The Mystery Girl by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page A

shut the door behind him. From the way he shook Mrs. Edwards’s hand, Violet could tell he was excited. In just a couple of seconds, the two of them walked to the end of the path and went into Mrs. Edwards’s cabin.
    Violet ran back into the store. “Jessie, Henry!” she cried, when she saw her sister and brother. “I just saw the man who was here, asking about Nancy. He was with Mrs. Edwards. Nancy must have left her cabin door unlocked, because he opened it and went inside. I thought for sure he was a robber, but when he came back out, he wasn’t carrying anything.”
    As Violet told them what else had happened, Jessie and Henry looked worried. “Even if that man didn’t steal anything, he shouldn’t have gone into Nancy’s cabin,” Jessie said. “And I wonder how he happens to know Mrs. Edwards.”
    â€œI wish Nancy would hurry and come back,” Violet said. “We have to tell her everything.”
    Later, Violet saw Nancy walking up the path to the store. “Here she is,” she said to Jessie and Henry. “I’ll tell her now.”
    Violet walked to the door with Henry and Jessie. But just as Nancy got to the front steps, a car pulled up and stopped quickly.
    â€œIt’s him,” Violet said. “He’s back.”
    Nancy heard the car and turned around. The young man was getting out. “Nancy!” he cried. “It is you!”
    The young man ran to the steps. “I have to talk to you,” he said to Nancy.
    â€œNot now!” Nancy said. She sounded upset. “Not here!”
    â€œI won’t go until we talk,” the man said.
    The Aldens heard Nancy sigh. “All right,” she said. “I’ll meet you later, after the store closes.”
    â€œWhere?” he asked.
    Nancy described the place where she and the Aldens had their picnic dinner. “But nothing is going to change,” she told him.
    â€œWe’ll see about that,” the man said angrily. He turned around and walked toward his car.
    The Aldens moved away from the door.
    Just as Nancy walked into the store, Mr. Taylor came out from his office and asked her to go on an errand for him in Elmford. He gave her the keys to his van. Nancy waved to the Aldens and left the store again.
    Violet looked worried. “What are we going to do now?” she asked.
    â€œI know one thing we should do,” Jessie said. “Nancy might need our help. When she goes to meet that man later, we should follow her.”
    â€œYou’re right,” Henry said.
    â€œYes,” Violet agreed. “No matter what kind of trouble Nancy’s in, she’s still our friend.”

CHAPTER 9
    A Secret Meeting
    W hen work was over, Nancy quickly left the store. The Aldens said good night to Mr. Taylor and hurried outside. The young man’s car was back. From the porch, they saw Nancy walking in the direction of the picnic spot.
    â€œWe should wait a couple of minutes,” Henry said. “We don’t want her to see us.”
    â€œWhy not?” Benny asked.
    Jessie put her hand on his shoulder. “We haven’t had time to tell you, Benny,” she said. “But you’ll see.”
    â€œI hope I see soon,” Benny said. “I’m hungry.”
    Violet smiled and held up a paper bag. “Mr. Taylor gave us some apples, Benny. You can have one now.”
    Benny took an apple and bit into it. Jessie, Henry, and Violet were too nervous to eat.
    â€œNancy is far enough away now,” Henry said. “Let’s go.”
    Quickly, but not too quickly, the Aldens walked toward the picnic spot. When they were almost there, they heard voices.
    Henry pointed to a big willow tree up ahead. “We can sit under there,” he whispered. “It will hide us, and we’ll be able to hear.”
    They went to the tree and sat down under the hanging branches. Then they listened.
    The young man was speaking.