get down to business!”
George was just wondering what the girls had
better do when Bess clutched Nancy’s hand and
whispered nervously:
“Do we dare enter?”
“We must,” Nancy returned quietly.
The girls stood motionless, watching the
white-robed figures march single file toward the
entrance to the cave. Finally Nancy signaled, and
the three friends followed the group, even
though it occurred to them that they might be
walking into a trap.
“Keep close behind me,” Nancy warned her
companions in a whisper.
As they approached the mouth of the opening,
Nancy saw a tall figure, robed in white, standing
guard. Her heart nearly stopped as she realized
that each person was uttering some password.
“We’re finished now,” she thought.
It was too late to turn back. The three girls
could do nothing but hope that in some way
they might get past the stalwart guard.
Nancy kept close to the person just ahead of
her, and as he muttered the password, she man-
aged to hear it.
“Kamar!”
When Nancy’s turn came to pass the guard, she
spoke the word clearly. As she had hoped, George
and Bess heard, and taking their cue from her,
repeated the password. The sentry did not give
them a second glance, yet the girls breathed eas-
ier when they were safely through the entrance.
The marchers descended into a cold, damp
tunnel. Someone was carrying a torch at the head
of the procession, but Nancy and her friends, who
were near the end of the line, were in semidark-
ness.
“What do you suppose we’re getting into?”
George muttered.
Nancy did not reply, but gave her friend a
sharp nudge as a warning not to speak. A moment
later Bess tripped over some object in the path
and would have fallen if Nancy had not caught
her by the arm. They walked farther under-
ground, and then, unexpectedly, stepped into a
dimly lighted chamber.
The members of the cult seated themselves on
the floor, and the girls followed their example.
Presently they became aware of the strong scent
of Blue Jade perfume. Bess was not the only one
wearing it tonight!
“So there is a definite connection between this
distinctive perfume and the Black Snake Col-
ony!” Nancy thought. “No wonder that man on
the train was startled. Perhaps the women use it,
and he couldn’t identify me but took it for
granted I was one of the group. If so, it’s just as
well Bess has some on.”
Nancy suddenly recalled the forged note bear-
ing the Blue Jade scent. “The woman who de-
livered it to me must be a member of the cult!”
she thought excitedly.
After everyone had entered the room, the man
who had given the sharp order outside the cave
spoke again. He threw off his headgear and
glanced over the group appraisingly. Nancy was
stunned.
Maurice!
The man she had seen the first time she had
stopped at the filling station!
“Is he Maurice Hale?” she asked herself ex-
citedly.
“Everyone here?” he demanded gruffly.
He counted the group, and again Nancy and
her friends held their breaths. Apparently some
of the members of the colony were missing, for
the leader did not notice that three new recruits
had been added to his organization.
“We may as well get down to work,” the leader
announced. “Snead, have you anything to re-
port?”
At the question one of the disguised persons
stood up and threw off his mask. Again Nancy was
startled. He was none other than the man she had
seen in Room 305!
“Here’s the good money,” he said, handing
over an envelope. “Perfect score this time for our
main distribution department.”
“Very fine. Then nothing’s gone wrong at
your new office?”
“Not yet. Chief,” was the muttered reply, “but
yesterday I saw a bird hangin’ around the build-
ing-looked like a plain-clothes cop to me. I
don’t want you to think I’m backing out, but if
you ask me, I’d say it’s about time to blow. This
game can’t last forever, you know.”
“I’ll do the thinking for this outfit!” the
leader scathingly retorted. “We’ll stay here an-
other week and then pick a new spot. What makes