Mystery of the Ivory Charm by Carolyn Keene Page B

of the tunnel, holding the door to prevent it from closing behind him.
    “What are you doing here?” he asked the girls gruflly.
    “Why, nothing,” George stammered.
    “You must leave instantly.”
    As George and Bess turned to retrace their steps along the forest trail, the man commanded sharply, “Not that way!”
    After shutting the door in the rock, he indicated that the girls were to follow him. He led them directly to the road.
    “Follow this to the main highway,” he instructed, scowling. “And never come here again without permission from the owner.”
    Bess and George scurried down the road, but at the first bend they paused to glance back. The man had not moved from his position. He was still watching them.
    “Now how are we to find Nancy?” Bess asked when they were out of sight. “She’ll be waiting at the house for us.”
    “If she doesn’t return to the car we’ll have to double back and take a chance on being caught.”
    “I don’t want to meet that awful man a second time,” Bess said.
    By this time the girls had reached the parked automobile. They paused and were debating their next action when a figure emerged from among the trees.
    “Nancy!” Bess exclaimed in relief. “We were frantic about you.”
    “And I’ve been worried about you,” Nancy replied. “What happened to you?”
    George quickly explained where they had gone and told Nancy about their unpleasant encounter. The cousins’ description of the unfriendly man they had met fit that of Steve Roach, Mrs. Allison’s escort.
    “I wish you’d been with us,” Bess said. “You would have found out something.”
    “I’d like to talk with Mr. Roach,” Nancy said. “Apparently he has taken it upon himself to protect her property,” Nancy concluded.
    “Perhaps he’s still at the cliff,” George suggested.
    Nancy glanced at her wristwatch. “It’s late now and we really should be getting back to River Heights.”
    “Did you see Jasper Batt?” Bess inquired as they climbed into the car.
    “Did you?” George chimed in.
    Nancy laughed ruefully. “I certainly did! And in a most unexpected way!”
    “Don’t keep us in suspense,” George said. “What happened?”
    Briefly Nancy recounted the incident and noted that Mrs. Allison had been on the verge of revealing some important information.
    “What do you suppose it was?” Bess questioned eagerly as Nancy turned the car into the main highway.
    “I don’t know. She wouldn’t say another word after Mr. Batt appeared. It was provoking. I thought she was going to tell me something important about Rishi’s parents.”
    The car was speeding along an open country road. Nancy slowed down for a curve. Then, to the surprise of her companions, she quickly stepped on the foot brake.
    “Now what?” George demanded. “Don’t tell me we have a flat tire.”
    Nancy shook her head and pointed to a large signboard in a field to the left of the road. “See that poster, girls! An animal show is coming here.”
    “Not to River Heights, though,” Bess said in disappointment as she turned to read the sign. “It’s at Hanover on the twentieth of this month.”
    “And that’s tomorrow,” Nancy added. “But what else does it say?”
    “Oh!” Bess exclaimed. “It’s the Bengleton Wild-Animal Show—the one Rai and Rishi were with!”
    Nancy nodded. “Girls, let’s plan to attend,” she urged eagerly. “Maybe we can learn something about Rai from performers in the show. At least I hope so.”
    “I never turn down an invitation to anything exciting,” George answered.
    “I’d love to go,” Bess added quickly. “Will you take Rishi, Nancy?”
    “I’ll see if he wants to go.”
    After dropping Bess and George at a supermarket, Nancy hurried home. This was Professor Stackpole’s afternoon to tutor Rishi, and she wanted to talk to the distinguished man before he left the house.
    As Nancy ran up the front steps, he was politely bidding Mrs. Gruen good afternoon. The