Part 5 (1/2)
”Your husband advised you to invest money in the Three Branch Ranch!” Nancy said. ”What else did he tell you?”
”That I should listen to no advice from any earthly person, and keep what he told me to myself. Oh, dear!”
”What's the matter?” Nancy asked kindly.
”I've told too much already! I shouldn't have revealed a word of this to anyone!”
The widow arose and in an agitated voice asked Nancy to call a taxi.
”I'll drive you home myself,” Nancy offered.
During the ride, the young detective avoided further reference to the subject which so distressed her companion. But as she left the widow at her doorstep, she said casually: ”I suppose you did invest money in Three Branch Ranch?”
”Only a little. I gave what cash I had with me to the medium, who promised to use it to purchase the stock for me.”
”I don't like to worry you, Mrs. Putney, but I'm afraid you may lose the money you invested.”
”Oh, I couldn't. My husband's judgment on business matters was excellent!”
”I don't question that, Mrs. Putney. But I have evidence which convinces me you were tricked by a group of clever swindlers.”
Nancy then told of the letter she had received from the Government Information Service, saying no Three Branch Ranch was listed, and that the postal authorities had been notified.
”Promise me you'll not invest another penny until the outfit can be thoroughly investigated.”
”I trust your judgment,” the widow said. ”I promise.”
”And another thing. May I have the note you received telling of the seance?”
”I haven't it. I was requested to return it to the medium as evidence of my good faith.”
”Oh, that's a bad break for us,” Nancy said in disappointment. ”Those fakers think of everything ! The letter might have provided a clue!”
”What can we do?”
”Don't admit that you suspect trickery,” Nancy advised. ”Sooner or later, another seance will be suggested and you will be requested to invest more of your money. Phone me the minute you receive another communication.”
”Oh, I will!” Mrs. Putney promised.
After leaving the widow, Nancy began to speculate on how many others in River Heights might have been duped into buying the phony stock. The first one to come into her mind was Lola White. The second was the mysterious Sadie.
”Lola probably signed up for a lot of stock, and is paying the bill little by little, out of her wages,” Nancy surmised. ”I must see her at once.”
Lola was not at her place of employment. Upon being told that the girl had not appeared for work that day because of illness, Nancy drove to the White cottage. Lola was lying in a hammock on the front porch, gazing morosely at the ceiling. She sat up and tried to look cheerful.
”How are you today?” Nancy inquired. ”No bad effects from the river?”
”I'm all right, I guess,” Lola answered. ”Thanks for what you did.”
”We were just fortunate to be there when you needed us,” replied Nancy. ”By the way, do you feel like telling me why you were there?”
”No, I don't,” Lola said sullenly.
Nancy did not press the matter. Instead, she asked her if she had ever heard of the Three Branch Ranch. Lola's eyebrows shot up, but she shook her head.
Then Nancy told Lola that her real purpose in coming to call was to ask if she were acquainted with a girl named Sadie.
”Oh, you must mean the one who works at the Save-A-Lot Market,” Lola said. ”I don't know her last name.”
”Thanks a lot, Lola. I'll go to see her.” As Nancy went down the porch steps she added, ”Keep your chin up, Lola!”
Happy that she had obtained a lead, Nancy climbed into her convertible, waved to Lola, and sped away down the street.
When Nancy inquired at the market whether a girl named Sadie worked there, a tall blonde operating a cash register was pointed out. So busy that she was in no mood to talk, the girl frowned as Nancy paused and spoke to her.
”You're Sadie?” Nancy asked, uncomfortably aware that she was delaying a line of customers.
”Sadie Bond,” the girl replied briskly.
”I'm trying to trace a Sadie interested in buying stock in a western ranch,” Nancy said, keeping her voice low.
”You've got the wrong girl, miss,” Sadie replied. ”I don't have money to buy ranches.”
Nancy smiled. ”Then I guess I'm looking for some other person.”
Having drawn a blank, Nancy decided that her next move should be to write an advertis.e.m.e.nt for the River Heights Gazette.
It read: SADIE: If you are blonde and know of a certain walnut tree, a beautiful gift awaits you in return for information. Reply Box 358.
The second day after the advertis.e.m.e.nt appeared, Nancy, with Bess and George, went to the Gazette office to ask if there had been any replies.
To their astonishment, nearly a dozen letters were handed them.
”Jumping jellyns.h.!.+” muttered George. ”How many walnut-tree Sadies are there in this town?”
Carrying the replies to a nearby park, the girls divided the letters and sat down to read them. Several were from pranksters, or persons who obviously had no information about the walnut tree but were eager to obtain a free gift.
”Running that ad was a waste of money,” Bess sighed, tossing aside her last letter.
Nancy, however, was deeply engrossed in a letter written on the stationery of the Lovelee Cosmetic Company. ”Girls, listen to this!” she exclaimed.
” 'I have blond hair. Do you refer to a black walnut tree along the Muskoka River? What is the gift you are offering? Sadie Green.' ”
”We must find out more about this girl right away!” Nancy declared.
She telephoned the cosmetic firm and learned that Sadie was the telephone operator. When Nancy spoke about the letter, the girl pleaded with her not to come to the office.