LITMIR.BIZ

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as Nelson finally climbed the ladder.

      “How about introducing us,” someone suggested, “and finding out whether she’s blonde, brunette, or redheaded?”

      “I haven’t introduced myself yet,” said Ted, glad that a possible tragedy had been averted. The girl had withdrawn a little, not feeling herself a part of the group, but she waited and extended her hand as Ted approached.

      “I’m very grateful to you. My name’s Nancy.”

      “I’m Ted.” Since she had given only her first name, he did the same. “And this is Nelson,” he added, as his friend joined them. “He’s not always last. In fact, he won a medal for running fifty yards in ten seconds.”

      “A hundred yards.” Nelson scowled at him, but smiled at Nancy as she acknowledged the introduction.

      “You’re a summer visitor, aren’t you?” Ted resumed.

      “Yes. That is, I think I am. What I mean is, visitor generally means being on a vacation, and I’m here to work. I’m doing secretarial work for my aunt, but we’ve had such a stretch of dreary weather she told me to take the morning off. I’m supposed to meet her for lunch, so I guess I may as well dress. I don’t feel like doing any more diving.”

      “You don’t want to lose your nerve,” Nelson cautioned her.

      “Oh, I don’t think I’ve lost my nerve.” She took off her bathing cap, and shook out her heavy, medium-brown curls, as though to show that she hadn’t been much upset by the affair. “It’s just that the fun’s gone out of it for today, and I really do have to meet my aunt.”

      “Did you drive out?” asked Ted, realizing she must be alone, since no one else had joined her.

      “No, I came by bus. I didn’t have too much time, and I wasn’t quite certain of the way.”

      It was unusual to take the intercity bus, though for a summer visitor it might be the most convenient way.

      “Then why don’t you let us drive you back, Nancy?”

      “Oh, I wouldn’t think of cutting your fun short. Go ahead and enjoy yourselves.”

      “You’re not interfering. As a matter of fact, I’m due at work, too. Of course we haven’t exactly been introduced—”

      “But everyone here seems to know you, Ted, so I’m sure it must be all right, and I’d be very glad of the lift.”

      “It’s Nelson’s car, not mine, so I suppose I should have waited for him to invite you.”

      “Oh, don’t mind me,” Nelson grumbled. “You got to her first. It serves me right for leaping before I looked.”

      “But I think it was a very nice thing for you to try to help me, too,” said Nancy warmly. “Swimmers sometimes get frantic, and it might have taken both of you. I appreciate it very much.”

      Nelson looked both embarrassed and pleased as he answered, “Well, we couldn’t let you drown, could we?”

      “I hope not!” She turned to Ted. “Where shall I meet you, then?”

      “Right here. We’ll be changing ourselves. See you in ten minutes?”

      “Ten minutes,” she agreed, and left them.

      “Well, maybe I will, and maybe I won’t,” Nelson meditated, looking after her.

      “Maybe you will or maybe you won’t do what?”

      “Write poison-pen letters to Margaret Lake.”

      “Oh, nuts!” Ted retorted, and started away.

      Fifteen minutes later they were in Nelson’s car and on their way to the business center of town.

      “Are you going to be in town long, Nancy?” asked Ted.

      “Only until school starts. I’m entering college this fall.”

      “So are we!” exclaimed Ted, unexpectedly pleased. Somehow, judging from her poise, he had thought Nancy to be a little older than they were, but now decided she was their age. That meant she might like to come along to certain social affairs that were likely to turn up soon.

      They talked about college for a few minutes, which seemed to give them a common bond, even though the colleges were hundreds of miles apart. Nancy was interested in music, and Ted thought he might be able to find a place on the college newspaper or magazine. Since the conversation seemed to be leaving Nelson out, Ted mentioned that his friend had been a football star.

      “Not this year,” Nelson reminded him. “They don’t allow freshmen on the varsity.”

      “But there’ll probably be a freshman team—”

      “Sure, a lot of work and no glory.”

      Though Nelson was driving slowly, Forestdale was only a small town, and they reached the center all too soon.

      “Down this street—I think,” Nancy directed them. “My office is along here somewhere.”

      “Mine, too,” replied Ted. “Where did you say you worked?”

      “Oh, there it is—that building next to the one with the yellow awnings.”

      “Why—that’s the Town Crier office,” exclaimed Ted. “I work there, too!”

      Drawing the car to a stop, Nelson turned to them with a grin. “If you two work at the same place, maybe it’s time you got acquainted with each other.”

      CHAPTER 2

      BLUE HARVEST

      It was a ridiculous situation, of course. The Town Crier had only three full-time employees in the office, Mr. Dobson, Miss Monroe, and Carl Allison, and that two people could work there even part time without knowing each other seemed incredible.

      “You must be Nancy Lindell,” Ted decided in wonder. “And Miss Monroe is your aunt. I’ve heard her mention you many times.”

      “Yes, and you must be Ted Wilford. She’s mentioned you in some of her letters. I was hoping to meet you here, but didn’t expect you’d be pulling me out of the water.”

      “But she didn’t say anything to me about your coming here to work,” Ted objected.

      “No, it was a rather sudden decision. I wanted to come while she was ill, but I had another job, housekeeping for several children while the parents were traveling, and I couldn’t get away. Anyway, I guess I wouldn’t have been much good without someone to tell me what to do. Just the same, I was anxious to get in a little secretarial experience, so when she told me she could use me for a few weeks, I came right out.”

      “I haven’t been down to the office since Monday morning,” Ted explained, but did not add that his dispute with Carl Allison was responsible. “That’s why I missed you.”

      They were feeling well acquainted already as they stood on the walk, Ted’s hand still on the open door.

      “I don’t like to rush you people, but either I drop a dime in this parking meter, or else I have to go,” Nelson finally remarked.

      Nancy turned to him once more, and extended her hand. “Thanks, Nelson. I appreciate what you’ve done for me, and even more what you tried to do. I’m sure I’ll be seeing you soon.”

      “You bet,” Nelson agreed, and drove off whistling.

      Holding open the office door, Ted followed Nancy in. Mr. Dobson was there, seemingly in conference with a man who was a stranger to Ted. But Miss Monroe was absent, which was only to be expected. There were always a great many things to be done outside the office, and as a normal thing work was arranged so that someone was in the office at all times. Now with Mr. Dobson’s leg still not fully healed from the auto accident he had suffered at the beginning of summer, it was generally

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