The Secret of Red Gate Farm Read Online Free PDF Page A

stickin’ my nose in other folks’ business. I got my own work.”
    Nancy could see that she was not going to learn any more from the man, so she left the building and joined Bess and George, who were waiting anxiously at the door.
    “Well, what did you manage to find out?” Bess queried, as the three girls walked toward the car.
    “Quite a bit,” Nancy answered meditatively. She was certain that she could not have been mistaken. Yvonne Wong was the same girl who only yesterday had waited on them in the Oriental shop. Why had she changed positions?
    “Well,” George broke into her thoughts, “don’t keep us in suspense!”
    Nancy answered all their questions as she drove toward River Heights, explaining that the young woman’s name was Yvonne Wong and that she was a new girl in the office—the same office Nancy and Joanne had visited.
    “But what about Yvonne’s job at the Oriental perfume shop?” asked George.
    “I don’t know,” Nancy admitted, “and the handyman wouldn’t give me any indication as to the type of business it was!”
    Nancy recalled the strange telephone call which had been made while she and Joanne were in the office. She distinctly remembered that some mention had been made of a girl who had been found for the position, and that the man who called himself “Al” had said that one “couldn’t be too careful.”
    “I wouldn’t be so suspicious about Yvonne,” Nancy added, “except I have a feeling she didn’t get that job by chance. She must have been chosen because she was especially suited to the situation—whatever that is.”
    “There’s something underhanded about the whole thing, but we haven’t much to go on,” Bess declared.
    Nancy agreed. “Some clue may turn up. Anyway, we have Jo to think about for the time being.”
    It was getting dark as Nancy dropped off Bess and then George at their homes.
    It rained so hard the following day that Nancy stayed indoors and tried to figure out the remaining symbols of the code. Using the same alphabetical key, 16 was M, 5 equaled H, 2 could be B, and 18 stood for R.
    “MHBR,” Nancy pondered. “That doesn’t make any sense. Perhaps those marks over and under the letters are a second code,” she reasoned. “If only I could decipher them, I might know who’s calling what meeting, and where.”
    The next morning a bright sun shone. While Nancy was busy with chores around the house, the phone rang and she went to answer it.
    “Hello, Nancy,” said a quiet voice. “This is Jo. How are you?”
    “Oh, Jo, I’m fine,” Nancy replied eagerly. “Did you find a job?” she asked hopefully.
    “Not yet,” Joanne answered sadly. “But I have some other news.”
    “I hope it’s good,” Nancy said.
    “I just talked with my grandmother on the phone. I must go home right away. She told me that soon after I left, a man called and made an offer to buy Red Gate. His price was so low, she didn’t accept. He was very persistent, though, and gave her five days to think it over.”
    “Yes?” Nancy prompted.
    “Well,” the other girl went on, “in the meantime, Grandmother decided to try raising money by taking in boarders. She placed an ad in the paper that same day.”
    “Good for her!” Nancy exclaimed. “Has she had any replies?”
    “No,” Joanne said worriedly. “Even though the ad hasn’t run very long, Gram’s discouraged. I’m afraid she has changed her mind and intends to take that man’s offer. She said he’s coming to Red Gate tomorrow at five o’clock and bringing papers for her to sign.”
    There was a pause, then Joanne burst out, “Nancy, I just can’t let Gram go through with this, and if I’m not there, she’ll accept the man’s offer. She mustn’t give up Red Gate Farm yet! That’s why I must get home and persuade her not to sell.”
    “By all means,” Nancy agreed. “I suppose you’ll take the train to Round Valley in the morning?”
    “That’s the horrible part, Nancy,” Joanne