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pretended to examine a miniature vase on a table near the window while watching to see if the suspect passed.
    To her complete astonishment, the man stopped and spoke to Alex. It was nearly a full minute before he moved on. Nancy signaled to Bess, who said to the proprietor:
    “Thank you very much. I’ll think it over.”
    Quickly Nancy left the shop, followed by the other girls. The suspect was not far ahead of them. Nancy started off at a brisk pace to speak to him and perhaps find a policeman.
    “What’s the hurry?” Alex asked, catching up to and taking her arm.
    “I want to talk to someone,” Nancy replied hastily. “By the way, what did the man who stopped to speak to you want?”
    “That fellow! Why, he—uh—wanted to paint your picture.”
    “What did you say to him?” Nancy asked.
    Alex laughed. “I told him there wasn’t a ghost of a chance of painting you.”
    Nancy gazed straight at Alex to determine if he was telling the truth or teasing her. But there was only an amused look in his eyes which gave her no clue.
    “I’d like to speak to the man myself, anyhow,” Nancy declared and hurried on.
    Alex and the other girls quickly followed, but by this time the suspect was out of sight. Nancy was annoyed at herself for letting him get away. “I’m sure he just pretended to be an artist!” she said to herself.
    Alex led the way to Antoine’s restaurant. Here the group walked through several crowded rooms before being shown a table. Nancy and the cousins observed with interest the walls that were covered with autographed photographs of famous persons.

    “I’m sure that he is the man who stole my car!”
    “Now, Alex,” Donna Mae said gaily, “let’s have some of those scrumptious dishes you and I adore.”
    As her fiancé nodded and beckoned to a waiter, Nancy said, “Please order something special for me.” She rose from the table. “And please excuse me a few minutes. I have to make a phone call.”
    Closing herself into a nearby booth, she got in touch with police headquarters, told her story about the stolen convertible, and the fact that she thought she had seen the suspect in town.
    “We’ll look into the matter at once, Miss Drew,” the officer in charge promised.
    “Thank you. I’m staying with Colonel Haver at Sunnymead,” said Nancy and gave him the number.
    The young detective hung up and started to open the door. Outside stood Alex Upgrove, staring at her intently!

CHAPTER VII
    A Swamp Accident
     
     
    As NANCY stepped out of the telephone booth, Alex Upgrove’s eyes bored into hers. She stared back. Neither would waver, but Alex was the first to speak.
    “Nancy, why didn’t you tell me what was going on, so I could help you?” he chided. “I’m sure you’re all wrong about that man being the car thief. But we can investigate the used-car lots in the city and see if we can find your convertible.”
    “Thank you, Alex, but I’ll leave that to the police,” Nancy replied. She was angry that Alex had followed her and deliberately listened to her conversation.
    “Well, have it your own way,” he said, escorting her back to the table. “But I wish you wouldn’t be so mysterious. I could be a big help to you, really I could.”
    “No doubt,” Nancy said in an offhanded way.
    The young people thoroughly enjoyed their luncheon in the famous restaurant which had been operating in this same building since 1868. The lunch included the famous oysters Rockefeller, served in the half shell on hot salt, and garnished with a secret garlic sauce. Then came “chicken in the bag.” The waiter tore off the paper covering, revealing a succulent rice-stuffed bird. Dessert was pecan pie.
    As they left Antoine’s, Bess declared she could not eat another morsel until the next day!
    “Well, that’s fine,” said Donna Mae, laughing, “because I want to put on a rehearsal of the play and we won’t have to take time out for dinner.”
    The visitors reluctantly acquiesced. But