The Swami's Ring

by Carolyn Keene

  “So I assume Mr. Lal wrote those messages that were supposedly from you just to make me think you were all right,” Angela interjected. She looked at the prisoner whose face had settled into a rigid stare.

  “I was determined to warn the swami. Of course, I didn’t know that Randy had already done so,” Phyllis went on. “But before I could pack or write you a note, Angie, the Flannerys pulled me out of my room and forced me into their car. Mr. Flannery drove me up here and threw me into the cellar, where he tied me up.”

  The conversation now shifted to the attack on Ned. “I saw the boy who did it,” Nancy admitted. “He’s the one who knocked out Vince.”

  “Well, if you can make a positive identification,” her father replied, “then that little case will be solved too.”

  “One question still,” George interrupted. “Who called the police today?”

  “Your housekeeper, Mr. Drew,” one of the officers said. “Chief McGinnis said you had told him where you were headed, but it was Mrs. Gruen who pressed us into action.”

  “Thank goodness for Hannah,” grinned Nancy, as the prisoners were led away.

  While the disappearances of Randy and Phyllis had been solved, it was only during the next couple of days that the problems surrounding the River Heights Theater began to straighten out.

  Brady Tilson was brought in for questioning and he reluctantly admitted his guilt. He had created all the disruption at the theater because he wanted to force a shutdown. He said his father had lost his job at Castleton’s outdoor pavilion because Castleton had been unable to replace the Jansen troupe on such short notice. River Heights, Brady claimed, had actually stolen Castleton’s production and audience, and he was determined to get it back! The first thing he did was to steal the festival’s mailing list and pick up handfuls of fliers left on a table in the River Heights Theater lobby. He then stamped CANCELLED on them, and sent them out to as many people as possible.

  When Mr. Hillyer heard the story, he sent a personal apology to Mr. Drew and Nancy, noting that Vince, the sound technician, had verified everything. At the same time, telephone calls from the mayor and various board members besieged the Drew household, causing Nancy to wonder if the flood of apologies and compliments would ever end.

  Despite the excitement, however, she could not help thinking of where her next adventure would lead. To her amazement, she would soon find herself on the trail of The Kachina Doll Mystery!

  In the meantime, she would enjoy the feast which Hannah had been preparing for days. When Randy arrived with Phyllis and Angela, they peeked into the kitchen, but the housekeeper had scooted them out quickly.

  She reappeared only when Bess, George, and the Emerson boys arrived. Nancy had counted the plates and discovered two extras. But before she could say anything, Hannah told everyone to close their eyes.

  “We have two surprise guests this evening!”

  “Hi, Nancy!” a small voice giggled, causing all eyes to open. It was Tommy Johnson, and with him was Lisa Scotti!

  The little boy was still wearing a leg cast, but with Lisa’s help, he hobbled quickly toward the young detective and hugged her.

  “Oh, Tommy, you look wonderful!” Nancy cried happily.

  Knowing that the men responsible for Tommy’s injuries would now face a stiff penalty was enough to satisfy the onlookers—Nancy, in particular.

  She grinned at Hannah. “I’d like to give special thanks to the person who really saved the day for all of us!” Nancy exclaimed.

  Everyone applauded enthusiastically, but following Hannah’s signal of modesty, turned their applause toward Nancy.

  “You really deserve it,” Ned whispered to the young detective.