An Unexpected Reunion

NANCY was thunderstruck at the taxi driver’s words. He had been to a gypsy camp and had had a bad scare! Maybe she herself was running into danger going to the place!

“You took Mr. Smith to a gypsy camp? ”

“Sure, and spent the whole night there, too, ” Gus replied. “When I arrived, a couple of men rushed out and took me inside. There was some kind of feast and they gave me a lot to eat and drink. Then I tried to leave, but they wouldn’t let me. I must see some dancing, they said, then eat some more.”

“But what scared you? ” Nancy prompted.

“The fortuneteller. She told me awful things.”

“You didn’t believe her? ”

“I did last night. Maybe she was wrong, though, ” the driver admitted. “But I haven’t told you the worst part. I can’t prove it, but I’ll bet they drugged me. I must have gone to sleep while the fortuneteller was talking. The next thing I knew I woke up in my own cab this morning. What I can’t figure out is why they did it.”

Nancy thought she could. The gypsies were expecting Rose to be brought there! Since the time of the girl’s arrival was somewhat uncertain, they had decided to hold Gus until they were sure he would not find out what was going on and report the incident to the Aiken policel

“What became of Mr. Smith? ” Nancy asked.

“Dunno, ” Gus answered. “Never saw him again.”

By this time the taxi had reached a little-traveled dirt road, which led to the mountain. Presently the cab drew up at the entrance to a lane.

“This is as far as I’m going, ” Gus announced. “You’re on your own from here.”

“But....”

“Now don’t give me any trouble, ” Gus said grimly. “I’m not setting foot in that camp again! ”

“Then wait for me here.”

“I’m not waiting either. You couldn’t pay me enough to keep me here. I’m going home! ”

Thoroughly annoyed by the man’s lack of cooperation, Nancy was tempted to tell him why she had come. Before she made up her mind, he said, “You owe me my fare. I got to get going.”

“I may need your help, ” Nancy told him.

“Say, what is this anyway? I didn’t want to come here in the first place. If you’re afraid to go inside alone, then jump in the cab and I’ll drive you back to Aiken.”

“No, ” Nancy decided. “I’ll go alone. But please do me one favor, ” the young sleuth pleaded as she handed Gus the fare and a generous tip. “Phone my father’s office in River Heights and ask him to come here at once if he can. And if you see my two friends at your garage or on the road in my car, please tell them, too. Be sure to give them explicit directions, because I don’t want to be stranded here.”

“Sure. I’ll do that much for you, miss. Only don’t ask me to come back here. Give me your father’s phone number.”

Nancy scribbled it on a sheet from a note pad in her purse. After the taxi pulled away, she walked rapidly toward the gypsy camp, which was screened from view by trees.

Finally she left the lane and walked among the trees to avoid detection. Nancy could see people moving about, but thus far her approach to the settlement apparently had not been noticed.

Suddenly a tall, handsome man with a red sash around his waist crossed the clearing. Tucked under his arm was a violin.

Romano Pepito! At last she had found him!

As he entered one of the trailers, Nancy’s heart beat wildly. “This is my chance! ” she thought, and wondered how to slip into the trailer without attracting notice.

Just then she heard sounds of laughing, excited children from the far end of the camp. A group, which included several adults, was marching forward. From her hiding place Nancy fastened her eyes on a girl in a gay gypsy dress who was the center of attention.

“Rose! ” Nancy gasped as they came closer. “The gypsies did bring her here! ”

Much to Nancy’s surprise, Rose did not look worried or frightened. Instead, she seemed happy in her new surroundings. Rose grabbed a tambourine from one of the women and started to dance.

“There! ” she cried breathlessly, as the exhibition ended. “I can dance as well as any gypsy! ”

A fat old woman in a scarlet skirt took Rose by the hand and led her to a trailer that had the symbol of the sun above the canvas doorway.

“You will stay here until Zorus tells you what to do, ” she ordered the girl.

In her fear of what might happen to Rose, Nancy forgot her desire to talk to Romano. Instead she waited until the group had scattered. Then, when no one was near, she slipped inside the trailer.

“Nancy! ” Rose cried.

“Sh! I have only a moment to talk, and you must listen closely! ”

“I’m not going back home! ” the girl retorted defiantly, as if she had guessed why Nancy was there. “These people have promised to get me into the movies! ”

“Please don’t believe them! If they did that, it wouldn’t be for years and years, anyway.”

Rose argued. Nancy knew precious time was being lost. “Rose, have you met your father yet? ” she asked to divert the girl’s mind.

“My father? ” Rose’s face was a blank. “No, is he here? ” She raised her voice alarmingly.

“Sh! ” Nancy warned. “Yes, he’s here, and I believe he might leave with us. Come, we’ll find him.”

Nancy made sure no one would see them. She took Rose’s hand and they darted out of the trailer to the one Romano had entered.

Nancy peered inside. The gypsy violinist sat on a cot, his head resting dejectedly on his hands.

“Mr. Pepito! ” she whispered, entering with Rose. “I have brought your daughter! ”

The man’s head jerked up in fright. He stared first at Nancy, then at Rose. As he gazed at Rose, he got to his feet and with a cry of joy caught her in his arms.

“Rose! My little Rose! ” he sobbed. “You are alive and well! ”

“Father! Don’t ever leave me again! ” she pleaded.

“No, you and I will stay together always. No matter what Zorus says, we will go away from here.” He suddenly realized that Nancy was a stranger. “Who is this, Rose? A friend of yours? ”

“She’s Nancy Drew and she’s been helping Granny find her stolen dolls.”

Instantly a look of alarm crossed Romano’s face. “Go at once, Miss Drew! ” he cried. “Run! You are in great danger here! ”

“From whom? ” the girl asked.

“I cannot tell you.”

“If I go, Rose goes with me.”

“Oh, no, please. I have nothing to live for but my daughter.”

“Why don’t you both go to Mrs. Struthers? ” Nancy argued. “She wants you and needs you.”

“Never! ”

“She has forgiven you for everything, and wants both you and Rose to be with her. Besides, ” Nancy added practically, “you can use the money you earn to help Rose and stop giving it to Zorus.”

Romano blanched. “You know—”

“About the Cause, and Anton and Nitaka. Tell me, why was Rose brought here? ”

Before the man could answer, a shout came from a short distance away. Romano turned deathly white. “If we’re caught—” He looked appealingly at Nancy.

“Please follow what I tell you both to do, ” she said quickly. “Mr. Pepito, you stay here until I come back.”

She seized Rose’s hand, and the two girls left the trailer. “Go to your trailer, ” Nancy instructed Rose. “Act as if nothing had happened.”

“Where are you going, Nancy? ” she cried in fright.

“To hide until I can make some plans.”

Nancy dodged along the rear of the trailers until she came to one from which she could hear no voices. She took a chance that it was vacant and stepped inside. No one was there. The trailer was attractively furnished with handmade rugs and silk hangings.

A blanket thrown over a bed caught her eye. It was a duplicate of the one that had been sent to her! But the warning and the name, H. Bostwick were missing.

“Maybe this is Henrietta Bostwick’s tent, ” the girl thought. “Who is she, I wonder? ”

In a corner of the trailer stood a trunk. As she wondered if any stolen property might be hidden in it, the girl heard footsteps outside. She quickly hid behind one of the silk drapes.

A woman Nancy had never seen came in. She went at once to the trunk, unlocked it, and from its depths removed two dolls. One was Enid Struthers’ childhood toy. The other was dressed in bridal garments.

“That bride is the doll I’m looking for! ” Nancy thought wildly, as she gazed at the lifelike figure of Enid Struthers.

The woman carefully placed the dolls on the nearby bed. Then she left the trailer. Quick as a flash, Nancy came out of hiding. She snatched up the bridal doll, and then in shocked surprise almost let it fall from her hand.

The figure was as warm as a human being!