Part 1 (1/2)
The Clue in the Diary.
Carolyn Keene.
CHAPTER I.
A Suspicious Stranger.
”A PENNY for your thoughts, Nancy Drew,” said George Fayne. ”You've been staring into s.p.a.ce for nearly two minutes!”
”And missing all this good food!” added blond Bess Marvin. The slightly plump, pretty girl reached for a third sandwich.
”George,” said Nancy to Bess's slim, short-haired cousin, who enjoyed her boy's name, ”I'm worried about that darling Swenson child and her mother. I wish we could do something to help them.”
”You mean,” said Bess, ”find Mr. Swenson, or the money his wife told us he had promised to send?”
”Yes,” Nancy answered. ”It's very mysterious, since apparently he has been away for some time. I wonder if his letters-containing money orders -were stolen.”
”That's a federal offense,” George said grimly.
The three girls, seated beneath a spreading roadside maple tree, were enjoying a picnic supper. The peaceful spot was halfway between their home town of River Heights and Sandy Creek, where they had attended a popular annual carnival.
Bess chuckled. ”If there's a thief around, Nancy will capture him!” She reached for a deviled egg. ”Count me in to help with the sleuthing-if it's not too dangerous.”
”I wouldn't count on its not being dangerous,” said George. ”You know Nancy.”
The young sleuth smiled at this remark, but in a moment became serious again. All of Nancy's friends agreed that she possessed an intangible appealing quality which people never forgot.
Nancy was pretty in a distinctive way. Her eyes were blue, her hair t.i.tian blond. She expressed her opinions firmly, but did not force them on others. Nancy's abilities of leaders.h.i.+p were welcome and depended upon in any group.
With Bess and George, Nancy had made the drive to Sandy Creek in her convertible. From the breath-taking ”Whip” to the airplane swings, they had left nothing untried, and true to her reputation, Nancy had unearthed an adventure.
Her attention had been drawn to a little girl and her mother among the carnival crowd. They had been looking on wistfully, but had taken no part in the fun. Nancy and her friends had sensed that the mother could not afford admission tickets. On impulse, the girls had invited them to go along on several rides.
The three had fallen in love with five-year-old Honey. She was a bright and appealing child in spite of the fact that she looked undernourished. Her dress, though neat, was faded.
”Honey was so adorable,” Nancy remarked, half to herself.
”Yes, she certainly was,” Bess agreed.
”We must see the Swensons again,” Nancy said thoughtfully. ”I can't bear to think of that little girl's going without the things she needs. We'll visit the Joe Swenson family someday soon at their home. You wrote down the address, didn't you, Bess?”
”Yes.”
”It won't be easy to do things for Mrs. Swenson,” George predicted. ”That woman is proud. You can see that.”
”I know,” Nancy admitted. ”She didn't like our paying for everything at the carnival, but for Honey's sake she allowed it.”
Bess, gazing toward the west, observed that the sun was sinking below the horizon. ”We'd better be on our way,” she declared.
The girls arose and put the food wrappings into the car. They had pulled into a side road. Now Nancy carefully steered the convertible over the rough road to the main highway, then headed for River Heights.