“What if Amy doesn’t let us in her house?” Bess asked.
“She will,” Nancy said, smiling. “When she sees Hannah’s circus cookies!”
After camp the girls had milk and cookies at Nancy’s house. Then they carried a plate of cookies to Amy’s house.
“Amy is playing in the guest house,” Mrs. Wilder said after she opened the door.“Why don’t you surprise her with those yummylooking cookies?”
The girls walked around the yellow house to the backyard. Nancy saw a much smaller house. It had green shutters and was surrounded by trees.
That’s the clubhouse, Nancy thought.
The girls hurried over to the little house. Nancy knocked on the door.
“Amy?” Nancy called.“Are you there?”
No one answered.
The girls raced to a window. They stood on their toes and peeked through.
“This window is too high,” Bess said. She jumped up and down on her toes.
“Yeah,” George said.“Even if Celeste is inthere, we won’t be able to see her. Not unless she hops up.”
Nancy’s eyes lit up. “Did you say hops up?” she cried.“That’s it!”
Bess and George looked puzzled as Nancy stepped back. She cupped her hands around her mouth and began to shout: “Hopscotch! Hopscotch! Hopscotch!”
George shook her head.“Nancy, what are you—”
Suddenly a big white poodle with a pink tuft of hair began bouncing past the window on her hind legs!
“It’s Celeste!” the girls cried at the same time.
Amy ran around the clubhouse. Her mouth fell open, and she dropped the big bag of dog food she was holding. Nancy could see that it was the Dynamo Dog Biscuits.
“W-w-what are you doing by my clubhouse?”Amy stammered.
“You mean,doghouse,”Nancy said.
Amy stared down at her purple sneakers. “I didn’t steal Celeste if that’s what you’re thinking,” she said.
“Then why is she here?” Nancy asked.
Amy dragged her sneaker in the dirt. Then she took a deep breath.
“Monday afternoon I sneaked back to the tent to play with Celeste,” Amy said. “I made sure the Webers didn’t see me when I opened the cage.”
“Youleft the cage door open?” Bess asked.
“I closed it but forgot to latch it,” Amy explained.“It was an accident!”
So that’s who left the latch up, Nancy thought. Amy!
“Celeste followed me home,” Amy went on. “I thought I’d play with her awhile in my clubhouse and then return her. I guess I played too long because when I went back to the park it was closed.”
“You could have brought her back the next day,” George said.
Amy shook her head. “Everyone knew how much I wanted a dog,” she said.“I was afraid they’d think I’dstolenCeleste!”
Nancy felt a bit sorry for Amy. If she had told the truth in the beginning this would never have happened.
“We’ll help you return Celeste,” Nancy said. “If you promise to tell Gunther and Hilda the truth.”
Amy thought about that. Then she smiled.“It’s a deal!” she said.
The girls waited until Amy brought Celeste out of the clubhouse.
“Hi, Celeste,” George said.“Long time no see.”
Celeste wagged her tail as she followed the girls.
“Come on, girl,” Nancy said gently. “You’re going home.”
“Beep! Beep!”
Nancy looked up. She saw Orson riding past Amy’s house on a bicycle. He was wearing his Bosco Bigfoot costume.
“Not again!” Nancy groaned.
Celeste glared at Orson and growled. Then she barked, kicked up her heels, and began chasing Orson’s bicycle.
“Celeste, stop!”Amy yelled. The four girls raced up the sidewalk after Celeste.
“Call her off!” Orson shouted as he rode his bike into the park.
“Woof!” Celeste barked.
The girls dashed into the park, too. Nancy watched as Orson fell off his bike, right in front of the circus tent.
“Get her off meeee!” Orson cried as Celeste began licking his red nose.
Gunther and Hilda ran out of the tent. They smiled when they saw Celeste.
“Where did you find her?” Hilda asked. She had happy tears in her eyes.
Amy stepped forward and told the Webers everything.
“I should have told you sooner,” Amy said.“I’m really sorry.”
“Apology accepted,” Hilda said. She turned to Nancy. “And we’re sorry for not believing you, Nancy.”
“Apology accepted,” Nancy said with a grin.
Gunther scratched Celeste around her neck.“From now on Celeste will wear a dog tag, like a normal dog.”
“Perhaps a solid gold dog tag,” Hilda added.
“Ahhh-choooo!” Orson sneezed and his nose went flying in the air.
“And as for you, Orson,” Gunther said.“I think you should find out what’s really making you sneeze.”
“I did.” Orson sniffed.“It’s the red rubber nose. But I never told you because I didn’t want to stop being a clown.”
Nancy rolled her eyes. All this time Orson had been blaming Celeste!
“I suppose we canpaintyour nose red, Orson,” Gunther said.
“You can do that?” Orson asked.
“Not me,” Gunther said.“But Splatter the elephant is pretty good with a brush.”
Nancy giggled. She could tell Gunther was joking, but Orson looked pretty worried.
Gunther and Hilda went into their trailer to call the news reporters.
“That was close!” Orson said.“I thought they’d boot me from circus camp.”
“Don’t worry, Orson,” Nancy said with a smirk.“You’llalwaysbe a clown. As long as you live!”
“Really?” Orson said. His eyes lit up. “Thanks!”
Nancy watched as Orson hopped on hisbike and rode away. Celeste barked, but this time she didn’t chase him.
“I’m going to miss having Celeste in my clubhouse,”Amy said with a sigh.
“You can come to my house and play with Chocolate Chip anytime,” Nancy said.
“Thanks, Nancy.” Amy smiled. “I think I’m going to like River Heights!”
On Saturday night the circus show was a big success. Celeste performed her tricks like a star. With Bess’s help Splatter painted a masterpiece, and George bounced higher than ever on the trampoline.
Nancy had to admit that the Flying Tremendoes were tremendous. Even Orson and the Chuckle Brigade made her laugh. As for Amy, she announced every act in style.
Nancy was a little sad that camp was over but glad that she’d solved her case. That night she wrote in her detective notebook:
Daddy was right. It’s more important to tell the truth than do something thatdoesn’t feel right later. I think Amy learned that this week.
I learned something, too. An elephant never forgets. And some of them make great detectives!
Case closed.
Carolyn Keene, Circus Act
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