The House Party

Nancy telephoned at once to her aunt. Eloise Drew readily agreed to act as hostess for a house party. " I never dreamed that my clue about Dunstan Lake would bring such an interesting vacation! " she said.

" My hunch may be wrong, " Nancy warned. " But we'll have fun, anyway."

" Suppose you pick me up at the station in York Village near camp, " her aunt suggested. " I'll arrive there at three-thirty."

Bess and George hung over Nancy's shoulder as she said good by, and then placed a call to Emerson College. The three boys were enthusiastic about a trip to the Adirondacks. Burt said they could take his family's station wagon. " Wonderful, " said Nancy. " But we'd better have two cars, so I'll take mine, too."

The boys said they could stay only a few days, however, since they had only a short vacation between semesters. This news made Bess pout. When the long-distance conversation was over, she complained, " That's not much time to solve a mystery and have some fun, too! "

Everybody was excited about the excursion to the Adirondacks except Hannah Gruen. The housekeeper worried about possible accidents on the icy roads and a blizzard that might keep them snowbound. " And then you don't know the ways of the woods in the wintertime."

" Hannah, " Nancy said, " would you feel happier if someone like John Horn was around to guide us? "

" I certainly would, " Hannah answered. " And I'm sure your father would too."

That evening Nancy and Mr. Drew went over to call on John Horn, who had just returned from his ice-fishing trip. To Nancy's delight, the trapper verified Chuck Wilson's story about his ill-tempered uncle. He told of several incidents which had made him suspicious that the elder Wilson was helping himself to certain funds and not making an accounting of them to the Probate Court. " But I never could prove it, " the trapper said.

" You've been very helpful, " the lawyer told him. " And I may call on you to be a witness."

Before the Drews left, Nancy made her request about the trip. The elderly man's eyes glistened. " You couldn't 'a' asked me anything I'd rather do, " he beamed. " But I won't ride in any of them motor contraptions. No sir-ree. The train for me. And I'll mush in from the station at York. I was brought up on snowshoes."

" Your going relieves my mind, " Mr. Drew said, and added with a laugh, " Keep my daughter from making any ski jumps after those thieves, will you? " John Horn chuckled. " Don't you worry. I'll pick up their tracks in the snow and call the police while your daughter's off gallivantin' with the young folks."

Two mornings later the young people began their trip. With skis, poles, snowshoes, and suitcases in their cars, the girls dressed in colorful ski clothes and the boys in Mackinaws and fur caps, their group resembled a polar expedition. " Too bad that old trapper wouldn't let us give him a lift, " said Ned as he joined Nancy in the convertible.

" Oh, John Horn's like that. A mind of his own and very independent." Nancy laughed. " When I asked him to help find those swindlers, the old fellow became really excited. Patted his hunting rifle and announced that he intended to snare the varmints! "

For the next three hours everything went well for the travelers. The station wagon followed close behind the convertible. Then, as they reached the foothills of the Adirondacks and began to climb, the roads became icy and the drivers were obliged to decrease their speed to a bare crawl.

Nancy frowned. " I'm worried about Aunt Eloise, " she confessed to Ned. " Her train reaches York Village at three-thirty and she's expecting us to pick her up."

" York? That's where we buy the supplies for camp, isn't it? " Ned asked.

" Yes, I'd hoped to get there in time for us to shop before Aunt Eloise arrives." At that moment a series of loud toots behind them caused Nancy to slow down and look around. " Oh dear! Burt's car has skidded into a ditch! " She groaned. " We'll have to pull it out." It took half an hour and considerable huffing and puffing on everybody's part to haul the station wagon back onto the road.

When it was once more on its way, Burt realized that the steering gear needed attention. He signaled to Nancy and drove forward to tell her they must stop at the first town and have it adjusted. Nancy nodded. " Suppose Ned and I go ahead and leave the food order at the general store.

" You pick it up. We'll drive Aunt Eloise to camp and start a fire."

Soon the convertible was again on its way. At the store Nancy ordered ham, eggs, slabs of bacon, meat, huge roasting potatoes, bread, fresh fruit, and other necessities.

" Friends of mine will call for the order in a station wagon, " Nancy explained to the proprietor.

" Come on. We'd better hurry, " Ned warned. " I can hear the train pulling in." He and Nancy dashed to the station, half expecting to see John Horn alight as well as Eloise Drew. But the trapper was not aboard.

" Hello, Ned! " Miss Drew greeted him, after she embraced her niece. " And where are the rest of my guests? " she inquired. " They were delayed, " said Nancy. " A little trouble with Burt's station wagon. We're to go on ahead."

" I'm glad we're starting at once, " Miss Drew observed. " In an hour it will be dark. And that narrow, snowy road leading to my place can be very hazardous."

Nancy and Ned helped Aunt Eloise into the convertible and they began the long climb to the lodge. The road was indeed deep in snow and Ned had to drive very slowly. All were relieved to see the house. " Look at that snowy" Aunt Eloise exclaimed. " Why, it's halfway up the door."

" Are there any shovels in the garage? " Ned asked as he climbed out of the car.

" I think so, " Miss Drew answered. Ned struggled around the corner of the house to the garage. He came back swinging a shovel and started clearing a path. Soon the station wagon arrived.

" Reinforcements are here, " Dave and Burt announced. In a few minutes they were carrying in the suitcases. The girls and Aunt Eloise followed, shivering in the huge, icy living room.

" We can soon have some heat, " Aunt Eloise said, taking swift charge of the situation. " Boys, there's plenty of wood in the shed out back. Suppose you start a roaring fire in the grate."

" Girls, " said Nancy, " let's bring in those groceries from the station wagon."

" Groceries? " Bess gaped. Nancy's heart sank. " Bess! George! " she gasped. " Didn't you remember to stop for the food? Didn't Burt tell you? "

The blank consternation on her friends' faces was answer enough. Tired and hungry, the campers had to face it. There was no food in the house!