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could have lots of fun here when you’re not working on your mysteries.”
    “I’ll see what Dad says,” Nancy promised. “Anyhow, I’ll come back tonight. I’d like another chance to catch whoever is responsible for that ring of blue fire.”
    After breakfast she walked down the hill to where she and Helen had seen the strange phenomenon the night before. Here and there she found singed twigs and leaves, but had no time to look for other clues. Jim was waiting with the car.
    When Nancy entered her own house a little later, she found Effie whistling cheerfully in the kitchen. Her hair was topped by a pink bow.
    “Oh, hello, Nancy! Your father’s gone already, but he said to tell you he’d see you tonight. Your friend Bess called. She and George are back. They want you to phone them right away.”
    Just then the back doorbell rang. Nancy turned to see a small boy outside the screen.
    “Hello, Johnny,” she said, walking over to him.
    “Hi, Nancy!” he said. “What’s in that box in your back yard?”
    Effie cut in quickly, “A pigeon. And don’t you touch it!” The girl explained to Nancy that she had taken the pigeon’s box from the garage and placed it in the yard. I put on a lid with holes in it. Now he can get air and a little sunlight.”
    “I peeped through a hole,” said Johnny, “and I saw something move. Is it a bird? I like birds. My Mommy has a parakeet. Oh, Nancy, can I have some cookies?”
    Nancy laughed and gave him the last one in the jar. “That’s all.”
    “It’s okay. I’ll go play with your bird.”
    “No, no,” Nancy said quickly. “Leave the bird alone. I don’t want it to fly away.”
    The telephone rang and Nancy went to answer it. The caller wanted the library. “I’m sorry,” Nancy said, “you have the wrong—”
    She broke off as Effie’s shrill cry sounded from the kitchen.
    “Help, Nancy! The bird is loose!”
    With a gasp of alarm, Nancy hung up the phone and dashed for the kitchen. Effie was standing at the back door, wringing her hands. Outside, Johnny was squatting beside the box, holding the lid in his hand. The pigeon was looking over the edge.
    “Don’t move, Johnny!” Nancy called, and hurried out with Effie behind her.
    “He wants to fly,” the little boy said. “He flaps his wings like anything. See?”
    The bewildered bird hopped to the edge of the box and sat there, balancing and stretching.
    “Stay still, Johnny!” Nancy warned. “Don’t frighten it!”
    “He isn’t scared of me,” the boy answered confidently. “He likes me. See?”
    Johnny’s chubby little hands swooped toward the bird. Alarmed, the pigeon flapped its wings, rose awkwardly into the air, and landed just out of reach on a kitchen window sill.
    “Oh dear!” said Nancy hardly daring to breathe. “We must get it down.”
    Effie was already dragging a light lawn chair to the window. “I’ll get him for you.”
    “Wait! That won’t hold you.”
    Before Nancy could stop her, Effie leaped onto the chair seat and reached for the sill. Nancy grabbed for the chair. Too late! It tipped. With a wild cry Effie toppled off, her arms flailing.
    The frightened bird flew away!

CHAPTER VII
    Unfriendly Keeper
    “EIFFIE! Are you hurt?” Nancy cried. But even as she helped the girl to her feet, Nancy’s anxious glance went to the bird flying across the yard.
    “I’m all right,” Effie said breathlessly. “I’m sorry I scared him away. Oh, there he is!”
    She pointed to the pigeon who had come to rest on the garage roof. Then, flying slowly and uncertainly, it flapped about in a circle and took off toward the front of the house.
    Nancy grabbed Effie’s hand. “Come on!” She pulled Effie toward her car, which was parked near the front door. “I’ll drive. You watch for the bird. We must follow it!”
    Flustered, Effie climbed in beside Nancy, taking off her apron and chattering apologies.
    “Don’t talk! Just watch,” Nancy said crisply.
    Effie, clutching her