Interviewing Joe Swenson

Nancy spent a restless day idling about the house. She cleaned the attic, accomplished a little sewing and practiced on the piano, yet time still hung heavy upon her hands.

Thinking that perhaps George and Bess might enjoy spending the afternoon at a moving picture show, she telephoned them, only to learn that they had left their homes some time earlier.

" I can't stay in this house another instant! " Nancy told herself desperately. " Inactivity is driving me wild! I have it! I'll go shopping and buy some things for Honey and her mother! "

During her recent visit to the Swenson home she had observed that the child had been very poorly dressed. At that time she had determined to purchase some needed articles when she returned home, but in her anxiety over Honey's father she had forgotten to do so.

" Honey mentioned that her birthday comes next week, " Nancy thought, " so I'll have an excuse for sending the garments."

Donning a red slicker and knock-about hat, she backed the roadster from the garage and drove directly to the largest department store in River Heights. The place was less crowded than usual, for the rain had kept many shoppers at home.

" I'll buy a pair of shoes first, " Nancy decided.

On her way to the shoe department she passed the children's dress counter, and was astonished to see Bess contemplating a little blue frock intended for a five-year-old.

" Bess! " Nancy exclaimed. " What are you doing here? "

" Oh, hello, Nancy." Bess looked up with a start. " I just thought I'd buy Honey a dress. Isn't this blue one sweet? "

" She'd love it, " Nancy declared, " and it's practical, too."

" Then I'll take it." Bess handed the frock to the saleslady for wrapping and had the bill added to her charge account.

" Now you can help me select a pair of shoes, " Nancy smiled. " It seems that the idea of outfitting Honey struck us at the same time."

At the shoe department the girls made their purchase after a good-natured argument over the proper size. Armed with their packages they were hurrying down the aisle when Nancy suddenly stopped.

" Of all things! " she exclaimed. " Look over there, will you! "

" George Fayne! " her chum cried. " And she's buying a child's sweater. I'll bet a cookie it's for Honey, too."

George flushed with embarrassment as the girls came over to her, then laughed as she saw the purchases which Bess and Nancy had made.

" Three minds with but a single thought! " she observed. " Lucky we didn't buy the same thing. I came downtown to get a yard of silk for mother—then I saw these cute sweaters and couldn't resist the temptation to buy one."

" Between us, we’ll have Honey fairly well outfitted, " Nancy declared. " I think we should get her something frivolous, too. How about a pretty doll or a string of beads? "

The suggestion was instantly adopted, and as soon as George had paid for the sweater the girls moved on to the inexpensive jewelry counter. They selected a string of beads in light blue which matched perfectly the dress Bess had purchased.

" I'd like to buy Mrs. Swenson something, too, " Nancy said regretfully, " but I'm afraid she might be too proud to accept it. Since Honey's birthday comes in a few days she can't refuse to keep the things we're sending."

Before leaving the store the girls purchased socks to go with the shoes and a few pieces of under apparel. By the time their money was exhausted they felt that the outfit was fairly complete.

At the department where gift packages were wrapped, they had the various bundles united into one compact parcel which Nancy addressed. Preferring to mail it themselves rather than trust to the routine of the shipping room, the girls drove tothe postoffice in Nancy's roadster and saw the package safely on its way to Sandy Creek.

The shopping expedition had consumed so much time that it was too late to go to a matinee, so Nancy dropped her chums at their homes.

" It's stopped raining, " she observed as she told them goodbye, " and the sky is clearing. Perhaps we'll be able to go to Stanford tomorrow. Here's hoping! "

The next day dawned bright, and by ten o'clock Nancy decided that the roads were sufficiently dry to permit the trip. George and Bess had been expecting her telephone call and promised to be ready in a few minutes.

Before leaving the house Nancy slipped the diary into her pocket. Whether or not she would give it to Joe Swenson depended entirely upon his story.

" I hope we reach Stanford before noon, " she told her chums as they left the city, " for we want to catch Joe Swenson while he is off duty."

" He may have skipped out by this time, " George commented. " We've had such miserable luck, we're about due for a break like that."

Nancy followed the main highway for several miles, making excellent time. The going was slower after she took the side roads, but it was not necessary to put on the chains.

It was ten minutes after twelve when the girls reached Stanford. They drove directly to Baylor Weston's factory.

The noon whistle had already blown. Hundreds of men were to be seen on the grounds, many of them eating their lunches.

" It won't be easy to find him in such a large group, " Nancy declared in disappointment. " If we had arrived fifteen minutes earlier we could have spotted him as he came out of the building."

She parked the roadster not far from the entrance to the plant and the girls eagerly scanned the faces of the workmen who were wandering about. A number of them had gathered near a drinking-fountain, but Joe Swenson was not among the group.

The girls were not discouraged. Presently they left the car and walked about, inquiring for the inventor. The men they questioned had never heard of him.

" I'm sure he works here, " Nancy declared as they returned to the car, somewhat disappointed.

" It looks like a hopeless task to find him, " George observed. " Why wouldn't it be better to go directly to the office and find out in what department he is working? Then, after the whistle blows, we can locate him."

" He may be working under a different name, " Nancy replied, " and we don't want to get him into trouble if we can help it. He's bound to get in trouble soon enough as it is."

" Workmen passing to and fro stared curiously at the girls, wondering what had brought them to the factory. None of the men resembled in the least the person they were looking for.

Nancy was becoming thoroughly disheartened, when she chanced to observe a lone figure leaning dejectedly against the high fence which surrounded the grounds.

The man had his back to the girls, but from a distance Nancy thought his figure appeared strangely familiar. Where had she seen him before? Could it possibly be Honey's father?

She watched expectantly, and presently the man turned. It was the same person she had seen on her previous visit to the factory. This time she knew she was right. She could not mistake the face—and the clothing was the same. She was convinced that it was Joe Swenson.

" You girls stay here! " Nancy commanded, springing from the car. " I think I've found our man. I must speak with him alone. Be on your guard, and if he tries to escape, block the exit to the grounds. I don't think he'll make a disturbance, but if he's guilty he may attempt a get-away! "