“I’m sure she intended to buy a dress, but she knew I was watching her,” Nancy reasoned.
Just at that moment Helen emerged from the dressing room and came over to where Nancy was standing.
“I’m sorry to have kept you waiting so long, but—”
Nancy cut her short by clutching her by the arm.
“Come to the window!” she commanded.
Wonderingly, Helen obeyed.
“See that girl,” Nancy pointed toward Mary Mason who was crossing the street. “Did you ever see her before?”
“Why, her face does look familiar. Let me see—oh, now I remember! She applied at our house for work in the kitchen.”
“You didn’t hire her?”
“No. We didn’t like her looks and the position had already been filled.”
“She must have called at your house after she left mine,” Nancy said. “I’d like to know if she finally found a place.”
“I shouldn’t be surprised, Nancy. She asked me if I knew of a place and I suggested that she might find work at Lilac Inn. They’re nearly always looking for help there.”
“Lilac Inn?” Nancy demanded thoughtfully.
“Yes. I don’t know whether she went or not.”
“I’ll make it my business to find out.”
“Why, what’s it all about, anyway?”