The Important Question

While Nancy and her friends stood on the porch discussing whether or not they should lunch at the Maplecroft or continue their journey, Bess caught sight of a familiar automobile driving up the road.

" Isn't that Ned Nickerson? " she asked. " It looks like his car."

" It is, " Nancy cried. " He must be lunching here."

A moment later Ned came hurrying eagerly up the path.

" This is what I call luck, " he declared. " Had your luncheon yet? "

" We were just debating whether to eat now or later, " Nancy informed him.

" Then it's settled, " Ned laughed. " We'll all lunch together."

Before the girls could offer an objection he ushered them to the dining room. They secured a table near the window, and without appearing to do so Ned maneuvered it so that he sat beside Nancy.

The girls were eager to tell their friend of the meeting with Mrs. Raybolt, and as soon as the waiter had taken their orders they gave him the entire story.

" She thinks her husband was trapped in the fire, " Nancy finished. " The poor thing! No wonder she's hysterical! "

" We can't believe she's right about it, " George said. " It would be too horrible! "

Ned made no immediate response, but sat looking thoughtfully out of the window at the huge lilac bush which was swaying in the wind. At length he said gravely:

" What could have become of Raybolt if he didn't go to that house on the night of the fire! "

" He may have gone there for the appointment and then left before the fire started, " Bess suggested hopefully.

" In that case, surely someone would have heard from him before this, " Nancy said quietly. " He would have notified his wife."

" Unless he had a particular reason for hiding, " Ned supplied.

" What reason would he have? " Nancy asked quickly.

Ned shrugged his shoulders as if to say that the problem was too weighty for him.

" It looks bad for Swenson, " he remarked.

" I'm afraid his cause is lost unless we can scrape up some evidence in his favor, " Nancy declared with a troubled frown. " And I do so want to help him! "

" Mrs. Raybolt may clear him by saying that her husband went to meet some other person, " Ned said encouragingly.

" Yes, " Nancy agreed, brightening. " Much as I dread asking her the all-important question, we must know the answer. Not even for the sake of Honey and her mother would I try to protect a murderer."

As the waiter brought the luncheon she endeavored to shift the conversation to a more pleasant topic.

" Now that I've the bill for damages, I'm going to see the man who bumped into my roadster, " she told Ned. " He lives over near your town—his name's Baylor Weston."

" Say, I've heard of him, " Ned returned instantly. " He has a large factory. You shouldn't have any trouble collecting damages from him."

" How far is it to the factory? "

" About ten miles from here, I'd judge. Going there now? "

" We hadn't planned to, but I have the bill with me."

" Then I'd certainly do it today, " Ned urged. " If you wait too long Weston may go out of town."

" Is he well-to-do? "

" It's said he has a great deal of money. At any rate, he shouldn't balk at paying the bill. He's lucky to get off so easily."

The young people finished their luncheon, and after Ned had paid the check, arose to leave.

" Not a word to anyone about what we told you, " Nancy warned as they left the dining room. " If the information were spread, it might cause the arrest of Joe Swenson."

" Trust me, " Ned responded. " I'll keep everything under my hat."

" I wanted to ask you about the ring. Do you still want me to keep it? "

" Of course, " Ned assured her. " We know it belongs to Swenson but we can't return it without divulging everything. Hang on to it until this mess is straightened out."

As the four were emerging from the inn, a side door opened and Mrs. Raybolt, escorted by her chauffeur, stepped out. She was still pale but walked without support.

" I met Mrs. Raybolt once at a party given by a friend of mother's, " Ned whispered to the girls. " I'll find an excuse to introduce you, and then perhaps Nancy can ask her what she wants to know."

He approached the woman and spoke politely. To his relief she recognized him and acknowledged the greeting.

" Oh, Mr. Nickerson, I'm so worried and upset! My poor husband–"

Mrs. Raybolt launched into an incoherent repetition of the story Ned already had heard. He listened sympathetically, and after trying to reassure her, turned to Nancy and her chums.

" These girls were the first to reach the scene of the fire, Mrs. Raybolt. Perhaps they can give you authentic information."

" Nancy was the first to get there, " Bess corrected after the introductions had been made. " George and I were a considerable distance behind."

" You entered the house? " Mrs. Raybolt questioned Nancy eagerly.

" Oh, no, that was impossible. The entire house was ablaze when I reached the scene."

" Then you—you didn't see my husband—my poor Felix? "

" I don't believe I'd have recognized your husband if I saw him, " Nancy returned evasively.

She had seen a man running away from the Raybolt estate, but everything pointed to the belief that it was Joe Swenson.

" Felix is short and dark-skinned, " Mrs. Raybolt described. " His hair is gray and I believe he wore a blue suit on the night of his—" she broke off and finished, " on the night of the fire."

" Then I know I didn't see him, " Nancy said regretfully.

" You didn't hear—a scream! "

" No, indeed, Mrs. Raybolt. If I were in your place I should try to compose my mind. Undoubtedly your husband will appear in a day or two."

" If I could only believe that! I shouldn't be frightened if he hadn't said he was going to the house to meet a man on business. Felix has so many enemies."

This was Nancy's opportunity to ask the question which had troubled her, but it was difficult for her to speak the words which might bring Joe Swenson's condemnation.

" With whom was it that your husband had the appointment? "

" I don't know, " Mrs. Raybolt admitted. " Felix never confided in me about business matters. He resented questions. I do know that he was uneasy about the appointment."

" You think that he may have anticipated physical violence? " Nancy questioned.

Mrs. Raybolt nodded.

" Then why did he go to the house alone? I understand the place was closed for the summer."

" I don't know why Felix insisted upon meeting the man alone there. Perhaps because the nature of their business was very confidential. My husband carried on any number of important negotiations."

Nancy caught Ned's eye and understood the thought which was passing through his mind. He believed, as did she, that Felix Raybolt was a shrewd crook whose business deals would not bear the light of day. He had undoubtedly kept his wife in ignorance concerning his peculiar transactions.

Nancy would have questioned Mrs. Raybolt further had not an automobile in which were Mapleton officials, driven up at that moment. Someone had notified them of Mrs. Raybolt's appearance at the inn and they had come to investigate.

Nancy and her friends were brushed aside by the pompous officers who took the woman in charge and bombarded her with questions of their own.

" We'll search the ruins, " they promised her, " and if there's been foul play we'll have the criminal within twenty-four hours! "

" Maybe! " Ned muttered under his breath.

The four were disgusted at the high-handed manner in which the officers were handling the case. They waited only long, enough before going to their parked cars, to learn that Mrs. Raybolt planned to remain at the Maplecroft Inn for a few days under the care of a physician.

" I'll be surprised if those officers learn anything, " Nancy remarked. " I'm glad we decided not to turn our evidence over to them."

" So am I, " Ned responded. " There's still a possibility that Joe Swenson isn't guilty, and for the sake of Honey and her mother I'm in favor of giving him the benefit of the doubt."

Nancy said that they must be driving on if they were to reach Baylor Weston's factory before closing time.

" I must be getting along, too, " Ned declared. " If I learn anything new I'll let you know."

Nancy's roadster stood facing the drive and she was the first to get away. As the girls were passing the inn one of the officials came out to the road and halted them.

" Just a word of advice, young ladies, " he said gruffly. " We have every reason to believe a dangerous criminal is hiding in the vicinity. Better keep away from the side roads! "

" Thank you, " Nancy said politely and drove on.

" Do you suppose he meant Joe Swenson? " asked Bess.

" Imagine being afraid of Joe Swenson! " George scoffed. " I don't believe he'd harm a baby."

" You don't know, " Bess argued. " We've never seen him and everything points to the fact that he did commit a terrible crime. He may be a regular scoundrel."

" Oh, do hush! " George exclaimed. " You'll give us all cold chills. I'm glad we are keeping to the main roads."

Nancy glanced at her chum with a queer smile.

" As it happens, we don't keep to the main highway. According to the directions Ned gave me, we take a cut-off about five miles from here. It goes through the hill country, too."

Bess shivered.

" The wildest section in the county! " she exclaimed nervously. " Just the sort of place a criminal would choose for a hide-out. For goodness sakes, Nancy, step on the gas! "