Incriminating Evidence

Nancy's heart beat faster than usual as she approached the man who was leaning against the fence. His dejected manner suggested a guilty conscience.

" I beg your pardon, " Nancy said courageously, " but aren't you Joe Swenson? "

The man wheeled about suddenly but held his ground. After the first start of surprise Nancy thought he did not look particularly disturbed at the sudden encounter.

" Yes, " he returned questioningly, " that's my name. Anything I can do for you? "

For a moment Nancy was without a reply. She had half expected that Joe Swenson would be defiant and sullen. She was unprepared to see a sad-eyed, kindly, inoffensive man who looked as though he could not have harmed anyone in all his life.

" It's all a mistake, " she told herself joyfully. " This man is innocent. He couldn't have burned down the Raybolt home! "

The next moment she had regained her composure and was again the impartial, calculating detective.

" I have news of your wife, " she told him quietly.

" Helen? " the man demanded eagerly, his face lighting up. " She's not ill, I hope! "

" Oh, no, " Nancy assured him, " but she's dreadfully worried about you and is trying to locate you."

" I should have written her sooner, " Joe Swenson returned self-accusingly. " I didn't want to until I could tell her that I had found work."

" Then you have written? " Nancy questioned.

" Yes, three days ago. I sent her myfirst pay envelope."

" That's fine, " Nancy approved. " I am sure it will be a great relief to her—knowing that you have a good job."

" I appreciate the interest you've taken in my folks, " Joe Swenson said gratefully, after Nancy had spoken lightly of her visit to the cottage. " If I keep my job I'll be able to look after them better than I have in the past. I've tried hard enough but fate has been against me, it seems."

Nancy had been endeavoring to formulate an honest opinion of the man's character and she was well pleased with what she had observed. Joe Swenson, if he were sincere in all he said, was genuinely interested in the welfare of his family. He appeared to be honest and straightforward, too.

Nancy's hand went to her pocket but she did not bring forth the diary. From such a casual conversation she could not be absolutely certain that Swenson was innocent. Frequently appearances were deceiving. She must try to draw him out, especially regarding his attitude toward the Raybolts.

She made a casual reference to the fire and watched the man closely. She saw his face harden.

" Felix Raybolt! " he rasped. " How I hate that cheat! I'm glad his house burned. It served him right."

Nancy's heart sank. It was difficult to believe now in the man's innocence when the mere mention of the Raybolt name threw him into such a rage. She liked Joe Swenson, and for that reason regretted that her liking for mystery had involved her in such a perplexing problem. In her heart she believed him innocent, yet the evidence all pointed the other way.

" They've been searching the grounds for clues, " she said archly, a feeling of revulsion at her task almost overcoming her. She must lead him on, however. " A number of articles have been picked up in the vicinity."

Swenson looked sharply at Nancy as though it had dawned upon him that he might be under suspicion. However, his next words were spoken casually.

" I wonder if a diary could have been picked up? I lost one. Think I must have dropped it along the road."

He avoided Nancy's eyes, and she was quick to notice that he had carefully avoided mentioning his visit to the Raybolt grounds. She made no move to give him the diary, although she was convinced that it was his.

" I hated to lose that little journal, " Joe Swenson continued when Nancy did not reply to his question. " It was written mostly in Swedish and wouldn't be of any value except to myself—and Felix Raybolt. That sly fox! "

" What has the diary to do with Mr. Raybolt? " Nancy inquired.

" The diary contains, " Joe Swenson began to explain, " well, it contains things Felix Raybolt wishes were not written down. That man cheated me out of a fortune, but I haven't a chance to prove my case, without the diary and without money to get a lawyer."

He made a hopeless gesture and lapsed into gloomy silence.

Again Nancy's hand went to the diary in her pocket—again she hesitated. Joe Swenson seemed to be telling the truth. Undoubtedly he had been wronged by Felix Raybolt, but nothing that Swenson had said proved him to be innocent of setting fire to the house. Arson was a grave charge but a far more serious one stood against the man. Until both were cleared up Nancy felt that she should keep the diary.

Before she could question the man further, the one o 'clock whistle blew a shrill blast.

" I must go now, " Swenson said hurriedly.

" When are you off duty? "

" Four o'clock. This is a short work day."

" Then perhaps I'll see you again before I return to River Heights." Noticing the man's surprise, she added quickly, " I may want to give you a message for Mrs. Swenson."

" Oh, well, I'll be glad to give it to her the next time I write."

Nancy watched him until he had disappeared inside the building. She then walked slowly back to the roadster where her chums were impatiently waiting.

" What luck? " George demanded, opening the car door for her. " Did he deny everything? "

" Oh, I didn't accuse him. I thought that would be unwise as it might cause him to run away to avoid further questioning. I'm to see him again at four o'clock and I hope to learn more then."

" Do you think he's guilty? " Bess inquired anxiously.

" I don't know what to make of him."

" He doesn't look like such a bad sort, " George declared. " Of course, we couldn't hear what he said."

" I don't believe he suspected that I was questioning him for a purpose, or he wouldn't have told me as much as he did. His attitude toward Felix Raybolt is against him, but otherwise he talked in a perfectly frank, straightforward manner."

" Then you believe in his innocence? " Bess asked hopefully.

" I'm strongly tempted to—at least, I'm not ready to consider him guilty."

" What a pity that a man of his education must do common labor, " George murmured. " He's head and shoulders above the average factory worker."

" He hasn't had a fair chance, " Nancy returned, " and he has struggled hard to make a living for his family. That's the very thing I'm afraid of—the desire to protect his wife and child may have led him to seek revenge upon Raybolt."

She repeated the entire interview to her chums and they agreed that the evidence secured was insufficient to warrant turning Swenson over to the authorities. They thought she had made a wise move in planning an appointment for four o'clock.

" He may skip out before we return, " George suggested.

" If he does it will be a sign that he is guilty, " Nancy replied. " Then I'll feel conscience free in reporting my findings to the police."

Since it was only one o'clock the girls wondered how they would spend the early part of the afternoon. Nancy proposed luncheon and a moving picture show. Returning to the main section of Stanford they found a pleasant inn on a quiet street. The cooking was excellent and they purposely tarried, as their table was by a window which overlooked the garden.

" We'll just have time for a show, " Nancy said as they finally arose.

She paid the bill, but Bess and George, who insisted that the expense be shared, settled with her when they reached the car.

The billboards outside the various theaters did not look particularly alluring, but the girls finally agreed on a comedy and purchased tickets.

The theater was nearly filled, so they found seats in the rear. The news reel which was being shown held Nancy's attention for a time, but as soon as a comedy was flashed on the screen, she lost interest.

The theater was annoyingly noisy. A small child nearby rattled a candy sack and made audible comments on the picture. People were moving in and out of the aisle.

George and Bess quickly became absorbed in the picture, but Nancy thought it rather boring. Had she been alone she would have left the theater, but she knew that her chums would be disappointed unless they saw the end of the film.

Her mind went back to Joe Swenson. What would she say to him at four o'clock? Would it be best to tell him how matters stood and ask for his side of the story?

Nancy was not the only restless person in the theater. After a time she became unpleasantly aware of a low murmur of voices directly behind her.

Turning her head, she was surprised to recognize the two officials from Mapleton who had spoken to her at the Maplecroft Inn. She thought their names were Ed Baxter and Lem Daffil—at least, the newspapers had mentioned those names in connection with the case.

Her attention was just returning to the screen, when she distinctly caught a familiar name and then the low muttered words:

" Swenson—that's the fellow, all right! He's the one that burned down the house. We'll have him in jail before tomorrow! "