“I thought the person who tried to strangle me had it in for me personally,” she mused. “But what could have been his motive for injuring the circus rider?”
Recalling her first suspicions of the stableman at Roberto’s riding academy, Nancy wondered if it was possible that Hitch had perpetrated all three bits of mischief.
“Hitch did warn me not to do any circus riding,” Nancy reminded herself. “Maybe he doesn’t want other girls to, either.”
As the next act was being announced, Nancy saw Chief of Police McGinnis of the River Heights force walk into the box which she had occupied the evening before. He was wearing civilian clothes. Getting up, she hurried over and seated herself beside him.
“Hello, Nancy,” he said genially. “What’s the mystery this time? Whenever you seek me out, I know something’s in the wind!”
Nancy smiled and confessed that she did have a problem. She asked if he had reached the circus in time to see what had happened to the young bareback rider.
“No,” the chief replied, “but the guard outside told me about the accident. Too bad. I was hoping the circus would get through their three days here without any trouble. But I suppose we have to expect such things.”
“It’s my idea,” Nancy said thoughtfully, “that it was a deliberate attempt to injure the girl and her horse.”
“What makes you think so?” the officer asked.
Nancy told him what had happened to her the evening before with the very same kind of whip.
The chief whistled. “Why didn’t you tell me before now what happened to you?” he demanded.
Nancy explained that Ned had spoken to the circus policeman.
“And we did make a search for the man,” Nancy replied.
Chief McGinnis, who admired Nancy’s prowess as a detective, remarked, “Since you couldn’t find the man, it was probably because he skipped out.”
“I also had a threatening note from the strangler,” Nancy went on. “I was going to bring it to you, but so many things have happened since then that I had no chance. I did look it over carefully, Chief, and couldn’t find a clue to the writer.”
“Well,” he said, smiling, “we’ll call your findings the preliminary investigation. You bring the note to headquarters. I’d like to give it a microscopic test.”
Nancy promised to do so, then told Chief McGinnis her suspicions about Hitch. After she mentioned the stableman’s warning to her about stunt riding and the incident of the stone throwing, the officer advised Nancy to be wary.
“I certainly think that you have good reason for suspecting that fellow, Hitch,” he said. “I’ll put a detail on him right away.”
Nancy returned to her seat and concentrated on Lolita’s act. The performance went off exceedingly well. As it ended, and Nancy was adding her applause to that of the enthusiastic crowd, an usher came up to her with a note.
As Nancy started to open it, her breath came a little faster. Was this another warning? Had her mysterious enemy seen her talking to the Chief of Police?
A moment later the girl’s fears were allayed. The note was from Dan Webster, asking her to meet him in his office at once.
“Something very important has come up,” the note said.
Nancy arose and hurried from the tent. A hundred thoughts flashed through her mind before she reached the office. What could he want of her? As she walked in, Dan Webster smiled and offered her a chair. Then, looking directly at her, he said:
“I won’t beat around the bush, Miss Drew. I want you to take the place of that injured bareback rider.”
Nancy was so amazed she opened her mouth and closed it again without speaking. Then she managed to exclaim:
“You want me to take that girl’s place!”
“I told you this morning, Miss Drew, that you ride well enough to be in the circus.”
“But I can’t perform like that girl!” Nancy objected. “She’s excellent. By the way, how is she?”
Webster revealed that the young rider’s ankle had been broken in the fall. It was questionable whether she would ever be able to perform the act again. “Oh, what a shame!” Nancy cried, then added, “Thank you for your compliment, Mr. Webster, but really I’ll have to refuse. Even if I could do the riding, I know Mr. Kroon would never approve of my joining Sims’ Circus.”