A Scare

In a few minutes the girls turned off from the main highway, taking the less traveled dirt road which led to Baylor Weston's factory. As Bess had intimated, they were soon driving through dense and lonely woods which spread along the winding river and topped the hills.

Nancy and her chums chatted gaily, but their laughter was tinged with nervousness. They did not like to admit that they were afraid.

" This is a spooky road, " George murmured presently. " Wouldn't it be funny if we should come upon Joe Swenson, hiding in the bushes? "

" Funny? " Bess demanded. " I'd be frightened out of my wits. Wouldn't you, Nancy? "

" Well, I don't know, " the other returned truthfully. " I'm eager to find that man."

" So am I, " Bess replied, " but I shouldn't relish running into him in this out-of-the-way spot."

Nancy did not reply immediately, but her chums noticed that she appeared to scan the woods searchingly.

" You don't really think he might be hiding along this road, do you? " Bess demanded anxiously.

" It occurred to me even before those officials mentioned the possibility, " Nancy confessed.

" Then let's turn back, " Bess pleaded. " No telling what he might do if he met us! "

" Don't allow your nerves to get the best of you, " Nancy advised. " We can't turn back, for I must present my bill to Baylor Weston. I only wish we would meet Joe Swenson, though there isn't much chance of it."

As they drove along the winding road, the three girls maintained a vigilant lookout. Suddenly Bess cried:

" There's someone ahead of us in the road! He's motioning for us to stop! Don't do it, Nancy! Speedup! "

Nancy instinctively stepped firmly upon the gas pedal and then quickly released the pressure. She laughed in relief.

" A hitch-hiker! Bess, don't give me a scare like that again! "

" Well, I couldn't see very plainly, " Bess defended herself.

The roadster passed the hitch-hiker, a man in dirty khaki who did not in the least resemble the man Nancy had seen running away from the Raybolt fire. He looked disappointed as the car shot by without slowing down.

Presently Nancy came to a fork in the road and halted the roadster uncertainly. There were no signboards to indicate which road led to the Weston factory.

" I'd turn to the left, " Bess advised.

" The right-hand turn looks much better to me, " George insisted.

" This is as confusing as the time we were lost on the mountain trail, " Nancy laughed. " We couldn't agree then, either."

" I see a shack over yonder among the trees, " George pointed out. " Why not inquire there? "

" A good idea! " Nancy approved, flinging open the car door.

George promptly stepped out, but Bess held back.

" No telling who lives there. We might run into a tramp—or maybe Joe Swenson! ''

" Now we must investigate! " George cried, but the bravado was assumed.

" George and I will go. You stay here, Bess, " Nancy advised.

" Not much. If you're going, I shall, too."

George and Nancy were already pushing their way through the brush, and Bess, fearful of being left alone, hurried after them. The shack was located in a tiny clearing which was enclosed on three sides by a very dense forest.

The girls were half way to the cabin when Bess clutched Nancy's hand and held her back.

" There's someone in the bushes—over by the grape arbor—watching us! "

The three girls huddled together, afraid to continue. They could see the motionless figure peeping out at them.

Suddenly Nancy burst into laughter.

" A scarecrow! " she cried. " Bess, this makes the second time you've given a false alarm! "

Bess looked sheepish and made no response. Now that it had been called to her attention she could see that the figure beyond the arbor was not real.

" Come on! " George said in disgust. ''We're acting like babies! "

The girls approached the shack with a boldness they did not feel. Bess called attention to the fact that the place seemed unnaturally quiet

Summoning her courage, Nancy knocked upon the door.

There was no response; then she knocked again, louder than before.

" I heard some one moving! " George whispered tensely. " Some one is hiding in there! "

Nancy thought she had heard the sound, too, and instantly it flashed through her mind that Joe Swenson was inside the shack. A little chill of excitement raced over her.

" Let's go back! " Bess whispered.

Nancy stood her ground.

" No, I mean to see if that man is hiding here. Stand back, and I'll try the door."

" While Bess and George clung together Nancy gently turned the knob, suddenly throwing her entire weight against the door. It opened so quickly that she almost went headlong into the kitchen.

She sprang back, expecting to face an opponent. The room was empty. Everything was covered with dust and falling to ruin.

" Another joke on us! " Nancy laughed. " I guess our nerves are getting the best of us. I'd have sworn I heard someone moving about in here! "

" So would I, " murmured Bess in a relieved tone. " What a place! "

The girls tiptoed around the little place, holding their skirts close to them as they side­stepped the dirt, and ducking their heads, as they avoided heavy cobwebs.

" Nobody at home! " announced Nancy, gaily shaking off her former mood.

" No one has used this shack in months, " George declared, looking about with distaste. " We may as well be on our way. Come along."

Returning to the roadster, the girls agreed after some debate on the right hand fork. They all breathed easier when they lost sight of the little building. A few minutes' driving took them out of the hill country.

" I see a town ahead, " Nancy observed. " We'll stop there and inquire if we're on the right road."

Reaching the main section of the village she managed to attract the attention of a policeman, who left his corner and came over to the car.

" The road to the Weston factory? " he repeated. " You should have taken the left fork several miles back."

The girls exchanged looks of consternation. After their recent experiences the thought of returning over the same route was cheerless indeed.

" There's another way you can get there, " the policeman told them, " but it will take you a little longer."

He then explained in detail how they could reach tie factory. Nancy thanked him and drove on.

" We'll have to hurry, " she remarked to her chums, " or the factory will be closed. Just our luck to take the wrong road! "

Swift driving partially made up for lost time, but Nancy's wrist watch warned her that it was nearly four o'clock when they at last drove up to the factory on the outskirts of Stanford. It took the girls a few minutes to locate the office.

Nancy presented herself to the young woman in charge, stating that she wished to see Baylor Weston. She skillfully avoided mentioning her business, for she doubted that the factory-owner would be eager to interview a bill collector.

" It's rather late, " the young woman informed her with a superior air. " Mr. Weston doesn't like to keep appointments after three o'clock."

" We've driven here from River Heights, " Nancy explained patiently. " Please give him my name."

The young woman took the card and vanished into an inner office. The girls sat down on a bench to wait. Five minutes passed.

" Looks as if we're out of luck, " George grumbled. " The man probably suspects what we came for and means to get out of it if he possibly can."

She lowered her voice, for at that moment the office girl returned.

" Mr. Weston will see you, " she told Nancy. " Step into his office, please."

" Now for it! " George muttered under her breath as the three marched toward the inner room. " If he starts to get hateful we'll stand by you, Nancy. Whatever happens, we're going to see that the bill is paid! "