The Witch Tree Symbol Part 13

"If you change your plans, let Hannah know," the lawyer directed. "By the way, you're all going to have company this afternoon,"

"Here?"

"Yes."

"How nice," Nancy said. "Who?"

Mr. Drew replied that it was to be a surprise. He wished his daughter good luck and said good-by.

When Nancy returned to the table and told Bess and George they could all expect company, they began to guess who it might be.

"Mrs. Tenney hasn't heard from you, Nancy," Bess declared. "Maybe she's coming here for a report. Did your dad give her your address?"

"I guess he must have. I'm sorry I haven't better news for her." Nancy sighed. "Perhaps I will have soon."

The girls helped tidy the kitchen. Then Mrs. Glick, the children, Bess, and George went to weed the vegetable patch. Nancy asked to be excused to look around the property. She hoped to find the footprints of the person who had painted the hex symbol.

After figuring out which footprints belonged to the Glicks and her friends, Nancy found an unfamiliar set that led from the barn across a field. She followed them until they came to a road and disappeared. Disappointed, the girl returned to the farm, wanting to be ready to greet the company her father had mentioned.

After lunch Bess disappeared and returned, wearing an attractive blue dress. Mrs. Glick smiled. "You must be expecting a young man."

Bess blushed. "You never can tell," she said, peering out the window. "I had a hunch-and I was right!"

Pulling to a stop in the Glicks' driveway were Nancy's friend Ned Nickerson, Burt Eddleton, who often dated George, and Bess's friend Dave Evans! Delighted, the three girls hurried outside to greet the boys.

"Surprise!" Ned exclaimed.

"Hil" the other boys greeted the girls.

"This certainly is a surprise, and a grand one," Nancy said. "You're just in time to help us solve a mystery," she added.

"That's what we're here for," said tall, athletic, and brown-haired Ned. "Your dad told me a little about the case. Too bad I was away when it started."

Nancy smiled. "I can sure use a man's help. I hope you've brought us some luck."

"We sure have!"

"We'll all cooperate," said Burt, who was blond and a little shorter and heavier than Ned.

The group went into the house and Nancy presented the boys to Mrs. Glick. At once she insisted that the new visitors stay there. Ned thanked her and accepted.

"Wait until you taste Mrs. Glick's cooking," George remarked to Dave, a rangy, dark-haired young man with green eyes. "You boys will have to go into training to make the football team after you leave here."

Mrs. Glick promised to prepare a special supper in honor of the boys. She refused any a.s.sistance from the girls, suggesting that they take their friends on a tour of the countryside.

"Then later you can attend one of the gatherings," she told them. "Over at the Stoltz farm they're having a sing right after supper. Or maybe you would prefer the barn dance at Fischers'."

They all voted for the barn dance, then left on their tour of the area. As the group drove about, Ned became interested in the Amish carriages that pa.s.sed by.

"Suppose we two go to the barn dance in one of them," he suggested to Nancy.

"Sounds like fun," his date replied, "but we'll have to use an open-top buggy."

"Why?" Ned asked curiously.

"Because all unmarried couples travel that way," she informed him. "The closed carriages are used after the wedding."

Ned whistled. "I'll buy one of those closed jobs after I graduate. How about it, Nancy?"

She pretended not to understand and said, "You'll have to give up college and all worldly pleasures if you expect to marry an Amish girl."

"Oh, aren't you funnyl" Ned remarked.

Everyone laughed, but then they became serious as Nancy told them all that had happened since she had left River Heights.

Ned looked grim. "I'm glad we're here. Hoelt's next move may bring you real trouble." Burt and Dave agreed.

By dinnertime, however, the group forgot mystery-solving as they enjoyed a sumptuous meal and prepared for the dance. When a young Amish lad delivered the horse and buggy Ned had ordered, the boys went to inspect them.

"Look, there's a hex sign on the seat," Dave mentioned.

"Better not show Nancy," Ned suggested.

Meanwhile, the girls had come out, and Bess, George, and their escorts left for the dance in Ned's car. Ned helped Nancy into the left side of the buggy, then went around and climbed into the driver's seat. The horse started off at a fast gallop.

It was a cloudy evening and they had not gone more than half a mile before darkness settled. Ned stopped, got out, and turned on the buggy's, lanterns.

As they started up again, the horse broke into a brisk trot. Suddenly, the young couple heard the sound of galloping hoofs behind them. Turning around, they saw two buggies, evidently racing. The drivers seemed to be paying no attention to the buggy ahead of them.

Ned pulled as far over to the right side of the road as he could. Apparently neither of the rash young drivers behind him was willing to let the other win. Neck and neck, the racers tried to pa.s.s Ned's buggy.

The next moment, the wheels of the nearest vehicle sc.r.a.ped against those of Nancy and Ned's carriage. Frightened, their horse bolted!

The buggy turned over and Nancy and Ned were thrown out!

Twenty minutes before the accident, Bess, Dave, George, and Burt had reached the dance. The young Amish people who had gathered in the barn were very friendly and welcomed the visitors warmly. The atmosphere was most festive.

Lanterns hung from the rafters, shedding a soft glow over the dancers. The music was very lively and the dances, called by a tall young man, were fast.

After watching several figures of the square dance being performed, Bess and Dave swung into one of the circling groups. George and Burt joined hands with another.

When the music stopped some time later, the four met in a corner of the barn. George remarked, "It's strange that Nancy and Ned haven't arrived yet. But maybe their horse is extra slow."

The words were scarcely out of her mouth when an Amish couple rushed excitedly into the barn. They began to speak rapidly in dialect, flinging their arms about as if describing something they had seen.

Curious, George approached an Amish girl standing near her. "What are they saying?" she asked.

Nancy and Ned were thrown out of the buggy.