Read Online Carolyn Keene_Nancy Drew Mysteries 050 by The Double Jinx Mystery - Free Book Online

the farm. To her relief Mr. Thurston told her he had already disposed of the lifeless birds and thoroughly sprayed the cages with disinfectant.
    “Fortunately none of the other birds have been affected,” he said, “and Rausch reports that all the animals in the zoo are okay.”
    Nancy felt relieved. “Oh I’m glad.”
    After hearing about Ned’s condition, Oscar told her to give the young man his best wishes. “Tell him how sorry I am he picked up the virus at my bird farm. I’m wondering,” he went on, “if by any chance the intruder deliberately infected the birds in order to make us believe we’re jinxed.”
    “That’s a possibility,” Nancy remarked. “In any case, it’s a shame you had to lose all those beautiful birds.”
    Nancy said she assumed it would be safe now for her, Bess, and George to help with the cleaning and feeding of the healthy birds. Oscar gladly accepted her offer. As soon as Nancy finished talking to him, she called Bess, then George. Both were astounded to hear her report about Ned.
    “Since I’m not allowed to help take care of him,” said Nancy, “how about the three of us pitching in at the Thurston farm?”
    The cousins eagerly agreed to go. On the way, the girls decided to buy some groceries and prepare a couple of meals for the Thurstons.
    When they arrived at the farm, they again found Martha Thurston in her wheelchair. After a quick pleasant greeting, the woman began to relate a terrible dream about a giant bulldozer coming on their property, knocking over all the buildings, and letting the birds fly away.
    “You were overtired yesterday,” Nancy said to her kindly. “That’s why you dreamed last night. Try to forget the whole thing. We’ll show you what we brought, then we’ll go out to the cages and help your husband.”
    The woman was very much pleased with the gift of meats and vegetables and an angel cake. The visitors put the articles away, then headed for the back yard.
    When the work was finished, Oscar said, “You three are certainly good workers. Thank you.”
    While Bess and George prepared lunch, Nancy told Oscar about the conversation with Mr. Hinchcliff. The bird owner was disappointed by the man’s attitude but said he still hoped the town council would vote in his favor.
    “You know other farms are involved in various developments of Mr. Wright’s, but none has a setup like mine.”
    “I’m going to call on Councilman Ryan this afternoon,” Nancy told him. “He owns the clothing store, doesn’t he?”
    “Yes, he does.”
    Oscar gazed into the distance before speaking again. Finally he said, “I hope you won’t find Mr. Ryan difficult.”
    “Is he supposed to be?” Nancy asked, smiling.
    The man nodded. “He’s a great bargainer and in the town council meetings never budges from his original opinion. Nancy, I wish you luck. Actually I believe you can handle him.” Oscar chuckled.
    About two-thirty the three girls set off. When they reached the shopping center in Harper, they parked in front of the clothing store and went inside. Nancy asked for the proprietor and was told he was in his office on the balcony.
    “I guess it’s all right for you to go up,” said the young man who had answered her query. “Just knock.”
    Nancy, Bess, and George ascended the stairway, with Nancy in the lead. She knocked on a door marked Mr. Ryan. A loud dictatorial voice boomed, “Come in!”
    As the three callers walked in, Mr. Ryan, who was seated behind his desk, greeted them with a snappy question.
    “Do you all work here?”
    “No, we don’t,” Nancy told him.
    When he made no attempt to carry on a conversation, she said, “We heard about High Rise’s new development plans. I suppose it will bring a lot of new shoppers into town and that will please you.”
    “I suppose it will,” he said evenly. “Are you thinking of applying for jobs in my store when the development opens?”
    The girls were a bit amused by his assumption but kept