"Absolutely!" Mr. Abbott agreed. "The less you meddle with their affairs, the wiser you'll be!"
"You're wrong this time. Father," Karl Jr. announced. "If the girls hadn't meddled, those counterfeiters would have operated indefinitely."
"Counterfeiters!" the two boarders and Mrs. Byrd exclaimed together.
They were tense as Karl Jr. related everything that had happened. In fact, it was not until the next day that Mrs. Salisbury recovered from the shock sufficiently to boast: "Well, I always said those girls were up and coming!"
Mr. Abbott was very proud of the part his son had played in the case, and said so several times. Mrs. Byrd had nothing except praise for Nancy and her friends. "And who would think," she said incredulously, "that Bess's innocent purchase of a bottle of perfume would lead you girls to a mystery right here at Red Gate Farm!"
However, the removal of the Black Snake Colony from her property left her a serious financial problem. "I'm glad they're gone," she said, "but I'll miss the money. I can't hope to rent the land again. It isn't fertile enough for farming. All this talk about counterfeiters is apt to give Red Gate a bad name, too. I'll probably lose those other boarders who were coming!"
"Publicity is a queer thing," Nancy said thoughtfully. "Sometimes one can work it to one's advantage. That's what we'll do now."
"How?" Joanne asked.
We'll advertise that counterfeiters' cavern to sightseers and make enough money to lift a dozen mortgages!"
The others were enthusiastic. During the next week the girls, with Karl Jr.'s assistance, placed in the cave for public display an imitation setup of the counterfeiting operation. There were several old printing presses, and some dummy figures arranged before them as if "at work." Scattered about the cave floor were stacks of homemade "money"-to represent counterfeit bills.
The following week Mr. Drew came to Red Gate Farm. A few miles away he halted his automobile at the side of the road, and with an amused smile studied a large billboard which read:
Follow the arrow to Red Gate Farm! See the mysterious cavern used by counterfeiters! Admission fifty cents.
As Carson Drew continued slowly in his car, he presently came to another sign, bolder than the first:
Regain health at Red Gate Farm. Boarders by Day or Week.
The traffic was unusually heavy, and the lawyer soon realized that all of the cars were headed for the farm. The place was crowded. He parked as near the house as he could and walked up the path. The grounds were well kept and equipped with swings and huge umbrellas. A number of persons, evidently boarders, were enjoying the garden.
Before Carson Drew had reached the front door, it was flung open, and Nancy rushed to meet him. "Dad!" she cried joyfully. "Isn't this wonderful?"
"You've done a magnificent job, Nancy." After a hearty dinner Nancy and her friends took Mr. Drew to the hillside cave. Reuben Ames, looking most unlike himself in a new suit which was a trifle too tight, was in his glory as he conducted groups of visitors through the cavern.
"I've collected thirty dollars already today," he hailed Nancy as she came up with her friends.
"This beats plowin' corn." Bess grinned. "Didn't I always say that adventure follows Nancy Drew around?"
And Bess was right, for another exciting adventure awaited her courageous friend, who very soon was to become involved in The Clue in the Diary.
Mr. Drew laughed. "Nancy," he said, "as I think of your adventure at Red Gate Farm I can't decide whether you're better as a detective or as a promoter!"