"Don't say it, Hannah!"

Nancy kissed her and promised to be careful. Seated in her blue convertible, her blond hair blowing in the soft summer breeze as she drove along, Nancy made a charming picture. But her expression was serious and her thoughts were on the circus performer. The young detective wondered what kind of misfortune she had met.

Ten minutes later Nancy parked the car in the driveway of the riding academy and walked to Señor Roberto's office. Hitch, the stableman, greeted her in his usual glum manner. The groom, whom Nancy knew only by his nickname, never changed his dour expression.

"The boss ain't here," he muttered.

"When will Señor Roberto return?"

"How should I know?" the unpleasant man grumbled. He suddenly shook his finger at Nancy. "If you know what's good for you, Miss Drew, you'll stay away from circus ridin'."

"Circus riding?" Nancy asked, puzzled. "I haven't been doing any circus riding."

"Yes, you have, too." Hitch's voice was rising angrily. "That's what Roberto tries on everybody who shows a leanin' for it. But I'm tellin' you, quit it! Stop now! Right now!"

Nancy stared in amazement at Hitch, whose eyes were blazing. What could be back of his outburst, she wondered. A hatred of Roberto?

"Nobody what ain't been brought up in a circus has got any right to try imitatin' circus folks!" Hitch shouted. "I tell you—"

The tirade ended abruptly when the stableman saw Señor Roberto walking across the outdoor riding ring toward his office. The irate helper ambled off, saying he would bring her mare. Nancy stepped outside.

"Good afternoon, Miss Drew," the riding master said with a smile. "Sorry to be late."

"I didn't mind waiting," Nancy replied. "Hitch and I were talking. He—er—seemed a bit upset."

"About the circus, no doubt," Roberto commented. "Hitch will never get over his dismissal from Sims'. He doesn't talk about much else."