Warning!

“Could someone have let him out the front door by mistake? ” Nancy asked.

Grace shook her head. “The only people who have keys wouldn’t do that, Nancy. He’s very good about not running away, but I don’t like him loose even on these back streets. There’s just too much traffic.”

“Did Ned tell you that the front door was unlocked? ” Nancy asked.

Grace nodded worriedly. “I’m sure I locked it when we left.”

“I’m really sure of that, too, ” Nancy agreed. “I remember.”

“What do you suppose it means? ” Grace asked.

“I really don’t..Nancy began, then stopped as a sharp bark came from the front door. They all turned in that direction while Jennifer ran forward and opened the door. Brewster came bounding in, his long fur wet from the rain that had begun to fall.

“Brewster, ” Grace called and dropped to her knees to hug the wet dog. “Where in the world have you been? Who let you out? ”

“It sure is a shame that he can’t tell us, ” Jennifer said.

“Maybe he can, ” Nancy observed, joining the other three in petting the big, happy dog.

“What do you mean? ” Ned asked.

“This.” Nancy pulled the small, tightly rolled piece of paper out of the rubber band that had attached it to the collie’s collar. “It seems he’s brought us a message.”

“What is it? ” Grace asked, but Nancy could only gasp as she read the short note. Ned took it from her nervous fingers and began to read:

Nancy Drew,

This time we took the

Dog, next time the victim could be you or one of your friends. Get out of Cheyenne now and leave Jennifer to us. If you stay, someone is going to get hurt!

“But who? ” Grace gasped.

“It isn’t signed, ” Ned answered, “but I think we can guess who was here while we were gone.”

“The two men from the airport, ” Nancy agreed. “Mustache and his blond friend.”

“The men who tried to kidnap me, ” Jennifer said. “Oh, Nancy, what are we going to do? ”

Nancy put an arm around the little girl. “We are going to get a towel and dry Brewster, then we’re going to have some dinner, ” she told her.

“But the note, ” Jennifer protested.

“Don’t even think about it, ” Nancy counseled.

“You won’t leave me here alone, will you? ” Jennifer asked, her dark eyes very worried as they met Nancy’s bright blue ones.

“I’m not going to leave you till I find your mother, ” Nancy assured her. “No sneaky dognapper is going to scare me away, Jennifer.” Jennifer smiled with relief. “I’m so glad, ” she whispered, hugging Nancy before she left to get a towel for Brewster.

“Are you sure that’s wise, Nancy? ” Grace asked as soon as Jennifer was out of earshot. “Perhaps you’re putting yourself in serious danger staying here.”

“I can’t just let them come and take her, ” Nancy reminded the older woman.

“Well, we could call the police, ” Grace suggested.

Nancy considered, then nodded. “I suppose we should let them know about the threat, ” she agreed. “But I don’t think they will take it too seriously. After all, Brewster came home safely.”

“I’ll go call, ” Grace said, giving Brewster a final pat. “And I’ll see to it dial they do take the threats seriously. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you or Jennifer.”

The evening proved frustrating. Sergeant Hill came and took the note away with him, but his advice to stay indoors and be careful was hardly helpful. Nancy’s call to Hannah was also disturbing. Among other things, Carson Drew hadn’t called home to speak to her either.

Once she’d hung up the phone after the conversation, Ned suggested a walk in the cool, new-washed evening air. As they followed the trotting collie along the street, he held her hand.

After a while, Ned said, “You know, Nancy, maybe you should do as the sergeant suggested.”

“What good would that do? ” Nancy asked.

“Well, you’d be safe if you’d stay around the house.”

“I doubt it, ” Nancy observed. “After all, they broke into the house to get Brewster today. Besides, we can’t find Lorna Buckman or Clarinda Winthrop while we’re sitting around Grace’s living room.”

“That’s true enough, ” Ned agreed reluctantly. “It’s just that I don’t want you or Jennifer to be hurt.”

“Then our best course is to find out why those two men are trying to kidnap Jennifer. What could they possibly want with her? ”

“Do you suppose they could have her mother? ” Ned asked.

Nancy sighed. “I guess it’s possible, but why? What could they want? ”

“Ransom? ”

Nancy considered, then shook her head. “I doubt it. The things Jennifer has told me sound like she and her mother lived a rather quiet life before her mother was hurt in that accident on their way to California. Her father died a few years ago and she doesn’t seem to have any other relatives besides hei grandparents. I don’t think they have the kind of money that would inspire kidnapping for ransom.”

“What about the grandparents? ” Ned asked. “Jennifer never mentioned them to me.”

“I don’t think they’ve been very close, ” Nancy answered. “Jennifer doesn’t seem to know a great deal about them, except that her grandmother suggested the boarding school she was sent to. She couldn’t even give me their address in California.”

“Her father’s family? ”

Nancy could only shrug. “She never has mentioned them.”

“So where do we go from here? ” Ned asked. Nancy stopped and looked around at the pretty night as the moon rose. “I suppose we’d better go back, ” she said with a teasing grin. “We have an early date with a chuckwagon breakfast tomorrow, remember? ”

Ned laughed. “You know, we’ve been so involved with Jennifer’s problems, I’d almost forgotten your appointment with Mr. Webber. Think you’ll be able to concentrate on such an old mystery now that you have a fresh new one to work on? ”

Nancy sighed. “After what Hannah told me, I think I’d better. In fact, I’m almost tempted to call Dad again and ask him to come down here and help.”

“You don’t think that he’s learning anything up at that lodge? ”

Nancy shrugged, then started walking back toward the big brick house.

“What did Hannah have to say to you that upset you so, Nancy? ” Ned asked, catching up with her.

“She said that she’d talked to Mr. Mathews—you know he’s the nephew of Mr. Winthrop. Anyway, he called the house to ask her if we’d made any progress.”

“So why does that bother you? ” Ned asked. “You said that there was some pressure to hurry with the investigation.”

“He told Hannah that Mr. Winthrop was feeling much worse. Hannah was pretty concerned. She seems to feel Mr. Mathews was hinting that Mr. Winthrop might not live too much longer and must draw up his final will soon. If I can’t find his daughter, she will be left out of it.” “Gee, that does make it rough, ” Ned sympathized. “What are you going to do? ”

Nancy stopped and looked up at him. “I won’t know till tomorrow, after I talk to Mr. Webber. If he can’t give me a clue on Clarinda’s whereabouts, I guess I’ll just have to try the other names on Grace’s list.”

“Well, I’m sure you will find her if anyone can, so don’t worry about tomorrow, ” Ned reassured her. “And I know that’s what your father would tell you if you asked him.”

Nancy stood on her tiptoes to give him a kiss. “You’re sweet, ” she told him. “Thank you for the reassurance. I just feel that I haven’t accomplished a single thing since we arrived.” “We still have Jennifer safe and sound, ” Ned reminded her, “and with the mustached man and his blond friend after her, that’s a pretty big accomplishment.”

“And tomorrow I really start my search for Clarinda Winthrop, ” Nancy agreed, feeling restored by Ned’s faith in her. “Let’s just hope Mr. Webber can offer us a real clue.”

Clues

The morning was as bright and sunny as Saturday had been and, though it was very early to be going out, Nancy couldn’t help feeling a glow of hope. Still, as they drove away from Grace’s house, she kept checking over her shoulder to make sure that there was no blue car following them.

Once downtown, however, she forgot all about the threat. Music filled the air and when they’d parked the car and made their way through the throng, the scent of flapjacks and ham made her stomach rumble with anticipation.

Hay bales had been set out for use as tables and chairs, and there were lines of hungry people waiting to be served. They joined the nearest line and were soon chatting with the other early risers who were listening to the country-western music of a small band that stood on a flatbed truck.

Once their plates were heaped with ham and flapjacks laced with syrup, and they each had a cup of milk or coffee, Grace led them away from the crowded bales. “Joshua has reserved a bale for us, ” she said. “He’ll be joining us in a little while.”

“No rush, ” Nancy said. “It may be unprofessional, but at the moment I want to give this food my full attention. I don’t know when I’ve been so hungry.”

“That’s what you said last night when we sat down to dinner, ” Jennifer teased.

“It must be the altitude, ” Nancy answered, giggling.

Their plates were almost empty by the time a tall, thin, elderly man came toward them. Since he wore an apron, Nancy guessed at once that this was Mr. Webber. Grace’s introduction confirmed it and Mr. Webber sank down on the bale with a sigh.

“I swear my feet get more tired every year, ” he said.

“You could retire from the chuckwagon committee, ” Grace told him unsympathetically.

“And miss all the fun? ” Mr. Webber chuckled. “I’ll just complain a little and eat my breakfast, then I’ll be fine.”

Though she was anxious to question the man, Nancy took the hint and said nothing about her investigation till he’d finished his breakfast and was sipping his coffee. His dark eyes turned her way then and he smiled pleasantly.

“Well, Miss Drew, Grace tells me that you have some questions about someone who might once have worked for me or my father in the store. I didn’t recognize the name she gave me, but if you could tell me what she looked like, maybe I’d remember. I’m better at faces than names—especially from so long ago.”

“I’ll do better than that, ” Nancy told him, taking the photographs out of her sweater pocket. “This is the girl I’m trying to find. Clarinda Winthrop.”

There was a long silence as Mr. Webber studied first one, then the other photograph; then he shook his head. Nancy’s heart sank.

You don’t recognize her? ” she asked when he handed the two photographs back to her.

“That’s not Clarinda Winthrop, ” Mr. Webber stated flatly. “That is Lindy Thorpe. She worked for us for a couple of years. Right up till her fiancé came back from the war.”

“What? ” Nancy just stared at the man, unable to believe her ears.

“She was a right nice girl, Miss Drew, and a hard worker. We were real sorry when she quit her job.”

“Do you know where she went after she quit? ” Nancy asked, collecting her wits quickly.

“Sure. Her husband had a ranch about twenty-five miles out of town. They were going to live out there and it was too far for her to drive in to work in the winter.” Mr. Webber sipped his coffee.

“And is she still living there? ” Nancy pressed, excitement bubbling through her as she began to sense that she was perhaps closer to her quarry than she had imagined.

“What was her husband’s name? ” Grace asked before Mr. Webber could answer.

“Catlin. Leroy Catlin.” Mr. Webber’s smile faded. “And no, I’m not sure where she is, but I don’t think she’s still living in Cheyenne.

I haven’t seen or heard anything about her in... oh, it must be close to thirty years.”

“But...” Nancy began. However, before she could go on, someone shouted to Mr. Webber from the serving line area and he got reluctantly to his feet.

“Guess they can’t get along without me, ” he observed with a wry smile. “I hope I’ve helped you, Miss Drew. I’m sorry I can’t give you more current information.”

Nancy hurried to thank him for his assistance, but once he was gone, she sank down on the hay bale with a sigh. “Thirty years ago, ” she murmured to herself. “How in the world am I going to find out where she went next? ” Grace patted her hand reassuringly. “I’m afraid I can’t tell you where she went, but I can tell you why she left Cheyenne, ” she said. “What? ”

“Well, T may not have all the details, but when Joshua mentioned the name Leroy Catlin... I had no idea that your missing heiress was Mrs. Leroy Catlin, Nancy.”

“Did you know the Catlins, Grace? ” Nancy asked, her spirits reviving considerably.

“Well, not personally, but I do remember that there was a terrible scandal about them and it must have been about thirty years ago. It seems that there was a spectacular bank robbery about that time, and during the investigation, sacks of money and checks were found hidden on the Catlin ranch.”

“A bank robbery? ” Nancy gasped.

“Mr. Catlin always maintained his innocence, but his wife was the only one who was with him the day the robbery took place, so he was considered a suspect anyway. There was a terrible fuss in town and some people were talking about going out to arrest him themselves if the sheriff wouldn’t do it.” Grace shook her head.

“How horrible, ” Nancy murmured. “Did they put him in jail? ”

“They never got the chance, ” Grace replied. “The Catlins just packed up a few of their belongings and disappeared one night. As far as I know, no one has ever heard from them again.” “You mean they ran away? ’’ Nancy was shocked at the idea.

“I guess they didn’t feel that they had a choice, ” Grace said. “Anyway, they left behind just about everything they had—their ranch, their stock... It was sad. Especially later, when Leroy was cleared.”

“When was that? ” Ned asked.

“A couple of years later, I think. One of the men who actually robbed the bank was caught during another holdup and he confessed to hiding the loot on the Catlin ranch to divert suspicion from him and his friends.”

“How terrible.” Nancy sighed. “And the Catlins never came back? ”

“They may not even know that he was cleared, ” Grace told her. “There was just no way to find them and tell them what had happened.”

“Didn’t the police try to trace them when they first disappeared? ” Nancy asked, horribly worried that her search had just reached another dead end.

“I’m sure they must have, ” Grace admitted. “I’ll call Dave Hill when we get home and see if he can look up the old records, but I’m really afraid there won’t be much to find.”

Nancy shook her head. “It was such a wonderful lead, ” she said. “We found out that she changed her name and that she got married. Where could they have gone? ”

No one had any answers for her, and Nancy was glad when, a few minutes later, Grace suggested that they should leave. “We have to go by the Fergusons so you can pick up your costume for tomorrow” she told Nancy.

“Tomorrow? ” Nancy looked at her blankly. “Have you forgotten already that you’re going to ride in the parade? ” Grace teased.

“And we should talk to Mrs. Carleton, too, ” Jennifer said. “I have to find out about riding with them and so do you, Ned.”

“I should also meet the horse I’m going to be riding, ” Ned commented.

“Why don’t you all go riding this afternoon? ” Grace suggested. “My horses can use the exercise, and that will give you a chance to decide which one you want to ride, Ned.”

Nancy agreed to the plan, but her heart wasn’t in it. She was so afraid that she’d failed. The trail of Clarinda Winthrop, or Lindy Catlin, seemed to have come to an abrupt end and she had no idea where to begin again.

In spite of her misgivings, however, the day passed pleasantly. Mrs. Ferguson was charming, and the gown—a lovely blue satin that just matched Nancy’s eyes—was a perfect fit. Nancy hated to take it off after she tried it on.

As soon as they reached her house, Grace immediately suggested a trip to her attic, saying, “I’m sure I have a hat that will go with that gown.”

Nancy followed her up into the hot, dusty dimness of the attic and watched as her hostess opened and closed a half-dozen trunks that contained everything from old clothes to a selection of wigs Grace said had belonged to her two daughters.

The hat, when she found it, proved to be a perfect match. Nancy hugged her hostess in delight.

“I’m glad you like it, ” Grace told her. “I’ll see if I can brighten it up before tomorrow. I just hope it makes up for your disappointment this morning. I was so hoping that Joshua would have good news for you.”

“Well, be did. I mean, he told us a lot about what happened to Clarinda after she got here. That has to help. And the hat is wonderful. Thank you for finding it.”

The long, easy ride in the country after lunch helped her to lift her spirits, too, though she round no answers in the rolling prairie they crossed. Seeing Jennifer laughing and happy was reassuring and the outing did help Nancy make one decision.

Immediately after dinner, she excused herself and went to place a long-distance call to her father, aware that she must consult with him about what she should do next. The phone at Chain Creek Lodge rang only once before the slightly familiar male voice answered it. Nancy asked for her father.

“I’m sorry, Mr. Drew is no longer staying here, ” the man informed her.

“What? ” Nancy nearly dropped the receiver. “But when? Where...? ”

“Mr. Drew checked out this morning.” The words were cold, the tone unfriendly.

“Did he say where he was going? ” Nancy asked, her fears growing immediately.

“He checked out and left no forwarding address, ” was the reply.

“But...”

“I’m sorry, I can’t help you, miss.” The line went dead.

Nancy sat in the chair for several minutes after she’d replaced the receiver. Her mind swirled with confusing thoughts. It made no sense. Where could her father have gone? And why would he check out without calling her to say that he was on his way to Cheyenne? And, most important, where was he now?