Part 18 (1/2)

”If that happens, I'll make good on the money. Right now, tell me, where are we going to spend two hours?”

George suggested attending a movie across the street, and the girls went into the theater. They became so interested in the historical mystery film that the time flew by. The feature ended just as the two hours were up, and the girls hurried back to Mr. Roberts' office.

Again he opened the door. The postmaster was not alone. A policeman stood guarding a man who sat dejectedly in a chair, his face in his hands. He looked up at Nancy, hate blazing in his eyes. The money-order clerk!

”Nancy Drew, thank you for leading us to this thief!” the postmaster said. ”Ralph Ringman has confessed to taking not only the letter you mailed, but all money orders of any size. He has two accomplices, a man and a woman, who go to various towns and cash the money orders.”

”I'm not the only employee in on this deal,” Ringman cried out.

Mr. Roberts smiled. ”I figured that might be the case, and have notified other postmasters who have had complaints of undelivered money orders to try the same ruse that Nancy Drew suggested.”

At that moment the phone rang. Mr. Roberts answered it. ”Yes, Clyde.... You did? ... Good! I guess that little racket is over with.”

When he hung up, Mr. Roberts reported to the others that Ringman's outside accomplices had just been arrested by the police and had confessed their parts in the scheme.

On a hunch, Nancy told about the rough-looking man who had questioned her. ”Was he in league with Ralph Ringman?” she asked the postmaster.

”That's right.” Mr. Roberts turned to the prisoner. ”You'll be interested to hear that your pal meant to double-cross you. He planned to hold up Swenson at the plant and grab Swenson's money for himself. Just as he was about to emerge from his hiding place in the shrubbery nearby, Miss Drew and her friends came along. When he overheard the conversation about the stolen mail, he got panicky. That's why he followed Miss Drew and accused her of snooping.”

”Nancy Drew, thank you for leading us to this thief,” said the postmaster

”The low-down sneak!” snarled Ringman.

Mr. Roberts said that a man from the Postal Inspectors Division would take custody of the prisoner. ”By the way,” he said to Nancy, ”do you still want Mr. Swenson's letter sent?”

”Yes, if it's safe. I'll give the money order receipt to him.” Nancy glanced at her watch. ”We must hurry,” she said. ”Thank you, Mr. Roberts. Please give my regards to Phil.”

The girls hurried off. At a traffic light they paused, waiting for it to turn green. Behind them stood two men conversing in low voices.

”Where'd you get the tip?” one asked.

”From Raybolt's wife. She said the man who set fire to the house had an appointment with him there that evening.”

”I heard he ran away. Where'd he go?”

”n.o.body knows. But we tracked him here. He's working at the electronics factory under an a.s.sumed name.”

”What is it?”

”We don't know. But we have the man's description. We'll have him in jail by tonight!”

Nancy, Bess, and George hardly breathed during this recital. Did these men mean Joe Swenson?

CHAPTER XIV.

An Arrest

THE traffic light turned green and the three girls began to cross the street. Nancy made a point of staying in front of the two men who had said they were going to see that someone, presumably Joe Swenson, was arrested.