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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 />
<strong>The</strong>re was a long silence, <strong>the</strong>n <strong>the</strong> quavering voice replied, "I can't open <strong>the</strong> door. I've hurt myself and can't<br />
walk."<br />
Nancy hesitated an instant before pushing open <strong>the</strong> door. As she stepped into <strong>the</strong> dreary living room, she saw a<br />
frail figure on <strong>the</strong> couch. Abby Rowen lay huddled under an old shawl, her wi<strong>the</strong>red face drawn with pain.<br />
"I am Nancy Drew and I've come to help you, Mrs. Rowen."<br />
<strong>The</strong> old lady turned her head and regarded Nancy with a stare <strong>of</strong> wonder.<br />
"You've come to help me?" she repeated unbelievingly. "I didn't think anyone would ever bo<strong>the</strong>r about old<br />
Abby again."<br />
"Here, let me arrange <strong>the</strong> pillows for you." Gently Nancy moved <strong>the</strong> old woman into a more comfortable<br />
position.<br />
"Yesterday I fell down <strong>the</strong> cellar stairs," Mrs. Rowen explained. "I hurt my hip and sprained my ankle."<br />
"Haven't you had a doctor?" Nancy asked in astonishment.<br />
"No." Abby Rowen sighed. "Not a soul has been here and I couldn't get in touch with anybody. I have no<br />
telephone."<br />
"Can you walk at all?" Nancy asked.<br />
"A little."<br />
"<strong>The</strong>n your hip isn't broken," Nancy said in relief. "Let me see your ankle. Oh my, it is swollen! I'll bandage it<br />
for you."<br />
"<strong>The</strong>re's a clean cloth in <strong>the</strong> closet in <strong>the</strong> kitchen," Abby told her. "I haven't any regular bandage."<br />
"You really should have a doctor," Nancy remarked. "Let me drive you to one."<br />
"I can't afford it," <strong>the</strong> old woman murmured. "My pension check hasn't come, and it's too small, anyway."<br />
"Let me pay <strong>the</strong> doctor," Nancy <strong>of</strong>fered.<br />
Abby Rowen shook her head stubbornly. "I'll not take charity. I'd ra<strong>the</strong>r die first."<br />
"Well, if you insist upon not having a doctor, I'm going to <strong>the</strong> nearest drugstore and get some bandaging and a<br />
few o<strong>the</strong>r things," Nancy told her. "But before I go, I'll make you a cup <strong>of</strong> tea."<br />
"<strong>The</strong>re's no tea in <strong>the</strong> house."<br />
"<strong>The</strong>n I'll get a box. What else do you need?"<br />
"I need 'most everything, but I can't afford anything right now. You might get me some tea and a loaf <strong>of</strong> bread.<br />
That's enough. You'll find <strong>the</strong> money in a jar in <strong>the</strong> cupboard. It's not very much, but it's all I have."<br />
"I'll be back in a few minutes," Nancy promised.<br />
She stopped in <strong>the</strong> kitchen long enough to examine <strong>the</strong> cupboards. With <strong>the</strong> exception <strong>of</strong> a little flour and sugar<br />
and a can <strong>of</strong> soup, <strong>the</strong>re appeared to be nothing in <strong>the</strong> house to eat. Nancy found that <strong>the</strong> money jar contained<br />
less than five dollars.<br />
"I'll not take any <strong>of</strong> it," she decided.<br />
Quietly <strong>the</strong> young sleuth slipped out <strong>the</strong> back door. She drove quickly to <strong>the</strong> nearest store and ordered a stock<br />
<strong>of</strong> groceries. <strong>The</strong>n she stopped at a drugstore and purchased bandages and liniment.<br />
Reaching <strong>the</strong> cottage, she carried <strong>the</strong> supplies inside and adeptly set about making Abby Rowen more<br />
comfortable. She ba<strong>the</strong>d <strong>the</strong> swollen ankle and bound it neatly with <strong>the</strong> antiseptic bandage.<br />
"It feels better already," Mrs. Rowen told her gratefully. "I don't know what would have happened to me if you<br />
hadn't come."<br />
"Oh, someone would have dropped in," said Nancy cheerfully. She went to <strong>the</strong> kitchen and in a short while<br />
prepared tea and a light lunch for <strong>the</strong> elderly woman.<br />
As Abby Rowen ate <strong>the</strong> nourishing meal, Nancy was gratified to observe that almost immediately her patient<br />
became more cheerful and seemed to gain strength. She sat up on <strong>the</strong> couch and appeared eager to talk with<br />
Nancy.<br />
"<strong>The</strong>re aren't many folks willing to come in and help an old lady. If Josiah Crowley had lived, things would<br />
have been different," she declared. "I could have paid someone to look after me."<br />
"It's strange that he didn't provide for you in his will," Nancy replied quietly.<br />
She did not wish to excite <strong>the</strong> woman by telling her real mission. Yet Nancy hoped that she might lead her<br />
tactfully into a discussion <strong>of</strong> Josiah Crowley's affairs without raising hopes which might never be realized.<br />
"It's my opinion that Josiah did provide for me," Mrs. Rowen returned emphatically. "Many a time he said to<br />
me, 'Abby, you'll never need to worry. When I'm gone you'll be well taken care <strong>of</strong> by my will.' "<br />
"And <strong>the</strong>n everything was left to <strong>the</strong> Tophams," Nancy encouraged her to proceed.<br />
"That was according to <strong>the</strong> first will," Abby Rowen stated.<br />
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