Carolyn Keene - An Instinct for Trouble

As Nancy returned to the shed, she thought that it was unlikely the professor would jeopardize his own project, but until she could prove otherwise, he had to be a suspect.

When she got back to the command post, Ned was sitting up near the computer. Nancy was glad to see that his color was better. "Can you walk?" she asked him.

He smiled and assured her that he could.

"All right, we can go," Jack said from the doorway. As they walked across the campground to the parking area, he moved to Bess's side. "Are you coming to the hospital, too?"

Bess nodded, and Nancy noticed the interest in her friend's blue eyes.

"Good," Jack continued, opening the door for Ned and then the back door of the car for Bess. He slipped in next to her.

As they started off in the direction of the north entrance, Ned asked, "What were you talking to the professor about?"

"The problems the study is having," Nancy replied, being deliberately vague. "He seemed tense."

"He has a right to be," Ned said. "His reputation is riding on the success of this project."

For the rest of the trip, Nancy concentrated on her driving while Jack pointed out landmarks. Ned leaned back in his seat with his eyes closed.

At the hospital the group easily found the emergency room. After Ned and Nancy spoke with the nurse there, an orderly led Ned into an examining room, explaining to Nancy that only the patient was allowed inside. The rest of the group found seats in the waiting room.

"I am totally starved," Bess announced. "It's dinnertime."

"There are some vending machines downstairs," Jack said.

"Is this the hospital Brad is in?" Nancy asked after Bess borrowed some quarters and headed for the elevator.

"Yes," Jack replied.

"I wonder if he's allowed visitors yet."

"I don't know," Jack said. "We can ask. I hope he isn't badly scarred. Burns can be pretty awful."

As he spoke, he rubbed a reddish scar on the back of his left hand. "So, tell me about you and Ned. You seem to know each other pretty well," he continued.

Nancy nodded. "We've been going together for a long time."

"Too bad," Jack said with a charming smile. "If Ned weren't such a nice guy, I'd ask you to the square dance tomorrow night at the Old Faithful Inn. "

"That's where we're staying," Nancy remarked.

"Then you've got no excuse for missing it," he said, casually draping an arm across the back of Nancy's chair. "Are you sure I can't tempt you to go with me?" Jack asked teasingly.

Nancy felt flattered but shook her head. "I have a feeling Ned wouldn't like that too much," she answered lightly. "But maybe I'll see you there."

Jack gave a mock sigh of disappointment. "Too bad. Ned's a lucky guy."

From the doorway Ned said, "I sure am. The doctor says I'll be fine. No concussion or anything-but I had to have a few stitches." He gestured to the bandage wrapped all the way around his head. It gave him a roguish look.

Just then Bess came rushing up. "Are they done with you already?" she asked. "Can we go now?"

"I'd like to meet Brad," Nancy replied. "If they'll let us in to see him."

"Good idea," Ned said.

They asked for Brad's room number at the front desk, then filed into the elevator. At the nurse's station they learned that he was conscious and able to receive visitors. A couple of minutes later the group piled into Brad's room. His face and arms were heavily bandaged, but his eyes lit up when he saw them.

"Ned, Jack!" he said, and grinned. "It's great to see you!" He turned his gaze to Nancy and Bess.

"This is my girlfriend. Nancy Drew, and her friend Bess Marvin," Ned explained.

"Nice to meet you," Brad said. Then he noticed Ned's bandage. "Hey, guy, what happened?"

Ned told him.

"We are some hard luck bunch," Brad said. "First me, and now you."

"Don't forget that marmot that nipped me on the nose last week," Jack interjected with a laugh.

"That's right," Brad replied. "Maybe you should watch your step if you're going to hang around with us. Nancy."

Ned filled Brad in about the missing marmots. "After the stove exploded I asked Nancy to come out to look into it. She's a detective, and if anyone can figure out who's causing all the trouble, she can."

"Tell me about your accident, Brad," Nancy began.

"There's not much to tell. The first thing I did when I went on duty was make a cup of coffee."

"Of course," Ned said, grinning. "He's a caffeine addict."

Brad smiled back, then continued. "When I went to light the stove, there was a whoosh, and then flames were everywhere. The next thing I knew, I woke up here."

"How terrible!" Bess exclaimed.

Brad's face hardened. "Yeah, well, I'm not so sure it was an accident. I saw someone sneaking out of the hut as I walked up the path."

Nancy leaned forward eagerly. "Could you tell who it was?"

Brad stared up at the ceiling for a long time. Finally he said, "I hate to say it, but it looked an awful lot like Dan Trainey."

Chapter Five

“No way, " Ned said. "How could you even think that the professor had anything to do with it?"

Brad shook his head. "All I can tell you is that whoever it was, was wearing a dark green hat and a green coat like the professor's. And considering the way he ran behind the hut, I'd say he didn't want to be seen."

"Well, it wasn't Professor Trainey," Ned insisted. "And that's that."

Reluctantly, Nancy told them about finding the professor's Phi Beta Kappa key.

Ned scowled. "There's bound to be an explanation. Did you ask him about it?"

"Yes," Nancy told him. "He said he noticed he lost it a few days ago."

"Well, there you are," Ned concluded. "It was probably on the floor all this time."

Nancy glanced at Ned, who looked upset. She decided to drop the subject for a while. Turning back to Brad, she asked, "Can you think of any reason why anyone would want to hurt you?"

"When I noticed that the traps were missing, the others divided up my chores so I could look into it. Maybe my investigation bothered somebody," Brad suggested.

Nancy nodded thoughtfully. "Did you discover anything?"

Before Brad could answer, a nurse came bustling in. Nancy could almost hear the starch rustling in her white uniform.

"Sorry, folks. Visiting hours are over." She took Brad's wrist between her fingers and checked her watch.

The group said their goodbyes. As they left, Nancy decided to return the next day to question Brad further.

On the way back, Ned sat silently beside Nancy. .She could tell he was thinking about the professor. Jack and Bess kept up a steady stream of conversation in the backseat, and Nancy was glad of it.

"I have an idea," Jack said as Nancy turned onto the dirt road leading to the campsite. "There's a new little cafe with disco music in West Yellowstone. I know Ned has to rest this evening, but we could go dancing."

"That sounds great," Bess replied.

"Thanks, but I'll pass," Nancy said. "You guys go without me."

"Sure you don't mind?" Bess asked.

Nancy shook her head.

When she parked the car, Jack climbed out, then put his head in through the window. "I'll come by the hotel around eight, okay?" he said to Bess. "If you change your mind, you can still join us," he added to Nancy.

"Oh, wait," Bess called, getting out and walking up the path after Jack. "What kind of place is this? I need to know what to wear."

Jack laughed and put his arm around Bess's shoulders. The two of them bent their heads together and launched into an animated conversation.

Nancy looked over at Ned. He was sitting very stiffly, staring straight ahead. "Are you feeling all right?" she asked.

"I'm fine," he said in a tense voice. But then he added, "There's no way Dan Trainey tampered with that stove. Nancy."