The Clue in the Old Stagecoach (10 page)

Instantly Bess, blushing a little, said, “Yum, that’s super news.” And George added, “It sure is. But, Nancy, what are you going to do about Rick?”

Nancy pretended to look worried, then said, “Some situations just solve themselves.”

Before the girls left the room, George asked, “Nancy, what do you think the Monteiths are up to?”

The girl detective admitted that she was completely puzzled, except that the couple seemed to want to know where she, Bess, and George would be at all times.

“And that gives me an idea,” Nancy said. “Why don’t we turn the tables and shadow those two for a change?”

“Hypers!” said George. “Why didn’t we think of that before? It’s a swell idea.”

It was decided that as soon as they met Rick, Jack, and Hobe, they would take the boys into their confidence and ask them to do a little spying. Among the three couples they were to keep the Monteiths in sight at all times.

Rick and the other boys were delighted with the plan and Rick remarked, “We thought it was high time you let us know where you’ve been running off to.”

After dinner, while the three couples were talking in the lobby, the Monteiths walked up to them. In their conversation, Nancy and her friends tried to make it appear as if they could hardly wait for the orchestra to start playing and that they would be the last ones to leave the garden when the music stopped. Nancy wondered if it were her imagination or did Ross and Audrey seem to heave a sigh of satisfaction at hearing this?

At intervals during the evening the three couples met and exchanged information. Audrey and Ross were being elusive, darting in and out of the hotel, among the dancers, and even into the woods beyond. It was noticeable that they danced with no one else and even chatted very little with other people.

“I’m sure they’re planning something,” George remarked with determination.

“Yes, we mustn’t lose them,” Nancy replied.

A few minutes later as she and Rick were dancing near a path that led from the garden directly to the parking lot, they saw Ross and Audrey suddenly leave the dance floor and disappear. A moment later they emerged onto the path leading to the parking lot.

“There they go!” Nancy told her partner, and together they hurried up the path after the couple.

“I’ll go down to the main road and watch which way they turn, while you get your car,” Rick offered.

Within a minute Nancy had joined him at the entrance. He jumped in, pointing to the right. “That’s their car down there. They sure left in a hurry.”

Nancy put up the top of the convertible to make the automobile less conspicuous, then sped after them. The Monteiths headed directly for the road near which the explosion had taken place that afternoon. They pulled the car to the side of the road and turned off the lights.

As Nancy came closer, Rick said, “There they go across that field.”

“They must be heading for the spot where the cave-in was,” Nancy remarked.

She found a place a short distance in back of the Monteiths’ car where she could park the convertible without its being seen by them should they return. Then she and Rick jumped out and started to follow the couple. Each carried a flashlight but were afraid to turn them on for fear of being discovered. There was moonlight, although it was obscured at times by clouds.

About halfway to the cave-in, Nancy suddenly stopped and whispered, “Someone’s behind us.”

“And someone’s at that cave-in to meet the Monteiths!” said Rick.

The couple wondered if they would be trapped. Rick, wishing to protect Nancy from any harm, felt they should hurry away. But the young sleuth was determined to find out what was going on.

“It’s okay with me,” said Rick. “You keep looking ahead and I’ll try to spot the person in back of us.”

“All right,” said Nancy. “And we mustn’t forget how voices carry. Perhaps we’d better not talk any more.”

Silently the two moved ahead until they were very close to the cave-in. Now they could hear two men’s voices and knew that the Monteiths had met someone.

By this time the person following Nancy and Rick seemed much closer. Instinctively Nancy and Rick looked around for a place to hide. There was none. Nancy signaled to Rick that their only chance to keep from being seen by the oncoming person was to drop to the ground and remain motionless in the tall grass.

Seconds after they had done this, a tall, well-built stranger stalked by them. Apparently he was not aware of their presence, for he did not stop. He joined the other three at the cave-in and more conversation went on. To her disappointment, Nancy could not distinguish a word.

“I’m sure something sinister is afoot,” she thought. “I
must
find out what it is!”

She began to inch forward along the ground to reach a better listening post. Rick followed.

Quickly and silently Nancy and Rick pulled themselves to the edge of the cave-in. Looking into the gaping hole, they saw Ross and Audrey Monteith and the tall stranger making their way down the side. The trio’s flashlights were being beamed in all directions. There was no sign of the first man and Nancy and Rick decided he must have left.

“I wonder what those three are looking for,” Nancy asked herself.

Ross was tapping his cane here and there. Sometimes he would leave it in one spot for several seconds. Rick’s eyes were glued on this maneuver.

“I wish I could get my hands on that cane,” he told himself. “It’s not an ordinary one. If it doesn’t contain a Geiger counter, there’s something else inside.”

As the trio reached the bottom of the cave-in, they started to talk. Nancy and Rick did their best to hear what was being said but nothing intelligible came to their ears except one phrase:

What could this mean? Nancy wondered. Were the trio merely searching for something much as looters might? Or was there more to it? Nancy’s mind even toyed with the idea that the Monteiths and their friend had caused the explosion hoping to find something. Having failed to uncover whatever they were looking for, were they going to attempt another dynamiting?

“I’m probably letting my imagination run away with me,” Nancy thought. “Anyway, I’ve told the police my suspicions.”

The young sleuth tried to convince herself that she had done her part. But the thought kept recurring to her that perhaps she should get in touch with the authorities again.

“I’ll do it the first chance I have,” Nancy told herself.

A few minutes later the Monteiths and their friend started up the side of the cave-in. Nancy and Rick tried hard to see the face of the man with the Monteiths, but it was shaded by a large felt hat.

Nancy took hold of her companion’s arm and motioned that they had better leave. The two arose and hurried across the field. They had not gone more than three hundred feet when they heard a scream behind them.

“Oh!” Nancy said worriedly. “There must be trouble at the cave-in!”

Despite the fact that she and Rick might be discovered, the couple turned back to be of assistance if necessary. When they reached the torn-up area, the man who had been with the Monteiths was climbing out of the far side. Ross and Audrey Monteith lay face down and almost covered with dirt. They were not moving.

“There’s been a landslide! We must save them!” Nancy murmured to Rick.

By this time the companion of the stricken couple had disappeared. Nancy and Rick went down the side of the cave-in, hoping against hope there would not be another landslide. When they safely reached Ross and Audrey, Nancy dug frantically at the dirt around the woman, while Rick clawed to free Ross. Turning them over, their rescuers were delighted to find that the couple were still breathing. But both were unconscious.

“Let’s drag Audrey up to the top first,” Nancy suggested.

Together she and Rick half pulled, half carried the woman to the top and stretched her on the grass. Then they went back for Ross. As they neared the top of the cave-in with him, dirt began to slide away beneath them and it was only by giving a great leap to the top across the slipping soil that they made it safely.

“Now what?” Rick asked, as he took a deep breath.

Nancy felt the victims’ pulses, which were practically normal. Ross and Audrey seemed to have no bruises and she was sure they did not need medical aid.

“We’ll wait out of sight until they come to,” she said. “Then I think we’d better hurry back to my car. I’d just as soon not have them know we were here.”

Rick nodded. “And besides, if they’re going on to ‘try another place,’ I suppose you’d like to follow them.”

“I certainly would,” Nancy answered.

Fifteen minutes went by before Audrey and Ross Monteith put in an appearance at their car. They showed signs of the shock of their experience and it did not surprise Nancy and Rick to find that the couple drove directly back to Camp Merriweather.

“I guess,” said Nancy, “that whatever else the Monteiths had in mind they’re not going to carry it out this evening. I’ll talk to the police in the morning: ”

Rick agreed heartily and on the strength of this the two slipped into the hotel by a back entrance and went up a rear stairway so no one would see the grime which covered their faces, arms, and clothes.

“Meet you in twenty minutes,” Rick called cheerily, as he started up another flight above the floor on which Nancy’s bedroom was located.

The rest of the evening was spent dancing, but in between numbers Nancy and Rick brought Bess, George, and their partners up to date on what had happened. Later the cousins plied Nancy with more detailed questions.

“Ross and Audrey must certainly wonder who rescued them,” said George. “Why don’t you tell them and then maybe they’ll be caught off guard and spill the truth about their plans.”

“I’m sure they’ll never do it,” Nancy told her friends. “And I can see a great advantage in leaving the whole thing mysterious. They must know now that they were followed.”

Bess gave a little giggle. “I’d hate to be in their shoes. If I were out to do something shady, and got knocked out and was rescued by a person or persons who didn’t tell me about it, boy, would I be worried!”

Nancy grinned. “That’s just what I’m counting on. And then there’s that man who went off without trying to help the Monteiths. And the man they met first. When one or both of them find out Ross and Audrey were mysteriously rescued, there may be a big powwow among the three or four of them.”

“I see what you mean,” said George. “The man who left believing the Monteiths were dead may even think he’ll have the whole scheme, whatever it is, to himself. When he finds out Ross and Audrey are still in it, the whole bunch may be afraid to go on with any sinister plans.”

“Is this what you call a mystery within a mystery?” Bess asked. “You lost me somewhere.”

“I suppose it is,” Nancy replied. “But someday I hope to find out the answers. Since I’ve been warned to leave here, it’s just possible all this has something to do with the clue in the old stagecoach. If the Monteiths and their confederates give up, it may make things easier for us.”

Nancy then said she was going to call on Mrs. Pauling the next morning. “I’ll ask her if she’d be willing to pay the Zuckers for the old Langstreet stagecoach if it’s found on their property. Then at least it could be restored.”

The three girls hurried into bed but were up early and ready for the trip next morning. Nancy talked to the police, then started off for Mrs. Pauling’s home.

She was just finishing her breakfast in the modern, attractively decorated dining room, and invited them to share pieces of homemade toasted cinnamon bread and cocoa with her. Its aroma was so delightful the girls could not refuse and sat down with her.

“How is the stagecoach mystery coming?” Mrs. Pauling asked, smiling.

“We may have a little problem,” Nancy replied, then added, “If the old stagecoach is found on the Zucker property, the young couple may feel they should be reimbursed if it is taken away.”

“I’ll be very happy to take care of that,” Mrs. Pauling said quickly. “And I’ll do even more. I’ll pay for having it restored and taken to Bridgeford.” She sighed, then added, “How I wish I had money enough to build a new school for the community! But that would be beyond my means.”

“It’s wonderful to have you help the restoration,” Nancy remarked. She said the girls were going to the Zucker farm at once, and if permitted, would start digging operations to hunt for the old vehicle.

“I wish you luck—much luck,” Mrs. Pauling said as she waved farewell to them from the front door a little while later.

When Nancy, Bess, and George reached the Zucker farm, they were warmly greeted by Marjory and Morton. The couple were delighted to learn that Mrs. Pauling would be willing to pay for the old stagecoach if it were found on the property.

“Do you want to start searching right away?” Morton asked.

“Yes, indeed,” Nancy answered. “I hope that you have lots of digging tools.”

“That’s one thing I do have.” Morton laughed. He went to the barn and brought a spade, a shovel, and a pickax. Marjory produced a large garden trowel.

“The baby’s asleep now,” she said, “so I can help you. I’ll put Jimmy in his play pen and wheel him to wherever we’re going.”

A lengthy discussion took place as to the most likely spot in which Mr. Langstreet might have buried the stagecoach. The ground beneath the original buildings was discarded by Nancy, who felt he would have been afraid that the structures might be razed and the old vehicle found.

“I’m sure it was not Mr. Langstreet’s intention at first that anyone was ever to know where it was. It was only years later, just before his death, that hr decided to tell.”

Morton and Marjory had another theory. “All the plowed fields on this farm have been gone over many times,” Morton remarked. “It seems to me that the old stagecoach would have been found long before this if it had been buried in one of the fields.”