Free The Mystery of the 99 Steps by Carolyn G. Keene Page B

pleaded. “A friend of mine was forced inside by somebody near the top of the L’Orangerie steps.”
    The guard looked at Nancy skeptically. She knew he was wondering if she had suddenly gone mad.
    “This is serious,” she said. “I’m not fooling. Please! My friend is in danger!”
    Suddenly the guard seemed to sense that perhaps Nancy was telling the truth. He admitted her, and together the two raced up a staircase and to the door in question. No one was in sight.
    The guard gave Nancy a look of disgust. “I do not like people who play jokes,” he said brusquely. “Now you had better leave. And quickly!”
    Nancy was at her wit’s end. How could she convince this man? Then her eyes lighted on a pale-blue button from George’s blouse. She picked it up from the floor.
    “Here’s proof,” she said to the guard, and explained where the button had come from.
    “Then where is she?” he asked, now worried himself.
    “We’ll have to find out,” Nancy replied.
    She led the way, practically running from room to room. There was no sign of either George or her abductor.
    “Maybe the fellow sneaked down one of the stairways and went out,” the guard suggested.
    As the two stood debating where to search next, they suddenly saw a man in uniform dash from one of the rooms and head for the main stairway.
    The guard with Nancy muttered, “Very odd. I am supposed to be the only one left on duty.”
    Nancy cried out, “That man may be a fake! Come on!”
    They dashed after the uniformed figure, but by the time they reached the top of the staircase he was out of sight. A door below slammed.
    Out of breath, the guard said worriedly, “The fellow has probably escaped. I hope he did not steal anything.”
    Nancy had a different idea—that the fugitive had grabbed George with the crook end of the cane. “He must have left my friend behind. We’ll have to keep searching!”
    Nancy and the guard pressed on. Presently they reached Louis XIV’s bedroom and stood still in amazement.
    George Fayne lay on the ornate bed asleep!
    At least Nancy hoped that George was asleep. Fearfully she went toward her friend. Just as she reached the bed, George opened her eyes. She looked around wildly, murmuring, “Where am I?”
    “Oh, thank goodness you’re all right!” Nancy cried out.
    The guard’s expression was one of utter disbelief. For a moment he could only stare at George as if she were an apparition.
    “George, how do you feel?” Nancy asked solicitously.
    “I—I guess I’m all right,” George answered shakily. “When something hooked around my neck I blacked out.” She started to sit up.
    By now the guard was thoroughly alarmed. “No, no!” he insisted. “Do not move. I shall call a doctor. And I must also inform the police at once.” He hurried off.
    George protested, but Nancy agreed with the guard and insisted that George lie still. It seemed an endless time before the man returned with a physician and two police officers. After examining her, the doctor said that George was all right but should rest. Then he left.
    Suddenly George burst out laughing. “This is so ridiculous! I can’t believe it really happened!” Between gales of mirth, she said, “Imagine me sleeping in Louis XIV’s bed!” Finally Nancy, the guard, and the policemen were also laughing.
    George’s eyes became so filled with tears of merriment that she had to wipe them away. As she pulled a handkerchief from the pocket of her blouse, a folded sheet of paper fluttered to the floor. Nancy picked it up and handed the paper back to George. When she opened it, a strange expression came over her face.
    “What’s the matter?” Nancy asked.
    “Somebody put this note in my pocket! It’s another warning!”
    The two officers instantly became alert. “What do you mean?” one asked.
    “First I’ll read the note,” she said. “Then my friend Nancy can tell you the rest.” George read aloud the typed message:
    “‘You girls mind your own