You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
10/7/2016 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Secret</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Clock</strong><br />
"Good!" Mr. Drew exclaimed. "I was hoping you would say that. I'm glad you have <strong>the</strong> courage <strong>of</strong> your<br />
convictions, but I didn't want you to march <strong>of</strong>f into battle without a knowledge <strong>of</strong> what you might be up<br />
against."<br />
"Battle?"<br />
"Yes. <strong>The</strong> Tophams won't give up <strong>the</strong> fortune without a bitter struggle. However, if <strong>the</strong>y attempt to make<br />
serious trouble, I promise to deal with <strong>the</strong>m myself."<br />
"And if I do find <strong>the</strong> will?"<br />
"I'll take <strong>the</strong> matter into court."<br />
"Oh. thank you! <strong>The</strong>re's no one like you in all <strong>the</strong> world."<br />
After leaving her fa<strong>the</strong>r's <strong>of</strong>fice, Nancy went directly home to get her car. When she told Hannah Gruen her<br />
plans, <strong>the</strong> housekeeper warned, "Don't become too deeply involved in this matter, dear. In your zeal to help o<strong>the</strong>r<br />
people, you may forget to be on your guard."<br />
"I promise to be as careful as a pussycat walking up a slippery ro<strong>of</strong>," Nancy assured <strong>the</strong> housekeeper with a<br />
grin, and left <strong>the</strong> house.<br />
Quickly backing her car from <strong>the</strong> garage, she set <strong>of</strong>f in <strong>the</strong> direction <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Turner home. <strong>The</strong> miles seemed to<br />
melt away as Nancy's thoughts raced from one idea to ano<strong>the</strong>r. Before <strong>the</strong> young sleuth knew it she had reached<br />
<strong>the</strong> house.<br />
"Hi, Judy!" she called to <strong>the</strong> little girl, who was playing in <strong>the</strong> yard with a midget badminton set.<br />
<strong>The</strong> child looked very cunning in a pink play suit. <strong>The</strong> handembroidered Teddy bears on it were surely <strong>the</strong><br />
work <strong>of</strong> her loving aunts.<br />
"Hi, Nancy! I'm glad you came. Now I'll have somebody to play with," Judy said, running up to <strong>the</strong> visitor.<br />
Obligingly Nancy took a racket and batted <strong>the</strong> fea<strong>the</strong>red shuttlecock toward <strong>the</strong> child. "Hit <strong>the</strong> birdie," she<br />
called.<br />
Judy missed but picked up <strong>the</strong> shuttlecock and whammed it nicely across <strong>the</strong> net. Nancy hit it back and this<br />
time <strong>the</strong> little girl caught <strong>the</strong> birdie on her racket and sent it over.<br />
<strong>The</strong> game went on for several minutes, with Judy crying out in delight. "You're <strong>the</strong> bestest batter I ever played<br />
with, Nancy," she declared.<br />
After ten minutes <strong>of</strong> play, Nancy said, "Let's go into <strong>the</strong> house now, Judy. I want to talk to your aunties."<br />
Judy skipped ahead and announced her new playmate's arrival.<br />
"Hello, Nancy," <strong>the</strong> women said as she entered <strong>the</strong> living room.<br />
"We were watching <strong>the</strong> game from <strong>the</strong> window," said Mary Turner. "This is a real thrill for Judy. Edna and I<br />
are very poor at hitting <strong>the</strong> birdie."<br />
"It was lots <strong>of</strong> fun," Nancy replied. "I'm glad to see you all again."<br />
She now asked whe<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> police had located <strong>the</strong> thieves who had taken <strong>the</strong> silver heirlooms from <strong>the</strong> house.<br />
"Not yet," Mary answered. "And what's worse, we found that several o<strong>the</strong>r pieces had been taken, too."<br />
"What a shame!" Nancy exclaimed. "But I'm sure <strong>the</strong> stolen articles will be found." <strong>The</strong>n she added, "I came<br />
here on a particular mission."<br />
"Yes?"<br />
"Your story about Mr. Josiah Crowley intrigued me. <strong>The</strong>n, <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r day, I met two girls, Grace and Allison<br />
Hoover, who told me <strong>of</strong> a similar promise from him regarding his will."<br />
"How amazing!" Edna Turner exclaimed. "I heard Josiah mention <strong>the</strong> Hoovers and Allison's beautiful voice."<br />
"Dad and I have become very much interested in <strong>the</strong> case and are inclined to agree with you and <strong>the</strong> Hoovers<br />
that Mr. Crowley may have written ano<strong>the</strong>r will shortly before his death and hidden it some place."<br />
"Oh, wouldn't it be wonderful if such a will could be found!" Mary exclaimed. "It might mean all <strong>the</strong><br />
difference in <strong>the</strong> world to Judy's future."<br />
"What I want to do," Nancy went on, "is talk to as many <strong>of</strong> Mr. Crowley's relatives as I can find. Some place I<br />
may pick up a clue to where a more recent will is hidden. Tell me, do any <strong>of</strong> his o<strong>the</strong>r relatives live around<br />
here?"<br />
"Yes. Three that I can think <strong>of</strong>," Edna answered.<br />
She went on to say that two cousins, who had never married, lived on a farm just outside Titusville. "<strong>The</strong>ir<br />
names are Fred and William Ma<strong>the</strong>ws."<br />
Suddenly <strong>the</strong> Turner sisters blushed a deep pink. <strong>The</strong>y glanced at each o<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong>n back at Nancy. Finally Edna<br />
said:<br />
http://www.goanwap.com/ebookdownloadndms1.html 21/58