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Authors: Carolyn G. Keene
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On the first floor of the stable, Nancy found a first-aid kit. She carried it upstairs and used an antiseptic salve on the riding master’s welts. Ned held aromatic spirits of ammonia near the man’s nostrils.
But Roberto did not regain consciousness. Nancy and Ned were relieved when Captain McGinnis and two policemen arrived in a police ambulance. Since Hitch was well tied, they turned their attention to Senor Roberto.
“This man is in bad shape,” the chief remarked. “Clem,” he said, addressing one of his men, “drive Señor Roberto to the hospital at once, and then return here.”
The two policemen carried the riding master to their car and drove off.
Chief McGinnis turned to Hitch. He asked Nancy and Ned if the man was responsible for Roberto’s condition.
“We haven’t had a chance to ask him,” said Nancy. “We just found Señor Roberto a few minutes ago.”
The chief, with Ned’s help, removed the straps from the groom. The officer gazed in silence at the man. Hitch muttered that he knew nothing about what had happened to Senor Roberto. The officer advised the prisoner of his rights.
“If you told the whole story,” Chief McGinnis said, glancing at Hitch, “it would go easier on you in court.”
Hitch, stiffening at the remark, became sullen. For several minutes he said nothing. Nancy hoped he would break his silence and was relieved when he finally broke down. Hitch suddenly cried out, “I hate Sims’ Circus and everybody in it!”
“Why?” the officer asked him.
“Circuses are evil things. Everybody who runs ’em is crazy! Now take Kroon,” he said.
As Hitch mentioned the ringmaster’s name, Nancy leaned forward to catch every word.
“That ringmaster—he puts up a big front, but he’s the biggest thief in the world.”
“How do you know?” McGinnis asked him.
Suddenly Hitch became sullen again. He said he could tell plenty about Kroon and everybody else at Sims’ Circus, but why should he? What would it get him? They were the people who ought to be going to jail, not he.
The next moment, Hitch gave the most blood-curdling yell Nancy had ever heard. It sent shivers down her spine. Just as the scream ended in a choked gurgle. Hitch dashed for the door. But Ned and Chief McGinnis were on him, and the prisoner did not get far.
“Take it easy, Hitch,” the officer advised. “I guess I’ll have to put bracelets on you.”
The chief pulled handcuffs from his pocket and snapped them on the stableman’s wrists. He led the prisoner to a chair and ordered him to sit there quietly until the policemen returned.
Nancy heard a clock begin to strike. She counted the strokes and then cried out, “Ned, the circus! I must get back at once or I’ll be late!”
She had only twenty minutes to reach the circus, change her clothes, and appear in the finale.
Before leaving, Nancy said to the chief, “I’d like to come to the jail and talk to Hitch in the morning, if I may.”
“Good idea,” he told her. “I’ll look for you.”
The young couple dashed off. As soon as they reached the highway, Ned gave the car full power and it sped along. They had gone only about a mile when a police motorcycle roared up alongside them. Its rider signaled for them to stop.
Nancy’s heart sank. She knew the car had been traveling beyond the legal speed limit. A delay would mean that she would miss the circus finale! If Kroon noticed her absence, the whole Vascon troupe might lose their jobs that night!
“Oh, officer,” Nancy said quickly, leaning out of the window, “I’m one of the circus performers and I have to get back for the finale at once.”
The motorcycle policeman looked at the girl intently for a moment, then said, “If you hadn’t told me that, I would have said you were Nancy Drew of River Heights.”
Both Nancy and Ned laughed. The girl admitted that she was Nancy Drew and quickly told the officer about her part in the circus and the reason for
On the first floor of the stable, Nancy found a first-aid kit. She carried it upstairs and used an antiseptic salve on the riding master’s welts. Ned held aromatic spirits of ammonia near the man’s nostrils.
But Roberto did not regain consciousness. Nancy and Ned were relieved when Captain McGinnis and two policemen arrived in a police ambulance. Since Hitch was well tied, they turned their attention to Senor Roberto.
“This man is in bad shape,” the chief remarked. “Clem,” he said, addressing one of his men, “drive Señor Roberto to the hospital at once, and then return here.”
The two policemen carried the riding master to their car and drove off.
Chief McGinnis turned to Hitch. He asked Nancy and Ned if the man was responsible for Roberto’s condition.
“We haven’t had a chance to ask him,” said Nancy. “We just found Señor Roberto a few minutes ago.”
The chief, with Ned’s help, removed the straps from the groom. The officer gazed in silence at the man. Hitch muttered that he knew nothing about what had happened to Senor Roberto. The officer advised the prisoner of his rights.
“If you told the whole story,” Chief McGinnis said, glancing at Hitch, “it would go easier on you in court.”
Hitch, stiffening at the remark, became sullen. For several minutes he said nothing. Nancy hoped he would break his silence and was relieved when he finally broke down. Hitch suddenly cried out, “I hate Sims’ Circus and everybody in it!”
“Why?” the officer asked him.
“Circuses are evil things. Everybody who runs ’em is crazy! Now take Kroon,” he said.
As Hitch mentioned the ringmaster’s name, Nancy leaned forward to catch every word.
“That ringmaster—he puts up a big front, but he’s the biggest thief in the world.”
“How do you know?” McGinnis asked him.
Suddenly Hitch became sullen again. He said he could tell plenty about Kroon and everybody else at Sims’ Circus, but why should he? What would it get him? They were the people who ought to be going to jail, not he.
The next moment, Hitch gave the most blood-curdling yell Nancy had ever heard. It sent shivers down her spine. Just as the scream ended in a choked gurgle. Hitch dashed for the door. But Ned and Chief McGinnis were on him, and the prisoner did not get far.
“Take it easy, Hitch,” the officer advised. “I guess I’ll have to put bracelets on you.”
The chief pulled handcuffs from his pocket and snapped them on the stableman’s wrists. He led the prisoner to a chair and ordered him to sit there quietly until the policemen returned.
Nancy heard a clock begin to strike. She counted the strokes and then cried out, “Ned, the circus! I must get back at once or I’ll be late!”
She had only twenty minutes to reach the circus, change her clothes, and appear in the finale.
Before leaving, Nancy said to the chief, “I’d like to come to the jail and talk to Hitch in the morning, if I may.”
“Good idea,” he told her. “I’ll look for you.”
The young couple dashed off. As soon as they reached the highway, Ned gave the car full power and it sped along. They had gone only about a mile when a police motorcycle roared up alongside them. Its rider signaled for them to stop.
Nancy’s heart sank. She knew the car had been traveling beyond the legal speed limit. A delay would mean that she would miss the circus finale! If Kroon noticed her absence, the whole Vascon troupe might lose their jobs that night!
“Oh, officer,” Nancy said quickly, leaning out of the window, “I’m one of the circus performers and I have to get back for the finale at once.”
The motorcycle policeman looked at the girl intently for a moment, then said, “If you hadn’t told me that, I would have said you were Nancy Drew of River Heights.”
Both Nancy and Ned laughed. The girl admitted that she was Nancy Drew and quickly told the officer about her part in the circus and the reason for
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