Chapter 14 The Mystery of the Ivory Charm by Carolyn Keene
A Bitter Disappointment
The three jumbo elephants, guided by their trainer, had entered the ring directly in front of the section where Nancy and her friends were seated. The man turned to bow low to the audience.
“Oh, it isn’t Rai after all,” Nancy murmured in disappointment. “I was deceived by his costume.”
“I was afraid we might not find him here,” Carson Drew commented.
For Nancy, the circus entertainment had lost its zest. She paid scant attention to the elephant act, and when it was over whispered to her father that while the others were watching the remainder of the show, she intended to seek information regarding Rai from the circus manager.
After making inquiry from a worker who was scrubbing out an animal cage, Nancy was directed to the official’s tent. He was busy at his desk and looked slightly annoyed as she entered.
“Anything I can do for you?” he asked briskly in a tone which implied, “Please be brief.”
“I came to inquire if you have an elephant trainer in your employ by the name of Rai,” Nancy answered.
The manager pushed aside the papers on his desk, regarding the girl with interest.
“We did have,” he answered. “Rai left the circus about ten days ago to search for a young charge of his who mysteriously disappeared.”
“A boy named Coya?”
“Yes. Have you any information concerning him?”
“I might have,” Nancy returned evasively. “Tell me, was Coya the son of this man Rai?”
“I’m not certain. He called the boy his son, but I was under the impression that the two were not related. However, he was greatly upset when the lad disappeared and insisted upon leaving the circus to search for him.”
“Then Rai never received my father’s letter.”
“He received no letter offering any information about the boy. I am sure of that.”
“I should like to ask another question,” Nancy said. “Did you ever hear Rai mention a woman by the name of Allison—Anita Allison?”
“The name sounds familiar. I have a vague feeling that in some way the two were connected. Rai always did a lot of wild talking. He often spoke of a mysterious treasure and it seems to me Miss Allison’s name was mentioned in one of these tales.”
“Did you ever hear Rai speak of an ivory charm?”
The circus manager laughed ruefully. “Yes, Rai was superstitious. He believed in all sorts of evil and good omens. In some way he lost an ivory elephant charm, and whenever anything went wrong on the lot he claimed that it was because the piece was gone.”
Nancy was upon the verge of revealing that the trinket had been given to her, but the admission was never made, for just then a man appeared in the doorway of the tent to speak with the manager.
“Rai is back again,” he announced. “The fellow wants his old job and insists upon talking with you personally.”
“Rai!” the manager exclaimed. “Well, if that isn’t a coincidence! Send him in.”
A minute later the Indian elephant trainer entered the tent. He bowed ingratiatingly to the manager, but the oily smile faded from his face as he observed Nancy.
“We meet at last!” he said. “I have searched the far corners of the state for you, and for my dear son Coya who has been taken from me. Tell me, what have you done with the Ivory Charm?”
“I still have it,” Nancy admitted.
“Good! Excellent! You must return it to me, for since I gave the charm away my luck has been most depressing. Because I lost the ivory elephant my son disappeared.”
“Coya ran away because you abused him,” Nancy corrected.
“You dare to tell Rai that his son was abused?” the Indian cried angrily. “A beating now and then is good for a boy!”
“I have my own opinion, but I’ll not argue with you. If you’ll stand aside I’ll return to my friends.”
Rai’s anger melted away but he made no move to permit Nancy to pass. His manner became fawning.
“We have no quarrel,” he purred. “I can see that you are a young lady of great kindness and sympathy. Because of that you will not wish Rai to come to misfortune. You will give me back my charm?”
“I’ll return it to you upon one condition.”
“And what is that?”
“You must tell me the truth about Coya’s parentage.”
Rai hesitated and looked disturbed. Then he smiled.
“Certainly. The condition is easily met. Coya’s mother died twelve years ago in India at the time of his birth. I, Coya’s father, brought him to this country.”
“You are not telling the truth,” Nancy accused. “Unless you do, I shall keep the charm.”
“I know no other story,” Rai protested.
“Then I cannot return your ivory trinket.” Nancy turned as if to leave the tent.
“Do not go!” Rai cried desperately. “I would gladly tell you what you wish to know if I were able!”
“Then you admit that I haven’t learned the truth?”
Rai shrugged. “The truth? What is it? Who can tell? Perhaps Anita Allison might know, but she is far away.”
“What was that you said?” Nancy questioned alertly.
Rai had not intended the girl to hear his words. Certainly he had no suspicion that she was acquainted with Miss Allison.
“There is only one who might tell you more of Coya,” he answered vaguely. “She is beyond our reach.”
“In that event there is nothing more to say, Rai. I must go now.”
“But my charm!” the man cried frantically. “You will give it to me?”
“When you have fulfilled the condition I mentioned.”
“But that is impossible.”
“Then it is likewise impossible for me to return the charm.”
“Wait!” Rai commanded as Nancy once more moved away. “I will try to find a way. I must see you again. We will talk of Coya then.”
“I will meet you whenever you wish.”
“Then one week from today.”
“And the appointed place?”
“I will write you a message.”
“Very well,” Nancy smiled, “I’ll wait until I hear from you.”
She felt confident that Rai would not fail to communicate with her, for his eagerness to recover the Ivory Charm was almost pathetic.
Nancy thanked the circus manager for his interview, nodded briefly to Rai, and left the tent. She had walked scarcely a dozen rods when she was startled to hear a workman utter a cry of alarm. He ran toward her, waving her back.
“Look out! Look out!” he yelled warningly. “The elephants are stampeding! Old Tom has gone on the rampage again!”