Carolyn Keene_Nancy Drew Mysteries 050 by The Double Jinx Mystery Page A

price to you by one thousand dollars,” the letter stated. “That should cover any loss you may have to take with the closing of your zoo and aviary.”
    Oscar put down the letter. “I don’t want the money. I just don’t want to leave here. Nancy, what can we do?”
    The young detective offered to phone her father at once for his advice. Mr. Drew told her that Ramsey Wright had no business to send such a letter.
    “Mr. Wright is just trying to take advantage of someone who does not know his rights under the law,” he said. “Nancy, tell Oscar that no sale can be forced until after the town council has voted to grant the High Rise Construction Company authority to acquire the land.”
    Smiling, Nancy rejoined the group. She passed along her father’s message and Mr. and Mrs. Thurston relaxed.
    “Dad also told me something else,” Nancy went on. “He received a phone call from Mr. Winnery, who said that he had convinced Mr. Hinchcliff, Mr. Ryan, and another councilman, Mr. Clifford, to vote for my alternate plan for the housing development.”
    Bess suddenly clapped her hands and said, “Hip, hip, hurrah!”
    As the others grinned at her in amusement, she went on, “Now that makes four out of the five councilmen who are for Nancy’s plan. Isn’t that a majority?”
    Oscar nodded. “Yes, it is, but in this case the council agreed some time ago that the vote would have to be unanimous.”
    “Humph!” said George. “That means we have one more man to convince.”
    Kammy said she must leave. “I’ll take the bus back to the university and pick up my clothes that are there. I’ll return as soon as I can.”
    George offered to take her but the Eurasian girl shook her head. “Nancy should go right home and crawl into bed. She looks very tired.”
    Nancy admitted that she was, so all the girls left. They had barely started off when Nancy said, “I’d like to stop at police headquarters and see if there’s any news on the case.”
    Bess tried to convince her friend that she should not stop just now, but Nancy said the call would not take long.
    Chief Pepper greeted her warmly and said, “No new leads on the Thurston case. But my men will keep on the alert for Slick Fingers.”
    Nancy thanked the chief for the information and left. Then George drove her directly to the Drew home.
    When Nancy walked in, Hannah looked at her reproachfully. “Nancy, I think you’ve been doing something strenuous. You look exhausted and I suggest you get to bed at once.”
    “But, Hannah dear, I have so much news for you and Dad. Please let me eat some supper with you while I tell you what happened today, then I’ll go upstairs.”
    Her audience of two alternately chuckled and looked alarmed as Nancy told the story of her near accident on a broken tree limb, the rescue of Petra and of Kammy’s heirloom ring which had been returned so mysteriously.
    Her father commented, “You had enough adventures in one day, Nancy, to last most people a week.”
    Nancy laughed. “Don’t such things happen to all detectives?” she asked, then kissed Hannah and her father good night. “Tomorrow I plan to call on Mr. Tabler, one of the councilmen, and find out which way he plans to vote on High Rise’s proposed projects.”
    “I believe he owns a nursery,” her father stated, “and High Rise wants to buy it. I hope you’re planning to take Bess and George along for support.”
    The following morning Nancy called the cousins, who agreed to accompany her. Nancy offered to drive and pick them up. By the middle of the morning the three girls were nearing the town of Harper. They watched for signs to the Tabler Nursery.
    “That’s probably it off to the right where all those trees and bushes are growing in rows,” Bess spoke up.
    When they came to a narrow side road the girls saw the sign for which they were looking. They pulled into the rear yard of a farmhouse.
    A large group of young boys and girls were running about, screaming and