The Swami's Ring Read Online Free PDF Page B

don’t. It’s just that he doesn’t want me to help him either.”
    “Let’s go inside and order something,” Ned suggested. “Then you can tell me everything.”
    “Okay,” Nancy replied in a soft voice, and for a few moments she forgot her troubles as they entered the diner.
    Counters and booths glistened against panels of beveled mirrors, and a string of colorful Tif fany lamps hung from the ceiling, transporting the couple to a bygone era.
    “Some place,” Ned remarked as they slid into a booth.
    “You can say that again,” Nancy said, opening the tall menu that had been handed to her.
    Her eyes traveled down the length of unusual fare. “How about a Tango Fandango?” She giggled. “That’s only five scoops of ice cream with melba sauce, coconut, chopped nuts, raisins, and whipped cream!”
    When the waitress came to take their orders, however, both settled for simple hot fudge sundaes and tea.
    Nancy then related the conversation she had had with her father earlier in the evening.
    “But your dad would never do anything underhanded,” Ned said, when Nancy finished talking.
    “He mentioned that things had been happening to the Jansen troupe. He didn’t say what, though.”
    “He also told you not to get involved.”
    Nancy lowered her eyes away from Ned as he continued to look at her. He had never seen the girl so obviously distraught.
    “I just can’t let people say such terrible things about Dad,” she said. “I know he wants me to stay out of it, but I can’t.”
    As she spoke, the waitress brought the sundaes. Nancy spooned a bit of the mountainous whipped cream into her cup, stirring it more than necessary.
    “Listen, Nancy, if you want me to help you in any way,” Ned said, “I will. But I’d also like to say I don’t think you ought to go against your father’s wishes.”
    “Well, Dad said he didn’t want anything to happen to me. That was his main concern,” Nancy pointed out. “But if you’re with me, I’m bound to be all right.”
    The young collegian blushed and dug his spoon deeper into the ice cream, catching some of the fudge sauce that floated in the bowl.
    When they were almost finished, Nancy grinned mysteriously. “You said you needed help on something,” she began to say.
    “Oh, yeah—well, it’s nothing really,” Ned stumbled in embarrassment. “I was just trying to send a little of your attention my way.”
    “Oh, I see,” Nancy said as her companion went on.
    “Now that we have this big investigation ahead of us, I’ll be too busy to feel sorry for myself.”
    “Have I been that neglectful?” Nancy asked sheepishly.
    The young man smiled in response, but chose not to pursue the subject. It was after eleven o‘clock, and he suggested they leave. When they reached the Drew home, however, they were surprised to see a visitor in the light of the living room window.
    “It’s Angela Pruett, and she’s talking to Dad!” Nancy exclaimed.
    She and Ned darted toward the front door that had been left unlocked. They stepped inside, aware of a sudden hush in the conversation.
    “Is that you, Nancy?” Mr. Drew called out.
    “And Ned,” she replied, walking into the room. She smiled pleasantly at the harpist.
    “I gather you all met at the performance this evening,” the attorney commented.
    “I was hoping we would see you again,” Nancy told the harpist.
    The musician leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes momentarily.
    “Miss Pruett has been trying to find her sister for several days,” Mr. Drew revealed. “It seems she went on some sort of spiritual retreat last weekend, but never returned.”
    “Where was the retreat being held?” Nancy inquired.
    “Somewhere in the hills outside of River Heights,” the harpist replied. “I don’t know exactly. Phyllis is very interested in Transcendental Meditation.”
    “We didn’t realize you were from River Heights, Miss Pruett,” Ned commented.
    “I’m not. And please call me Angela,” the