Just as Nancy closed her clue notebook, the bell rang. She hurried out of the library and headed to the cafeteria. She couldnt wait to tell Bess and George about Andy and Anderson.
When Nancy arrived, Bess and George were already eating their lunches.
I brought your lunch for you, Nancy, George said. She passed Nancys pink-and-purple lunch sack across the table.
Thanks, Nancy said. She opened her lunch and pulled out a tuna sandwich.
So, what happened at the library? Bess asked.
As she unwrapped her sandwich, Nancy told George and Bess everything that had happened with Andy and Mrs. Goldstein.
Youre right, George said when Nancy had finished her story. It doesnt sound like Andy would steal Mr. Sandbacks book.
So now were back to having no suspects, Bess wailed. She took a big bite of her peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich.
Well, Nancy started to say, actually
Yah! Mike Minelli yelled. He plopped down on the bench next to Nancy. He waved his forearm in front of her face. There was an angry red scratch running across it.
Ewww, gross, Mike! Nancy squealed.
Yeah! Mike agreed. But Nancy knew that to him, gross was a good thing. Charlie the cat gave it to me at the Book Nook yesterday. Thats one mean cat!
Hes not mean, Bess said. He just doesnt like people to bother him when hes in his bed.
Nancy gasped.
What is it, Nancy? George asked. Mike had already jumped up to go wave his icky scratch in someone elses face.
I just thought of something, Nancy said. Bess, George, I think we may have two new suspects. But we need more clues. Which means we have to head back to the Book Nook after school!
Since they already had permission, Nancy, Bess, and George headed to the Book Nook as soon as the last bell rang. When they walked through the door, they saw Julia sitting at the front desk.
Well, hello, girls, she said. Back so soon?
Were here to help solve the mystery of the missing book, Nancy said. Unless the books been found already.
Julias face fell. No, Im sorry to say theres been no sign of the book, she said. What a disappointment. I so wanted my father to have it.
Well, Julia, Nancy said, I have a hunch. And if Im right, that book is right under your nose!
What? Julia said. She sounded surprised.
Well, actually, Nancy said with a giggle, its right under Charlie the cat. She pointed at Charlie, who was curled up in his plaid bed, scowling.
You think Charlie took the book? Bess cried.
No, Nancy said. But maybe he has it. After the book disappeared, I noticed Charlie running away from his cat bed. And you know Charlie
Never gets out of his bed, Bess finished.
So, if someone wanted to hide Mr. Sand-backs book, Nancy explained, Charlies bed would be the best place in the whole store.
We just have to move Charlie so we can look, Bess said. She sounded scared.
Mrowr, the cat growled.
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This could get ugly, George said.
Oh, Charlie, called a voice on the stairs behind them.
Nancy spun around. Mr. Sandback! she said. Hello.
Mr. Sandback stood on the bottom step, grinning at the girls. I heard what you said about your hunch, Nancy, he said. I think its a good one. And I may be able to help.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a catnip mouse. He walked over to Charlies bed and dangled the mouse in front of the cats nose. Then he tossed the toy a few feet away. Charlie meowed loudly and dashed after it.
Nancy pounced on the cat bed and lifted the bumpy plaid cushion. Nothing.
Nancy gazed up at Mr. Sandback sadly. I guess my hunch was wrong, she said. Which means
What is it, Nancy? Julia said.
I have another hunch, Nancy said. She didnt want to tell Julia that she suspected Anderson. Not until she was sure. So she asked Julia a question instead.
Can you tell me where you last saw the book before it disappeared? Nancy said.
It was in the wooden gift box that Anderson got for me, Julia said.
Wheres the box now? Nancy asked.
I put it in the storage room in the basement, Julia said. Would you like to see it?
Yes, please, Nancy said.
The girls followed Julia to the back of the bookshop and down a flight of narrow, rickety stairs.
Ew, a spider web, Bess whispered.
Shhh, George said. Its no big deal.
Nancy shivered a bit as they headed into the damp basement. Julia led them into a big storage room. It was crowded with cartons, old books, and cast-off furniture.
Now, where did I put that box? she muttered. She began searching a cluttered shelf.
Tap. Taptaptaptap. Taptap.
Nancy picked up a flashlight and shone it into the shadowy corner of the storage room. Anderson! she said, with surprise.
Anderson Quilling was sitting at a desk in the corner, typing away on a big black typewriter. He was frowning at the page, and his hair looked messier than ever. But when he looked up and saw Nancy and her friends, he smiled.
Oh, hello, girls, Anderson said. This is where I do my writing. Its very quiet down here.
Julia turned from the shelf she was searching. Anderson writes and writes and writes, she whispered to the girls. But nobody will publish his books. But I have faith. I think hell be a big success one day.
She turned back to the shelf. A moment later she cried out, Heres the box! She held out the brown box to the girls. Look, the lock has been broken.
May I see it, Julia? Nancy asked.
Of course. Julia handed the pretty polished box to Nancy. George and Bess crowded near to peer at the box, too.
What are you looking for, Nancy? Bess asked.
I dont know, exactly, Nancy said with a shrug.
She looked at the boxs bottom. Then she looked at the top and all around its sides. Finally Nancy fiddled with the broken lock and flipped the box open.
Hmm, she said.
What? Bess, George, and Julia said together.
Look at that, Nancy said. She pointed to the hinges that joined the lid to the box. Something is caught here.
Nancy plucked a bit of fabric from the hinge. It looks like felt, she said, holding the scrap between her fingers. Red felt. She looked at Julia. Do you remember seeing this on the box before? she asked.
Julia shook her head. Lets ask Anderson. She took the scrap from Nancy and approached the store clerk.
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I hate to bother you, Anderson, Julia said, but do you remember seeing this bit of felt in the box hinges when you picked it out yesterday?
No, Anderson said. I dont think it was there when I gave you the box. Then he started typing again.
Lets go upstairs, girls, Julia whispered. As they walked up the stairs, Nancy asked Julia another question.
After Anderson gave you the box, what did you do with it?
Well, I checked to make sure the book was inside, Julia recalled. Then I locked the box. And then I put it on a shelf beneath the cash register at the front desk.
Hmm, Nancy said. Can I hang on to that scrap of felt?
Sure, Nancy, Julia said. She handed over the fabric. What do you think it is?
Maybe this felt was part of the thiefs clothes, Nancy said. And it got caught in the box hinges.
Silently, she was thinking one more thing: Maybe that thief was Anderson Quilling!
A Book Full of Clues
Good thinking, Nancy, Julia said as they left the basement. The red felt is a great piece of evidence.
When they reached the top of the stairs, the phone at the front desk was ringing.
Excuse me, Julia said. She dashed away to answer it.
Nancy turned to George and Bess. Do you remember if Anderson Quilling was wearing any red felt yesterday? She whispered so no one would hear her.
I dont know, George said. I never notice clothes and stuff like that.
Bess tilted her head and thought hard. I think he was wearing lots of brown, she said.
Julia said she left the box on a shelf under the front desk, Nancy whispered. Anderson could have gotten to the box, broken the lock, and left with the book. That would explain why he wasnt at Mr. Sandbacks appearance.
Why would Anderson do that? Bess asked.
Nancy glanced at Mr. Sandback. He was now sitting on an easy chair near the front desk. He had a small smile on his face. As soon as Julia hung up the phone, he stood up and turned to her.
Oh, Julia, Mr. Sandback said. He draped his long, skinny frame over the counter. He had a glint in his eye. I have an idea. Your shop clerk, Quilling. Hes an odd fellow, isnt he? Perhaps he took my book?
Anderson? Julia said. Never! Hes worked for me for years. I trust him completely.
But, Mr. Sandback said, isnt it poss
Dad, Julia said, sounding exasperated. It isnt possible. Anderson gave me the box. Then he left. I saw him drive away myself. And then I saw the book in the box and locked it. So, by the time the lock was broken and the book was stolen, Ander- son was long gone.
Oh, Nancy whispered to her friends. I guess that rules out Anderson Quilling.
Well, then who is it? Bess practically shouted.
Julia and Mr. Sandback both jumped and looked in the girls direction.
Sorry, Nancy said. Were just really frustrated by this mystery. Id love to find that book for you. But all I have is one clue. She held up the scrap of red felt.
You know, Mr. Sandback said, rubbing his chin slowly, this reminds me of one of my own mysteries The Absent Award.
I have that book at home, Nancy said excitedly.
Its a story much like this one, isnt it? Mr. Sandback said. Except instead of an author being awarded with a rare book, an actor is given a trophy.
But the award was stolen, Nancy said. I remember. You had a really cool detective tracking down all these clues. It was a great book.
Thank you, Mr. Sandback said. He walked back to the comfortable chair and sat down. He gave Nancy, Bess, and George another big smile.
Who knows? he said. Maybe there are some clues to be found in that book.
Uh, maybe, Nancy said. But inside, she wasnt so sure.
The Absent Award is just a story, she thought to herself. This is a real-life mystery. How can there be clues in a book?
As if he could read her mind, Mr. Sandback said, Remember what I said yesterday, Nancy? Life is full of mysteries. And the solutions can be easy to find. You just have to know where to look. You have to pay attention to the hints that are dropped in your lap.
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Thanks for the advice, Nancy said. Now she was really confused. Talking to Mr. Sandback was a mystery in itself!
And remember, dont lose that clue, Mr. Sandback said. He pointed at the bit of felt in Nancys hand.
That is good advice, Nancy said with a smile. She unzipped her book bag and pulled out her shiny blue clue notebook. Then she slipped the scrap of fabric into the pocket in the notebook cover.
Oh, look, its almost four oclock, Bess said, pointing to her watch. I told my mother Id be home by four-fifteen. Wed better get going, guys.
Well, thanks for showing us the box, Julia, Nancy said. Ill be sure to let you know when I find some more clues.
Bye, Mr. Sandback. Bye, Julia, called George and Bess. Then the girls headed home.
That night Nancy sat on her bed. Her chocolate Lab puppy, Chocolate Chip, was nestled against her side. She had her clue notebook in her lap. She looked at the suspect list and crossed out Anderson Quillings name. Under Clues Nancy wrote, Red felt caught in the gift box. Part of thiefs clothes?
Nancy sighed and patted Chips head. She couldnt very well go through the closets of everyone whod been at the Book Nook yesterday. Looking around her room, Nancys eyes fell on her bookshelf.
Maybe, Mr. Sandback had said, there are some clues to be found in that book.
With a shrug Nancy got off the bed and plucked The Absent Award from her bookshelf. Sitting at her desk, Nancy began flipping through the first pages of the book. She stopped at a picture of a wooden box.
Hey, that looks a lot like the box at the Book Nook, she said.
The box was open and empty. Nancy remembered it had held the award before it was stolen. When Nancy looked at the picture a second time, she gasped.
I forgot, she said. She quickly read the words on the page next to the picture.
There! Nancy said, pointing to the sentence shed been looking for. Then she read aloud: The award absconder had left not a trace. Or so it seemed. But then our wily detective spotted something on the box a swatch of red felt caught in its hinges.
Wow! Nancy said. Both boxes had red felt in the hinges. How strange!
Nancy turned the page. Maybe Mr. Sandbacks right, she said. Maybe there are clues in The Absent Award.
Eagerly, she started to read more. But then Mr. Drew popped his head into her room.
Nancy, he said, time for lights-out.
Okay, Daddy, Nancy said. She shut the book and slipped it into her book bag.
Hows the mystery coming? Mr. Drew asked as Nancy got into bed. Chip padded to the end of the bed and yawned. Then she flopped down and rested her head on her feet.
Its too early to tell, Nancy decided, yawning herself. But after I do more reading tomorrow, maybe Ill have a better idea!
A Clue Hunt
The next morning Nancy couldnt wait to read more of The Absent Award. During the math lesson, she got her chance. The bell rang in short bursts. It was a fire drill.
Nancy grabbed her book. Then she walked outside with the rest of her class. All the other kids and teachers in Carl Sandburg Elementary were outside, too. They had to wait fifteen minutes before going back to their classrooms.
As they stood on the front lawn, Nancy opened The Absent Award and started to read.
Ah-ha, Nancy read. Our wily detective has spotted another clue. He deduced that the thief had been to an elementary school. How did he make this brilliant deduction, you ask? That careless crook had left something behind on a bench in front of the school. It was a blue leather eye
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Hey! Kyle Leddingtons yell caught Nancys attention. He was standing near a bench near the schools front door. He was waving something in the air.
It was blue.
It was leather.
I just sat on this thing, Kyle said.
What is it? Bess asked.
It looks like an eyeglass case, Kyle said.
Nancy froze. Then she returned to the sentence she had just read: It was a blue leather eyeglass case. There was no doubt that it belonged to the terrible award thief.
Whoa, Nancy whispered. This is weird.
Somebody must have lost it, George said.
Kyle threw his head back and yelled, Did anybody lose a blue eyeglass case?
Bess glared at Kyle. I guess he never heard of the lost-and-found.
But nobody else spoke up.
I wonder where it came from, Kyle said.
I wonder too! Nancy thought. This is so strange. First I found some red felt, just like the clue in The Absent Award. Then this eyeglass case turns up. What next? Maybe the book will tell me.
Quickly, Nancy flipped the pages. In the next chapter the wily detective found his next clue at a candy store.
The thief must have had a tremendous sweet tooth, Nancy read. So intent was he on filling up on sugar, that he didnt notice he had dropped a slip of paper in the candy store. Yes, right between the licorice and the jelly beans. And on this slip of paper were directions to a place. What sort of place it was, the wily detective could not know. But he was sure of one thing this was where the thief intended to hide the stolen award.
Hmm, Nancy thought when she finished reading. A candy store.
There just happened to be a store right near Carl Sandburg Elementary. It was called the School Bell. Kids went there to buy school supplies or toys. But the School Bell sold candy, too.
Nancy had a feeling that shed find more than chocolate at the School Bell today. She turned to Bess and George. Lets go to the Bell after school today, she suggested.
The School Bell? Bess said. As in candy? Sure! What gave you that idea, Nancy?
Well, Nancy said with a little smile, lets just say I have another hunch.
Finally, Nancy whispered as the last bell of the school day rang.
Yeah, Bess agreed, putting on her backpack. Time for candy at the Bell. Lets go!
The School Bell was an old-fashioned little store filled with everything kids loved. As the girls got near the store, they saw a bunch of third-graders, including Orson Wong, Katie Zaleski, and Andy Nixon.
Oooh! George said as they walked through the door. New soccer balls. She ran over to one of the shelves to have a closer look.
Soccer! Bess harrumphed. Bo-ring. Im heading for the candy.
Me, too, Nancy said. She walked to the candy aisle. Lots of kids were already digging into after-school snacks. Josie Blanton, the biggest sweet tooth in the class, was in the chocolate section.
Nancy remembered what shed read in The Absent Award. The thief left some directions between the licorice and the jelly beans, she whispered to herself.
Nancy headed straight for the jelly beans. Bags of them were hanging from a wire rack. Nancy lifted up each bag to look for a slip of paper. She found nothing.
Frowning, Nancy went to another shelf to look for the licorice. That was when she heard Josie Blantons voice.
Hey, Josie said. Look what I found on top of the Panda Crunch bars.
Nancy ran over to Josie. Josie was gazing curiously at a piece of paper. Can I see that? Nancy asked breathlessly.
Sure, Josie said, handing the paper over. It looks like a poem.
Nancy peered at the words.
All fouled up?
Searching in vain?
Head downtown on School,
then Main.
Then a turn on Drake youll take.
When you find a story brake!
These are directions, Nancy cried. Someone knows where Foul-up at the Floss Factory is. That must be why it says, All fouled up.
Cool! George said. Lets follow the directions.
Yeah, Nancy said. Wed better call home for permission.
She turned to the man behind the cash register. He was Mr. Pitt, the School Bells owner.
Mr. Pitt, Nancy said. May we use your phone to call home? Its urgent!
Sure, kids, Mr. Pitt said. He handed Bess the cordless phone. As Bess dialed her mother, Orson and Josie walked up.
What are you doing, Nancy? Orson asked.
Following this clue to find Mr. Sand-backs missing book, Nancy said.
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Count me in! Orson said. Can I use the phone when youre done to get permission?
A few minutes later all the kids had phoned home. Then Nancy led George, Bess, Josie, and Orson out the door and down School Street.
At the corner of School and Main, Nancy stopped to peer at the poem. To reach Drake Street, we have to turn right on Main, she said.
That will take us by the park, George said.
Nancy gasped. Shed had a chance to read more of The Absent Award at lunchtime. After the candy store, the wily detective had discovered another clue a handkerchief in the park. And after that, hed found a compass in front of the city courthouse.
We need to stop in the park, she said. I think we might find another clue there. A handkerchief!
The kids ran to the park and began hunting for the clue. Josie searched near the swings. George clambered onto the monkey bars to scan the area from high up. Bess peered under the seesaws. Nancy stuffed the slip of paper into her pocket and pawed through some shrubs.
I dont see anything, she heard Bess call.
Me, neither, Orson yelled from the sandbox.
Nancy sighed and pushed aside a few spiky branches. Hmm, she muttered. Where is that hand Oh!
Nancy had found something.
Something white.
And soft.
It was a handkerchief! And it was stuck in the branches of the bush.
Holding her breath, Nancy plucked the fabric from the branch. When she examined it, she found three initials stitched in blue onto one corner.
M. A. S., Nancy read out loud.
She waved the handkerchief over her head and called to her friends, Look what I found!
The kids ran over and Nancy showed them the clue.
M. A. S., Bess said. I wonder whose initials those are.
Suddenly Nancy realized something. She reached into her book bag and pulled out The Absent Award. She turned to the last page and read out loud: About the author: Morton Alvin Sandback.
Mr. Sandbacks middle name is Alvin, Nancy said.
Which means thats Mr. Sandbacks handkerchief! George said.
Why would Mr. Sandbacks handkerchief be a clue, though? Bess asked.
Im not sure, Nancy said. But I think we need to keep searching. The courthouse is on the corner of Main and Drake. Lets go there. According to the book, were supposed to find a compass there.
The kids walked a block down Main Street until they reached the River Heights courthouse.
They began searching the big courtyard in front of the building. Nancy looked on the courthouse steps. Bess searched the lawn, but Orson Wong just yawned.
This clue hunt is getting kind of boring, he said. He walked over to the flag- pole and began spinning around it. He spun faster and faster until he got dizzy.
Ugh, he yelled, grabbing the flag rope so he wouldnt fall down.
Nancy glanced at Orson and rolled her eyes. Then she looked again. Orson was peering at something attached to the end of the flag rope. Then he took the thing off and waved it in the air.
The clue! Orson yelled. I think I found the clue!
Nancy ran over to Orson. He showed her a pencil. Instead of an eraser on top, there was a little round dial.
George peeked at the instrument. Its a compass! she said. My dad and I used one on our last camping trip.
Look, Nancy said. It has a little mark on it.
Nancy squinted at the compass. There was a tiny red X on the dial, right over the W.
According to this compass, were supposed to go west on Drake Street, she said. Maybe the next thing well find is Mr. Sandbacks book!
8. Suspect: Sandback?
Nancy and her friends headed west down Drake Street.
I wonder where this clue will take us, Bess said excitedly.
I dont know, Nancy said, fishing the slip of paper out of her pocket. The directions say, When you find a story brake! I wonder what that means?
The group tromped down Drake Street for a half block.
Then another half block.
And then another whole block!
I dont see anything, George said.
Neither do I, Nancy answered.
A block farther Drake Street hit a dead end.
Oh, no! Nancy cried. Where do we go now?
She looked up.
And then she gasped.
Its the Book Nook! she said. I didnt even realize it. When you see a story brake! The Book Nook is full of stories. The compass and the directions were leading us right to it.
Lets go inside, Josie said.
The kids ran up the stairs and into the bookstore. The first person they saw was Mr. Sandback. He was sitting behind the front desk. His long, skinny arms were folded across his chest. He was wearing his familiar big grin and his black vest with all the funny patches.
Hello, children, he said. He didnt seem very surprised to see them. Have you found the missing book yet?
Well, Nancy said, we found a lot of clues, and they led us here, to the Book Nook.
I wonder why, Mr. Sandback said.
Suddenly, clue after clue fell into place in Nancys mind.
I think I know why, she burst out. And I think I know who the thief is.
Really? Mr. Sandback said. Do tell!
But it doesnt make sense at all, Nancy said. Her forehead crinkled in a confused frown. Because, Mr. Sandback, I think the thief is you.
What! exclaimed all the other kids.
Mr. Sandback didnt look angry. In fact, he looked as if someone had just told him a wonderful joke.
Im the thief? he asked. Why do you say that, Detective Drew?
The clues all point to you, Nancy said. She reached into her book bag and pulled out all the things she and her friends had found.
I found this piece of red felt in the hinges of the box that the book was stolen from, Nancy said. She pulled the bit of fabric from her clue notebook and showed it to Mr. Sandback. Then she pointed to a red typewriter on Mr. Sandbacks vest. Part of the patch was ripped away.
It looks like the felt came from that patch! Nancy exclaimed.
Next she pointed to the half-moons propped on Mr. Sandbacks nose. You wear glasses, she said.
She held out the case that Kyle had found on the bench in front of the school. So, maybe this blue leather eyeglass case belongs to you.
Mr. Sandback nodded. Go on, he said.
Feeling more confused than ever, Nancy showed Mr. Sandback the handkerchief shed found in the bush.
Your middle name is Alvin, which makes your initials M. A. S., she said. And those are exactly the initials on this handkerchief.
Hey, what about the pencil, I found? Orson said.
Remember what Mr. Sandback said here on Sunday, Nancy pointed out.
I always write with a good old-fashioned pencil, Mr. Sandback said. Nancy, youve found me out.
With that, Mr. Sandback reached beneath the front desk and pulled out a ragged copy of Foul-up at the Floss Factory.
The first edition! George exclaimed. You had it all the time!
But why would you steal your own book? Nancy said.
Just then Nancy heard the click of a door opening behind her. She turned around to see Julia coming out of the office. She was wearing a grin much like her fathers. Behind her was Anderson Quilling. He was smiling, too.
I see you reached the bottom of the mystery, she said. You see, Nancy, this was another one of Dads little pranks.
I thought it would be fun to bring one of my mysteries to life, Mr. Sandback said. So I re-created The Absent Award for my fans to solve. And you did a bang-up job, Nancy!
My friends helped with the clue hunt, too, Nancy said.
I warned you, Julia said, placing a hand on Nancys shoulder. My father has lots of tricks up his sleeve.
Were you in on it, Julia? Nancy asked.
Yup! Julia said. And so was Anderson, here. And Mrs. Goldstein. We thought it would be a fun game for you all.
So, Mr. Sandback said, turning to the small crowd of kids in front of the desk, did you enjoy the mystery?
Yeah! Nancy and her friends shouted.
And most of all, Nancy added, Im glad you have your rare book.
Well, actually, Mr. Sandback said, patting the book cover fondly, I thought Id donate this book to the River Heights Public Library. They could put it on display for all readers to see not just me.
Thats so nice, Mr. Sandback! Bess said.
And it may not end there, Mr. Sandback said. He gazed down at Nancy with another big grin. I have a feeling Nancy Drew might see her name in my next mystery story, The Crook Who Took the Book.
Wow! Nancy said. Thanks, Mr. Sand-back!
While her friends crowded around the famous author, Nancy picked up her clue notebook and pulled a pencil from her book bag. She sat in a chair and opened her notebook to the Missing Mystery page. Then she wrote:
Not only did I get to meet my favorite author, I got to solve one of his mysteries. It just goes to show that Mr. Sandback was right there are adventures all around us. You just have to know where to look. And sometimes, the best place to look is in a book!
Case closed.
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