Part 18 (2/2)
”Who are these men?” she wondered. ”Detectives? Or are they in the employ of Raybolt? If Mr. Swenson is innocent, he mustn't be sent to jail!”
Nancy immediately made up her mind what she would do: meet Honey's father if possible, show him the diary, and ask him to translate some of it. ”Then I'll decide what to do next, and whether or not to warn Mr. Swenson of his possibly being arrested. He and his family shouldn't have to suffer such disgrace if it's unwarranted!”
When the girls reached the opposite curb, Nancy took her friends' arms and whispered, ”Come on! Hurry! We have work to do!”
They ran to Nancy's car. Nancy handed the keys to George. ”Will you drive, so I'll be free to hop out and get hold of Mr. Swenson the instant he comes to the gate?”
George took the wheel and they made record time to the factory. She parked in the first s.p.a.ce beyond the front of the gate, and left the engine running.
”You girls watch for those men we overheard. I'll look for Joe Swenson,” Nancy directed.
As she spoke, the four-o'clock whistle blew.
”He'll be out any minute now!” George exclaimed.
Anxiously the girls scanned the faces of the workmen as they came from the building. ”Where is he?” Bess fretted.
At that moment Nancy caught sight of the inventor. She alighted and called his name. With a smile of friendly recognition, he came over to the car.
”Jump in!” Nancy invited, indicating the rear seat. ”We'll give you a lift.”
”Why, thanks,” the inventor returned gratefully. ”I live on the south side. Another fellow and I share a room at the outskirts of town. I imagine it's out of your way-”
”Not at all,” Nancy a.s.sured him with a worried glance up and down the street.
In her haste to leave the plant area, Nancy climbed in and almost pulled the man in after her. She asked George to press the b.u.t.ton to roll up the convertible's top.
”A man certainly appreciates a ride home after a hard day on his feet,” Swenson remarked, leaning back against the cus.h.i.+on. ”I'm not yet accustomed to standing eight hours, but I'll be all right in a week or so. I'm glad to earn a little money by any means, after being out of work for so long.”
As George drove down the street, Nancy said, ”Mr. Swenson, the mystery about your lost letters has been solved.” Quickly she explained about the mail clerk who had been arrested.
The inventor was shocked, and shook his head sadly. ”I'm glad he has been caught. But what an unfortunate thing for him to do. He probably has a family-they'll have to suffer with him. Crimes, big or little, are so useless. Whatever profits they may bring are always temporary.”
Nancy nodded. She was becoming more convinced every minute that Joe Swenson was an honest person!
”I have another surprise,” she said. ”Your diary was picked up near the drive to the Raybolt house.” She took the journal from her handbag. ”Would you mind translating some of the Swedish for me?”
”My diary!Oh, how lucky!” Almost affectionately he began to turn the pages. ”Here is an item about Honey's birthday. How she loved the little toy I made for her! I was always planning to try to market those mechanical dolls, but I never got to it.”
George interrupted to ask which direction to take, and Nancy said, ”Oh, let's just ride out into the country.”
She wanted to elude the men who intended to arrest Mr. Swenson until she could make up her mind what to do. Suddenly the inventor's face darkened. ”Here's a note about Felix Raybolt.” He translated, ”'I have been warned by my friend Anson Heilberg not to let Raybolt see my invention but I shall take a chance. I must because I need money for rent and food. He will give me an advance.' ”
Mr. Swenson remarked bitterly, ”How I wish I had listened to Anson! Felix Raybolt would not give me another cent or any part of a royalty from the use of my electrochemical process for putting a ceramic finish on steel!”
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