(#24) The Clue in the Old Album (14 page)

“I can’t wait for them much longer,” Nancy decided. “Gus may change his mind.”

When Nancy reached the garage, she found the girls still had not returned. The taxi driver was fuming.

“If you don’t go now,” he said, “I’m going home to bed, boss or no boss.”

“All right.”

Quickly she wrote her friends a note of explanation and left it on the front seat of her car. Then, having asked the manager to keep his eye on the automobile until the girls came, she hopped into Gus’s taxi and they rode away.

“How far are we going?” she asked, as they turned into the country. “And where?”

“To that gypsy camp on the mountain south of Aiken,” he replied. “And, believe me, if the boss hadn’t ordered me to do this, you wouldn’t get me near that place with a ten-foot pole! I had the scare of my life there!”

CHAPTER XVIII

An Unexpected Reunion

NANCY was thunderstruck at the taxi driver’s words. He had been to a gypsy camp and had had a bad scare! Maybe she herself was running into danger going to the place!

“You took Mr. Smith to a gypsy camp?”

“Sure, and spent the whole night there, too,” Gus replied. “When I arrived, a couple of men rushed out and took me inside. There was some kind of feast and they gave me a lot to eat and drink. Then I tried to leave, but they wouldn’t let me. I must see some dancing, they said, then eat some more.”

“But what scared you?” Nancy prompted.

“The fortuneteller. She told me awful things.”

“You didn’t believe her?”

“I did last night. Maybe she was wrong, though,” the driver admitted. “But I haven’t told you the worst part. I can’t prove it, but I’ll bet they drugged me. I must have gone to sleep while the fortuneteller was talking. The next thing I knew I woke up in my own cab this morning. What I can’t figure out is why they did it.”

Nancy thought she could. The gypsies were expecting Rose to be brought there! Since the time of the girl’s arrival was somewhat uncertain, they had decided to hold Gus until they were sure he would not find out what was going on and report the incident to the Aiken policel

“What became of Mr. Smith?” Nancy asked.

“Dunno,” Gus answered. “Never saw him again.”

By this time the taxi had reached a little-traveled dirt road, which led to the mountain. Presently the cab drew up at the entrance to a lane.

“This is as far as I’m going,” Gus announced. “You’re on your own from here.”

“But....”

“Now don’t give me any trouble,” Gus said grimly. “I’m not setting foot in that camp again!”

“Then wait for me here.”

“I’m not waiting either. You couldn’t pay me enough to keep me here. I’m going home!”

Thoroughly annoyed by the man’s lack of cooperation, Nancy was tempted to tell him why she had come. Before she made up her mind, he said, “You owe me my fare. I got to get going.”

“I may need your help,” Nancy told him.

“Say, what is this anyway? I didn’t want to come here in the first place. If you’re afraid to go inside alone, then jump in the cab and I’ll drive you back to Aiken.”

“No,” Nancy decided. “I’ll go alone. But please do me one favor,” the young sleuth pleaded as she handed Gus the fare and a generous tip. “Phone my father’s office in River Heights and ask him to come here at once if he can. And if you see my two friends at your garage or on the road in my car, please tell them, too. Be sure to give them explicit directions, because I don’t want to be stranded here.”

“Sure. I’ll do that much for you, miss. Only don’t ask me to come back here. Give me your father’s phone number.”

Nancy scribbled it on a sheet from a note pad in her purse. After the taxi pulled away, she walked rapidly toward the gypsy camp, which was screened from view by trees.

Finally she left the lane and walked among the trees to avoid detection. Nancy could see people moving about, but thus far her approach to the settlement apparently had not been noticed.

Suddenly a tall, handsome man with a red sash around his waist crossed the clearing. Tucked under his arm was a violin.

Romano Pepito! At last she had found him!

As he entered one of the trailers, Nancy’s heart beat wildly. “This is my chance!” she thought, and wondered how to slip into the trailer without attracting notice.

Just then she heard sounds of laughing, excited children from the far end of the camp. A group, which included several adults, was marching forward. From her hiding place Nancy fastened her eyes on a girl in a gay gypsy dress who was the center of attention.

“Rose!” Nancy gasped as they came closer. “The gypsies did bring her here!”

Much to Nancy’s surprise, Rose did not look worried or frightened. Instead, she seemed happy in her new surroundings. Rose grabbed a tambourine from one of the women and started to dance.

“There!” she cried breathlessly, as the exhibition ended. “I can dance as well as any gypsy!”

A fat old woman in a scarlet skirt took Rose by the hand and led her to a trailer that had the symbol of the sun above the canvas doorway.

“You will stay here until Zorus tells you what to do,” she ordered the girl.

In her fear of what might happen to Rose, Nancy forgot her desire to talk to Romano. Instead she waited until the group had scattered. Then, when no one was near, she slipped inside the trailer.

“Nancy!” Rose cried.

“Sh! I have only a moment to talk, and you must listen closely!”

“I’m not going back home!” the girl retorted defiantly, as if she had guessed why Nancy was there. “These people have promised to get me into the movies!”

“Please don’t believe them! If they did that, it wouldn’t be for years and years, anyway.”

Rose argued. Nancy knew precious time was being lost. “Rose, have you met your father yet?” she asked to divert the girl’s mind.

“My father?” Rose’s face was a blank. “No, is he here?” She raised her voice alarmingly.

“Sh!” Nancy warned. “Yes, he’s here, and I believe he might leave with us. Come, we’ll find him.”

Nancy made sure no one would see them. She took Rose’s hand and they darted out of the trailer to the one Romano had entered.

Nancy peered inside. The gypsy violinist sat on a cot, his head resting dejectedly on his hands.

“Mr. Pepito!” she whispered, entering with Rose. “I have brought your daughter!”

The man’s head jerked up in fright. He stared first at Nancy, then at Rose. As he gazed at Rose, he got to his feet and with a cry of joy caught her in his arms.

“Rose! My little Rose!” he sobbed. “You are alive and well!”

“Father! Don’t ever leave me again!” she pleaded.

“No, you and I will stay together always. No matter what Zorus says, we will go away from here.” He suddenly realized that Nancy was a stranger. “Who is this, Rose? A friend of yours?”

“She’s Nancy Drew and she’s been helping Granny find her stolen dolls.”

Instantly a look of alarm crossed Romano’s face. “Go at once, Miss Drew!” he cried. “Run! You are in great danger here!”

“From whom?” the girl asked.

“I cannot tell you.”

“If I go, Rose goes with me.”

“Oh, no, please. I have nothing to live for but my daughter.”

“Why don’t you both go to Mrs. Struthers?” Nancy argued. “She wants you and needs you.”

“Never!”

“She has forgiven you for everything, and wants both you and Rose to be with her. Besides,” Nancy added practically, “you can use the money you earn to help Rose and stop giving it to Zorus.”

Romano blanched. “You know—”

“About the Cause, and Anton and Nitaka. Tell me, why was Rose brought here?”

Before the man could answer, a shout came from a short distance away. Romano turned deathly white. “If we’re caught—” He looked appealingly at Nancy.

“Please follow what I tell you both to do,” she said quickly. “Mr. Pepito, you stay here until I come back.”

She seized Rose’s hand, and the two girls left the trailer. “Go to your trailer,” Nancy instructed Rose. “Act as if nothing had happened.”

“Where are you going, Nancy?” she cried in fright.

“To hide until I can make some plans.”

Nancy dodged along the rear of the trailers until she came to one from which she could hear no voices. She took a chance that it was vacant and stepped inside. No one was there. The trailer was attractively furnished with handmade rugs and silk hangings.

A blanket thrown over a bed caught her eye. It was a duplicate of the one that had been sent to her! But the warning and the name, H. Bostwick were missing.

“Maybe this is Henrietta Bostwick’s tent,” the girl thought. “Who is she, I wonder?”

In a corner of the trailer stood a trunk. As she wondered if any stolen property might be hidden in it, the girl heard footsteps outside. She quickly hid behind one of the silk drapes.

A woman Nancy had never seen came in. She went at once to the trunk, unlocked it, and from its depths removed two dolls. One was Enid Struthers’ childhood toy. The other was dressed in bridal garments.

“That bride is the doll I’m looking for!” Nancy thought wildly, as she gazed at the lifelike figure of Enid Struthers.

The woman carefully placed the dolls on the nearby bed. Then she left the trailer. Quick as a flash, Nancy came out of hiding. She snatched up the bridal doll, and then in shocked surprise almost let it fall from her hand.

The figure was as warm as a human being!

CHAPTER XIX

The Source-of-Light Doll

HER MOMENTARY fright gone, Nancy stood lost in thought.

“At last I’ve found the doll for Rose!” she told herself. “And I believe I’ve guessed its secret.” Excited, she examined the bridal figure of Enid Struthers. “There’s something inside the doll that has the same energy-giving effect as ‘the source of light.’ Some kind of ray, some...”

“So,” said an icy voice behind her. “Nancy Drew has learned our secret!”

Nancy whirled to face Nitaka! But the gypsy was not the neatly dressed, tailored woman she had seen on previous occasions. She had carelessly thrown on a gaudy robe and her uncombed hair stood out from her head like a wild animal’s.

“Yes, I have learned your secret,” Nancy agreed. “Now I will go and return this stolen property to its rightful owner.”

“The secret belongs to us gypsies!” Nitaka cried. “No one can take it from us! Put that doll down!”

“No, I won’t. The doll belongs to the daughter of a gypsy,” Nancy countered.

“You mean Rose?” Nitaka laughed wickedly. “She will not need it now. That child will be too busy getting ready for the movies. Then when her grandmother dies....”

As Nancy gasped in horror, the woman added quickly, “Oh, we shall not harm Mrs. Struthers. But she is old, and as soon as she learns Rose is gone from her forever, she will die of a broken heart.”

“Then what will happen?” Nancy asked.

She felt very calm now and sufficiently invigorated to carry on a battle of wits against this woman and all her other gypsy enemies as well. Was it a fantastic idea, or was Nancy’s strength being renewed by the substance inside the figure in her arms?

Nitaka sensed her thoughts and cried out, “Put down that doll!”

Nancy paid no attention. She must play for time until her father could get there. It would take him over two hours to reach the camp.

Then a sinking sensation hit Nancy. Possibly the sleepy cab driver had forgotten to telephone Mr. Drew! Bess and George? Nancy almost hoped they would not find her. She had a strong hunch that the gypsies would not let her go, and if the cousins should come, they might find themselves in the same predicament.

Again Nitaka read Nancy’s mind. “Anyone who gets into the clutches of the great Zorus never leaves,” she said, glaring at the girl. “You are a prisoner, and if you value your life you will work for the Cause ... and gladly!”

“That is how you get your money, isn’t it?” Nancy asked. “By threats. But your game is up, Nitaka. You and Anton and Tony Wassell have stolen all the jewels and valuable objects you are going to!”

Nitaka, her eyes ablaze, sprang forward. The enraged woman’s fingers reached out for Nancy like grasping claws. Nancy dodged and leaped to the door.

The gypsy cried out, “Anton! Anton!”

The man rushed into the trailer and barred the exit. Nitaka said a few frenzied words to him in Romany, which included the name Tony. Then she hurried outside.

Anton smiled evilly at Nancy. “You will be a pretty addition to our tribe, and a clever one,” he said ingratiatingly. “Nitaka has gone to get our king. He will decide what work you will do.”

A moment later old Zorus in his regal robes stepped into the trailer. Nitaka followed.

“Ha! You catch this spy at last!” Zorus cried. “But with this girl as one of us, the path of our caravan will be smooth once more.”

He spoke in Romany for several seconds, shaking his head so violently his long white hair waved to and fro. Then, looking directly at Nancy again, his eyes narrow and calculating, he said, gloating, “A few more years and gypsies will become all powerful. King Zorus will reign in America, and Anton and Nitaka shall be Prince and Princess of all the people!”

Nancy glanced at his gleaming eyes and knew that the man was quite mad. Undoubtedly he had held sway over his people through promises of riches and power if they obeyed, and threats to their lives if they refused.

What was Nancy to do? Try as she did to calm the three gypsies, her words had no effect. Suddenly Zorus raised his arm in command.

“We go. I do not trust this girl. Her friends may come.” More words in Romany, then, “Where we go, she never will be found. Strike out! Pack up! Three cars will go ahead to the mountain hideout. In them will be the three we do not want the police to see!” His laughter sent a chill down Nancy’s spine.

Then he gave further instructions in Romany, and left the trailer with Anton. Nitaka grabbed the doll, told Nancy not to dare leave, and went outside. For a brief instant Nancy thought she might escape. She looked out the window and realized the trailer was completely surrounded by Zorus’s loyal henchmen.