Part 22 (1/2)

THE full import of Bess's words dawned on Nancy and George. There was no doubt, they realized with despair, that Nancy's convertible had been stolen!

”You've been hexed again,” Bess added dolefully.

”Whether it was a hex or not, it's certainly bad luck,” Nancy agreed. ”I'll bet Roger Hoelt is responsible for this. He couldn't get me to leave this area, so he thought of another trick. Without a car it will be more difficult for us to find his hideout.”

”But that isn't going to stop you, is it?” George asked at once.

”Of course not!” Nancy said, tossing her head vehemently. ”It gives me an even better reason for finding him. I'm sure my car is at the Hoelt hideout.”

”Why not rent another one?” Bess suggested.

Nancy said it was an excellent suggestion, but first she would notify the police. It was possible that the car thief was not Roger Hoelt but a local prankster. If so, the police might easily locate the convertible. It might even have been abandoned on some nearby road.

By now, all the Glicks had a.s.sembled and were aghast to hear the story. Henner felt particularly bad that Nancy was having more trouble. He shyly took one of her hands in his own.

”Nancy,” he said, ”to make up for what I did yesterday I want to help you now.”

The little boy had such a pleading look in his eyes that Nancy gave him a loving hug. ”I'll try to figure out how you can a.s.sist me,” she replied.

Henner said he already had an idea. His face brightened as he said it was not too far to the schnitz. ”I'll drive you there with our horse and carriage,” he said.

”That might be a good solution,” Nancy said, smiling. ”But first I'll report the theft.”

She hurried into the house and called State Police headquarters. Within half an hour an officer arrived and took down all the data. He also inspected the area where the car had been parked.

Presently the officer picked out a set of footprints intermingled with several others, which he declared were those of a man wearing shoes that were different from those of the Amish. ”Have you any idea of whom they might belong to?” the trooper asked Nancy.

She hesitated. ”I can only guess,” she replied. ”I think to Roger Hoelt, whom you already know about. I suspect he's somewhere in this area and is trying to prevent me from locating him.”

The officer said he would add this theft incident to the list of suspected charges against Roger Hoelt. As he stepped into his car, he promised to get in touch with Nancy as soon as he had a lead on her stolen convertible.

The family had breakfast. Afterward, Mrs. Glick said the girls were to do no more housework. ”You have too much on your minds already,” she stated firmly.

Nancy began to grow restless after another hour had pa.s.sed by and no word had come from the State Police. Finally she said that with Mrs. Glick's approval, she would like to accept Henner's offer to drive her to the schnitz in the carriage.

”Of course,” Mrs. Glick said. ”And I shall also go with you. It may be dangerous and you should have an older person along. If Papa did not have to be so careful since his accident, I would ask him to go.”

”I'll be there, ain't?” Henner exclaimed. ”I'll protect everyone! I'm strong!”

His mother looked at him for several seconds, apparently debating whether the boy was old enough to accompany them on what might be a hazardous mission. Finally she smiled. ”You are getting to be a big boy. I believe you might help us. Yes, Henner, you may go.”

Henner whooped with delight and dashed from the house to hitch up the horse. Within ten minutes he was calling to his pa.s.sengers. Becky followed the group outside with a wistful expression. Her mother had already laid out some work for the girl to do.

”And besides,” Mrs. Glick said, ”you must fix a good lunch for Papa, Becky.”

George and Bess got into the rear seat of the carriage. Henner took the reins, with his mother beside him and Nancy on the left end. They followed GroeszdawdiEsch's directions.

Soon they reached a side road that was full of ruts, and the carriage settled into a deep one. The horse plodded along at a snail's pace. About five-hundred yards farther on, the road took a sharp turn to the left.