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would answer no questions.
    “That afternoon,” Mrs. Corning went on, “I called a taxi and went to the little shopping center across the lake. I found a duplicate of the card there. I wanted to get a close look at it.” She handed the card to Nancy.
    On the front of the card was the picture of an attractive cottage with the door wide open. Above it were the words “OPEN THE WAY TO FRIENDSHIP.” The inside was blank.
    “Did you see any marks on the original?”
    “None. It was exactly like this one—just an innocent card.”
    “Not so innocent, I’m afraid,” said Nancy. “It had no signature and that makes me think the card was a message from someone Morgan knows and probably fears. Have you reported any of these happenings to the police?”
    Mr. Corning sighed. “We discussed doing so, but Morgan begged us not to. I thought he might have another attack if we did. No, Nancy, we’d like to get to the bottom of the matter quietly.”
    Helen returned with the tea wagon. As Mrs. Corning poured, she suggested that the young people stay overnight. “To tell the truth, we’d feel better with you here.”
    They agreed and Nancy went to call her father. Before retiring, she asked, “Have any of the lake residents seen the blue fire?”
    “There is only one other house near ours,” Mr. Corning replied, “but it’s empty. Folks across the lake don’t bother about what goes on here.”
    Jim spoke up. “Gram said Morgan often disappears for a while after the blue fire is seen. He probably spots it from his room, which is at the end of the house and faces the lake.”
    “I imagine he’s back by now,” said Mrs. Corning. “I’ll check after I show you to your rooms.”
    She led the three guests into the hall and up a spiral staircase. Nancy was given a room which had a full view of the lake.
    “There are several pairs of new pajamas in the dresser,” Mrs. Corning told her. “Help yourself.”
    Nancy waited until her hostess had checked on Morgan. He had not returned! As the young sleuth got ready for bed, she wondered where the mysterious houseman had gone.
    In the morning, when she followed Helen and Jim to the dining room, Nancy found Mrs. Corning setting the table while her husband watched, white-faced, from a chair.
    Morgan was still missing!
    “His bed hasn’t been slept in,” said Helen’s grandmother, “and our car hasn’t been used.”
    “He might be lying hurt in the woods,” Nancy suggested. “We’d better search.”
    The three young people hurried toward the front door. But as Jim reached to open it, Nancy exclaimed, “Wait!”
    Sticking out from under the door was a piece of white paper. She picked up the paper and unfolded it. It contained a message written in pencil. Nancy read it aloud:
    “ ‘Don’t worry about me. Have to be away for a while. Don’t call police. Will explain later.’ ” It was signed “Morgan.”
    “He must have slipped this under the door late last night,” said Nancy.
    The three returned to the dining room and Nancy showed the note to Mrs. Corning. “Yes,” she said, “that is Morgan’s handwriting.”
    “Gramp, I think you should call the police,” said Helen.
    Her grandfather shook his head. “For the present, we’ll do as Morgan asks.”
    “Of course, we can get along without him for a day or two,” said Mrs. Corning, “but I’d feel safer if someone were here at night.”
    “I wish I could be here,” said Helen, “but—”
    “No, no,” her grandmother said firmly. “Your place is with your husband.”
    “Perhaps Nancy could stay,” Helen suggested. “Would you?” she asked her friend.
    “I’d love to,” said Nancy, “but you know I am also working on another case.”
    Mrs. Corning smiled. “This could be your headquarters for both.” Suddenly she frowned. “But I don’t like to think of you working on this case alone. It might be dangerous.”
    “Maybe Bess and George could come,” Helen said eagerly. “You three