Part 21 (2/2)
The conversation was abruptly cut short as an officer took the prisoner by the arm and led him away.
When they entered the outside room, Nancy and her friends found Mrs. Raybolt, slumped on a bench, sobbing. Nancy, provoked that the woman had testified unfairly against Joe Swenson, started to pa.s.s her without a word. Then pity surmounted indignation and she paused.
”Don't grieve about your husband,” Nancy pleaded. ”He'll be found alive-I feel confident of it.”
Mrs. Raybolt wiped her eyes and stood up. She glared at Nancy with an almost insane look in her eyes.
”You dare to tell me that!” she cried out. ”You're an accomplice of Joe Swenson! My husband is gone! You probably helped plot his death!”
Mrs. Raybolt slapped Nancy's face, then began to shake the girl by her shoulders.
”Captain,” she screamed, ”come here! I demand that you arrest this-this accomplice!”
CHAPTER XVI.
A New a.s.signment
SHOCKED by Mrs. Raybolt's angry outburst, Nancy stepped back to dodge the blows.
Bess and George had jumped forward to her defense. But just then a sergeant burst into the room and interceded. Mrs. Raybolt stopped fighting with her fists but not with her tongue.
”I demand the arrest of this girl! She's in league with Joe Swenson and helped to kill my husband!” she screamed.
At this point Captain Johnson appeared. ”Mrs. Raybolt,” he said sternly, ”the law will handle this case. I advise you to calm down or you may find yourself in a hospital under the care of a psychiatrist.”
The distraught woman started to reply to this, but apparently thought better of it.
Nancy said calmly, ”Mrs. Raybolt, I don't blame you for being upset. But please try to believe that people are trying to help find your husband. The fire investigators are sure no one was in your home at the time of the explosion and fire. Therefore, Mr. Raybolt must be alive.”
”Then where is he?” Mrs. Raybolt demanded.
”No one knows.” Nancy looked directly at the woman. ”Unless you do,” she added disarmingly.
Mrs. Raybolt gave a startled quiver. Then she sank into a chair and covered her face with her hands. The others in the room looked at one another. Was the answer going to be yes or no?
Nancy had a strong hunch that it should be yes, but that as soon as Mrs. Raybolt recovered from the shock of Nancy's unexpected question, she would say no. Finally the woman raised her head. She did not have the look of a grief-stricken widow. Instead, she glared balefully at Nancy.
”This girl is crazy,” she said. ”Another one of those meddling teen-agers. Why doesn't she stay out of other people's business? Of course I haven't heard from Felix. How could I? He's dead! I tell you he's dead!” Mrs. Raybolt's voice had risen to a high pitch.
Captain Johnson asked a sergeant to take Mrs. Raybolt to her car, but requested that the girls remain. After the woman had gone, the officer asked Nancy what had prompted her question.
The girl detective smiled. ”I'm sure that many other people think Mr. Raybolt is alive. He has the reputation of having cheated people, including poor Mr. Swenson. Talk is going around that he felt it best to disappear. But wouldn't he get in touch with his wife?”
The police captain looked at Nancy in astonishment. ”You are a very clear thinker,” he said. ”The theory that Mr. Raybolt is alive is being worked on. Hospitals, airlines, railroad companies, steams.h.i.+p companies-all have been questioned. No clues have come up yet.”
Nancy thanked the officer for the information, then said, ”I hope Mr. Raybolt will be found, and when he is, that he will clear Mr. Swenson of any blame in connection with the fire.”
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