The Secret of Red Gate Farm - Carolyn Keene [17]
“Oh, then I suppose it’ll be impossible for us to visit the cavern,” Nancy commented.
“I don’t see why we can’t. It’s still our land.” Joanne frowned. “A queer lot of people are renting it, though.”
“How do you mean?” Nancy questioned, recalling Joanne’s remark of the previous day.
“They’re some sort of sect—a nature cult, I think, and part of a large organization. At least that’s what it said in the letter Gram received from their leader. Anyway, this group calls itself the Black Snake Colony.”
“Pleasant name,” Bess observed cynically.
“I’m not sure what they do,” Joanne admitted. “We’ve never even spoken to any members. I suppose they believe in living an outdoor life.”
“You can live that way without joining a nature cult,” George said dryly. “I suppose they dance when the dew is on the grass and such nonsense!”
“Believe it or not they do dance!” Joanne laughed. “But only nights when the moon is out. I’ve seen them from here in the moonlight. It’s an eerie sight. They wear white robes and flit around waving their arms. They even wear masks!”
“Masks!” Nancy exclaimed. “Why?”
“I can’t imagine. It all sounds senseless. But the rent money is helpful.”
“Do they live in this cavern?” George asked in amazement.
“No, they live in shacks and tents near the river. I’ve never really had the nerve to visit the place. Of course if you girls went along—”
“When can we go?” Nancy asked excitedly.
“I’ll speak to Gram,” Joanne offered.
“It’s odd you’ve never spoken to any of the colony members,” Nancy remarked thoughtfully. “Who pays the rent?”
“It’s sent by mail. They even leased the land that way.”
“Didn’t it strike you as a peculiar way of doing business?” Nancy asked.
“Yes,” Joanne admitted, “but I suppose it’s part of their creed, or whatever you call it. They probably don’t believe in mingling with people outside the cult. That’s often the case.”
Directly after lunch the girls helped the Byrds straighten and clean the rooms for the expected boarders. They hung curtains, newly made by Mrs. Byrd, and put fresh flowers in each room.
At the end of the afternoon they were very pleased with the result.
“All you girls have worked hard enough,” Mrs. Byrd said. “You go rest while I fix supper.”
She was insistent, so Joanne led her friends to the porch. Bess stretched out in the hammock and picked up the day’s newspaper. The others chatted. Suddenly Bess gave an exclamation of surprise.
“Nancy,” she asked tensely, “what was the name of that girl who sold me the perfume?”
“Wong,” Nancy answered in amazement. “Yvonne Wong. Why?”
“Because there’s an article in the paper that mentions her name!” Bess thrust the newspaper into Nancy’s hands, indicating the paragraph. “Wow! This is something! Read it yourself!”
CHAPTER VIII
Hillside Ghosts
NANCY read aloud:
“‘The Hale Syndicate, which has been engaged in the illegal importation of Oriental articles, has been dissolved by court order.”’ Nancy looked up and said, “I don’t see what that has to do with our perfume friend Yvonne Wong.”
“A great deal,” Bess declared. “Read on and you’ll find out!”
“Oh!” Nancy exclaimed a few seconds later. “Yvonne was employed by the syndicate as a clerk in their shop. She hasn’t been indicted, because of insufficient evidence, and the top men have skipped!”
Bess nodded, realizing the impact of her important discovery. “That perfume store we visited must have been owned by the syndicate!”
“How long ago was the fraud discovered?” George asked.
“The article doesn’t say,” Nancy returned. “It has just now been made public.”
“It doesn t surprise me that the Wong girl was mixed up in some underhanded affair,” George remarked. “I didn’t like her attitude from the beginning!
“Nor did I,” Bess added. “And I liked her less after Nancy found out she had received the job Jo wanted.”
“I’m certainly glad I didn’t get that job.” Joanne smiled. “I’d much rather be here.”
“Do you suppose Yvonne knew the work of the syndicate was dishonest?” Bess asked with concern.
“I’m sure of it,” George answered flatly. “But it looks as if she and the others