Mystery of the Moss-Covered Mansion by Carolyn Keene Page A

car?” she asked Mr. Billington.
    “Yes indeed.”
    Mr. Drew smiled. “I have a surprise for you girls. Yesterday I rented a car for you to use during the rest of your stay here. It had to be serviced, so I said you’d pick it up this morning.” He took the receipt from his pocket and handed it to Nancy.
    “Wonderful, Dad!” she exclaimed, and kissed him. “Thank you loads. George and Bess can bring your car back, Mr. Billington.”
    “No hurry, Nancy. Your father and I have some work to do here on the case. We’ll be around until after lunch.”
    The three girls left the house and drove directly to the newspaper office. Nancy handed in her coded message for the personal column and paid for it. She was assured it would appear the following day.
    As Nancy and the other girls strolled outside, Bess asked, “What’s next?”
    Nancy said she wanted to tell Mr. Scarlett that she had Mr. Webster’s permission to keep the key, in case the realtor had not already been informed.
    “We’re not far from his office. Let’s see if he’s there.”
    She drove to it but found the door locked. She went to his home. No one answered the doorbelL
    A woman in a neighboring yard called out, “The Scarletts aren’t here. They drove off early this morning.”
    “Thank you,” Nancy said. “I’ll leave a note for Mr. Scarlett.”
    She took a sheet of paper from her bag and wrote down the message. Then she slipped it through the slot in the front door.
    “When do we get our car?” George queried.
    “Right now.”
    Nancy headed for the center of Cocoa Beach and drove to the rental agency. Bess and George waited for her while she went into the office. Nancy showed the receipt and the clerk led her to a parking lot at the back of the building. He pointed out an attractive tan station wagon.
    “It looks new,” Nancy said, delighted.
    “It’s practically new,” the man told her. “I don’t know why the owner wanted to sell it. Normally we don’t buy private cars but this was such a good bargain we couldn’t pass it up.”
    Nancy eagerly got behind the wheel and waved to the girls. George started the Billington car and headed for home. Nancy chose a different route. She was making good time along the highway when suddenly a motorcycle roared up behind her. Riding it was a policeman.
    “Pull over!” he ordered. “Let me see your license.”
    Nancy was sure she had done nothing wrong but did not question the officer. She showed him her license.
    “Where did you get this car?” he asked.
    Nancy gave the name of the rental agency and showed the receipt. The officer looked at her sharply, then said, “Are you aware you’re driving a stolen car?”
    The young detective gasped. “I certainly wasn’t.”
    “Follow me!” the motorcycle policeman said. “We’ll go back to that agency and see what it’s all about.”
    The man in charge was shocked when he learned about the theft. He assured the policeman he was innocent, and explained that his company had purchased the car from an individual.
    “What was his name?” Nancy asked.
    “Rimmer,” the clerk said. “Robert Rimmer.”
    The policeman said, “I suggest that you give this young lady another car and a new receipt.”
    The exchange was made and Nancy went on her way. When she reached home and told about the incident, Hannah Gruen began to laugh. “Nancy Drew,” she said, “it seems as if you can’t go anywhere without having an adventure.”
    “But I just love it,” Nancy replied with a broad grin. “Dad, have you any news?”
    “No, I’ve been checking to find out if there has been any word on Max Ivanson. It certainly looks as if he’s the one who carried the explosive oranges into the Base.”
    Mr. Billington spoke up. “And there’s no clue to who set fire to the packing house and started the blazes in the grove. Ivanson might have done that too.”
    He added, “I’m well-covered by insurance, but a lot of time will be lost in building up a