“It was a foreign dealer who skipped town,” Margaret explained. “He was using a phony name, too.”
“Then why not go back to Herbert?” Nancy asked.
“The publicity would have been awful,” Margaret said. “Besides, we couldn’t blame Herbert. He had only given a professional opinion. It was our responsibility to make the final decision. It would have destroyed Stone’s professional reputation. And my own career would be ruined. All my life I’ve wanted to be a museum curator.”
“So you figured you’d steal the fake to get rid of the evidence,” Nancy said. “And the museum would get its money back from the insurance company. Everything would be neat and tidy, and no one would ever know about Stone’s big mistake.”
Margaret nodded. She seemed relieved the truth was out.
“So Nelson Stone definitely wrote the threatening letter to himself,” Nancy continued. “He wanted me to be there in his office when the robbery took place. It gave him a perfect alibi, because he knew that the police would believe me. All you had to do was wait in your office until I passed by with Mr. Stone. Then you took the statue and made your exit through the fire escape.”
Margaret nodded again.
“Stone thought he’d keep me busy with those bogus attempts on his life,” Nancy went on. “I can’t believe he’d actually sever the brake line on his own car. He put himself in serious danger doing that. And when he realized I was getting too close, he had you keep an eye on me. Tell me, Margaret,” Nancy asked, “did Stone intentionally try to poison that poor dog?”
The blond woman looked as if she were going to cry again. “I’m afraid so. Mr. Stone got carried away, trying to make the threats on his life look real. He’s the one who pushed you into the toolshed, too, to get the hacksaw. And he smashed the window in your car and left the note.”
“I’m sorry,” Nancy said, “but we’ll have to report this to the police. If you tell them the truth, they may go easier on you.”
Margaret nodded glumly as Nancy went to the hallway and phoned the police.
After Nancy hung up the phone, Margaret came into the hallway, holding a golden statue of a horse. “This is what I took from the museum,” she said, handing the piece to Nancy.
George moved forward and took a closer look. “I’ve never seen the original,” she said, “but it sure looks real to me.”
A short while later the doorbell rang, and Nancy led Lieutenant Higgins and Officer Jenkins into the house.
“Well, well,” Lieutenant Higgins said, entering the living room. “If it isn’t Nancy Drew. McGinnis told me you were good.” He stepped forward, eyeing the statue. “So this is the famous Golden Horse, huh?” he said. “The insurance company will be very glad to hear that it has been recovered, I’m sure.”
Nancy smiled as she handed the statue over. “I don’t think so, Lieutenant. I’m afraid this one’s a fake.”
Lieutenant Higgins did a double take, and Nancy repeated Margaret’s story.
“Okay,” he said. “We’ll take over from here.” He thanked Nancy for her help, then turned to Margaret. Nancy decided that it was time for her and George to leave.
“There’s one thing I’m not clear on,” George said as they got back in the car. “Herbert had the jeweler make him a copy of the Golden Horse, but did Herbert ever have the real one to copy?”
“Good question,” Nancy said. “Either the professor really did make a mistake and authenticated a fake—or he switched horses at the time of the appraisal and gave Todd’s copy back to the museum.”
George whistled softly.
“So that means,” Nancy said, “that Professor Herbert may have the real Golden Horse!”
13
Risky Business
“Don’t worry,” Nancy said to George, starting up her car. “I may have a way to find out if Professor Herbert has the real Golden Horse.” Pulling out from behind the police car, she added grimly, “If he hasn’t sold it already.”
“That would be terrible,” George said as they turned onto the main road.
Just then a vintage Cadillac swung past them, heading in the opposite direction.
“Hey!” Nancy cried. “That’s Stone!”
“He must be going to Margaret Parker’s place,” George said.
Nancy made a quick U-turn and followed the Cadillac. “Well, he’s in for a big surprise when he sees Lieutenant Higgins.”
A moment later the girls saw Stone’s car slow down in front of the assistant curator’s house. Then, suddenly, the Cadillac accelerated with a screech of tires.
“He saw the police car,” Nancy said. “But he won’t escape that way. It’s a dead end.”
At the far end of the road Stone made a rapid three-point turn, then came roaring back down the road.
“Here he comes!” George exclaimed.
Nancy swung her Mustang around, blocking Stone’s escape. There was a sudden scream of tires against the asphalt, and smoke billowed out from the wheels as Stone’s car skidded toward them.
“Watch out!” George cried. “He’s going to hit us!”
A few feet away from Nancy’s car the Cadillac finally careened to a halt. For a brief moment Nelson Stone stared at them with frightened eyes. Then he opened the door and jumped out of his car. “Get out of my way!” he yelled, waving a fist.
“Quick! Close your window,” Nancy said to George, flicking a switch to lock the doors. She put her hand on the horn and held it there. Through the rearview mirror, she saw Lieutenant Higgins running toward them.
Stone turned and was about to run when Lieutenant Higgins shouted, “Stop right there!”
Nancy and George jumped out of the car as the police officer ran up to Stone.
