Dave Versus Angus

The next morning, the teenagers tumbled out for breakfast shortly after nine o'clock. Mr. Drew and Señ or Segovia were already at the table, and Nancy recounted the adventures of the preceding night.

She told them what she and Ned had overheard through the restaurant partition, the mention of Penny Black, and the puzzling order to " hit 'em tomorrow night."

Señ or Segovia's brow wrinkled as he tried to make sense of the matter. " I find it hard to believe that Stroessner would be meeting someone in the back room of a restaurant, " he said. " On the other hand, who in the world would possibly be discussing the Penny Black in such an atmosphere, except Stroessner? "

" Maybe" Nancy suggested, " the person with whom Stroessner was meeting was very nervous and wouldn't risk seeing him anywhere else."

Carson Drew nodded. " As a matter of fact, it was the perfect place, '' he observed. ''The only problem is that your friend in the tuxedo made the mistake of not locking the door, not dreaming that you two of all people wouldn't see his " Closed" sign and walk in."

''I think you're right, Dad. Now, Señ or Segovia, can you check out this license plate number? " Nancy quickly wrote it on a paper napkin and handed it to him across the table.

He nodded. ''Sure. If the computers aren't down, and these days they seem to be down quite a lot, we should have the answer in a couple of hours."

Pushing their chairs back, Carson Drew and their host excused themselves and wished the young people a full and sunny day.

" Thank you, " Ned said. Then he turned to his friends. " Tennis, anyone? "

" How about everybody in the pool? " George suggested.

" Three-man volleyball wouldn't be bad except after a half hour of that in the sun, we'd be tripping over our tongues." Bess giggled.

" Wait, " Nancy said. " I have to make a phone call. You all figure out what you want to do and ril go along with it when I come back.''

" Oh, you're not neglecting me again because of business! " Ned cried out, pretending to pout and look sullen.

" She'll be back soon, " Burt said and punched his friend playfully in the shoulder. " You can live until then! "

Nancy flashed a bright smile and ran off, her titian hair bobbing. She went to her room and called Mrs. Palmer, asking if the house could be cleared of everyone that evening so that Nancy could lie in wait for the burglars.

" What makes you think they'll strike tonight? " Mrs. Palmer asked.

" I just hope that with no guards on duty and everyone out of the house, they won't be able to resist."

" All right, " the old woman said. " Now what'll I have to do? "

" First, " Nancy said, " find an excuse for getting Susan and the servants out of the house. I assume the maid as well as the gardener are back today? "

" That's right, " Mrs. Palmer said. " And where do you suggest I send them? "

" Oh, Mrs. Palmer, I’ll bet you can think of a dozen places. Your maid, perhaps, could visit a relative if you give her a few days off. The gardener—"

" Yes, '' Mrs. Palmer interrupted, " do tell me what to do with a shy, nervous, old man of seventy-five who thinks it's a big adventure to walk around the block! "

Nancy giggled. " How about sending him to a flower show? "

" What flower show? " Mrs. Palmer cried.

" I don't know. But there's always a flower show."

" Really. Well, I don't know. I'll do my best. But I think it's a lot of nonsense. Why not leave the servants alone? "

" I think we'll leave Errol alone, " Nancy relented. " He's been there for one burglary already, and we both trust him, so let him stay. But don't tell him what the plans are and that I'm hiding upstairs."

" What? "

" Don't tell him. The fewer people who know a secret, the better chance of keeping the secret."

" True, " Mrs. Palmer said. " I've always said that. I'm glad to hear you start quoting me." She laughed, and Nancy could tell that the old lady was beginning to enjoy the intrigue and excitement of the mystery.

''One more thing, " Nancy added. " Is there any way of entering your house except through the front door? ''

''Of course there is. It's a big house. There's a door in the back and all the servants have doors leading out from their rooms."

" Fine, " Nancy said. " Now do me a favor. One hour before you are ready to leave, have Susan McAfee put the clothes she's going to wear tonight in a suitcase. Señ or Segovia's chauffeur will pick it up. By that time, the servants should have left and you should find some pretense for keeping Errol busy in back so that he won't see me come through the front door."

" Nancy, are you out of your mind? "

" I have an idea. Just trust me. And tell Susan she'll get the clothes back in good shape to wear tonight."

Next, Nancy dialed the Fort Lauderdale police, and told them of her plan. She said she would appreciate it if the patrol cars in the area would stay on alert, but not come too close to the Palmer house. " If the burglars show up, I don't want them frightened away by police, " the girl added.

She was promised cooperation, and, finished with her work, scampered upstairs to change into a peach-colored bathing suit. Then she ran out to the pool and joined in the fun. After much swimming, diving, and a few impromptu water fights, the six young people stretched out on the grass and admired the fifty-five-foot yacht named The Segovia.

" It's some boat, " Burt said. ''I hope we get to take her out again before we leave."

Suddenly, a cry floated across the water. " Ahoy, The Segovia! "

The young people got up and stared at a white and gold boat that came closer and closer and finally pulled up within a hundred feet of them.

" Ahoy! " Bess called out, getting into the spirit of sailing. She raised her hand in a wave.

''Ahoy? " Dave asked. ''Since when do you say that, and to strangers yet! "

" It's the law of the sea, " Bess replied with a laugh. " You're supposed to say 'Ahoy' when another ship greets you."

" But we're not on a ship."

" Now, now, " Ned teased, " let the lady say 'Ahoy, ' to this handsome young man who's waving to her."

Dave reddened and grinned.

" Ahoy, Segovia, " the voice came again. " This is the good ship The Flying Scot. And I'm Angus Campbell, your neighbor across the way" He pointed to another large estate, a half mile down the canal. " The big gray house, " he added.

Ned stood up. " Hello, Angus, '' he called. ''We're glad to meet you. We're from River Heights and are down here for the spring holiday."

By this time, the boat had nosed into the dock and the boys helped two crewmen from The Flying Scot make it fast.

There were handshakes all around as the tall, smiling, red-headed master of the ship met the others. Nancy looked at him with interest, not simply because he was a handsome young man, but because some sixth sense heightened by her detective training told her there was something unusual about Angus Campbell. She couldn't put it into words, but it was a feeling of danger that was at once attractive and frightening. It didn't really make sense, since there was nothing in Angus Campbell's face to reflect this. He was rather handsome, open, and honest-looking, but his deepest blue eyes gave Nancy an eerie feeling.

''So you're here for the beach parties and the fun and games, " Angus said and turned to Bess as the maid brought him a chair and handed him a tall orange drink.

" That's right, " Bess replied and smiled prettily.

" It's a great place, " Angus said. " We used to live in the West, until I came here on my spring break two years ago. I wound up staying. My father is an industrialist, or was. He decided to retire and bought that house. We just love it."

''Do you still go to college? " Nancy asked him.

" No. I just loaf and take care of my father's boats and cars." He continued to look with great interest at Bess. This was not lost on Dave, who walked around the edge of the group.

" I understand your father, Carson Drew, is here, " Angus now addressed Nancy.

" Why, yes. How did you know? "

" The neighborhood grapevine, " the young man replied, " has it that he and Señ or Segovia are chasing a bunch of thieves. I hope they're making progress? "

" I really don't know, " Nancy said. She had trained herself not to discuss her father's business, or her own, with anyone. " I swim and he works, poor man."

" I understand" Angus went on, " that the Brotherhood of the Vulture is involved in this thievery and smuggling"

" How did you know that? " Nancy asked. She was beginning to wonder why this young man was so inquisitive.

" Easy, " Angus said. " Their symbol is pasted onto the side of Señ or Segovia's dock! "

" What? " Nancy gasped, and everyone rushed to the edge of the dock to peer over. There, indeed, was the buzzard decal!

" How could that have gotten there? " Bess wailed.

''Fairly easy, " Angus replied. ''Someone could have sailed past, stopped for a moment, and stuck it on."

" But Señ or Segovia has a twenty-four-hour guard, " Nancy pointed out. " It would be pretty difficult."

" Nevertheless, " Angus said, " it was done." He lounged carelessly in his chair, adjusting the crease in his expensive slacks. " Someone did it. And he is giving you a very definite warning."

''Possibly, " Nancy said coolly. " Perhaps those people think that Señ or Segovia and my father will be frightened by it. But it won't work."

''Well" Angus suggested, " I would be very careful, anyway. They're bad people to fool with. But say! '' He got to his feet and spread his arms in a welcoming gesture. ''Why don't you all be my guests for lunch on The Flying Scot and come for a sail? "

The six friends looked from one to another.

" That would be scrumptious! " Bess squealed. " Your boat is so beautiful."

" I don't know, " Dave objected. " I think Consuelo's already preparing lunch here."

" At ten o'clock? " Angus laughed. " I'm sure she hasn't started yet and her staff would love the rest. Come on with me. We'll sail out into the open sea for a while, fish a bit if you like, talk, dance, and have some cool drinks. Later— lunch."

Dave's reluctance was easily overcome since both Ned and Burt were eager to go. So was George. Nancy cast the crucial vote in favor of accepting Angus's invitation, not so much because of the ride, but because she wanted to find out more about Angus Campbell.

His questions earlier had struck her the wrong way. Also, the young man seemed too purposeful and intelligent to be just a loafer, as he called himself.

Another thing that bothered her was that the two crewmen who actually sailed the ship were rather hard-looking people, and not the least bit friendly to the group. Apparently, neither of them knew English, because Angus talked to them in French. Why would the Campbells hire a crew that didn't speak their language?

As the young people cruised down the Intracoastal Waterway toward the dock area known as Port Everglades, Campbell's Chinese cook and galley man brought his guests sodas. Tapes were played to provide dance music, and the River Heights vacationers scampered all over the boat, admiring the expensive fixtures and the beautiful staterooms that looked as if they belonged on an ocean liner.

Only Dave stood silently, sipping his Coke and watching a laughing Bess dance with Angus Campbell. Ned came up beside him and talked mischievously into Dave's ear.

" Boy, this is a floating palace, isn't it? Just fabulous."

" I know. It's wonderful, " Dave grumbled. " What do you want me to do, jump with joy? "

" No." Ned grinned. ''I was just thinking, here's this handsome Scottish devil with a big home, a gorgeous yacht, all this money. A personable guy, too. Well-educated, pleasant. What could he possibly want? "

Dave's eyes followed Angus and Bess, who were gliding gracefully around the floor in a slow dance.

" Could we talk about something else? '' he said uncomfortably.

''Sure, sure. But I had this idea. There's something Angus needs. And perhaps we should help him get it."

''What's that? " Dave cried, exasperated. He became angrier and angrier as he realized that both Angus and Bess were enjoying themselves immensely.

Ned looked innocently at Dave. " What Angus needs is a steady girlfriend. A girl all his own whom he really likes! "

It took a moment for Ned's teasing to sink in and by the time it had, he had disappeared and was looking down on Dave from the deck above.

" And here I thought you were my friend! " Dave called up to him, starting to smile in spite of himself. " It's a good thing you left, or there would have been a man overboard! "