Carolyn Keene - The Ringmasters Secret

"Let's get started," Nancy urged.

The three girls went off together, and within half an hour Nancy's appearance was considerably changed.

"You could pass for Bess's thinner sister at a short distance," Erika told her, adding that Kroon probably would not notice the slight difference in proportions.

As the girls left the make-up artist's tent, they almost bumped into George Fayne. She stared at Nancy as if she had seen a ghost.

"What's been going on?" she exclaimed.

Quickly George was brought up to date on the news, then Nancy asked, "Did my father telephone?"

George said he had. She grinned and said that Mr. Drew would be very happy to let Nancy pinch-hit in the circus act. His daughter breathed a sigh of relief, and George added:

"What's more, your aunt is flying up with him from New York to see the evening performance."

Nancy was pleased! She would do her very best—that is, if she could pass Kroon's inspection. So much depended on her now. She must not fail!

CHAPTER XI A Ruse Works

It suddenly occurred to Nancy that she had told Hannah Gruen she would be home at six o'clock and it was now six thirty. Since Bess had not gone there yet with the bracelet, and told her of Nancy's plans, the housekeeper would be worried. Nancy decided to call her at once.

"I'll invite her to the evening performance," Nancy thought, her eyes dancing. "But I'll keep my part in it as a surprise!"

The housekeeper answered the telephone.

"Hello, Hannah," Nancy said. "I'm still at the circus. I hope you haven't been worrying about me."

Mrs. Gruen said indeed she had been. A very important message had come for Nancy an hour before.

"Chief McGinnis called and left a message for you," she reported. "That fellow Hitch has disappeared. You're to watch your step!"

The news disturbed Nancy. She felt sure that the stableman had run away because he was guilty of the three suspicious incidents which had occurred.

"Did the chief tell you anything else?" Nancy asked the housekeeper.

"Yes, he did. One of his men found some souvenir whips hidden in Hitch's quarters. And furthermore, he told me that Hitch had tried to strangle you. Oh, Nancy, you must be careful. That fellow's clothes are still at the stable, which means he's probably still around here."

Hannah Gruen now went into a tirade about Hitch. She was sure he must be mentally deranged. No person in his right mind would try to injure innocent people like Nancy and the circus rider!

"I'm terribly worried," the housekeeper said. "There's no telling what that madman may try next."

It worried Nancy, too. It occurred to her that very possibly Hitch was lurking around the circus grounds, planning more deviltry. If he were, nobody would be safe.

Aloud Nancy said, "Don't think anything more about it, Hannah. Let's talk about something more pleasant. I'm staying at the circus and having supper with Lolita. Isn't that thrilling?"

"I suppose so," the housekeeper replied, "but don't you get any fancy ideas, Nancy Drew, about becoming an aerialist. It's bad enough that you're doing that stunt riding."

Nancy laughed, then told Hannah that she was staying for the evening performance and very much wanted her to come.

"Dad will be here," she said gaily, "and someone else you like very much. We'll make it a party!"

Hannah promised to attend and asked about a ticket. Nancy told her that she would leave one at the ticket booth. After completing the telephone conversation, Nancy went at once to find Dan Webster. He was pleased to hear that she had her father's approval and promised to have Box AA set aside for the family's use.

When Nancy told him about Hitch and her Suspicions that he might be hiding in the circus grounds, Dan's face became livid with anger. "Why that shriveled-up, good-for-nothing!" he shouted. "I never did have any use for him when he was with Sims', and now I have less than ever. I'll find him! He won't get away with another one of his tricks!"

Nancy suggested to Dan that the stableman might not be in his right mind.

"That doesn't excuse him!" Dan exclaimed.

Telling Nancy to go ahead to the big tent, the horse trainer hurried off to instigate a search. Relieved, she hurried back to where she had left Bess. Nancy took her arm as the girls went to the riding ring.

The equestrian group was there and complimented Nancy on her appearance.

"Oh, I do hope I can fool Mr. Kroon," she said. Turning to Rancoco, Nancy added, "Will you do something for me?"

"Yes, Nancy. What is it?"

She suggested that the ringmaster be kept at a distance, so that he would have no chance to detect the substitution.

"I'm sure I can arrange it," Rancoco said. "Here comes Kroon now. I'll speak to him."

To Nancy's delight, Rancoco was able to persuade the ringmaster to remain at a distance by telling him that he should view the act as though he were part of the audience.

"All right," the man's voice boomed across the empty tent, as he sat down in one of the boxes. "Now get to work! And make it snappy! I've got too much work to be hanging around here."

Rancoco hurried across the tanbark and the act started. Nancy was determined to do her part with precision. And the members of the troupe were equally bent upon helping her as much as possible.

Everything went smoothly. One of the men riders added an intricate solo of his own to take the place of one of Rosa's specialties.

Kroon seemed pleased, and for a few minutes he seemed like a different person—a very handsome, affable man. But presently he became as harsh and brutal as usual.

"This will do for a week or so," he shouted. "But, Rancoco, see to it that your girl soloist gets back in. Men performers are all right, but an audience likes to see girl riders do the tricky things."

After Kroon had left the tent, Bess came out of hiding. She heaved a big sigh and said to Nancy:

"Well, I'm glad that's over! I suppose there's no talking you out of the performance, but I certainly am worried."

Nancy put an arm around her friend. "This may surprise you, Bess," she said, "but the trick riding is almost getting to be automatic with me. Really, it doesn't seem hard at all."

Bess stared at her, not sure whether Nancy really meant it or whether she was just trying to make her feel better. She said no more about it, however, and asked if Nancy were coming home now.

"No, I'm staying here for supper," she said.

After telling Bess there would be seats for her and George in Box AA, Nancy said good-by.

Lolita had asked Nancy to meet her at the cafeteria. The aerialist had told her that suppertime was the only period when she was permitted to be with her friends in the circus.

Nancy hoped Pietro might join their little group. But when she mentioned this, Lolita told her that Kroon had someone watching her.

"I understand he asked one of the midgets to keep an eye on me. Oh, Nancy," Lolita wailed, "it's dreadful to have your father set spies on you."

The young detective thought how wonderful it would be if either or both of Lolita's own parents were alive, and she could find them and give Lolita a happy life. What a wonderful reunion it would be!

Then suddenly it occurred to Nancy that Kroon might have a good reason for keeping the Flanders hidden. To Lolita she said presently:

"Did your own parents leave any money in trust for you?"

"Oh, I don't think so. Mr. Kroon never mentioned it and I'm sure he would have told me."

Nancy was not so sure of this, in view of what Pietro had overheard Mrs. Kroon say to her husband.

"In fact," Lolita went on, "my father—Mr. Kroon, I mean—once told me that I was a poor, penniless child, completely dependent on him. The least I could do in return for his kindnesses was to become the best aerialist in the world."