took their places at the breakfast table. Then Mr. Drew began his story.
    “My client Mr. Booker suspects that a former workman of his, named Bushy Trott, was in reality a spy from the Dight factory.”
    “What a curious name—Bushy Trott!”
    “His nickname, I assume. I’ve seen a photograph of the man. A coarse-looking fellow with wild, bushy black hair.”
    “So Mr. Booker believes that Bushy worked at the plant only to learn the secret process for making the silk material?”
    “Yes, his contention is that the man was sent as a spy by Mr. Dight. Until recently the Dight plant manufactured only synthetic materials, not silk.”
    “How can I help on the case?” Nancy inquired eagerly.
    “I was wondering that myself, until you mentioned knowing Diane Dight. Do you suppose that through her you might be able to look around her father’s plant? As a rule, visitors are barred. If I, a lawyer, should go, the owner might become suspicious of my motives.”
    “I’ll be glad to try,”