The Mystery Girl by Gertrude Chandler Warner Page B

“You look different,” he said.
    â€œNot different enough, I guess.” Nancy laughed.
    Jessie felt a little better. At least Nancy wasn’t afraid of the young man. But the young man didn’t laugh. He said, “Why did you do it, Nancy? You’re hurting everybody.”

    â€œThat isn’t fair, Tony,” Nancy said.
    â€œYou’re acting like a baby,” Tony said.
    Benny kept quiet, but his eyes got wide.
    â€œI am not !”Nancy said.
    â€œYou’re only nineteen,” Tony said. “Do you want to keep hiding for the rest of your life?”
    â€œNo, I don’t want to hide,” Nancy said. Her voice sounded sad. “I just want everyone to leave me alone.”
    â€œWell, we won’t,” Tony told her. “We’ll always find you.”
    Now Nancy sounded angry. “Not if I can help it!” she shouted.
    The Aldens heard footsteps. Nancy was walking away. She passed by their tree, but she didn’t see them.
    â€œI don’t care what you say, Nancy!” Tony called after her. “What you’re doing is wrong!”
    There were more footsteps. Then Tony walked by the Aldens’ tree. From where she was sitting, Violet could see his face. It was shadowed by the leaves of their tree. Suddenly, Violet gasped. Now she knew where she had seen him before.
    A few minutes later the Aldens were back in their cabin. They had seen the young man drive off. Now they were fixing a dinner of hamburgers and baked beans and fruit.
    â€œWhat happened when Tony walked by our tree, Violet?” Henry asked as he poured milk for everyone. “I heard you gasp. You looked like you’d seen a ghost.”
    â€œNot a ghost,” Violet said, putting the beans into a serving bowl. “It was Tony. And I’m pretty sure I’ve seen him before.”
    â€œWhere?” Henry asked. “Today was the first time he came to the store, wasn’t it? Where could you have seen him?”
    â€œI saw him in Nancy’s cabin,” Violet said.
    â€œOh, I know!” Jessie cried. “The photograph on the mantel.”
    Violet nodded. “He was younger in the picture, but his face was in shadow, just like it was when he walked by our tree. I’m sure it’s the same person.”
    â€œThere was a girl in the picture, too, wasn’t there?” Jessie asked.
    Violet nodded. “She had light brown hair like the boy’s. Like Tony’s hair. But I’m almost positive it’s Nancy.”
    â€œNancy has red hair,” Benny said. “ Real red.”
    â€œShe must have colored it,” Jessie said. “Remember, Tony said she looked. different.”
    â€œShe probably cut her hair, too,” Violet added. “The girl in the picture has long hair.”
    â€œYou are so good at seeing things, Violet,” Jessie said admiringly.
    â€œBut who is Tony?” Henry asked.
    â€œMaybe he’s her brother,” Violet said. “In the picture, they looked a little bit alike.”
    â€œHe might be her boyfriend,” Jessie suggested. “Or just a friend.”
    â€œShe didn’t sound very friendly to him,” Benny remarked.
    â€œYou’re right, Benny,” Henry said. “Nancy sounded mad. And she said she wanted everyone to leave her alone.”
    â€œMaybe she’s running from someone,” Jessie said.
    â€œI just had an idea,” Henry said. “Nancy told everyone she has been on her own for a year. But if she had been, she’d have plenty of things like socks and shirts, wouldn’t she?”
    â€œYes,” the others agreed.
    â€œBut if she was on the run, she wouldn’t have enough things,” Henry said.
    Jessie put some ketchup on her hamburger. She started to take a bite, but then she set it down and sighed.
    â€œWhat’s the matter, Jessie?” Violet asked.
    Jessie said, “Tony told Nancy that she’s doing something