feeling that the elderly professor was hunting for the treasure by himself.
“Anyway,” Nancy went on, “I’m sure that as soon as Terry learns anything definite, he’ll tell both you and Dr. Graham.”
“That old fuss-budget!” the professor scoffed.
Nancy laughed. “You know what I think, Dr. Anderson? You’re all jealous of one another. Talk about Terry being secretive! I’ll bet right now you have a secret you’re not telling either Terry or Dr. Graham.”
A slow flush came to Dr. Anderson’s face, and Nancy pressed her advantage.
“For instance, this trip to Florida. You have chosen that spot for the field trip because you think that something—or someone—is hidden there. Haven’t you?”
The professor was taken by surprise. He turned to peer at her, a startled look in his eyes.
“For a girl your age, you seem to know a lot of answers.” He sighed. “I may as well admit the truth. I suspect the treasure may be buried in Florida, and Dr. Pitt and Juarez know this.”
“Why?”
Dr. Anderson told her that during Juarez Tino’s call on him at Clifton, the man had ac cidentally dropped a hint. He had mentioned the fact that the ancient Indians of Mexico and Florida had a great deal in common in their state of civilization.
“I’m sure he didn’t figure that out himself,” Dr. Anderson said. “He got it from Pitt. Right away I suspected he’d been with Pitt in Florida and was double-crossing him.”
“Did you accuse him of that?” Nancy asked excitedly.
The professor nodded. “Juarez swore he hadn’t been near Florida. But I knew he was lying.”
“Wouldn’t he tell you anything about Dr. Pitt?”
“He was so furious at me for guessing it, that he raised his price. That was when I threw him out of my office.”
“I can’t blame you for that,” said Nancy. “And it fits right in with a theory of mine.” She told about Terry and the Wangells and the trick on the black piano keys. “But I’m positive Dr. Pitt and Juarez are enemies, not friends.”
She also told him about the warning message at the Drew house, and of her recent encounter with Juarez, when he had bound and gagged her, and shoved her under a bed.
“He’d probably treat a man even worse,” she added.
Dr. Anderson’s eyes widened. “I don’t mind saying I admire your spunk,” he remarked. “And I like the way you think things through. What would you say to our joining forces in Florida? Terry can’t object to that, while he’s in Mexico.”
Nancy agreed willingly, and the professor told her that the study group would have their headquarters at the Southern Skies Guest House in Miami. From there, they would take trips to museums and Indian villages to study the culture of present-day Seminoles.
“Of course I’ll do a bit of detective work on the side,” he told Nancy, and added slyly, “I suppose you’d like permission to do the same.”
Nancy was thrilled. Everything was turning out so well!
“And now that I’ve let you in on my secret, young lady,” Dr. Anderson said, “how about tell. ing me yours? What is your special project in Miami?”
“I’m afraid it’s not very definite,” Nancy admitted ruefully.
She told him about her discovery that the Wangells and Wilfred Porterly were heading for Florida. She also showed him the diary drawings which might possibly have a connection with the treasure.
“Of course it’s just a hunch,” Nancy said. “But if there is a Black Key down there, I think it may be the hiding place we’re seeking. I’d like to hunt for it.”
The professor stared in horror. “Explore the Keys—by yourself?”
Nancy laughed. “Not exactly. I was hoping you’d give Fran Oakes and me a separate assignment. We could study Indians too—the ancient Indians on the Keys.”
Anderson shook his head. “That would still be unwise. Two girls alone!”
“Fran has a cousin, Jack Walker, who lives in Miami,” Nancy explained eagerly. “He has a boat, and
“Anyway,” Nancy went on, “I’m sure that as soon as Terry learns anything definite, he’ll tell both you and Dr. Graham.”
“That old fuss-budget!” the professor scoffed.
Nancy laughed. “You know what I think, Dr. Anderson? You’re all jealous of one another. Talk about Terry being secretive! I’ll bet right now you have a secret you’re not telling either Terry or Dr. Graham.”
A slow flush came to Dr. Anderson’s face, and Nancy pressed her advantage.
“For instance, this trip to Florida. You have chosen that spot for the field trip because you think that something—or someone—is hidden there. Haven’t you?”
The professor was taken by surprise. He turned to peer at her, a startled look in his eyes.
“For a girl your age, you seem to know a lot of answers.” He sighed. “I may as well admit the truth. I suspect the treasure may be buried in Florida, and Dr. Pitt and Juarez know this.”
“Why?”
Dr. Anderson told her that during Juarez Tino’s call on him at Clifton, the man had ac cidentally dropped a hint. He had mentioned the fact that the ancient Indians of Mexico and Florida had a great deal in common in their state of civilization.
“I’m sure he didn’t figure that out himself,” Dr. Anderson said. “He got it from Pitt. Right away I suspected he’d been with Pitt in Florida and was double-crossing him.”
“Did you accuse him of that?” Nancy asked excitedly.
The professor nodded. “Juarez swore he hadn’t been near Florida. But I knew he was lying.”
“Wouldn’t he tell you anything about Dr. Pitt?”
“He was so furious at me for guessing it, that he raised his price. That was when I threw him out of my office.”
“I can’t blame you for that,” said Nancy. “And it fits right in with a theory of mine.” She told about Terry and the Wangells and the trick on the black piano keys. “But I’m positive Dr. Pitt and Juarez are enemies, not friends.”
She also told him about the warning message at the Drew house, and of her recent encounter with Juarez, when he had bound and gagged her, and shoved her under a bed.
“He’d probably treat a man even worse,” she added.
Dr. Anderson’s eyes widened. “I don’t mind saying I admire your spunk,” he remarked. “And I like the way you think things through. What would you say to our joining forces in Florida? Terry can’t object to that, while he’s in Mexico.”
Nancy agreed willingly, and the professor told her that the study group would have their headquarters at the Southern Skies Guest House in Miami. From there, they would take trips to museums and Indian villages to study the culture of present-day Seminoles.
“Of course I’ll do a bit of detective work on the side,” he told Nancy, and added slyly, “I suppose you’d like permission to do the same.”
Nancy was thrilled. Everything was turning out so well!
“And now that I’ve let you in on my secret, young lady,” Dr. Anderson said, “how about tell. ing me yours? What is your special project in Miami?”
“I’m afraid it’s not very definite,” Nancy admitted ruefully.
She told him about her discovery that the Wangells and Wilfred Porterly were heading for Florida. She also showed him the diary drawings which might possibly have a connection with the treasure.
“Of course it’s just a hunch,” Nancy said. “But if there is a Black Key down there, I think it may be the hiding place we’re seeking. I’d like to hunt for it.”
The professor stared in horror. “Explore the Keys—by yourself?”
Nancy laughed. “Not exactly. I was hoping you’d give Fran Oakes and me a separate assignment. We could study Indians too—the ancient Indians on the Keys.”
Anderson shook his head. “That would still be unwise. Two girls alone!”
“Fran has a cousin, Jack Walker, who lives in Miami,” Nancy explained eagerly. “He has a boat, and
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