“Why, I wouldn’t think of spending that much for a dress myself! Where does she get the money? I think it looks mighty suspicious.”
“It does look odd,” Mr. Drew agreed. “But there’s one weak spot in your hypothesis—besides my suggestion of the other day that someone is paying her to keep silent.”
“What is that?”
“This Mary Mason may have come into her money in a perfectly honest way. I visited all the pawnbroker shops this morning and I’m sorry to say I didn’t find a trace of the Crandall jewels.”
“Would you know the jewels if you saw them, Dad?”
“Yes, I am sure I would. I saw them a number of years ago, and I pride myself on having a certain eye for beautiful jewels. Even if they had been removed from their settings, I would recognize them instantly.”
“Did you describe Mary Mason to the pawnbrokers?”
“Yes, I gave them the best description I could. I’ve never seen the girl myself, but I recalled what you had told me about her. The pawnbrokers were quite certain they had never seen such a person.”
“I was afraid we’d not be able to trace the jewels that easily,” Nancy sighed.
“If that girl had anything to do with the robbery, she must have gone out of town with the loot. Perhaps we had better put a detective on the case.”
“Oh, don’t do that!” Nancy protested quickly. “Please let me work this out in my own way. Give me a week or ten days. If I can’t get anywhere in that time, then you can call in the regular detectives.”