Nancy's Mysterious Letter Part 20

As they drove into the campus, Ned headed the car for the gymnasium. "I'm due to report," he said. "I'll see you after the game."

Nancy patted his arm and wished him all kinds of good luck. "I'll be rooting for you at the top of my lungs," she added as he grinned and got out of the car.

She slid over to the driver's seat and turned in the direction of the fraternity house. Suddenly Nancy had a hunch and took a road that led to the Town Hall. She rushed inside and up to the Marriage License Bureau. The clerk on duty smiled when she eagerly asked if a Nancy Smith Drew had obtained a license recently.

"No. Guess you'll have to try some other town around here if you want to find her. Is she a friend of yours?"

"Sort of," Nancy replied. "Anyway I must find Miss Drew. If, by any chance, she should come here, tell her another Nancy Drew at the Omega Chi Epsilon House simply must see her before she gets married."

The clerk blinked. "Sounds like a mystery thriller." he remarked.

Nancy did not comment. After thanking him, she dashed from the building and hurried to her car.

On her way once more, Nancy mulled over the case. "I have a strong hunch Miss Drew isn't going back to Mrs. Roderick's-at least not for a while. Suppose-just suppose Edgar Nixon has thought out a whole new scheme to escape being caught. Now what could it be?"

Nancy discarded many theories, then one popped into her mind that she felt was worth pursuing. "It's just possible Edgar plans to take his bride to London. Then, as if quite by accident, she'll learn of her inheritance. He'll see to it that she doesn't find out in the United States."

She parked the car and entered the fraternity house. Nearly everyone was out, and no one was using the telephone.

"I think I'll call up the overseas airlines leaving from New York."

She got the list of numbers from information and then began calling. Between long waits, due either to busy lines, or the reservation clerks having to look up the information, half an hour went with no luck.

"Well, here goes for the last one." Nancy sighed as she dialed the number.

In a few minutes a pleasant voice answered. Nancy put the same question. "Have you a reservation for today or someday soon for a Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Nixon, or Mr. Nixon and Miss Nancy Smith Drew?"

"Just a minute."

The reservations girl came back on the wire. "h.e.l.lo? ... Yes, they leave on-"

The connection was suddenly cut off.

CHAPTER XV.

A Worse Mix-up

THOUGH Nancy tried over and over again to call the airline back, the wire continued to be busy.

"Oh phooey!" she said to herself impatiently.

Suddenly Nancy realized that she still did not know if the reservation was for Mr. and Mrs. Edgar Nixon, or for Edgar and Nancy Smith Drew. Also, she had not found out whether or not they were going to London, nor on what day they were flying.

Before trying the airline again, Nancy had to relinquish the phone to several students who wanted to make calls. Soon the fraternity house held a mob of chattering, laughing boys and girls. Even if Nancy could have made the connection, she would not have heard what was being said at the other end of the line.

Bess and George came running up to her. "Nancy, we've been looking all over for you. It's almost lunchtime," said Bess. "My, you look as if you're in the doldrums instead of having fun. What's the matter?"

Nancy brought her friends up to date on the latest clue. "Well, here goes one more try for the airline."

The cousins could tell by the expression on Nancy's face that the line was still busy. Finally George said, "If Miss Drew didn't tell Mrs. Roderick she was going away, she's probably coming back so you can talk to her later. Come on. Time to eat, and then we'll have to hurry off to the game."

Nancy was torn between two desires. She hated to give up her pursuit of the other Nancy Drew. On the other hand, she would not miss seeing Ned play in this big and final game of the football season for anything.

At that instant the telephone rang and Nancy answered it. "Chi Omega Epsilon House?" a young woman's voice asked.

"Yes."

"I'd like to speak to Nancy Drew."

"You're talking to her. Is this Marian Wilson?"

"Yes. Nancy, I'm so glad I got you before you left."

"Any news about Miss Drew?" Nancy asked her.

"No, I haven't seen her. I drove around town, thinking I might get a glimpse of her, but she wasn't in sight."

Marian Wilson said she had a request to make. "Since both Ned and Frank are playing, how about you and I attending the game together?"

"I think that's a wonderful idea," said Nancy. "You know, there's just an outside chance that Nancy Smith Drew may be there, and you can spot her."

It was arranged that Marian was to come over to the fraternity house directly after lunch and go to the game with the girls. Dave and Burt, who were on the second-string team, had left already for the stadium.

An hour later, just as Nancy was about to leave the house with the group, a telephone call came from her father. "You must have something important to tell me," she said quickly.

"I have tracked down the firm which offered to present Nancy Smith Drew so she can claim her inheritance."

"What kind of an agency is it?" his daughter inquired.

"A shady outfit and not to be trusted."

Nancy was excited at the news. "Maybe the agency's story is a fake, and some impostor is going to appear calling herself Nancy Smith Drew."

"That's what Mr. Bates-Jones thinks," her father said.

She told him all that she had learned the night before and during the morning. "Your clue gives me an idea, Dad. Maybe Edgar Nixon doesn't intend to marry Nancy Smith Drew at all. Instead, he's taking her away to keep her from being found by me."

"It's a good guess," the lawyer remarked.

"And here's another thing," Nancy went on. "Perhaps Edgar Nixon is already married to somebody else who is in cahoots with him and is going to play the part."

Mr. Drew sighed. "This mystery gets to be more mixed up all the time. Well, Nancy, I advise you to forget the whole thing for the afternoon and evening. Enjoy the game and have fun at the dance tonight."

Nancy laughed. "I don't promise to forget the mystery, but I know I'll have a marvelous time. Good-by, Dad. Take care."

On the way to the game, Nancy brought her friends up to date on the latest development.