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an order form from his pocket. It contained no firm’s name and neither did the truck, so Nancy asked what company the men worked for.
    The man who seemed to be in charge did not reply. He became surly and said, “I don’t have to answer questions. Come on, boys. Let’s get going.”
    Mr. Carter’s eyes blazed. “Leave that statue alone! You’ll have to show better identification before you move it.”
    One of the other men spoke up. “Come on, AI. We don’t want no trouble.”
    Apparently Al thought so too and the three men went off in their truck.
    Mr. Carter turned to Nancy. “Miss Lynbrook,” he said, “I believe you girls stopped a robbery just in time.”
    His statement was confirmed a few minutes later when Mr. Ayer joined them. After being told what had happened, he said, “The club didn’t order the statue cleaned. Those men were fakes! I shall have it cemented down to avoid further trouble.”
    The girls looked at one another. Who wanted the figure removed and why? As they walked into the clubhouse, George asked what the program for the day would be. “I hope it’ll be exciting.”
    “I think,” Nancy replied, “that until I can contact Dad—he’s out of town—we’d better concentrate on the other mystery.”
    “You mean Mr. Basswood?” Bess asked.
    “Yes.” Nancy suggested that the girls visit his art gallery and bookshop.
    “All right,” Bess agreed. “But you know I couldn’t afford to buy anything in the place. What excuse would we have for going in?”
    George looked at her cousin a bit scornfully. “When you shop for a dress, do you take the first one you see in the first shop?”
    Bess winced. As a shopper, she had the reputation of finding it difficult to make up her mind about any purchase.
    Nancy laughed. “You girls will be surprised at what I’m going to ask Mr. Basswood.”
    “What is it?” Bess queried.
    Nancy shook her head teasingly. “I want you to be surprised. We’d better hurry. He may close for an early lunch.”
    The Basswood Art and Bookshop was very at tractive. Statuary and porcelain displayed in the windows were exquisite. Nancy opened the door and the trio walked in. They were in a small hallway with rooms opening off either side and a passageway at the rear. Before they had a chance to notice anything else, they were confronted by a tall slender man. Deep creases in his forehead were an indication that he scowled a great deal.
    “Good morning,” he said in a crisp voice. “Will you please register in this book.” He pointed to an open guest book. “Your names and home addresses.”
    The girls were taken aback. This was the last thing in the world they wanted to do! Bess and George looked to Nancy for an answer.
    Nancy appeared nonchalant. She said with a smile. “Oh, we won’t need any catalogs.”
    The man did not smile back. “It is a rule of Mr. Basswood. I am Mr. Atkin, his assistant.”
    He picked up the pen and handed it to Bess. Nancy gave a slight go-ahead nod and Bess signed her name and River Heights address.
    George was next. As she gave the pen to Nancy, she fervently hoped that the young detective would not forget she was using an alias. To her delight Nancy put down Debbie Lynbrook, River Heights.
    Mr. Atkin glanced at the signatures, then lifted his eyebrows. “You’re all from River Heights?” he asked. “Do you know a Miss Nancy Drew who lives there?”
    The girls managed to show no surprise and George replied quickly, “I guess everybody in town knows Nancy Drew. Are you acquainted with her?”
    The girls were curious when he answered, “Not personally, but a client of mine from River Heights has spoken of her.”
    “Oh really?” Bess remarked. “I wonder if we know this person. Would you mind telling us who it is?”
    “Mrs. Worth. Are you acquainted with her?”
    “Not really,” Bess answered. “But we know of her.”
    The girls did indeed know of Mrs. Worth. She was wealthy, overbearing, and a great gossip. She