Part 3 (2/2)

”Okay, if that's the way you want it. Can you come right down?”

”Yes.”

Nancy turned to Julie Anne and told her what had happened on the plane and that now the man wanted to return something to her. ”Come on, let's go!”

Julie Anne picked up the room key and slipped it into her purse. Then the two girls went down to the lobby. The man from the plane walked over quickly toward Nancy and said, ”I have a surprise for you.”

The stranger did not identify himself by name and Nancy did not introduce Julie Anne. The three went to a group of chairs and sat down.

Smiling, the man said to Nancy, ”You know, you're a little fox. I thought you were coming back to your seat and have lunch with me. It was not until after you had left the plane that I found this.”

He reached into a coat pocket and pulled out a small picture of Mr. Drew. With a smirk, the man asked, ”Boy friend? Isn't he a little old for you?”

Nancy was disgusted with the stranger's crude humor. The picture was one of her father. She reached to get it.

”Thank you very much,” she said. ”I appreciate your taking the trouble to return it.”

She and Julie Anne arose and started off.

”What's the hurry?” the man asked.

Nancy did not reply. She merely thanked him again and the two girls walked away. He followed them a short distance, saying, ”I'll be seeing you.”

Julie Anne turned toward him. ”What do you mean?”

At this the stranger merely laughed and walked off.

When he was out of earshot, Julie Anne remarked, ”Nancy, I'm glad that man didn't insist upon a date to give you the picture. I think he's horrible.”

As soon as the annoying stranger had disappeared, Julie Anne suggested that the two girls take a trip around the city. As they were about to leave the lobby, Nancy suddenly saw the woman who had warned her on the plane.

”There's someone I must talk to,” she told Julie Anne and rushed across the lobby. ”h.e.l.lo,” she said pleasantly.

The woman smiled and Nancy went on, ”I wanted so much to ask you about that man who was my seatmate on the plane. I was afraid I might not see you again.”

”I'm glad we met,” the woman replied, and said she was Mrs. Waters. Nancy told her who she was and introduced Julie Anne who had followed her.

Mrs. Waters said the man's name was Kadle. Nancy showed her surprise and Mrs. Waters asked, ”You've heard of him?”

”Not until recently,” Nancy said. ”A friend in New York told me to be wary of him, just as you did.”

Mrs. Walters said that she believed Kit Kadle was a confidence man. ”A brother-in-law of mine was one of his victims.” Mrs. Waters went on, ”Kadle doesn't know me, but my brother-in-law showed me pictures of him. He probably was working one of his con games on the friend you speak of in New York. He may have been planning to get you to sign up for some scheme or to take your money for a phony investment.”

Nancy laughed. ”No chance of that,” she said, ”but I appreciate your telling me all this and I'll certainly keep my eyes open for Mr. Kit Kadle.”

After a few minutes of conversation the girls said good-by and went out to start their sightseeing trip. Julie Anne was a little worried about Kit Kadle, but Nancy begged her to forget him. ”Let's see St. Louis.”

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