The two girls left alone together, Mary faced her prisoner with undisguised hatred.
“Thought you’d be smart, didn’t you?” she sneered. “Well, I guess this will teach you a lesson!”
Unable to make a retort, Nancy coldly turned her back, but even this did not stop the girl, for she was bent upon gloating over her victim.
“You’re a great detective!” she jeered. “You found out a few things, but a lot of good it will do you. After this experience you’ll be glad to give up the snooping business!”
Nancy Drew’s eyes flashed fire. Though she was not one to give vent to rage, it seemed to her that if her hands were free she would certainly fly at Mary Mason.
“Wouldn’t you give plenty to get your hands on the Crandall jewels?” the girl went on boastfully. “Well, you never will! And you’re sitting not six feet from them this minute!”
Nancy’s anger flickered away in an instant. She was startled at this information which Mary had dropped unwittingly, but she tried not to betray her interest in what the girl was saying. From her hiding place in the storeroom she had heard Tom Tozzle mention that the jewels had been hidden in a secret compartment of the motorboat. Probably they were now in the very cabin where she was imprisoned. If only Mary Mason would go on and tell her the location of the secret compartment!
However, the girl said no more about the jewels. She realized that already she had told too much.
Involuntarily, Nancy’s eyes swept the little cabin. If only she could think of a way to save the Crandall jewels! From the conversation which had taken place inside the old house she knew that some of the stones had