before, but now I will admit to you that I am absolutely amazed at your ability. I had heard that you performed very well in school plays, but I had no idea you could do this well.”
Nancy smiled. “Don’t forget I’ve been watching Tammi intently and trying to imitate her.”
“Well, you’ve certainly done a remarkable job. Now, if you’re ready, I’d like to go over the scene where you’re seated on the couch reading a letter and Bob Simpson comes in unexpectedly to bring bad news. Please be very intent while reading the letter. Then, as you become aware of his entrance, start to rise and let the letter flutter to the floor.”
As Nancy crossed the stage toward the couch, she thought, “That’s not the way Tammi does the scene. Mr. Spencer must think his way is better. I wonder if her personal interest in Bob made her interpret the scene differently.”
Nancy went through the lines and motions exactly as she had been directed, and Mr. Spencer smiled his approval. “Please be sure to do it just that way tonight. It was perfect.”
Three more short scenes were rehearsed, then Mr. Spencer looked at his watch. “My, it’s seven o’clock!” he said in amazement. “Nancy, will you please take a warm shower to relax, have a short rest period, then eat a very light supper. Tell Margo I’ll be in shortly.”
Nancy delivered the message, then went to the second floor. Surprised to find that Bess and George were not around, she returned to the kitchen to ask Margo where they were.
“I don’t know,” the actress replied. “But I did see them go off in your car.”
Wondering where the cousins had gone, Nancy returned to her bedroom, took a shower, and lay down for twenty minutes. Then she went to the kitchen. After eating a sandwich and drinking a cup of tea, Nancy went over to the theater. Bess and George still had not returned.
“Where could they be?” Nancy wondered. The cousins, meanwhile, had hurried to the River Heights airport. George, thinking that Nancy’s father and Mrs. Gruen, and also Ned Nickerson, would like to see the performance that evening, had telephoned Mr. Drew. Then she had called the camp where Ned, Burt Eddleton, who was her own favorite date, and Dave Evans were counselors. All of them told her they would like to see the show. The boys would come by plane.
“I hope it’s on time,” Bess fidgeted, as they sat waiting. “We’ll just about get back to the theater in time for the curtain.”
Over a loud-speaker they heard the plane’s arrival being announced. The girls hurried to the gate, ready to whisk the boys off as soon as they came through it. Ned and his friends, realizing what a tight schedule they had to meet, ran all the way from the plane to the gate.
“Hi!” five voices said at the same time, and everyone laughed.
“The car’s over here,” George explained, leading the way. The trio of college boys formed a most attractive group: Ned, tall and athletic, with brown hair and blue eyes; Burt, blond and a little shorter than Ned; and Dave, rangily built, with dark hair and green eyes.
“So Nancy’s trying to solve another mystery—with the help of you girls,” Ned said, as the car spun along the road.
“It’s a weird one this time,” George answered. “But I don’t know how much we’re supposed to tell, so perhaps we should wait and let Nancy do it.”
“Fine thing!” Burt complained. “After all the help we fellows have given Nancy on other mysteries!”
“Yes,” Dave added, “think of all the miles we’ve traveled and you won’t even let us in on the excitement.”
Bess and George knew they were being teased, but still refused to divulge any details about the mystery of the dancing puppet.
When the young people walked into the theater, Mr. Drew and Hannah Gruen were already there in seats next to those for the newcomers. Greetings were quickly exchanged.
“Sh!” George whispered. “Curtain time!” Mr. Spencer was walking out to
Nancy smiled. “Don’t forget I’ve been watching Tammi intently and trying to imitate her.”
“Well, you’ve certainly done a remarkable job. Now, if you’re ready, I’d like to go over the scene where you’re seated on the couch reading a letter and Bob Simpson comes in unexpectedly to bring bad news. Please be very intent while reading the letter. Then, as you become aware of his entrance, start to rise and let the letter flutter to the floor.”
As Nancy crossed the stage toward the couch, she thought, “That’s not the way Tammi does the scene. Mr. Spencer must think his way is better. I wonder if her personal interest in Bob made her interpret the scene differently.”
Nancy went through the lines and motions exactly as she had been directed, and Mr. Spencer smiled his approval. “Please be sure to do it just that way tonight. It was perfect.”
Three more short scenes were rehearsed, then Mr. Spencer looked at his watch. “My, it’s seven o’clock!” he said in amazement. “Nancy, will you please take a warm shower to relax, have a short rest period, then eat a very light supper. Tell Margo I’ll be in shortly.”
Nancy delivered the message, then went to the second floor. Surprised to find that Bess and George were not around, she returned to the kitchen to ask Margo where they were.
“I don’t know,” the actress replied. “But I did see them go off in your car.”
Wondering where the cousins had gone, Nancy returned to her bedroom, took a shower, and lay down for twenty minutes. Then she went to the kitchen. After eating a sandwich and drinking a cup of tea, Nancy went over to the theater. Bess and George still had not returned.
“Where could they be?” Nancy wondered. The cousins, meanwhile, had hurried to the River Heights airport. George, thinking that Nancy’s father and Mrs. Gruen, and also Ned Nickerson, would like to see the performance that evening, had telephoned Mr. Drew. Then she had called the camp where Ned, Burt Eddleton, who was her own favorite date, and Dave Evans were counselors. All of them told her they would like to see the show. The boys would come by plane.
“I hope it’s on time,” Bess fidgeted, as they sat waiting. “We’ll just about get back to the theater in time for the curtain.”
Over a loud-speaker they heard the plane’s arrival being announced. The girls hurried to the gate, ready to whisk the boys off as soon as they came through it. Ned and his friends, realizing what a tight schedule they had to meet, ran all the way from the plane to the gate.
“Hi!” five voices said at the same time, and everyone laughed.
“The car’s over here,” George explained, leading the way. The trio of college boys formed a most attractive group: Ned, tall and athletic, with brown hair and blue eyes; Burt, blond and a little shorter than Ned; and Dave, rangily built, with dark hair and green eyes.
“So Nancy’s trying to solve another mystery—with the help of you girls,” Ned said, as the car spun along the road.
“It’s a weird one this time,” George answered. “But I don’t know how much we’re supposed to tell, so perhaps we should wait and let Nancy do it.”
“Fine thing!” Burt complained. “After all the help we fellows have given Nancy on other mysteries!”
“Yes,” Dave added, “think of all the miles we’ve traveled and you won’t even let us in on the excitement.”
Bess and George knew they were being teased, but still refused to divulge any details about the mystery of the dancing puppet.
When the young people walked into the theater, Mr. Drew and Hannah Gruen were already there in seats next to those for the newcomers. Greetings were quickly exchanged.
“Sh!” George whispered. “Curtain time!” Mr. Spencer was walking out to
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