The Crooked Banister Read online

  The others did not comment and in a short time arrived at the hospital. They learned that Mrs. Carrier had gone home, so Thomas drove off in his car to see his sister.

  Nancy left the poisonous paint flakes with the chemist. The three girls and Mr. Drew returned to the motel. After lunch he announced that he must leave.

  “Good luck!” he said to the girls, then grinned. “By the time I talk with you again you’ll have the mystery solved, I’m sure.”

  After Mr. Drew had left for River Heights, Nancy suggested that she and the girls go to Mrs. Carrier’s home and see how she was. They found her feeling better but rather weak.

  “The doctor said I had a narrow escape,” she told them.

  “Is there any report from the lab about the poison?” Nancy queried.

  Mrs. Carrier said she had not heard. Then she added, “I just can’t understand Rawley. Why did he do such weird things? And I’ve been thinking about something else, too. I doubt that we’ll find enough money and valuables in the house to pay all his debts.”

  Nancy told her about the other thousand-dollar bills the girls had discovered.

  “Really?” the woman said. “I still have a strong hunch that Rawley didn’t intend to return. He probably took everything he could carry, but didn’t have time to clean off those bills.”

  Bess spoke up. “Couldn’t Rawley’s house be sold to pay his debts?”

  “I doubt it,” Mrs. Carrier answered. “Who would want to buy such a crazy-looking building?”

  The girls did not reply because their answer would have been, “Nobody.”

  Seeing that Mrs. Carrier was tired, the girls said good-by to her and drove back to the motel.

  “What shall we do now?” George asked.

  Nancy replied, “I’d certainly like to find the skeleton’s bracelet.”

  Bess asked, “Do you suppose Rawley himself wants it and doesn’t dare go near his own house to get it?”

  “I doubt that,” Nancy replied. “If so, he would have stated in the note exactly where the bracelet is. I have a strong hunch another person wrote that message. But who?”

  When the girls walked into the motel lobby, they noticed a letter in their mailbox. The clerk handed it to Nancy. She stared at it, puzzled.

  “Where’s the letter from?” Bess asked.

  “Leupp, Arizona. The same place where your letter from Sleepy Deer was mailed.”

  “Hurry up and open it,” George urged.

  Nancy slit the envelope and took out a single sheet of paper. Typed on it was:

  Find the Silver Armor Mask

  The three girls stared at the unsigned message and Bess said, “I’ll bet whoever wrote the note about the skeleton’s bracelet sent this one too. It’s in the same type.”

  George nodded. “And it could be Clyde Mead.”

  “How in the world did you figure that out?” Bess asked.

  “It’s easy,” George answered. “Mead is involved with the Indian children and he has probably gone out there. He knows Nancy and I don’t approve of him and he’s playing these strange tricks on us. I think we should forget both anonymous messages.”

  Bess turned to Nancy. “Do you agree?”

  Nancy took a few seconds to think before answering, then said, “To go even further, I now suspect that there may be some connection between Rawley Banister and Clyde Mead.”

  “What!” the cousins cried, and Bess asked, “Do you think Rawley is out in Leupp?”

  “He could be,” Nancy replied, “but more likely he’s on his fast cruiser. Clyde Mead probably is working this Indian racket alone.”

  Bess was unconvinced, but George leaned toward Nancy’s theory.

  Nancy said, “As soon as Dad gets home, I’ll phone him about this note. He may have some good advice.”

  At five o’clock she called her father. He was astounded to hear that the second mysterious note to Nancy had been mailed from Leupp, and that his daughter and George suspected Clyde Mead of having sent it.

  “Nancy,” he said, “I should attend to some business in Arizona. Suppose you and I make a quick trip out there and go to Leupp?”

  “Oh, Dad,” Nancy exclaimed, “that would be marvelous!”

  Her father went on, “We can meet little Sleepy Deer, if he exists, and get a line on Mead and perhaps Rawley.”

  Nancy was thrilled by her father’s invitation and asked how soon they would start. He suggested that she come home at once.

  “See if Bess’s and George’s parents will let them remain at the motel, so they can continue sleuthing in Mountainville until we get back.”

  “I’ll ask them,” Nancy replied. “If they can stay, shall I leave my car with them?”

  “Yes. You can come home on the bus.”

  When Nancy told the girls about the Drews’ plans, George said she would be glad to continue working on the case.

  Bess looked a bit wistful. “I wish I could go to Arizona and see Sleepy Deer myself.”

  She also admitted to being a little afraid of carrying on the detective work without Nancy in charge.

  Nancy smiled. “You’ve helped me solve so many mysteries, Bess, you could take over this one alone! Of course you girls are not to go to Rawley’s house by yourselves. But perhaps Thomas will take you. Who knows, maybe by the time I get back, you will have found the skeleton’s bracelet and the silver armor mask!”

  “Do you think they’re both in that weird house?” Bess queried.

  “Yes,” Nancy replied. “I feel the notes are genuine clues and not jokes.”

  The Marvins and Faynes gave permission for their daughters to remain at the motel but cautioned them to be careful. Nancy packed her clothes, had a quick dinner, then the girls drove her to the bus.

  She arrived in River Heights about nine o’clock that evening. Hannah Gruen welcomed her with open arms.

  “I’m glad you’re safe,” she said. “What adventures you’ve had!”

  Nancy nodded, saying, “You were right about my getting into hot water, Hannah. I almost did!” She grinned impishly.

  At the housekeeper’s puzzled look, Nancy said, “Dad didn’t tell you?”

  She proceeded to explain about the disappearing bridge and the fire in the moat.

  Mrs. Gruen sighed. “Now I’m doubly glad you’re safe!”

  Just then Mr. Drew came in and said he had obtained reservations on a jet going to Phoenix, Arizona. “From there, we’ll take a connecting flight to Flagstaff, then go by helicopter to Leupp and look for little Sleepy Deer.”

  The next morning after attending Sunday church service, father and daughter returned to the house to pick up their luggage. Hannah wished them a good and a safe trip. Nancy blew kisses to her and Mr. Drew waved good-by as their taxi drove off to the airport. They had to change planes in New York City, and by late afternoon reached Phoenix.

  “I guess we’d better stay here overnight,” Mr. Drew said. “That will be just as well, because I want to make inquiries about the area where the Melody property was located. Also, we might find out something about Rawley Banister that will help us track him down.”

  The following morning the Drews went back to the airport and flew to Flagstaff. When they landed, the two immediately boarded a helicopter bound for the small town of Leupp.

  The young pilot was pleasant and pointed out the interesting scenery along the way. There were mountains with mesas on top and extensive valleys, some as dry as deserts. Here and there flocks of sheep could be seen grazing.

  “We don’t have much rain in the summertime,” the pilot said. “But fortunately sheep can live without water for long periods of time.”

  When he set the helicopter down just outside the village of Leupp, he said, “I’ll return for you at four o’clock this afternoon.”

  The Drews walked up the main street of the Navaho town. The villagers stared at them but did not speak. The Indian men wore blue denim pants, bright shirts, scarves and large felt hats, with a band across the
ir foreheads.

  The women’s clothing was more colorful. They wore multiple petticoats and velveteen blouses. Across an arm each woman carried a light blanket to be thrown around the shoulders when needed.

  Nancy and her father went directly to the post office. “I hope the postmaster will give us Sleepy Deer’s address,” she whispered. “Sometimespostal authorities won’t do this.”

  The Indian in charge proved to be an affable man. The Drews explained that they had come from the East and were looking for a child named Tom Sleepy Deer Smith.

  “Could you tell us where he lives?” Nancy asked.

  The answer was a bit disconcerting. “The little boy you mean lives several miles outside of Leupp.”

  Nancy’s heart sank. How were she and her father to get there? Suddenly she had an idea and asked, “Would it be possible for us to rent horses?”

  The postmaster inquired, “Can you use a western saddle?”

  “Oh yes,” she replied. “I’ve ridden in the West before.”

  The man gave the Drews directions to a hogan at the edge of town. It was a typical mud-covered log hut. The elderly couple who lived there were glad to rent two horses. They suggested that Nancy ride the horse named Black Feet.

  The husband gave directions to the small Indian village where Sleepy Deer lived. Mr. Drew and Nancy set off at a canter along a narrow road, but soon found it was easier and more comfortable to ride on the sun-baked grass. It took them two hours to reach the other village. Here the hogans were scattered along the base of a craggy cliff.

  The dusty riders stopped in front of a trading post with blankets, hats, jewelry, and groceries for sale. They dismounted and tied their horses. Mr. Drew went inside to inquire where they could find Tom Sleepy Deer Smith.

  “Last house,” the man said, pointing toward the east. Mr. Drew thanked him and came outside. He and Nancy started walking toward the Smith home. Within minutes Navahos poured from the various dwellings and followed the two up the street. Apparently someone had spread the word that visitors were in the village.

  When they reached the last house, a man and a little boy came outside. The Drews said how-do-you-do, and Nancy smiled warmly at the child.

  “Is your name Tom Sleepy Deer Smith?” she asked.

  “Yes,” the little boy said shyly.

  “We’ve ridden a good many miles to see you,” Nancy told him.

  Mr. Drew spoke to the father about the Navaho territory and said he understood that certain people were making claims on property which belonged to the reservation.

  “We have a little trouble,” the man answered.

  Nancy leaned over and said to Sleepy Deer, “We wanted to tell you that our friend Bess Marvin loved your letter.”

  The little boy looked at his father but did not reply.

  Nancy continued, “You did receive the money she sent you, didn’t you?”

  Again Sleepy Deer looked at his father but said nothing, and the Drews realized the Smiths had become suspicious of them.

  “Don’t be afraid to talk,” Mr. Drew said. “My daughter and I are not government investigators. This is just a friendly call.”

  Still the Smiths did not reply. Before Nancy had a chance to ask another question, they all heard a warning shout. Looking in the direction from which it had come, Nancy’s heart pounded. Her horse had broken loose and was running wildly up the street toward them! The villagers scattered and Mr. Drew moved out of the way.

  Nancy stood still. Spreading her arms sideways to full length, she yelled, “Whoa, Black Feet! Whoa!”

  CHAPTER XVII

  Indian Powwow

  NANCY made a flying leap and caught the horse’s bridle. “Whoa! Black Feet, whoa!” she cried out. “Nobody’s going to hurt you.”

  The frightened animal seemed to recognize her and knew she was kind. He came to a dead stop that almost threw Nancy to the roadway. But she hung on, pulled down the horse’s head, and began to pat him. Within seconds he was as docile as he had been while she was riding him.

  Sleepy Deer began to clap and exclaimed, “You are brave girl!”

  The Navahos looked at Nancy admiringly and chanted a little song. Mr. Smith said it was a song of thanksgiving and praise because Nancy had been in grave danger and had acted courageously. She had kept some of the villagers from being injured by the runaway horse.

  Mr. Drew clasped his daughter tightly in his arms and said, “You took your life in your hands, my dear, but I’m very proud of you.”

  The crowd melted away. As Nancy once more tied Black Feet to a post—securely this time—Mr. Smith said eagerly, “Now I tell you the whole story.”

  He revealed that his son had not received any money and two other children in the village had been asked the same question by tourists.

  “They get no money from anybody either,” he added.

  The man went on to say that the people in the village were poor. Due to a very severe winter and a hot, dry summer, their crop of corn had been sparse.

  Sleepy Deer spoke up. “Maybe we have a rain dance soon, so that Rain God send rain to make the corn grow.”

  The Drews looked at each other. There was no question but that these people needed help.

  Sleepy Deer’s father continued to tell his story. About two years ago, two men had come to the Indian village.

  “We think they are just tourists,” Mr. Smith said.

  He revealed it was sometime later that the Navahos became suspicious. During a powwow they learned that the two visitors had been writing down the names of all the villagers, particularly those of the children.

  “Then one day another tourist ask a boy if he write letter to someone in a distant place. Answer is no. We Navahos worried something is wrong.”

  “You didn’t report it to the authorities?” Nancy asked.

  Sleepy Deer and his father shook their heads. Mr. Smith said, “We afraid of trouble by those men, so we keep quiet.”

  Mr. Drew told him that since the villagers were innocent of any wrongdoing, there was nothing to fear.

  “And the two men should be reported and arrested,” he added.

  Nancy asked if the two inquisitive strangers had given their names.

  Mr. Smith nodded. “They say their names are Fitch and Rawley.”

  The Drews were excited to hear this. They felt sure that Rawley was Rawley Banister and that Fitch was Clyde Mead! Furthermore, this seemed like definite proof that the two men were pals and had been working rackets together for some time.

  Nancy asked, “Did Mr. Fitch or Mr. Rawley ever return to your village?”

  “No,” Mr. Smith replied.

  This set Nancy to thinking. If neither of the men had been in the area recently, who had mailed the fake letters? She asked Mr. Smith if he knew.

  He said that everyone in the village had been questioned and all had denied any knowledge of this. The Indians in Leupp had also been consulted and nobody there knew anything about the mailing of the letters.

  “Then it must have been done by a tourist,” Mr. Drew said. He turned to Mr. Smith. “Do any of the tourists come here often—I mean, the same tourist?”

  “No.”

  Sleepy Deer’s father said a bus carrying sight-seers came twice a week to Leupp and brought visitors to his village.

  “Later today one come here,” he added. “Then we’ll wait and talk to the people on it,” Mr. Drew told him.

  Just then Mrs. Smith came from the family’s hogan. She spoke to her husband in their native language.

  He smiled and said to the Drews in English, “Would you accept an invitation to eat with us?”

  Nancy and her father smiled also.

  “We’d be delighted to,” Mr. Drew answered.

  Their host led the way into the hogan. The walls were whitewashed and on them hung a bow and arrow, several pieces of very fine colorful embroidery, a grotesque mask, and a small shelf with a few books.

  There were no chairs in the room. The floor was
covered with bright-colored linoleum. In the center of it were several bowls of food.

  The Smith family sat down in a semicircle and motioned for Nancy and her father to squat also. The meal consisted of bean sprouts, pieces of mutton cooked with hominy, and corn pudding. One large flat saucer contained several layers of paper-thin corn bread.

  “This is delicious,” Nancy told her host and hostess. To Sleepy Deer’s mother she added, “You are a very good cook.”

  The Smiths smiled and nodded but made no response. Nancy had once read that many Indians are embarrassed by compliments.

  Nancy said, “Would you be willing to let me and some of my friends help Sleepy Deer and the other children in your village?”

  She expected a quick affirmative response and was shocked to see dark looks come over the Smiths’ faces.

  “Oh dear!” she thought. “I’ve said something wrong.”

  Her father, however, guessed what was going through the Smiths’ minds. What proof did they have that the Drews would not use the Indians for some ulterior motive of their own as Fitch and Rawley had?

  Mr. Drew explained he was a lawyer and his daughter liked to solve mysteries. He said they probably knew who the swindlers were and that two of their friends had already given money for the Navaho children to one of the men.

  “We’re trying to find both swindlers,” Mr. Drew said. “That’s why we came here.”

  Finally he convinced the Smiths of the Drews’ sincerity. Nancy and her father thanked them for their hospitality. Then Nancy asked Sleepy Deer if he would please show them around the village. Together they climbed up some natural stone steps to the top of the cliff.

  While the Drews were enjoying a view of the surrounding countryside, the little boy said, “Long ago when the white man come to take our land, we Navahos move up here.”

  Nancy recalled having heard that when the western territory of the United States was being settled, soldiers greatly outnumbered the Indians. To avoid being taken prisoner or killed, the Indians had fled to the flat tops of the mountains. When peace was restored, they had returned to the valleys.