Chapter 19 The Mystery of the Ivory Charm by Carolyn Keene
The Missing Elephant
Soon the bus was overtaken, but Nancy was compelled to follow it until it made its regular stop at the next town. As a few passengers alighted the girls eagerly scanned the faces of those still inside.
“I don’t see anyone who resembles Rai,” Nancy said in disappointment.
“He was sitting in a rear seat with a boy,” Bess declared. “I’ll step aboard the bus and see if they have changed seats.”
She was back again in a moment, looking decidedly crestfallen.
“I don’t understand how I made such a silly mistake. It’s not Rai at all. Can you ever forgive me, Nancy, for starting you on such a wild chase?”
“Of course, Bess. It wasn’t your fault.”
“I’m awfully sorry. I was so certain that the man was Rai.”
“Don’t give the matter another thought,” Nancy laughed. “This isn’t the first disappointment I’ve had. But I mean to find Rai and Coya yet.”
Later that evening Ned called at the Drew residence to learn the outcome of the trip. Nancy admitted that it had been a failure.
“I’m beginning to grow discouraged,” she confessed.
“You need a little cheering, Nancy,” he said coaxingly. “Why not come to the university week-end dance at Emerson? It will be a real party. The fellows are abandoning the Omega fraternity house and turning it over to the girls until the night of the dance. Mrs. Howard is to act as chaperon.”
“I haven’t any new party clothes to wear,” Nancy said as she quickly thought of her wardrobe.
“Just pack any old thing. No one will notice,” remarked Ned, man-fashion.
“Much you know of fraternity week-ends!” Nancy retorted. “All the girls will come dressed in their best. They’ll have a gown for every occasion.”
“They’ll not hold a candle to you, no matter what you wear.”
“You’re very flattering,” Nancy laughed. “I suppose I could go——”
“Then it’s settled,” Ned interrupted before she had an opportunity to voice another objection. “I’ll write Mrs. Howard and tell her to expect you Friday evening.”
Nancy did not regret accepting the invitation. By Friday her enthusiasm had mounted to a high pitch, and as she motored with Ned toward Emerson University she asked many eager questions regarding the planned festivities.
“There will be enough to keep you interested,” Ned promised. “Teas, and tennis, a swimming party, and then the big dance.”
Arriving at the fraternity house Nancy found twenty girls already comfortably established. After meeting Mrs. Howard, a pleasant, motherly woman, she was introduced to her roommate, a shy, timid girl who confessed that she never before had attended such an affair.
“You’ll love it,” Nancy assured her.
The following day the girls were rushed from one activity to another. Without making the slightest effort, Nancy became popular with everyone. She met so many new students that she could not remember the names of half of them. However, Ned’s fraternity brothers remembered her, and that evening at the formal party held in the chapter house they annoyed the young man exceedingly by constantly cutting in upon his dances.
“I think you’ve danced with everyone here except Basha,” Ned complained good-naturedly to Nancy. “That’s the punishment a fellow gets for bringing a good looking girl!”
“Who is Basha?” Nancy inquired, paying no heed to the compliment.
With a nod of his head Ned indicated an Indian student, a handsome youth in evening dress who was standing at the opposite side of the room.
“I’ll bring him over if you’d like to meet him.”
“It might prove interesting,” Nancy said.
Ned soon regretted that he had ever made such a suggestion, for after Basha had been presented he proceeded to monopolize Nancy’s attention. He captured her interest by immediately mentioning the ivory charm which she wore.
“It is a remarkable keepsake,” he declared. “I have seen none to compare with it—even in the collections of the mighty rajahs of my country.”
The conversation continued at a furious pace, and poor Ned tried in vain to draw Nancy’s attention to himself. She listened with an absorbing interest as Basha told of strange customs in India. The Hindu student in turn thought Nancy the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. It became increasingly clear to Ned that Basha was suffering from a severe attack of love at first sight.
At length the young man could endure it no longer. “Nancy and I have this dance,” he told the Hindu. “It’s time for you to scram!”
“Scram?”
“That’s an English slang word meaning go—leave—depart. Unless you do, I’ll be tempted to challenge you to a duel at sunrise!”
“Very sorry,” Basha apologized, smiling. He bowed to Nancy and moved away.
Ned was not the only person present who had noticed the Indian student’s infatuation. Some of the girls had overheard a part of Basha’s conversation, and teasingly inquired if her ivory charm was responsible for such popularity. Soon Nancy found herself dubbed “The Girl with the Ivory Charm.” She was not certain that she enjoyed the notoriety, for many persons asked to inspect the lucky piece.
She was tired when a waltz announced the end of the dance. She went to her room, tumbled into bed, and did not awaken until the morning sunlight streamed in at the window.
Her roommate was already abroad, and Nancy hastened to dress. Suddenly she became aware that the ivory charm was no longer about her neck. She tried to recall whether or not she had removed it the previous evening before retiring, but could not remember doing so.
She searched the dresser, the bed clothing, her suitcase, and finally in desperation communicated her loss to the other girls. Everyone joined in the hunt, but the charm could not be found anywhere in the house.
“Do you suppose that foreign student, Basha, could have stolen it?” a girl suggested.
“Oh, no!” Nancy exclaimed instantly.
“But he was deeply interested in the charm. Everyone noticed it. And you said yourself that he spoke of its value.”
Mrs. Howard, the chaperon, did not feel so confident that Basha was innocent. Unbeknown to Nancy, she telephoned the Hindu student, and after asking several rather pointed questions in regard to his knowledge of the charm, requested him to call at the chapter house as soon as possible.
A little after nine o’clock, Ned drove up hurriedly to the door and asked for Nancy. “I’ve just heard about you losing your charm,” he said quickly. “But I’m sure Basha had nothing to do with the theft. The poor fellow is almost beside himself with worry. He thinks he is to be arrested. He’s packing up his belongings now to leave the campus.”
“I didn’t accuse Basha,” Nancy said in amazement. “I know he didn’t take the charm.”
“Mrs. Howard telephoned to him,” Ned explained. “I suppose she meant well, but Basha thought he had been accused of the theft. He intends to run away before he is arrested.”
“We must stop him, Ned.”
“You’re the only one who can explain to Basha, Nancy. That’s why I came for you.”
“I’ll be ready in an instant.”
She ran back into the house for her hat, and bidding a hasty good-bye to Mrs. Howard and the girls, rejoined Ned. The couple drove swiftly to Basha’s rooming place, only to be informed that the youth had departed.
“Which way did he go?” Ned demanded.
“Down Fulton Street toward the railway station.”
They resumed the pursuit, and a few blocks farther on were gratified to glimpse the Hindu student trudging along with his heavy suitcase. Ned halted the car at the curbing.
“I didn’t steal the charm!” Basha cried, before either he or Nancy could speak a word. “Let me go in peace, I beg of you!”
“We don’t want you to go, Basha,” Nancy assured him kindly. “It’s all a mistake.”
“You have found the charm?”
“No, but Mrs. Howard didn’t mean to accuse you of taking it. We all know you are innocent. There is no need for you to run away.”
A tear trickled down Basha’s cheek, and when he tried to express his gratitude words failed him.
“You are very good,” he murmured at last. “Very kind. I will do all I am able to help you recover the charm, for now that it is gone your good luck will end.”
“I am not so sure of that,” Nancy replied. “I’ve always been considered a lucky person, even before Rai gave me the charm.”
“Rai?” Basha inquired sharply.
“Yes. Do you know him?”
“Only casually. I have met him a few times. Last evening he telephoned me.”
Ned and Nancy exchanged significant glances. Here, they thought, was an unexpected clue.
“Was this after the dance?” Nancy asked.
“Yes, he telephoned me at my rooming house.”
“And by any chance did you mention my name?”
Basha was surprised at the question. “Yes, I did,” he admitted. “I told him of your wonderful personality.”
“And my ivory charm?” Nancy prompted.
“I did mention it, I believe.”
“I think that explains everything,” Nancy said quietly to Ned. “My bedroom at the fraternity house is on the first floor and I slept soundly.”
“I did not mean to reveal anything of importance,” Basha said in alarm. “What have I done?”
“It isn’t your fault,” Nancy assured him kindly. “However, I am afraid Rai has my charm. Tell me, where is the man now?”
“I have no idea. He telephoned from a hotel and mentioned that he was leaving the city in an hour.”
“Don’t look so glum, Basha,” Ned said. “No one blames you. Jump in the car and we’ll take you home.”
Enroute to the rooming house, the Hindu student assured Nancy over and over that he was heartsick at the outcome of the casual telephone call. He seemed especially downcast because he firmly believed that the girl’s good fortune would desert her.
“Don’t take the matter too seriously,” Nancy urged him as they parted. “I have faith I’ll recover the charm.”
During the long ride back to River Heights, some time later that day, neither she nor Ned talked a great deal. They both felt discouraged and blue.
“I guess the party was a flop after all,” Ned said as Nancy alighted at her own door.
“No, it wasn’t. I had a wonderful time.”
“But you lost your charm.”
“I’ll recover it again. My first move will be to trace Rai.”
However, two days elapsed during which no word was heard of either Rai or the missing Coya. Mr. Drew had devoted many hours to the case, only to be confronted with defeat at every turn.
“Rai must have a secret hide-out,” he told Nancy. “Otherwise, we’d surely locate him.”
“At least we’re still in touch with Miss Allison,” Nancy returned, “and I have the incriminating documents which will convict her. And this is the day of my appointment, you know.”
“You must be very careful what you do or say,” the lawyer cautioned. “I fear you are getting into deep water.”
“Not so deep that I can’t manage to swim out,” Nancy smiled confidently.
A few hours later, enroute to the Stackpole residence, she did not feel quite so courageous. She knew that Coya’s future as well as her own safety might depend upon the outcome of her meeting with Anita Allison. Would she prove a match for the clever woman?
“My only chance is to work upon her weakness for mysticism,” Nancy thought. “I must play a part—and that part will require all my skill and cunning.”