"Oh, yes. Lovely, too."

Nancy and the others exchanged excited glances! Could Susan be the red-haired stranger at Misty Lake?

Cecily smiled at the woman. "I'm trying to find out some information from the Waynes. It's very important. If the Wayne brothers return within the next few days, will you ask them to get in touch with me at Mrs. Hosking's in Misty Lake village? Otherwise, I hope they will contact Niko Van Dyke, the singer."

"Do you know him?" Mrs. Rumsey asked. "I just love his records."

Cecily blushed. "We're engaged."

"Oh, you lucky girl!" Mrs. Rumsey exclaimed. "I wish you all the best."

Cecily thanked her, then Nancy expressed her appreciation for the woman's help and the four girls went off. They had lunch, then checked into the motel at which they had arranged to stay, and where Ned, Burt, and Dave would meet them.

Soon after Nancy and the others had rested, showered, and dressed, the Emerson College youths arrived. All were grinning, obviously happy at seeing their favorite dates. Cecily was introduced to the three boys.

"I've always wanted to hear Niko in person," said Ned, a handsome, dark-haired, athletic youth.

Burt was of medium height, husky and blond, while Dave was tall and rangy, with green eyes.

Amid much gaiety, the seven dined at a restaurant, where the boys were told of the mysteries Nancy was trying to solve.

Later, when they reached the theater, they found a mob of people already there, most of them in their teens or early twenties.

"It's a good thing we have reserved seats," Ned remarked.

Inside the theater the audience was shouting excitedly, and when the lights dimmed and the band came out, thunderous clapping started.

By the time Niko Van Dyke appeared on the stage, there was a standing ovation with screams and yells. The young musician turned around, and smiling broadly, bowed several times. When the pandemonium did not lessen, he held up his hand for silence. Finally the audience quieted down.

"Your fiance sure is popular," whispered Bess to Cecily, who beamed.

Every number on the program drew wild acclaim, and after Niko had sung a second time, there was no holding down the teen-agers. They kept up continuous applause which was so loud that the last number on the program could hardly be heard above the din.

"How is Niko ever going to get out of this place without being mobbed?" Nancy leaned over to ask Cecily.

"A private car is always waiting for him and he's rushed off in a hurry. We're to go backstage and see him after the performance."

As the audience filed out, still in a delirious state, Cecily and her friends made their way to a door which led to the dressing rooms. A watchman unlocked it.

The group enthusiastically praised Niko for his fine performance. He thanked them, but added wearily, "It was a terrific session, but getting out of here is a real problem."

"Quick, Nancy! Crouch down!" the bandleader advised

Everyone waited, hoping most of the audience would have left the sidewalk near the alley. But they were not to be cheated out of a close view of their favorite performer!

"I'll just have to chance it," Niko said finally. "Tonight two cars are waiting. Some of us will go in the first, and the rest in the second. We'll go to your motel first, girls, then decide what to do for the rest of the evening."

As the guard opened the stage door, the uproar began again. Cecily shrank back. Inadvertently, Nancy was the first one to leave the building, with Niko directly behind her. He grabbed her arm and guided her through the mob toward the first car parked in the alley.

The driver hopped out and quickly opened the rear door for Nancy and Niko. As soon as they were seated, Niko locked the doors and said to the driver, "Get us out of here!"

The car started slowly forward. "Quick, Nancy! Crouch down!" the bandleader advised, to keep the crowd from spotting them and stopping the car. The plan succeeded and they finally reached the street. The driver turned right, and when they had gone a block, Niko and Nancy sat up. The musician said, "Take us to the Stratford Motel."

At the next corner Nancy expected the driver to turn left. Instead, he went straight ahead. After three more crossings, she realized he was going far out of the way to the motel. She whispered this to Niko, who queried the driver. But the man merely said, "I know where I'm going!"

Suddenly panic seized Nancy. She whispered to Niko, "Is he your regular driver?"

"No," he answered. "Never gave it a thought. Why?"

The young sleuth spoke directly into Niko's ear. "I'm afraid we're being kidnapped!"

CHAPTER XV.

Intensive Search

NIKO turned quickly and looked at Nancy, a stunned expression on his face. "Kidnapped!" he whispered back. "You mean it?"

Nancy nodded, murmuring, "I'll explain later. We'd better hop out at the next red light. If we get separated, let's meet at the motel."

Niko agreed and they watched for their chance, It came in about two minutes. As they reached a busy intersection, the light showed red and the driver stopped. Quick as a wink, Nancy and Niko were out of the car. They did not even take time to close the doors, but dashed left and right through the maze of stopped automobiles and ran in opposite directions down the cross street. Nancy found a cab and told the driver her destination. She hoped Niko had had as good luck as she had. When her taxi pulled up in front of the motel she was relieved to see that he had just arrived.

Cecily, with the others, came to greet them in the lobby. She smiled but pretended to be hurt. "I thought you two had run off together!"

Niko did not smile. "Wait until you hear what happened!"

When he and Nancy finished the story, their friends sobered instantly. "Kidnapped!" cried Bess fearfully, while Cecily grew pale.

"Do you think those record pirates are behind this, Nancy?" George asked. "They may have found out you were investigating them and want you out of the way!"

"Yes," Nancy declared. "And furthermore, I think I was the one those men intended to hit with the rock at the cottage. Because the lights were dim they mistook Cecily for me."

Ned spoke up. "I don't like this whole thing. Nancy, you've risked enough danger."

"Those crooks probably trailed Nancy from Misty Lake," Dave declared.

"Dave!" Nancy cried out. "You've just given me an idea-about those mysterious Driscolls."

The others clamored to hear it. "I did have a hunch the brothers were doing some kind of secret work on a machine," Nancy went on. "Well, I now am very suspicious that they're mixed up in this record pirating. We girls heard cricket-like noises on the fraudulent record. That one, and many others, could have been made right near Misty Lake where the crickets are plentiful."

"Namely at Pudding Stone Lodge!" Ned guessed.

"Yes."

The others were astounded by Nancy's theory. She went on, "As soon as we get back to Misty Lake, I'm going directly to Neal Raskin's office again and see what I can find out."