Free Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion by Carolyn Keene Page A

Nancy and whispered, “Now’s your chance to get away.”
    Nancy thought so too. Putting the car into gear, she drove off down the road.
    George glanced back several times to see if Mr. Scarlett was following them. There was no sign of his car.
    As they neared the airport, George said, “It seems strange he knew where to find us. Do you suppose he was at the house and Hannah or Bess told him?”
    “Even if he were there, I’m sure they wouldn’t tell him. Besides, they could truthfully say they didn’t know where the key is because I hid it and forgot to tell you all the place.”
    Nancy parked and glanced at her watch. Ten minutes to ten.
    “Dad should be in soon,” Nancy said, a smile crossing her face. “It will be so good to see him again.”
    As the girls walked into the terminal building, they noticed that people waiting to meet relatives or friends looked tense and worried. One woman was pacing the floor nervously, wiping perspiration from her face, though the night was cool.
    As she came close to the girls, she said, “The New York plane is in trouble.”
    “What’s wrong?” Nancy asked her.
    The woman looked at the girl, terror in her eyes. “The landing gear jammed. The wheels won’t come down. This means a crash landing!”

CHAPTER XII
    Frustrated Thief
    THE girls gasped and rushed outside to watch the plane carrying Mr. Drew and the Billingtons. It was circling the field. The runway had been sprayed with foam. A fire truck and an ambulance stood nearby. Soon the great jetliner began to descend.
    “But the landing wheels aren’t down!” murmured the woman who had followed the girls outdoors.
    With Nancy and George she watched breathlessly. Upon landing the plane might spin around.
    Fortunately the pilot made a skillful belly landing and all the waiting friends and relatives gave sighs of relief. Mr. Drew and the Billingtons were among the first to get off. The pilot had already come out and the two men hurried to catch up to him.
    “Congratulations on your fine work!” Mr. Drew called. Mr. Billington also complimented the pilot.
    “It’s all in a day’s work,” the young captain answered with a smile, then disappeared into the offices of the airline.
    Mr. Drew introduced the Billingtons, who said they had been looking forward to meeting Nancy and her friends. As soon as they were seated in the car, Mr. Billington requested that the girls tell him about the fire.
    Nancy reported on it in detail and told him the arsonist had not been caught. “Mr. Billington, we have found Tina and Antin a complete mystery. Do you think it possible that he had anything to do with the fire?”
    “Not Antin,” Mr. Billington said quickly. “I always thought he loved my orange grove and would be heartbroken if something happened to it.”
    Nancy and George made no comment. Antin had certainly not shown this kind of regret about the burned trees and packing house.
    George told about the girls’ experience on the way to the airport. “Mr. Scarlett was positively contemptible, and he said that the Webster house had been taken off the market.”
    “Dad,” said Nancy, “could you find out if it is really true?”
    When he nodded, she added, “The girls and I have wondered if Scarlett is acting in collusion with the owner of the moss-covered mansion.” She told the men about the wild animals they had seen. “The trainer was very hostile to us. I suspect he doesn’t want any new neighbors.”
    Mr. Drew asked, “Have you talked to the police about the place?”
    “No, I haven’t,” Nancy replied, “but I’ll do 80 first thing in the morning.”
    When the Drews and their friends arrived at the Billington house, they were amazed to hear of Mr. Scarlett’s rude behavior toward Hannah and Bess.
    Mr. Drew scowled. “I don’t like his actions. I doubt that he is to be trusted. You say he went into the grounds of the moss-covered mansion furtively?”
    “Yes,” Nancy replied. “Suppose I call the