I am being followed!” Nancy thought anxiously

By this time the gray car was so near that she could see two persons in the front seat, a man and a woman. Nancy recognized them as the couple who had hurried out of the Smith driveway the night before! She tried in vain to read the license plate which was covered with mud. Gradually, so as not to reveal her concern, Nancy speeded up but was unable to lose her pursuers.

“They mean business, ” she thought grimly. “If I don’t lose them quickly, they’ll probably try to stop me when we come to the first lonely stretch.”

Directly ahead was a dirt road which Nancy knew led to the town of Hamilton, two miles away. Without hesitation she turned into it, even though she realized it would take her away from Emerson.

Another burst of speed put her far ahead of the pursuing car. Nevertheless, as she entered the town of Hamilton she saw that the man and woman had not given up the chase.

Nancy looked in vain for police headquarters. Finally she parked in front of the bus station and ran inside. Entering a telephone booth, she called Ned Nickerson at Emerson College and told him of her predicament.

“You stay there until I come, ” Ned advised. “A bus leaves for Hamilton in fifteen minutes. If I hurry I can catch it. Whatever you do, don’t give that couple a chance to approach you.”

“I’ll be safe enough until you get here, ” Nancy said to reassure him. “There are several people around and I doubt the couple would try anything out in the open.”

Even as she hung up the phone, the gray car parked some distance behind her own. Uneasily Nancy sat down in the waiting room. Recalling that she had failed to leave a copy of the half map with Mr. Smith, she took a notebook from her purse and began to sketch.

Nancy became so absorbed in her work that she did not glance up until a woman sat down beside her. The newcomer was about thirty-five years old, stout, and had a cold, steady gaze which rested on Nancy’s notebook.

“She’s the one who was in the gray car! ” the young detective said to herself.

Getting up abruptly, Nancy thrust both drawings into her handbag and hurriedly left the bus station. A glance revealed that the woman’s accomplice was waiting nearby, so she started walking in the opposite direction.

“I’ll be safe if I stay within sight of other people, ” Nancy reasoned, clutching her handbag. “If it’s the half map they want, I must finish the second copy quickly and put it somewhere.”

A block away Nancy came to a large department store. Turning into it, she made her way to the third floor. She located a telephone booth and closed herself into it.

“I’ll be okay here for a few minutes, ” she thought, opening her purse. “Now to finish copying the map.”

She completed the sketch in less than five minutes. Realizing that both drawings could be stolen, Nancy came to a sudden decision. She sealed her original sketch in an envelope which she addressed to her father, then discovered she had no stamp.

“I’ll mail it at the post office. I may be followed, but I must take the risk.”

Nancy hoped that she had not been observed entering the store, but when she emerged from the building, the woman and the man were waiting. As she walked hurriedly along the street they followed in their car.

“They’re afraid to approach me now, ” she reasoned, “but if I’m alone for a minute I’ll have trouble. I wonder if they’re in league with Spike Doty.”

Nancy entered the post office, bought a stamp, and mailed the map. She remained in the building for a few minutes, allowing herself exactly enough time to reach the bus station before Ned was due to arrive.

Her watch proved to be accurate, for as she came within view of the station she saw three buses coming down the street. With a sigh of relief she quickened her step and joined the crowd of passengers waiting to get on.

The farthest bus finally came to a standstill. Nancy caught a glimpse of Ned alighting from the last bus and waved to him.

As the passengers pushed toward the first bus, someone brushed against her. Nancy felt a slight tug on her arm. Startled, she whirled around in time to see a man running down the street.

“My purse! ” she cried out. “My purse has been stolen! ”