The Mandie Collection (82 page)

Authors: Lois Gladys Leppard

BOOK: The Mandie Collection

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“Or his father suddenly comes for him.”

“Those spies never got to send their message to Mr. Guyer, so he doesn't know anything about what happened. The police checked it out,” Mandie said.

Just then Mrs. Taft came into the parlor in a creme-colored silk dress with lace and accents. She wore a matching hat in the latest French style, and the sweet aroma of French perfume filled the air around her. “Ready, girls?” she asked.

Mandie stooped to fasten Snowball's leash. “Yes, Grandmother,” she said.

“Amanda, are you planning on taking that cat with you?” Mrs. Taft asked.

“Please let me, Grandmother,” Mandie begged. “So much has been happening. I'm afraid he'll get out of our room somehow and I'll lose him for good.”

“All right, but you'll have to apologize to the President for bringing him,” Mrs. Taft told her.

“I won't mind,” Mandie said, picking up the white kitten. “Thanks, Grandmother!”

When Mandie, Celia, Mrs. Taft, Senator Morton, and Jonathan arrived at the palace and were ushered into the President's reception room, they were surprised to find the Covington girls there.

“He sent us an invitation also,” Mary told them in a whisper.

Then the messenger who had brought Mandie the invitation led Mandie and her friends to the President's parlor.

President Loubet was a handsome, friendly gentleman, and he made his guests feel at home right away. Mandie apologized for bringing Snowball, but when she explained, the President said he understood completely. He even reached to pat Snowball as Mandie tied his leash to a nearby doorknob.

“I am so honored to have you Americans come to tea,” the President said as they were all seated. “I want to say that my country is very appreciative of the fine work the young people did in rounding up those spies. Our country does not want such people within our borders, and we apologize for any hardships you people may have suffered while guests here in Paris.”

“Thank you, President Loubet,” Mandie said. “We are also glad to hear that the man and woman who threatened us have been taken into custody. We know the Covington girls are relieved.”

The dark-haired girls nodded, and the President smiled at Mandie.

They were halfway through tea when one of President Loubet's guards suddenly entered the room and spoke to the President. “I beg your pardon for the intrusion, Monsieur le President, but there is an Indian outside who insists he must see you. He has another man with him who refused to give his name,” the guard said, bowing.

“The Indian has to be Uncle Ned,” Mandie muttered to her friends.

“Thank you,” President Loubet said to the guard. “Will you please show the men in?”

In a moment the guard returned with Uncle Ned and the other man the police were looking for. The spy's hands were tied behind his back, and Uncle Ned was using an arrow to prod him into the room.

The President stood.

“French want this man,” Uncle Ned said, pushing the man in front of the President.

“You must be the Indian who helped rescue young Jonathan here,” President Loubet acknowledged, extending his hand. “Welcome. Please sit down.” He motioned to the guard. “Guard, take this spy here and lock him up.”

Mandie and her friends breathed a sigh of relief. The other spy had been caught. And of all people, Uncle Ned had brought him in.

“So that was the âbusiness' you had to attend to, Uncle Ned,” Mandie teased with a smile.

“Could not go, leave man loose to harm Papoose,” the old man said. “Now Papoose safe.”

“Can't you stay?” Mandie begged. “Even for a little while?”

Uncle Ned shrugged his shoulders. “We see,” he said.

When they had all finished tea, they got ready to leave.

On her way out with her sisters, Mary came over and spoke to Mandie. “Thanks to your Indian friend we'll be able to leave the hotel and go to our great-uncle's house now,” she said. “There's a carriage waiting out front for us.”

“I hope to see you again someday,” Mandie told the three girls.

Mrs. Taft led the others out the door right behind the Covington girls.

Suddenly Mandie remembered something she had forgotten to ask. Hurrying ahead of her companions, she caught up with Mary Covington just as the dark-haired girl was about to climb aboard the carriage. “Mary,” Mandie said, “Mary, please tell me. Are y'all connected in any way with a strange woman who came to Europe on our ship? She has followed us everywhere and caused us all kinds of trouble.”

Mary paused. “A strange woman?” she asked. “What did she look like?”

“She's old, gray-haired, and has sharp black eyes,” Mandie answered. “She always wears black, flashy diamond rings, and a diamond brooch. She's shorter than I am and kind of scrawny.”

Mary looked puzzled. “I can't think of anyone I know who looks like that,” she replied. “Anyway, I'm sure the police have caught everyone who was involved in the spy business. Good luck.” She stepped inside the waiting carriage.

Mandie waved as they drove off and then turned to Celia and Jonathan. “Well,” she said with a sigh, “we still don't know who that woman was who held us in that house.”

“We may never find out,” Celia told her.

“I just hope we never see her again,” Mandie added.

After the young people entered the carriage that was to take them back to the hotel, Senator Morton helped Mrs. Taft inside, then climbed in and sat next to Jonathan. “Sorry, Jonathan, I forgot to tell you,” he
said. “I checked with the newspaper again today, and your aunt and uncle still are not back in the country.”

The boy's eyes lit up. “Then l am allowed to go on into Italy with you people?” he asked.

“We promised your father we would keep you with us until your relatives come home,” the senator said.

“So I
do
get to stay with you!” Jonathan smiled.

“Right,” Mandie answered. “And we want you to show us Italy.”

But even as Mandie's thoughts turned to Italy, she wondered about the strange woman from the ship. Would she turn up in Italy, too?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LOIS GLADYS LEPPARD worked in Federal Intelligence for thirteen years in various countries around the world. She now makes her home in South Carolina.

The stories of her own mother's childhood as an orphan in western North Carolina are the basis for many of the incidents incorporated in this series.

Visit her Web site:
www.Mandie.com
.

MANDIE MYSTERIES

Mandie and . . .
. . . the Secret Tunnel	. . . the Windmill's Message
. . . the Mysterious Bells	. . . the Invisible Troublemaker
. . . the Mysterious Fisherman