"And you haven't seen her since the fire?" Nancy questioned softly.

"She came to my cabin twice-once to ask me to search for something she had lost. But I couldn't find it. I hunted everywhere. I told her that later and she never came here again."

Mr. Haley closed his eyes and turned his face toward the wall. Nancy and her father longed to ask him other questions but refrained. It was dear that the man was exhausted from talking.

Before Carson Drew and Nancy had a chance to discuss what Mr. Haley had told them, Ned, Burt, and Dave came into the bedroom.

"We're ready to leave, Nancy," Ned announced in a whisper.

"You all look handsome in your new outfits," she commented. The boys wore different colored striped sports jackets and dark-brown pants. "It's hard to tell who is the handsomest," she added.

"You'd better say Ned," Dave teased.

As the young people were driving away from the cabin in Ned's car he observed that Nancy was strangely silent.

"Is your hand bothering you?" he inquired anxiously.

"Not much," Nancy replied. "There's really nothing wrong with me, Ned. I was just thinking about Margaret Judson again. Ned, I must find her!"

"That's easier said than done."

"Yes, but I believe she's near here."

Ned glanced curiously at Nancy. Her next words astonished him even more, as with a quiet intensity in her voice, she added:

"It may sound silly to you, Ned, but I have a strange feeling-call it intuition if you will-that tonight I'll find Margaret Judson!"

"You seem very positive," Ned commented. "I certainly hope your hunch is right."

"Can you help me?" Nancy asked.

"I thought you didn't need my a.s.sistance," he replied impulsively.

"Oh, Ned, it was just that I couldn't explain everything to you about Mr. Wardell, and I'm afraid I can't even now. But sometime I'll be able to."

"That doesn't matter, Nancy. Just tell me what to do and I'll try to carry out orders."

"Ned, are you willing to subst.i.tute sleuthing for dancing tonight?"

CHAPTER XVI.

The Hidden Note

MEANWHILE, at the Deer Mountain Hotel, George and Bess were wondering what had become of Nancy. They were pacing the lobby waiting for her. Finally she came in, and to their delight the three boys were with her.

"I didn't mean to worry you," Nancy apologized to the cousins. "I jumped from one thing to another so fast I forgot to leave word where I was going to be."

Bess and George were enthusiastic tc have their favorite dates take them to the dance, and promptly forgave Nancy for the anxiety she had caused them.

The two girls hurried to their rooms to change. Ned, Burt, and Dave sat down in the lobby, while Nancy went to the desk to inquire for mail.

"Any letters for me?" she asked.

The desk clerk handed her two envelopes. One was plain, the other bore the hotel insigne. Nancy decided instantly that the latter was from Bartescue. She opened it and was not mistaken. It said:I won my golf match today and hope the rain did not cause you to lose yours. Important business calls me away from the hotel, but I hope to see you before you return home.

"Important business," Nancy mused as she tucked the letter into her pocket. "I wonder if it concerns Margaret Judson!"

She opened the second letter, and was astonished to learn that it was from the young woman she hoped to find that night. The typed message and signature read: The bearer of this note said that you wish to see me. Please write your message and leave it tonight before nine o'clock in one hand of the fountain statue.

Margaret Judson

Nancy read the note a second time to be sure that she had fully absorbed its amazing contents, then turned to the desk clerk.

"Can you tell me who delivered this letter?"

"I was not on duty at the time, Miss Drew."

Nancy wondered if the messenger could have been Bartescue. She would have to wait and ask the day clerk when he came on duty.

By this time Bess and George had returned. Before they went off with Burt and Dave, Nancy told them about the two notes. Afterward she showed Ned the one from Margaret Judson.

He grinned. "It looks as if your hunch is correct, Nancy. You may meet the mysterious lady before the evening is over."

"Ned, let's walk into the garden. I need a moment to figure out what to do. I'm not certain which statue Miss Judson means. It's probably the large one at the rear of the hotel. I think that's the only statue connected with a fountain."

"Let's look," Ned suggested.

Without appearing to be particularly interested in the surroundings, the couple walked slowly about the hotel grounds. Finally they stopped at the fountain, pretending to watch the goldfish in its basin.

"I've decided to leave a blank sheet of paper here, Ned. I would write a note but I'm a little suspicious Margaret Judson didn't send me that letter."

"You think it's a forgery?"

"It could be. I'd like to compare Miss Judson's signature with the one on Mr. Haley's photograph, but I won't have time now to go back to the cabin."

Ned looked at his watch. "No, I guess you won't. It's almost nine o'clock."

"We must work quickly. Wait here, Ned, please."

Nancy ran back into the hotel, but soon reappeared with a folded paper in her hand. The couple sat down on a nearby bench and waited until the grounds were deserted. Then Ned leaned across the stone basin of the fountain and placed the sheet of paper in the upraised hand of the marble figure.

"Now we'll act as if we're returning to the hotel," Nancy whispered.

"Later," said Ned, "we can sneak back here to see if anyone comes for the message."