The Secret of Red Gate Farm - Carolyn Keene [3]
“Do you have something in mind?” Bess questioned.
“I came in response to a particular advertisement,” Joanne replied, but did not say what it was. A faraway look came into her eyes. “We simply must raise enough money to pay the longstanding interest due on the mortgage of our farm or Gram will lose it.”
“Surely no one would be mean enough to take over your farm,” Bess murmured sympathetically.
“A bank holds the mortgage. It has no choice. Gram knows very little about money matters, so she takes anyone’s advice. Years ago she was advised to buy another farm and sell it at a high price. All at once values crashed and she couldn’t meet the payments on her extra farm, so it went back to the original owners. Then she had to put a heavy mortgage on Red Gate, too, and if she loses that, she’ll be penniless.”
As Joanne finished her story, Nancy turned the car into the Drews’ driveway.
“Come in, everybody,” she invited. “Perhaps we can think of a way to help Joanne.”
The three girls followed Nancy into the house, where they were greeted by the Drews’ pleasant housekeeper. Hannah Gruen had been like a mother to Nancy ever since the death of Mrs. Drew when Nancy was a child. Nancy asked Hannah to make some sandwiches for them all, then led the girls to the living room.
“You must be nearly starved,” Nancy said to Joanne a moment later. “I know I am.”
“I am rather hungry,” Joanne confessed. “I haven’t had anything to eat since last night.”
“What!” the other girls chorused.
“It was my own fault,” Joanne said hastily. “I was too excited this morning to think about food.”
“It’s no wonder you fainted,” Nancy said. “I’ll ask Hannah to fix you something hot.”
Nancy returned from the kitchen with a tray of appetizing sandwiches and a bowl of soup. Joanne ate heartily. Nancy and her friends joined in, for they had had only a light snack while on their shopping expedition.
“I do feel better,” Joanne announced when she had finished. “It was so good of you to bring me here.”
“Not at all,” Nancy said softly. “We’d like to help you all we can.”
“Thank you, but I believe everything will work out all right if only I get this position.” Joanne glanced anxiously at the clock. “I’ll really have to go now or I’ll be too late to make the call this afternoon. Could you tell me how to get to this address?”
She handed a folded scrap of newspaper to Nancy. “This particular ad for an office girl caught my eye since it asks for someone who has had experience on a farm.”
Nancy found the advertisement to be rather conventional, but it was the name at the bottom of the paragraph that held her attention.
“Why, this ad says Riverside Heights!” she exclaimed. “You should have stayed on the train until the next stop!”
“I thought Riverside Heights and River Heights were the same place!” Joanne Byrd cried in distressed surprise.
“Riverside Heights is only a few miles away,” Nancy explained, “and the names are confusing even to people who live near here, so it’s a natural mistake.”
“Oh, dear, I don’t know what to do now,” Joanne said anxiously. “If I don’t apply for that position this afternoon, I’ll probably lose my chance of getting it.”
Nancy had taken a liking to the girl and wanted to help her. Not only was Joanne half sick from lack of food, but she had worked herself into a nervous state.
“You must let me drive you to Riverside Heights,” Nancy insisted. “It’ll only take fifteen minutes and you’ll have plenty of time to apply for the position.”
Joanne’s face brightened instantly, but she was reluctant to accept the favor. “I’ve really troubled you enough.”
“Nonsense! We’ll start right away!” Nancy turned to Bess and George. “Want to come along?”
Bess and George both declined, since they were expected home. The cousins gathered up their packages and all the girls went to the car. Nancy dropped Bess and George at their own homes, then took the highway leading to the next city.
“I do hope I get there in time,