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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 />
A Forgotten <strong>Secret</strong><br />
CHAPTER VIII<br />
NANCY screamed for help, hoping to attract <strong>the</strong> farmer's attention. She expected momentarily to be bitten by<br />
<strong>the</strong> angry dog, but to her great relief <strong>the</strong> animal did not harm her.<br />
<strong>The</strong> young sleuth's sudden fall had caused <strong>the</strong> puppy to fly from her arms. With a leap its mo<strong>the</strong>r was at <strong>the</strong><br />
pup's side. She grabbed her baby by <strong>the</strong> back <strong>of</strong> its neck and trotted <strong>of</strong>f toward <strong>the</strong> bam.<br />
"Oo, that was a narrow escape." Nancy took a deep breath as she got to her feet, brushed herself <strong>of</strong>f, and<br />
ruefully surveyed a tear in her sweater.<br />
By this time <strong>the</strong> man on <strong>the</strong> tractor, having changed direction, saw <strong>the</strong> fracas and came running. He apologized<br />
for <strong>the</strong> dog's actions, but Nancy said quickly:<br />
"It was my fault. I should have set <strong>the</strong> pup down. Its mo<strong>the</strong>r probably thought I was trying to dognap her<br />
baby!"<br />
"Possibly."<br />
Nancy explained why she had picked up <strong>the</strong> little animal and <strong>the</strong> farmer said he would look at <strong>the</strong> cut later.<br />
"I'm glad you weren't hurt," he added. "Thanks for being such a good scout about it. Did you come to see me<br />
or my bro<strong>the</strong>r?" he asked. "I'm Fred Ma<strong>the</strong>ws."<br />
Nancy gave her name, and added that she was acquainted with <strong>the</strong> Turner sisters and o<strong>the</strong>rs who had been told<br />
<strong>the</strong>y would benefit under Josiah Crowley's will.<br />
"My dad<strong>the</strong> lawyer Carson Drewand I are working on <strong>the</strong> case. We believe <strong>the</strong>re might have been a later<br />
will than <strong>the</strong> one presented by Mr. Topham, and we'd like to find it."<br />
"And you came to see if William and I could give you a clue?" Fred's bright blue eyes sparkled boyishly.<br />
"That's right, Mr. Ma<strong>the</strong>ws. Also, did Mr. Crowley ever tell you he was going to leave you some money?"<br />
"Indeed he did."<br />
At this moment ano<strong>the</strong>r man came from <strong>the</strong> house and Fred introduced him as his bro<strong>the</strong>r William. Both were<br />
tall, spare, and strongmuscled. Though <strong>the</strong>ir hair was gray, <strong>the</strong> men's faces were youthful and unwrinkled.<br />
"Let's sit down under <strong>the</strong> tree here and discuss this," Fred suggested, leading <strong>the</strong> way to a group <strong>of</strong> rustic<br />
chairs. He told William <strong>of</strong> Nancy's request, <strong>the</strong>n asked him, "Did Cousin Josiah ever give you any idea he'd<br />
made a will in which we were not beneficiaries?"<br />
"No. I thought one would come to light when he died. To tell <strong>the</strong> truth, Miss Drew, Fred and I were<br />
thunderstruck at <strong>the</strong> will which left everything to <strong>the</strong> Tophams. That wasn't what Cousin Josiah led us to<br />
believe."<br />
"It certainly wasn't," Fred spoke up. "But I guess William and I counted our chickens before <strong>the</strong>y were<br />
hatched. We just about make ends meet here with our small fruit farm. Help and equipment cost such a lot. One<br />
thing we've always wanted to do, but couldn't afford, was to travel. We thought we'd use <strong>the</strong> money from Cousin<br />
Josiah to do that."<br />
"But our dream bubble burst," said William. "No trips for us."<br />
Nancy smiled. "Don't give up hope yet. Dad and I haven't."<br />
She was disappointed that <strong>the</strong> bro<strong>the</strong>rs could <strong>of</strong>fer her no clues about a place to look for ano<strong>the</strong>r will. A little<br />
while later she left <strong>the</strong> farm and returned home.<br />
"No new evidence," she told her fa<strong>the</strong>r. "Let's hope Mrs. Abby Rowen has some!"<br />
Early <strong>the</strong> next morning she set <strong>of</strong>f for <strong>the</strong> elderly woman's home, and reached her destination by asking<br />
directions <strong>of</strong> people living along West Lake Road.<br />
"This must be Abby Rowen's house," Nancy told herself. "It fits <strong>the</strong> description."<br />
She climbed out <strong>of</strong> her car and stood before <strong>the</strong> onestory frame building which was badly in need <strong>of</strong> paint and<br />
repair. <strong>The</strong> yard around it was overgrown with weeds, and <strong>the</strong> picket fence enclosing <strong>the</strong> cottage sagged<br />
dejectedly.<br />
"<strong>The</strong> place looks deserted," Nancy mused. "But I'll see if Mrs. Rowen is at home."<br />
Nancy made her way up <strong>the</strong> scraggly path to <strong>the</strong> house and rapped on <strong>the</strong> front door. <strong>The</strong>re was no response.<br />
After a moment, she knocked again.<br />
This tune a muffled voice called, "Who's <strong>the</strong>re? If you're a peddler, I don't want anything."<br />
"I'm not selling anything," Nancy called out reassuringly. "Won't you let me in, please?"<br />
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