Free (#24) The Clue in the Old Album by Carolyn Keene

lessons.
    “Oh, I just love them!” she shouted. “My teacher says I’m a natural. I’m to have an audition for television or the movies if Granny will say it’s okay.”
    “Granny hasn’t said so yet,” Mrs. Struthers interrupted. “Rose is not doing so well with her other lessons, Nancy, and until she does I couldn’t think of such a thing.”
    “I can’t study all the time!” Rose exclaimed. “Anyway, it’s just like being in jail here. I can’t leave the house without being watched.”
    “Why, what do you mean?” Mrs. Struthers asked.
    “I know you put a detective on the grounds. He watches me all the time. I don’t like it. Everybody in this house is being watched.”
    Dismayed that Rose had learned about the detective Mr. Drew had employed, Nancy tried to calm the girl and her grandmother. Of course Mrs. Struthers professed her innocence.
    “Please don’t worry,” Nancy pleaded. “I’m responsible for this, and I’ll explain everything when I see you.”
    Alarmed at the turn affairs had taken, Nancy and her friends returned home. Several hours elapsed before the young detective reached the Struthers’ house.
    When Nancy arrived, she learned that her telephone call had caused a lot of confusion in the household. Rose’s conversation had been overheard by Mrs. Carroll, who had promptly repeated it to her husband.
    Convinced that a detective had been employed because the couple was thought to be dishonest, the woman had announced that they were leaving at once. To pacify them, Mrs. Struthers had ordered the detective off the grounds.
    Nancy’s explanation of why her father had engaged the man without first speaking to Mrs. Struthers cleared matters somewhat. Rose’s grandmother said she appreciated the Drews’ good intentions, but did not want the detective to return.
    Nancy changed the subject. “I’ve brought some purchases, and also a photograph of Romano Pepito,” she said.
    Mrs. Struthers’ eyes opened wide. “I’ve never seen a picture of him. Is he—”
    Nancy smiled as she handed over the picture. “He’s very handsome and kind looking. I’m sure he wouldn’t harm anyone intentionally. No doubt he was forced to leave his family against his will.”
    Mrs. Struthers gazed at the photograph for several seconds before speaking. Tears filled her eyes. “I—I do so wish things had been different,” she said. “Yes, he is handsome. Rose looks like him and no doubt inherits his musical talent. But the fire in her—”
    “What fire?” asked a voice, and Rose danced into the room. Seeing the photograph, she cried out, “Who’s this? Don’t tell me! I know! It’s my father!”
    “What makes you think so?” Nancy countered, giving Mrs. Struthers a chance to decide whether or not to tell her granddaughter the truth.
    “Because I look like him!” Rose said.
    Nancy glanced at Mrs. Struthers, who put her arm around the child and said, “Yes, he is your father.”
    “I want to see him!” Rose demanded. “Take me to him.”
    “We do not know where he is—or do you, Nancy?” the woman asked hopefully.
    Nancy shook her head.
    “Oh, please find him,” Rose begged.
    “I’ll try to,” the young detective promised.
    As Rose claimed the picture for herself and went off with it, Nancy explained to Mrs. Struthers how she had obtained the photograph and what she was doing to locate Romano Pepito.
    “Have you ever heard of a Henrietta Bostwick?” she asked.
    “No,” Mrs. Struthers answered as Nancy opened the package with the old album in it, and showed her the strange message, which was a duplicate of the one in her own album.
    The source of light will heal all ills, but a curse will follow him who takes it from the gypsies.
    “What a coincidence!” Mrs. Struthers exclaimed. “I never heard of the woman.”
    “This Henrietta Bostwick may have sent the same quotation to your daughter.”
    “That’s so,” Mrs. Struthers agreed.
    She and Nancy discussed the mystery