Part 12 (2/2)
The three girls slept well and were up early the next morning to continue their sleuthing. It was a beautiful day and they walked outside with Mr. Glick for some fresh air before breakfast.
Suddenly the farmer cried out, Ach, ya! Waasgayt aw?”
At the same instant, the girls saw what he was looking at-the witch tree symbol had been painted on the side of the barn!
Underneath it was a picture of a witch riding a broom. No wonder the farmer had said, ”What goes here?” The face of the witch bore a strong resemblance to that of Nancy Drew!
CHAPTER X.
A Disastrous Race
COMPLETELY dumfounded, Nancy, Bess, and George continued to stare at the crudely made markings on the Glick barn. They were sure that Roger Hoelt or some friend of his had painted the witch symbol on the building, probably by flashlight during the night.
The startling likeness of the witch's face to Nancy's made Bess fearful. ”We just can't stay here!” she murmured. ”Nancy, please give up this case. That awful man is going to harm you!”
”Shh,” Nancy warned her. ”Look at Becky and Henner!”
The two children were standing in the doorway of the farmhouse, whispering to each other. They scooted back into the kitchen.
Immediately Mrs. Glick appeared outside. Seeing the marks on the barn, she hurried toward her husband and the girls. None of them had made a comment since Bess's outburst, but now Mr. Glick said firmly, ”Your enemy is a very bad and dangerous man, Nancy. He must be made to stop frightening people. There is no room in Amish country for such a person.”
Nancy heartily agreed and said that instead of leaving she would double her efforts to locate Roger Hoelt.
”That is good,” the cobbler said. ”But take care.”
Mrs. Glick called her children outside and scolded them for being afraid. ”How many times have I told you there are no witches?” she said sternly. ”Come now. Shake hands with Nancy Drew and say you are sorry for running away from her.”
Becky and Henner moved forward obediently, but their approach was timid. Nancy held out her arms to them, suggesting that they help her paint out the silly figures on the barn. Pleased by the suggestion, the two children laughed and ran toward Nancy.
”Can we work right now?” Henner asked. ”I want to paint away the witch.”
Mr. Glick nodded, saying the sooner the figures were removed, the better. ”No breakfast for the three of you until the picture is all over painted,” he said.
Henner went to the barn and returned with a can of red paint and three brushes. Mrs. Glick provided a ladder for Nancy to use. The girl detective and the children started to work.
Bess and George returned to the house to help Mrs. Glick prepare breakfast. Soon Nancy and the children had finished painting, and everyone sat down to eat.
A few minutes later the telephone rang. Mrs. Glick answered it and called Nancy. ”It's your father,” she announced.
Nancy had sent her father the Glicks' address. She hurried to the phone, worried that something was wrong.
”h.e.l.lo, Nancy dear, I have to go out of town for a couple of days and I wanted to let you know,” her father said. ”Hannah will visit her sister, unless you are coming right home.”
”Dad, I'm sorry to tell you that I'm not getting along very fast on this mystery,” Nancy advised. ”I won't be home for several days.” She brought her father up to date.
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