She thanked the stranger who had tried to assist her, then hurried down the street to headquarters and was taken into Lieutenant Masters' office.

            After greetings were exchanged. Nancy said, "I want to report two thefts." First she told about the boy who had snatched her purse.

            "Can you describe him?" the policewoman asked.

            "I didn't get a look at his face," said Nancy, "but I think he was about ten or twelve years old. He was stocky with tousled blond hair and wore blue jeans and a tee shirt."

            "Many boys could fit that description," Lieutenant Masters commented. "We'll do our best, but I doubt that you'll get back your bag with the contents." Then she frowned. "Did I hear you say 'two thefts'?"

            "Yes," said Nancy, and told about the missing rosebushes.

            The officer's dark eyes gleamed with interest. "I think I can give you the answer to the second one right away," she said. "The culprit is probably little Joan Fenimore."

            "Oh no!" Nancy said in dismay.

            "Yes," said the officer. "I told you she had been in difficulty with the law. Just before I came to see you I was checking into another report of flowers stolen from your neighborhood. The woman of the house caught a glimpse of the child and described her.

            "Joan has a passionate love for flowers," Lieutenant Masters went on, "and an amazing knowledge of them. I arranged for her to join a nature study class at the museum, but I'm afraid that my rehabilitation program backfired. Recently she has taken plants and shrubs from other homes."

            "What a shame!" Nancy said.

            "Joan's father is not living," the young officer resumed. "Her widowed mother is ill and very poor."

            Nancy listened sympathetically as the police-woman went on, "I'll see that Joan returns the bushes to your garden. Mrs. Fenimore will insist upon it, anyway. She's greatly distressed by her child's behavior."