Part 3 (2/2)
”I was told by MandaKreutz that you are an expert mechanic,” Nancy said. ”My car is stuck down the road. Can you help me out?”
”Ya, I will help you,” he said. ”I will get my car and tools.” He disappeared behind the house for a few minutes, then drove out a small car. Climbing in, Nancy directed him to the stalled convertible.
When Nancy introduced the young man to Bess and George, Rudolph said, ”You are a girl? Your name is George, ain't?”
George chuckled and nodded. Rudolph remarked emphatically that among plain people, a man has a man's name and a woman, a woman's name.
The tomboyish girl did not take offense at the criticism. Laughing, she told Rudolph that she had not named herself. ”But I like having a boy's name,” she admitted. ”It's different.”
Rudolph made no further comment. He checked the car, working with amazing speed. One minute he was beneath the convertible, the next he was tinkering under the hood, and a moment later he was reaching in to the dashboard to test the ignition. Soon he announced that he had found the trouble. ”The feed line -a twist in it!”
It was not long before Rudolph had fixed the car. When the girls were on their way again, Nancy decided it was too late to call on Mr. Zinn that day.
”Besides, I'd like to stop at the Kreutz farm to see how Manda made out,” she went on. ”If her father is as stern as she said, he may not let her stay. In that case we can take her wherever she wants to go.”
The girls found the Kreutz place easily. It was a large, plain two-story house without blinds or curtains. Nearby was a large stone barn built on two levels of ground. Several other smaller buildings dotted the yard.
Nancy's knock was answered by an Amish woman who looked as if she had been crying. ”You're Mrs. Kreutz?” the girl asked, smiling.
The woman nodded silently.
”Is Manda at home?” Nancy inquired.
”You know Manda?” the woman asked.
Nancy replied that she had met the Amish girl on the road and told the whole story.
Suddenly Mrs. Kreutz burst into tears. ”Manda has gone again! Papa is so strict! He told Manda she could live here, but he gave orders that n.o.body in the family could speak to her!”
”How dreadfull” Nancy thought.
”We have six sons,” Mrs. Kreutz explained. ”They are married and have their own farms near here. But Papa is mayschter, and we obey him.”
The woman looked pleadingly at Nancy. ”Maybe Papa would listen to you, since you are outside our family. He will not admit to us his feelings are hurt because his only daughter has left home. Please talk to him about Manda. He is near the barn, by the bull pens.”
Nancy agreed, though she had little hope she could persuade Mr. Kreutz. Bess and George joined Nancy, and the three girls walked toward the barn. They saw a large enclosure with three pens. In each stood a large black bull.
Mr. Kreutz was a giant of a man, with a ruddy complexion, sandy hair, and a long beard. He was working in the first pen.
As he heard the girls' footsteps, the farmer looked up. At the same instant the huge bull beside him lowered its horns, caught up the man, and threw him across the pen!
CHAPTER IV.
Nancy's Strategy
BESS screamed. This angered the bull. With a loud snort he lowered his head as if to make a second attack on Mr. Kreutz, who lay stunned near the gate. Bess cried out again. The animal delayed his charge momentarily, eying the girl.
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