They danced for what seemed like hours. Finally, flushed and happy, Nancy realized that she was worn out. She also needed the bathroom. Excusing herself, she went down the hall, only to find a short line in front of it.

Deciding that she couldn’t wait, she slipped up the stairs to the second floor. Doors lined both sides of the hall, but which one was the bathroom? She didn’t know.

Nancy chose a door at random. She knocked, and—receiving no answer—pushed it open.

“Oops!”

It was a fraternity brother’s room, empty at the moment, luckily. She was about to shut the door and go when, in the light from the hall, she noticed a framed picture above the desk. It was of Mike and Ned! This wasn’t Ned’s room, she knew. She had seen that before, so it must be Mike’s.

Curious, she moved toward the photo for a closer look. As she did, she accidentally kicked a cardboard carton. She looked down—and gasped. It was full of Styrofoam packing chips!

Rooting among them, Nancy also found scraps of cloth, thread, and the mangled half of a pillowcase—the same materials used to construct the effigy! She was stunned. There could only be one conclusion, she knew: Mike O’Shea—Emerson’s best player—was the practical joker!

Suddenly, the door behind her creaked. Nancy whirled and stifled a scream. A tall, threatening figure was silhouetted in the doorway!

Chapter Four

“What are you doing in here?” Ned demanded. He flicked the tight switch next to the door.

Nancy blinked. “Oh, it’s you! Thank goodness . . . you startled me.”

“Nancy? I said, what are you doing poking around in Mike’s room?”

There was a coolness in his tone that puzzled her. Why was he being so hostile? It wasn’t as if she’d been doing anything wrong!

“I came upstairs for the bathroom but walked in here by mistake,” she explained. “But I’m glad I did. Look what I found!”