A Feast

After outlining her plan, Nancy waited expectantly for Mrs. Swenson's response. During the moment of silence she clearly read the woman's thoughts. She was battling with her pride.

" How kind of you to take an interest in us, " Mrs. Swenson said at last. " I appreciate it more than I can tell you."

" Then we may go ahead with our plan? " Nancy asked eagerly.

Mrs. Swenson nodded and smiled.

" Yes, it will be wonderful to have a 'feast, ' as you call it. We haven't had one since my husband left." Mrs. Swenson caught herself quickly, and said, " Joe is away looking for work. I'm sure he'll send me money in a few days and then I can repay you for–"

" Oh, but this is a special party, " Nancy interrupted gaily. " You mustn't think of repaying me."

During the ride to town Mrs. Swenson seldom spoke. She leaned wearily against the cushions, a half-smile playing over her pale face. Her faded blue eyes were kind, but the privations brought on by poverty had stamped grim lines about her mouth and had streaked her hair with gray.

Nancy parked the roadster on the main street of Sandy Creek and insisted that Mrs. Swenson assist her in selecting the things for the feast. They chose a quantity of staples and then Nancy added as many luxuries as she could find on the market. Ice cream, a thick, juicy steak, fresh fruit and vegetables, cake from the bakery and an assortment of melons.

" You're buying enough to last a week! " Mrs. Swenson declared.

That was exactly what Nancy had intended to do. Not until she had practically exhausted her funds would she listen to the other's protests. The grocer carried the heavy packages to the roadster for them.

" If it weren't for Honey, I would never permit you to spend money on us, " Mrs. Swenson said. " We're not accustomed to accepting charity. When my husband was employed, we lived well. We should still be well off if he hadn't been cheated out of his rights! "

This gave Nancy an opening, and as they drove back toward Riverwood Cottage she skillfully questioned the woman. However, Mrs. Swenson was more cautious than Honey and told very little about her husband. She seemed eager to impress Nancy with his kindness, rather than his laxness.

" Joe was always good to me and he adores Honey. Folks say he's lazy but it isn't true. He's always worked—harder than most folks. He's an inventor, and if he hadn't been cheated out of his patents, we'd be wealth–"

She broke off as the roadster turned a corner and barely missed striking another car. It was the fault of neither driver, for the road was extremely narrow.

Nancy slowed her car and then brought it to an abrupt stop as she recognized the man behind the wheel of the other automobile.

" Ned Nickerson! "

" Nancy Drew! "

With a pleased grin which seemed to spread over his entire face, Ned climbed over the door of the runabout and came hurrying toward the roadster.

" What are you doing in my country? " he asked.

" Oh, just prowling about, " Nancy laughed. " Do you realize we nearly crashed? "

" I was wishing I'd meet yon again, but not in such a violent manner! Guess I took that corner a little fast. I was rushing home to get something to eat. I'm nearly starved."

" Better come with us, " Nancy proposed impetuously. " We're having a regular feast at Riverwood Cottage."

Ned accepted the invitation without an instant's hesitation and promised to follow in the runabout.

It was only a short distance to the cottage, and Mrs. Swenson showed no disposition to resume the interrupted conversation. Nancy had hoped that she would tell more about her husband's work, but the woman did not volunteer any additional information.

" I’ll talk to her about it before I leave the cottage, " she told herself. " I must get to the bottom of everything."

The few hints that Mrs. Swenson had dropped only served to trouble Nancy. Her father had told her that Felix Raybolt was interested in patents, and if Joe Swenson were an inventor it seemed reasonable that he might have visited the wealthy man on the night of the disastrous fire. Until she had learned all the facts, Nancy refused to permit her thoughts to dwell upon the unpleasant possibility that Honey's father was guilty of arson.

" Time enough to draw conclusions when I've heard his side of the story, " she thought. " In the meantime I'll say nothing that might ruin our little party."

As the two cars pulled in at Riverwood Cottage, Bess, George and Honey came running to see what Nancy had brought The little girl squealed with delight as she peeped into the various packages.

" You didn't forget Hans's bone? " she asked.

" I should say not, " Nancy told her. " The butcher gave us the best one in his shop."

Everyone helped to carry in the bundles. As Nancy stepped into the cottage it was her turn to be surprised. During her absence the girls had decorated the rooms with flowers from the garden and had brought out the best china, a lovely set of blue Willow ware.

" What beautiful dishes! " Nancy exclaimed admiringly.

" They're all I have left of our old things, " Mrs. Swenson said. " The set was given to me as a wedding present. I must sell it soon but I have kept putting it off."

" It seems a shame to sell a wedding gift, " Bess remarked sympathetically. " Especially such a lovely one as this."

Under the influence of the young people, Mrs. Swenson brightened. It was impossible to be downhearted around Ned and Nancy for they kept up a constant stream of good-natured banter. Mrs. Swenson, who was an excellent cook, took charge of the meal, but she had four able assistants, not to mention Honey and Hans who hovered near the stove where the steak was sizzling.

" Hans has his canine eye on another bone! " Ned laughed. " Well, he won't get it until we’ve picked it bare."

Nancy had not misnamed the supper, for it really was a feast. There was plenty of everything and it was a pleasure to see Honey's eyes grow big at the sight of each steaming dish that was brought to the table.

It was a very gay, happy meal, and Ned proved to be the life of the party. Even Mrs. Swenson's sober face lighted np and she ate her food with enjoyment. Nancy entered into the fun but her mind was far from carefree. Several times daring the meal George gazed at her significantly as though to ask what she intended to do about the matter of the diary. The girls had come to Sandy Creek to learn certain facts, but now that they realized how affairs were at the Swenson cottage it seemed unkind to bring further trouble upon the family.

" I want to show you my little baby chicks, " Honey announced when the meal was over. " I have ten white ones—all my own."

Ned and the girls obligingly followed the child out of doors.

" Coming? " Bess asked Nancy.

" No, I’ll stay and help clear up the dishes."

Nancy felt that it was her opportunity to talk with Mrs. Swenson alone. Yet, after the others had gone, she did not know how to launch out on the important subject. As she scraped dishes, she cautiously broached the subject of nationalities.

" We're Swedish, " Mrs. Swenson declared. " You probably guessed that."

Nancy had, but her heart sank at the definite assertion.

" You speak perfect English, " she replied.

" My husband is a university man, " the woman returned proudly. " He has always corrected my English and helped me with it."

Nancy could no longer doubt that Joe Swenson was the owner of the diary and the odd ring that Ned had found on the Raybolt estate. She felt so sick at heart at the discovery that she could not question the woman further. Mrs. Swenson, however, warming to Nancy, went on of her own accord:

" My husband is very clever, Miss Drew, but as I told you before he has been cheated out of his rights. Joe invented a safety device for an electric elevator but he was foolish enough to entrust the drawings to an unscrupulous man who promised to take out patents for him."

" He lost the invention? " Nancy prompted.

" Yes, the man took the patents out under his own name. He deliberately stole them from Joe."

" Who is the man? " Nancy asked tensely, yet fearing the answer.

Mrs. Swenson hesitated an instant and then said:

" Perhaps I shouldn't give his name, but since you'll most likely never see him, it can do no harm. The man who mined Joe, who broke his spirit, and started us down poverty row— is Felix Raybolt! "