Part 4 (2/2)
”You must be daydreaming about Ned!” cried George as the cousins swung into step beside her. ”We shouted three times.”
”Sorry.” Nancy laughed.
”'Fess up, now. Weren't you thinking about him?” Bess prodded.
An animated expression came over Nancy's face. Her eyes danced mischievously as she told her bit of news.
”Ned phoned this morning before I was up.”
”I told you!” Bess exclaimed. ”You did make a hit! Wish I had your technique!”
”Silly! Ned phoned me on a matter of business. This morning he found a ring near the hedge at the Raybolt grounds and he thought it might belong to me. It has a 'D' on it.”
”That was just an excuse,” Bess declared. ”Of course, you didn't lose one.”
”My guess is that the ring was lost by the man I saw running away from the fire. I can hardly wait to see it.”
”And Ned, too,” George added wickedly.
Nancy laughed at her friends' persistence, and was a bit surprised to find that she was blus.h.i.+ng. A little farther on, the cousins said good-by and went to their separate homes. Luncheon was ready when Nancy reached hers. She ate with Hannah Gruen, who was very much interested in the ring Ned had found.
”Do you think it may be a clue?” she asked Nancy.
”Yes, to the writer of the diary. I'm going to study the little book thoroughly this afternoon and see if I can find a name beginning with 'D.'”
”But aren't you going to Mr. Peterson's?” Hannah asked.
”Later. I promised to be here for a phone call from the crippled children's home. I'm to help with their kiddie show next month. In the meantime, I think I'll call Mrs. Swenson to see how she and Honey are and if she has heard from her husband yet.”
”Sorry,” said the operator, when Nancy had dialed. ”That number has been temporarily disconnected.” Nancy surmised Mrs. Swenson had been forced to give up her telephone because of lack of funds.
”As soon as my car is repaired, I must drive to their house and see Honey and her mother,” Nancy decided. ”I only hope Mrs. Swenson will let me help.”
Nancy spent the next few hours poring over the diary. But nowhere did she come across a name beginning with ”D.” She made one important discovery, however. At the bottom of a page written in Swedish, Nancy found a tiny ink drawing. She deduced that it was a diagram for some part of an electronic machine.
”I'll make no progress until I have Mr. Peterson translate this book for me,” she thought.
Nancy was on the verge of going to the bakery by bus-but a glance at the clock told her the place would be closed. Besides, it was almost suppertime.
When Carson Drew arrived home, Nancy mentioned that her new friend, Ned Nickerson, was calling that evening.
”Oh, I see,” her father drawled teasingly. ”You want me to find it convenient to be away. Is that it?”
”Of course not. I particularly want you to meet Ned. He's bringing a ring that may interest you.”
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