The Ringmaster's Secret by Carolyn G. Keene Page B

talking with Lolita’s foster parents. Evidently the early part of the previously planned conversation had already taken place, because Kroon was just saying, “The new girl’s all right, but I’ll let you know tomorrow about her staying with us after this week. There are certain things about her I don’t like.”
    “What are they?” Dan asked quickly.
    “Nothing that you could do anything about, Webster,” the ringmaster replied. “They’re personal reasons.”
    Dan rose, but before leaving he said, “By the way, Mr. Kroon, I’ve heard rumors about things disappearing from the circus.”
    Kroon gave a slight twitch, and Nancy saw his eyes travel involuntarily to a bureau in the trailer.
    To Dan he said, “I haven’t heard anything about it. You shouldn’t believe everything you hear.”
    “Probably not,” Dan Webster gave a slightly forced laugh. “I guess rumors fly around thick and fast in the circus.”
    He left the trailer and started for his own quarters. Dan had failed to carry out the last part of Nancy’s instructions, but it did not matter. She had found out what she wanted to know.
    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 went to Lolita’s trailer, 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 returned to her tent, convinced that her bracelet was in the bureau in Kroon’s trailer. She 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. and Mrs. Kroon’s trailer. Finally the ringmaster left, and Lolita started back to her own quarters.
    Nancy signaled her to walk to a more secluded spot where they might talk. Quickly she divulged her suspicions about the bracelet. Lolita was aghast to learn that her foster father might be a thief. Nancy said she was sorry but felt that it was necessary for Lolita to know all the facts.
    “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. 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 a lookout.
    Lolita pulled out drawer after drawer, lifting various articles 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.
    Reinhold 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.

CHAPTER XIII
    Blackout
    WHEN Lolita heard someone step into the trailer, she slammed the bureau drawer shut. But her movement and the telltale clothes hanging from the drawer gave her away.
    “Answer me! What are you doing?” her foster father yelled.
    He took hold of the girl’s arm and yanked her around violently. “You tell me what you were doing or I’ll—” The ringmaster did not finish because of an unexpected interruption.
    Fearful that Lolita might give away their secret, Nancy acted quickly. She had once learned a few ventriloquistic tricks. Using one of them now, she threw her voice to sound as if it were inside the trailer and gave an unearthly scream. Then, dashing around to the door of the