The Message In The Hollow Oak Part 2

"How exciting!" Bess exclaimed. "But what's this about a dig?"

Nancy told her, whereupon Bess cried out, "You mean you might have to help dig up skeletons?"

"Oh, I don't think so," Nancy replied, "but that's what these students are doing. We'd just board at the farmhouse."

"We?" Bess asked.

"You and George and I."

"When are you going?" Bess asked.

"Tomorrow, maybe."

Bess said this would be impossible for her and George. "I guess you forgot that our cousin, Marian Shaw, is being married next week and we're to be bridesmaids."

"Of course," said Nancy.

"But," Bess went on, "if you don't find out the secret of the hollow oak right away, maybe George and I could join you later."

Nancy knew there was no use in asking her father to change his mind, so she said nothing. Both he and Hannah noticed how downcast she was.

The following morning as Mr. Drew was about to leave for his office, he said, "I'm sorry, but I feel you shouldn't be out there alone. Suppose Miss Bancroft has no room for you!"

Nancy nodded and kissed him good-by. After he had left and she had helped Hannah tidy the kitchen, the telephone rang.

She hurried to answer it and the next moment was saying, "Ned! It's so good to hear from you!"

Ned Nickerson was a good-looking, dark-haired college student on the Emerson football team. Nancy frequently shared her mystery adventures with him.

"I called you night before last but found you'd gone to New York. Just having fun or are you on a new case?" he teased.

Nancy told him the whole story, concluding with her great disappointment at not being able to go to Illinois.

There was a moment of silence, then Ned said, "Hold everything! I just had a brainstorm. A cousin of mine at Paulson is about to join the Theresa Bancroft dig. She's a swell gal. Want me to try to get in touch with her? You two might work something out. Her name's Carswell-Julie Anne Carswell."

Nancy's heart leaped. "I'm sure Dad would agree to that."

Ned said he would contact his cousin at once and get the full story about the dig and whether there would be room for Nancy at the farmhouse. Late that afternoon when Mr. Drew gave her permission to go with Julie Anne, Nancy's spirits soared.

Two days went by before Julie Anne phoned Nancy. After introducing herself, she said, "I think it's wonderful about your coming out to the dig. There's plenty of room in the farmhouse. I'll try to get in touch with Theresa-we all call her that at school-but if I can't, it's perfectly all right for you to come along with me."

"Oh, Julie Anne, you're wonderful!" Nancy exclaimed, hardly daring to believe her good fortune.

Julie Anne suggested that the two girls meet at the Riverside Hotel in St. Louis the following day. "I can't wait to see you," she added. Nancy gave a happy chuckle. "You and I have the same thought!"

The following morning Bess and George drove Nancy to an out-of-town airport where she could catch a plane that went directly to St. Louis. George parked the car and the girls hurried into the terminal building. Bess handed Nancy a package.

Nancy looked surprised. Bess smiled and said, "Some cookies I baked for you last night. I hope you don't mind carrying them."

"Of course not," Nancy replied. "Thanks. You're a dear."

She quickly fitted the box into her suitcase. Then she checked in at the ticket counter and her luggage was whisked away.

"I certainly wish you girls were going," Nancy said. "Don't forget your promise. If I haven't solved the mystery by the time the weading is over, you will come?"

"We'll be there," George said.

Nancy kissed the two girls and went off to board her plane. Always alert to what was going on around her, she had had a feeling for the past ten minutes that a man was watching her rather closely. Now he got into line directly behind her. Nancy instinctively clutched her purse closer, in case he planned to s.n.a.t.c.h it.

As she boarded the plane, the young detective laughed at her own fears. But a moment later when she took a seat by a window, she was disturbed that the man sat down alongside her. He started talking to her.

"This your first trip to St. Louis?" he asked.

"Yes," she answered truthfully, and turned her head to look out the window.

"Is someone meeting you?" the stranger went on.

"Oh yes," Nancy replied, and hoped this would end the conversation.

But the man continued to talk, asking questions about where she lived, why she was going to St. Louis, and how long she planned to be there. Nancy became evasive in her answers.

She began to wonder what ulterior motive he might have. Was he about to ask her for a date, or did he perhaps know the purpose of her mission?

By this time the plane was airborne and pa.s.sengers had removed their seat belts. The stewardess came down the aisle with magazines and Nancy took one, hoping to indicate to her annoying companion she preferred reading to conversing with him. But her attempt was futile. He kept on talking, becoming more and more inquisitive as the moments pa.s.sed.

The airplane was traveling at high speed and Nancy wished some unseen force would land it at once in St. Louis. Since this was not possible, she decided to get up and walk back to the galley where she could hear preparations for luncheon being started.

Nancy stood up. "Excuse me," she said, and stepped across the man's feet.

She was dangling her handbag in one hand and in her haste to leave the stranger did not notice that the strap had caught on the arm of his aisle seat.

As she moved on, the bag flew open and the contents spilled onto the floor!

Instantly her seatmate jumped up and began to help her collect the various articles. To her annoyance, he looked at each one carefully before dropping it into her handbag. A woman pa.s.senger across the aisle had also arisen and a.s.sisted Nancy in retrieving her personal belongings.

"It's a shame," the woman said, then she whispered, "You'd better get away from that man. He's a troublemaker!"

"What do you mean?" Nancy asked.

Before the woman could reply, the plane hit an air pocket. As the craft dropped, Nancy was sent sprawling in the aisle.

CHAPTER III.

The Weird Voice

QUICKLY Nancy picked herself up and hurried to the galley. She told a stewardess she wanted to change her seat and was a.s.signed one next to an elderly woman who was sleeping. Nancy leaned back and reflected on what she had heard about her former seatmate.