A Trip to the Inn
After leaving the Hidelberg shop, Helen Corning drove Nancy Drew home in her runabout. She declined an invitation to remain for dinner.
“It’s getting late and I really can’t stop,” she said. “I’ll see you again in a few days.”
“If you should hear anything about Mary Mason, I wish you’d let me know.”
“I certainly will, Nancy; but I imagine you can find her at Lilac Inn. She probably found work there.”
Helen said goodbye and with a wave of her hand drove away, leaving her chum standing at the curb. As Nancy Drew walked toward the house she reviewed the events of the afternoon. The more she considered Mary Mason’s peculiar actions, the more puzzled she became. Where had the girl secured money? When she had called at the Drew household seeking work, she had been rather shabbily dressed, but at the store Nancy had noticed that she was wearing an expensive gown.
“Of course, it’s possible she found work,” she reasoned; “but even if she did, it’s not likely her wages would be enough to permit her to buy dresses at Hidelberg’s. I can’t understand it at all. Probably I’m doing Mary Mason an injustice,” she told herself; “but I feel I owe it to Emily to investigate every clue. I wish there were fewer or that a few of them were clearer.”
Nancy paused on the veranda and glanced at her wrist watch. It was after five o’clock and she could hear Mrs. Carter bustling about in the kitchen