Carolyn Keene - The Ringmasters Secret

As Nancy gave her instructions, Dan Webster sat gazing at the floor. He shook his head several times but did not speak. Finally he looked up.

"Miss Drew," he said, "I want to help you as much as I can. But this is a big order. I'm afraid I'd fail. You'd better count me out and get somebody else."

Nancy laughed softly. "Oh, it isn't that bad. Dan," she told him. "I'll tell you what. Suppose I stand outside the window and watch Kroon's actions. You act as innocent as you can but try to follow the lines of conversation I suggested."

At last, Dan Webster said he would try and the time was set for eleven thirty. Nancy thanked him and hurried off to change her clothes. When Erika saw her starting out again, she asked where Nancy was going.

"To do some sleuthing. But don't be worried. I'm not going to leave the circus grounds."

Nancy hurried from the tent. Using a circuitous route to avoid as many people as possible, she went to Mr. Kroon's trailer. She could hear voices inside distinctly.

No one was in sight and Nancy cautiously made her way to the side window and stood on a box. Through the window she could get a good view of the interior, but still remain out of the line of Vision of those within.

Dan Webster was there, talking with Lolita's foster parents. Evidently the early part of the previously planned conversation had already taken place, because Kroon was just saying:

"The new girl's all right, but I'll let you know tomorrow about her staying with us after this week. There are certain things about her I don't like."

"What are they?" Dan asked quickly.

"Nothing that you could do anything about, Webster," the ringmaster replied. "They're personal reasons."

Dan arose, but before leaving he said, "By the way, Mr. Kroon, I've heard rumors about things disappearing from the circus."

Kroon gave a slight twitch and Nancy saw his eyes travel involuntarily to a bureau in the trailer. To Dan he said:

"I haven't heard anything about it. You shouldn't believe everything you hear."

"Probably not," Dan Webster gave a slightly forced laugh. "I guess rumors fly around thick and fast in the circus."

He left the trailer and started for his own quarters. Dan had failed to carry out the last part of Nancy's instructions but it did not matter. She had found out what she wanted to know.

The bureau was probably the hiding place!

Nancy continued to eavesdrop outside the trailer, but neither Mr. nor Mrs. Kroon mentioned the bracelet or Dan's visit.

Presently Mrs. Kroon transferred to Lolita's trailer, where she lived, apparently to watch her foster daughter's movements.

A few minutes later the window shades on both trailers were drawn and soon afterward the lights were turned off. Nancy made her way back to her tent, convinced that her bracelet was in the bureau in Kroon's trailer. She only hoped that the ringmaster would not remove it before she had a chance to carry out the next part of her plan.

Early the following morning she went to find Lolita. She was forced to wait for several minutes while the aerialist and her foster parents finished breakfast in Mr. Kroon's trailer. Finally the ringmaster left and Lolita started back to her own quarters.

Nancy beckoned her to walk to a more secluded spot where they might talk. Quickly the girl detective divulged her suspicions about the bracelet. Lolita was aghast to hear that her foster father might be a thief. Nancy said she was sorry bun felt that it was necessary for Lolita to know all the facts in order to help solve the mystery.

"I want you to search that bureau," Nancy told her.

Lolita looked frightened. "But how can I?" she said. "Mother's always in one trailer or the other."

"I'll arrange for her to leave," said Nancy. "I'll have Erika ask her to come to our tent and help with some sewing."

Lolita finally consented to the scheme. An hour later, when Mrs. Kroon was safely out of the way, the aerialist went into her father's trailer. Nancy posted herself at the window. Some distance away was Dan Webster, acting as lookout.

Lolita pulled out drawer after drawer, lifting various articles aside and feeling beneath pieces of clothing. The bracelet was not in any of the drawers. Just as Lolita opened the lowest drawer, Nancy heard a low whistle. Looking up, she saw Dan Webster warning her of danger.

Rheinhold Kroon was almost at the trailer!

Through the window Nancy hissed at Lolita. The girl was so engrossed in her search that she did not hear her friend. The next moment, Kroon stepped inside. Seeing the open bureau, he thundered at Lolita:

"What are you doing?"

CHAPTER XVII Blackout

When Lolita heard someone step into the trailer, she slammed shut the bureau drawer. But her movement and the telltale clothes which trailed from the drawer gave her away completely.

"I said, what are you doing?" her foster father yelled at her.

He took hold of the girl's arm and yanked her around violently. As he glared at Lolita, she began to shiver with fright.

"Please don't hurt me!" she begged.

"You tell me what you were doing or I'll—" The ringmaster did not finish because of an unexpected interruption.

Fearful that Lolita's reply might give away their secret, Nancy decided upon a desperate measure. She had once learned a few ventriloquist tricks, and now determined to use one of them. Throwing her voice to sound as if it were inside the trailer, Nancy gave an unearthly scream. Then, dashing around to the door of the trailer, she ran inside.

"I heard a scream," she said. "Lolita, is something the matter?"

Kroon glared at Nancy. The ringmaster was so taken aback that he released his hold on Lolita and said nothing for a moment.

The pretty aerialist sagged weakly onto a couch. "Oh, Nancy!" she wailed helplessly.

Kroon's eyes narrowed and Nancy felt as if they would burn right through her. The ringmaster walked toward her in menacing fashion. Nearing Nancy, he pointed a finger at her.

"Why, you little double-crosser!" he shouted.

Nancy stood her ground, not moving an inch. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Dan Webster in the doorway. Should she need any protection, it was near at hand.

"Nancy, eh?" Kroon yelled. "You're Nancy Drew, that self-styled detective, and you sneaked in here to spy on the circus!"

Still Nancy said nothing. This seemed to infuriate the man. Towering above her, his face so red that Nancy thought he might have a stroke, he continued to wave a finger in her face.

"I knew you'd joined the circus and I let you stay because you were a good rider," he went on. "But I've had spies trailing you. So don't think you've put anything over on me, you little sneak!"

"Nancy has done nothing wrong," Lolita said stanchly. "She's done a good job in this circus."

The ringmaster gave a harsh chuckle. "But no thanks to you. I suppose you were snooping through this bureau because Nancy Drew asked you to. What were you looking for?"

Lolita looked pleadingly at Nancy. She did not know whether to answer him or not.

Nancy decided it was time for her to speak.

"Mr. Kroon," she said, "what is so dreadful about your daughter looking in your bureau? Goodness, whenever I want a big hanky I go to my father's chest of drawers."

Kroon was not fooled by Nancy's play acting. At the top of his lungs, he shouted:

"You get out of this circus and stay out!"

"But what will happen to the Vascons' act?" Lolita spoke up.

Kroon said that Rosa would perform that afternoon or the whole troupe could leave the circus at once. In no case was Nancy Drew to appear. She was to pack her things immediately and go back to River Heights.

In the doorway Dan Webster could remain silent no longer. Stepping inside, he began to plead for Nancy to remain. The ringmaster would not listen.