The bureau was probably the hiding place!
Nancy continued to eavesdrop outside the trailer, but neither Mr. nor Mrs. Kroon mentioned the bracelet or Dan's visit.
Presently Mrs. Kroon transferred to Lolita's trailer, where she lived, apparently to watch her foster daughter's movements.
A few minutes later the window shades on both trailers were drawn and soon afterward the lights were turned off. Nancy made her way back to her tent, convinced that her bracelet was in the bureau in Kroon's trailer. She only hoped that the ringmaster would not remove it before she had a chance to carry out the next part of her plan.
Early the following morning she went to find Lolita. She was forced to wait for several minutes while the aerialist and her foster parents finished breakfast in Mr. Kroon's trailer. Finally the ringmaster left and Lolita started back to her own quarters.
Nancy beckoned her to walk to a more secluded spot where they might talk. Quickly the girl detective divulged her suspicions about the bracelet. Lolita was aghast to hear that her foster father might be a thief. Nancy said she was sorry bun felt that it was necessary for Lolita to know all the facts in order to help solve the mystery.
"I want you to search that bureau," Nancy told her.
Lolita looked frightened. "But how can I?" she said. "Mother's always in one trailer or the other."
"I'll arrange for her to leave," said Nancy. "I'll have Erika ask her to come to our tent and help with some sewing."
Lolita finally consented to the scheme. An hour later, when Mrs. Kroon was safely out of the way, the aerialist went into her father's trailer. Nancy posted herself at the window. Some distance away was Dan Webster, acting as lookout.
Lolita pulled out drawer after drawer, lifting various articles aside and feeling beneath pieces of clothing. The bracelet was not in any of the drawers. Just as Lolita opened the lowest drawer, Nancy heard a low whistle. Looking up, she saw Dan Webster warning her of danger.
Rheinhold Kroon was almost at the trailer!
Through the window Nancy hissed at Lolita. The girl was so engrossed in her search that she did not hear her friend. The next moment, Kroon stepped inside. Seeing the open bureau, he thundered at Lolita:
"What are you doing?"
CHAPTER XVIIBlackout
When Lolita heard someone step into the trailer, she slammed shut the bureau drawer. But her movement and the telltale clothes which trailed from the drawer gave her away completely.
"I said, what are you doing?" her foster father yelled at her.
He took hold of the girl's arm and yanked her around violently. As he glared at Lolita, she began to shiver with fright.
"Please don't hurt me!" she begged.
"You tell me what you were doing or I'll—" The ringmaster did not finish because of an unexpected interruption.
Fearful that Lolita's reply might give away their secret, Nancy decided upon a desperate measure. She had once learned a few ventriloquist tricks, and now determined to use one of them. Throwing her voice to sound as if it were inside the trailer, Nancy gave an unearthly scream. Then, dashing around to the door of the trailer, she ran inside.
"I heard a scream," she said. "Lolita, is something the matter?"
Kroon glared at Nancy. The ringmaster was so taken aback that he released his hold on Lolita and said nothing for a moment.
The pretty aerialist sagged weakly onto a couch. "Oh, Nancy!" she wailed helplessly.
Kroon's eyes narrowed and Nancy felt as if they would burn right through her. The ringmaster walked toward her in menacing fashion. Nearing Nancy, he pointed a finger at her.
"Why, you little double-crosser!" he shouted.
Nancy stood her ground, not moving an inch. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Dan Webster in the doorway. Should she need any protection, it was near at hand.
"Nancy, eh?" Kroon yelled. "You're Nancy Drew, that self-styled detective, and you sneaked in here to spy on the circus!"
Still Nancy said nothing. This seemed to infuriate the man. Towering above her, his face so red that Nancy thought he might have a stroke, he continued to wave a finger in her face.
"I knew you'd joined the circus and I let you stay because you were a good rider," he went on. "But I've had spies trailing you. So don't think you've put anything over on me, you little sneak!"
"Nancy has done nothing wrong," Lolita said stanchly. "She's done a good job in this circus."
The ringmaster gave a harsh chuckle. "But no thanks to you. I suppose you were snooping through this bureau because Nancy Drew asked you to. What were you looking for?"
Lolita looked pleadingly at Nancy. She did not know whether to answer him or not.
Nancy decided it was time for her to speak.
"Mr. Kroon," she said, "what is so dreadful about your daughter looking in your bureau? Goodness, whenever I want a big hanky I go to my father's chest of drawers."
Kroon was not fooled by Nancy's play acting. At the top of his lungs, he shouted:
"You get out of this circus and stay out!"
"But what will happen to the Vascons' act?" Lolita spoke up.
Kroon said that Rosa would perform that afternoon or the whole troupe could leave the circus at once. In no case was Nancy Drew to appear. She was to pack her things immediately and go back to River Heights.
In the doorway Dan Webster could remain silent no longer. Stepping inside, he began to plead for Nancy to remain. The ringmaster would not listen.
Nancy, seeing that it was useless to argue with him, looked straight at Kroon and said, "I'll go, but not until you give me back my bracelet!"
Kroon gave a slight start, but instantly recovered his poise.
"What are you talking about?" he bellowed.
"I'm talking about a gold bracelet with horse charms. The bracelet was stolen from my house and I have good reason to believe that you have it."
Kroon's eyes blazed. He said that he ought to have Nancy arrested for accusing him of being a thief. It was defamation of character. It was only because of her age that he would not prosecute.
"Now get out of here, every one of you!" he yelled, and shoved them all through the doorway.
He followed the others outside, then slammed the door and locked it.
"Lolita," he said, "go to your quarters. And if you ever dare to communicate with Nancy Drew again, I'll punish you in a way you'll never forget."
He turned toward Nancy and said sneeringly, "I suppose I ought to thank you for helping us out in the circus. But, under the circumstances, you don't deserve anything. Good-by and good riddance!"
The ringmaster strode away. Lolita, ill from fright, hurried off to her own trailer. Nancy felt it best not to intrude.
She walked off with Dan Webster, who asked her if she were willing to take a chance on remaining with the circus. Surprised, the young sleuth remarked that this would hardly be safe.
"I would hate to see the Vascons fired," Dan said. "But I'm afraid that's what will happen. I dropped into the doctor's this morning. He said Rosa would not be able to ride for at least a month."
"Oh," said Nancy, "you wouldn't expect me to hide in the circus and pinch-hit for her all that time?"
Dan Webster shook his head, saying he could not expect that much. But the following week, the circus did not have commitments for a few days.
"During that time I'm sure we can find another substitute rider," Dan told her.
"In other words," said Nancy, "you want me to finish out this week."
"That's the idea. How about it?"
Nancy said she was willing, if she could possibly get away with the subterfuge. It would give her a chance to do more sleuthing in the circus. On the spur of the moment, a plan came to her.
"Suppose I room with someone else in the circus," she said. "Rosa can move back to Erika's tent. Since Mr. Kroon probably will be watching to see that she goes into the big top, Rosa might dress and ride in the parade. Then, when it's time for her act, I'll substitute for her."