The Mystery Girl Read Free Page A

kinds of stores have you worked in?” Henry asked Nancy as she was putting their things in a bag.

    â€œWhat do you mean?” Nancy looked confused.
    Henry and Jessie looked at each other. They both remembered that Nancy had just talked about working in other stores with more modern cash registers.
    Nancy noticed them looking at her and laughed nervously. She said quickly, “This is my first full-time job. I’m nineteen and I just finished high school a year ago.”
    â€œOh, then the others must have been after-school jobs,” Henry said.
    â€œThat’s right, they were!” Nancy replied.
    â€œWhat kinds of jobs?” Benny asked.
    â€œOh, gosh, there were so many, it’s hard to remember them all.” Nancy was twisting the bag holding the Aldens’ things. Suddenly, she dropped it. As she bent to pick it up, Henry and Jessie looked at each other again. Nancy seemed very nervous. Why didn’t she want to talk about the other jobs she’d had?
    When Nancy put the bag on the counter, Benny said, “You must like to work if you’ve had so many jobs.”
    â€œMaybe Nancy worked to help out with expenses,” Aunt Jane suggested.
    â€œThat’s right,” Nancy said, looking relieved. “My family doesn’t have a lot of money, and I always took jobs to help out.”
    â€œDo you still live at home?” Jessie said.
    Nancy shook her head. “No, I’m on my own now,” she answered.
    â€œWe were on our own once, too,” Henry said. He told Nancy about their parents and described the boxcar they had lived in. “The boxcar was fun,” he said, “but I’m glad we live with Grandfather now.”
    â€œHe moved the boxcar to his backyard for us,” Violet said. “We still have picnics in it sometimes.”
    â€œDoes your family live near Elmford, Nancy?” Jessie asked.
    Nancy looked nervous again. “They live far away, in another state.”
    â€œGosh, you must miss them,” Benny said.
    Nancy blushed and looked down at the counter. “I do,” she said softly. Then she looked up and smiled. “But being on my own is fun, like you said, Henry.”
    â€œWhere do you live?” Violet asked.
    â€œIn one of Mr. Taylor’s cabins,” Nancy told her. “Even though it’s small, it’s very comfortable.”
    Just then, Jerry Taylor came out of his office. He looked worried again.
    â€œOh dear,” said Aunt Jane. “It looks like Jerry still hasn’t found anyone else to work here.”
    â€œWhat happened, Mr. Taylor?” Nancy asked as he came over to the counter.
    â€œWell, the woman who called wanted the job,” Mr. Taylor said. “But she only wanted to work for a month or so.” He sighed. “I need someone who’s willing to stay on.”
    â€œI’m sure you’ll find somebody soon,” Aunt Jane said.
    â€œI hope so,” Jerry said. “This isn’t a big store, but it still takes a lot of work. Nancy can’t do it all by herself, and I don’t always have time to help out.”
    â€œDo you have more people coming about the job?” Jessie asked.
    â€œYes, I do, thank goodness,” Jerry said. “I put an ad in the newspaper and people will be coming to see me all week.” He smiled at Jessie. “Why did you ask?”
    â€œI’ll bet I know why!” Violet said excitedly. “Jessie thinks we could work here until you find someone. Isn’t that right, Jessie?”
    â€œThat’s exactly what I was thinking,” Jessie said. “You must be a mind reader, Violet.”
    Mr. Taylor looked too surprised to say anything. But Nancy was excited. “It’s a wonderful idea, Mr. Taylor,” she said. “They’ve already helped out. Henry took care of a customer when I was too busy, and Jessie cut the material, and—”
    â€œAnd Violet showed me how to use