The Secret of Red Gate Farm - Carolyn Keene [26]
She held her ground defiantly. There was a moment’s silence. Nancy could feel that the man was staring at her, as if undecided whether or not to believe her.
“So you were after the cow?” the lookout growled. “Then why are you by this cave?”
“Why, I was just wondering what was inside,” Nancy said innocently. “Surely there’s no harm in looking.”
“You’ve no business around here!” the man snapped. “This property belongs to the members of the Black Snake Colony.”
“Oh!” Nancy exclaimed in pretended awe. “Then you must belong to the colony. How very interesting!”
The man made no response to Nancy’s remark. Instead, he muttered:
“Round up that old cow of yours and get out of here! And don’t come trespassing again!”
Nancy knew she would gain nothing by arguing. Obediently she overtook the cow and headed her back toward Red Gate. The man watched until Nancy disappeared into the woods.
As soon as she had started the cow down the path, however, Nancy quietly retraced her steps. She reached the edge of the woods just in time to catch a glimpse of the man entering the cave.
“That proves he’s one of the Black Snake group,” she told herself. “He was acting as a guard for them.”
For an instant Nancy was tempted to follow, but common sense told her not to press her luck. The lookout seemed determined enough to make trouble for her if she took the chance. Reluctantly, the young sleuth turned back toward the farm.
It was clear to Nancy that the entire business of the Black Snake group was anything but open and aboveboard! Obviously they were afraid that some of the countryfolk would attempt to investigate.
When Nancy finally reached the barn and Joanne began to milk Primrose, the other girls plied their friend with questions.
“We were beginning to worry,” Joanne said in relief. “I wouldn’t have let you go alone if I’d known this cow of ours would stray so far.”
“I’m glad I went,” Nancy said quickly.
She then told the others what had taken place near the mouth of the cave. They gasped in astonishment upon hearing of her encounter with the lookout.
“Weren’t you frightened when he sprang up out of nowhere?” Bess asked, giving Nancy an admiring glance. “I’d have fainted on the spot!”
“That’s an easy way out if I ever heard one!” Nancy commented with a laugh.
“Girls don’t faint these days,” George scoffed. “Probably you’d have screamed and brought all the members down on you. They’d have dragged you off and put an end to you!”
“Thanks, George,” Bess muttered. “You say the nicest things!”
“Well, girls, talk all you like,” Nancy added, “but don’t lose your nerve altogether. I still want to get a closer look at that cave!”
“Not tonight!” Bess said firmly.
Nancy smiled. “I hope there won’t be a ritual on the hillside tonight. We’ve been too busy to get our costumes ready.”
The girls watched but the distant landscape remained dark. Finally they went to bed. Not long afterward, Nancy was roused from a fitful slumber by the stopping of a car not far from her window. She hopped from bed and went to peer out. A tall, slender woman who wore her hair piled high was walking to the front door.
Nancy leaned out the window and called, “What is it you wish?”
“Nancy Drew. Is she here?”
“Yes, I’m Nancy.”
“I have a letter for you.” Nancy did not recognize the woman’s voice. But she might be disguising it.
“From whom?”
“Your father.”
“Why are you bringing it now?”
“It’s an urgent message,” the strange woman said. “I’ll leave it on the doorstep.”
She dropped the letter, hurried into the car, and the man at the wheel drove off. Heart pounding, Nancy put on her robe and slippers and hurried down to the front door.
CHAPTER XII
Secret Service Agents
THE stopping of the car at the house had awakened Mrs. Byrd who slept on the first floor. She met Nancy in the hall and asked what was happening.
Quickly Nancy told her, then opened the door. On the porch lay a plain envelope with Nancy’s name typed on it.
“This seems like a peculiar