The Elusive Heiress

by Carolyn Keene

  Nancy laughed as Jennifer disappeared into the crowd with the rest of the children. The young detective started to turn to Ned, to tell him how happy she was he’d suggested coming to the parade. However, before she could speak, a fast-moving body came hurtling into her from behind, striking her so hard she stumbled forward right into the path of a prancing pinto.

  “Nancy!” Ned’s strong hand caught her arm and jerked her back from the flashing, steel- shod hooves.

  She stumbled back onto the curb.

  “Are you all right?” he asked, his arm protectively about her shoulders.

  Nancy caught her breath, then looked around. “Who in the world did that?” she gasped. “And where did he go?”

  Ned shook his head. “I don’t know where he went, but it was a young man, in his early twenties, I’d say. He had dark hair and a fancy mustache. Why in the world he . . .”

  Nancy heard no more, for her ears had caught another sound, one made faint and hard to hear by the blaring of the gaily costumed band that was now passing. What she heard was a child’s voice screaming her name!

  “Jennifer?” she gasped, looking around wildly. “Ned, where is Jennifer?”

  Their eyes met for just a moment, then they both plunged into the crowd, pushing and shoving rather rudely in their frantic hurry, fear for the child overriding their normally good manners. Several people pushed back and made unkind remarks, but most seemed to understand from Nancy’s and Ned’s worried expressions that something was wrong and moved out of their way.

  “Jennifer!” Nancy shouted, hoping that she could be heard above the hubbub. “Jennifer, where are you?” She had a horrible feeling that the little girl might be about to vanish as strangely as her mother had.

  5. Rescue

  “Nancy!” The shriek came from just ahead and around a corner.

  Nancy ran toward it, grateful that the crowd was thinning as she left the parade route. The sight that met her eyes as she rounded the comer shocked her to a standstill.

  A familiar blue car was pulled up to the curb, the door hanging open and the motor running. A blond man was moving toward the car carrying a screaming Jennifer, tightly gripped in his darkly tanned arms.

  “Stop!” Nancy shouted, racing forward. “You let her go!”

  The young man slowed his stride long enough to look back and as he did so, Jennifer began to kick violently. One of her boot-clad feet quickly caught him on the kneecap.

  The man gave a yelp of pain and dropped Jennifer, then hobbled away, leaping into the blue car, which pulled out even before he’d managed to close the door. Brakes squealed as a dozen horns blared at the car before it disappeared into a nearby alley.

  This time, however, Nancy made a mental note of the license plate number, then dropped to her knees beside the sobbing child. “Are you all right, Jennifer?” she asked, taking the girl in her arms. “Did he hurt you?”

  Ned came striding up before Jennifer could answer. “What happened?” he demanded, his usually pleasant face dark with anger.

  “They were trying to kidnap Jennifer,” Nancy answered. “It was that same blue car we saw when we went to the Buckman house.” “Was it the man with the mustache?” Ned asked.

  Nancy shook her head. “This one was blond and younger, I think.” She closed her eyes for a moment, realizing what she’d said, then gasped. “Ned, I’ve seen both the men before. I iust remembered it. They were at the airport yesterday. I saw them watching us, but I really didn’t give it a thought.”

  “Do you suppose they could have been there looking for Jennifer?” Ned asked.

  “He said he was going to take me to my mother,” Jennifer said, breaking into the conversation as her sobs changed to hiccups. “I thought maybe he was from the Pony Club or something, so I went with him. Then I told him we should tell you that we were going and that’s when he picked me up and started running.” Tears filled her brown eyes again. “I was so scared, Nancy.”

  “Did you see an older man with a mustache?” Ned asked.

  Jennifer shook her head.

  “He was probably in the car,” Nancy supplied, her mind working rapidly. “They must have been watching us, just waiting for a chance.”

  Ned nodded his agreement to the theory.

  “When Jennifer went into the crowd, it was easy for them to distract us by pushing me into the street,” Nancy continued. “They probably expected to be far away before we missed Jennifer.”

  “So what do we do now?” Ned asked her with a concerned look.

  Nancy looked at Jennifer. “Do you want to go back to the parade?” she asked.

  “I don’t think so,” Jennifer replied. “Not today.”

  “There are plenty more parades we can watch,” Ned agreed. “Grace says there are three to come—Tuesday, Thursday, and next Saturday.”

  “Maybe we can even ride in one,” Nancy suggested, hoping to distract Jennifer now that she was sure she hadn’t been injured when the man dropped her.

  “I think we all need a nice cool drink before we go back to the car,” Ned said.

  Nancy agreed. Now that the excitement was over, she felt a little shaky as she realized how badly she could have been injured if Ned hadn’t caught her arm as she stumbled into the path of the parade horses. She was very glad to have Ned’s arm around her waist and Jennifer’s hand in hers as they walked through the crowded -treets to a nearby fountain.

  By the time they’d finished delicious sodas, Jennifer was calm enough to give Nancy a list of the names of all the people she could remember from the Pony Club. It was a dis- couragingly short list, since Jennifer knew many of the children by their first names only, having lived in Cheyenne through one summer before going off to boarding school in the fall. The adults she knew only by the names she’d heard her mother call them.

  “I’m sorry I can’t help more, Nancy,” she said. “Maybe I should have gone with that man. Maybe he really could have taken me to my mother.”

  Nancy shook her head emphatically. “Your mother would never have approved of someone just taking you that way, Jennifer. I don’t know what’s going on here, but I’m going to do my best to find out.”

  “Ready to go back to Grace’s?” Ned asked.

  Nancy nodded. “Maybe she’ll recognize some of these names,” she suggested hopefully. “Or she might know someone who can give me information about the Pony Club members.”

  “I just want to find Mom,” Jennifer murmured sadly. “I miss her, Nancy. She’s been sick for so long and she was just beginning to write about what we’d do when she felt better and I could come home.”

  “It has been a long time for you, hasn’t it?” Nancy asked.

  “We were on our way to California on vacation before school last fall. That’s when the accident happened. I guess I was lucky my grandmother could get them to take me at the boarding school, but I didn’t like being so far away from Mom.”

  “I’ll do my best to get you two back together,” Nancy promised as they got into the car.

  An afternoon on the telephone proved more frustrating than rewarding for Nancy in spite of her hopes. An attempt to trace the driver of the blue car proved futile since the police report indicated it belonged to someone out-of-state from whom it had been stolen a week earlier. Then, with Grace’s help, she did manage to contact several adult sponsors of the Pony Club, but they gave little information. All were concerned and several made offers of assistance, saying that Jennifer would be welcome to stay with them till Nancy located Lorna Buckman.

  “I really feel guilty about refusing their offers,” Nancy told Grace after she finished the last call. “I know I shouldn’t ask you to keep Jennifer, too, not when you’ve been so kind to Ned and me, but I’m afraid to have her go somewhere else. After what nearly happened this morning, she could be in danger.”

  “Don’t even think about letting her go anywhere else,” Grace said staunchly. “She’s a dear little girl and perfectly welcome here. She is really a gr
eat deal easier to keep entertained than my two grandsons who were here last month.”

  Nancy looked around at the big, comfortable room. “At least you’re not lonely living here by yourself,” she observed.

  “Not with my children and grandchildren coming by and all my friends dropping in for visits.” Grace gave Nancy’s shoulders a hug. “Now what about your safety?” she asked. “Do you think you should call your father and tell him what happened at the parade?”

  “I wish I could,” Nancy replied, “but I have no idea where to reach him. He is supposed to call me tonight, though, so perhaps he’ll have some information about our other mystery.” Grace shook her head. “With poor Jennifer’s problem, you haven’t had much time to devote to Clarinda Winthrop, have you?”

  “I really haven’t even looked at the list of names you gave me,” Nancy admitted.

  “I’ve been thinking about that list and I do believe that you might be wise to contact Mr. Webber first,” Grace advised. She smiled. “In fact, I made an appointment for us, if you don’t mind.”

  “Mind? I’m delighted,” Nancy assured her. “Where and when?”

  “Monday morning at the downtown Chuck- wagon Breakfast. Joshua Webber always does some of the cooking, so he said he’d take the early shift and be free by eight o’clock so he can eat with us. I hope you like ham, flapjacks with syrup, and milk or coffee.”

  “Sounds delicious and it should be fun, too,” Nancy agreed happily.

  “Well, I knew you would like to talk to him as soon as possible, but he’s very busy with all the rodeo details this entire week. And you’ve been busy.”

  Nancy nodded.

  "Actually, I was just lucky to get to talk to him at all. He said he didn’t remember any Clarinda Winthrop working in the store, but he thought he might recognize a photograph.”

  “I’ll be sure to take them,” Nancy said.

  The evening seemed endless to Nancy, though she tried hard to join in the conversation with Grace, Ned, and Jennifer. Her ears were always listening for the ringing of the telephone and the call she was expecting from her father.

  One subject did claim her interest for a short period. They were sitting on the comfortable lawn furniture on the rear patio after dinner when Ned asked, “Grace, is there any chance of our getting to ride in one of the parades? I mean on a float or in one of the vehicles.”

  Grace laughed. “Some of the vehicles are promised from one year to the next. In fact, those that belong to families have carried two or three generations in the parades ”

  Nancy sighed. “I was afraid of that,” she admitted. “I was just longing for the opportunity to try on one of those lovely old-fashioned dresses. Besides, riding in a buggy or trap looks like it would be fun.”

  Grace gasped, setting down a glass of iced tea. “Oh, my goodness, I’d almost forgotten. Nancy, I was supposed to ask you about that very thing.” Grace looked guilty.

  “Maybe you could ride with the Pony Club,” Jennifer suggested before Nancy could ask Grace what she meant. “I talked to Mrs. Carle- ton and she said that I could ride with them Tuesday.” She paused, then added, “If that’s all right with you, of course.”

  Nancy considered the risks for a moment, then nodded. “After what almost happened today, you will probably be safer in the parade than you were watching it.” She turned to Grace. “Now what was it you forgot to ask me?” she queried.

  “If you’d be interested in riding in the Ferguson stagecoach on Tuesday. Elsa Ferguson’s daughter usually rides in the stagecoach with her mother and her aunt, but she broke her ankle this afternoon and doesn’t think she’ll be

  up to it so soon.”

  “Oh, gosh, I . . .” Nancy took a deep.breath. “I feel sorry for her, but that sounds wonderful.”

  “Well, Elsa asked me, but I could never wear her daughter’s dress and I don’t want to bother trying to find something of my own. I’m sure you could wear the gown without any alterations.”

  “That would be super,” Nancy acknowledged, “if you’re sure. I mean, I wouldn’t want to . . .”

  Grace laughed. “I’m sure.” She turned to Ned. “I’m sorry I can’t offer you a similar spot,” she said, “but you are certainly welcome to ride one of my horses. I’m sure the Pony Club would be happy to have another rider with them.”

  Ned looked as though he might refuse, then grinned and nodded. “I guess it would be just as well to have one of us in a position to keep an eye on Jennifer,” he admitted.

  “I’ll call everyone in the morning,” Grace said. “I don’t want to tie up the phone till after Carson calls tonight.”

  Nancy sighed and looked at her watch, squinting in the near darkness. “I sure wish he would hurry,” she said. “I’d really like to know what he found out when he arrived at that lodge.”

  “Maybe the reason why he hasn’t called is because he didn’t find anything,” Ned speculated, trying to comfort his troubled friend.

  “Then he should be calling to tell us when he will be arriving here,” Nancy complained. She was too concerned to be soothed.

  Another hour passed and the night became so cool that they moved inside. Jennifer went to bed, leaving Ned, Nancy, and Grace to wait.

  Jennifer was long asleep and Nancy could see that Grace was growing weary after the long, busy day. Another look at her watch told her that waiting any longer would be futile, so she reluctantly got to her feet.

  “I guess he must have been too busy to call tonight,” she said without a great deal of confidence. “Maybe he’ll call tomorrow.”

  “I hope he does it in the morning,” Grace said. “We have rodeo tickets for tomorrow afternoon.”

  “Maybe I’ll call Hannah in the morning,” Nancy murmured. “Perhaps he called her instead of me.”

  The young sleuth hoped that she was right, but once she’d slipped into the twin bed next to Jennifer’s, she lay awake for a long time worrying. It wasn’t like her father to forget to call, not like him at all!

  6. Strange Conversation

  Nancy slipped downstairs quietly the next morning, aware that no one else was awake yet. Since there was a two-hour time difference between Cheyenne and River Heights, she knew that it wasn’t too early to call Hannah. She placed the call and waited nervously as the phone rang and rang. She was almost ready to give up when Hannah finally answered.

  “Were you outside, Hannah?” Nancy asked, relieved and a little guilty.

  “I was just cutting some flowers, Nancy,” Hannah answered. “How are you doing? Have you found the missing heiress yet?”

  “Found . . . oh, you mean Clarinda Winthrop,” Nancy stammered. “No, not exactly.” “Don’t tell me you’ve found another mystery since you left,” Hannah said, sounding amused.

  “Well, as a matter of fact, one found me, you might say.” Nancy quickly told her about Jennifer’s plight.

  “Oh, my goodness. No wonder you haven’t had a chance to work on your father’s case,” Hannah said sympathetically. “You just have to find that child’s mother first.”

  “Actually, I was calling about Dad,” Nancy said. “I was wondering if he had phoned you.” “Me?” Hannah sounded surprised. “No, I haven’t heard from him. I understood that he was to call you last night.”

  Nancy sighed. “I thought that, too,” she admitted, “but he didn’t call and I decided maybe I was confused and he’d planned to call you instead.”

  “No, I’m sure he was going to talk to you.” Hannah sounded disturbed. “You couldn’t have missed his call, could you?”

  “We were here all evening,” Nancy assured her.

  “Well, maybe he just forgot,” Hannah said without any confidence.

  “Did he leave a number for you where he could be reached in case of emergency?” Nancy asked, suddenly sure that she had to talk to her father.

  “No, he just said that he was going to the Chain Creek Lodge,” Hannah answered. “His anonymous caller didn’t give him any details,
you know.”

  Nancy sighed. “Well, I guess I’ll just have to try to call him, then.”

  “If you talk to him, will you call me back this evening?” Hannah asked. “I’ll be worrying about him now.”

  Nancy promised that she would, then broke the connection. She was very worried about her father and unsure just how to reach him.

  It took nearly an hour and the assistance of telephone operators on both sides of the border, but finally she had a number. When she called it, she could hear the phone ringing and ringing. Once again it seemed forever before anyone answered it.

  “Hello.” The man’s unfriendly tone surprised her.

  “Is this Chain Creek Lodge?” she asked, sure that she’d been given the wrong number.

  “This is the lodge,” was the reassuring reply. “May I speak with Carson Drew, please?” Nancy asked.

  “One moment.”

  An eternity seemed to pass before Nancy heard the receiver being picked up and the same voice said, “I’m sorry, Mr. Drew can’t come to the phone right now.”

  “But this is urgent,” she protested. “I’m his daughter and I really must talk to him.”

  “He isn’t here at the moment, miss,” the man snapped. “Leave your number and I’ll have him call you back.”

  “When?” Nancy asked. “I won’t be here after lunch.”

  “I’ll have him call before that,” the man promised. “Now what is the number?”

  Nancy gave it to him carefully, reluctant to break the connection. She was very much afraid that she wouldn’t hear from her father.

  In spite of her fears, the call came shortly and Nancy was deeply relieved when she heard her father’s voice. “Dad,” she cried, “I’ve been so worried about you. I thought you were going to call me last night.”

  “I'm sorry about that, Nancy,” he said. “I was tied up here and just didn’t get to the phone early enough.”

  “How are things going? Have you found out anything about Clarinda?”

  “Not yet.”

  Nancy waited, expecting questions about her own activities, but there was only silence on the other end. “Well, then, are you ready to come down here?” she asked, trying to imagine why he was saying so little.