CHAPTER IX. Trespassers

CHAPTER IX

Trespassers

UNAWARE of the reason for Nancy’s interest in the Sanskrit poetry, George and Bess wandered some distance from the abandoned house.

“Suppose we take another look at that door in the rock, ” George proposed suddenly. “It may open from the outside if we can figure out the secret of how to operate it. ”

“Nancy may want to return home before we get back, ” Bess said doubtfully.

“Oh, she’ll be listening to that woman for a long while yet. I never knew Nancy was so interested in psychic things. ”

The girls walked rapidly through the woods. Having selected a more direct route than the one that followed the road, they emerged at the high cliff. At close range the door in the rock was barely visible, but they knew its exact location and readily traced its indistinct outline.

“There doesn’t seem to be a single thing to unlock, ” George commented after running her hand over the entire door. “It just isn’t supposed to open from the outside, I guess. ”

Scarcely had she spoken, when the two girls were startled to hear a slight clicking sound. It seemed to come from within the rock. George and Bess fell back a step, staring in amazement. The door was slowly swinging outward.

Before they could recover from their surprise, a tall, muscular man emerged from the opening. He stood framed against the dark interior of the tunnel, holding the door to prevent it from closing behind him.

“What are you doing here? ” he asked the girls gruffly.

“Why, nothing, ” George stammered.

“You must leave instantly. ”

As George and Bess turned to retrace their steps along the forest trail, the man commanded sharply, “Not that way! ”

After shutting the door in the rock, he indicated that the girls were to follow him. He led them directly to the road.

“Follow this to the main highway, ” he instructed, scowling. “And never come here again without permission from the owner. ”

Bess and George scurried down the road, but at the first bend they paused to glance back. The man had not moved from his position. He was still watching them.

“Now how are we to find Nancy? ” Bess asked when they were out of sight. “She’ll be waiting at the house for us. ”

“If she doesn’t return to the car we’ll have to double back and take a chance on being caught. ”

“I don’t want to meet that awful man a second time, ” Bess said.

By this time the girls had reached the parked automobile. They paused and were debating their next action when a figure emerged from among the trees.

“Nancy! ” Bess exclaimed in relief. “We were frantic about you. ”

“And I’ve been worried about you, ” Nancy replied. “What happened to you? ”

George quickly explained where they had gone and told Nancy about their unpleasant encounter. The cousins’ description of the unfriendly man they had met fit that of Steve Roach, Mrs. Allison’s escort.

“I wish you’d been with us, ” Bess said. “You would have found out something. ”

“I’d like to talk with Mr. Roach, ” Nancy said. “Apparently he has taken it upon himself to protect her property, ” Nancy concluded.

“Perhaps he’s still at the cliff, ” George suggested.

Nancy glanced at her wristwatch. “It’s late now and we really should be getting back to River Heights. ”

“Did you see Jasper Batt? ” Bess inquired as they climbed into the car.

“Did you? ” George chimed in.

Nancy laughed ruefully. “I certainly did! And in a most unexpected way! ”

“Don’t keep us in suspense, ” George said. “What happened? ”

Briefly Nancy recounted the incident and noted that Mrs. Allison had been on the verge of revealing some important information.

“What do you suppose it was? ” Bess questioned eagerly as Nancy turned the car into the main highway.

“I don’t know. She wouldn’t say another word after Mr. Batt appeared. It was provoking. I thought she was going to tell me something important about Rishi’s parents. ”

The car was speeding along an open country road. Nancy slowed down for a curve. Then, to the surprise of her companions, she quickly stepped on the foot brake.

“Now what? ” George demanded. “Don’t tell me we have a flat tire. ”

Nancy shook her head and pointed to a large signboard in a field to the left of the road. “See that poster, girls! An animal show is coming here. ”

“Not to River Heights, though, ” Bess said in disappointment as she turned to read the sign. “It’s at Hanover on the twentieth of this month. ”

“And that’s tomorrow, ” Nancy added. “But what else does it say? ”

“Oh! ” Bess exclaimed. “It’s the Bengleton Wild-Animal Show—the one Rai and Rishi were with! ”

Nancy nodded. “Girls, let’s plan to attend, ” she urged eagerly. “Maybe we can learn something about Rai from performers in the show. At least I hope so. ”

“I never turn down an invitation to anything exciting, ” George answered.

“I’d love to go, ” Bess added quickly. “Will you take Rishi, Nancy? ”

“I’ll see if he wants to go. ”

After dropping Bess and George at a supermarket, Nancy hurried home. This was Professor Stackpole’s afternoon to tutor Rishi, and she wanted to talk to the distinguished man before he left the house.

As Nancy ran up the front steps, he was politely bidding Mrs. Gruen good afternoon. The door behind him closed.

“Are lessons over so soon? ” Nancy inquired.

“Yes, it did not take me long to hear them. Rishi is a brilliant student. ”

“I’m delighted to hear that, Dr. Stackpole, ” Nancy replied.

“Rishi’s mind never ceases to amaze me, ” the professor said. “His knowledge of the history of India is astounding, and he seems to be well versed in the traditions of various maharajas of India. ”

“I’ve often wondered if perhaps Rishi doesn’t come from such a family himself, ” Nancy interposed quickly.

She half expected Professor Stackpole to laugh at the suggestion, but instead he regarded her soberly.

“That possibility has occurred to me also. Do you know anything about his parents or his life in India? ”

Nancy described her first meeting with Rai and Rishi, adding a little of the evidence she had gleaned from Mrs. Allison. As she mentioned the Sanskrit poetry and the name of lama Togara, Professor Stackpole’s interest increased.

“Lama Togara is the governor of a small but wealthy province of India, ” he explained. “As I recall, the man ascended to power under rather peculiar circumstances, but the details have slipped my mind. If you wish, I’ll look up the data for you. ”

“I’d appreciate it, Dr. Stackpole. ”

The tutor left. Before he was out of sight, the front door opened and his pupil emerged. The boy intently gazed at Nancy.

“Rishi have sudden premonition! ”

“Did you learn that big word in your English lesson today? ” Nancy teased.

Rishi appeared not to hear her. “I have strange premonition, ” he repeated. “Strange vision. Rishi see himself on way to India to become a great man. Big honor come through help of Nancy Drew! ”

Nancy listened closely to hear more, but the Indian boy’s reverie was interrupted by Hannah Gruen. Rishi immediately turned and went back into the house, without saying another word. Nancy whispered what the boy had been saying.

The housekeeper’s only comment was, “Poor child! He dreams too much. ”

Nancy worked in the garden until her father came home. Making certain that Rishi was not within hearing, she told Mr. Drew about the Bengleton Wild-Animal Show at Hanover.

“If I can get away from the office, I’ll run over with you, ” he promised.

“And perhaps you’d like to visit the abandoned Allison house? ” Nancy asked, hoping he would. “It’s on the way. ”

“All right, ” the lawyer agreed. “You’ve told me so many wild tales about the place, I admit I’ve grown curious. ”

Nancy was awake early the next morning. She helped Hannah prepare breakfast. Then, while waiting for her father to come downstairs, she unfolded the morning newspaper. Casually her eye scanned the headlines. Suddenly she uttered a startled exclamation that reached the far corners of the house.

“Dad! Hannah! Rishi! ” she called. “Come and read this! ”

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