Part 5 (2/2)
The farmer looked at Bess disapprovingly. ”We Amish do not believe in hexing,” he said. ”There are some non-Amish people in the back country who practice witchcraft.”
”They do not all live in the back country, Papa,” his wife spoke up. ”I was talking to Mrs. Dyster at market. She told me about some people in town who think there are certain persons, especially women and girls, who practice witchcraft in secret. If these people hear that someone is a witch, they may be frightened into doing her bodily harm.”
Nancy smiled. ”Don't worry. My friends and I don't believe in such things,” she said, looking straight at Bess.
After breakfast, the girls helped Mrs. Kreutz clean up the kitchen, then said they must be going. When they appeared in the kitchen a short time later, carrying their suitcases, Mrs. Kreutz was amazed.
”You are taking everything with you?” she asked. ”Could you not stay by us while you are solving your mystery?”
”We mustn't impose,” said Nancy, smiling.
Mrs. Kreutz put her hands on her hips. ”Such an idea!” she said. Then she smiled. ”If you come back here each evening for supper, I can hear how you make about my daughter.”
”Well, under those conditions we'll accept your invitation,” said Nancy.
They would have to do some expert sleuthing, the young detective thought, to find MandaKreutz. She had not voiced her lack of confidence, but she had a feeling that this time the Amish girl had indeed disappearedl
CHAPTER V.
A Surprising Find
”WE'RE heading for Lancaster,” Nancy told her friends as they drove away from the Kreutz farm. ”I'd like to look for Manda, first of all.”
”Let's check the bakeries there,” Bess said. ”I wouldn't mind a few samples!” The others laughed but agreed.
Once in Lancaster, they consulted a telephone directory and listed the town bakeries. One by one they visited them, but replies about Manda were negative until they reached Stumm Bakery.
Mrs. Stumm said that Manda had worked there until two days before. ”Then she quit. Manda may have gone home or perhaps to work for those people that were in here.”
”Who were they?” Nancy asked. ”Can you describe them?”
”It was a couple. I think they're out-of-town Amish,” the woman answered. ”I gathered from their conversation that they had just moved to a farm in this area and wanted an Amish girl to help with housework.”
Nancy inquired if Mrs. Stumm had ever heard Manda mention a witch tree. Looking surprised, the woman shook her head. Nancy thanked her for the information she had given, bought a bag of fasnachts, and left.
The young detective told her friends that she had a hunch Manda had obtained employment with this couple. Referring once more to a cla.s.sified telephone book, Nancy copied names of local real-estate agents. The girls then divided the work of calling on them and met later at the car. None had found a single clue to anyone who had recently purchased a farm.
”However,” Nancy said, ”one man told me that old farms sometimes change hands in direct sale. We'll keep asking. Now let's go to Mr. Zinn's.”
For a change George drove, and Nancy gave directions. They found Alpha Zinn's farm easily.
”We'll pretend to be interested in antiques,” Nancy suggested, as the girls walked into a small building marked OFFICE.
Alpha Zinn's appearance bore out his cousin's remark about his love of eating. But the rolypoly smiling man did not look dishonest. Nancy, nevertheless, was cautious as he led the way to a large barn, where furniture was on display on the main floor and in two haylofts.
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