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10/7/2016 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Secret</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Clock</strong><br />
would be willing to hear your friend sing." He laughed. "Mind you, I will give you nothing but <strong>the</strong> truth, and if<br />
your friend does not measure up, I hope her feelings will not be hurt too deeply."<br />
Nancy laughed too. "I like honesty," she said. "As a matter <strong>of</strong> fact, this girl knows nothing about what I am<br />
asking you. Coming here will be a complete surprise to her. I'm probably no judge <strong>of</strong> voices, but I think she's a<br />
natural. However, we will both appreciate having your opinion, and will certainly abide by it."<br />
She arranged for a meeting <strong>the</strong> following afternoon at four o'clock and left Signer Mascagni's house in an<br />
excited mood. "Maybe I'm going way out on a limb," Nancy mused, "but this is ano<strong>the</strong>r one <strong>of</strong> those hunches <strong>of</strong><br />
mine that Dad talks about, and I must carry through."<br />
When she picked up <strong>the</strong> Hoovers <strong>the</strong> following day, Nancy did not mention <strong>the</strong> appointment with <strong>the</strong> voice<br />
teacher. <strong>The</strong> three girls went directly to Mr. Drew's <strong>of</strong>fice and at once he began to quiz Grace and Allison about<br />
Mr. Crowley.<br />
"I understand that he was a ra<strong>the</strong>r eccentric man," <strong>the</strong> lawyer began. "Suppose you tell me everything you can<br />
remember about what Josiah Crowley did and what he said which would help us figure out where he might have<br />
secreted a later will."<br />
"Uncle Josiah was ra<strong>the</strong>r absentminded," Grace spoke up. "I <strong>of</strong>ten saw him hunting for his spectacles, which<br />
he had pushed up on his head."<br />
"Did he ever hide things?" Mr. Drew asked.<br />
"Oh, yes." Allison laughed. "Uncle Josiah was always putting articles away in what he called a safe place. But<br />
<strong>the</strong> places were so safe he never could find <strong>the</strong> things again!"<br />
"<strong>The</strong>n," Nancy spoke up excitedly, "Mr. Crowley could have hidden a will and <strong>the</strong>n forgotten where?"<br />
"I suppose so," Grace replied. "While living with <strong>the</strong> Tophams, I'm sure that's just what he would have done.<br />
One day when he was calling at our house he talked about <strong>the</strong> Tophams and <strong>the</strong> way <strong>the</strong>y were trying to get all<br />
his money. 'I guess <strong>the</strong>y thinkjust because I stay onthat <strong>the</strong>y're going to get everything. But <strong>the</strong>y'll be fooled<br />
when <strong>the</strong>y find I've made ano<strong>the</strong>r will,' he said with that odd little chuckle <strong>of</strong> his. 'This time I'm not going to<br />
trust it to any lawyer. I'll put it away in a place that I know will be safe.' "<br />
Allison asked Mr. Drew, "Do you think Uncle Josiah hid ano<strong>the</strong>r will somewhere in <strong>the</strong> Tophams' house?"<br />
<strong>The</strong> lawyer looked down at his desk for several seconds before replying. "If he did, we would have a great<br />
fight on our hands, I'm afraid, trying to persuade <strong>the</strong> Tophams to let us make a search."<br />
Ano<strong>the</strong>r thought had come to Nancy and she shuddered at <strong>the</strong> idea. Perhaps <strong>the</strong> Tophams had been alerted by<br />
all <strong>the</strong> talk <strong>of</strong> a later will, had searched for it, discovered one, and by now destroyed it I<br />
She flashed her fa<strong>the</strong>r a questioning look and got <strong>the</strong> impression that he had <strong>the</strong> same thought. But <strong>the</strong>re was<br />
no point in discouraging <strong>the</strong> Hoover girls by telling <strong>the</strong>m this.<br />
Mr. Drew continued to question <strong>the</strong> sisters until threethirty, <strong>the</strong>n said he had ano<strong>the</strong>r appointment. He would<br />
do all he could to help <strong>the</strong> girls and would not charge <strong>the</strong>m for his services.<br />
"Unless <strong>the</strong>y bring results," he added with a smile.<br />
"You're very kind, just like your daughter," said Grace as she arose and shook hands with <strong>the</strong> lawyer. "You<br />
have no idea how much Allison and I appreciate what you're doing for us."<br />
When <strong>the</strong> three girls reached Nancy's car, she told <strong>the</strong> sisters she wanted <strong>the</strong>m to meet someone special in<br />
town, and drove directly to Signer Mascagni's home. As <strong>the</strong>y went up to <strong>the</strong> front porch <strong>the</strong>y could hear <strong>the</strong><br />
sounds <strong>of</strong> a soprano voice singing an aria from Tosca.<br />
"How beautiful!" Allison exclaimed s<strong>of</strong>tly.<br />
<strong>The</strong> girls were admitted by a maid and asked to wait in a small room while Signor Mascagni's pupil finished<br />
her lesson. Puzzled, Allison waited for Nancy to explain.<br />
"I have a surprise for you," Nancy said with a grin. "Signor Mascagni has promised to listen to your voice. If<br />
you pass <strong>the</strong> test, he'll consider taking you as a pupilthat is, after we find <strong>the</strong> money for voice lessons."<br />
Allison was too dumfounded to speak, but Grace cried out, "Oh, Nancy, what are you going to do next? We've<br />
known you only twentyfour hours and you've already boosted our morale skyhigh."<br />
At this moment <strong>the</strong> door to <strong>the</strong> studio opened. <strong>The</strong> young soprano came out, followed by Signor Mascagni. He<br />
said goodby to his pupil, <strong>the</strong>n invited <strong>the</strong> three callers into <strong>the</strong> studio. Nancy quickly introduced <strong>the</strong> Hoover<br />
sisters.<br />
"And you are <strong>the</strong> singer," <strong>the</strong> man said almost at once, addressing Allison. "I can tell from your speaking<br />
voice."<br />
Apparently <strong>the</strong> teacher sensed that Allison had been taken by surprise and was a little nervous. Accordingly he<br />
began to talk on o<strong>the</strong>r subjects than music. He showed <strong>the</strong> girls several paintings in <strong>the</strong> room and pieces <strong>of</strong><br />
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