CHAPTER III. Missing Guest

CHAPTER III

Missing Guest

EVERYONE at the table stared at the beautiful elephant ivory charm.

“This is exquisite! ” Nancy looked at Rishi, wondering how to explain that she could not accept such a gift. Finally she said, “Rishi, dear, you are most thoughtful to want me to have this. You say Rai had laid it on a table and gone off without wearing it? ”

The boy told her that in a fit of temper Rai had yanked the charm from his neck and thrown it on the table, saying he never wanted to see it again.

“Rishi pick up. Rai always say wearer have good luck. ”

“I recall Rai saying that, ” Nancy replied. She was puzzled. “Why would he have stopped wearing it? ” she asked. Smiling, she added, “How strange for anyone to deliberately throw away good luck! ”

Rishi shrugged and said Nancy did not understand the man. “Rishi pick up elephant charm and bring here. Nancy keep it. Have good luck. ”

The young sleuth sighed. “I certainly hope to have good luck in finding your father, Rishi. But the charm must be given back to its owner if he wants it. As soon as we hear of Rai’s return, I will see that he learns about it. In the meantime, though, I’d love to wear the charm. ”

Rishi beamed. “Rishi hope Rai never come back. ”

Mr. Drew changed the subject. “What is Mr. Strong going to do without the elephant act and your special performance? ”

When Rishi did not reply, Nancy said, “I must tell you exactly what Rishi is able to do. It is very difficult. ” She described his act to her father.

Rishi, who was still standing, put his chin up and threw back his head. He was so erect and had such a regal bearing that the others were convinced that a man like the cruel, dictatorial Rai could not be his real father. Nancy even wondered if the animal trainer might have stolen the charm.

Her thoughts were brought back to Rishi, who remarked wistfully, “Rishi not miss Rai, but missArun very much. ”

The Indian boy went on to say that sometimes he hid from Rai to avoid being punished for some deed he had not committed. The man had a suspicious nature. He avoided making friends with anyone connected with the show and acted as though he thought someone was after him.

“When Rishi hide, ” the boy said, “sleep with old Arun. Elephant very warm and Rishi trust him. ” Little by little the boy’s listeners felt more sorry about his situation and became more fond of him. Each wanted to do everything he could to help Rishi lead a happier life.

As everyone left the table, he said, “Rishi go to bed now. Get up four o’clock. ”

The others gasped and Hannah Gruen said, “Four o‘clock! Not in this house. You may sleep until seven o’clock. ”

Rishi insisted he wanted to go to bed, and the others realized that if he had been up since four o’clock that morning, he must indeed be very tired. Hannah went upstairs with him. Rishi was to sleep on the third floor, where there was an extra guest room and bath.

After they had gone, Nancy and her father discussed the mystery. Nancy remarked, “There are several angles to consider, Rai’s suspicious nature and treatment of the boy and the search for Rishi’s father. ”

Mr. Drew agreed. “This is not going to be an easy puzzle to solve. Nancy, we may have this boy here for some time. I notice he has no clothes except those he was wearing. I think we should borrow some for him. Is there a boy around here who’s about his size? ”

Nancy thought a moment, then said, “How about Bobby Allen down the street? You know his father well, don’t you, Dad? ”

Mr. Drew snapped his fingers. “A perfect suggestion. ” The lawyer went to the telephone and called Mr. Allen.

Without telling him about the mystery, Mr. Drew made his request.

“Indeed, my son would be glad to lend your visitor some clothes, ” Mr. Allen replied. “I’ll let Bobby pick out a few things and we’ll bring them over to you. ”

Within twenty minutes the two arrived with a suitcase full of clothes. The Drews explained to Mr. Allen and Bobby that the boy, whose name was Rishi, had already gone to bed.

“He’ll try these on in the morning, ” the lawyer said.

While the men talked in the living room, Bobby went home. Nancy helped Hannah with the dishes and silver, then called Bess and George to tell them about the ivory charm she was wearing. The cousins were amazed by the news, but both declared Nancy certainly deserved it.

Bess added, “I hope Rai doesn’t show up and take it away from you and hurt you in one of his fits of temper. ”

“I’ll watch my step, ” Nancy assured her.

Finally all the lights in the Drew household were put out. Mr. Drew went softly to the third floor to check on Rishi. The boy was sound asleep and lying so quietly that it was evident that he was relaxed and happy.

The lawyer thought, “Probably the first peaceful evening Rishi has had in a long, long time. ”

Nancy could not get to sleep as easily as Rishi had. The specter of the towering Rai, decked in his long gown and turban, kept reappearing in her mind. She had laid his ivory charm on her bureau and wondered how long she might be able to keep it.

Her next thought was, “With Mr. Tilak away and Rai gone, what do I do next to solve the mystery? ” She could not answer the question and eventually fell asleep.

The following morning, Hannah Gruen rushed into the girl’s bedroom. There was a look of fright on her face as she said, “Rishi is gone! ”

Nancy sprang out of bed. “What! ” she exclaimed.

The kindly housekeeper said she had searched all over for the boy and even called to him but there had been no answer.

“Did you look outdoors? ” Nancy asked her.

Mrs. Gruen admitted she had not. “But what would Rishi be doing outside for so long? He’s been gone over an hour! ”

Nancy quickly put on her slippers and warm robe. She followed the housekeeper down the stairs and went out the rear door. Rishi was not in sight. Then suddenly she startled Mrs. Gruen by laughing aloud.

“There’s Rishi! ” she said, pointing into the garage. “He’s cleaning Dad’s car! ”

Hannah laughed, too, as she realized how much time she had wasted searching for the boy. It had not occurred to her to check the garage.

As she and Nancy approached, Rishi gave them a big grin. “Good morning. Rishi not sleep after five. Hunt for work to do. Nothing in house. Rishi come out here. ” With a twinkle in his eyes, he said, “Two cars very dirty. Rishi clean. Soon look like new. ”

Nancy thanked him for doing this good and necessary job, but Hannah scolded him gently. “You scared me. I’ve been looking all over the house for you. You should not have come out here without telling us. ”

“Nobody awake, ” the boy defended himself. “Rishi not write English. Could not leave note. ”

Hannah was sorry now for what she had said. She went to the boy and hugged him. “Forgive me, Rishi. I was so frightened I guess I became a little angry. ”

Rishi smiled. “Rishi forgive. Please, Mrs. Gruen, give Rishi breakfast. Very hungry. ”

“While we’re waiting, ” said Nancy, “I’ll show you a surprise. ”

She told him about the borrowed clothes. Rishi grinned and carried them upstairs to try on. In a few minutes he reappeared in pants, shirt, and a sweater that fitted perfectly.

“Now Rishi American boy, ” he announced, smiling broadly.

Soon everyone sat down at the table. There was orange juice and Hannah’s special griddle cakes. Rishi enjoyed them.

In a little while Mr. Drew hurried away in his own car, saying he was going out of town for the day.

“Rishi go back to work, too. Wash Nancy’s car now. ”

The boy stayed in the garage and once Nancy went to check on him. After he finished cleaning her car, he began to sweep the garage. Nancy thanked him.

She had scarcely returned to the house and started dusting the living room, when she glanced out a window and saw a green car turn into their circular driveway and stop in front of the house.

A woman alighted, and the man drove off. Nancy put the dustcloth away and when the front doorbell rang, she answered it.

A tall, willowy woman in her fifties with lots of blond hair stood there.

“I’m Mrs. Allison, ” she said rather brusquely. “I’d like to talk to Mr. Drew. ”

“Please step inside, ” Nancy requested. “My father is not at home. Is there anything I can do for you? ”

“I’m afraid not, ” Mrs. Allison replied. “I must talk to him about a dream I had——Oh! ”

The woman was staring at the ivory charm Nancy was wearing. “Where——? ”

The next moment she slumped down in a faint!

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