The Ringmaster's Secret Read Online Free Page B

concluded that it would be better to talk with the girl first.
    “I’ll attend the evening performance,” Nancy decided. “Perhaps I’ll have a chance to interview the girl then.
    “I have a date with Ned,” she reminded herself. “I’m sure he’ll be glad to come to the circus.”
    At eight o’clock Ned Nickerson, Emerson College’s star football player, arrived at the Drew home. He was a tall, good-looking athlete. Nancy showed him her gold-horse bracelet and told him of the new mystery. Then she asked him if he would take her to the circus.
    “Glad to.” He grinned. “But listen here, young lady,” Ned said, “don’t get yourself so mixed up with clowns and aerialists that you can’t even find time to talk to me!”
    Nancy laughed, but she knew Ned had good reason to scold her. Many times when they had a date she changed the plans completely and involved him in some mystery she was trying to solve.
    “Lolita is the most wonderful aerialist I have ever seen,” Nancy remarked as they neared the circus grounds.
    “I just can’t wait to see her,” Ned teased. “I may hire myself out as one of those princes.”
    Nancy made a face at him as he walked up to the ticket office.
    “Two in the front row as near the center as possible,” Ned told the ticket seller.
    “Sorry, sir,” the man replied, “there’s not even standing room left.”

CHAPTER V
    A Strange Attack
    NANCY looked pleadingly at the ticket seller. Suddenly she had an idea. “Couldn’t we just go in to see the animals and side shows?”
    The ticket seller thought a moment. “I guess that wouldn’t be against fire rules,” he said. He called a guard taking tickets at the gate and told him to admit the young lady and her escort.
    Nancy and Ned thanked him and hurried inside. Ned inquired what the next move was to be.
    Nancy smiled. “First of all, I want to locate Lolita and have a talk with her.”
    She walked up to one of the midgets, who had just finished entertaining the crowd with a card trick. “Will you please tell me where Lolita’s tent is?” she asked him.
    He replied in a high-pitched voice. “I’m not allowed to tell.”
    Nancy was surprised. She wondered if the little man was trying to be funny, or if this was really a rule of the circus. She moved on to the fat lady, who was seated on a platform next to the midget and repeated her question.
    “Sorry, miss,” the four-hundred-pound woman answered, “but we’re not allowed to give out any information. Mr. Kroon’s orders.”
    Nancy decided she would have to find Lolita’s tent by herself! She left Ned watching the fire-eater and hurried off. Walking to the outer fringe of the tent colony, Nancy saw several trailers. Perhaps Lolita, as a star, lived in one of these!
    “I’ll just wander around among them and see what I can find out,” Nancy decided.
    Luck was with her. As she approached the first trailer, Nancy could hear two persons arguing heatedly.
    “You’ll perform tonight and put on a good act, too!” The harsh voice of the ringmaster came to Nancy’s ears.
    “But, Father, I don’t feel well enough to perform! I’m afraid I’ll fall again!” It was the young aerialist speaking.
    Then Kroon thundered, “I’ll give you exactly fifteen minutes to make up your mind, Lolita! Then I’ll be back. You’d better decide to perform, because if you don’t I’ll fire every friend of yours in this circus!”
    With that, he rushed out of the trailer and strode off. His face was livid, and Nancy wondered whether the man could be in his right mind.
    When he was out of sight, she went to the door of the trailer and tapped. At first there was no response, then a tearful voice said, “Come!”
    Lolita was startled at seeing Nancy in the doorway. But when she realized that Nancy wanted to be friendly, she smiled through her tears.
    Nancy held, up the beautiful charm bracelet. “Pietro tells me you have a gold charm that matches these little horses,” she