THE MYSTERY OF THE VELVET BOX

Harriet Blaine and her friend Cathy Adams -- two tenacious and sufficiently suspicious young girls-track down the whereabouts of a valuable Bellini painting bequeathed to the family by Harriet's great grandmother. Hardly a simple task, the obstacles are compounded by Gran's eccentric sense of intrigue, cousin Gerald's unctuous concern and the double dealings of a shady antique collector. Humor and good sense prevail however as Harriet and Cathy gather and discard evidence. A trip to New York's Metropolitan reveals the enormous worth of the painting and satisfies Harriet's curiosity about the antique dealer. Can the old English desk he wants so desperately conceal the painting? Or will the key in Harriet's special inheritance, the velvet box, unlock the mystery? Left alone for the weekend, the girls hit upon their first essential discovery-""key"" in Gran's jargon, is synonomous with ""elue"". The trail now becomes a treasure hunt. From the statue of General Lee, to the old Rolls Royce, to great grandfather's portrait and the apprehension of a rival hunter, the search comes to a successful and exciting conclusion. Suspense and humor dominate a detective tale with all the magical elements of the more traditional girl-sleuth stories. Here is one book to keep a wide eyed reader going from prelude to finals.