Orange trees were burning everywhere

“Let’s try another section, ” George suggested, and began lugging the hose forward.

Just then they heard the fire engines arriving. The girls, however, kept on with their own work.

In a short while two of the firemen came into the grove dragging a large hose. Suddenly they realized that the trees were already being hosed, and were astounded to see the job being done by three girls.

“Good work! ” said one.

With the two steady streams of water, the rest of the fires in the grove were soon extinguished.

“Who’s in charge here? ” one of the firemen asked Nancy.

“The foreman, Antin Resardo. I think he’s at the packing house.”

“Let’s get out of here, ” Bess suggested. “This place smells horrible.”

The scent of scorched oranges mixed with burning wood was bad enough, but added to this was rank-smelling steam. The girls’ eyes were smarting and they were covered with soot.

“We’ll take care of your hose, ” said one of the firemen. “You’d better go to the house and bathe your eyes.”

“We will, ” Nancy replied.

On the way, back they met Hannah, who reported that the packing house was a complete wreck.

“It’s a shame, ” she said. “The fire chief is convinced this was the work of a firebug.”

Nancy said she thought the arsonist might be the enemy of Mr. Billington who had used his name to deliver the explosive oranges. “Whoever the person is he knows he’s being pursued. He hopes to intimidate Mr. Billington into dropping the hunt by ruining his orange business.”

The others agreed. Hannah said a neighbor had offered to let Mr. Billington use his packing house until he could build a new one. “Only I’m afraid there aren’t many good oranges left.”

When they reached the house Nancy said she must telephone her father at once. “I’ll tell him what has happened so he can pass the word along to Mr. Billington.”

Fortunately he was in his office and she quickly told the story. Mr. Drew was astounded.

“I’ll get in touch with Mr. and Mrs. Billington immediately about coming down. Please stay there. I’ll call you back.”

Within half an hour Mr. Drew phoned. He and the Billingtons were leaving River Heights at once in order to make a quick plane connection in New York.

“We’ll get to Melbourne about ten tonight, ” he said. “Please meet us, Nancy.”

“Bess and George and I will be there, ” she promised.

Nancy reported the conversation to Hannah and the girls, then said, “I’d like to go back to the packing house and look through the ruins if they’re cool enough. Maybe we’ll find a clue to the arsonist.”

Bess and George were eager to join her.

“Setting those fires was a wicked thing to do, ” Bess declared.

When the girls arrived at the water-soaked ruin, they walked around it, their eyes alert for any clue. Suddenly, in a heap of half-burned papers, Nancy spotted something that could be a clue. She bent down and picked up a scrap of paper.

“Look at this! ” she exclaimed excitedly.