Read (#24) The Clue in the Old Album for Free Online Page A

up.
    “Looks like an old concert program,” she said.
    “That’s exactly what it is,” Nancy added as she read over George’s shoulder. “And see whose name is featured—Romano Pepito’s!”
    “The gypsy violinist!” Bess exclaimed. “How did it get here?”
    “From the looks of this lot a gypsy caravan could have camped here recently.” Nancy explained. She walked over to a pile on the ground and discovered it was a tattered old tent. There were also the remains of a fire.
    “Perhaps some of the campers knew Romano Pepito,” Bess said.
    “He may even have been here himself!” Nancy suggested. “Oh, I’d give anything to find the group and ask them about Pepito.”
    “No time to do that now,” George said. “If we’re going to catch the plane to River Heights, we’d better hop a cab to the airport.”
    The driver made such a quick trip to the terminal, that Nancy had time to call Mrs. Struthers and tell her about the purchases. Mrs. Carroll answered the phone.
    “Oh, Nancy, something dreadful has happened since you’ve been gone. Can you come here direct from the plane?”
    The young detective agreed to do that. When she reached the Struthers’ home, the housekeeper was waiting for her.
    “Matters are in a bad state,” Mrs. Carroll said.
    “What’s wrong?”
    “A child in the neighborhood, Janie Bond, started a story that Rose’s father is a gypsy. To make it worse, she said all gypsies are thieves!”
    “Oh, how unfair!” Nancy exclaimed. “Rose’s father was a talented violinist.”
    “Yes, I know,” the housekeeper agreed. “Mrs. Struthers told me the whole story this morning, but she hasn’t mentioned a thing to Rose.”
    “Why not?”
    “I don’t know, and naturally Rose believes what Janie says. Won’t you see what you can do with Mrs. Struthers?”
    “Is she in her room?”
    “Yes. She gets more beside herself by the minute. I wanted to call the doctor, but she wouldn’t let me.”
    Nancy hurried up the stairs and went direct to Mrs. Struthers, who was lying on the bed.
    “Oh, my dear, what am I going to do?” the anxious woman cried out.
    Nancy took Mrs. Struthers’ hand in her own and tried to quiet her. “Please don’t be so upset,” she said. “Children say things without thinking and forget them the next minute.”
    “But not this,” Mrs. Struthers said. “The disgrace of it! Things were bad enough before, but now to have everyone think my daughter married a thief!”
    “Please, Mrs. Struthers. Intelligent people know most gypsies are fine people, and wouldn’t believe little Janie Bond.”
    Nancy went on to say that what other people thought was of far less importance anyway than what the blow might do to Rose. “She’s a sensitive child, and if things aren’t straightened out in her mind she may do something drastic.”
    “In what way?” Mrs. Struthers asked.
    “Oh, run away, for instance.”
    The woman looked frightened. She did not speak for several seconds, then said, “Nancy, you are a wise person. I can see I lost my head. I’ll tell Rose everything at once!”
    As the woman rose from the bed Nancy laid a restraining hand on her shoulder. “Would you like to suggest to Rose that on account of her father’s work he was unable to return to his family, but that he will as soon as he can?”
    Mrs. Struthers smiled. “It is very good advice. I’ll take it. Will you come with me?”
    “No. I’ll wait in the living room.”
    Mrs. Struthers went to Rose’s room and stayed for half an hour. Then the two went downstairs, where Nancy was waiting.
    How changed both looked! They were actually smiling at each other! Nancy learned that the only barrier not crossed was that Rose stubbornly refused to return to school. She was afraid children might make fun of her.
    Again Mrs. Struthers appealed to Nancy, who thought a moment, then said, “Why don’t you arrange to have Rose tutored at home and add music and dancing to her studies?”
    “Oh,