place to assist in pushing the car. “There prob-
ably won’t be anyone else using this desolate road
who could help us. “I- I’m afraid we won’t
reach the farm in time!”
Nancy stepped into the car and started the
motor, easing the gas and slowly rocking the con-
vertible back and forth. Inch by inch the tires
crept forward, finally catching on the burlap and
brush and rolling out of the ditch.
“We’ve done it!” Bess shouted proudly.
“With a little outside help!” George panted
with a grin. The girls laughed from sheer relief.
They started off again, more slowly than be-
fore. But they had gone only a mile when a new
storm seemed to be coming up. In less than five
minutes complete darkness descended again,
bringing another deluge of rain. Deafening thun-
derclaps instantly followed vivid forks of light-
ning.
Of necessity, Nancy once more kept the auto-
mobile at a snail’s pace. It was impossible to see
more than a few feet ahead. Anxiously Joanne
kept glancing at her watch. “It’s five-fifteen,” she
announced nervously.
Nancy tried to assuage the worried girl’s fears.
“This storm may have delayed your grand-
mother’s caller.”
The wind and rain continued unabated. As the
convertible climbed the brow of a hill, there was
a brilliant flash of lightning. George, who was
seated in front with Nancy, screamed, “Don’t
hit her!”
Nancy jammed on the brakes so quickly that
the rear of the car skidded around sideways in the
road.
“Who?” she demanded, horrified.
“The woman in the road! Didn’t you see her?
Maybe she’s under the car!”
Heartsick, Nancy jumped out one door, Bess
another. They peered under the car, alongside
it, in back of it. They could see no one.
“Are you sure you saw a woman?” Nancy in-
quired.
Just then another streak of lightning illumi-
nated the sky, and Bess called out, “There goes
someone running across that field!”
Nancy glanced quickly in that direction and
saw the running figure of a woman. At that same
moment the woman looked back over her shoul-
der, revealing a thin, haggard face. Nancy judged
her to be in her early fifties.
All four girls stared in mystification. Nancy and
Bess returned to the car and the journey was
resumed.
“Why would any sane person “be walking in
such a storm?” Bess spoke up finally.
“She’s headed in the direction of the cavern,”
said Joanne, and explained that they were now
nearing the farm. “Maybe she’s one of those
strange people over there!”
Nancy and her friends were immediately curi-
ous. Before they could ask what Joanne meant,
the car reached the crest of a steep hill and Jo-
anne cried out:
“There’s Red Gate Farm!” She pointed to the
valley below them.
The storm had let up and the sun was coming
out. The River Heights girls could clearly see the
forty-acre farm, with its groves of pine trees and
a winding river which curled along the valley.
Everything looked green and fresh after the
heavy rain.
“It’s beautiful!” exclaimed Bess.
“And cool-and peaceful,” Joanne added ex-
citedly.
“Don’t count on much relaxation with Nancy
around,” George advised their new friend. “She’ll
find some adventure to occupy every waking
hour!”
“Yes,” Bess agreed. “Adventure with mystery
added.”
Nancy smiled. She reflected on the two mys-
teries she had already encountered; the unsolved
case of the Blue Jade perfume and the strange
code.
As the car descended into the valley, the girls
caught a better glimpse of the farm with its huge
red barn and various adjoining sheds and the
large, rambling house, partly covered with vines.
There were bright-red geraniums in the window
boxes, and a freshly painted picket fence sur-
rounding the yard.
Nancy stopped the car in front of the big red
gate which opened into the garden. “Oh, I hope
it’s not too late!” Joanne cried as she sprang out
to unlatch the gate.
CHAPTER VII
Mature Cult
Nancy drove in to Red Gate Farm and parked.
She consulted her watch and noted with dismay
it was quarter to six. By now the farmhouse door
had opened, and a gray-haired woman in a crisp
gingham dress and white apron came hurrying