Complications. BEFORE Nancy could reach the trailer the violin music was coming from, a stout, ugly woman ran toward her.

BEFORE Nancy could reach the trailer the violin music was coming from, a stout, ugly woman ran toward her.

“Go! ” she ordered harshly. “You are not welcome here! ”

Dogs began to bark. Men and women poured from the trailers and walked toward Nancy. She found herself completely hemmed in by unfriendly faces.

“Go! ” the woman shouted again. “And do not return! ”

“I mean no harm, ” Nancy said, stalling for time. “I only wish to meet the violinist.”

“It is forbidden.”

Nancy realized from the grim faces about her that argument was useless. Accordingly she left.

“Let’s get away from here as fast as possible! ” Bess pleaded as George started the car.

“The violinist probably wasn’t Romano anyway, ” George said philosophically. “And say, I’m about starved. What say we stop at Wrightville for a bite? ”

Half an hour later they ate in a pleasant tearoom, and then went to look in the windows of several quaint stores. One antique shop with dolls on display drew their attention. As they started to go inside, a man came out of the store. He clasped a small bundle against his coat pocket.

Startled, Nancy said to her friends, “Girls, that’s the purse snatcher! ” She darted after him. “Come on! We mustn’t let him get away this time! ”

The fellow realized that Nancy had recognized him and ran to the corner, where a blue sedan had just stopped. He jumped inside, and a second later the vehicle pulled from the curb.

“We must follow him! ” Nancy exclaimed.

Bess suggested that she wait in town while Nancy and George track down the thief. The other girls agreed and jumped into George’s car.

From the outset, the chase was hopeless. There was a traffic tie-up and when that cleared, George could not find the blue car. She insisted that they turn around and pick up Bess.

When they found her, she giggled. “Who says I’m not a super detective? While you two were gone, I went back to the antique shop where we saw the purse snatcher and got some information about him.”

“What was it? ” Nancy asked eagerly.

“The man sold a doll to the dealer for one hundred and fifty dollars.”

“Did you see the doll? ” Nancy asked, excited.

“Yes, it was an Early American rag doll. Its hands were made of kid gloves and it had shoe buttons for eyes. The dealer said that the face had been painted on with vegetable dyes. For the life of me, I can’t see why anyone would pay such a fancy price for a rag doll! ”

“Because they’re so rare, ” Nancy explained.

“It was kind of cute at that, ” Bess admitted.

“The doll’s hair was made of yellow string. Its dress was an India-print skirt with a little home-spun linen jacket.”

“I remember seeing one like that in Mrs. Struthers’ collection! ” Nancy exclaimed. “I wonder if the thief stole it from her.”

“He had a package with him when he left the shop, ” George reminded the others. “What do you suppose was in it? Something else he stole? ”

“The shopkeeper, ” Bess went on, “said the man had another doll with him to sell, but the dealer didn’t want to buy it.”

Nancy decided to telephone Mrs. Struthers to find out if the doll just purchased by the antique dealer belonged to her. When she described the doll, Mrs. Struthers said it did not.

“I have one exactly like it except for the India-print dress, ” the woman said. “My doll is safe. The one sold must be—”

Before Mrs. Struthers could continue, Rose cut in on an extension telephone and eagerly told Nancy about her music and dancing lessons.

“Oh, I just love them! ” she shouted. “My teacher says I’m a natural. I’m to have an audition for television or the movies if Granny will say it’s okay.”

“Granny hasn’t said so yet, ” Mrs. Struthers interrupted. “Rose is not doing so well with her other lessons, Nancy, and until she does I couldn’t think of such a thing.”

“I can’t study all the time! ” Rose exclaimed. “Anyway, it’s just like being in jail here. I can’t leave the house without being watched.”

“Why, what do you mean? ” Mrs. Struthers asked.

“I know you put a detective on the grounds. He watches me all the time. I don’t like it. Everybody in this house is being watched.”

Dismayed that Rose had learned about the detective Mr. Drew had employed, Nancy tried to calm the girl and her grandmother. Of course Mrs. Struthers professed her innocence.

“Please don’t worry, ” Nancy pleaded. “I’m responsible for this, and I’ll explain everything when I see you.”

Alarmed at the turn affairs had taken, Nancy and her friends returned home. Several hours elapsed before the young detective reached the Struthers’ house.

When Nancy arrived, she learned that her telephone call had caused a lot of confusion in the household. Rose’s conversation had been overheard by Mrs. Carroll, who had promptly repeated it to her husband.

Convinced that a detective had been employed because the couple was thought to be dishonest, the woman had announced that they were leaving at once. To pacify them, Mrs. Struthers had ordered the detective off the grounds.

Nancy’s explanation of why her father had engaged the man without first speaking to Mrs. Struthers cleared matters somewhat. Rose’s grandmother said she appreciated the Drews’ good intentions, but did not want the detective to return.

Nancy changed the subject. “I’ve brought some purchases, and also a photograph of Romano Pepito, ” she said.

Mrs. Struthers’ eyes opened wide. “I’ve never seen a picture of him. Is he—”

Nancy smiled as she handed over the picture. “He’s very handsome and kind looking. I’m sure he wouldn’t harm anyone intentionally. No doubt he was forced to leave his family against his will.”

Mrs. Struthers gazed at the photograph for several seconds before speaking. Tears filled her eyes. “I—I do so wish things had been different, ” she said. “Yes, he is handsome. Rose looks like him and no doubt inherits his musical talent. But the fire in her—”

“What fire? ” asked a voice, and Rose danced into the room. Seeing the photograph, she cried out, “Who’s this? Don’t tell me! I know! It’s my father! ”

“What makes you think so? ” Nancy countered, giving Mrs. Struthers a chance to decide whether or not to tell her granddaughter the truth.

“Because I look like him! ” Rose said.

Nancy glanced at Mrs. Struthers, who put her arm around the child and said, “Yes, he is your father.”

“I want to see him! ” Rose demanded. “Take me to him.”

“We do not know where he is—or do you, Nancy? ” the woman asked hopefully.

Nancy shook her head.

“Oh, please find him, ” Rose begged.

“I’ll try to, ” the young detective promised.

As Rose claimed the picture for herself and went off with it, Nancy explained to Mrs. Struthers how she had obtained the photograph and what she was doing to locate Romano Pepito.

“Have you ever heard of a Henrietta Bostwick? ” she asked.

“No, ” Mrs. Struthers answered as Nancy opened the package with the old album in it, and showed her the strange message, which was a duplicate of the one in her own album.

The source of light will heal all ills, but a curse will follow him who takes it from the gypsies.

“What a coincidence! ” Mrs. Struthers exclaimed. “I never heard of the woman.”

“This Henrietta Bostwick may have sent the same quotation to your daughter.”

“That’s so, ” Mrs. Struthers agreed.

She and Nancy discussed the mystery from various angles, but arrived at no conclusion. Nancy then told her how she had chased a man in Wrightville whom she thought was the purse snatcher.

“Sorry I didn’t catch him, ” she said.

“Oh, Nancy, I meant to tell you, ” Mrs. Struthers interrupted. “The police telephoned this morning. They know the thief’s name.”

“They do? ”

“They believe he’s Tony Wassell, a half-breed gypsy. The police followed the tip given by the guard at the museum and traced the purse snatcher through bank records.”

“So Tony Wassell is a half-breed gypsy, ” Nancy remarked thoughtfully. “I’ll bet he steals and sells valuable old dolls, as well as other things, and hides in a nearby gypsy camp. I’ll tell the state police! ” She phoned at once and told the officer where she had seen Wassell and where she thought he might be found.

“If only the man could be captured before he has a chance to use the information contained in the purse! ” Mrs. Struthers said to Nancy when she finished the call.

“You mean he might blackmail or rob you? ” the girl detective asked.

“Yes. Oh, I never wanted anyone but Rose to see the letter, and not until after my death. That was why I always carried it with me.”

Mrs. Struthers did not explain further and Nancy politely did not question her.

“Some nights I can’t sleep, worrying about what may happen, ” Mrs. Struthers went on. “Some gypsies are so vindictive. I’ve been told that if their tribal laws are violated by one of their number, they often take revenge on a member of the family. I’m afraid they may try to harm Rose because her father married outside his tribe.”

“Please try not to worry about it, ” Nancy said. She did not add that this very idea had been plaguing her for some time.

The next morning, when Nancy came down to breakfast, there were two letters at her place on the dining-room table.

One of them was postmarked Wrightville, and her name and address had been printed. Puzzled, Nancy tore the envelope open and read the message: “Stay at home, Nancy Drew, and attend to your own business! If you don’t, it will be the worse for you! ”