Part 24 (1/2)
CHAPTER XIX.
Caught!
”MANDA!” Nancy cried excitedly, running up to the Amish girl. ”I'm so glad we've found you at last! Are you all right?”
”Yes,” replied Manda, looking a little surprised. She went on to say that she was living with Mr. and Mrs. Roger Hoelt. ”They are very nice people and are restoring this old house.”
”Nice people!” George cried. ”They're anything but that!”
Manda frowned, then asked George what she meant by this.
”You explain, Nancy,” George said. ”Bess and I haven't told Manda anything about the mystery.”
After hearing the story, Manda was amazed. She could not believe it. The Hoelts had been very kind to her and were paying her good wages. Manda added that they were Church Amish from Ohio and spoke Pennsylvania Dutch very well.
”I do not see how Mr. Hoelt could be a thief,” she said stubbornly.
”Well, he is,” George told her bluntly. ”And the sooner you get out of here the better.”
Sadly Manda hung her head, saying she had no place else to go. Her papa would not let her return home, and she did not want to work in Lancaster.
Nancy smiled. ”I've talked with your mother and father, Manda. They want you to come home. Your father regrets being so harsh and will be glad to have you back.”
The Amish girl looked at Nancy as if this were not possible. Finally she said, ”You speak the truth?”
Bess looked indignant. ”Of course Nancy's telling the truth.”
But Nancy did not blame Manda for not being completely persuaded, either that her family wanted her back or that Roger Hoelt was a thief. ”I must convince her,” Nancy thought. Aloud she said, ”Manda, have the Hoelts moved any furniture into the house?”
”Oh, yes.”
”Beautiful antique furniture?” Nancy asked. ”Are there one or more tables from George Was.h.i.+ngton's home?”
Manda looked startled. ”You know this?”
Nancy gave her additional details of the mystery, and finally the Amish girl said she believed now that Mr. Hoelt was indeed a thief. She would leave the Hoelts' employ immediately. But she did not want to report them to the police.
”You will have to do that,” she said to the young sleuth.
Suddenly Nancy recalled the boy who had been painting the hex sign on the witch tree and asked Manda who he was.
”He is a harmless boy who cannot hear or speak,” the Amish girl answered. ”Todd lives here too. Mr. Hoelt writes out everything for him to do. Todd is not very smart, but he is a good worker.”
”Did Mr. Hoelt ask him to paint the symbol on the tree?” Nancy queried, telling of the strange way in which it was being done.
Manda nodded. Mr. Hoelt had claimed it was a hex sign used by his family years before. He was very proud of it, and planned to have the hex sign painted on the barn and various other places when he restored the farm.
”He told Todd to paint the symbol on a tree but not to let anyone see him.” Manda laughed. ”The poor boy probably hid when he saw you coming but tried to go on with the painting.”