“I wouldn’t call it accident. I went to Lilac Inn to ask for work in the kitchen and as I walked past the dining room window I saw Mrs. Willoughby and her friend sitting there.” Mary chuckled evilly at the recollection. “I noticed that big handbag of hers lying on the table, and from the way she was acting I knew right off there was something valuable in it.”
At this point, the girl lowered her voice so that it was difficult for Nancy to hear. Determined to find out whether or not Mary was the one who had stolen the jewels, she daringly opened the door a trifle wider. She thought there was no particular danger, for the room was but dimly lighted.
“I was wishing I could get my hands on that bag,” Mary continued, growing more boastful, “when suddenly there was a big smash-up down the road. Two automobiles had run together. Someone in the dining room yelled that there had been a bad accident. Everyone got excited and began running around.
“This gave me the chance I wanted. When Mrs. Willoughby turned her back I just reached my hand through the window and took the bag. It was the easiest job I ever pulled.”
“You might have been caught,” Bud said to her.
“Not Mary Mason! I’m too smart for the police. I just hid behind the lilac bushes until the excitement had died down. It sure was fun to hear Mrs. Willoughby carrying on in the dining room and accusing everyone! When I saw my chance, I slipped away without being seen and walked to River Heights. Neat, wasn’t it?”
“It was clever work,” Bud admitted.
“Forty thousand dollars’ worth of jewels in one haul! Why, that’s more than you and Tom Tozzle have brought in together in the last six years.