“According to Hodge, she’s been buying scads of things lately. Mostly unnecessary articles.”
“Did you find out what she paid for them?”
“Yes.” Carson Drew took a slip of paper from his pocket and glanced at it. “A hat—fifteen dollars. Dress—forty-nine fifty. Shoes—fifteen. Scarf—five. Belt—two-fifty. Perfume—eight. Pocketbook—ten ninety-eight.”
“Imagine paying eight dollars for perfume!” Nancy exclaimed. “And nearly fifty dollars for a dress when she hasn’t even a position!”
“The whole thing comes to more than a hundred dollars,” Mr. Drew observed, studying the figures.
“And she paid cash?”
“The packages were sent C.O.D. , just as you thought. She paid for them when they were delivered.”
“Did you call at any of the other stores?”
“Yes, at the River Heights Department Store and at Hidelberg’s. They had never heard of her at the River Heights Department Store, but at Hidelberg’s I found that she had bought a dress.”
“She must have gone back and bought it after I met her there,” Nancy said excitedly. “Probably she was afraid I’d see her buy it.”
“That might be.”
“What did she pay for the dress, Dad?”
“Sixty-five dollars.”