Nancy Drew Files – Case 95 – An Instinct for Trouble

“What about Jack?” Nancy went on. “Is he

still at the feeding station?”

“No. He came through about an hour ago

but said he had paperwork to do,” Ned ex-

plained. “I’m sure he’ll show up in a little

while.”

“So you guys moved out here just in time for

our big cookout,” Alicia said, smiling.

“Cookout?” Bess asked with interest.

“Our farewell dinner,” Alicia explained.

“To celebrate the end of stage two of the study.

I’m about to make potato salad. Anyone want

to help?”

Bess gave Nancy an inquiring look, then

said, “Sure, I’m game.”

As they walked away. Nancy told Ned about

Richard and Piker’s references. “Can you get

away? I want to check those guys out.”

“Sure,” Ned said. “I’ll just take the time.”

“I’m a little concerned about Professor

Trainey now, Ned,” Nancy said as she started

the car and headed for the western entrance of

the park.

She told Ned about the photograph she

found in Trainey’s tent. “What if I’ve been

wrong about him? If he knew who was in that

photo and went to confront him, he could be in

danger.”

“Do you think we should go back and look

for him?” Ned asked.

Nancy shook her head. “Let’s leave that to

Jennifer for now.”

The narrow road led down into a valley and

across a railroad track into a town. She turned

onto the main street. It was lined with two-

story wood frame buildings and resembled the

set for a western.

Just past the business district was a white

building with a green slate roof. The sign out

front identified it as the town hall. Nancy

parked, and they walked in.

The Ashland Police Department occupied

one big room on the ground floor. A husky

man of about thirty was sitting at one of the

two desks. The name plate on the desk said

Chief Tucker. As Nancy and Ned approached

the counter separating the waiting area from

the office, he raised his head with a friendly

smile. “Hi, folks, can I help you?”

Nancy introduced herself and Ned and ex-

plained that they were investigating a poach-

ing scheme in Yellowstone Park. “You can call

Chief Ranger Robbins to check us out,” she

added.

“Thanks, I’ll do that.” He swiveled to face

the telephone and spoke for a couple of min-

utes, then turned back to them. “Well, now,

Nancy and Ned, what can I do for you?”

“We need information about two men

named Richard Geismar and Piker Slattery,”

Nancy said. “According to their files, they

grew up in Ashland.”

Tucker frowned. “Those names don’t ring a

bell, but I’ve only been here three years.” He

went over to the file cabinets along the back

wall. “We’ve got files here that go back pretty

far,” he remarked as he flipped through one of

the drawers. “If either of these guys were ever

involved in anything illegal, it should show in

this drawer. Ah, here we go.”

He returned to his desk with two manila

folders and began to leaf through them. “Well,

well,” he said. “Definitely not model citizens.

Vandalism, grand theft auto, breaking and

entering, arson. They did time for that one.”

“Wow,” Ned said. “It looks like you were

right to suspect them, Nancy.”

Tucker showed her a photo of a much young-

er Piker. “That’s one of them,” she confirmed.

“You watch your step with these fellows,”

Tucker said. “You know who could tell you all

about them? Margery Milliken, the principal

at the consolidated high school before she

retired. Go down to the end of the street and

turn right,” he said, gesturing. “It’s a white

house. I’ll call to tell her you’re coming.”

Nancy thanked Tucker for his help, and she

and Ned returned to the car. They found the

house easily. The woman waiting on the porch

steps was wearing a dark skirt and a white

blouse. Her gray hair was twisted up in a

french roll. A pair of reading glasses dangled

from her neck.

“Ms. Drew, Mr. Nickerson? I’m Margery

Milliken. I understand you want some infor-

mation about two of my former students.

Come in.”

She motioned them to the sofa. “Now, what

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