Part 25 (2/2)
George, practical as usual, pushed one of the tables to the wall directly under the ventilator. She climbed up to breathe in some fresh air and to investigate the ventilator as a means of escape. The bars were tightly built into the wall with three-inch s.p.a.ces between them.
”No chance to get out this way,” she said, ”but if anybody feels faint, I suggest that you come up here for a little air.”
”Maybe we can use the ventilator for another purpose,” said Nancy. ”We can signal for help.”
”With what?” Bess asked forlornly.
Manda remembered having seen a kerosene lantern in the room. ”Is that what you had in mind, Nancy, using a light to signal with?”
”Yes, Manda. You're becoming a good detective.”
The Amish girl found the lantern, then asked if anyone had a match. Nancy produced a packet from her dress pocket. Matches and a flashlight were part of her detective equipment, but this time the flashlight was in her stolen car. She lighted a match and Manda tested the lamp.
”It's all right and there's enough oil in it,” the Amish girl stated.
”It won't do any good to signal until it's dark ” Bess spoke up. ”And by that time there's no telling what may happen to us.”
To pa.s.s the time, Nancy decided to try locating the secret drawers in the Was.h.i.+ngton tables. As she worked, Nancy told Manda the story. But after a half hour's search Nancy had not found the drawers.
”They're certainly well concealed,” she said. Bess and George took turns but had no better luck. Suddenly Nancy had a new idea. If the secret drawers were so hard to find, it was possible that the gypsy woman had not known about them. If she had secreted a note in one of the tables, it might well be in some other part of it.
Nancy examined every inch of the two tables. Finally it occurred to her that one of the legs looked just a trifle different in length. When she measured it against the other three, using her skirt as a ruler, she found the leg to be about one-sixteenth of an inch longer than the others.
Standing the table on its side, she began to wiggle the leg. After several tries she felt it loosen slightly. Excited, Nancy twisted the leg and found that it actually unscrewed. In a moment she had it off.
Wedged inside was a small piece of paper!
By this time, the other girls had jumped to her side. As they watched in astonishment Nancy removed the note and read it. George held the lantern.
Emil, My Beloved,
Someday our paths will cross again, but now I must flee. Wherever I am, my love and thoughts will always be for you.
Before I leave, I want to warn you. Yesterday I learned the secret of your farm. I nearly stumbled into a deep hole located near a stand of oak trees-you know the place, for we have often met there. Had I been alone, I would have vanished like members of your family.
But my brother Gato rescued me. We wondered about the hole. He went down on a rope with a lantern and found a crystal cave. It is large and beautiful and someday will bring you riches.
I have planted bushes of wild flowers from the forest over the hole, so you will never fall in. This will prove my love for you. I beg you to leave your papa and find me.
Your loving gypsy,
Amaya
Speechless, the girls read and reread the note. At last they knew the secret of the Hoelt farm!
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