Part 18 (2/2)

During the delicious meal the girls told of their day's experiences, and asked if Mrs. Glick could explain the odd-looking tree they had seen.

The woman nodded. ”It has hex bayse growing on its branches. That means witch's broom.”

This information made the girls feel even more sure that at last they were on the right track. They told the Glicks of their plan to call on the Kreutzes to see if Manda had returned.

”I'm sure that if she had,” Mrs. Glick said, ”the women at the quilting party would have known about it. One of them did say that the Kreutzes think you're responsible for Manda's vanis.h.i.+ng.”

”That's why they acted so peculiarly!” Nancy exclaimed, recalling the couple's strange actions.

”Maybe they decided we had encouraged Manda to learn more about life away from the farm,” Bess said.

Despite this, Nancy and Bess left for the Kreutz homestead after dinner. George remained behind, since her ankle was throbbing a bit.

”If Manda isn't here,” Bess said, ”I'd hate to have Papa Kreutz go into a rage again when we arrive.”

Nancy grinned at this remark as she drove up the lane to the farm. She parked, then walked with Bess to the door of the house. Bess was about to knock when the door was opened by Mrs. Kreutz.

The woman grabbed each girl by a shoulder and yanked her inside crying, ”Dummeldich!”

CHAPTER XIV.

A Groeszdawdi Clue

MRS. Kreutz quickly closed the kitchen door behind Nancy and Bess, and said, ”Please to forgive me for speaking Pennsylvania Dutch to you. I was saying 'hurry'!”

”What's the matter?” Bess asked quickly.

Manda's mother looked around as if afraid someone would hear her reply. In a whisper she said, ”I could not let you stay outdoors. Papa has come to believe you girls persuaded Manda to run away. He has told many people this. If he should drive in now, please run yourselves the front door out.”

Nancy felt that she should remind Mrs. Kreutz that the convertible parked outside was a dead giveaway. But before she could say a word, Mrs. Kreutz asked breathlessly, ”Have you news of Manda?”

”We were hoping she might have returned home,” Nancy replied. ”We haven't been able to find her.”

Mrs. Kreutz wrung her hands. ”Oh, my little daughter!” she wailed. ”If it had not been for Papa saying no one could talk to her, she would be here now. I am so afraid she is in danger.”

The girls agreed with this but did not voice their opinion. Instead, they a.s.sured Mrs. Kreutz that they were doing everything possible to find Manda.

”The police are trying to locate Mr. and Mrs. Hoelt, the people we think Manda is working for,” Bess added.

Nancy brought the girl's mother up-to-date on all that had happened, ending with the question, ”The man on the street who spoke to Manda's cousin Melinda, said, 'Get to the schnitz!' Have you any idea what he meant?”

When Mrs. Kreutz said no, Nancy asked whether the woman had ever heard of a storehouse for dried apples in the neighborhood. At this remark Mrs. Kreutz turned pale. Grasping Nancy's hand, she said, ”Manda asked me that very question!”

”I believe that's where she has gone,” Nancy said. ”Where is the storehouse?”

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