The alligator moved toward Bess

“He—he was going to bite me! ” the frightened girl exclaimed.

Nancy and George tried to calm her. In a few minutes Bess was all right but her white slacks were wet and muddy.

To take her mind off the unpleasant incident, Nancy said, “As soon as you change your clothes, Bess, let’s go see the real-estate agent who is handling the sale of the Webster house. I want to look at the inside. After that we’ll work on the explosive orange mystery.”

“Good idea, ” said George. “Who is the realtor? ”

“Mr. Scarlett.”

When they reached the Billingtons’, it did not take Bess long to change to dark-blue slacks and a clean shirt. After a quick lunch the girls set off again. They drove directly to Mr. Scarlett’s office. Nancy parked and they walked up to the one-story building, then stopped short. A sign tacked to the door read:

CLOSED FOR VACATION

WILL OPEN IN TWO WEEKS

“We can’t stay that long! ” said Bess.

“I know, ” Nancy agreed. “Wait here, girls.”

She went to a nearby store and asked where Mr. Scarlett lived. She hoped the realtor was not out of town.

“He didn’t tell me his plans, ” said the store-keeper, and gave her the address of Mr. and Mrs. Scarlett.

When the girls rang his doorbell, there was no answer. Windows were closed and blinds were down.

“Maybe they’re only away for the day, ” George said optimistically.

Nancy was determined to see the inside of the Webster house and told herself, “I’ll find a way! ”

George remarked, “Normally a realtor wouldn’t go away without making provisions for prospective buyers to see properties he has listed.”

On the way back to the Billington house, Bess gave a tremendous sigh. “Can’t we relax and play some tennis? ” she asked. “Then we’ll go sleuthing.”

“Great idea! ” said George. “I’ll take on both of you.”

Bess giggled. “How we hate ourselves, ” she teased. “Just for that, I accept. Nancy and I will whitewash you! Three love sets in a row! ”

Bess came near being right. She and Nancy won the first two games. By the time the girls had finished three sets, the scores stood two sets for Nancy and Bess and one for George.

“I’ll get even another time! ” George vowed with a wide grin.

As they walked from the court, the cousins asked Nancy what was next on the schedule.

“You’re so good at keeping your mind on two things at once, ” said Bess, “that half your brain was playing tennis and the other half conjuring up something.”

Nancy laughed. “I was just thinking that if I call Dad’s friend Commander Nichol at the Base he’ll give me the name of the guard who admitted the driver with the explosive oranges.”

“And after that—” George prodded her.

“After that, ” Nancy replied, “we’ll try to talk to that man.”

Commander Nichol said that the guard’s name was Patrick Croft.

“He has been dismissed, ” the commander went on, “but hasn’t left town. He’s at home, ” and gave Nancy the address.

After she had said good-by, Nancy turned to the girls. “Let’s go! Maybe by talking to Mr. Croft we can get a clue to the man who impersonated Mr. Billington and drove into the Base.”