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Drew and you’re expecting a letter from River Heights, I’ve brought it,” he announced. When Nancy introduced herself and received the letter, the mailman added, “You know, I deliver a good many letters from River Heights.”
    Instantly Nancy was on the alert. “You mean to Alonzo Rugby?”
    “Yes. You know him? I think the letters are from his sister.”
    “Oh yes—Mrs. Dondo is a neighbor of mine in River Heights,” Nancy remarked.
    “Mr Rugby boards at a small farm on Uplands Road,” said the friendly mailman. “The place is owned by a widow named Mrs. Paget.”
    The letter carrier now said good-by and drove off. Nancy stood lost in thought. She had driven along Uplands Road the previous day. Not only was it nowhere near Eddy Run, but Mrs. Paget’s farm was in the opposite direction from that which Rugby had taken in the canoe the evening before.
    “Where was he going at that hour?” Nancy mused. “Maybe I can find out from Mrs. Paget!”
    Nancy opened a letter from her father and learned that Mrs. Dondo had stopped gossiping to the neighbors about her. But she insisted upon prosecuting Mr. Ritter to get her hundred dollars. Mr. Drew stated that if his daughter could unearth any clues in Charlottesville, it would help a great deal.
    Hurrying to the house, Nancy delivered several letters to the others. Then she told them what her father had written and how she had learned where Rugby lived.
    “I’m going over there at the first opportunity,” she said.
    Nancy knew it would not be possible to go that day because Susan was having a party in the girls’ honor that evening and needed her car for several errands. Cliff had already left in his.
    “We ought to help with the party, anyway,” Nancy said to Bess and George.
    At luncheon, Cliff made an announcement. “You girls have turned me into a detective. Nancy, do you remember telling me you were going to see if any Greystones ever lived in this area? Well, I found out for you.”
    “Oh, thank you, Cliff. What’s the answer?”
    “I contacted a historical authority of this area. He said there weren’t any Greystones around the Charlottesville area in eighteen fifty. So I’m afraid, you’re not going to find your stained-glass window here, Nancy,” Cliff deduced.
    Nancy laughed. “I’m not giving up yet!”
    The Carrs’ guests were to arrive about seven o’clock that evening. Nancy was the first of the three girls to finish dressing. After a final glance in the mirror, she left her room to go downstairs. Passing Susan and Cliff’s bedroom she overheard Susan say, “Alicia Bradshaw phoned and said that she and Mark would not be able to come tonight. She gave no reason. Do you suppose it could be because of what happened last night to Nancy?”
    Cliff said something in a low voice and Nancy went on downstairs. The last thing she wanted to do was cause any difficulty between Susan and her friends! For a moment she even toyed with the idea of going home, but thought better of it immediately.
    “If the Bradshaws are staying away because of me, I think they’re acting very strangely.”
    Nancy forgot the episode when the Carrs, Bess, and George joined her a few minutes later. Soon the guests began to arrive. The girls from River Heights found them all delightful people.
    Before long, a good-looking young man named Paul Staunton sought out Nancy. When supper was announced, he asked if he might serve her from the buffet table.
    Paul’s hope of talking to Nancy alone as they carried their plates out onto the patio was shattered.
    “Oh, good night,” he said, as they noticed a woman approaching. “Here comes that actress, Sheila Patterson. She’ll take over the conversation!”
    Nancy smiled. When she had met the forty-year-old widow earlier, the girl had found her effusive. The attractive woman had insisted at once that Nancy call her by her first name. Sheila had said she was completely worn out. She was not in a play at the moment but resting