Part 11 (1/2)

Nancy was disappointed that her father had not returned. It was only a little after eight o'clock, but after talking to the housekeeper a few minutes, Nancy went to her bedroom.

”I'll have another look at that diary,” she thought. ”Perhaps I'll be able to make something out of it, now that I know more about Joe Swenson.”

For one hour Nancy, with added incentive, patiently applied herself to the task of deciphering the cramped English scrawl. She looked at the drawing again and wondered whether it was a sketch for part of the stolen invention. Finally she was able to distinguish a few paragraphs-mostly notations of supplies purchased from various manufacturing concerns.

”Maybe Joe Swenson found a job in one of those places!” Nancy thought optimistically. ”I'll go from one to another and inquire!”

Any possible lead was welcome at this point, Nancy told herself excitedly. She scanned the notations again. Her eyes lingered on the name of a company in the small city of Stanford.

”That's where Mr. Baylor Weston lives-the man who ran into my car,” the young detective murmured. ”I'll go to Stanford first, and see Mr. Weston at the same time!”

When Nancy came down to breakfast the next morning she found a sealed envelope beside her plate. She was mystified to note there was no return address on it.

”A man left the envelope early this morning,” Mrs. Gruen told Nancy.

CHAPTER IX.

A Scare

EAGERLY Nancy tore open the envelope and unfolded the sheet inside.

”A bill for the repairs to my car,” she told Hannah Gruen. ”It sounds very fair. Mr. Baylor Weston-who ran into me-shouldn't mind paying this amount.”

The housekeeper laughed. ”The garage mechanic was certainly prompt in delivering his bill.”

”I asked him to be,” Nancy defended the man. ”I want to present this bill and the Mapleton garage one right away to Mr. Weston.”

”That's the spirit,” came a voice from the doorway. ”Good morning!” Mr. Drew walked in, kissed Nancy, and asked, ”How are you, Hannah?”

Carson Drew took his place at the head of the table, then said, ”Nancy, I learned yesterday that Baylor Weston owns an electronics factory in Stanford.”

”What a break for me!” Nancy exclaimed. ”I can do two errands at once.” She told about having seen the name of the Stanford Electronics Company in the diary, and her intention of finding out if Mr. Swenson worked there.

”Excellent idea,” said Mr. Drew. ”And now for more news.”

”You found Mr. Raybolt?” Nancy asked eagerly.

”Yes and no. To be strictly correct, I found Mrs. Raybolt.”

”Where is she, Dad?”

”At a summer resort on Lake Mentor. I talked with Mrs. Raybolt on the phone. She became very upset about the fire and told me she would return today to look into the matter.”

”And her husband?”

”She didn't say where he is and was rather evasive when I questioned her about him.”

”I'd like to talk to Mrs. Raybolt, Dad.”