Chapter 11 The Mystery of the Ivory Charm by Carolyn Keene
Trespassers
Unaware of the reason for Nancy displaying such interest in the Sanskrit readings, George and Bess wandered some distance from the abandoned house.
“Suppose we take another look at that door in the rock,” George proposed suddenly. “I imagine it might open from the outside if only we can discover the secret.”
“Nancy may want to return home soon,” Bess said doubtfully.
“Oh, she’ll be listening to that woman for a long while yet. I never thought Nancy would take stock in such psychic nonsense.”
The girls walked rapidly through the woods. Selecting a more direct route than the one which followed the road, they soon emerged at the high cliff. Even at close range the door in the rock was not visible but they knew its exact location and readily traced its indistinct outline.
“There doesn’t seem to be a single thing to push or pull,” George commented after running her hand over the entire door. “It just isn’t supposed to open, I guess.”
Scarcely had she spoken, when the two girls were startled to hear a slight clicking sound which seemed to come from within the rock.
“What did you do then, George?”
“Nothing. My hand wasn’t even near the rock.”
George and Bess fell back a step, staring in amazement. The door was slowly swinging outward. Before they could recover from their surprise, a tall, muscular man emerged from the opening. He stood framed against the dark interior of the tunnel, holding the door to prevent it from closing behind him.
“What are you doing here?” he asked gruffly.
“Why, nothing,” George stammered.
“You must leave instantly.”
As George and Bess turned to retrace their steps along the forest trail, the man commanded sharply:
“Not that way!”
Closing the door in the rock, he indicated that the girls were to follow him. He led them directly to the road.
“Follow this to the main highway,” he instructed, scowling. “And never come here again without written permission from the owner.”
Bess and George scurried down the road, at the first bend pausing to glance back. The man had not moved from his position. He was still watching them.
“Now how are we to find Nancy?” Bess asked when they were out of sight. “She’ll be waiting at the house for us.”
“If she doesn’t return to the car we’ll have to double back and take a chance of being caught.”
“I’d not care to meet that horrid man a second time. George, doesn’t it seem to you as if we’ve met him before?”
“Not to my knowledge. Still, his face was somewhat familiar. I was too nervous to look at him very closely.”
“I’m certain I’ve seen him before, George. Oh, now I remember! It was that man we met at the ball park!”
“Steve Roach! You’re right, Bess. He wore different clothes today, but I believe he’s the same person.”
“Nancy said he was a friend of Miss Allison, too,” Bess continued. “Apparently, he has taken it upon himself to protect her property.”
The girls had reached the parked automobile. They paused there and were debating their next action when a figure emerged from among the trees.
“Nancy!” Bess exclaimed in relief. “We were worrying about you.”
“And I’ve been engaged in a similar pastime,” Nancy smiled. “I had no idea what became of you.”
Bess and George quickly explained where they had gone and told of their unpleasant meeting with Steve Roach.
“That man won’t keep me away from here if I choose to come again!” Nancy declared with a quick toss of her head. “I doubt that Miss Allison ever gave him the authority to order people away from the property.”
“I wish you had been along with us,” Bess said. “We were so startled that we scarcely defended ourselves at all.”
“I’d like to talk with Mr. Roach.”
“Perhaps he’s still at the cliff,” George suggested.
Nancy glanced at her wrist watch. “It’s late now and we really should be getting back to River Heights.”
“Did you manage to see Jasper Batt?” Bess inquired as they climbed into the car.
Nancy laughed ruefully.
“I certainly did! And in a most unexpected way!”
“Don’t keep us in suspense,” George said impatiently. “What happened?”
“While Miss Allison and I were talking Jasper Batt came out of the house and accosted me. He arrived at just the wrong moment for the woman was just on the verge of revealing some important information.”
“Did the man accuse you again of stealing his papers?” Bess asked with a smile.
“Oh, yes, he made a scene. I don’t know what Miss Allison thought of it all. Anyway, I managed to quiet him after a time and then I came to search for you and George.”
“What is this information Miss Allison was about to reveal?” Bess questioned as the car turned into the main highway.
“Oh, she wouldn’t say another word after Mr. Batt appeared. It was provoking. I thought she was going to tell me something important about Coya’s parentage.”
In response to the questions of her chums, Nancy went on to state her theory regarding the manner whereby the Indian lad had been brought to the United States.
“It’s an interesting idea,” Bess commented.
“Is that the most you can say for it?”
“W-e-l-l,” Bess hesitated, unwilling to offend her chum, “the theory is so startling it’s a little hard to accept. But the case does have some baffling angles to it.”
“I’m only starting to work on it,” Nancy announced with relish. “This is the most interesting mystery I have ever encountered.”
“That’s what you always say,” George chuckled.
“Perhaps I do, but I believe you’ll agree with me before we’re through with this affair.”
The car was speeding along an open country road. Nancy slowed down for a curve; then, to the surprise of her companions, she quickly put on the foot brake.
“Now what?” George demanded. “Don’t tell me we have a flat tire.”
Nancy smilingly shook her head. She indicated a large signboard in a field to the left of the road.
“See that poster, girls! A circus is coming to town.”
“Not to River Heights,” Bess said in disappointment as she turned to read the sign. “It’s showing at Hanover the twentieth of this month.”
“And that’s only a day away,” Nancy added. “But you miss the significant part.”
“Oh!” Bess exclaimed. “It’s the Bengleton Circus! That was the one Rai was with, wasn’t it?”
Nancy nodded. “Girls, let’s plan to attend,” she urged eagerly. “I’m curious to learn if Rai is still in the troupe.”
“I never turn down an invitation to a circus,” George said cheerfully.
“I’d love to go,” Bess added quickly. “Will you take Coya, Nancy?”
“I think not. His recollections of the circus are not very pleasant, and he seems to be afraid of encountering Rai again. I believe it would be wise not to mention the matter to him at all.”
“Coya may see one of the posters,” George suggested.
“I’ll try to keep him close at home for the next few days.”
After dropping Bess and George at a downtown department store, Nancy continued toward her own residence. She was in great haste to arrive, for this was one of the afternoons designated for Professor Stackpole to tutor Coya, and she wished to talk to the distinguished gentleman before he should leave the house.
As Nancy ran up the front steps, the man was politely bidding Mrs. Gruen good afternoon. The door behind him closed.
“Are lessons over so soon?” Nancy inquired with a smile.
“Yes, it did not take me long to hear them. Coya is a brilliant student.”
“I’m delighted to learn that, Doctor Stackpole.”
“The lad’s mind never ceases to amaze me, Miss Drew. His knowledge of Indian history is astounding, and he seems to be well versed in the traditions of various royal families.”
“I’ve often wondered if perhaps Coya doesn’t come from such a family himself,” Nancy interposed quickly.
She half expected that Professor Stackpole would laugh away the suggestion, but instead he regarded her soberly.
“That possibility has occurred to me, Miss Drew. Do you know anything of the lad’s parentage?”
Nancy described her first meeting with Rai and Coya, adding thereto a little of the evidence she had gleaned from Miss Allison. As she mentioned the Sanskrit readings and the name of Iama Togara, Professor Stackpole’s interest increased.
“Iama Togara is a well-known ruler of a small but wealthy province of India,” he explained. “As I recall, the man took the throne under rather peculiar circumstances, but the details have slipped my mind. If you wish I’ll look up the data for you.”
“I’d appreciate it, Doctor Stackpole,” Nancy said gratefully.
The tutor bowed politely and took his leave. Before the man was out of sight, the front door opened and Coya emerged. Nancy glanced at him sharply, wondering if he had been listening to the conversation.
“What is it that you want?” she inquired as the boy regarded her with an intent gaze.
“Coya have sudden premonition!”
“Did you learn that big word in your English lesson today?” Nancy questioned, smiling.
Coya appeared not to hear her.
“I have strange premonition,” he repeated impressively. “Strange vision. Coya see himself on way to India to rule as great Rajah! Great honor come to me through help of Nancy!”
“Whoever heard such nonsense?” a familiar voice demanded from the doorway. “Forget your premonitions, Coya, and start polishing the family car! If you don’t, I have a premonition you’ll get no supper.”
Hannah Gruen emerged from the house, broom in hand, and Coya, thinking that she intended to use it on him, hastily fled. The housekeeper chuckled as she began to sweep the front porch, yet her voice held a note of irritation as she said to Nancy:
“That boy is rather provoking at times. Imagining himself a king! The next thing we know, he’ll think he’s too good to work.”
“He hasn’t shown any disposition to shirk yet.”
“Perhaps not, but I don’t aim to let the germ take root.”
After Mrs. Gruen had gone back into the house, Nancy idled about the garden until her father came home. Making certain that Coya was not within hearing distance, she told him about the Bengleton Circus showing at Hanover.
“If I can get away from the office, I’ll run over with you,” he promised.
“And perhaps you’d like to visit the abandoned Allison house?” Nancy inquired slyly. “It’s on the way.”
“All right,” the lawyer agreed. “You’ve told me so many wild tales about the place that I admit I’ve grown curious.”
Nancy was awake early the next morning. She helped Hannah prepare breakfast and then, while she was waiting for her father to come downstairs, she unfolded the newspaper. Casually her eye scanned the headlines. She uttered a startled exclamation which penetrated to the far corners of the house.
“Dad! Mrs. Gruen!” she called. “Just come and read this!”