The knocking grew louder. Remembering Mandy's tale, I hesitated to respond to the door, as to take action may possibly in simple terms inspire the prankster. yet what if an individual used to be in difficulty? Ned sat up. "What's happening? " he requested sleepily. "That's what i might wish to know," I instructed him. collecting my wits, I wear my terry textile gown and crept speedy towards the door, with Ned doddering at the back of me. but if we opened it, the hall was once abandoned! Curious, I stepped into the hallway and craned to work out round the nook, simply in time to seize a flash of somebody scurrying out of sight! with out regard to my own security, I moved quickly after him. Ned moved quickly after me. after we rounded the nook, we got here nose to nose with a doughy, middle-aged guy with undesirable pores and skin and big black plastic eyeglasses with very thick lenses. He used to be donning a stained undershirt and striped pajamas. "Who are you? " I demanded. The odd-looking guy stood his floor. "Who are you? " he retorted. "Who are you? " Ned shot again. the guy drummed his soiled fingernails at the fringe of his receding hairline and closed his eyes in deep proposal. Then he opened them. "You're Nancy Drew," he introduced with a happy smile. "The knocking woke you up too. And now you're either after the offender. " i used to be flummoxed. "How were you aware that? " "Guess! " i used to be bowled over. "Excuse me? " "Guess! Please. i admire it while humans wager. wager! wager! bet! " "I shouldn't have time for this," I instructed him, turning again towards my cabin. "Come on, Ned. " the fellow moved quickly awkwardly after us. "My name's Encyclopedia Brown," he spoke back, "and i am a detective. " "Encyclopedia Brown," I repeated. "America's Sherlock Holmes in footwear. " His doughy face brightened. "You've heard of me? " "Once or two times. " "So do you need to aid me clear up the secret? " "Help you? " I requested. "I imagine you would be assisting me. along with, so far as i do know there's no mystery," I instructed Encyclopedia. "Just an individual taking part in a prank. For all i do know, that somebody is you. " I pointed a bony finger at him. "You have been a precocious boy detective with the entire promise of the realm laid out ahead of you. Now examine you: you are a middle-aged guy with terrible hygiene. you possibly nonetheless stay along with your mom and dad. i might guess you'll stand a bit pleasure. " His posture stiffened defensively. "What form of loser might nonetheless reside along with his mom and dad? " The lighting within the hall by surprise went out, and we have been plunged into darkness. "W-w-what's occurring? " Encyclopedia stammered at midnight. "Shh! " I advised him. "Listen," whispered Ned. A low moaning sound emanated from the some distance finish of the corridor. I peered in its course and was once disconcerted to work out a mild floating towards us. because it grew nearer i'll make out identical to a ghostly younger woman donning a protracted white costume. She wore a gold locket round her neck and used to be levitating a number of ft off the floor. "It's an angel! " Ned mooned. The lighting fixtures got here again on as unexpectedly as they'd long gone off, and she or he had vanished! i peeked at Encyclopedia. His pimply face used to be ashen. Ned gazed saucer-eyed on the position the place the angel have been.