A Likely Clue

Nancy thrust thelittle hook into the pocket of her sports frock. She resisted the temptation to examine it on the spot, for the fire had reached its height and sparks were flying in every direction.

She glanced quickly about but could not locate her friends. Bess and George were lost in the crowd.

A flying ember which struck the ground at Nancy's feet warned her that she had better be on the move. The wind had wheeled until it was blowing toward the main road. She was alarmed to see that a patch of dry grass had become ignited only a short distance from where the automobiles were parked. A group of men were beating at the flames with old gunny-sacks but the burning embers were dropping everywhere, and it was apparent that the line of cars was in danger.

" Time I get my roadster out of there, unless I want to go home minus a top, " Nancy told herself.

Before she could translate the thought into action she was astonished to see a young man deliberately climb into the car and start the motor. Did he intend to move it to a safer place, or was he trying to steal it?

Nancy was far too wary to trust a stranger, especially as she knew that the confusion offered an automobile thief an excellent opportunity. She managed to reach the roadster just as the self-appointed driver threw the gears into reverse, and started to back, skillfully avoiding the other machines which were parked at various angles nearby.

" Your car, Miss? " he inquired with a disarming smile as Nancy stepped upon the running board. " I saw it was in danger and I thought I'd move it out for you."

" Thank you, " Nancy murmured a trifle uncertainly. " I think it will be safe here unless the wind changes again."

She continued to stand on the running board, for while she liked the appearance of the young man, she felt that she could not afford to take a chance in the crowd.

The youth was not more than eighteen or nineteen, Nancy decided, surveying him critically. His hair was dark and slightly curly, his eyes whimsical and friendly. The black and gold sweater which he wore suggested that he might be a college student, perhaps a member of the football team.

Nancy knew better than to judge entirely by appearances and accordingly was not overly friendly. She was well aware that her roadster was one of the most expensive cars in the lineup, and it seemed a trifle odd that the stranger had selected that particular automobile unless his motives were not of the best.

Perhaps the young man read Nancy's thoughts, for with only a friendly nod of farewell he slid from behind the wheel and disappeared into the crowd.

" I don't know what to make of him, " Nancy thought in bewilderment. " He looked like a nice boy—and yet these days one can't be sure of anything. Oh dear, I wish George and Bess would come! "

At that very moment she caught sight of her chums hurrying toward her.

" We thought we'd lost you for good, " George declared as she climbed in beside Nancy. " Look at my dress, will you! I stumbled over a stone and landed flat! "

" I think it's time we started for home, " Nancy suggested with an anxious glance toward the darkening sky. " This fire will last for hours. We've done all we can to help."

Bess and George were ready to leave, and it seemed that dozens of others were of the same mind. The veering of the wind had endangered nearly all the cars in the vicinity of the burning house, and as the various drivers hurriedly sought the one narrow lane leading to the main road, a traffic jam resulted.

Horns tooted incessantly and nerves were tried to the breaking point. Fenders scraped and angry words were hurled back and forth.

" Why don't they stop honking their horns! " Nancy exclaimed impatiently. " It doesn't help a bit—it just drives one almost wild."

" We'll be here all night, " George observed gloomily.

Inch by inch the roadster progressed toward the main road, Nancy maintaining a steady nerve and perfect control of clutch and foot brake.

The jam of cars might have unsnarled itself with no mishaps, had not a new shower of sparks descended upon the automobiles nearest the house. The drivers of the endangered cars began to force the main stream of traffic, endeavoring to crowd in out of turn.

" Look out! " George cried suddenly. " That man is going to hit us! "

Nancy was helpless in trying to avert the disaster. An inexperienced driver, undoubtedly made nervous by the excitement, had lost control of his car. It plowed into the rear of Nancy's roadster with a jolt which nearly flung the three girls through the windshield.

Nancy was out of the car in an instant. She saw at a glance that her roadster had been badly damaged. One fender was crumpled, the rear light was smashed, and the bumper dragged on the ground.

Nancy's inclination was to tell the driver what she thought of the inexperienced way in which he handled his car, but instead she merely wrote down his name, address, and license number and returned to the wheel.

" Aren't you going to make him pay for the damage? " Bess gasped. " You'll have a huge garage bill."

" I can't argue with him in this jam, " Nancy returned. " The thing to do is to get away from here—if we can. I have his name and you may be sure I'll look him up and present my bill! "

" How'll we get home with that bumper dragging? " George questioned morosely.

" We'll have to stop at a garage, if we can find one."

" Or even get there, '' Bess added. ''The rear of the car sounds as though it were about to fall out."

" Our parents will be having a thousand and one fits, " George declared.

The girls might have been detained on the hillside indefinitely had not a self-appointed traffic policeman taken charge of the situation. In a very few minutes the efficient young man had the line of cars moving steadily, and by the time the girls reached the exit of the Raybolt grounds the tangle was fairly well straightened out.

To Nancy's surprise she saw that the young man was the same one who had moved her car a short time before.

" I did misjudge him, " she chided herself. " He was only trying to help and didn't have the slightest intention of stealing my roadster. How silly of me! "

Through the gate at last, Nancy pulled off to the side of the main road to learn how badly her car had been damaged. While she was surveying the rear axle doubtfully, the young man came over and offered his services.

" I'm Ned Nickerson, " he declared with a warm smile. " Anything I can do? "

" We are in trouble, " Nancy admitted ruefully. " How far is it to the nearest garage? "

" Over two miles—at Mapleton."

" I wonder if the car will hold together that far."

" It should, if your axle isn't badly damaged."

" But with the bumper dragging–"

" I'll fix that I might as well pull it off entirely."

With a strong, deft twist, Ned Nickerson tore off the bumper and tossed it into the rear com­partment of the roadster.

" Look here! " he proposed suddenly. " I'm going to Mapleton. I'll keep close behind your car and if you get into trouble, I'll give you a tow."

" That's kind of you, I'm sure, " Nancy said gratefully, " but I don't like to trouble you."

" No trouble at all. Glad to do it."

Ned Nickerson indeed welcomed an opportunity to aid Nancy, for he had been attracted to her from the first. He was eager to learn who she was and where she lived.

Nancy was not in the habit of giving her name to strangers but she did like this helpful young man. She was aware that he was going to considerable trouble to aid her in reaching the Mapleton garage and it seemed ungrateful not to introduce herself. Later, when they were all in Mapleton waiting for a mechanic to inspect the damaged roadster, there came an opportunity for her to give her name and that of her friends.

" I'm afraid I can't have this car ready for at least an hour, Miss, " the garage man told Nancy after a brief inspection. " Even at that I can't get at the fenders. You'll have to leave the car until tomorrow or else get the work done at your home garage. The best I can do for you tonight is to fix you up so you can get home."

" An hour, you say? " Nancy asked. " I suppose we'll have to wait but we're in a desperate hurry to get to River Heights."

Ned Nickerson, who lived in Mapleton, proposed that while they were waiting they might indulge in ice cream sodas at the drug store directly across the street. The girls accepted with alacrity, for anything was preferable to waiting in the garage.

The hour passed more quickly than the girls had anticipated, and soon it was time to return for the roadster. Ned accompanied them to the garage.

" I'll have the car ready for you in ten minutes, " the mechanic promised.

The wait was not very pleasant, for the only available chairs were already occupied by town loafers who had no instincts of gallantry. They were so engrossed in a heated discussion of the Raybolt fire that they paid little attention to the girls.

Nancy was interested in the subject under discussion and moved nearer the group.

" 'Pears mighty strange to me that a fire would start when the place ain't been occupied all summer, " one old-timer commented.

" Old Raybolt deserved to be burnt out, " another added. " The skin-flint! He'd steal a crust of bread from a starvin' widder! "

" Wouldn't surprise me if he burned it down himself—to git the insurance, " a third voice chimed in. " If he didn't, it's the first time Foxy Felix missed a chance to make some easy money."

Nancy heard no more, for at that moment the mechanic announced that the roadster was ready.

" It's the best I could do on such short notice, " he told her. " Better have your local garage man give it a general overhauling when you get home."

While Ned was backing the car out of the shop, Nancy paid the bill and asked the mechanic to give her a receipted bill, explaining that she wished to collect from the motorist who had crashed into her.

" I take it Mr. Raybolt isn't very well liked around here, " she remarked to Ned as she relieved him at the wheel.

" Rather not, " Ned declared emphatically. " He's about as popular as a chaperon at a party! "

" They call him Foxy Felix, don't they? "

" Yes, and from all one hears about him the name is deserved." An odd expression flashed across Ned's face and he looked intently at Nancy for a second. " I wonder what could have started that fire! You know, I have a sneaking suspicion it didn't start by spontaneous combustion."

" So have I, " Nancy returned with a meaningful smile.

Before Ned could question her she quickly thanked him for his help; then drove slowly away.

" You girls haven't seen the last of me, " the young man called gaily after them. " I know the road to River Heights and you mustn't be surprised if I follow it one of these days! "