Praise for Mabel Maney’s Nancy Clue Mysteries!

“Maney has penned a mystery with tongue-in-cheek homo-erotic hilarity that’s simultaneously fun, nostalgic, and completely contemporary.”—Los Angeles Reader

“In a gem of a book-length parody, the author faithfully hews to the narrative and plotting style of juvenile series fiction, her remarkably straight face making the goings on all the funnier. I loved this book …”—Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine

“Maney, who evidently grew up bent in a straighter-than-thou environment, has had a field day with our conventions. Wittily, subversively, she has exposed the underbelly of America: it’s softly rounded, and warm.”—Toronto Globe and Mail

“Utter kitsch, done with class and distinction. Mabel tools the pages like an expert, in the process bringing up a lot of dialogue about the role of lesbianism in the ‘gay’ 90s, albeit subtly.”—Your Flesh Magazine

“Girl-detective fiction fashioned with a gusto and much self-parody … Maney delivers a strange tale of missing nuns, lesbian romance and much hapless do-gooding detective work. Fun at its most Sapphic, this is one mystery that you should get to the bottom of!”—The Pink Paper

“Good-for-Nothing Girlfriend is definitely a hoot; you’ll laugh until your dress gets mussed … Maney knows ‘50s America like she majored in Ozzie and Harriet.”—Lambda Book Report

“The sequel to The Case of the Not-So-Nice Nurse is another hoot, a lampooning of girls’ fiction of the past full of hapless, do-gooding detectives with ‘keen sleuthing abilities, up-to-the-minute fashion sense, and gracious finishing-school manners.’ With a honey like Cherry, who is always careful to keep an ample supply of freshly starched, white linen handkerchiefs in her seasonally appropriate handbag, we know Nancy can’t miss.” —Booklist

Nancy swiftly and expertly roped Cherry in.

About the Author

MABEL MANEY was born at All Saint’s Hospital in Appleton, Wisconsin, to Marge Muldoon Maney, a former beauty queen whose titles include Miss Muskie Queen 1949 and Miss Cheese Log 1951, and Milton Maney, a traveling footwear salesman specializing in sensible shoes.

After her parents were lost at sea, Mabel’s spinster aunt, Miss Maude Maney, a successful women’s undergarments buyer for a local department store, enrolled Mabel at St. Agatha’s School for Girls in nearby Bear Lake, where she excelled in Conversational Skills and Table Manners. After an idyllic four years spent in the highest academic pursuits, Mabel was expelled for behavior too unpleasant to mention here.

Mabel enjoyed a short stint at the Appleton Home for Wayward Girls, after which she made her way west where she found employment in the film industry, training miniature collies to jump through hoops. Following many years devoted to canine education, Mabel retired to San Francisco, where she now resides.

Her key to success? “Never mix plaids with stripes!”

Mabel Maney is the author of The Case of the Not-So-Nice Nurse, The Case of the Good-For-Nothing Girlfriend, and Nancy Clue and the Hardly Boys in A Ghost in the Closet (Cleis Press). Her short stories have appeared in Best American Mystery Stories (Houghton Mifflin) and San Francisco Thrillers (Chronicle Books). Her new girl spy adventure series is forthcoming from Avon.

Maney’s installation art and handmade books, self-published under the World O’Girls Books imprint, have earned her fellowships from the San Francisco Foundation and San Francisco State University, where she received her MFA in 1991. Her art has been exhibited in galleries throughout the United States. Artspace wrote of her handmade World O’Girls edition of The Case of the Not-So-Nice Nurse: “In Maney’s refigured narrative, gay heroine Cherry Ames moves unhampered through a world populated by lesbian nuns and adventuresses, even engaging in a one-nighter with Nancy Drew. Entertainment aside, by appropriating and redefining the sexual orientation and cultural limits placed upon her fictional female characters, Maney provides a powerful reminder of the exclusionary nature of the ruling (in this case, straight) culture, with its power to define specific roles and acts as ‘natural’ while denying or marginalizing others.”

A Nancy Clue Mystery
The Case of the Good-for-Nothing Girlfriend

Mabel Maney

www.spice-books.co.uk

For Miss Lillian Bee of the Milwaukee Bees, and for M. P. K.

Special thanks to the nurses of Cleis Press—Deborah Barkun, Leasa Burton, Frédérique Delacoste, Maura Farrell, Lisa Frank, Pete Ivey, and Felice Newman—for their keen editing abilities, unflagging good humor, and eternal patience.

Table of Contents

Cover

Praise

About the Author

Title Page

Dedication

1 A Maddening Mishap

2 To the Rescue!

3 Oops!

4 Pocatello Bound

5 That Special Something

6 A Chance Encounter

7 Mysterious Strangers

8 An Important Assignment

9 A Horrible Mix-up!

10 What a Coincidence!

11 “Adieu, Idaho”

12 Shocking News

13 A Cheery Hello

14 A Sudden Crash

15 A Cunning Career Gal

16 “Look Out!”

17 A Startling Confession

18 Eureka!

19 Unexpected Guests

20 A Frantic Phone Call

21 “O, Nebraska!”

22 At Long Last, Iowa

23 A Surprising Encounter

24 Eager Anticipation

25 A Queer Quiz

26 Crossing the Mississippi

27 A Delightful Surprise

28 A Creepy Tale

29 “Bess? Bees?”

30 Purloined Letters

31 The Search for Nancy

32 Conflicting Reports

33 A Frightful Encounter

34 A Meddling Matron

35 Nancy’s Return

36 A Sudden Cry

37 A Rocky Romance?

38 A Scandalous Story

39 A Fabulous Fellow

40 A Sudden Awakening

41 A Warning

42 A Delightful Discovery

43 Follow That Car!

44 An Exhaustive Search

45 A Sudden Realization

46 A Shocking Rumor

47 The State of Illinois v. Hannah P. Gruel

48 Drop That Moose!

49 The Secret Revealed

50 Trouble!

51 An Agonizing Decision

Thrilling Chapters from Your Favorite Nancy Clue Mysteries!

The Case of the Not-So-Nice Nurse

Nancy Clue and the Hardly Boys in A Ghost in the Closet

Endpages

Copyright

CHAPTER 1
A Maddening Mishap

Pretty, titian-haired detective Nancy Clue, known to all for her keen sleuthing abilities, up-to-the-minute fashion sense, and gracious finishing-school manners, kicked the right front tire of her modern convertible in frustration and burst into tears.

“I can’t believe it! This is the second time today something has happened to this automobile! First that tire blew in Boise, and now this! Oh, it’s maddening!” Nancy sobbed.

The attractive girl, clad in a simple powder blue summer skirt and crisp white blouse with a Peter Pan collar that gave her a charmingly innocent air, flung herself over the front of the snappy automobile and gave way to a fervent fit of wailing that made her traveling companions jump back in alarm.

The four girls accompanying her on the trip looked at each other in bewilderment. Just minutes before, Nancy had been leading the group in a merry sing-along, and now she was writhing on the hood of her 1959 canary yellow Chrysler convertible, tears streaming down her pretty face.

They had just finished a rousing round of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat” when the car had hit a rather large rock and made the most awful clanking noise before rolling to a dead stop at the side of the road. And just when they had almost reached Pocatello, Idaho, where they’d planned to stop for a nice supper before driving across the border to the majestic mountain state of Wyoming.

Nurse Cherry Aimless, Nancy’s close chum and a native Idahoan, had warned them to use caution while traversing the roadways of eastern Idaho, but the five girls had been so engrossed in their own amusements, they had become careless. Cherry scolded herself for not paying closer attention. She knew from her many experiences during family car trips to keep an eye out for the rocky road ahead. Now, just hours into their trip, their automobile was damaged, perhaps beyond repair!

“And Nancy’s on the verge of hysteria,” Cherry noted with her keen nurse’s eye. “Not only that, she’s in danger of becoming downright mussed,” she thought in alarm.

Under normal circumstances, Nancy Clue, who had solved enough baffling mysteries to earn a well-deserved reputation as a first-rate sleuth, was the model of feminine decorum. She was accustomed to keeping a cool head while solving cases that baffled even the professionals, and emerged from every escapade with nary a hair out of place. For Nancy was as well known for her attractive hairstyles as she was for her ability to remain unruffled during the most trying circumstances.

But now the young sleuth was facing one of the most hair-raising experiences of her life.

Nancy was headed home to River Depths, Illinois, to confess to the murder of her father, prominent attorney Carson Clue, who had been found shot to death eleven days earlier in the tidy kitchen of his comfortable, three-story suburban brick house!

“I must get home and expose the terrible truth about my father, and free Hannah!” Nancy cried through her tears. She pummeled the hood of the fancy car with her small fists. “I … simply … must … get … home!”

The Clues’ longtime housekeeper, Hannah Gruel, had insisted on selflessly shouldering the blame for the death of Mr. Clue in order that Nancy might remain free, and so had confessed to shooting the popular attorney during a domestic dispute.

“I told that man time and time again to stay out of my kitchen while I was baking,” Hannah had declared as she was led away in handcuffs to the River Depths jail. There she remained, awaiting trial for murder, due to begin in just over two days’ time.

It was only because Nancy had been in such a state of shock after the shooting that she had agreed to Hannah’s scheme. At the housekeeper’s urging, she had headed for faraway San Francisco to start a new life. Once there, Nancy had been drawn into the exciting mystery of The Case of the Not-So-Nice Nurse, where she had become fast friends with the four girls who were now standing back helplessly as their new chum took out her frustrations on her nifty automobile. This fascinating case, which had started in San Francisco and led the girls to a dark dungeon outside the city, had ended on a happy note. Using just their wits and a pair of handy handcuffs, the five chums had managed to escape from their captors—a group of nefarious clergymen—free a convent of kidnapped nuns, and outwit the evil priest who had masterminded the devious plot to murder the nuns and steal their land.

Luckily, the five chums had been quickly exonerated in the priest’s subsequent death, and it was then Nancy had decided to go back home and set the record straight about what had really happened in the three-story, Colonial style brick house at 36 Maple Street. The startling news that Hannah had suffered a heart attack in prison had made Nancy even more determined to get home as quickly as possible, for Nancy was terribly afraid that Hannah’s weakened heart wouldn’t survive the strain of a courtroom drama.

“If only I hadn’t agreed to this scheme, perhaps Hannah wouldn’t have become ill,” she admonished herself over and over again, until she was sick with worry. She would do anything to get Hannah out of jail, even if it meant telling her terrible secret to all of River Depths!

Nancy was positive that once people heard the truth about her father, she would immediately be cleared of any wrongdoing in his death. “Once they hear how truly dreadful he was, there will be no question but that I did the right thing; the only thing I could have possibly done!” she had assured her companions. When her chums expressed their fear that she might be charged with murder, Nancy confidently brushed aside their doubts

“Any sensible person will certainly understand that I had to shoot Father,” she assured them. “Besides, everyone in River Depths knows I never lie. Why, Police Chief Chumley, who has called on me many times to help solve particularly baffling cases, has declared that he trusts me as much as anyone under his command.”

If truth be told, Nancy was one of River Depths’ most important girl citizens. Tales of her exciting adventures were reported by newspapers everywhere, and the young sleuth was recognized wherever she went for her keen logic, upstanding behavior, and attractive outfits. Why, just the year before, Nancy had received the coveted River Depths Outstanding Girl Award. True to her modest nature, she had been surprised and flattered by the accolade, and had promptly donated the twenty-five dollars in cash that had accompanied the bronze plaque to the River Depths Home for Troubled Girls, a worthwhile institution Nancy had visited on many occasions on missions of charity.

She assured her friends that in River Depths her word was as good as gold. “Besides, I have irrefutable evidence that proves my father’s crime,” she had told her worried chums, adding, in a confident tone, “Not that I’ll need it!” Safely hidden away in the secret bottom drawer of her hope chest at home were documents that would prove her father’s guilt beyond a shadow of a doubt—letters written in Carson Clue’s own hand. Once authorities saw this evidence, Nancy was sure she would instantly be absolved of any wrongdoing in his death!

“Little good that evidence does me here, though,” Nancy groaned. “I may as well be a million miles away,” she thought glumly as she slid off the hood of the car, not even caring that her travel outfit was now wrinkled beyond repair. “At the rate we’re going, Hannah will have been tried and convicted already by the time we get there. Or worse! I’ll never forgive myself if Hannah dies a murderess!” Nancy wailed. “Never!”

She fumbled through her summer straw handbag for one of the starched, white monogrammed handkerchiefs she always kept on hand. She discovered, with dismay, that she had run out of clean hankies!

“Could things get any worse?” Nancy wailed as she threw up her hands in despair. She jumped up and ran screaming from the car.

She didn’t know where she was headed, and, frankly, she didn’t care!

CHAPTER 2
To the Rescue!

Cherry rushed after her distraught chum, a fresh hankie in one hand and her stainless steel travel thermos in the other. Cherry had thoughtfully purchased the sturdy, practical thermos earlier that day.

“A cool cup of water is just the ticket when dealing with emotional flare-ups,” she thought cheerfully.

Cherry knew that water, along with the right amount of rest and plenty of tasty, nutritious food, was an essential component to good health. So, unfortunately, was peace of mind—something Nancy hadn’t had in a very long time.

“It’s not good to overexcite yourself in this warm weather,” Cherry murmured in a soothing voice, trying to calm her near-frantic friend.

If truth be known, Nancy and Cherry were more than just friends. Despite the warmth of the humid, July day, Cherry shivered when she recalled the evening she had first set eyes on the lovely, titian-haired girl. Little had she realized that night she would find love beyond her wildest dreams!

Just one week before meeting Nancy in San Francisco, Cherry Aimless, R.N., an attractive, dark-haired girl with a bubbly nature and a burning desire to help others, had been a happily overworked ward nurse at a big-city hospital in Seattle. A vacation to the city by the bay had changed her life forever—for not only had she been caught up in an exciting mystery, she had also fallen deeply and truly in love, and with her longtime idol, Nancy Clue!

Until that trip, Cherry had been content with reading about the young detective in newspapers and magazines. It was well known throughout the nurses’ dormitory at Seattle General Hospital that Cherry spent much of her free time filling scrapbooks with carefully clipped articles and photographs of her favorite detective. Cherry took the teasing about her enthusiasm for the girl sleuth with good grace. She knew hobbies were a relaxing way to spend one’s leisure time, and no one needed to relax more than a hard-working nurse!

And no nurse worked harder than Cherry, whose cheerful presence and attention to duty made her a favorite among patients and colleagues alike. Cherry loved nursing, especially in her trim white uniform, dashing royal blue cape, and perky cap with its dark blue stripe that proclaimed she was a proud graduate of Stencer Nursing School, class of 1957!

So what if Cherry spent a tidy sum of her weekly salary on special leather-bound scrapbooks for her ever growing archive of Nancy Clue stories?

“At least it keeps me off the streets,” she joked to her nurse neighbors before shutting the door to her room for an evening of clipping and pasting. No one was a more eager hobbyist than Nurse Cherry Aimless!

The kidding had stopped the day the attractive nurse solved The Case of the Vanishing Valium and exposed the dastardly deeds of young Dr. Kildare, who was pilfering dangerous drugs from the hospital supply room. After that, the nurses were frank to admit that Cherry, with her dancing green eyes, shiny black curls, and curvy figure, was proof that beauty and brains could walk hand in hand.

But never in her wildest fantasies could Cherry have imagined that one day she’d actually come face to face with Nancy Clue!

Although Cherry sorely missed the hustle and bustle of the overcrowded, understaffed hospital, where the patients seemed to really need her, she knew her place was by Nancy’s side. For although she had taken a vow to be a big-city nurse—a soldier, really, in the fight against ignorance, filth, and disease—Cherry knew that there was one person who needed her most right now. And although she was dressed as a civilian, she was as much a nurse in her pretty pink taffeta party frock and dressy gold sandals as she was in her trim, starched white uniform, perky cap, and cunning cape.

It was Cherry Aimless, Registered Nurse, who put her own wants and needs aside in order to keep a cool head during Nancy’s outburst. Cherry knew that Nancy’s temper tantrum could send her blood pressure soaring! Why, Cherry might be called upon to perform a medical procedure right there by the side of the dusty road, where their automobile had rolled to a stop. She was somewhat reassured, knowing that her first-aid kit was securely stowed in the back seat of the car.

“If you just relax, we can put our heads together and find a way out of this spot,” Cherry said in a soothing tone. “A cool head always prevails.” She handed Nancy a clean handkerchief. Cherry always kept plenty on hand for times just like these.

“But I want to go now!” Nancy cried, crumpling Cherry’s white cotton hankie and throwing it to the ground.

Cherry picked up the now germ-laden handkerchief and put it in her pocket. She took a fresh one from her white patent-leather purse and held it ready in her hand. In a calm voice that she hoped would stop her excitable friend from working herself into an even more heightened nervous state, Cherry explained that car trouble was not unusual during a long auto trip. “Especially if one is trying very hard to get someplace in a hurry. Accidents are bound to happen,” she said in a firm yet soothing tone. “And you have to admit this wasn’t the most carefully planned trip,” she added.

“ ‘Many a trip is spoiled by poor planning,’ ” Cherry quoted her mother, Mrs. Doris Aimless of Pleasantville, Idaho, a sensible woman with lots of helpful advice. She felt a flash of guilt when she thought of her mother, who was no doubt worried sick about the whereabouts of her only daughter. Cherry had raced out the door earlier that day, and right in the middle of the mid-day meal!

Cherry vowed that she would call home as soon as she could, and assure her mother she was safe and planning on eating well-balanced meals. But until she could find a public telephone, she had another, more urgent, matter to contend with. Nancy was becoming dangerously overwrought, and it was Cherry’s job to see she didn’t make herself sick with worry.

“You told me yourself you’ve been involved in a lot of scrapes,” she said, adding, “and, eventually, you’ve found a way out of each of them.”

“But I’ve never been in such a precarious predicament before,” Nancy wailed. “I should have flown home,” she added anxiously. “What was I thinking when I suggested we drive cross-country in a little over a day’s time? At the rate we’re going, we’ll never make it to Illinois in time to stop that trial!

“If I had flown, I’d be home by now, and Hannah would be free,” she said, a gleam of steely determination in her blue eyes. She checked her slender, diamond-faced watch. “Let’s see—it’s almost six o’clock now. I could hop a bus back to Boise and catch a late flight to Chicago. I could be home first thing in the morning,” Nancy schemed.

Cherry could scarcely believe her ears. Surely Nancy didn’t mean that she wanted to go off on her own? “Airplane travel may be faster,” Cherry thought, but she also knew, as a nurse, that cabin pressure could prove medically unsettling for someone in Nancy’s unstable emotional condition. “Surely you don’t mean that!” Cherry blurted out. “We’ve got two and a half whole days before the trial begins—why, that’s plenty of time to get there!”

Cherry knew the foursome could provide valuable assistance to Nancy in her time of need and was just about to point that out when Nancy wailed, “Oh, I don’t know what I mean,” put her head in her hands, and gave way to a fit of weeping.

“I’ve got to make her calm down,” Cherry thought, grabbing her chum by the hand so she could secretly check her heart-rate. Just as she suspected—it was awfully fast!

“I’ll make her listen to reason; I’ve just got to,” Cherry thought. A determined glint came into her sparkling, emerald-green eyes. She must get through to the hysterical girl. Cherry thought fast and hard.

“Why, once I decided to visit my Aunt Beatrice in Boise at the last minute, and on the bus I realized that I had neglected to pack any toiletry items!” Cherry exclaimed dramatically. “I had to borrow hair pins and cold cream from my aunt all weekend. But it all worked out and we had a delightful time. Now, see?”

CHAPTER 3
Oops!

Nancy looked puzzled, but Cherry’s story had done the trick. She was no longer crying. This time she accepted Cherry’s handkerchief gratefully, mopped her face, and ran a hand through her tangled hair.

At Cherry’s urging, Nancy took her compact from her purse and applied a fresh dusting of powder to her pert but now shiny nose. Light pink lipstick completed her look. She then brushed her tangled titian hair until it shone.

“Feeling better?” Cherry asked.

Nancy admitted that she did feel much improved.

“A girl must always look her best and be prepared for the worst,” Cherry said cheerfully.

Nancy smiled wanly but said nothing. Cherry could tell her mind was miles away. Sixteen-hundred eighty-six miles, to be exact.

They sat for a while on a big boulder in quiet contemplation before Nancy uttered a big sigh and stood up. “I guess if we’re ever going to get out of here I should take a look at that darn automobile and see what can be done,” she said resolutely, sounding once again like the sensible girl with whom Cherry had fallen truly and deeply in love.

“How brave she is,” Cherry thought, her heart leaping with joy when she realized that Nancy must have abandoned her plans to fly home. “I’ll bet we’ll be out of here in a jiffy! We’ll be speeding through the majestic mountain state of Wyoming before you know it!” she bubbled.

Cherry felt a thrill when she imagined how exciting the sightseeing would be as they traveled through the picturesque and colorful state, with its many recreational pleasures. Nancy looked unconvinced, so, as they walked back to the car, Cherry kept up a chirpy chatter, hoping to cheer up her cynical chum. “We can have supper in nearby Pocatello while the car’s being fixed. After all, we do have to eat in order to keep our strength up,” she added.

“A nice dry martini would sure hit the spot right now,” Nancy admitted, sounding a bit calmer.

Was it Cherry’s imagination, or was Nancy sounding almost cheerful? Cherry smiled. Who else would have thought of having a cocktail but Nancy? Golly, she was so sophisticated, she always knew the right thing to do!

“I’ll bet Midge knows a lot about cars,” Cherry guessed as they walked back to the convertible. “I’ll bet she’ll get us out of here in no time at all.”

She had to smile when she thought of their tall, strong traveling companion, Midge Fontaine, the only girl among them with the upper body strength necessary to get the car moving if it wouldn’t start on its own. Cherry had met the muscular Midge during her recent adventure in San Francisco. Although Midge, a handsome girl with a take-charge attitude and a tendency to tease, and Cherry, a small-town girl with a bubbly, eager-to-please nature and a habit of blushing at the slightest provocation, were as different as two girls could be, they had become fast friends during their recent adventure.

A case of mistaken identity had brought the two unlikely chums together. Dark-haired Cherry and Midge’s longtime girlfriend, the lovely Velma Pierce, bore an uncanny resemblance to one another, resulting in a scary mix-up that had put the vivacious Velma in grave danger! Luckily, Cherry and Midge had been able to save her and had become good friends in the process.

“Only, Velma’s more stylish than I am,” thought Cherry, who frankly felt like Velma’s drab little sister in comparison with the older, more glamorous girl.

Cherry, a sweet, simple girl from a small farming town, had to admit she was more at home in a plain, starched white nurse’s uniform or the simple, cotton frocks she favored, than in the revealing get-ups Velma wore with such aplomb. “Plus Velma is always impeccably groomed, while I’m usually slightly mussed and my curls are all asunder!

“Who would have guessed that their picture-perfect romance began under the most trying of circumstances, while Midge was an inmate at a women’s prison and Velma was her teacher?” Cherry thought to herself. She shivered when she thought of how Velma had risked her own safety to smuggle Midge out of jail, and how the devoted pair had spent years hiding from the police. It was the most romantic story ever!

Lucky for Midge, they had met Officer Jackie Jones in San Francisco, who had not only helped them solve their exciting mystery but had used her influence to wipe Midge’s record clean.

“Midge is no longer an escaped convict, but a productive member of society,” Cherry gave a happy sigh. “And she and Velma make an awfully attractive couple,” Cherry thought dreamily. “Midge’s masculine outfits, slicked-back hairstyle, and rugged good looks perfectly complement Velma’s feminine frocks and movie star glamour. They’re a perfect match,” Cherry thought.

“Where is everybody?” Nancy worried aloud, pointing toward the car. Cherry got her mind off fashion fast when she realized with a start that Midge was no longer where they had seen her last, leaning against the side of the car smoking a cigarette.

For that matter, Velma, who was usually never far from Midge’s side, and the fifth member of the little group, Lauren Rooney, a spunky girl of sixteen who dogged the devoted couple “like a bad reputation,” as Midge was wont to joke, were nowhere to be seen!

“We mustn’t waste another minute out here,” Nancy fretted, looking around frantically for the missing girls. “If we’re to get to town and find someone to repair our automobile tonight, we’d better move fast.”

“They must have wandered off to enjoy this splendid scenery,” Cherry realized, noting that dusk was settling over the valley where their car had broken down. Cherry sucked in a swift breath of astonishment as she gazed at the dazzling pinks and reds of the summer sunset reflecting off the lofty mountain ranges surrounding them. Little wonder her native Idaho, with its rugged mountain ranges, rolling farmlands, and swiftly flowing rivers was often referred to as the Gem State!

She stifled an urge to break out in a resounding refrain of the state song, a melodic tune sung each morning in all Idaho schools, right after the Pledge of Allegiance. Cherry contented herself with humming the first stanza of “Here We Have Idaho” under her breath.

“Brrrr. It’s started to get chilly,” she shivered, folding her arms across her bosom and skipping ahead to the car so she could retrieve her sensible white cardigan sweater, which she had left in the back seat.

“Oops!” Cherry cried in embarrassment when she flung open the back door and got a sudden surprise. She turned a brilliant shade of crimson.

She had found Midge! And Velma, too!

CHAPTER 4
Pocatello Bound

“I’m gonna have to push this thing to town,” Midge declared as she slammed the hood of the car in disgust.

Cherry quickly consulted the map of Idaho she always carried in her purse. If her calculations were correct, downtown Pocatello was only a few miles away. “We’ll get there before it’s completely dark,” she was pleased to note.

Before Midge could start pushing, Cherry jumped into the back seat and grabbed her travel first-aid kit. She wanted it to be in easy reach in case Midge hurt herself.

Midge had to grin when she saw the attractive girl emerge holding the white metal box with the red cross emblazoned on the side. Every time Midge saw the comely, dark-haired nurse, she was amazed at the resemblance the girl had to her own Velma. In fact, the two looked so much alike that one night just eight days earlier, Midge had found herself in the embarrassing position of pinching the wrong girl! Luckily, besides being a first-rate registered nurse and crackerjack detective, Cherry had turned out to be a good sport as well.

While Cherry was girlish in every sense of the word, Midge disguised her more feminine attributes with a cool attitude. She was frankly passionate about two things and two things only: her cocker spaniel Eleanor, left at home in Warm Springs, Oregon, and “the other love of my life,” the beautiful, curvaceous Velma, who had hopped back into the car and was at this very moment using the rearview mirror to refresh her lipstick and run a comb through her shoulder-length, shiny black hair, styled in an attractive page boy.

Midge snapped back to reality just in time to hear Nancy and Cherry chorus in alarm, “Where’s Lauren? We can’t possibly go until Lauren gets here! Where could she be?”

Midge flushed a little. “A while ago she expressed an interest in the natural beauty of our surroundings, so I suggested she take a walk,” she admitted. “But I warned her not to go too far from the car,” Midge added with concern in her voice. She called for their young friend, but there was no answer. “Everyone stay here,” Midge ordered. “I’ll go get her.” She ground out her cigarette under the heel of her black penny loafers, kissed Velma good-bye, and strode off.

Cherry busied herself tidying the car, Nancy sneaked behind a bush to change into a fresh outfit, and Velma hopped up on the hood of the automobile and began applying a coat of polish to her long, tapered fingernails.

“Aren’t you at all worried?” Cherry wondered as she brushed cookie crumbs from the white leather interior of the snappy convertible. She was frankly amazed at Velma’s cool demeanor. “Lauren’s lost, we’re stuck on some back road, and, only moments ago, Nancy was on the verge of near-hysteria!” Cherry cried.

Velma grinned and patted the spot next to her. Cherry hopped up.

“Relax,” Velma said kindly, squeezing Cherry’s arm. She rummaged through her purse and tossed a bottle of Pearly Pink nail polish in Cherry’s lap. “Those girls of ours are always involved in some little adventure, aren’t they?” she added conspiratorially.

Cherry smiled. Velma was right. She hadn’t thought about the consequences of being in love with someone as busy as a famous girl detective. She hoped she was up to the task! “How did you get so wise?” Cherry blurted out. “About people, I mean?”

“I’ve lived with Midge for eleven years,” Velma laughed. “Honey, I could write a book!” The two girls laughed merrily. “You know what I think is the cutest thing?” Velma added with a chuckle. “I realized today that Lauren is turning into a miniature version of Midge!”

“It’s true,” Cherry agreed. “Earlier, when we stopped for sodas, I watched Lauren walking toward the car and thought, she’s beginning to walk like Midge.”

“That strut’s kind of cute on a kid, don’t you think?” Velma grinned. Then she got a dreamy look in her eyes. “When I see Lauren, with her scruffy clothes, tough attitude, and bossy ways, I think, that’s what Midge must have been like as a young girl. I wish I had known her then, before five years in that women’s prison made her so—”

“What do you think of this color on me?” Cherry cried loudly, cutting Velma off. “Do you think this particular shade of pink polish really complements my dress?” She flung her hands about, trying to warn Velma that Nancy was headed their way. Velma got the hint. Cherry was trying to keep unpleasant topics out of earshot of the distraught detective.

“I think that color is you, Cherry,” Velma said enthusiastically. “Oh, hi, Nancy, you’re back.”

“We were just discussing nail polish,” Cherry explained. She gave her chum a quick peck on the cheek. “What do you think of this color?” Cherry asked, holding out one hand. Nancy agreed with Velma that the pale pink polish looked especially nice with Cherry’s pink taffeta outfit. “You do look good in pink, Cherry,” Nancy said.

Cherry blushed prettily at the praise. “And you look enchanting in that full-skirted, sleeveless, paisley-print, silk chiffon summer dinner dress you’ve selected! It’s darling! And I love that beaded sweater you’ve casually tossed over your shoulders. It looks like you’re ready for a gay evening.”

“I’m afraid my summer straw bag isn’t nearly fancy enough for this outfit,” Nancy admitted ruefully. It was the only purse she had with her! “Imagine forgetting to pack a dressy purse! What must I have been thinking?”

Cherry tried to steer Nancy away from serious topics. “I love your pearls!” she enthused, taking a closer look at the luminescent beads around Nancy’s neck. “You have so many nice things,” Cherry gushed, remembering the sapphire and diamond starburst brooch and earring set Nancy had worn the night they met.

“Hannah insisted I pack my portable jewelry case,” Nancy explained, pointing to her purse, where she kept the small white leather case with its assortment of fine jewelry and some fun costume accessories, besides. Her face suddenly grew grim, and the sparkle went out of her pretty blue eyes. Cherry knew she was thinking of Hannah, whose only jewelry now was a prison identification bracelet. She quickly tried to change the subject.

“Brrr, it’s getting chilly, isn’t it?” Cherry cried. She buttoned her sweater all the way up to her chin and rubbed her hands together. But her thin cotton sweater proved to be poor protection against the evening mountain air.

“Let’s see if I’ve got something warmer,” Nancy said. She went to the trunk of the car and removed the largest of her three-piece powder blue travel set. She snapped open the suitcase. “Velma, this black cashmere topper coat will look nice with that yellow sheath you’re wearing,” she said. The hip-length coat fit Velma to a tee. “And, Cherry, this is a little dressy for your summer frock, but it will keep you warm,” Nancy said as she handed Cherry a pink wool coat with dolman sleeves and a big shawl collar. Nancy shrugged on an old red car coat, explaining ruefully, “It’s this or a brocade evening stole.”

Cherry stared in amazement at Nancy’s suitcase, which was stuffed with all sorts of fashionable frocks and gay accessories. Cherry had left home in such a hurry, she hadn’t had time to pack any spare outfits, and she was frankly nervous about having to wear her lovely taffeta frock with its dressy shirred skirt and tight-fitting bodice, all the way to Illinois. Taffeta wrinkled so!

“Help yourself to anything in there, Cherry,” Nancy offered. “While your dress is pretty as pie, it might not be the best travel get-up. Besides, the weather can be capricious, and to be really comfortable while traveling, one should be equipped with two sets of day clothes and warm evening togs.”

“You mean I can wear anything in this suitcase?” Cherry exclaimed. Why, outside of a department store, she had never seen so many lovely things! Cherry squealed in delight when Nancy shook the wrinkles out of a red and white polka dot sleeveless cotton frock and handed it to her.

“Pair this with my white broadcloth jacket, lined in red satin, and a red cinch belt, and you’ve got a summer classic,” Nancy pointed out. “Or, if you’d like something more playful, how about a rickrack-trimmed, bright cotton broomstick skirt, perfect for patio parties? Or don this black linen scoop-neck sheath with a simple strand of pearls, and you’re ready for a night at the symphony.”

Cherry grew wide-eyed with wonder as she surveyed the contents of Nancy’s suitcase. A sea green creamy crepe dress with a tulle stole; long and short soft gloves in the three most necessary colors; piles of cool, zip-up-the-back ladylike shirtwaists with matching belts and coordinating handkerchiefs; stylishly simple linen shifts with matching shortie jackets lined in satin; full-skirted sundresses just right for gay summer frolics; and shoe bags stuffed with velvety mules, satiny sandals, foldable flats, canvas espadrilles, ankle-strap high heels, and cork-soled sandals with uppers of soft calf.

Cherry fingered a deliciously soft, snow white angora sweater set with matching pearlized buttons—the exact same one she secretly longed for each time her birthday rolled around, but had never been lucky enough to receive. And there was one each in minty green, pale pink, creamy yellow, powder blue, luscious lavender, and sophisticated black, too.

“I’m afraid I was in somewhat of a tizzy when I packed,” Nancy explained in a bemused manner. “Some of these things are last year’s fashions!”

But Cherry was too busy to pay any attention. She wondered what it was like to have an angora sweater set for each day of the week. Suddenly her pink taffeta frock, which had seemed so daring and sophisticated two years ago when her mother had made it, now seemed downright dowdy!

“I may not have Nancy’s nice things, but I do have one thing that is never out of fashion,” she realized. “I have something I wouldn’t trade a suitcase full of matching angora sweater sets for—the proud uniform of a registered nurse!

“Besides, when I’m wearing my whites, I never have to worry about looking out of place,” she consoled herself as she stroked the soft angora sweaters. “My crisp uniform, cunning cape, and perky cap draw admiring glances wherever I go!”

Cherry swelled with pride as she thought of her car-trip uniform tucked securely in the bottom of her travel first-aid kit, next to a freshly polished pair of sturdy white shoes and an extra cap. Nurse Cherry Aimless was ready to swing into action the minute the call to duty came!

She almost reached for the uniform right then and there when she saw Midge and Lauren walking toward the car and realized with alarm that Midge was all bent over! To Cherry’s great relief, it soon became clear that Midge was doubled over because she was carrying a big rock and not because she had hurt herself. “Phew!” Cherry thought.

“Guess what we’ve got?” Midge groaned as she unceremoniously dropped the small boulder on the ground next to the girls.

“Midge, be careful!” Lauren hollered.

“It’s just a big dumb rock,” Midge shot back. “You can’t hurt it.”

“Can, too!” Lauren argued as she carefully placed her armload of smaller, yellow stones on the rear floor of the convertible before running to retrieve the large rock. “This is a fine specimen of a serpentine rock, and I don’t want it chipped,” she said, polishing the dark green, white-veined rock with the sleeve of her dirty red sweatshirt.

“She was mountain-climbing and wouldn’t come down until I agreed to let her bring some of the Pocatello Peaks with her,” Midge explained. She stared at Velma’s new coat with keen interest. “This is nice,” she murmured to Velma, stroking the front of her thick, luxurious wool coat. “Did you girls go shopping while we were gone?” Midge joked.

Just then, Cherry noticed the glare of oncoming headlights about a quarter mile down the road. “There’s a car coming our way,” she yelled, adding, “Maybe they’ll give us a ride to town, and Midge won’t have to push the car after all.”

They turned on their headlights and honked excitedly so the driver would see them, but, to their utter amazement, the middle-aged man wearing dark glasses and a straw hat pulled low over his face zoomed past!

“Yoo hoo! Help!” Cherry yelled as she raced after the dusty brown Impala. The woman in the passenger seat turned around, and Cherry got a good look at her frightfully over-bleached hair, garish red head scarf, and white plastic sunglasses before the car picked up speed, leaving the girls in a cloud of dust.

“How terribly rude!” Cherry cried as she took a clean hankie from her purse and wiped her face. “I know they saw us! Why, that woman looked straight at me!”

“When we get to River Depths, I’ll have Police Chief Chumley run a check on all known dusty brown Impalas,” Nancy said hotly. “I’ll bet they’ve many outstanding traffic citations. Someone needs to explain the rules of the road to them.”

The episode had lit a fire in Nancy. She traded her cork-soled wedge sandals for a pair of ballerina flats and positioned herself behind the car.

“Heave ho, girls!” she cried.

CHAPTER 5
That Special Something

Midge gave a great big satisfied sigh. “Those were the best mashed potatoes I’ve ever had,” she groaned as she licked the last of the gravy from her fork and pushed her plate aside.

Cherry beamed. “Idaho is the Land of Famous Potatoes, Midge!” she cried before taking another bite of her delicious, creamy Potatoes Au Gratin—perfectly baked spuds smothered in a rich cheddar cheese sauce and topped with a mound of sour cream.

“How are your French Fried Potatoes, Lauren?” she asked their teen-aged friend, who was hungrily gulping down thin strips of fried potatoes smothered in catsup. Lauren nodded and kept eating. She was especially hungry after her rock-climbing adventure.

Cherry glanced anxiously at Velma, who was busy checking her makeup in her compact mirror. “Her Hash Browns are getting cold,” Cherry worried, knowing that the dish was most delicious when eaten piping hot. Cherry noted, too, with dismay, that Nancy had barely touched her plate of Scalloped Potatoes—generous slices of potato floating in a delectable mushroom sauce. “Although she has managed to consume two vodka martinis, that’s not nearly enough nutrition for a girl on the go.” Cherry knew Nancy was anxious to know the fate of their damaged automobile, now in the hands of a capable mechanic at a garage just around the corner from the Pocatello Potato Palace, where the little group was enjoying the fine local cuisine.

The nice mechanic had promised to report back to the group as soon as possible as to the condition of their vehicle. While Cherry sincerely hoped the damage would require no more than a simple repair job, she had to admit she wouldn’t at all mind staying the night in Pocatello, a lovely little town nestled in a peaceful valley, ringed by the famous Pocatello Peaks.

“Nancy could surely benefit from some of this refreshing mountain air,” Cherry thought, taking a peek at her chum. Nancy was staring anxiously into her empty martini glass. “If I don’t stop her, she’s going to worry herself sick about Hannah,” Cherry realized with alarm.

“Isn’t it lucky we met a mechanic willing to work this late on a Friday night, and for no extra fee besides?” she remarked in a cheery tone, trying to get Nancy to look at the bright side of their predicament. “We were fortunate to meet such a helpful person.”

“Mel thought you were pretty swell, too,” Midge grinned. “Especially when you dropped your purse and bent over to pick up your things just as that gust of wind blew through the garage.”

Cherry flushed hotly, and promised herself she’d never remove her undergarments again, no matter how hot the day!

“A true professional is on call twenty-four hours a day, Midge,” she retorted, hoping Nancy wasn’t taking Midge’s teasing seriously. “Nancy must be terribly jealous,” Cherry thought. “Why, Midge as much as said I deliberately used my feminine wiles to charm the auto mechanic!”

Cherry put her arm around Nancy, hoping to squelch any doubts as to her loyalty to her one and only true love! “Ignore Midge,” she wanted to cry. “I would never do anything to jeopardize what we have.”

Cherry noted with relief that Nancy wasn’t paying one bit of attention to her. She was, in fact, busy scribbling notes on the paper coaster that had come with her drink.

“I was just writing down what I intend to do when we get to River Depths,” Nancy explained. “When I’m working on a case, it helps to keep track of things.” She showed them her list.

1. Get Father’s letters from secret hiding place

2. Confess to killing Father

3. Pick up Hannah from prison

“Although I probably won’t really need the evidence, since the Chief will believe me based on my fine reputation alone, immediately free Hannah, and declare the shooting a case of justifiable homicide,” she pointed out, putting a question mark next to the first line.

Midge groaned, rolled her eyes, and shot Velma a disgusted look. Velma gave her a placating smile. Although Midge hadn’t come right out and said it, Velma could tell her girlfriend was none too keen on Nancy’s plan.

“Nancy, I’m not so sure—” Midge started, but Velma cut her off.

“Why don’t you call the Chief now and tell him the whole truth? Then we won’t have to rush so to get to River Depths,” Velma suggested.

“Oh no, Velma,” Nancy replied. “I must tell the Chief in person, and I must hand him Father’s letters as I’m telling him, so that he understands fully the gravity and delicacy of the situation. But,” she added as she rifled through her summer straw bag then tossed it on the table. “If anyone has any nickels I could borrow, I am going to try and contact Bess and George again.”

Cherry handed over her red leatherette coin caddie, which she always kept filled with an assortment of change. Nancy jumped up and raced for the corner telephone booth situated in the rear of the restaurant.

Nancy had so far been frustrated in her attempts to contact her friends George and Bess, and inform them of her impending arrival. George Fey, a girl with a boy’s name, and Bess Marvel, a giggly, plump girl with a sweet nature who was never far from George’s side, had been Nancy’s closest friends for years, and together the three chums had solved many an exciting mystery.

Midge sighed and shut her mouth. For now she’d hold her tongue about Nancy’s plans. Besides, wasn’t Velma always saying she was too quick to jump to conclusions? Midge leaned over the table and speared a potato from Nancy’s plate. “It’s a sin to let good food go to waste,” she declared as she gulped down a big bite of Nancy’s yummy Scalloped Potatoes. Cherry was just about to warn Midge about the health hazards of sharing food when she noticed that Midge had turned her attention from the plate and was now staring at the front of the restaurant with a bemused grin on her face.

“What does Midge find so amusing?” Cherry wondered. She looked across the crowded restaurant and was startled to see their mechanic standing in the doorway; only, in place of the oily overalls and cap favored by those whose work brought them in contact with many greasy items, Mel had changed into pressed, pleated trousers and a crisp white shirt.

And she was headed straight for their table!

“I’m going outside for a smoke,” Midge declared suddenly, jumping up from the table and racing toward the door.

“I’m going to powder my nose,” Velma said, following Midge.

“I’m gonna go to the garage and make sure my rocks are safe,” Lauren said, hot on the couple’s heels.

Cherry turned bright red. Her heart raced at the thought of being left alone with Mel. “Why, I wouldn’t even know what to say to her,” Cherry gulped. After all, she was only a nurse—what did she know about auto repair?

CHAPTER 6
A Chance Encounter

“What’s the news?” Midge asked in a sincere tone as she slid into the seat facing Cherry. Cherry blushed when she looked up and saw the great big grin pasted on Midge’s face.

“Mel said the car can’t possibly be ready until morning, but she has her assistant working on it right now while she drives to the next town to pick up a much-needed part. We can have it back first thing tomorrow,” Cherry reported. Cherry was frankly relieved that Nancy had not yet returned to the booth. How was she going to break the bad news?

“Is that all she said?” Midge wanted to know.

Cherry turned bright red. “Something big is broken,” was all she could remember of the detailed discussion she had had with Mel about the state of their automobile. Cherry had tried hard to concentrate but had suddenly become all light-headed when the handsome, husky girl with short gray hair, large expressive blue eyes, and a ready grin had slid into the booth next to her. Although potatoes were one of Cherry’s favorite foods—after all, they were loaded with essential vitamins and minerals—she had suddenly lost her appetite! Not only that, she had noticed the most unusual feeling in the pit of her stomach. She had hoped the potatoes weren’t spoilt.

While Cherry had tried to pay attention as the girl drew diagram after diagram of the underbelly of their car, she had found herself staring instead at Mel’s large, strong hands, so deftly sketching complicated mechanical parts Cherry couldn’t possibly understand. “She has the strong, yet dexterous, hands of a surgeon,” Cherry had thought, noting with her keen nurse’s eye that Mel had taken extra care to scrub her short-clipped nails especially clean that evening.

“I think it’s going to be very expensive, Midge,” Cherry gulped, quickly adding, “But Mel said if we didn’t have the money, I could leave my address and she would bill me.”

“That’s very generous of her,” Midge grinned as she lit a cigarette.

“People in Idaho are famous for their desire to help others, Midge. Why, did you know that there are more nurses here per capita than anywhere else in the United States?”

Midge looked impressed.

“She even worried whether we had sleeping arrangements for the evening,” Cherry continued.

“Did she?” Midge raised one eyebrow. “How very kind of her. What did you tell her?”

Velma suddenly appeared at Midge’s side. “Her time in the ladies’ lounge certainly wasn’t wasted,” Cherry thought, noting Velma had changed into casual Capri slacks topped with a snug peach sweater. “She looks like a movie star.”

“I always get dressed up on Friday nights,” Velma explained her festive outfit. Cherry admired her sophisticated French twist hairdo, exotic green eye shadow, and bright peach lipstick. Her bangle bracelets made a cheerful clatter as she playfully punched Midge on the shoulder. “Move over,” she said in a bossy tone. Midge moved.

“Cherry was just telling me that nice mechanic offered her a bed for the night,” Midge filled her in.

“She did no such thing,” Cherry shrieked. Cherry could never tell when Midge was pulling her leg, and more than once in the eight days since she had first become acquainted with the handsome blonde, she had found herself dizzy with confusion. For good-natured Midge had a gentle teasing manner that made Cherry forget her sworn duty to stay calm at all times. “When I reminded her that there were five of us, she helpfully directed me to a nearby inexpensive yet clean motel,” Cherry whispered urgently, her face all aflame.

“Ignore her, Cherry,” Velma said in a soft tone. She turned to Midge. “You’re such a tease,” Velma lightly admonished her girlfriend, giving her a little pinch on the thigh.

Midge flushed with pleasure. “I’m a tease?” she murmured, putting an arm around Velma and pulling her close. “That sweater should be against the law,” she sighed, as she nuzzled Velma’s neck.

Cherry hurriedly pretended to be engrossed in the menu. She hadn’t fully recovered from her embarrassment earlier that evening, when she had opened the car door to discover …

“Let’s get dessert, shall we?” she cried. “I see the special tonight is sweet-potato pie. It looks good, doesn’t it? Why don’t I go get Lauren and we’ll all have pie?” she babbled nervously. In her confusion, she grabbed Nancy’s summer straw bag instead of her own patent-leather purse, and fled. But before she could get out the door, she slipped on a wet spot on the linoleum floor and fell smack into a man and a woman waiting to be seated.

“Watch it, girlie,” the man growled as Cherry bumped into him and sent his straw hat and dark glasses flying. She flailed about, trying to stop herself from failing, and finally gave up, plunging face first into the bosom of a middle-aged woman outfitted in a shockingly casual shorts ensemble and silly Roman sandals. Nancy’s summer straw bag flew open, and her white leather jewelry case slid under a nearby booth.

“Mother says a real lady would never wear shorts in public,” was all Cherry could think as she went down.

CHAPTER 7
Mysterious Strangers

Cherry’s cheeks were as red as a summer tomato. “I’m so sorry!” she exclaimed as she took her hands off the strange blond-haired woman.

“Well!” was all the woman had to say as she glared at the flustered nurse.

“Next time be more careful,” the man barked. “You could have hurt my wife!”

“I’m so sorry, ma’am” Cherry stammered. “I’m a nurse. Perhaps I should give you an exam to make sure I haven’t hurt you.” She looked closely at the woman, giving her a quick visual check for bumps and bruises. Her eyes grew wide when she realized that the woman she had almost knocked to the ground was the very same passenger of the brown Impala that had passed them on the road earlier that evening.

“It’s you!” she cried.

The woman’s eyes grew big in alarm. “I don’t believe we’re acquainted,” she said icily. She hastily donned a pair of cheap white plastic sunglasses.

“No, it’s you. Now I’m sure of it,” Cherry insisted. “A man in dark glasses and a straw hat, and a woman with blond hair, a red scarf, and glasses just like yours passed us on the road outside town,” she explained excitedly. “You were in a dusty brown Impala.”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about,” the woman glared at Cherry. “You must have us mixed up with some other people. Now, please stop before you further embarrass me.”

“Can’t you see my wife is very sensitive?” the man hissed. “Why don’t you leave her alone!”

Cherry felt dizzy with confusion. What a horrible mistake she had made! “I’m sorry,” she blurted out. “If there’s anything I can do—”

She was just about to offer the woman a fresh handkerchief when the husband waved Cherry away and snapped in an angry tone, “I think you’ve done quite enough already.” He hastily retrieved his hat and glasses and donned both, pulling the hat low over his face. “Now, just leave us alone before you really do some damage.”

Cherry was stung by the man’s harsh words. Tears filled her eyes. She who had given so selflessly to others now stood accused of deliberately harming another human being! She tried to explain that she had slipped accidentally, but the indignant couple would hear none of it. They turned their backs on Cherry. “Miss, we’re in a big hurry. Could we please be seated?” the man snapped at a passing waitress carrying a plentiful platter of potato pancakes.

“Please,” Cherry tapped the woman on her shoulder. “At least take an adhesive bandage with you. You might find a scratch later, and it’s best to keep germs and dirt out of an open wound.” She fished in the purse under her arm and realized with a start that she had left her handbag at the table and had taken Nancy’s summer straw bag by mistake.

“If this is Nancy’s purse, then where is Nancy’s jewelry box?” she exclaimed after a quick but thorough check of the bag’s contents. Now she really felt like crying! The jewelry box was gone!

In a flash, the strange couple was back at her side. “Did you say you’ve lost a jewelry box?” the woman asked in a helpful tone. She put a hand on Cherry’s arm. Her angry demeanor had vanished. In its place was a friendly face full of concern.

“Yes, it’s my friend’s, and it’s chock full of expensive things, like sapphires and diamonds, not to mention family heirlooms,” Cherry explained. “It was in this purse a minute ago. It must have flown out when I bumped into you.”

“You mean, when I bumped into you,” the woman insisted. “Really, it was all my fault. I can be so clumsy at times! I was just telling Harold—he’s my husband—well, I was just telling him that you seem like the nicest young girl, and so helpful, too! Isn’t it funny how you confused us with another couple? They say everyone’s got a twin somewhere.”

“That’s true,” Cherry blurted out, relieved to find a reasonable explanation for her mix-up. “As a matter of fact, I recently met a girl who looks a lot like me and—” But before she could tell the fascinating story of her recent adventure, the woman patted Cherry on the arm and said, “Let’s all look for your jewelry box, shall we?”

“We’re sure to find it,” her husband Harold said heartily. “Miss, you go look behind the counter while the wife and I search under the tables. I think I saw something fly from your handbag and land back there. Now isn’t that the darndest thing?”

Cherry slipped behind the counter and searched with all her might, but could find nothing more than a handful of pennies and some after-dinner mints covered in dust.

“Did you lose something?” a nice waitress bent over the counter and asked her.

“Yes, a small, white leather case, with a little brass latch and the initials N C stamped in gold on top!” Cherry cried.

“Does it look like the one that man has in his hand?” the waitress wanted to know.

Cherry looked at Harold. He was standing there with a big smile on his face. And in his hand was Nancy’s jewelry box!

“Oh, thank you!” Cherry exclaimed as she raced over to him. “I don’t know how to repay you,” she bubbled. “My friend has tons of nice jewelry at home, but still!” She breathed a sigh of relief. “If we hadn’t already eaten, I’d ask you to join us. The Potatoes Au Gratin here are simply delicious. We’re in a bit of a hurry ourselves,” she confided. “We’ve got to get to … well never mind. We’re just in a hurry. But our car’s been damaged, and a nice mechanic recommended this restaurant, and a motor court for the night, too. The Pocatello Komfort Kourt. Mel said it’s inexpensive but clean. Oh, I can’t even begin to thank you!”

“I should be thanking you!” Harold enthused.

Cherry looked puzzled.

“I mean, for your perfectly charming company,” the man added hastily. He handed Cherry the jewelry box with a flourish.

“Perhaps we’ll meet again!” Cherry cried to the nice couple. She waved good-bye and headed back for her booth, clutching the precious case in both hands.

“I imagine we will,” the man murmured softly. His companion raised one over-plucked eyebrow.

“I imagine we will,” she echoed with a sly smile.

CHAPTER 8
An Important Assignment

“Guess what silly thing I almost did?” Cherry cried the minute she got back to the booth. But she forgot all about her adventure with the nice couple when she spied Nancy’s tear-streaked face. “What’s happened?” Cherry cried, as she slipped into the seat next to Nancy and threw her arms around her chum.

“The police are after me!” Nancy choked out.

“What?” Cherry shrieked in surprise. “How did they find out you killed your father?” she cried.

The noisy restaurant, packed with the supper trade, suddenly grew very quiet. Cherry cringed when she realized everyone had heard her. The family behind them was peeking over the top of the booth and staring at the girls in alarm.

“We’re rehearsing a play,” Midge said in a loud, calm tone. “Hamlet.” That seemed to do the trick. People went back to their many delicious potato dishes and left the girls alone.

Nancy quickly filled her chums in on the terrible news. She took care to keep her voice down. “When I couldn’t get in touch with either Bess or George, I decided to call the prison and try to speak to Hannah directly, to let her know I’m on my way. I pretended to be Hannah’s sister and took care to disguise my voice. The head matron said Hannah couldn’t be summoned to the telephone because two members of the River Depths Ladies’ Club had come to call and were giving her a permanent wave so she’ll be ready for her trial Monday morning.”

“That’s not so bad,” Cherry blurted out. “At least Hannah will look her best. Sometimes a new hairdo is the perfect medicine when you’re blue.”

Nancy shook her head. “There’s more,” she whispered dramatically. “There’s an All Points Bulletin out on my car!”

The girls gasped in horror.

“I don’t want to be picked up on the way,” Nancy whispered fearfully. “What if we’re spotted and have to tangle with some local police who don’t know me the way the Chief does?” she shivered. “Without my evidence, I couldn’t possibly tell my story to anyone. And Chief Chumley is the only one who can help me!” Tears trickled down her cheeks.

“I’ll just disguise your license plate; that’s easy,” Midge said in a calm, commanding tone that let them know she wasn’t at all shaken by the news that state police would be looking for the snappy convertible. Midge’s time behind bars hadn’t been all for naught, for she had learned many useful things. “And then we’ll—” But she clammed up quickly when Lauren reappeared holding a big red rock.

“What’s the matter with you guys?” Lauren asked. “Did someone die?”

Midge shot her a dirty look. “Lauren, be quiet,” she ordered.

“How come no one’s saying anything?” Lauren insisted. She stared at Nancy’s tear-streaked face. “Is she blubbering again?”

“Lauren, go play with your rock,” Midge said gruffly. But Lauren just stood there.

“Lauren, why don’t you go to the candy shop across the street and get some sweets?” Cherry suggested.

But Lauren didn’t budge. “What’s going on?” she demanded to know.

“I sure could go for some bon-bons,” Velma purred. She reached into Midge’s shirt pocket and took out a dollar. “Lauren, would you be a dear and get me some chocolates?” she smiled prettily.

Lauren beamed from ear to ear. “Sure!” she said, snatching the dollar from Velma’s hand. “Coconut cremes or fruit centers?” she wondered excitedly.

“I’m sure whatever you choose will be just right,” Velma murmured.

Lauren flushed with pleasure. “Watch my rock,” she called over her shoulder as she raced out the door.

“Smart-aleck kid,” Midge muttered under her breath as she watched Lauren eagerly do Velma’s bidding.

Cherry smiled. She had never seen Lauren so cooperative as she was with Velma. When Cherry had first met the brash teen, she had frankly been taken aback by her obvious lack of good breeding. Since then Cherry had tried to set a good example for the young girl. It looked like her example was finally beginning to pay off!

“Now if I could only get her to take some pride in her appearance, I know I could transform her into the graceful young lady I know she really is,” Cherry thought dreamily. “An attractive, polite, nice-to-be-around girl. The kind of girl who thinks first before she blurts out unpleasant thoughts.” As an older, more experienced girl, Cherry knew it was her duty to show Lauren the way to womanhood.

“With the cops out looking, we’ve really got to keep Nancy’s identity a secret until we can get her home. What if the kid goofs and gives her away?” Midge groused.

“That’s a very real concern, Midge,” Cherry said solemnly.

“She’s smart enough to understand the gravity of the situation,” Velma declared. “Besides that, she’s hardly a child! May I remind you, Midge, that she’s only a year younger than you were when you went to prison?”

Midge threw up her hands in mock defeat. “Again, I am wrong and you are right,” she joked. “Happy?”

“Almost,” Velma said, giving Midge a sweet smile and batting her thick, dark lashes. She planted a big kiss on Midge’s cheek.

Midge grinned. “I say we go and check out that motel the mechanic recommended. I’m ready for bed!”

“Good idea, Midge,” Cherry said, checking her sturdy nurse’s watch. It was nine p.m. “It’s still early, but it would be wise for us to get a good night’s sleep. And I’ve got a full evening ahead of me yet. I simply must wash my hair and rinse out my undergarments, plus get out my maps so I can figure the quickest route through the Rocky Mountains tomorrow. Besides,” she added, lowering her voice to just above a whisper. “I feel creepy knowing the police are looking for Nancy. The sooner we get inside and away from prying eyes, the better.”

“I agree,” Midge said in a stage whisper. She made a big show of furtively looking around. “See that man over there in the gray suit? The one smoking a pipe?”

Cherry nodded. She stared at the man perched at a counter stool, reading the newspaper while eating a baked potato.

“I’ll bet he’s an undercover cop,” Midge whispered. “Notice his rubber-soled shoes? They wear them so they can follow people around and not make a squeak.”

“Pretending to be engrossed in the evening paper is a good ruse,” Cherry whispered back earnestly.

“Keep an eye out for him,” Midge warned.

“I will,” Cherry answered solemnly.

“You’re a good detective, Cherry,” Midge winked.

Cherry beamed. She tarried so as to get a good look at the man on the stool. “He’s clever to act so casual; as if he’s really here for supper,” she thought. Cherry was so intent on watching the strange man’s every move, she bumped smack into Lauren on the way out of the restaurant.

“Careful!” Lauren cried, clutching a gold and white candy box tied with a pink bow. “These are for Velma. Where did she go?”

“The others have run ahead to the motel,” Cherry explained helpfully. “I stayed behind to—” But Lauren took off, cradling the box of sweets to her chest.

Cherry took one last look at the man shadowing them; then, confident that she could identify him later, headed for the motel and a good night’s sleep.

CHAPTER 9
A Horrible Mix-up!

“What a horrible mix-up!” Cherry cried as she kicked off her flats and flopped onto the double bed she would share with Nancy that night. “I can’t believe the motel manager thinks Midge is a man and won’t let her in the room with us!”

The girls had thought their luck was finally changing when they spied the Pocatello Komfort Kourt, a neat row of rustic cabins with a panoramic view of the surrounding Peaks. They were inexpensively priced and, by all appearances, clean and comfortable.

Under normal circumstances, right now Cherry would be exclaiming over the knotty-pine paneled interior of their cozy cabin, the thick moss green chenille bedspreads, and the modernized bathroom with its hot and cold running water. “You’ve got all the amenities of a big-city motel,” the manager had said, pointing out that each cabin had many modern conveniences, “including a radio.”

It was when he opened the door to cabin number thirteen and Midge marched inside that the manager had exclaimed, “Men are not allowed to stay with young ladies in my cabins!”

Cherry almost chuckled, but stopped short when she realized he was talking about Midge!

The manager had taken one look at Midge’s short hairstyle, men’s trousers, and bulging biceps and had jumped to the mistaken conclusion that he and Midge were of the same ilk. And, to Cherry’s surprise, the usually quick-tongued Midge did nothing to correct the man’s mistake!

“Unless you can prove these girls are your sisters, you’re not staying in that room, young man. There’ll be no hanky-panky going on in my Komfort Kourt,” the manager had reiterated.

Cherry was just about to blurt out, “That’s no man—that’s Midge!” when Midge had shot her a sharp, warning glance that said, “Keep quiet, Cherry.” For some reason, Midge had apparently thought it best to go along with the man’s mistaken impression.

Poor, tired Midge, who had practically pushed the car to town all by herself, was being forced to make her bed on a little cot behind the front desk, for there were no more rooms available at the Komfort Kourt, or, for that matter, anywhere in Pocatello!

“There’s a philatelist convention in town, and everyone’s full up,” the manager had explained. “You’re lucky there was just a last-minute cancellation; everything else has been booked for months.”

The girls had already handed over six precious dollars for the cute, cozy cabin, and it seemed the only thing they could do was stay there for the night, even if it meant splitting up the little group.

“I’m surprised Midge didn’t argue with the manager,” Cherry remarked to Velma as she dropped a quarter into the metal box at the head of the bed, lay back, and let the vibrating motion soothe her tired muscles. “All she had to do was tell him she’s a girl, and she’d be in here with us this very minute. I’m going out and tell Midge to do just that,” she declared. “Just as soon as I’m done relaxing.”

“That’s not a good idea,” Velma cautioned as she kicked off her leather-bottomed flats and lay down on the bed next to Cherry.

Cherry was frankly puzzled. Why, it seemed like a sound idea to her!

“In some towns, girls dressed as boys aren’t exactly welcome with open arms,” Velma explained.

Surely Velma was teasing, Cherry thought. But when she looked at Velma, she could see by the frown on her face that the older girl was serious!

“Midge could get into big trouble if she’s found out,” Velma said, “The manager would probably call the police in to run us out of town.”

“You mean, there are places where it’s against the law for a girl to wear slacks?” Cherry exclaimed.

Velma nodded.

“But you’re wearing slacks,” Cherry pointed out.

“They’re girl’s slacks,” Velma explained. “Don’t you see?”

Cherry didn’t see, but she nodded anyway. She didn’t want Velma to think she wasn’t sophisticated. Besides, the long day was catching up with her, and she was beginning to feel dizzy with fatigue. “Maybe I’m too tired and wrinkled to understand anything right now,” she thought. Cherry felt lucky, and a little guilty for it, knowing her sweetheart was close by. Nancy was just in the next room, taking a warm bath.

“Midge and Velma belong together always!” Cherry thought, her head aching from thinking of the silly thing that was keeping them apart. Cherry let the relaxing vibrating motion of the motorized bed calm her throbbing head.

“Poor Midge,” Cherry sighed. “She’s going to miss out on a swell evening. I thought later we could all wash and set each other’s hair. Then we can play some games.” She had noticed a deck of playing cards in the top drawer of the bedside table, along with some postcards and a complimentary pen with the name of the motel on it. “It will be just like a Friday night at the nurses’ dorm,” she told Velma, smiling as she recalled the many swell times she had had while lying in her narrow single bed, just inches away from an identical one occupied by her roommate, Nurse Cassie Case, a perky brunette with a warm smile and an infectious laugh. The two nurses had spent many pleasant hours laughing and chatting well into the night, giving each other relaxing back rubs and engaging in fun pillow fights.

Cherry suddenly had a grand thought. What if they put vibrating motors on the nurses’ beds? “It would be soothing after a long day at work.” She made a mental note to suggest just that, once she got back to the hospital.

“I guess Midge is lucky the manager offered her that little cot behind the desk,” Cherry remarked. “Although, I’m sure she would prefer a hot bath and a nice comfy bed. Plus, she’s going to miss out on all the fun.”

“We won’t tell her the beds vibrate,” Velma whispered conspiratorially.

“Okay,” Cherry agreed. There was no use rubbing salt into Midge’s wounds!

Velma got up off the bed and hopped into her shoes. “I’m going to go and see my sweetie,” she said.

“See if you can find Lauren while you’re out there,” Cherry suggested. “It’s taking her an awfully long time to get one bucket of ice.”

“She’s probably hanging out with Midge, learning how to spit or something,” Velma said in a teasing tone. She powdered her nose, refreshed her lipstick, and threw her coat over her shoulders. A chiffon scarf tied around her pretty dark hair completed her evening ensemble.

“You look beautiful!” Cherry enthused. “Have a swell time. Say good night to Midge for me.”

“Thanks, I will,” Velma smiled. “Now, you know, I won’t be back for a while,” she warned. “Are you two going to be okay all alone?”

Cherry blushed.

Velma grinned. “Say good night to Nancy for me,” she said. “On second thought, give her a great, big kiss good night!”

Cherry turned beet red. She was having that very same thought!

“I’ll knock three times before coming back in, okay?” Velma promised. “Remember. Three knocks,” she repeated as she went out the door.

Now Cherry was really red! Her heart began racing wildly. Alone with Nancy! All day she had been dreaming of being near Nancy, of putting her arms around the attractive, titian-haired sleuth, of …

Her time ran out, and the bed came to an abrupt halt. Cherry was so lost in her dreaming she practically slid off! She was just debating whether to spend another quarter when the washroom door flew open and Nancy emerged, wrapped in a bath towel that left her lovely legs and shapely shoulders bare for all to see.

Cherry thought she had never seen anything so fetching as Nancy standing there in the doorway with the mist from the steamy room swirling about her, her cheeks all rosy, and her damp, trademark titian hair curling softly around her flushed face.

“Golly, she’s the most beautiful girl ever,” Cherry thought breathlessly. She felt a sudden pulsating sensation somewhere deep inside. It was her heart beating a mile a minute! Cherry slipped a quarter into the metal box, and, ever so slowly, the bed started to move.

Nancy said nothing, but just walked toward her with a friendly look in her eyes. She gave Cherry a sweet smile. “Wouldn’t you be more comfortable if you got out of that tight outfit?” Nancy murmured.

Cherry felt faint. She quickly unzipped the back of her dress and lay back on the bed, closing her eyes. She awaited Nancy’s soft kiss.

After a moment had passed with no kiss, Cherry opened her eyes and found, to her dismay, that Nancy had slipped into a white flannel nightgown, matching terrycloth robe, and plush slippers, and was busy tidying the room.

“Thanks for letting me bathe first,” Nancy said cheerfully as she neatly hung her dress and slip on a hanger, wiped the dust from her shoes, and put her pearls in her white leather travel jewelry case.

“Help yourself to any of my pajamas,” Nancy said, when she realized Cherry had unzipped her dress. She threw Cherry a quick kiss and slipped under the covers next to her. “How odd. The bed’s moving,” Nancy mused aloud before proclaiming, “I’m so sleepy I can’t possibly stay awake one more minute! Goodnight.”

Cherry blushed all the way to her taffeta neckline. “But you’ll catch cold if you sleep with wet hair!” she wanted to protest. But she was too late, for Nancy was already fast asleep.

CHAPTER 10
What a Coincidence!

“A red nine goes on a black ten,” Cherry said under her breath as she scrutinized the cards lying in a neat progression in front of her on the bed. “One, two, three,” she counted out the cards from the stack in her hand. She flipped the third card over. It was the jack of clubs.

Cherry shivered a little. She got up to get her sweater, taking care not to wake her sleeping chum. It had been almost an hour since Velma had gone to see Midge, and in that time, Cherry had rinsed out her lingerie, scrubbed Nancy’s handkerchiefs until they were squeaky clean, and selected an attractive yet comfortable travel outfit for the next day: a generous full skirt of the prettiest violet with practical front patch pockets and a cream-colored cotton dotted swiss short-sleeved blouse that was simplicity and coolness personified.

“Velma and Midge are probably out enjoying the refreshing evening mountain air,” she thought as she opened a window and took a deep, cleansing breath. But what could have possibly happened to Lauren? Cherry was tempted to go and see for herself, but quickly changed her mind. What if Nancy awoke and found herself alone in this strange cabin? No, it was best to stay put, Cherry decided. She ducked her head out the door and looked around, but her chums were nowhere to be seen.

“I’d best go ahead and wash my hair,” she thought, realizing with alarm that if she didn’t do it soon, her hair would be damp when she retired for the evening. She looked longingly at the soft, warm bed and the sleeping girl curled up on one side. It had been an especially long day, she thought, barely stifling a yawn. But before she could give in to temptation, she came to her senses.

“One is never too tired nor too busy for good grooming,” she scolded herself as she gathered up her travel kit containing her cold cream, shampoo, brush, comb, toothbrush, and bobby pins and marched into the bathroom. Ten minutes later, she had washed and towel-dried her thick, curly hair, pinned it off her forehead, applied a thick layer of cold cream to her face and neck, and was happily splashing about in warm, sudsy bath water.

“Jeepers,” she thought. “Mel said she’d be back here at the crack of dawn with our car, and I’ll bet it’s ten o’clock already. If I’m going to be fresh for the morning, I’d better hurry!” She felt good knowing their car was in Mel’s strong, capable hands. “She’s awfully nice,” Cherry smiled to herself. “So eager to help a girl in need!”

Cherry hummed a gay tune as she gave every inch of her body a rigorous rubbing with her soapy washcloth. When she was finished, she was truly exhausted and ready for bed! “I won’t even wait for Velma and Lauren to return,” Cherry decided. “We can do our hair another night.” She jumped out of the tub and into the pale yellow nightie, neatly trimmed with lace, that she had selected from among Nancy’s many lovely things. After wiping the cold cream from her face, she gave her teeth a good scrubbing, gargled with a mild antiseptic, and put a dab of rose water behind each ear. A pretty yellow satin ribbon tied atop her head completed her look.

Cherry stifled a yawn. She could think of nothing nicer right now than slipping between fresh sheets and falling fast asleep.

Suddenly, she heard the door to the room creak open. For a moment Cherry thought Lauren might have returned, but changed her mind when she realized the boisterous young girl was incapable of being so quiet. “Why, Lauren even makes noise when she’s standing still,” she smiled.

Cherry knew Lauren, as a typical teen, was prone to the hormonal urges and emotional conflict that afflict all girls. Luckily, Cherry had taken a human development course in nursing school, and so felt equipped to really understand Lauren!

“Velma must be back,” Cherry realized. “That’s funny, though. She was going to knock three times to warn me she was coming in. Well, it’s just as well that Velma forgot to use the secret code; she might have waked Nancy.” Good thing she had left the door unlocked so her friends could come in quietly!

Cherry opened the bathroom door and tiptoed out to greet her friend. “Did you two have fun?” she whispered, before realizing that the person standing in the middle of the room wasn’t Velma at all! It was the casually dressed, middle-aged, blond-haired woman from the restaurant, the one Cherry had nearly knocked over earlier that evening. And right next to her was her helpful husband, Harold!

“Eek!” Cherry cried as she dropped her travel kit and hurriedly folded her arms over the front of her nightie. “Why didn’t I don the matching robe?” she chastised herself.

The couple looked as surprised to see Cherry as she was to see them. Their mouths dropped open at the sight of the startled nurse.

“We must have the wrong cabin,” they chorused in alarm.

Cherry pointed to her sleeping chum and signaled for them to be quiet. To her great relief, they understood and immediately lowered their voices.

“We took your suggestion and decided to stay here for the night,” the man whispered as he backed out of the cabin.

“I’m terribly embarrassed,” the woman said, taking care to keep her voice low. She sounded truly alarmed! “Our cabin must be the one right next door. I must have mixed up the numbers on the door,” she smiled, explaining, “It’s awfully dark out.”

“The manager should really put more lights outside,” Cherry agreed. “Why, a person could fall and get hurt!” After tossing on a robe, Cherry borrowed Nancy’s flashlight from her purse and pointed the couple toward the correct cabin. “You were really lucky to get a cabin,” Cherry whispered to them. “And how odd that it’s the one right next to ours.”

They all agreed it was a happy coincidence.

“And lucky for us, we opened your door by mistake,” the woman gasped. “What if we had wandered into some else’s room? Someone we didn’t already know. Why, they might have thought we were thieves!”

They all had a good laugh at the thought. Cherry bade them a good night. “I must get back indoors. Wet hair and cool mountain air are a sure prescription for a cold,” she explained.

“You know best. After all, you’re the nurse,” Harold agreed. “Goodnight, miss, and thank you, once again, for all your help,” Harold said.

Once back in the room, Cherry took care to lock the door before slipping into bed next to Nancy. Velma had the key and could let herself and Lauren in. Goodness knows how many people could walk into their cabin by accident!

“I could be directing people towards their rooms all night,” Cherry thought sleepily. She had to giggle at the thought. In the course of her career, she had been many things. A Cruise Nurse on a ship bound for the high seas, a Department-Store Nurse called in to handle the fainting spells at a big girdle sale, even a Dude-Ranch Nurse for a summer. But she had never been a tour guide, or a Cabin Nurse, for that matter, although she would most certainly throw on her uniform and come running whenever and wherever a call for help reached her ears!

Her thoughts drifted toward the friendly couple staying next door. At first she hadn’t thought they were very nice and had been put off by their cheap, garish clothing. But they had turned out to be lovely people. “To think I accused them of being those awful people in that dusty brown Impala who passed us by,” Cherry admonished herself. “It just goes to show, you can’t judge a book by its cover.” It struck Cherry as funny that they had run into each other two times in one day. “By now we’re practically old friends!” she chuckled to herself.

“Mother was right. You do meet the nicest people when you travel,” she thought as she snuggled up to Nancy and planted a little kiss on her soft neck. Nancy didn’t respond, so Cherry closed her eyes, and a few minutes later, she, too, was sound asleep. So sound asleep, in fact, that she didn’t hear the urgent whispering going on outside her door, or the rattling of the knob, or the angry cries followed by retreating footfalls.

All Cherry knew as she drifted through layers of sleep was that she was in her beloved home state with her true love by her side. What more could a girl ask for?

CHAPTER 11
“Adieu, Idaho”

“Good-bye, majestic mountains! Good-bye, raging rivers! Good-bye, lush, green forests!” Cherry cried as she drove their newly repaired convertible across the Idaho state line and into the rugged state of Wyoming. She felt a little teary as she left behind her beloved Idaho. Who knew when she would be back to partake of its natural splendors?

Cherry turned her mind to the trip ahead. According to her calculations, and barring any complications, it would take them ten hours to cross Wyoming, upon which time they would be halfway through their trip. “Then there’s only Nebraska and Iowa, and, before you know it, we’ll be in River Depths!” She shivered with excitement when she thought of the picturesque ten hours ahead!

“Girls, did you know that today we’ll be traveling through some of the finest scenery in the country?” Cherry chirped cheerfully. She checked her sturdy nurse’s watch. It was just after eight a.m. They had been on the road for about an hour.

“In another four hours, we’ll be crossing the Rocky Mountains, one of the world’s main mountain systems. That will be the perfect time for us to stop and have a nourishing lunch and stretch our legs while viewing some of the most spectacular scenery in all of America! Aren’t you excited, Midge?”

Midge, who was curled up on the passenger side of the front seat with her eyes closed, just smiled.

“We’ll miss the Grand Tetons,” Cherry continued, “We’re too far south, and we shouldn’t really take the time to go out of our way. It’s really a shame, though, don’t you think? I’ve always wanted to see them, haven’t you?”

Midge groaned, which Cherry took as a yes. Who in her right mind, if given the opportunity, wouldn’t want to see such a sight?

Cherry made a mental note to send her mother a picture postcard showing the spectacular scenery from this strange and enchanting land. Funny, when she had called her mother just a half hour before, she had received no answer. Oh, well! It was a lovely Idaho day, and her mother was probably out tending her rose bushes before the summer sun got too high in the sky.

“Look! There’s a meadowlark!” Cherry called out in excitement, pointing at a yellow-breasted bird flying overhead, while taking care to keep one eye on the road. It would never do for them to have another car mishap like the one they had had yesterday, for that repair had taken all but thirty dollars of their car-trip kitty. Thirty dollars would be plenty for meals and gasoline, for the girls planned to drive all day and all night until they reached Illinois. “We’ll be fine, barring any unforeseen disasters,” Cherry thought.

Cherry was positive they’d have no more trouble like the day before. Seeing the meadowlark was a good sign, she thought with a smile. “It’s the official state bird of Wyoming, and, despite its name, it’s not really a lark at all,” she informed her traveling companions. “It’s a blackbird, although it does live in the meadows, just like a lark. I guess you could say they’re not related, but they are neighbors,” she chuckled.

“I sure could use some coffee from that thermos,” Cherry hinted to Midge. “There’s nothing better than a cup of good, hot coffee drunk outdoors,” she added. “Don’t you think? Midge? Are you listening?”

“Don’t I think what?” Midge grumbled sleepily. Midge had gotten up at six a.m. with the rest of them, and stayed awake just long enough to gulp down a cup of black coffee, smoke a cigarette, and, using tape from Cherry’s first-aid kit, alter the letters of Nancy’s license plate so as to throw the police off their trail. Then she had sacked out in the front seat.

Cherry peeked in the rearview mirror. Why, everyone’s asleep, she realized with a start. “They’re going to miss this glorious morning,” she thought. Using the car horn, she merrily tapped out the first verse of the Wyoming State Song. That did the trick! “They’ll thank me for this later,” Cherry told herself as her sleepy chums jumped awake.

“Cherry wants a cup of coffee,” Midge muttered to Velma as she suddenly sat up. Velma was sitting in the back seat behind Midge, and the box containing the thermos, paper cups, and a sack of oranges—a gift from that nice mechanic, Mel—was at her feet.

“And an orange, too, if you don’t mind. Peeled and split into sections. You’ll find a clean handkerchief in my purse right next to you on the seat, Midge. You can put the orange on that,” Cherry added.

“And an orange, too,” Midge crabbed. “Peeled and split into sections. You’ll find a clean handkerchief in her purse. You can—”

Velma pinched her girlfriend. “Perhaps I’d better sit up front and let old sleepyhead stay back here,” Velma proposed.

Midge readily agreed. “You come up here first,” she said, as she rubbed the sore spot on her arm.

Before Cherry could stop the car so the two girls could trade places safely, Velma tossed the thermos of coffee over the seat, then hiked up her skirt and slip, too, straddled the seat, and swung right into Midge’s lap.

Midge put her arms around her girl and buried her face in the bosom of Velma’s soft sweater. “Can I just stay like this until we get to Illinois?” she murmured happily.

Velma smiled and ran a hand through Midge’s hair. “That would suit me just fine,” she answered dreamily. She gave Midge a long, lingering kiss. Midge moaned.

Cherry turned bright red. “Golly, Midge, in some states, it’s against the law for three adults to ride in the front seat of a car,” she explained. “And I haven’t my Road Guide to State Motoring Laws with me. We don’t want to call any attention to ourselves, remember?” Cherry reminded them. “Besides,” she lowered her voice to a whisper, “Do you think it’s good for children to see people kissing?” She peeked in her rearview mirror. Lauren was sitting straight up and staring at the cooing couple with big bug eyes and the queerest expression on her face.

Midge groaned and gave her girlfriend one last kiss before taking her place in the back seat. “Wake me when we get to Illinois,” she said miserably as she tried to make herself comfortable between Nancy, who was leaning on the car door and staring off into space with a sad look in her eyes, and Lauren, who was taking up more than her share of the seat. “I’ll just sleep until then,” Midge announced.

“That’s silly, Midge,” Cherry scolded in a light tone. “Why, there’s plenty to do until then. We could see how many meadowlarks we could spot; I’ve already seen one so far. Or we could play the license plate game. That’s where you try to spot cars from different states. Whoever spots the most variety wins,” she explained eagerly.

“But there aren’t many cars on the road,” Lauren pointed out.

Cherry realized Lauren was right. Except for that brown car that had been keeping a steady distance behind them since they had left Pocatello, she had seen no other automobiles that morning.

“We could sing songs,” Cherry proposed brightly. “When I was a Girl Scout, we always sang songs to pass the time. I could teach you one,” she offered eagerly. “Does that sound like fun, Nancy?” Cherry asked her chum.

But Nancy said nothing. She just gave a great big sigh and turned her head toward the car door.

“I think that sounds like a grand idea, Cherry!” Velma cried when she saw how crestfallen Cherry was by Nancy’s lack of enthusiasm.

“Teach us a song, Cherry,” Midge chimed in. “But first, pass me that thermos, babe,” she said to Velma. She filled a paper cup with the steamy, hot liquid, took a big sip, and said, “Okay, Cherry. Let’s hear it.”

In a clear, high voice, Cherry began singing a traveling tune. Soon her chums were singing merrily as they sped through western Wyoming. Everyone, that is, except Nancy who sat silently as if she were in another world—a world far removed from the gay little group.

CHAPTER 12
Shocking News

“That’s funny,” Cherry frowned as she hung up the telephone receiver and stepped out of the booth. “That’s the second time I’ve called home this morning, and there’s still no answer.”

Cherry had felt sure she’d catch her mother at home. After all, Saturday was her mother’s wash day, and Mrs. Aimless always did everything on the right day. Mondays she baked. Tuesdays she canned fresh fruits and vegetables. Wednesdays she puttered in the garden and attended her ladies’ club luncheon. Thursdays she dusted, swept, and turned the mattresses, and Fridays she washed windows, scrubbed the front steps, and changed the shelf paper in her kitchen cabinets.

“And today she should be home doing the wash,” Cherry thought as she wrinkled her pretty brow, wondering where her mother could have possibly gone. “Perhaps she’s in the basement starching Father’s shirts and didn’t hear the telephone,” Cherry reasoned. “That must be it. Where else could Mother be?”

She forgot her mother’s puzzling absence once she took her seat at the table and had a chance to peruse the menu, which was chock full of tempting treats. They hadn’t had a real breakfast, only coffee and oranges in the car, and Cherry had been forced to abandon her plan of reaching the Rocky Mountains before stopping to dine when even Nancy admitted she was willing to lose a little travel time in order to stop for a snack.

“Besides, if we eat quickly; but not too quickly as to cause stomach-aches, we’ll only be a half hour off schedule,” Cherry realized. She took out her little red spiral notebook and neatly changed the estimated time of their arrival in the Rockies to 12:30 p.m.

Cherry had to admit she could use a bite to eat as well. When it was her turn to order, she was hard-pressed to choose between the special of the day, liver loaf sandwich, or a clear broth soup and raw-vegetable salad served with an assortment of crackers. She knew she should opt for the lighter lunch. Since she had already driven four hours that morning, she would no doubt spend the afternoon napping. A clear broth would be easier to digest, and she’d awake refreshed for her next driving shift.

“But who could sleep with all these beautiful peaks and valleys and ridges and canyons around her?” she thought, as she looked out the large picture window and spied the Rocky Mountains in the distance. It was a clear summer day, the blue sky stretched for miles, and even Nancy looked like she was beginning to perk up. Cherry threw caution to the wind and ordered the yummy liver loaf sandwich, creamed spinach, and an extra side of gravy.

The girls hungrily devoured their lunch. Cherry noted with approval that Lauren was taking bites of Velma’s plate of mixed-vegetable salad. “All my lecturing about the essential food groups is finally beginning to sink in,” she smiled to herself. “Now, if I can just do something about her table manners,” Cherry thought in alarm as she watched Lauren wipe her mouth on her shirt sleeve.

“Lauren, that’s what your napkin is intended for,” Cherry told her nicely, pointing to the red-checkered cloth folded by the side of the girl’s plate. “And, please take off your baseball cap when eating indoors. I could see wearing a hat if this were a picnic,” she added, so the girl wouldn’t think her hopelessly rigid. “You wish to be both pleasing and pleasant to others, don’t you?” Cherry asked.

Lauren just scowled and pretended she hadn’t heard.

“Why don’t you take off your cap?” Velma wondered. “You have such pretty hair.” Lauren blushed and did as Velma suggested.

Midge scowled. Cherry beamed.

“Let’s go!” Midge cried suddenly in a testy tone. She gripped the back of Velma’s chair. “Let’s go, Velma,” she said.

Velma gave Midge an imperious look. “I’m going to fix my lipstick,” she said calmly. “Then we’ll go.” She headed for the ladies’ lounge with Lauren hot on her heels. Midge followed them both.

From the little shriek that came a moment later, Cherry knew that Midge had once again been mistaken for a boy. She saw the grim restaurant manager roughly escort red-faced Midge out to the parking lot.

Cherry gulped down one last bite of her scrumptious liver loaf. She realized that Nancy had barely touched a bite of her cottage cheese and gelatin salad, although she had managed to finish her cocktail! “Is there something else you’d like?” Cherry quizzed her, determined to get some nourishment in her friend.

“I’ll be right back,” Nancy murmured as she grabbed her purse and jumped up from the table. “I’m going to freshen up and then try to reach Bess and George again,” she called over her shoulder.

Cherry stuck some crackers in her purse, hoping she would be able to talk her chum into eating something later. By the time she had paid the bill, tipped the waitress, and purchased a package of chewing gum, she had used up every penny of the pin money she’d squirreled away for small amusements.

She went out to the parking lot and found Midge, leaning against the trunk of the car smoking a cigarette with a sour expression on her face.

“How am I going to buy postcards to send to my friends?” Cherry wailed. But Midge didn’t seem to hear her.

“Did you happen to see my girlfriend?” Midge wanted to know.

Cherry shook her head. “Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Velma or Lauren since they had disappeared into the ladies’ lounge ten minutes ago,” she said.

“What do you think they’re doing in there?” Midge wondered softly.

Cherry shrugged. “Trying out new hairstyles?” she guessed brightly.

Midge laughed bitterly. “I’ll bet that’s it,” she said. But Cherry didn’t think Midge sounded convinced. Cherry wished she knew what was bothering Midge all of a sudden. Oh, they had been through many an adventure together, and a girl couldn’t ask for anyone braver or bolder than Midge Fontaine, but Cherry knew that under all that teasing and joking beat a real girl’s heart. One that broke easily, Cherry suspected.

Midge was looking at Cherry queerly, as if she could read her mind. She dug through her pockets and came up with a dollar. “For your postcards,” Midge smiled as she handed it to Cherry.

Cherry gave Midge a quick peck on the cheek. She put the worn dollar in her purse. “I’m going to wait until we get to the Rockies to spend it,” she planned out loud. “They’ll have the best scenic postcards.”

“That’s a good idea, Cherry,” Midge said. Suddenly, she perked up. “Look, here’s Velma.”

Velma smiled as she crossed the parking lot to join them.

“What have you and Lauren been doing all this time?” Midge asked in a casual tone.

“Oh, just talking,” Velma said. She got behind the wheel, took a chiffon scarf from her purse, and tied it around her hairdo. “I’ll drive next, okay? I’m getting awfully antsy just sitting all day.”

Cherry checked her little book. “It’s really Nancy’s turn,” she said. “But I think it will be okay. I wish Nancy would hurry up and get out here,” she worried aloud. “We’re going to fall way behind schedule. And where’s Lauren? It seems like she’s always running off.”

“Lauren will be out soon,” Velma said. “Don’t worry about her.”

“I’m going to get a newspaper so I can check the weather report,” Cherry decided.

“What do you and Lauren have to talk about?” Midge wanted to know once Cherry had left. She slid into the seat next to Velma.

“Girl stuff,” Velma said in a casual manner. She took out her compact and powdered her nose.

“What kind of girl stuff?” Midge asked anxiously.

“It’s a secret, Midge.”

“Even from me?” Midge sounded hurt.

“Especially from you,” Velma declared, refusing to budge an inch. She snapped her compact shut.

“Fine,” Midge said, in a sullen tone.

Velma rolled her eyes. “You are such a big baby,” she teased Midge.

“I’m in no mood to be teased,” Midge grumbled. “I’m all sore because I had to sleep on a stupid cot all night—alone—and now—” Velma stopped her angry words with a big kiss.

“I am in a mood to be teased,” Velma whispered. “If we don’t get somewhere soon where we can be alone, I don’t know what I’ll do,” she sighed in Midge’s ear.

Midge gulped hard. Golly, she loved her girlfriend!

“Let’s get out at the next big town and take a train with a sleeper car to Illinois,” Midge grinned.

Velma snuggled close. “What’s on your mind, babe?” she asked. “I mean, besides—”

“Besides a long, slow train ride?” Midge laughed. Then she shrugged. “I’m worried about Nancy’s scheme. You know how you’re always telling me that I have to stop jumping to conclusions all the time? I’m trying, but, well, I just have a bad feeling about this plan of Nancy’s to waltz into River Depths and spill the beans about everyone’s favorite dad.”

“I hope this time you’re wrong, Midge,” Velma said.

“Me, too. All in all, I guess I’d better stay,” Midge admitted. “Someone on this trip’s got to have a level head,” she said, in all seriousness.

“And who would that be?” Velma giggled. “I don’t know, Midge. I’d use a lot of words to describe you, but level-headed wouldn’t be one of them.” She whispered some of those words in Midge’s ear until Midge turned bright red and pulled Velma close for a big kiss just as Cherry appeared back at the car with a horrified expression on her pretty face.

“Midge, Velma, look!” she shrieked. In her hand was a copy of the Wyoming Buffalo Bulletin. And on the front page was a photograph of Nancy, with the caption, “Have you seen this girl?”

Midge closely examined the photograph. “Why is Nancy wearing a tiara?” she wondered.

“Nancy was Miss River Depths 1955,” Cherry replied. “I guess it was the most recent picture the newspaper had on file.”

“We’re safe then,” Midge cracked. “As long as we don’t let Nancy wear her crown outside of the car, no one could possibly spot her from this picture.”

Cherry could see that Midge had a point. “Yes, this photograph is obviously a poor-quality reproduction and four years old, besides. And Nancy’s hair is much more modern now than it was when this photograph was taken,” she said. “Plus, today she’s wearing a casual shirtwaist dress, suitable for car travel, and simple white moccasins. Surely no one will think she’s anyone other than a girl on vacation.”

“So there’s no problem,” Midge said. “Let’s get the others and get out of here.”

“But look, Midge, there’s more!” Cherry cried as she scanned the news article below the picture. In a tremulous tone, she read the horrible story aloud.

DESIRE TO “RULE THE ROOST” MAY HAVE TRIGGERED CRIME, SAYS CRIMINAL EXPERT

River Depths, Illinois—Horrible housekeeper Miss Hannah Gruel, once celebrated for her prize-winning huckleberry pies, now sits in the cell which will likely be her home for years to come. Just twelve days ago, Miss Gruel shot her employer, prominent attorney Carson Clue, during a domestic dispute, leaving him to die on the floor of his newly refurbished Formica kitchen.

“I told that man time and time again to stay out of my kitchen while I was baking,” Miss Gruel declared as she was taken away in handcuffs from the murder scene. Steely-eyed Hannah has maintained a grim silence ever since. River Depthians are left wondering, what made this simple housekeeper suddenly go berserk?

“Hannah Gruel obviously has a deep desire to dominate and one day she could no longer contain herself, and she snapped,” said Prof. Melvin P. Merville, well-known expert and widely read author on matters of the criminal mind. “It’s the classic Rule-the-Roost Syndrome, so common in frustrated spinsters who have trouble accepting male authority.”

“Why, Nancy would be so upset if she knew the horrible things people are saying about Hannah! She’d probably have a hysterical nervous breakdown!” Cherry cried, waving her arms about in excitement. “I must hide this newspaper immediately,” she said as she stuffed the paper in her purse. She snapped her purse shut just in the nick of time, for Nancy had come outside. By the look on her face, Cherry could tell she had had no luck reaching her chums, Bess and George. But she had combed her titian hair into an attractive ponytail.

“It’s time to go,” Midge breathed a sigh of relief upon spying Lauren straggling out to join them. Lauren, Cherry, and Nancy climbed into the back seat and made themselves comfortable. Velma started the car and backed out of the parking lot, only to narrowly miss being rear-ended by a dusty brown Impala.

“Watch out, Velma!” Cherry cried, just in the nick of time.

Velma hit the brakes, and the Impala swerved and sped past them.

“Say, isn’t that the same car that passed us back in Idaho yesterday?” Midge cried out.

“Oh, it couldn’t be,” Cherry countered. “Midge, you’re so paranoid!” she teased.

Velma gave a little laugh and Midge tried to hush her by biting her neck, which only made her giggle harder. Soon everyone except Lauren was laughing joyously as they headed east into the system of canyons and peaks that made up one of the most noteworthy landscapes in the world. Cherry felt in her purse for the offending newspaper. She would throw it away at the first opportunity. Nancy must never see it!

Cherry put her hand in Nancy’s and gave it a little squeeze. “Rocky Mountains, here we come!” she cried happily.

CHAPTER 13
A Cheery Hello

Dear Mother and Father,

Am having a splendid time. The Rocky Mountains are even more magnificent than I imagined! I’ll call you when we get to River Depths (That’s in Illinois, the “Land of Lincoln.”) Today we drove by the famous Abraham Lincoln statue hear Laramie, Wy. Imagine! It’s twelve and a half feet tall and made completely of bronze! Mr. Lincoln certainly was tall! Ha! Ha!

On to Nebraska!

Much love, your daughter,

Cherry Aimless, R.N.

P.S. Is your telephone out of order?

CHAPTER 14
A Sudden Crash

“Oh, no!” Midge groaned as she and Velma climbed out of the car to survey the damage to their snappy automobile. Velma had taken her mind off the road ahead for only a split second, but it had been long enough for the car to veer off course and crash into a boulder.

Midge flipped up the hood, and then jumped back in alarm as clouds of steam came pouring out. She vowed that next time she would keep her hands to herself when Velma was driving. “But everyone was asleep in the back seat and I was all alone with Velma and I didn’t know I’d cause an accident!” Midge moaned to herself.

The others, awakened by the crash, quickly scrambled out of the car. “Oh, no!” Cherry cried. “What’s that leaking out from under the car?”

“What happened?” the girls cried in unison.

Midge turned bright red. “We had a little accident,” she explained. “Is anyone hurt?” she asked anxiously.

Cherry grabbed her first-aid kit, pinned on her spare nurse’s cap, and gave each of her chums a quick physical exam. She was relieved to find no one had been injured in the sudden shake-up. But their car was in a sorry state!

“Now we’re never going to make it to River Depths!” Cherry blurted out without thinking. When she saw the expression on Velma’s face, she immediately regretted her hasty words.

“I’m so sorry!” Velma exclaimed, on the edge of tears. “I must have lost control for a moment.”

“No, babe, it’s my fault!” Midge cried. “If I hadn’t been poking around, er, never mind. I’m the reason we’re in this jam, and I’ll get us out of it, too.

“And we were almost out of this darn state,” they heard her swear in displeasure. “Who’d ever have thought I’d be eager to get to Nebraska?”

“I’ll help you, Midge,” Nancy declared as she climbed atop the car and peered inside. Cherry thrilled to the sight of the attractive girl standing on the front bumper over the open hood with her legs splayed apart. “It’s good to see Nancy back to her old self again,” Cherry thought happily.

“How’s it look?” Cherry fretted as she watched her chums fiddle with the complicated system of hoses under the hood. “Will it run?”

“That course I took in auto mechanics sure has come in handy on this trip,” Nancy joked bravely as she hopped down off the bumper. Then her face grew cloudy. “I fear this car isn’t going anywhere without a tow truck,” she sighed.

Midge frowned. “The radiator’s busted and all the vital fluids have leaked out,” she added. “I’m sorry about this, Nancy,” she added in a solemn tone. “I’ll push it to the nearest service station.”

Velma put her hands on her full, rounded hips and raised one shapely eyebrow. “I’ll help, but first let me take off my high heels,” she said, balancing herself against the car to remove her three-inch, T-strap summer sandals.

Midge assured her that she didn’t need any help. She bent down and put her strong muscles to work, but the car wouldn’t budge!

“Wait, we forgot to remove the suitcases,” Cherry said. She snapped open the trunk and took out Nancy’s three-piece powder blue monogrammed travel set and matching cosmetics case, Midge’s battered leather valise, Velma’s pink travel bag and Lauren’s knapsack.

“Try again,” Velma urged. This time, over Midge’s objections, she added her weight to the force. But still the car didn’t move.

Cherry peered into the deep trunk. “Maybe it’s Lauren’s rock collection. It’s certainly grown since this morning,” she mused. It took the girls almost ten minutes to clear the trunk of the many different boulders, rocks, and pebbles Lauren had picked up in the Rocky Mountains. “I hope she left some for the other travelers,” Cherry said in concern.

“That darn kid!” Midge cried in an exasperated tone. “She’s becoming a big pain in the neck! We’ve got enough to do without having to haul a mountain around with us. Who on earth would want this many dumb rocks?” Midge muttered. “Why can’t she collect something small, like stamps or matchbooks? Whose bright idea was this to begin with?”

“I thought it would be fun and educational and keep her occupied,” Cherry said meekly.

“Where is Lauren?” Velma jumped in. The girls looked around, but their sixteen-year-old traveling companion was nowhere to be found.

“Great. Now we have a disappearing kid on our hands,” Midge said in disgust.

“I’ll bet she’s wandered off to find another rock,” Cherry guessed. “According to my travel guide for the state of Wyoming, there are lots of interesting rocks in this area, like terra cotta and jasper.” Cherry pronounced the exotic names carefully. She secretly thought it fun to travel cross-country, seeing new and unusual landscapes, people, and rocks. And although Lauren’s collection did take up an awful lot of space, they really hadn’t lost any time because of it. Besides, Cherry was really beginning to learn something about the fascinating world of rocks and minerals!

“She sure is a funny little kid,” Velma remarked. “But sweet. Remember at the beginning of the trip when she told us her father was a rocket-ship engineer? Later she told me he was a geologist, and that’s why she knows so much about rocks.”

Cherry was astonished by this revelation. “At the Komfort Kourt this morning, when we were brushing our teeth, she told me her father was a spy,” Cherry revealed. “And that her mother had been a circus performer and they met on a secret mission under the Big Top.”

Midge burst into laughter.

Cherry looked hurt. “I’ll bet there are spies in the circus,” she said in a wounded tone. “My father says there’s spies everywhere these days. You can’t be too careful.”

“You have to admit, that Lauren is quite a character,” Midge chuckled.

Cherry frowned. “Lying is nothing to laugh at, Midge,” she said. “That could be a sign of a serious disturbance that could lead to real trouble later. Why, Lauren could even become a juvenile delinquent!”

“Well, whatever her destiny, we can’t go anywhere without her,” Midge said. She leaned back on the hood of the car, took a cigarette from the pack in her shirt pocket, and lit one. “I’ll go after her as soon as I have a cigarette.”

“Fine,” Nancy said in a brisk tone. “While you do that, I’ll walk to town and engage a tow truck to get us out of this jam.”

“Good idea, Nancy,” Velma agreed. “I don’t think Midge should push any more cars.”

“A walk to town will be invigorating after a day in the car,” Cherry pointed out. Then she blurted, before she could stop herself, “But how ever will we pay for the tow and repair? We only have twenty-four dollars left!”

“We should have taken that nice mechanic Mel up on her offer to bill us, and kept more money back in case of emergencies,” Velma said.

“Or left Cherry as collateral,” Midge joked.

“We’ll put our heads together and come up with something,” Cherry said weakly, hoping Nancy didn’t notice her red cheeks.

“I know a way to make a few dollars fast,” Nancy declared, patting her purse. “I think it’s time to take a trip to the jewelry store.”

Cherry was puzzled. This didn’t seem like a good time at all for Nancy to go shopping! Then it dawned on her what Nancy meant. “You don’t mean you’re going to sell your precious jewelry, do you?” Cherry gasped. “Oh, no!”

“I’ve tons more at home,” Nancy assured her. She sat down and dumped the contents of her travel jewelry case in her lap.

Cherry went over to get a closer look. She never tired of looking through Nancy’s lovely gems. “I like this one best of all,” Cherry said, picking up a small silver, diamond-studded brooch in the shape of a horseshoe. It fit quite nicely in the palm of her hand.

“This was Mother’s,” Nancy said sadly.

Cherry fingered the bauble, a hand-forged piece of silver cleverly bent into the shape of the luckiest of charms. Diamonds ringed the U-shaped piece. She turned it over and read the inscription aloud. “Rebecca Clue, May 1937.”

Nancy explained the origin of the unusual brooch. “Mother was a talented equestrian, and she won this for jumping through hoops. Just a few weeks later, her roadster crashed and she perished in its fiery flames. I was too little to remember much, except that she was very beautiful, and very kind, and—” Cherry, whose keen nurse’s eye missed nothing, spotted tears in Nancy’s bright sapphire blue eyes.

“Let’s see what else you’ve got,” Cherry said briskly as she examined the baubles in Nancy’s lap with keen interest. “How pretty!” she cried as she slipped her hand through two thin gold bangle bracelets dotted with diamonds and held them up so they sparkled in the bright sunlight.

“Those were my sweet-sixteen presents from Father,” Nancy said, almost in a whisper.

Cherry gulped hard and quickly took off the bracelets. Golly, she was a lucky girl! She had a mother and a father, and even if Father was so busy with his real-estate business he sometimes didn’t come home for days at a time, well, at least she had parents. And a twin brother, too, and a courageous Collie named Lady. Why, Nancy had nobody! Cherry quickly corrected herself. “Nancy’s got me,” she thought happily. Cherry just knew that, in time, she could make up for all the things Nancy had lost.

She looked sadly at her chum, who was holding up a simple pair of emerald drop earrings that exactly matched the color of Cherry’s eyes.

“These should bring a pretty penny,” Nancy said. “Enough for this repair, the rest of our expenses to River Depths, a whole bunch of fashionable frocks for you and Velma, overalls for Lauren, and a fresh pair of trousers for Midge.”

While the other girls had plenty of outfits, thanks to Nancy, and Lauren had packed two pairs of dungarees, Midge had come unprepared and been stuck in the same pair of trousers for days.

“How like you to think of others first!” Cherry cried. “And while it’s true that at this point Midge’s pants should be burned, I don’t need a new frock. I’d go naked first before letting you sell those earrings! Didn’t you tell me those earrings were a family heirloom? Why, I’d walk the last one thousand one hundred fifty-seven miles to Illinois before I’d let you sell them,” she declared stubbornly.

“You won’t get nearly what those gems are worth,” Midge remarked. “Besides, you’d better save them for later. There’s no telling when you’ll need to cash them in.”

“I have plenty of money at home,” Nancy assured them. “Besides, as the last living Clue, I’m sure to inherit everything.”

“Not if you’re convicted of murder,” Midge thought darkly. She kept her mouth shut, though. Nancy had made up her mind, and Midge could see nothing she said would change that. “Maybe things will turn out for the best,” Midge thought. But she didn’t really believe it. Not for one minute.

“I’m going to walk to town,” Nancy declared as she tossed her things back in her jewelry box. “I’m dying of thirst.”

“I think a nice, cool drink would be refreshing,” Cherry agreed.

“Let’s go, then,” Nancy urged. “My treat.”

Cherry felt badly when she realized that from now on, everything was going to have to be Nancy’s treat. Cherry had spent all her spare change on postcards to send to her parents, clever trinkets fashioned from native rock for her brother Charley, and packages of rock candy for her nurse friends. “Even if Nancy is the reason we’re taking this trip, it still isn’t right that she has to pay for everything,” Cherry thought, vowing that once she got back to her job on the Women’s Psychiatric Ward at Seattle General Hospital, she would save every extra penny until Nancy was paid back in full.

“Or maybe I’ll find a nursing job in Illinois,” she thought dreamily, “and I can pay Nancy back in person!” The last eight days had been the happiest time of Cherry’s life, and Nancy’s, too, she was sure! Cherry decided to wait a little longer before springing her dream on Nancy—the dream of becoming an Illinois nurse! Luckily, she knew there were always plenty of jobs helping unfortunate people wherever she went.

“As soon as this whole horrible murder mess has blown over, and Nancy is back to normal, I can let her in on my secret.” Cherry thought with a smile. Golly, she could hardly wait to see the look on Nancy’s face when she told her the news!

“We’ll stay behind and find Lauren,” Midge and Velma volunteered.

“Thanks, Midge and Velma,” Cherry said. She was touched that her friends had offered to stay behind in the hot, dusty place. “Even though I’m sure they’d rather take a brisk walk to town, they know that Nancy and I want to be alone.”

Before the girls began their walk into town, they changed into comfortable walking shoes. Cherry donned a pair of stylish penny loafers. Nancy chose a pair of leather-soled ballerina slippers. But there was one problem!

“These shoes don’t go with my outfit!” Cherry wailed, looking ruefully at her flared skirt and soft blouse, which was just right for a long car ride, but entirely too fussy for a casual stroll. Nancy saved the day by pulling a matching red and white gingham skirt and blouse ensemble with a wide white belt from her suitcase.

Cherry ran behind a bush to change her costume, and minutes later she and Nancy were ready for their walk to town.

“According to our map, there’s a town called Dust Bin two miles east,” Nancy reported.

“Sounds romantic,” Cherry thought dreamily. “We’ll be back in approximately one hour,” she waved good-bye. As soon as the couple was out of sight, Midge pulled Velma close.

“We’re finally alone,” Midge murmured happily, nuzzling Velma’s neck while stroking her soft dark hair. “I finally get you all to myself.”

Velma blushed. “I thought we were supposed to be looking for Lauren,” she murmured as Midge pulled her toward the car.

“Oh, yeah,” Midge said, all flustered. “I forgot. Stay here,” she said. “I’ll be right back.” Within minutes, Midge had located their young chum. She was not at all surprised to find Lauren standing in the middle of a quarry. And in her hands was a large rock.

“I found a cool rock with a fossil of a crustacean in it!” Lauren called up in delight. “It’s really keen down here—you guys should join me!”

Midge smiled. “Nancy and Cherry went to town to get help. Don’t wander too far off. They’ll be back in an hour,” she called out.

Lauren flashed Midge the okay sign. Midge, convinced that her motherly duty was done, raced back to the car … and to Velma!

She was delighted to see that Velma had assured them some privacy by putting up the top of the convertible and was now stretched out languidly on the wide, soft white leather back seat, using Nancy’s plaid stadium blanket as a pillow.

“This is a great car, don’t you think?” Midge grinned as she kicked off her penny loafers and climbed into the wide back seat. “It’s costly to repair, but, boy oh boy, the back seat sure is big!” She slid one hand under Velma’s snug shell top. “Gosh, Velma, the last few days have been torture!”

“You don’t have to tell me,” Velma replied huskily, hiking up her skirt and slip so she could wrap her legs around Midge’s hips. She ran her hands down the front of Midge’s white, short-sleeved Orlon shirt.

“Oops, there goes a button,” Velma giggled as she wrenched it open. She moaned softly. “You know I can’t stand to go more than a few days without you,” Velma sighed.

Midge pushed up Velma’s top to reveal voluptuous round breasts spilling over the top of her bra.

“Being kidnapped by that evil priest during our last adventure was bad enough, but a whole three days went by without, well …” Velma blushed prettily. “It’s just that every time I’m around you, or even just think of you—” She took Midge’s hand, and slipped it in her panties.

“Cherry was right. I am going to have to burn these pants!” Midge groaned happily.

“Oh, Midge,” Velma breathed.

“Oh, Velma,” Midge groaned.

“Oh—Lauren!” Velma suddenly hollered.

“What?” Midge cried, recoiling as if she had been slapped. She jumped up, hitting her head on the car roof.

Velma turned bright red. “I saw Lauren at the window,” she hurriedly explained. By the time the girls had straightened themselves and tumbled out of the car, Lauren was gone. “Are you sure you saw Lauren at the window?” Midge cried.

“Here’s proof she was here!” Velma cried, pointing to a large gray rock right outside the car door.

“Velma, we’re in Wyoming. There are rocks everywhere,” Midge insisted angrily. But when she took a closer look at the rock, she saw it looked just like the one Lauren had had in the quarry. “That darn Lauren was peeking through the window at us!” she fumed aloud.

“No, I wasn’t,” Lauren declared from her perch on a nearby boulder. She looked like she had been crying! “I was just going to show you my rock, that’s all,” Lauren gulped. “I didn’t see anything, honest.”

Midge blushed. Although she was upset by the turn of events, she wasn’t nearly as upset as she had been a moment ago when she had heard Velma call out another girl’s name!

“Oh, sweetie, don’t cry,” Velma begged as she ran over to the young girl.

“Are you mad at me?” Lauren asked in a quivering voice.

“I could never be mad at you, Lauren,” Velma assured her. She hugged the girl to her soft bosom and kissed her on the forehead. Lauren beamed. “Let’s put all these rocks back in the trunk before the tow truck gets here,” Velma suggested.

Although she would rather have left the cumbersome rocks behind, Midge kept her mouth shut. The truth was, Midge would do just about anything to keep in Velma’s good graces. The gang at the Miraloma Club back home, where Midge and Velma socialized every Friday night, often teased her about her devotion to her girl, but Midge just laughed it off. “The way some of our gang change partners, you’d think we were at a square dance,” Midge often quipped.

She and Velma had known they were destined to be together always since the first day they laid eyes on each other at the women’s penitentiary. Not that they hadn’t had their fights! Midge could remember many a time in the early days when she’d been thrown out of bed and forced to sleep on the stiff, white vinyl sectional sofa.

“But all the bad times are behind us now,” Midge thought with relief.

“Let me do that!” she cried when she saw Velma bending to pick up a rock. If she remembered correctly, some of Lauren’s rocks were pretty heavy, and she didn’t want Velma hurting herself!

CHAPTER 15
A Cunning Career Gal

“There. That’s the last one.” Midge wedged a large, black rock with a glassy surface and jagged, sharp edges, into the trunk. Although the trunk of the 1959 Chrysler was deep and wide, it had taken some doing to squeeze in all their luggage and Lauren’s entire rock collection. “Good thing we don’t have a spare tire; we’d have no place to put it,” Midge joked. “Golly, Lauren, how the heck did you fit these in here the first time?”

But the girl wasn’t listening. She was busy fretting over her rocks. “I know there’s one missing,” she said. “I don’t see my sample of cobaltite anywhere! One, two, three—”

Midge snapped the trunk shut and locked it. She pocketed the keys. “Lauren, you have dozens of rocks in there. What on earth is your mother going to say when you come home with all of these?”

“My mother has a rock garden,” Lauren explained.

“I thought you said you live in a high-rise apartment in downtown San Francisco,” Midge quizzed her.

A funny look came over Lauren’s face. She thrust her hands into the deep pockets of her worn, dirty overalls and stalked away.

“What did I say?” Midge turned to Velma. “What’s up with her, anyway?”

“She was really embarrassed earlier, Midge,” Velma said. “I’ll go after her. You stay with the car.”

“No, stay here with me,” Midge urged. But Velma didn’t hear her, as she was already running after Lauren.

“I’ll stay here and guard the car in case someone wants to steal these rocks,” Midge joked sourly. It seemed to her Velma was always running after that girl. “She’s gonna spoil her,” Midge thought. She was fishing through her pockets for a cigarette when the tow truck pulled up. A good-looking gal with short gray hair and a friendly manner waved to Midge.

“This must be the place!” the driver cried as she hopped out of the truck cab and ran around to the passenger side, opened the door, and helped Cherry down.

“Thank you ever so much!” Cherry cried as the strong girl scooped her up in her arms and helped her safely to the ground. Cherry blushed as she buttoned her blouse, which had somehow popped a few buttons on the way down. Midge had to grin when she saw how red Cherry’s face was. But her smile turned to a frown when she realized Cherry was alone.

Where was Nancy?

While the capable tow-truck operator got to work, expertly attaching hooks and chains to their automobile, Midge quizzed Cherry as to Nancy’s whereabouts.

“She kept saying how much she needed a drink, so I got her a refreshing soda and left her in a cool spot under a big juniper tree next to the service station,” Cherry explained.

“Not a martini?” Midge joked dryly.

“Why, it’s awfully early to have a cocktail, Midge,” Cherry pointed out. “We haven’t even had supper! Oh, look, there’s Velma and Lauren!” she cried. She had spied the pair walking toward the car arm in arm. And Lauren had a big smile on her face.

The girls piled into the cab of the tow truck. It was so crowded that poor Cherry had to sit practically in the driver’s lap!

“Good thing I’m a good sport,” Cherry thought as she balanced herself on the girl’s strong right thigh. While the confident girl steered the truck over two miles of unpaved, bumpy road, Cherry busied herself asking pertinent questions about their destination, the town of Dust Bin, Wyoming.

“Did you hear that, Midge?” Cherry squealed in delight when she found out there was a square dance that very night. “Maybe we can go while the car’s being repaired! It will be good for us to get some exercise after sitting all day in the car!” She wriggled about in excitement when she thought about how much fun it would be to do-si-do that very night!

“My, that was an invigorating ride!” Cherry exclaimed when they pulled up to the service station. She scampered out of the truck and fanned herself with her handkerchief.

The driver donned a pair of overalls, picked up a heavy box loaded with all sorts of interesting tools, and got right to work on their automobile. Another girl clad in a similar fashion came over to assist her.

“Honey, we’re here,” Cherry called. When there was no reply, she ran to the back of the building and gave a cry of alarm when she realized Nancy was no longer in the cool, shady spot where Cherry had left her.

The mechanic’s assistant informed them as to Nancy’s whereabouts. “Your friend said she was dying of thirst, so I directed her to town,” she said helpfully. “I offered her another cold soda pop, but she said she needed something stronger.”

“She probably went to get a refreshing ice cream soda,” Cherry realized aloud. “Golly, I’m tired. I sure could go for one, too. But first I simply must freshen up!”

Cherry disappeared into the washroom and came back five minutes later looking invigorated and relaxed, and with a new hairstyle and fresh lipstick, besides.

“What’s that smell?” Lauren cried. She wrinkling her nose in disgust. “Pew!”

Cherry blushed to the tips of her toes. “It’s Tabu, Lauren,” Cherry said. The washroom had a perfume dispenser, so Cherry had dropped in a dime and chosen the exotic fragrance.

Lauren held her nose and pretended she was choking.

“Perfume is as important to a girl as scent is to a flower,” Cherry told Lauren in a hurt tone.

Lauren started to laugh but stopped when she saw the disapproving look on Velma’s face. “Uh, I was only kidding. You smell nice, Cherry,” she said in a chagrined tone. “Really. And your hair looks … ah … different, too.” She peeked at Velma, who was smiling in approval. Phew!

“Thank you, Lauren,” Cherry replied. “As my mother always says, a girl can change her hair almost as often as she changes her mind. You know, Lauren,” she continued, “with your long, thick hair, you could wear many different attractive styles. I’ve got some styling lotion and bobby pins in my purse if you’d like to step into the ladies’ lounge with me and try something new.”

Lauren scowled and tucked her long auburn braid under her baseball cap.

Cherry vowed to do whatever she could to guide the young girl along the perilous path to womanhood. “We’ll fix her hair and get her some nice clothes,” Cherry planned to herself. “I’ll bet we’d find a really cute girl under all that dirt.” Then she said to Velma, “Don’t you think Lauren should do something with her hair? Something besides hide it?”

Velma cocked her head and took a good, long look at Lauren.

Cherry smiled when she saw Lauren turn bright red under Velma’s penetrating gaze. “Why, Lauren really does care about her appearance!” Cherry thought. “She just doesn’t let on.”

“I don’t know, Cherry,” Velma replied. “I’m really not the best judge. While I like to do my hair in many different styles, what I really like on a girl is short hair.” She lightly brushed the nape of Midge’s neck with her hand. Midge smiled happily.

“Let’s all go to town for an ice cream soda while the car is being repaired,” Cherry suggested. “And then we’ll be on our way.”

The mechanic shook her head. “I’m afraid you gals are stuck here for the night,” she said ruefully. “It’ll take us all that time to fix what’s broken under the hood, and, besides, the front right wheel-rim is pretty dented and I’ll have to pound it out.

“It will cost approximately forty dollars,” she added.

Cherry groaned. “Nancy will be frantic when she learns we’re delayed yet another day,” she said. “How are we going to get forty dollars for the car repair and money for a motel, not to mention other important things like snacks?” she cried aloud. She flung up her arms in despair and wailed, “Oh, we are never going to get to River Depths!”

“You’re going to River Depths?” A smartly-coifed, middle-aged woman outfitted in a trim, cherry red, worsted boxy jacket and matching straight skirt, poked her head around the side of the garage and smiled at Cherry.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt, but did you say you were going to River Depths? River Depths, Illinois?” the woman asked. She put down the orange soda she was holding in one neatly gloved hand and slipped off her jacket to reveal a white nylon shell top that, despite the heat, looked band-box fresh.

She noticed Cherry staring wide-eyed at her. “You’re wondering how it is I’ve been sitting in the car all day and I’m still perky as a daisy, aren’t you? It’s the miracle of synthetic fabrics,” the woman announced grandly. Actually, Cherry had noticed how wrinkle-free the woman’s blouse was.

“Now, didn’t you say you were going to River Depths?” the woman queried.

Without thinking, Cherry nodded her head.

Midge groaned. No one was supposed to know that they were speeding to River Depths with Nancy Clue!

“Marty, they’re going to River Depths, too,” the woman called to her friend sitting in the front seat of a white, four-door Buick. Her friend, a handsome brunette with a smart, short hairdo tinged with silver at the temples, smiled and waved at the girls before going back to studying her map.

“We’re from the Wyoming Buffalo Bulletin, sent to cover the story of housekeeper Hannah Gruel, charged in the murder of attorney Carson Clue,” the smartly dressed woman announced importantly. “Marty—that’s my friend over there; her real name is Miss Martha Mannish, but everyone calls her Marty for short. Well, Marty and I decided to do some sightseeing on the way; that’s why we’re driving. By the way, my name is Gladys Gertz. Miss Gladys Gertz. I’m the newspaper’s society editor and Marty’s our wedding photographer. I usually never get to cover exciting crime stories such as this, but because it’s a housekeeper that did the deed, they gave it to me,” she confided with a sunny smile. “It’s my big chance to really dig up some dirt!” She took a starched white handkerchief from her black alligator handbag—which Cherry noticed perfectly matched her low-heeled pumps—and wiped her brow.

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