The Witch Tree Symbol Part 2

"Oh!" Nancy gasped, as the driver of the car, almost upon the dog, put on a burst of speed, and headed directly for Togo.

Before Nancy could act, the car hit the terrier and the dog gave a yelp of paint

"Togo!" Nancy cried, running to her pet as the car flashed past. The animal was whining and yelping pitifully. Nancy feared that he had been seriously injured.

Leaning over to examine the dog, she noticed a long cut on his hip, but there were no other marks. Just then Togo stood up, shook himself and licked her hand. The beloved pet would be all right!

Nancy carried the dog inside and bathed his cut with antiseptic. "That driver deliberately tried to kill Togo!" she told Hannah. "I was so frightened that I forgot to look at him or his license number."

Hannah frowned. "Nancy, perhaps that hex symbol means business," she declared.

"Oh, Hannah, people today don't believe in hexes or witches or spells." Nancy smiled. "And the hex signs that were once used to ward off witches are now decorations on barns and other places. Some people even use them inside their homes."

"Maybe, but I think you should give up the trip," Hannah persisted. "Let the police worry about the robbery. You stay home."

"Why, Hannah, I couldn't do that when I've promised to help Mrs. Tenney," Nancy protested. "Besides, I want a chance to practice my German in Pennsylvania Dutch country!" She smiled.

Mr. Drew, who had been talking on the second-floor telephone, now joined them. He was relieved to learn that Togo was all right.

Hannah told him she was worried about Nancy, but the lawyer did not share her point of view.

"As to the hex business, we are intelligent people and don't believe in witchcraft. If Nancy is careful, I think it will be safe for her to make the trip."

The young detective was preparing to leave the next morning when a special delivery letter arrived for her.

"Trouble," Hannah Gruen predicted gloomily.

The envelope was postmarked Montville, a town about twenty miles from River Heights. Nancy quickly tore open the envelope and pulled out a single sheet of paper. On it was the strange hex symbol. Underneath the witch tree was a boldly printed warning: STAY HOME!

CHAPTER III.

Chust for Pretty

NANCY was excited but not alarmed. If the letter was from the thief, he knew she was going to Pennsylvania Dutch country. Montville was en route to Lancaster. She hoped this meant that she had correctly figured his destination.

"I'm not frightened by this note," Nancy said when Hannah again urged her to stay home. She kissed the housekeeper good-by and drove off in her convertible.

In a few minutes she reached the home of pretty, blond, blue-eyed Bess Marvin. She was eager to begin the trip.

"Pennsylvania Dutch cooking is famous!" she exclaimed. "What meals we'll have!"

Trim, dark-haired George Fayne, who lived nearby, climbed into the car soon afterward. "Grand day, isn't it?" she said with gusto. "August weather's great for a vacation."

"And perfect weather for solving a mystery." Nancy laughed.

"Tell us about it," Bess begged. "I hope it's not a dangerous one," she added.

As they rode along, Nancy told the story. Bess became concerned. She shivered when she heard of the hex symbol. "Do you believe in it?" she asked.

Nancy a.s.sured her she did not. "But," she declared, "I understand there are some people in the back country of Pennsylvania who still think, it's possible to hex people."

Several hours later, the girls began to notice hex signs on the barns they pa.s.sed. Even Bess had to admit that the various circular designs, using birds, stars, and crosses, were very colorful and attractive. Seeing a farmer coming from a large red barn, Nancy stopped the car. After chatting a moment, she asked him about the designs' true significance.

The burly man smiled and replied, "It's chust for pretty."

"It's not part of a superst.i.tion?" Bess asked.

The man shook his head. "No. Chust to make pretty the barn. But some folks think it is to chase witches. That is foolish, ain't?"

The girls nodded, thanked him, and drove on.

George laughed. "He had a quaint way of speaking. We may have some trouble understanding what people say in these parts."

Nancy agreed. "And if we don't understand, I think we'd better tell the speaker."

As the girls rode through methodically planned, beautiful farm country, they saw straight green fields of corn, as well as potatoes and tobacco. Weedless vegetable gardens were surrounded by neat borders of flowers-c.o.c.ks...o...b.. begonia, and geranium bloomed in profusion.

"Where is Mr. Alpha Zinn's home?" George asked.

"Beyond Lancaster, in the part where the Amish live."

"Tell us more about them," Bess requested.

Nancy said that Mrs. Tenney had explained that there were two types of Amish, the Church Amish, who are comparatively modern and own automobiles and electrical appliances, and the House Amish, who are very strict and do not believe in using any of these "fancy" things.

After lunch, the girls reached the outskirts of Lancaster. Nancy consulted a map. "I think this is the side road that leads to Mr. Zinn's farmhouse," she said. "Mrs. Tenney gave me rather general directions. Let's try it."

They had not gone more than a mile down the road when the car began to lurch, forcing Nancy to slow down.

"That's funny," she said, frowning. "I have plenty of gasoline, so that's not the trouble."

Suddenly the motor died and the car chugged to a stop. The friends looked about in dismay. There was not a house in sight-nothing but open fields.

Nancy got out, raised the hood of the car, and looked for loose or broken wires. She could find none. "We're really stuck!" she announced.

"The hex is already working," Bess wailed. "Now a spell has been put on our car!"

Nancy laughed. "If so, I won't let the spell work long. We'll eliminate it, I promise you."

"I suppose the best thing to do," George said, "is to wait for a car to come along and give one of us a ride into town to find a mechanic."

Nancy agreed. "Especially if the farms nearby happen to belong to House Amish families," she said. "They won't know anything about cars."

Ten minutes went by, but no vehicle appeared. Suddenly George called out, "Here comes someone!"