The Kachina Doll Mystery Read online

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Chapter 1 - A Friend’s Plea

  Chapter 2 - The Kachina’s Curse

  Chapter 3 - Horse Thief

  Chapter 4 - Dangerous Warning

  Chapter 5 - A Scary Apparition

  Chapter 6 - First Clue

  Chapter 7 - A Bolting Mare

  Chapter 8 - The Rattler

  Chapter 9 - A Wonderful Discovery

  Chapter 10 - A Raging Fire

  Chapter 11 - A Flying Arrow

  Chapter 12 - Trapped!

  Chapter 13 - A Stormy Night

  Chapter 14 - Ngyun’s Trouble

  Chapter 15 - Caught!

  Chapter 16 - A Great Shock

  Chapter 17 - Celebration

  Chapter 18 - Barn Dance

  Chapter 19 - A Ghost Beckons

  Chapter 20 - Hilili’s Treasure

  WHEN Nancy, Bess, and George arrive at the McGuire’s fitness ranch in Arizona, they discover that the future of the ranch is being threatened by unexplained accidents. The local people believe that they are the result of a curse put on the place by Hopi Indians, whose painted Kachinas adorn the walls of the main building. Nancy, however, is convinced that the accidents are caused by people.

  Teaming up with a ghost, Nancy begins her search for a precious collection of ancient Kachina dolls and hunts for her elusive adversary who is determined to prevent the ranch from operating.

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  Copyright © 1981 by Simon & Schuster, Inc. All rights reserved. Published in 2005 by Grosset & Dunlap, a division of Penguin Young Readers Group, 345 Hudson Street, New York, New York 10014. NANCY DREW MYSTERY STORIES® is a registered trademark of Simon & Schuster, Inc. GROSSET & DUNLAP is a trademark of Penguin Group (USA) Inc. S.A.

  eISBN : 978-1-101-07763-4

  http://us.penguingroup.com

  1

  A Friend’s Plea

  “Nancy, you have a letter from Arizona,” Hannah Gruen called. “Do you know someone out there?”

  Nancy Drew, her titian hair tousled by the early spring breeze, came into the kitchen through the back door. She smiled at the housekeeper, who had cared for her since her mother’s death many years ago, then took the offered envelope.

  “Maybe it’s an advertisement,” Nancy said, studying the strange figure printed in the corner of the buff-colored envelope. However, it was a handwritten letter, not a pamphlet, that she took out of the envelope.

  “Why, it’s from Heather McGuire,” she murmured as she unfolded it to check the signature. “Remember her, Hannah?”

  “The pretty girl with red hair and freckles?” Hannah asked.

  Nancy nodded. “She and her older brother moved away two years ago after their parents were killed in a plane crash. We planned to keep in touch, but I got involved in solving my mysteries and I suppose she was so busy making new friends she didn’t have time to write either.”

  “Well, is she all right?” Hannah asked.

  Nancy scanned the letter and a frown marred her usually smooth forehead. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “Let me read this to you.”

  “I’ll make some hot chocolate while you do,” Hannah suggested. “It’s rather nippy outside. You must be half-frozen after your walk.”

  Nancy smiled indulgently at the housekeeper. “That sounds wonderful.” She began to read the letter.

  Dear Nancy,

  I know you’ll be surprised to hear from me after so long, but I don’t know where else to turn. I remember how wonderful you have always been at solving mysteries, and now Chuck and I have one that we can’t seem to do anything about.

  Nancy paused. “Chuck is her older brother,” she explained.

  “The one Bess used to think was so handsome,” Hannah agreed.

  Nancy laughed. “That’s right, she was heartbroken when they told her they were going to Arizona to live with their grandfather. I’ll have to call Bess and tell her about this letter.”

  “Does Heather say what the mystery is?” Hannah asked.

  “That’s the next part.” Nancy went on reading.

  A few years ago, Grandfather bought an old ranch near the Superstition Mountains east of Phoenix. We decided last year to make it into a fitness-health resort, and we’ve been working on it ever since. We planned to open by next fall when the tourist season starts here. Now, however, I’m not sure we will ever open.

  “The main attraction of the ranch is a wonderful, old building that we have modernized for our hotel. Everyone calls it the Kachina House, because the old man who built it painted a number of pictures of colorful, Indian Kachina dolls on the walls of the central hall that are beautiful.

  “We finally completed work on the inside of the building and moved in just after Christmas. That’s when we learned about the Kachina’s curse. Absolutely nothing has gone right since, Nancy, and even Chuck is beginning to believe that there is something haunting this house. If you can’t help us, I’m afraid the Kachina Health Resort will never be more than a dream.

  “We have plenty of room here, so if you and possibly George and Bess could come out for a spring vacation in the desert, you would be very welcome. Once you get here, maybe you will be able to find a way to end the curse.

  Nancy put the letter down with a sigh and accepted a cup of hot chocolate from Hannah.

  “She sounds desperate,” Hannah observed, picking up the envelope. “Is this a Kachina?” she asked, indicating the drawing in the corner.

  Nancy nodded. “If I remember correctly, they are wooden statues carved by members of the southwestern Indian tribes. The dolls represent various Indian spirits. I’ve seen pictures of them. They are very beautiful and can be quite valuable, too. ”

  “This one doesn’t look very friendly,” Hannah commented, handing back the envelope. “What are you going to do?”

  “Do you think I could turn down such a plea?” Nancy asked, her blue eyes sparkling. “This sounds like a real problem, and Heather is an old friend. ” She finished her drink and got to her feet. “I think I’d better call Dad and find out if he will agree. Then I have to talk to George and Bess and see if they’d be interested in going.”

  Hannah watched her go with a smile, sure that Mr. Drew would not object to the trip. It had been a long winter for all of them, and the prospect of a mystery to be solved was all the young sleuth ever needed to keep her happy.

  Nancy was still on the telephone talking to her father when the doorbell rang. Hannah went to admit George Fayne and her cousin Bess Marvin, Nancy’s best friends. She directed them to the study, sure that Nancy would wish to talk to them at once.

  “Just the two people I wanted to see,” Nancy greeted them as soon as she put down the telephone receiver. “I have something to show you—a letter from Heather McGuire.” She handed them the note, then waited patiently while the two girls read it.

  George, a slim brunette who had long ago learned to like her masculine first name, looked up first. “You are going, aren’t you?” she asked.

  Nancy nodded. “I just talked to Dad and he gave his permission. Now what about you two, do you want to go?”

  “Do I?” George could hardly contain herself. “I’d love it. Imagine, a vacation on an Arizona ranch. ”

  “What about the curse?” Bess asked, anxiety detracting from her pretty features.

>   “What about Chuck?” George teased. “You used to think he was quite something. Isn’t he worth facing the curse?”

  Bess giggled, showing her dimples. “Well, I guess as long as Nancy is going to be there, it will be safe enough. And I do want to help.”

  “Good,” Nancy said. “Now why don’t you call your families, then we can make some real plans.”

  “It’s a shame the boys are all so busy at Emerson College,” George commented. “They’d probably love to go to Arizona with us, Nancy.”

  Nancy sighed. “And I’m sure we could use their help,” she admitted, thinking of her handsome friend Ned. “But we’ll just have to make it on our own, I’m afraid.”

  Things moved quickly once George and Bess obtained permission from their families. Plane reservations were made for early Friday morning, leaving them just one day to pack the summer clothes they would need once they reached Arizona.

  Nancy called Heather that evening and, though their conversation was brief, her friend’s gratitude was obvious. That proved to Nancy just how worried Heather was about the rumored curse and what it could mean to her future.

  Thursday, Nancy took a little time to go to the library and study the single book it had on Kachinas. The book was filled with photographs of the strange and beautiful wooden dolls, and did give her some information.

  The Kachinas had originated as a part of the religion of the Hopi Indians and several other tribes. The dolls themselves represented the spirits of all the visible things in the Indian world. There were Cloud Kachinas, various animal Kachinas, plant and bird Kachinas, and even Kachinas representing abstract ideas like death or the power of the sun.

  There wasn’t time to read all the details that filled the book, but as she replaced it on the shelf, Nancy realized that none of what she’d read had even hinted at the Kachinas’ being involved in any curses. Could there be some other explanation for what was happening? she asked herself.

  Hannah was waiting for her when she returned to the house, and she looked concerned when she handed Nancy a letter. “This came while you were out,” she explained.

  “It’s from Arizona,” Nancy observed, not recognizing the handwriting as she opened the envelope. The single sheet of paper she took out showed a crudely drawn Kachina lying on its back, an arrow protruding from it. Pasted-on letters cut from a newspaper made the message very clear.

  STAY OUT OF ARIZONA, NANCY DREW.

  Hannah gasped as she took the sheet from Nancy. “You can’t go, Nancy,” she murmured.

  Nancy took a deep breath. “But I must,” she said. “Don’t you see, Hannah, this just proves how desperately Heather and Chuck need my help. It’s obvious that no ghost sent this.”

  “But you could be putting yourself in danger,” Hannah protested. “And your father should be told.”

  Nancy looked at her watch. “He’s already on his way to Canada,” she reminded Hannah.

  “But, Nancy ... ”

  “We don’t want to worry him, and I’ll be very, very careful, I promise,” Nancy reassured her. “Now, why don’t you help me with my packing? I’m never sure exactly what I should take.”

  Hannah’s gaze told her that she wasn’t fully reassured, but she followed the young detective upstairs without further protests. Nancy’s heartbeat quickened as she realized that she would soon be on her way to face whoever had sent the threatening letter!

  2

  The Kachina’s Curse

  “I can’t believe it,” Bess said as they walked out of the terminal building into the glow of the late afternoon sun. “It was winter when we left River Heights and now it’s spring. ”

  “You’ll be able to smell the citrus orchards once we leave here,” seventeen-year-old Heather told them as she led the way to where her older brother Chuck was already loading their luggage into a station wagon.

  “Is something wrong, Heather?” Nancy asked the slim redhead. Though their reception had been warm, she’d quickly detected a worried glint in her friend’s green eyes. “Something you haven’t told us?”

  Chuck turned his dark head their way, his blue eyes grave. “It’s Grandfather,” he said. “He’s in the hospital. We took him in last night.”

  “My goodness,” Nancy gasped. “What happened?”

  “It was the Kachina’s curse,” Heather answered bitterly. “I didn’t really want to believe in it before, but after this, I can’t deny it. ”

  “There are no ghosts,” Chuck snapped, helping George, Bess, and Nancy into the back seat of the station wagon. “It was a fire in the mountains, nothing else.”

  Nancy frowned, sensing how troubled her friends were. “Suppose you tell me what happened,” she suggested. “Maybe we can figure things out together.”

  Chuck got in and started the station wagon, while Heather settled herself and half-turned toward the trio in the back seat.

  “It happened after we went to bed last night,” Heather began, her dappling of freckles much less obvious now that her face had been tanned by the Arizona sun. “We were sleeping, but Grandfather woke up. He said he looked out the window and saw a glow of light off toward the mountains.”

  “A fire, you mean,” Chuck corrected. “Another signal fire, no doubt.”

  Heather sighed. “The moon was almost full last night, so Grandfather didn’t bother to turn on any lights. He went out in the hall, and that’s when he says he saw the Kachina figure.”

  Chuck grunted, but seemed to concentrate on the traffic as they left the airport area and moved into the city. Heather glared at him, then went on.

  “Grandfather started after whatever he saw, and in the poor light, he caught his foot on a rug and fell. We found him in the hall. ”

  Chuck nodded. “He has a broken wrist and a badly wrenched knee. The doctor says he’ll have to stay in the hospital for at least a week, till his knee is healed and they’re sure there isn’t any other damage from the fall.”

  George and Bess expressed sympathy, but Nancy said very little, though her bright eyes sparkled at this new evidence of a mystery. “Has this Kachina figure been seen before?” she asked after a moment.

  “Frequently, if you believe the general gossip,” Heather answered. “Not that we did. I mean, we’ve lived there since the end of December and neither of us has seen anything.”

  “What about your grandfather?” George asked.

  “He didn’t believe the stories either,” Chuck answered.

  “Is there anyone else in the house who has seen the figure?” Nancy asked. “Anyone I could talk to, I mean?”

  To her surprise, Chuck and Heather exchanged glances before Heather answered. “You might ask Ngyun. He’s always roaming around the place, so he might have seen something.”

  “Ngyun?” Nancy asked.

  “He’s the nephew of Maria Tomiche. She’s our housekeeper now and will be the resort dietician when we open,” Chuck said. “Her husband Ward teaches at the local school. He’s been tutoring Ngyun so he can enter an American school in the fall. ”

  “The boy’s just been here about two months,” Heather went on. “Maria’s brother, Kyle Little Feather, was in Vietnam. He met and married Su Lin, Ngyun’s mother, there. He’d planned to bring her and Ngyun to Phoenix as soon as he could, but things got very bad for them when the war ended. Su Lin was able to get out with Ngyun, but Kyle was killed.”

  “How sad,” Bess murmured.

  Heather nodded. “Maria didn’t hear from Su Lin, didn’t even know if they’d escaped till about a year ago. She was very happy when she finally got word and she’s been wanting to meet Su Lin ever since, but Su Lin has been ill and finally wrote and asked if she could send Ngyun to his father’s family till she was well again.”

  “How old is Ngyun?” George asked.

  “Twelve,” Chuck answered, a note of anger in his voice.

  Heather giggled. “Don’t mind him,” she said. “He’s unhappy with Ngyun at the moment.”

  “We just didn�
��t need any more problems,” Chuck contributed, sounding far older than twenty. “He’s the real cause of Grandfather’s accident, not some mysterious Kachina figure.”

  “What do you mean?” Nancy asked, thinking of the threatening letter she’d received.

  “Grandfather was out in the hall because he thought he saw something on the mountain, and that something was probably another of Ngyun’s signal fires. That kid has burned two big cactuses and one palo verde tree.”

  “You don’t know that for sure,” Heather corrected.

  “Well, do you know anyone else who’d ride around the ranch starting small fires?” Chuck asked.

  Heather’s face was suddenly sad. “No, of course not, but he says he didn’t set them, Chuck, and Maria believes him. I mean, he didn’t deny starting the first fire.” She turned back to Nancy. “He’s never had a chance to learn much about his father’s people before, and I’m afraid a lot of his ideas come from the old movies on television. He was trying to make smoke signals when he started a fire on the ridge. He was told not to do it again, but several things have been burned since.”

  “What about the fire your grandfather saw?” Nancy asked, pursuing the question.

  “We don’t really know,” Chuck admitted. “By the time we got back from the hospital, there wasn’t any sign of it. I suppose it could have been a trick of the moonlight.” His tone made it clear, however, that he didn’t believe this explanation. “Most likely though, it just burned out. Desert fires do that, if there isn’t any wind.”

  “Nancy, do you suppose you could handle another case while you’re here?” Heather asked, taking Nancy by surprise.

  “What do you have in mind?” Nancy asked immediately.

  “Well, it’s Ngyun. The fires and some of the other things that have happened since he came to the ranch have caused a stir among the neighboring ranchers, and I was hoping that you might be able to clear his name.”