Read Carolyn Keene_Nancy Drew Mysteries 050 for Free Online

an explosion. Was the High Rise Construction Company testing the ground for rocks, perhaps?”
    The councilman looked puzzled. “Explosion? What kind of explosion?”
    “A land mine.”
    “Show me where it was,” the man commanded. Nancy led the way to the spot. Mr. Hinchcliff and Ned gazed in amazement at the hole in the earth.
    With a frown the councilman said, “I’ll find out from Mr. Wright about this.”
    He walked off with a worried look on his face. After stepping into his car, he put it in gear and roared away.
    Ned grinned. “Friendly soul. Say, Nancy, you may have set up a little war in the council!”
    Nancy laughed. “I hope it accomplishes some good,” she said. “At least it may make the men suspicious of the High Rise people.”
    Ned asked what else she had seen at the time of the explosion. She told him about Slick Fingers O’Mayley. When she got to the part about looking through the pictures at police headquarters, he grinned and said, “You’re really something, Nancy!”
    “I made a drawing of a thin version of the stout parolee. Chief Pepper is sure he’s the man we want, but so far none of us can figure out any motive for his planting a land mine here.”
    Nancy added there was no proof of any connection between Slick Fingers and men in the High Rise company.
    Ned suggested that he and Nancy have lunch in Harper, then visit the Thurstons. She agreed and they drove into town. About two o’clock they set off for the zoo and aviary.
    Nancy rang the front doorbell of the Thurston farmhouse. In a few moments a voice inside said, “Who’s there?”
    “It’s Nancy Drew and a friend.”
    “Then come in.”
    Ned opened the door, and the couple crossed the hall. They found Mrs. Thurston in her wheelchair in the living room. Nancy introduced Ned, then asked how the woman was feeling.
    “I’m very nervous,” Mrs. Thurston replied. “Very upset, very upset indeed.”
    “May I ask why?” Nancy questioned.
    Mrs. Thurston threw her arms up dramatically. “More bad luck has fallen on us! We’ve been double jinxed!”
    “More trouble?” Nancy exclaimed, incredulous. “Can you tell us what happened?”
    The woman began to twist a handkerchief nervously in her hands. “Poor Oscar! Oh, why do these things happen to us?”
    Nancy and Ned waited patiently for her to explain. Finally she said, “Nearly all the birds in one of the cages are ill. Oscar and Rausch are busy treating them with antibiotics but a few have already died.”
    “What’s the matter with them?” Ned asked.
    “Is Petra all right?” Nancy queried. She turned to Ned and said, “That’s the name of Kammy’s wryneck.”
    Mrs. Thurston ground her teeth. “That girl! She’s been getting free board here in return for helping Oscar. Now she walks off and takes Petra with her!”
    Nancy felt that she must come to Kammy’s defense. “I suppose she was afraid Petra would become ill too. She not only loves that bird, Mrs. Thurston, but she considers it as her link to her native land. She declares it brings her good, not bad, luck.”
    Ned spoke up. “If Kammy isn’t here, then your husband is short-handed for helpers.”
    “Yes, he is. Of course Rausch works hard, but he mostly takes care of the animals while Oscar watches all the birds.”
    Nancy and Ned looked at each other, then she said, “Let’s go pitch in.”
    They excused themselves and went out the kitchen door. Mr. Thurston was just coming to the house. Nancy introduced Ned.
    “We came to help you,” she said.
    “That’s very kind,” he said. “All the sick birds are in the last cage. Don’t go in there. They probably have ornithosis and humans can catch it. I’ll continue with my treatment.
    “If you want to help, open the door of that shed over there and bring back pails of bird food. All the different bags are marked. Breeds of birds eat certain food that others don’t. You’ll see the feeding troughs. When you get through with that work, fill the