“You wait here while I try it on,” she told Nancy. “It won’t take me a minute.”
After Helen had left, Nancy amused herself by watching the customers who came into the shop. From experience, she had learned that Helen’s minutes were usually long ones. Now, as the time passed and her chum did not return, she became a trifle restless and after a few minutes got up from her chair. As she moved toward the window she chanced to glance toward the door and saw a girl enter. Before she could turn aside, they met face to face. To Nancy Drew’s surprise, the girl was Mary Mason.
For a moment Nancy was so taken aback that she could only stare, but, recovering quickly, she smiled pleasantly.
“I didn’t expect to meet you here,” she said graciously.
Mary Mason regarded Nancy with a cold stare. Then, without responding, she gave an impudent toss of her head and turned aside.
“Such insolence!” Nancy thought a trifle angrily. “One would think she was an heiress instead of a kitchen girl! It was lucky I didn’t engage her.” Nancy Drew’s curiosity had been aroused, and as she waited for Helen her eyes followed Mary Mason. “I suppose she works here,” she told herself.
To her surprise, she saw the girl address herself to one of the saleswomen, and it was evident by her actions that she intended to purchase a gown.
“There’s something queer about that,” Nancy thought. “Surely, a girl in her circumstance can’t afford to buy dresses at such a place as this!”
She continued to watch, but Mary Mason, becoming aware that Nancy’s eyes were upon her, seemed to grow nervous. After a few minutes she left the store without having made a purchase.