Nancy and her friends, George and Bess, are returning from a country carnival when they witness the explosion and burning of a country mansion. Fearing its occupants may be trapped in the blazing building, they rush to the rescue and unexpectedly find themselves confronted with a mystery that seems to be insoluble. The first clue is an anonymous diary, its entries in a handwriting difficult to decipher. Even more puzzling are the technical drawings and chemical formulas contained in its pages. Who dropped the diary near the burning house? Was it the stranger Nancy glimpsed running away from the flaming structure? Does he know the whereabouts of Felix Raybolt, and unscrupulous dealer in patents, who hasn't been seen since his home burned? Or did Raybolt die in the fire? Recommended for ages 8 to 12. |
