Nancy Clue Mysteries 2 - The Case of the Good-for-Nothing Girlfriend Read Free Page A

picture-perfect romance began under the most trying of circumstances, while Midge was an inmate at a women's prison and Velma was her teacher?" Cherry thought to herself. She shivered when she thought of how Velma had risked her own safety to smuggle Midge out of jail, and how the devoted pair had spent years hiding from the police. It was the most romantic story ever!
    Lucky for Midge, they had met Officer Jackie Jones in San Francisco, who had not only helped them solve their exciting mystery but had used her influence to wipe Midge's record clean.
    "Midge is no longer an escaped convict, but a productive member of society," Cherry gave a happy sigh. "And she and Velma make an awfully attractive couple," Cherry thought dreamily. "Midge's masculine outfits, slicked-back hairstyle, and rugged good looks perfectly complement Velma's feminine frocks and movie star glamour. They're a perfect match," Cherry thought.

    "Where is everybody?" Nancy worried aloud, pointing toward the car. Cherry got her mind off fashion fast when she realized with a start that Midge was no longer where they had seen her last, leaning against the side of the car smoking a cigarette.
    For that matter, Velma, who was usually never far from Midge's side, and the fifth member of the little group, Lauren Rooney, a spunky girl of sixteen who dogged the devoted couple "like a bad reputation," as Midge was wont to joke, were nowhere to be seen!
    "We mustn't waste another minute out here," Nancy fretted, looking around frantically for the missing girls. "If we're to get to town and find someone to repair our automobile tonight, we'd better move fast."
    "They must have wandered off to enjoy this splendid scenery," Cherry realized, noting that dusk was settling over the valley where their car had broken down. Cherry sucked in a swift breath of astonishment as she gazed at the dazzling pinks and reds of the summer sunset reflecting off the lofty mountain ranges surrounding them. Little wonder her native Idaho, with its rugged mountain ranges, rolling farmlands, and swiftly flowing rivers was often referred to as the Gem State!
    She stifled an urge to break out in a resounding refrain of the state song, a melodic tune sung each morning in all Idaho schools, right after the Pledge of Allegiance. Cherry contented herself with humming the first stanza of "Here We Have Idaho" under her breath.
    "Brrrr. It's started to get chilly," she shivered, folding her arms across her bosom and skipping ahead to the car so she could retrieve her sensible white cardigan sweater, which she had left in the back seat.
    "Oops!" Cherry cried in embarrassment when she flung open the back door and got a sudden surprise. She turned a brilliant shade of crimson.
    She had found Midge! And Velma, too!

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CHAPTER 4
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Pocatello Bound

    "I'm gonna have to push this thing to town," Midge declared as she slammed the hood of the car in disgust.
    Cherry quickly consulted the map of Idaho she always carried in her purse. If her calculations were correct, downtown Pocatello was only a few miles away. "We'll get there before it's completely dark," she was pleased to note.
    Before Midge could start pushing, Cherry jumped into the back seat and grabbed her travel firstaid kit. She wanted it to be in easy reach in case Midge hurt herself.
    Midge had to grin when she saw the attractive girl emerge holding the white metal box with the red cross emblazoned on the side. Every time Midge saw the comely, dark-haired nurse, she was amazed at the resemblance the girl had to her own Velma. In fact, the two looked so much alike that one night just eight days earlier, Midge had found herself in the embarrassing position of pinching the wrong girl! Luckily, besides being a first-rate registered nurse and crackerjack detective, Cherry had turned out to be a good sport as well.
    While Cherry was girlish in every sense of the word, Midge disguised her more feminine attributes with a cool attitude. She was frankly