Carolyn Keene - The Secret of Red Gate Farm

She paid for the groceries and went directly to the material shop, where she bought several yards of white muslin, then started for home. Driving back to Red Gate Farm, Nancy kept a sharp lookout for the woman from the Black Snake Colony, but she was nowhere along the road. "I wish I could have talked to her more. It might have helped in my plan to attend the ceremony."

Joanne, Bess, and George were just returning from the woods with pails brimming over with luscious-looking berries when Nancy drove into the barnyard. As they started to help her carry in the packages, Karl Abbott Jr. rushed gallantly from the house to assist. He glanced curiously at the soft, fat one which Nancy kept tucked under her arm, but she did not give any explanation of its contents. Besides, the elder Mr. Abbott and Mrs. Salisbury were within hearing distance.

Immediately after a late lunch and some pleasant conversation with the guests. Nancy excused herself and summoned the other girls to her room. There she unwrapped the material and brought out scissors, needles, and thread.

"We must work like mad," she said, "in case there's a meeting tonight."

With great excitement and anticipation she cut out the first costume which was to serve as an entering wedge to the nature-cult ceremonial. As Nancy worked, she told the story of her adventure with her passenger and the conversation of the women in the market.

Joanne was alarmed. "Oh, Gram must never hear of this!" she exclaimed. "She'd be heartbroken!"

The others agreed. "We won't tell Mrs. Byrd any more than we have to," George said. "I do hope we can solve the mystery before something ugly happens!"

For the next few hours their needles flew furiously. At last the costumes were finished. The four friends could not control their laughter as they tried them on.

"You certainly look as if you're ready for Halloween!" George told Nancy. Do you think I'll pass?"

"In the moonlight they won't be able to tell you from a full-fledged member of the cult," Bess declared. "Let's see you go through the mystic rites."

To the delight of her chums. Nancy danced around the room, waving her arms wildly and making weird moans.

"Jo!" a voice called. "Dinner's ready!"

Startled, the girls scrambled out of the white robes and hastily hid them. They tried to compose their faces as they hurried downstairs, but merely succeeded in looking guilty.

"Seems to me you girls spent a long time locked up in your rooms." Mrs. Salisbury sniffed suspiciously.

"Planning some kind of mischief, no doubt." Mr. Abbott wagged his finger playfully at the four girls.

George had a hard time keeping a straight face, and hastily took a sip of milk. Bess could not restrain a giggle, whereupon Mrs. Salisbury gave her a sharp look.

"Humph!" she exclaimed. "I must say I'll have to agree with Mr. Abbott this time. I'm sure you four are up to some prank."

Even Nancy and Joanne had to smother telltale grins. They only smiled pleasantly, but offered no explanation. Actually, the girls were so excited over their prospective adventure they could scarcely do justice to the excellent meal Mrs. Byrd had prepared. Karl Jr., as usual, was a charming companion.

He had many amusing anecdotes to tell, and Nancy was happy to observe that Joanne seemed to be enjoying it all immensely. Indeed, by the time dessert was finished, Nancy and her chums realized that they had temporarily forgotten counterfeiters, syndicates, and even the nature cult on the hill.

Everyone was sorry, a little later, when the young man announced that he must leave.

"I wish I could stay," he said regretfully, letting his eyes rest especially long on Nancy, "but I must get back to the city tonight. I'll try to run down again in a few days to see Father. Take care of yourselves," he added to the girls.

After Karl Jr. had gone, and the girls were washing the dishes, George said teasingly, "You can't tell me 'Father' is the only attraction at Red Gate Farm! He has his eye on Nancy!"

"Silly!" Nancy laughed.

"He scarcely took his eyes off you all evening," George insisted. "You made quite a hit this morning with that rescued-heroine bit."

"Oh, honestly, George!" Nancy blushed. "You never give up, do you?"

"Karl Jr. wouldn't be so bad," Bess added, "but imagine having Mr. Abbott for a father-in- law!"

"You do the imagining," Nancy said lightly. “I'm going outside and look at the hillside.".

All the girls watched until late in the evening, but the mysterious place remained dark and deserted. Disappointed, the girls went to bed. They awakened early the next morning, for they had gradually become accustomed to farm hours. When they learned from Mrs. Byrd that Reuben was not feeling well, the girls eagerly helped with the various outdoor chores. It was noontime before they realized how much time had passed.

"You girls should have some relaxation this afternoon," Mrs. Byrd said. "How about a swim down in the brook? There's a spot that used to be known as the old swimming hole. It's fairly deep."

"That sounds wonderful," Bess declared.

Jo declined, but at two o'clock Nancy, Bess, and George set off in bathing suits. For two hours they swam, floated, and sun-bathed on the shore. Every once in a while Nancy or George would mention some angle of the colony. Hale Syndicate, or counterfeiting mysteries. But immediately Bess would say, "Shush! We're relaxing. We may have a big night tonight."

Finally the girls started for the farmhouse. To reach it they had to cross a field in the corner of which lay a heap of large stones, apparently raked there when the acreage was cultivated. George, grinning, climbed across the stones, saying, "This life is making me rugged. I- Oh, ouch!" she cried loudly, then added, "A snake! It bit me!"

CHAPTER XV Masqueraders

Nancy and George turned Just in time to see a brownish snake slither off in a wiggling motion and disappear among the stones.

"Oh, George!" Bess cried. "Was it a poisonous one?"

"I'm not sure," she answered, "I-I hope it wasn't a copperhead."

"We'd better not take any chances," Nancy declared, whipping a handkerchief from her beach robe. "Let's put on tourniquets, Bess."

Like lightning the two girls tied their handkerchiefs tightly above and below the puncture marks made in George's calf by the snake's fangs. Then Nancy took a tiny pair of scissors from her bag. "I wish I had something to sterilize these with," she said.

"Will perfume do?" Bess asked, and took from her bag the tiny bottle of Blue Jade. The liquid was poured onto the scissors, then Nancy deftly made a crosscut incision near the punctures. Blood spurted out, and with it, she hoped, any serum the snake might have injected.

George stoically had not made a sound, but finally she said, "Thanks, girls. Your quick first aid probably made it possible for me to go to the ceremonies tonight-if they have them."

"I think you'd better not step on your foot, or stimulate circulation," Nancy advised. "Suppose Bess and I carry you."

George started to protest but finally consented. Seated on a "chair" made by the intertwined hands of Nancy and Bess, George was carried toward the farmhouse. The trip, though awkward and slow, went at a steady pace. George maintained her Spartan attitude. She not only refused to complain but teasingly asked Bess, "Aren't you glad I don't eat as much as you do?"

"I don't know what you mean," Bess replied, puzzled.

Well, if I loved desserts as you do," George teased, "I wouldn't be such a featherweight to carry!"

Bess gave her cousin an indignant glance. "How do you like that for gratitude! Next time I lug you all the way home-!"

Nancy interrupted with a grin, "I guess we all do our share of eating dessert. Anyhow, we've made it, girls. Red Gate Farm is just ahead!"