Jim Archer relieved the farmer of the reins, and the horses started off. Bess began to sing a familiar song. The others joined in.
“Why so quiet, Nancy?” Ned asked when he noticed she was not singing.
“Oh, just thinking,” she replied. “Ned, will you do me a favor?”
“Just name it, and it’s done.”
“I’ll tell you about it later.”
An hour later Jim brought the hayrack safely into the parking lot of the Red Lion Inn. One by one the young people climbed out, brushing wisps of hay from their clothing.
“We’re sights, but it’s worth it!” George laughed as she straightened her short, wind-blown hair. “And I’m hungry!”
“Look who’s here!” said Bess, nudging Nancy.
Michael and a tall young man whose face they could not see quickly crossed the parking lot and entered the restaurant. Nancy’s heart began to beat excitedly. Michael’s companion had bushy hair and wore a dark jacket!
“He’s the man who stole the jeweled ornament from me!” she thought. “I’m sure of itl”
Quietly she told the others. “Seeing them together makes me think that Michael was behind the theft,” she said.
“Are you going to call the police?” Bess asked.
“Not now,” Nancy replied. “We may learn something by watching the two of them.”
The young people trooped into the old inn. It was a long, brick building with a stone chimney at each end. The candle-lighted interior had been restored with its Colonial furnishings.
“What a delightful place for a party!” said Katherine. “Now we find Richard.”
Ned learned from the headwaiter that the artist had not arrived yet.
“That’s odd,” said Nancy. “We’re late too.”
“Maybe he changed his plans at the last minute,” Helen suggested a while later.
Katherine was quiet, and the others realized that she was very much embarrassed. Twice Michael had come to the table and asked her to dance. She not only had refused, but changed seats to be near Nancy.
“I worry about Richard,” she said.
“If I only knew his address, I could telephone,” Nancy said thoughtfully.
Katherine volunteered the information that Mr. Ellington lived at an apartment house known as the Warrington Arms. She and Nancy left the room and looked for a booth in the hall. A friend who lived with him answered.
“No, Mr. Ellington is not here,” he told Nancy. “About an hour ago he called from Harbortown, saying he planned to go directly to the Red Lion Inn.”
Thanking the man for the information, Nancy hung up and turned to face her friend.
“He should have been here long ago,” she said, growing more alarmed, “Harbortown is only a mile from here.”
“What happened to him?” cried Katherine. “Maybe his car go off road-an accident!”
“I was thinking the same thing,” Nancy replied quietly. “It seems to me that we should call the police.”
CHAPTER XVII
NANCY immediately telephoned the police department. No accidents had been reported within the past hour, and no one of Richard Ellington’s description had been reported in trouble.
“I guess we worried unnecessarily,” Nancy thought in relief. “But it’s strange that he should be delayed so long.”
As she opened the door of the booth, Nancy was surprised to find that Katherine had gone. Instantly she knew why. Michael was walking in Nancy’s direction. She would have passed him with only a cold nod if he had not blocked her path.
“Miss Drew, may I say something to you?” he asked in a wheedling tone.
Nancy was surprised at the young man’s change of attitude toward her. What did his sudden friendly overture mean?
“I want to apologize for the way I’ve acted,” he went on. “I said some things I didn’t mean.”
“I’ll accept your apology,” Nancy replied.
“We ought to be good friends. Grandmother wants it that way.”
“Yes, I guess she does,” Nancy said. After a pause she added, “Suppose I come to the house tomorrow to tea. Will you be there?”
“Tomorrow? Uh-no-yes. I had some business to attend to, but I’ll put it off.”
Nancy felt sure the man had some ulterior motive for being so polite and friendly.
“Grandmother thinks I’m tops now,” Michael went on. “She’ll keep on thinking that if Anna will just mind her own business. The old busy-body keeps telling Grandmother not to give me money. I have to baby Anna along all the time. Why don’t you put in a good word for me?”
Nancy smiled, realizing now why the man had adopted such a cordial attitude.
“So you think I have influence with Anna?” she asked.
“Sure. Whatever you say goes with her. How about it?”
“We’ll see,” Nancy replied. “Be sure to be at home tomorrow afternoon. By the way, who was the man with you?”
Michael showed surprise at the question but answered, “I don’t know. I picked him up a little way from here.”
Before Michael could query Nancy about her interest in the stranger, she moved on to rejoin her friends.
Katherine Kovna and everyone else was relieved to hear that Mr. Ellington had not been in an accident.
The young dress designer’s evening, however, was spoiled. The others were very kind to her, and the boys saw to it that she danced a great deal. While Nancy and Ned were dancing together, he asked what she thought of Richard Ellington not making an appearance.
“I’m really worried that something has happened to him,” she replied. “He’s too much of a gentleman not to have sent word.”
“Well, if he wasn’t in an accident, what else would have delayed him?” Ned persisted.
“Lots of things. Thieves could have waylaid him, knocked him out, and stolen his car.”
“Then let’s get out of here and go look for him,” Ned suggested.
He was glad of an excuse to walk in the moonlight with Nancy. As they followed the road that wound in and out along the river, Ned felt only the romance of the evening.
But Nancy’s thoughts kept reverting to the mystery. It was an eerie night. Now and then clouds would obscure the moon, causing grotesque shadows to flicker across their path.
“Ned, what was that?” Nancy stopped short, gripping his arm. “I saw a figure hiding behind that giant pine tree,” she whispered. “We’re being followed.”
“Why should anyone follow us? Come on,” he urged. “You want to find Ellington, don’t you?”
Somewhat dubiously, Nancy allowed herself to be led on down the road. She kept her gaze fastened on the line of trees. Suddenly the moving shadow appeared again.
“Ned, I’m sure we’re being spied upon!”
The boy started toward the trees, but Nancy pulled him back.
“We’re in danger,” she cautioned. “I can’t explain more now, but we must go right back.”
Quickly she turned and began to run, Ned at her heels. Not until she was within the rays of light from the inn did she slow down to a walk.
“Now tell me what’s going on,” Ned panted.
“Something of tremendous importance is at stake. I don’t trust Michael, and I feel his being here tonight is to establish an alibi. I have a plan that I was going to carry out tomorrow, but I think I should do so tonight.”
“The one you wanted me to help you with?”
“Yes. Get Jim and wait here for me. I’ll locate our victim!” she replied tensely.
Scarcely had Ned vanished into the inn when Nancy saw a tall man coming hurriedly along the road. He was Michael’s companion. Quickly she ducked behind a bush.
“He must be the one who followed Ned and me,” she thought.
The man passed close to where she crouched. Without noticing her, he entered the inn.
“I’ll trail him!” Nancy determined.