Setting a Trap

Nancy's plan was simple. She believed that Felix Raybolt was hiding somewhere near the ruined estate, perhaps in the dense woods which adjoined the property, and she proposed to watch the place for a return visit

" It's said that a criminal always returns to the scene of his crime, " she declared. " Of course, that saying can't apply to Raybolt, for technically speaking he isn't a criminal unless you can call his cheating a criminal act. I have a hunch that he'll return to the ruins."

" Why should he want to go into hiding? " Bess inquired. " I've wondered about that."

" Yes, why? " asked George. " He has plenty of money. Nobody would imagine he'd set his own house on fire to get the insurance."

" No, " answered Nancy. " I think he has another reason. He hopes that Swenson will be blamed, and after the inventor is in prison, Raybolt will have a clear field for his crooked work."

" Poor Joe Swenson said there was no chance of his making trouble, because he couldn't afford to engage a lawyer, " argued Bess.

" Nevertheless, " said Nancy, " Raybolt probably feared Joe Swenson more than he would admit, and when the opportunity of the fire came along, he was foxy enough to use it to further his own ends."

" Well, " snorted George, " if he's alive and in hiding, I think it's the limit for him to worry his wife."

" Maybe, " assented Nancy, " but I don't feel very sorry for people who acted as Mrs. Raybolt did in the courtroom—deliberately identifying someone I'm sure she never saw before. What's more horrible, " she went on, " is to think of the plight of an innocent man and wife—and that dear little girl Honey. I mean to find that rascal Raybolt! "

" What do you propose to do? " asked George.

" Let's watch for him tonight. We may waste our time but I have a feeling–can 't explain it—that we'll catch him near the burned house."

" It's going to be pretty dark tonight, " Bess commented. " There'll be no moon."

" So much the better, " Nancy declared. " Raybolt probably wouldn't venture to return if he thought there would be any danger of being detected. What do you say? Are you with me? "

" I am, " George announced promptly.

" Then I am, too, " Bess added with less enthusiasm, " but your plan sounds a trifle dangerous to me. What if Raybolt should come, and should try to escape or make trouble? "

" We'd be three to one, " Nancy returned. " Of course, it would be better if we had some man along. Dad would go with us, I know, but there isn't time to get him here before dark. We'll not have much time if we intend to get out to the Raybolt estate by dusk."

" Perhaps your friend would go with us, " Bess suggested hopefully.

" You mean Ned? That's an idea! We'll stop at his home when we get to Mapleton."

Nancy pressed her foot on the starter of the car and the motor caught the first time. The sun was sinking low when the roadster swung into Mapleton. The girls stopped at the Nickerson residence which was on their route, but were disappointed to learn that Ned had not returned after going to Sandy Creek for Mrs. Swenson and Honey.

" He's probably off hunting for Foxy Felix, " Nancy said to her chums. " I'll leave a note for him, and if he should get back in time, he might follow us to the estate."

The message was quickly scribbled and given to Ned's mother, who promised to deliver it the moment her son came home.

" I have a feeling something dreadful is going to happen tonight, " Bess said nervously as they drove away from the Nickerson home. " It wouldn't be so bad if there only were other houses nearby, but they're so far away the neighbors wouldn't hear us if we screamed for help."

''Calm your nerves, '' Nancy advised. ''Three capable, muscular, brainy girls such as we are shouldn't need any help."

" I'd be a match for Foxy Felix myself, " George boasted. " Look at my brawn! I assure you I haven't wasted all the time I spent in the gym."

" No, you haven't, " admitted Nancy, " but I'm inclined to think that some of that brawn was caused by the amount of food you eat."

" I'm beginning to feel hungry, " said Bess, " and if I'm going to help on a spooky job tonight, I'll need a good dinner to give me courage."

" All right, " came from Nancy, " we'll find a place near here."

" Let's go to the Maplecroft, " suggested George. " The food's good there."

" I hardly think that would be wise, " Nancy objected, " for I shouldn't care to meet Mrs. Raybolt. She might interfere with our plans."

" I noticed a nice looking cottage on the road toward the Raybolt estate the other day when we passed by. It had a sign, 'Chicken and Waffle Dinners.' "

" Fine, " said Nancy, and headed the car in the direction of the tea room.

The place proved to be attractive inside as well as outside and the girls enjoyed the appetizing meal which was served to them. They did not linger over the food, however, as Nancy was eager to be on her way.

A drive of a few minutes brought the girls within sight of the burned mansion. Dusk was just settling as they came to the entrance.

The Raybolt estate was deserted, for after the first day few persons had come to view the ruins. In the gathering dusk the grounds looked unpleasantly lonely. Even George felt less inclined to joke as she realized that within an hour it would be dark.

Nancy drove past the estate and hid the roadster in a dense clump of trees. They waited in the car until it was growing rather dark and then silently crept back toward the ruined house. A few charred beams which had not fallen to the ground stood like sentinels guarding the wreckage. In the dimness the girls could easily imagine that they were ghostly figures.

" This is going t-to be more s-spooky than I figured, " Bess chattered nervously. " Nancy, you do have the wildest ideas."

" Pooh, this is nothing, " Nancy scoffed. " Remember the time we visited the Nature Cult cave? Now that was an adventure! "

" We're not through with this one yet, " George muttered. " Well, if we must go through with it, where shall we hide? "

They found a place behind a clump of bushes only a short distance from where the house had stood. The shrubs hid them, yet disclosed a view of the road and the woods. Nancy and her chums settled themselves as comfortably as possible; but from the first, mosquitoes made it plain that they resented the intrusion.

A half hour passed, then an hour. The girls were startled several times as sticks crackled or dead limbs of trees crashed in the breeze.

" The mosquitoes have nearly eaten me up, " Bess complained, " and my back feels as though it would break."

" You'll become paralyzed after another hour or so, " Nancy jestingly interposed.

" How long do you propose staying here? " George demanded. " It must be almost midnight now."

" It isn't ten o'clock yet, " Nancy laughed.

" Well, I don't think Raybolt is coining or he'd have been here by this time, " Bess grumbled impatiently. " Why don't we go home? "

" I mean to stick it out a while longer, " Nancy returned quietly.

Again the girls became silent. Bess and George, having accustomed themselves to their hiding-place, stretched out as comfortably as possible and left Nancy to keep watch. They were no longer nervous or afraid—only weary of an adventure which had gone stale.

Presently Georgebecame very quiet and then fell asleep. Bess's eyes closed, too, and soon she was slumbering peacefully.

How long the cousins slept, they had no idea. They were suddenly awakened by a scream, and the sound of running feet on the driveway.

" Nancy! " cried George, jumping up. " What has happened? "

There was no answer.

" Nancy! " called Bess, grabbing George by the arm.

Still there was no answer, and the two girls realized that their chum was no longer with them. Where was she? Who had screamed? Who was coming up the road in such haste?

While the cousins had been dozing, Nancy had taken matters into her own hands. Her mind had been too busy to permit her to feel sleepy.

As she watched, first the woods, then the road, then the burned house, she suddenly became aware of the sound of footsteps.

" Maybe it's Ned, " she thought hopefully, for now that the critical moment had arrived she realized the danger of facing Felix Raybolt. " He may have followed us, after getting the note."

The masculine figure was still too far away for Nancy to be able to discern who it could be. While she waited with bated breath, the man paused. She was about to awaken her chums, when it occurred to her that they might speak aloud and warn the oncoming figure of their presence.

As the man turned toward the burned house, Nancy was in a quandary. She did not dare rouse her friends, yet she felt it advisable to follow the intruder. She must find out who he was—just Ned, come to help her, a mere passerby, or Felix Raybolt.

Throwing off a momentary sense of fear, Nancy made her decision. Leaving her friends, she began to follow the man. Stealthily she crept nearer the rums, dodging from tree to tree. She was glad there was no moon, for the darkness afforded protection.

When she was only a few feet away from the man, she paused. It was not Ned Nickerson. From descriptions of the owner of the estate and from numerous newspaper photographs of him, Nancy felt certain that this must be Felix Raybolt.

For an instant her courage almost failed her. It was one thing to accost the man in daylight but quite another to approach him under the present circumstances. She wondered if he were armed. Why had she not thought of that possibility before? It was too late to consider it now.

Walking unsteadily, the man came slowly toward Nancy's hiding place. Though he was as yet unaware of her presence, she realized that at any moment he might discover her. It was imperative that she make the first move.

" I'm going out there and speak to him, " she determined. " But I must be sure it's Raybolt."

Pulling out of her pocket a flashlight which she had thoughtfully taken from the roadster, Nancy stepped boldly from behind the tree. The man was only a few feet away. Quickly the rays from the flashlight showed up his face.

" Felix Raybolt, " Nancy demanded, " what are you doing here? "