10 Password to Larkspur Lane

CHAPTER XIII
Baiting a Thief
GEORGE frowned. “You’re not going to try
getting into this place now, are you?”
“No,” said Nancy. “I’d probably end up a
prisoner.” She thought of the old lady who
was being held against her will.
“It’s getting late,” Bess put in. “We’d better
go back to the Comings’.”
“Yes,” Nancy agreed reluctantly. “We have
our work cut out for us tonight.”
“Why don’t you just tell the police where the
sanatorium is?” Bess asked nervously. “Let

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them rescue Mrs. Eldridge.”
Nancy shook her head. “We must get her to
safety before the police raid starts. Otherwise,
the gang might harm the poor woman to keep
her from talking. We’ll have to find out
exactly where they’re keeping her prisoner in
the mansion.”
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“It’s such a big house,” Bess said gloomily,
“Mrs. Eldridge might be hard to find.”
“It’s also possible she’s not here any more,”
George said. “The gang knows the police are
after them and they may have moved her.”
When they reached the car, Nancy hid in the
back again and George drove. At the

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Comings’
Bess was asked to go in first and make sure
Morgan was in his room.
“No use having him learn my secret,” Nancy
remarked. “Thorne might get it out of him
before I’m ready to have it known.” Learning
the coast was clear, she scooted up to her
room.
Mrs. Corning had dinner ready, so a tray was
prepared for Nancy. The others ate in the
dining room, then went upstairs.
“Now tell us your plan for capturing the
thieves if they come,” Mr. Corning urged.
Nancy said, “Here it is. First, remember that
the crystal-garden room has two doors—one

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to the hall, the other to the TV room. Each
has a key that’s now on the inside.”
Her host nodded.
Nancy went on, “The boys will be outside.
Dave will be watching in the shrubs
bordering the flagstone area; Burt, at the top
of the patch which leads to the dock; and
Ned, on the garage roof.
“As soon as the thief—or thieves—enters the
house, Ned will signal with a walkie-talkie to
Mr. Dennis at the camp and he will call the
police. Meanwhile, Burt and Dave will be
ready to tackle anybody watching on the
outside. We girls will lock any intruders in the
crystal room.”

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“But suppose they see you?” Mrs. Corning
asked.
“They won’t,” said Nancy. “Bess and George
will hide across the hall in the kitchen. I’ll be
in the TV room. As soon as the thieves enter,
I’ll lock the adjoining door. At the same time,
the girls will slip across the hall and quietly
lock that door.”
Mr. Corning asked what he and his wife
should do.
“I suggest you go to your room as usual,”
Nancy replied. “That will cause less
suspicion.”
At nine o’clock the lights were put out on the
first floor, the couple retired, and the girls
took their posts. Nancy held the door to the

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crystal room open a crack, put the key on the
outside of the lock, and watched. It seemed
that she stood for ages before the other door
opened.
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There was a click and the light went on in the
glass cabinet. Nancy gripped the key, ready to
shut the door. Suddenly she froze. Only one
figure approached the cabinet.
Morgan! A thief!
He was carrying a large suitcase, which he
put on the floor. Nancy watched, hardly
daring to breathe, as he took a small tool from
his pocket and picked at the cabinet lock.

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A few minutes later he pulled the glass door
open. Then he swung back the lid of the
suitcase. Nancy saw that it was divided into
compartments and heavily padded with
velvet.
“A special carrying case,” she thought.
As the man’s trembling hands reached toward
a fragile crystal flower, he suddenly drew
back.
“No!” he whispered hoarsely. “I can’t do it!”
He buried his face in his hands with a sob.
Nancy hurried to his side. “Morgan!” she said
softly. The man whirled and gave a gasp.
“Don’t be afraid,” she said quickly. “Let me
help you.”

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He groaned and sank into a chair beside the
cabinet. “How can you know—all this?”
“I know part of it,” she replied. “Where is the
gang? You were to let them in, weren’t you?”
The man stared at her, amazed.
“Yes, but Thorne changed his mind. He said I
should steal the crystal flowers and deliver
them in this special case he gave me. I used to
be pretty good at lock picking,” he added,
flushing miserably.
“That’s how Thorne got his hold over you,
isn’t it?” asked Nancy. “He knew you’d been
in prison and he helped forge your
references.”
The thief pulled the glass door open

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The houseman nodded. “I wanted to go
straight and I did. I wouldn’t hurt the
Comings for anything. But Thorne—He
wouldn’t leave me alone. Kidnapped me.
Held me on a big estate.
Said the larkspur would be the signal for this
theft. I’d have to deliver—or else.”
“There’s a Mrs. Eldridge being held prisoner
there, too,” said Nancy. “Did you see her?”
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“Eldridge?” Morgan repeated. “I think I heard
the name, but—” Suddenly he broke off.
“Listen! There they are!”

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The sound of a low whistle came from
outside. Nancy flew to the switch and
snapped off the light in the crystal case.
“I’ll close it,” Morgan whispered. The door
clicked shut. “What—what shall I do?” he
stammered.
“Listen,” Nancy said quickly. “We’ll have to
get them in here. I have a trap set, but you
must go out and tell the men you need help—
that you’re too weak to carry all the loot.”
“They’d never believe me. I’m no good at
acting.”
“There must be some way to get them in
here,” Nancy declared. “Suppose you just
don’t go out.”

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Morgan gave a bitter laugh. “They’ll go
away. And then in a day or so I’ll disappear
and never come back. Thorne will see to that.
He won’t stand for any double cross.”
Nancy had an idea. “Come with me!” She led
the way into the hall.
At once the kitchen door opened. “What’s
up?” George whispered. “Where’s the gang?”
Nancy drew Morgan into the dark kitchen
and explained to the girls. “But I’ve thought
of a way to lure the gang into the house,” she
said. “If they find out I wasn’t injured and am
still working on this case, they’ll come after
me.”
Bess caught her breath. “You don’t mean
you’d let them know?”

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“Morgan will tell them,” said Nancy. “Bess,
you stay here and George will take over the
door of the TV room. I’ll go out with
Morgan. If they don’t believe him, I’ll let
them see me and then run in here. That
should do it.”
“No!” said the houseman. “I won’t let you,
Miss Drew. Adam Thorne is dangerous. He
will stop at nothing. It’s too big a risk for
you.”
“I’m not afraid,” said Nancy.
Suddenly Morgan darted away and ran
through the utility room. Nancy dashed after
him, calling:
“Morgan! Come back!”

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“No!” he called. “I’m telling Thorne, I won’t
do it. I don’t care what happens to me!”
Nancy raced outside and grasped the panting
man.
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“Thorne,” he called, “I won’t do it!”
“Morgan!” Nancy cried frantically. “Come
inside!”
An instant later powerful hands gripped
Nancy’s shoulders and swung her away from
the houseman. She reeled and fell backward
in the darkness. Nancy struck the gravel
driveway hard and blacked out.

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