“I’m sure she wouldn’t,” Nancy returned soothingly. She could see that Emily was overwrought. “I intend to help her if I can.”
“Haven’t you any idea who took the jewels, Nancy?”
“Well, I have several ideas; but I’m not sure any one of them is a good one. However, I think I can promise you that I will solve the mystery during the next few days—if I ever solve it.”
“If only the police don’t arrest Mrs. Willoughby before that time!” and Emily began to pace the floor.
Nancy cheered her friend as best she could. When she left fifteen minutes later, Emily was calm again.
“I just know things will come out all right,” she told Nancy bravely, as she accompanied her to the roadster. “You’ve never failed to solve a mystery yet.”
Nancy Drew had stayed longer at the cottage than she had intended, and once on the road she drove rapidly to make up for lost time. Her talk with Emily Crandall had made her more than ever determined to find out what had become of the Crandall jewels. Though she was inclined to believe in Mrs. Willoughby, she was keen enough to realize that the evidence against her was extremely damaging. Unless the evidence soon pointed strongly in some other direction, the police would have Emily’s guardian behind the bars.
“Emily would suffer dreadfully from the humiliation,” Nancy thought. “And even if she were later proved innocent, it would ruin Mrs. Willoughby’s social standing.”
Driving up the boulevard she caught a glimpse of her own home and was surprised to see her father’s car parked on the driveway.