"Your father did telephone, though," Hannah reported. "He was disappointed that you weren't here."

"Did he have anything special to tell me?" Nancy asked.

"No, except to say that he would have to be away for a while—he didn't know just how long."

Nancy looked wistful. She missed her father very much when his legal work took him out of town. She enjoyed discussing his cases with him and also getting his advice on any mysteries which she happened to be working on at the moment.

"Well, I guess we're ready to sit down," said Mrs. Gruen. "Did you find out anything about your bracelet at the circus, Nancy?"

"No, I didn't. But I'll talk to more of the people later. The circus will be here for two or three days, I believe."

At nine o'clock Nancy and Teddy were on their way to the main street of River Heights along which the circus parade would come. Although the parade was not due to arrive for another half-hour, the street already was lined with hundreds of people. Nancy and Teddy had to walk four blocks from the center of town before they could find a place on the curb.

A few minutes later they heard a band. The music grew louder and louder, and presently they could see the marching players. Teddy clapped his hands and jumped up and down gleefully.

Nearer and nearer the band came. Suddenly the trumpet player let out a blast directly opposite the little boy, who clapped his hands over his ears. But in a moment he was laughing.

"Here come the elephants," Nancy announced, and Teddy craned his neck to see the enormous animals swinging up the street.

Men and women attired in gay costumes accompanied the elephants. The men were seated astride the animals' backs, but the girls were walking alongside them. Occasionally they would seat themselves on the elephants' curled-up trunks and ride for half a block before jumping off.

"Gee, I bet that would be fun," said Teddy. "Oh, here comes Cinderella in a gold carriage."