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

excitedly.
    George could see by the expression on Joanne’s face that a visit to Red Gate Farm with her new friends was far more important to her than any other plans the girls might have had.
    “I agree one hundred per cent!” George answered happily as she stepped into the car.
    “And I’ll be so glad to get out of this heat,” Bess chimed in with a sigh. “I spent practically the whole night dreaming about the cool, refreshing breezes in the country.”
    As Nancy steered the convertible in the direction of Round Valley, she said with an eager smile, “We’re off to rescue Red Gate Farm!”
    Nancy and her friends thoroughly enjoyed the scenic route to Round Valley. They stopped for a quick lunch and then continued their drive. The winding roads led through cool groves and skirted sparkling little lakes. Each hilltop brought a different and beautiful view.
    Gradually the worried expression completely left Joanne’s eyes, and color came into her thin face. She began to laugh heartily at the antics of Bess and George. As they rode along she told the girls a great deal about her home.
    “You’ll like Red Gate, I’m sure,” she said enthusiastically. “We haven’t any riding horses, but there will be plenty of other things to do. We can explore the cave, for one thing.”
    “Cave?” Bess questioned with interest. “How exciting! What kind is it? A home for bears or a pirate’s den?”
    Joanne laughed. “There’s a large cavern located on the farm. No one knows how it came to be there, but we think it must have been made a long time ago by an underground river.”
    “You must have explored it before this!” Nancy exclaimed.
    “Oh, yes, of course, though I’ll admit I never did very thoroughly, and I haven’t been near the cave for years. As a child I was always afraid of the place—it looked so dark and gloomy. Lately I’ve been too busy working around the farm.”
    “We’ll have to put that at the top of our list!” George declared. “I love spooky things.”
    “Well, I’m not so sure I do,” Bess admitted.
    Nancy laughed. “We may even find hidden treasure in the walls.”
    “I wish you could.” Joanne sighed. “It certainly would come in handy.”
    The hours passed quickly as the travelers alternately sang and chatted. “Why, it’s almost four o’clock!” George announced in surprise.
    “We’ve made good time,” Nancy remarked.
    Bess spoke up plaintively. “I’m half-starved. It’s been ages since lunch. I could go for a gooey sundae.”
    The others laughed, but agreed they were hungry too.
    “Let’s watch for a roadside stand,” Nancy proposed. “I’ll have to stop soon for gas, anyway.”
    “We’ll come to one soon,” Joanne spoke up. “We’re in Round Valley now.”
    A few minutes later she pointed out a combination filling station and lunchroom which looked clean and inviting. Nancy turned the convertible into the driveway and parked out of the way of other drivers who might want to stop for gasoline.
    The group entered the lunchroom and took seats at one of the small white tables. They all decided on chocolate nut sundaes topped with whipped cream.
    “Here goes another pound.” Bess sighed as she gave her order. “But I’d rather be pleasantly plump than give up sundaes!”
    Though there were few customers in the room, the woman in charge, who also did the serving, was extremely slow in filling the orders. Twice Nancy glanced at her watch.
    “If you’ll excuse me,” she said, “I’ll step outside and get the gasoline. It will save us a little time in getting started. Don’t wait for me if our sundaes come.”
    She drove the car over to the pump and asked the attendant to fill the tank. Before he could do so, however, a large, high-powered sedan pulled up to the other pump, coming to an abrupt stop almost parallel to Nancy’s car.
    “Give me five and make it snappy!” a voice called out impatiently.
    The attendant glanced inquiringly at Nancy Drew.