Read (#15) The Haunted Bridge for Free Online

into the lower half of the mirror! As Nancy showed it to her friends, Bess declared, “It’s the photo of a child.”
    “Evidently it was ruined by water,” George observed. “This looks like the picture of a little girl.”
    George and Bess could not imagine why Nancy should consider the discovery so important. She was tempted to tell them of her father’s search for the possessor of just such an article. But recalling that the secret was not hers to reveal, she remained silent.
    “Nancy, you don’t seem pleased over all this treasure,” Bess remarked as she and George continued to examine the beautiful pieces.
    “I was just thinking—” Nancy answered absently. “I must show Dad the chest as soon as he returns to the hotel.”
    Shortly after eleven o’clock the girls heard Mr. Drew enter his room directly across the hall. Nancy lost no time in showing her father the carved brass chest. She threw open the lid, enjoying his look of amazement as he beheld the dazzling display of gems.
    “Nancy, have you robbed a jewelry store?” he teased.
    His daughter laughed and explained briefly how the chest had come into her possession. She climaxed the startling story by thrusting the jeweled compact into his hand.
    “Dad, could this be the article we’ve been trying to trace?”
    Carson Drew carefully examined the gleaming object.
    “It certainly fits the description. And there’s no question about the quality of the jewelry.”
    “Dad, the chest may have been hidden by a member of the gang of thieves.”
    “Yes, that’s very possible. This discovery may change all our plans.”
    “And to complicate them, it will be harder to track down the mysterious woman since she won’t be carrying the telltale compact.”
    Carson Drew gave a sigh and suppressed a yawn. He said, “If this compact belongs to her—yes. We have no other clue. Suppose I keep this jewelry in my possession until I communicate with New York City detectives. I’ll telephone immediately and give a description of every piece in the chest. Possibly they can identify the jewelry as stolen property.”
    Before saying good night, Nancy told her father that she was scheduled to play in the first round of the golf tournament the following day. Then she kissed him and went off to bed.
    Nine o’clock the next morning Nancy was waiting at the first tee for Miss Amy Gray, whose name had been drawn with her own for the initial match.
    Bess and George were on hand to see their friend’s first drive. They had decided against following her over the course, fearing that their presence might prove distracting. Nancy had arranged for Chris to caddy for her. He smiled encouragingly as she took a few practice swings.
    “How does your hand feel?” George inquired.
    “Oh, fine,” Nancy answered.
    Amy Gray, about thirty and slightly plump, soon arrived with her caddy. She drove a ball which sped two hundred yards straight down the fairway. Calmly Nancy stepped to the tee and sent her own ball within a few feet of that of her opponent.
    Bess and George were delighted at the beautiful shot. From the first tee, they watched the pair play the hole and were almost certain that Nancy had won by a stroke.
    “She’s starting off pretty well even if her hand does bother her,” Bess declared gleefully.
    Amy Gray was an able player and did not waste strokes. She took the second hole and the third, leaving Nancy on the defensive. After that, it was a grim fight with first one player having the advantage, then the other. Finally when Amy shot a ball into the river on the fifteenth fairway Nancy knew that she herself would win the match.
    “You’re playing a beautiful game,” Amy congratulated her.
    “I’m afraid my final score won’t be as low as I’d like,” Nancy replied. “That is, not unless I make pars on the last three holes. Number sixteen isn’t my favorite, either.”
    She smiled significantly at Chris, who averted his eyes in embarrassment. He was still