The Clue In The Old Stagecoach Part 19

Finally she gave up, arose, and said the girls must leave. Mr. Hanson tried his best to keep them from going as he said he had much more to tell. But they felt sure he had never unearthed anything on the farm property.

"We've enjoyed talking with you very much," said Nancy politely.

The girls left and went directly to Mrs. Stryker's home in Francisville. Nancy apologized for the intrusion and the necessity of having to talk about the woman's late husband. A tear rolled down Mrs. Stryker's face, but she said it was all right, then asked how she could help the girls.

To Nancy's questions the woman replied that she felt sure nothing large was buried on any part of the property, except perhaps on the wooded knoll, the only unplowed area on the farm.

"My dear husband was an excellent farmer," she said. "He plowed deep and kept every inch of the soil under fine cultivation. If he had ever come across anything worth mentioning, I know he would have told me."

"Then I'm probably entirely wrong in my guess that something of value may be on the property," said Nancy.

She thanked Mrs. Stryker for giving them the information she had and was about to leave when the woman said, "You're the second person within twenty-four hours to come inquiring about the Zucker property."

Nancy stopped short in amazement. "Really?" she said. "Would you mind telling me who the other person was?"

"It was a man," Mrs. Stryker answered. "He said his name was Frank Templer."

Nancy and her friends were startled. Quickly Nancy asked for a description of Frank Templer. The minute she and Bess and George heard it they knew the person was Ross Monteith!

"Did Mr.-er-Templer say where he was staying?" Nancy inquired eagerly.

"Well not exactly," said Mrs. Stryker, "but I gathered it was somewhere in this area. Do you know Mr. Templer?"

"I think so," said Nancy, "only I know him by another name. That's why I'm so interested to find out about him."

"Something else he said may help you," Mrs. Stryker went on. "Mr. Templer said that he was a member of the family which originally owned the Zucker place. He was trying to find something valuable which had been buried years ago."

"Did he mention the name of the family?" Nancy queried.

"Yes, he did," the woman replied. "He said it was Langstreet."

"I see," said Nancy. "Thank you very much, Mrs. Stryker. Please forgive me for having bothered you, but it may turn out that you will have helped several people."

"I'm always glad to help anyone," said Mrs. Stryker.

The girls went out to the convertible. As soon as they were seated in it, George asked Nancy what she thought of this latest bit of information.

"It's terrific!" the young sleuth said. "Apparently Mr. Templer doesn't know that AbnerLangstreet never owned the Zucker farm, but only rented it!"

"That's right," said George. "So Ross isn't a descendant. He's only pretending to be so he can claim any fortune found on the place."

"Sounds like him," Bess remarked, and added, "Where are you going now, Nancy?"

"To Mrs. Strook's and ask her about the Langstreet family tree."

The elderly woman was amazed at Nancy's information. "I never heard of anyone in our family named Monteith or Templer either."

Nancy suggested that it was possible Mr. AbnerLangstreet had married after disappearing from Francisville.

"Then why didn't any relatives show up at the time of his death?" the elderly woman argued.

"That's exactly what I'm wondering," Nancy said.

CHAPTER XVI.

A Harrowing Appointment

ON THE way back to Camp Merriweather, Bess acknowledged her fear that the Monteiths, if balked too far, might try to harm the girls.

"You're right," said George. "The sooner we find that two-faced couple the better!"

Bess looked at her cousin. "And just how are we going to do that with no clues?"

George did not reply, but Nancy said, "What seems important to me is to have courthouse, church, and cemetery records searched to find out if AbnerLangstreet did marry and have any children. When we get back to the lodge, I think I'll call Dad and ask him to do this for me."

Nancy's father thought this was a good idea and said he would arrange for someone in the neighborhood of Francisville to make the search. "I'll call you back, Nancy," he promised.

Within fifteen minutes he phoned that a young lawyer in Francisville by the name of Art Warner would take the case.

"I've asked him to let you know what he learns, Nancy," Mr. Drew told her.

"Dad," she said, "if it's true that Ross Monteith is a direct descendant of AbnerLangstreet, would the old stagecoach belong to him?"

"Perhaps," her father replied. "It would depend upon what was put into the deed of sale of the property where the old vehicle is found. Art Warner will get all these facts for you."

"All right, Dad, and thanks so much."

Nancy joined her friends. Upon hearing the results of the conversation with Mr. Drew, Bess remarked, "I guess we can't do much until we hear from this Art Warner. It will give us a good chance to have some fun."

She said there was to be a water ballet in a few nights. Tryouts were being held now.

"Let's go and see how we rate," she suggested.

Nancy was torn between a desire to concede to Bess's wish and to save all her time for solving the mystery. She realized that both Bess and George had given up a lot of fun at the lodge in order to help her. She must do her part by acceding to their wishes.

"All right," she said, smiling. "Let's put on our bathing suits and try out right now."

The three girls changed, then went downstairs. A large crowd had gathered at the pool to watch. One after another of the girl campers was asked to try out her skill swimming to a waltz tune, then to a lively number.

When it came time for Nancy, Bess, and George to try out, Bess asked the social director, who was running the affair, if they might swim together.

"Yes. Go ahead."

The girls dived into the deep end of the pool and gracefully "waltzed" across the water. At one point they were asked to turn on their backs and swim in time to the music. When they finally reached the far edge of the pool, the music suddenly changed to a fast number. Impishly George said to her friends:

"Let's put on a comedy act."