A Quick Switch

THERE was no question now in Nancy Drew's mind that if she consented to riding in the circus act she would be undertaking something dangerous—not only dangerous from the angle of riding, but intuition told her there would be other hazards, too.

If Kroon were a dishonest as well as a sinister character, he would not let a girl like Nancy stop him from gaining his own ends. And if Kroon had learned that she was an amateur sleuth, he might use more drastic means to keep her from interfering.

«I'll certainly need eyes in the back of my head as well as in the front,» the girl detective thought.

«Please don't let us down,» Pietro pleaded once more. «You see what a dreadful position Lolita is in. Even if we ran away and were married, I don't believe it would solve our problem. Kroon might continue to make life miserable for us.»

«I agree,» Nancy answered. «I'll do everything I can for you and Lolita. But if my father disapproves of my living at the circus I'll have to do my detective work on the outside.»

«I understand,» Pietro said.

Nancy asked him where there was a pay telephone and he led her to a booth. She called her home, but there was no answer. Next, she tried Bess Marvin's, then George Fayne's house. Both lines were busy.

«I guess my friends are still on the wire trying to locate my father,» Nancy told the clown. «As soon as I have a chance to talk to Dad, I'll ask him to start the inquiries in England as I promised.»

The clown thanked her and then took Nancy to Mrs. Kelly, the wardrobe mistress. The girl was quickly outfitted in dark-blue jodhpurs and a white silk blouse. But instead of boots she was given soft heelless slippers. Never having used this kind of footwear in her stunt riding, Nancy wondered how she could manage in them and spoke to Mrs. Kelly about it.

«That's what all our bareback riders use,» Mrs. Kelly replied. «You'll probably find them easier than the stiff boots.»

Nancy nodded and put on the slippers. Ready to leave the trailer, she glanced at Mrs. Kelly's wrist watch.

«The twenty minutes are almost up,» she thought. «I'll have to hurry.»

Dan Webster was waiting for her inside the Big Top. He introduced the equestrian group and their leader, Rancoco.

«Erika here,» said Dan, taking the arm of a girl rider, «will be your roommate when you join us.»

Erika was a very attractive young woman with lovely blond hair and big, blue eyes. She smiled at Nancy, saying:

«I thought I might give you some pointers when we're alone, but from what Dan tells me, I doubt that you'll need any.»

«I'm afraid Dan has built me up too much,» Nancy said. «But I'll do my best. What's first?»

Fortunately for the act, the lead horse, whose nose had been bruised, was all right otherwise and able to perform. She was the same size and build as Belgian Star, so when Nancy swung herself to the mare's back, she almost felt as if she were riding Roberto's thoroughbred.

«Now, don't be nervous, Miss Drew,» Dan Webster encouraged her. «Just do those stunts I saw you performing over at Roberto's and you'll be all right.»

Despite his reassuring words, Nancy was a trifle tense. At first she went through the stunts rather stiffly, but when Erika reminded her to relax, the performance went much better.

Not only did Nancy show the onlookers the riding tricks Roberto had taught her, but she tried to imitate the girl who had been injured. The group of equestrians was enthusiastic.

«Well, what do you think?» Dan asked Rancoco.

«For a girl not reared in the circus, Miss Drew is remarkable,» the leader replied. «Even if she can't join us permanently, I'd certainly be glad to take her on for a few days until we can get a replacement for Rosa.»

He walked over to Nancy and asked if she had ever ridden standing up with another person on a cantering horse.

«No, I haven't.»

Rancoco asked if she would try it with him after watching another couple do the stunt. Nancy consented, and when they were ready, he said, «You go first.»

Nancy timed the rhythm of the horse, ran several steps across the ring, and hopped onto her mare's back. A moment later Rancoco joined her. But as he touched her, Nancy lost her balance and off they both went!

«Not hurt, are you?» he said, helping her up. Nancy shook her head gamely. «Better luck next time,» he said with an encouraging smile.

Nancy had several more spills, but finally she was able to steady herself when Rancoco hopped up behind her.

«Fine, fine!» he praised her. «If you do your part as well tonight, everything will be okay. I'm going to have one of the others do a little solo work in place of Rosa.»

Nancy was glad to hear the equestrian's decision. She had just about decided that everything was turning out well when Pietro came racing into the tent, greatly agitated.

«Kroon's coming! He suspects something funny is going on. He's in a fearful rage and says he's going to dismiss all of you for double-crossing him!»

The riders were stunned and asked what the ringmaster meant. They had done no harm and yet in a few moments every one of them might be out of a job!

Nancy was sure that the trouble centered around her. Somehow, Kroon had found out that the young detective might join the circus. This did not suit his plans.

«Pietro, he must have found out about me,» Nancy whispered to the clown.

Pietro's face was dark with anger. «I'm afraid so. Nancy, there's a spy in this big top and I'm going to find out who he is!»

Before the clown could carry out his threat, Bess Marvin rushed into the tent. Seeing her in riding clothes gave Nancy an idea. Without waiting to hear why Bess had come, Nancy said to her quickly:

«Kroon's coming in here any minute. He must have heard I'm trying out for a part in this act. He mustn't see me. You'll have to take my place!»

Nancy gave poor Bess no time to make a choice. Nancy dived behind some of the seats, just as the ringmaster walked in. He strode over to Bess.

«So you're the girl who's trying out, eh?»

«Why—uh, yes,» Bess replied.

«I thought somebody else was,» he said. Then, with a grunt, he added, «You don't look much like a rider. Well, get up on the mare and let's see what you can do.»

Obediently Bess climbed up. She felt sick with fear and only her affection and loyalty for Nancy gave her the courage to carry on.

Bess rode well and Kroon seemed to be impressed. But presently he called, «Now let's see what stunts you can do.»

Bess's heart thumped wildly. What should she do?

«Oh, please, not in these clothes,» Bess stammered. «I—that is—could you come back in an hour, Mr. Kroon?»

«An hour!» the ringmaster yelled. «You want an hour to change your clothes? That's nonsense. I'll give you exactly half—well, forty-five minutes,» he said.

«Oh, thank you,» Bess said, sliding from the horse.

Kroon looked at Rancoco. «I want every one of you back here in exactly forty-five minutes. I'll be here to watch the act. If I don't like it, out you go. This time I won't change my mind!»

As he stalked off, there was silence. The equestrians were too worried to talk, and Nancy realized how much depended on her. As the girl emerged from behind the seats, Bess ran to Nancy and begged her not to take part in the bareback riders' act.

«You're just going to get yourself into trouble,» Bess insisted. «And it isn't worth the risk.»

«I couldn't let these people down now,» Nancy replied. «And thanks a million for helping me. By the way,» she said, taking off the charm bracelet, «will you give this to Hannah?»

«Glad to,» Bess replied.

«Bess, did you find my dad?» Nancy asked.

«No and yes.»

Bess reported that George had contacted Nancy's Aunt Eloise Drew in New York City. Aunt Eloise was expecting her brother at any moment and would have him telephone George's home as soon as he arrived. Bess had dashed to the circus to tell Nancy.

«Oh, I do hope Dad won't object to my appearing in the circus!» Nancy said.

«Well, I just hope he does,» Bess declared.

«Is George at home now?» Nancy asked.

«Yes.»

As Bess continued to tell her friend how worried she was, Nancy suddenly laughed.

«You know what's worrying me the most at this moment?» she asked. «How I'm going to fool Kroon into thinking I'm Bess Marvin!»

Erika, who overheard the remark, smiled. «It won't be any trouble at all,» she said. «Our make-up artist can fix that. And you must have a blond rinse,» she went on, looking at Bess, «and a short haircut. Then with some rouge on your cheeks—you'll fool Mr. Kroon all right!»

«Let's get started,» Nancy urged.

The three girls went off together, and within half an hour Nancy's appearance was considerably changed.

«You could pass for Bess's thinner sister at a short distance,» Erika told her, adding that Kroon probably would not notice the slight difference in proportions.

As the girls left the make-up artist's tent, they almost bumped into George Fayne. She stared at Nancy as if she had seen a ghost.

«What's been going on?» she exclaimed.

Quickly George was brought up to date on the news, then Nancy asked, «Did my father telephone?»

George said he had. She grinned and said that Mr. Drew would be very happy to let Nancy pinch-hit in the circus act. His daughter breathed a sigh of relief, and George added:

«What's more, your aunt is flying up with him from New York to see the evening performance.»

Nancy was pleased! She would do her very best—that is, if she could pass Kroon's inspection. So much depended on her now. She must not fail!