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_Title:_ The Mystery at Lilac Inn
_Date of first publication:_ 1930
_Author:_ Mildred Benson (1905-2002) (ps. Carolyn Keene)
_Illustrator:_ Russell H. Tandy
_Date first posted:_ August 14, 2025
_Date last updated:_ January 20, 2026
Faded Page eBook #20250820

This eBook was produced by: Alex White & the online Distributed
Proofreaders Canada team at https://www.pgdpcanada.net

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=NANCY DREW MYSTERY STORIES=

THE MYSTERY AT
LILAC INN

BY
CAROLYN KEENE

AUTHOR OF “THE SECRET OF THE OLD CLOCK,”
“THE HIDDEN STAIRCASE,” ETC.

_ILLUSTRATED BY_
RUSSELL H. TANDY

NEW YORK
GROSSET & DUNLAP
PUBLISHERS

[Illustration: _The Mystery at Lilac Inn._ _Frontispiece (Page 163)_

“THOUGHT YOU’D BE SMART, DIDN’T YOU!” SHE SNEERED.]

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE
I A CHANCE MEETING 1
II RISING TO AN OCCASION 10
III A QUEER GIRL 17
IV ABOUT THE CRANDALL JEWELS 24
V AT LILAC INN 31
VI ACCUSATIONS 38
VII DAMAGING RUMORS 45
VIII MRS. WILLOUGHBY’S CALL 52
IX NANCY INVESTIGATES 61
X AN ENCOUNTER 70
XI A TRIP TO THE INN 80
XII A NEW DISCOVERY 87
XIII A SURPRISE 96
XIV NEW INFORMATION 103
XV WHAT MR. DREW LEARNED 111
XVI THE STRANGER 121
XVII A CRISIS 129
XVIII DURING THE STORM 137
XIX IN THE STOREROOM 146
XX A PRISONER 154
XXI DOWN THE RIVER 161
XXII SINKING 170
XXIII CAPTURED 177
XXIV THE SEARCH 185
XXV NANCY’S REWARD 192