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on, “ask Mr. Allen at the Shoe Shack. He’ll tell you that I was there.”
    Harvey then grabbed a jar and said, “While you’re here, do you want to try on some fangs? I washed the spit off just yesterday.”
    â€œNo, thank you!” Bess blurted.
    â€œAnd before we leave,” Nancy said, “promise us you’ll never pretend to be Jake McStuffings again.”
    â€œNo fair!” Harvey exclaimed. “What am I going to do with all these scarecrow clothes?”
    â€œHalloween’s coming,” George called as the girls climbed down the ladder. “I’m sure you’ll need a costume!”
    The girls walked away from the Mueller house. Nancy was certain Harvey told the truth about Autumn, but Bess still wasn’t sure.
    â€œLet’s talk to Mr. Allen at the Shoe Shack,” Bess said. “If Harvey made up Jake McStuffings, he could have made up buying new sneakers too.”

    â€œBut his sneakers did look new,” Nancy said.
    â€œPleeeeeease?” Bess said. “Tomorrow is Monday. There isn’t much time left to find Autumn!”
    â€œOkay,” Nancy agreed. She didn’t think they would find anything new. But Bess was getting frantic.
    Nancy, Bess, and George walked from Harvey’s house to Main Street. On the way to the Shoe Shack they stopped at Darcy’s to check out the fall window. The colorful leaves were hung in place. A few pumpkins were scattered over a floor covered with hay.
    â€œI wonder where they’ll put Autumn,” George said.
    â€œIf we ever find Autumn!” Bess said sadly.
    â€œThe day isn’t over yet, Bess,” Nancy said gently. “We still have time to find our scarecrow.”
    As they turned away from the window Nancy glanced across the street at Hudson’s Apparel. They didn’t have a fancy store window like Darcy’s—only suitcases and a stuffed squirrel like Leanne said.
    Just then a woman and a small girl stepped out of the revolving doors. Nancy recognized the girl and her pumpkin-colored jacket.

    â€œThere’s Leanne’s sister, Trixie,” Nancy pointed out.
    But as Nancy looked harder she recognized somethingelse—the big flowered hat on the little girl’s head!
    â€œYou guys,” Nancy said. “Isn’t that the hat Autumn wore?”
    â€œTrixie probably got one at Darcy’s Department Store,” George said. “Autumn didn’t have the only one.”
    â€œBut Trixie’s parents own Hudson’s Apparel,” Nancy said. “If Leanne doesn’t shop at Darcy’s, why would Trixie?”
    Then Nancy remembered something else. . . .
    â€œLeanne was on a hayride when she’s supposed to be allergic to hay,” Nancy said slowly.
    â€œSo?” George asked.
    â€œSo maybe Leanne didn’t want to help make our scarecrow for a reason,” Nancy said. Her eyes flashed as she stared at her friends. “Maybe she had something to do with Autumn disappearing!”
    â€œWhat do we do, Nancy?” Bess asked.
    Nancy looked across the street. Trixie and her mom were turning the corner.
    â€œWe follow Trixie,” Nancy said urgently, “and get a better look at that hat!”

Tea for a Clue
    Nancy, Bess, and George tried not to let Mrs. Hudson or Trixie know they were being followed. They walked several feet behind them, ducking behind trees every time Trixie looked back.
    Finally Trixie and her mom turned into the front lawn of a white house with a red roof and shutters.
    â€œThere’s Leanne,” Nancy said.
    She could see Leanne jumping rope in her front yard. She kept playing as her mom and sister entered the house.
    â€œHi, Leanne!” Bess called.
    Leanne stopped as the girls walked over. She blinked with surprise before saying, “Hi.”
    â€œWe saw you on a hayride today,” Nancy said. “I guess your hay allergy must be