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News of the Raybolts






 

When Nancy came down for breakfast the next morning she found a sealed envelope beside her plate.

" A man left it early this morning, " the housekeeper explained, buttering crisp slices of toast which she had removed from the electric toaster. " He said it was the bill for fixing the roadster."

" Oh, yes, " Nancy murmured, tearing open the envelope and glancing at the bill. " $20.32 —not bad considering all the work they did. But I don't mean to pay it myself."

Nancy had given her father the name and license number of the driver who had struck her car, and he had promised to find out just where the man lived. She meant to present the bill without delay.

" Well, I did considerable sleuthing for you yesterday, " Carson Drew announced a few minutes later as he took his place at the head of the table. " For one thing, that man, Baylor Weston, who ran into your car, lives over near Mapleton. Has a factory in Stanford."

" I'll go to see him right away, " Nancy declared. " I hope he doesn't protest about the bill."

" If he does, turn him over to me."

" I will, Dad. By the way, you didn't trace Felix Raybolt, did you? "

" Yes, I did. I was coming to that. To be strictly correct, I found Mrs. Raybolt. Her husband isn't with her."

" Where did you locate her? "

" At a summer resort place on Lake Mentor. I talked with Mrs. Raybolt over the long distance telephone. She seemed quite upset about the fire and said she would return today to determine the extent of the loss."

" Where is her husband? "

" She didn't say—was rather evasive when I questioned her."

" I'd like to meet her, Dad."

" Well, why don't you? It shouldn't be difficult to arrange an introduction."

" I have no excuse, and I don't 'want her to know I am especially interested in the case."

Carson Drew was thoughtful for a moment; then he chuckled.

" She's bound to stay at the Maplecroft because it's the only inn within three miles of the Raybolt estate. My guess would be that if you went there for luncheon you might meet her."

" That's a clever idea! " Nancy approved. " I see now why you are River Heights' leading lawyer! "

" Thank you, thank you, " Carson Drew murmured modestly.

Nancy was so taken with the idea that as soon as she had finished breakfast she telephoned her chums. Bess and George, who were always eager for adventure, quickly received permission to accompany her to Mapleton. Eleven o'clock found the girls enroute.

" I have a feeling that we are going to learn something important! " Nancy confided to her chums.

" If only Mrs. Raybolt lunches at the Maplecroft! " Bess murmured. " But how shall we arrange an introduction? "

" We'll find a way when the time comes, " Nancy promised.

It was only a few minutes after twelve when the girls reached the pleasant little inn which was located near the Raybolt estate.

" We're early, " Nancy commented as she parked the roadster beside a row of cars at the rear of the building. " She's probably not here yet."

The girls wandered up the cobblestone path to the inn, and through the open window they could see that but few guests were in the dining room and no woman dining alone.

" I haven't any idea what she looks like, " Nancy declared, " but undoubtedly she'll be by herself. I'm sure she hasn't come yet."

" Let's wait in the car, " George suggested. " We'll be certain to catch her then."

The girls returned to the roadster and waited there for almost an hour.

" We may as well have luncheon, " Bess finally said. " I don't believe she's coming after all."

" It looks that way, " Nancy admitted in disappointment. " Wait a second, though. Here comes another car."

Hopefully, the girls watched as a large automobile swept up the driveway. A chauffeur assisted a frail, nervous looking woman of middle age to alight. She clung unsteadily to his arm and for a moment the girls thought that she would faint.

" That must be Mrs. Raybolt! " Nancy whispered excitedly. " She's dreadfully upset about something! "

The girls quickly moved toward the other automobile. They heard the chauffeur say encouragingly:

" You’ll feel better, Mrs. Raybolt, after you have had your lunch."

The woman made no response other than a low moan. Still leaning on the chauffeur's arm she walked unsteadily up the path toward the inn.

" Goodness, " Bess exclaimed in a whisper, " isn't the poor woman white? She looks very ill. I shouldn't have thought her husband would have left her alone."

" She must have thought a lot of that house to carry on this way! " George whispered. " I suppose they let the insurance run out or something! "

Nancy did not reply, for she was watching Mrs. Raybolt closely and it struck her that the woman was actually ill. As the two reached the veranda, Mrs. Raybolt caught hold of the post for support.

" I can't go on, " she whispered weakly.

Then she fainted.

The chauffeur caught her in his arms as she fell and eased her to the level of the porch. Nancy and her chums, thoroughly alarmed, rushed forward to be of assistance.

" I'll get some water! " Nancy cried, and dashed inside the inn. Guests who had been sitting near the windows left their tables and came running out.

" Take her into the private sitting room, " the manager of the inn suggested kindly. " I'll call a doctor."

Mrs. Raybolt was carried inside and made comfortable on the couch. Her face was pale, but as Nancy applied a wet cloth to her forehead she revived somewhat.

" Felix! " she moaned. " Oh, Felix! "

" Your husband will be here soon, " Nancy murmured soothingly.

Her words had an astounding effect upon the woman. She half raised herself and her eyes, fluttering open, had a wild expression in them.

" My husband is dead, " she moaned. " He burned to death! "

" She must be hysterical, " someone in the crowd murmured. " Better get that doctor here as quickly as possible."

" Your husband isn't dead, " Nancy said comfortingly.

Mrs. Raybolt appeared not to hear her, for she went on wildly:

" He burned to death in the fire! Oh, Felix! "

" What's she talking about! " the inn-keeper demanded.

" She must be hysterical, " Nancy declared. " I'm sure her husband wasn't in the house at the time it burned."

Yet, even as she spoke, doubt besieged her. How did she know that Felix Raybolt hadn't been trapped inside the house? The fire had blazed up so quickly that it had been impossible for anyone to enter the building.

Mrs. Raybolt revived sufficiently to sit up, and after she had drunk the glass of water Nancy handed her, grew more calm.

" You must be mistaken about your husband, " Bess told her gently.

" No! No! " the woman cried. " He went there the night of the fire to see a man on business. I had a feeling he shouldn't go and I tried to keep him from going, but he wouldn't listen to me. I haven't heard from Felix since that night."

Mrs. Raybolt broke down and sobbed hysterically.

Before Nancy could ask her the name of the man Felix Raybolt had gone to see, the doctor appeared. He briskly cleared the room, insisting that the patient have absolute quiet. Nancy and her chums were turned out with the others.

" Well, what do you think of the case now? " George whispered tensely.

" I think, " Nancy returned soberly, " that things look very black for poor Joe Swenson."

" We don't know for sure if he was the one who met Felix Raybolt that fateful night, " Bess declared.

" No, " Nancy quietly agreed, " Mrs. Raybolt didn't have a chance to tell me. I'm rather glad she didn't, for as long as there is a doubt, we may continue to hope! "

 


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