The Message In The Hollow Oak Part 16

"They couldn't have been here long," Ned remarked. "After all, this is a public park and people come and go."

"We seem to be the only ones around here right now," said George.

"Let's look for the treasure," Nancy urged, "and keep our eyes open for any clues to Kit Kadle, or anything pertaining to the hollow oak."

Nancy and Ned took out flashlights and the intensive hunt began. There was no hidden treasure in sight.

"I've a hunch we're wasting our time following up the legend Lightfoot told me," Nancy said. "Maybe river pirates did rob Pere Franois, but it seems unlikely any would have been around here in his day. I recall now that the only travelers were the Indians and a few explorers and trappers."

Ned agreed. "It was more than a hundred years later that lots of pioneers headed westward. Many floated down the Ohio on flatboats with all their possessions. That was when piracy flourished."

"Lightfoot," Nancy remarked, "probably confused Pere Franois's story with some other legend."

Nevertheless she beamed her light over the walls once more. Seconds later she caught sight of something just out of reach. It was a piece of paper sticking out slightly from a crevice between rocks. She called to six-foot Ned to pull it out.

"But be careful," she said. "It looks fragile." Ned reached up and little by little he pried out a folded sheet of paper, which he handed to Nancy.

"This sure is dirty and ready to fall apart," he said.

It was evident the paper had been subjected to dampness and dirt and there were holes in it here and there. Nancy unfolded it gingerly and played her flashlight on the faint writing. The smudgy message was hard to read and part was missing, but the young detective's heart leaped excitedly when she saw the signature.

"It says A. C. E.!" she exclaimed. "I'm sure this was written by A. C. E. Armstrong, Boycey Osborne's friend."

Ned asked, "What does the note say?"

Nancy read it aloud:" 'Prisoner of Kit Ka

Tak me to cell

in El town.'"

By this time all the others in the cave had gathered around Nancy and asked if she could decipher the meaning. She studied the paper a few moments, then replied, "I believe the whole message is:"'Prisoner of Kit Kadle.

Taking me to cellar

in Elizabethtown.' "

"You're a wonder!" Art exclaimed and immediately came close to Nancy.

She smiled but made no comment. Instead she said enthusiastically, "Now I have a real clue for Boycey!"

The whole group went outside and sat down to discuss the message.

Julie Anne asked, "How are we going to get to Elizabethtown?"

"Our towboat pa.s.sed that town about seven miles back," Ned spoke up. "We'll probably have to leave the Sally 0."

"We'd better hustle to the boat or it will leave us!" Burt remarked.

"Oh, I'm sure Captain Boge wouldn't abandon us," said Bess.

"That's true," Nancy agreed, "but it's not fair to keep him waiting."

She tucked the precious note into a pocket and hurried with her friends to the quarry dock. As soon as Nancy was on board, she and Ned reported their discovery to Captain Boge.

"We should go to Elizabethtown, so I'm afraid we must end our trip now," she said.

"That won't be necessary," the captain replied with a wry smile. "We've developed engine trouble and are going to be here quite a while, I'm afraid. You can have the rest of the afternoon for your search, but be back by six o'clock. I'm hoping to be able to take off then."

"How'll we get to Elizabethtown?" Ned asked.

"Maybe somebody from the quarry will be driving there," he said. "I'll see."

Stepping out of the pilot house onto the landing of an iron stairway, the captain called down to a man on the dock. After a short conversation Boge came back inside.

"All set," he said. "You can go in with that fellow in about ten minutes if you don't mind riding in a pickup truck."

"That's okay with us," said Nancy. "Is there anything we can do for you while we're there?"

"You could pick up several chocolate bars at the general store," the captain said. "The crew likes them."

Nancy and Ned hurried off to tell their friends about the trip. Quarter of an hour later the young people were seated in the back of a green pickup truck bouncing along a narrow road toward Elizabethtown. When they reached the main street of the small town, the driver let them out.

"Where is the police station?" Nancy asked.

The man chuckled. "We don't need one. There's only one policeman-he's the marshal. But he's away on vacation. Go up this side street," he said, pointing to a tree-shaded lane, "to the third house. That's where Ben Wooster lives. He's the marshal's deputy right now." The young people thanked the driver and he went off.

It was agreed that Nancy and Ned would talk to the deputy while the others did the shopping and went sightseeing around the tiny town. A short distance away they could see a small, attractive park overlooking the river front.

"We'll meet there at five o'clock," Ned told them.

He and Nancy hurried off to the deputy's house. A thin, red-haired young man was seated on the porch steps eating an apple.

"Are you Deputy Wooster?" Nancy asked.

"I am," he said solemnly. "What's the trouble?" He pointed to the steps. "Take a seat."

The couple did, and after introducing themselves, quickly explained about the kidnapped detective. Nancy showed Mr. Wooster the note she had found in the cave.

"Well, now, the marshal told me about this Kit Kadle and the two fellows he probably kidnapped," said the officer, "but this is the first lead we've had to them. Trouble is," he added thoughtfully, "this is a mighty small town-only five hundred folks or so and I know just about all o' them. I can't think o' anybody who would have a man hidden in his cellar or anywhere else, for that matter."

"Is there an empty house around?" Nancy asked.

The young man raised his spa.r.s.e eyebrows. "Now there you may have a squirrel in the tree, young lady. The old Hatchett house has been empty for almost five years."

"Tain't empty now," said a raspy voice.