10/7/2016 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Secret</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Clock</strong> "Where's <strong>the</strong> nearest State Police headquarters?" she asked him as <strong>the</strong>y climbed into <strong>the</strong> convertible. "<strong>The</strong>re's none till you get to Melborne, Miss Drew." "We'll hurry." Nancy headed as fast as possible for <strong>the</strong> highway. Would she succeed in heading <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> thieves and recovering <strong>the</strong> old Crowley clock, so she could learn its secret? http://www.goanwap.com/ebookdownloadndms1.html 38/58
10/7/2016 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Secret</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Clock</strong> A Tense Chase CHAPTER XIV "WHICH way is Melborne?" Nancy asked <strong>the</strong> caretaker when <strong>the</strong>y reached <strong>the</strong> highway. "Down <strong>the</strong>re." He pointed. "That's <strong>the</strong> direction <strong>the</strong> thieves took," Nancy told him, noting <strong>the</strong> dust and tire marks which revealed <strong>the</strong> van's exit onto <strong>the</strong> highway. "But," she added, glancing at <strong>the</strong> dashboard clock, "<strong>the</strong>y're probably too far away by this time for us to catch <strong>the</strong>m." "Yes, ding it," Jeff muttered. Nancy drove as rapidly as <strong>the</strong> law permitted toward Melborne. All <strong>the</strong> while, Jeff Tucker peered from one side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> road to <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r. "Those rascal thieves might just have nerve enough to stop an' count <strong>the</strong>ir loot," he said to Nancy. "So I'm keepin' a sharp eye peeled." Nancy smiled in spite <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> gravity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> situation. "Maybe," she replied. "Though I doubt that those men would be so reckless." "Oh, I don't mean out in plain sight. <strong>The</strong>y might have pulled <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> road, back o' some o' <strong>the</strong>se closedup summer places." "We'll watch for <strong>the</strong>ir tire marks on any dirt side road," <strong>the</strong> young sleuth said. Jeff became so absorbed in looking for <strong>the</strong> van's tire marks that he never asked Nancy why she had come to see him at <strong>the</strong> Topham house. "Those fake movers," he said, as <strong>the</strong>y neared <strong>the</strong> outskirts <strong>of</strong> Melborne. "I wonder how far <strong>the</strong>y went." Nancy did not reply until <strong>the</strong>y came to a crossroad, <strong>the</strong>n she pointed. "<strong>The</strong>y turned north here on this dirt road. How much far<strong>the</strong>r is it to Melborne?" "Only a mile." As <strong>the</strong>y came into <strong>the</strong> little town, Nancy asked her companion, "Which way to State Police headquarters?" "Go right down Central Avenue to Maple Street. Turn left, and <strong>the</strong>re it is." Reaching headquarters, Nancy parked <strong>the</strong> car and hopped out. Jeff Tucker followed as she walked briskly into <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice. "I want to report a robbery," she told <strong>the</strong> desk sergeant after identifying herself. For a moment <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficer, taken aback, looked in astonishment at Nancy. "You've been robbed?" he asked. "In our town?" "No, no!" Nancy cried out. She <strong>the</strong>n gave a quick but complete resume <strong>of</strong> what had taken place at <strong>the</strong> Tophams' cottage. Jeff Tucker added his account. <strong>The</strong> police <strong>of</strong>ficer needed no fur<strong>the</strong>r urging. Immediately he summoned four men and issued orders. "Now," he said, turning to Nancy, "have you any idea which road <strong>the</strong> thieves took?" "Yes, Officer. When we passed <strong>the</strong> road crossing a mile outside <strong>of</strong> town, I saw <strong>the</strong>ir truck tracks on <strong>the</strong> dirt road leading north. I'll be glad to show you." "Good. Lead <strong>the</strong> way. But first I'll send out a general alarm." "Hurry!" Nancy begged as she started out. "Those thieves have at least an hour's head start!" Jeff Tucker had been advised to return to his home. Accordingly he telephoned his son to come and pick him up in his car. "Good luck!" he called, as <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs pulled away. "I sure don't know how I'm goin' to break this to <strong>the</strong> Tophams." Nancy was sorry for him, but she felt a thrill <strong>of</strong> excitement as she proceeded up <strong>the</strong> street, <strong>the</strong> police car following close behind. Beyond <strong>the</strong> town, Nancy chose <strong>the</strong> road which she felt certain <strong>the</strong> thieves had used. <strong>The</strong> two cars sped along until Nancy unexpectedly came to a fork. Both branches were paved and no tire marks were visible. Nancy stopped. <strong>The</strong> police car pulled up alongside. "What's <strong>the</strong> matter?" asked <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficer in charge, whose name was Elton. "I'm not sure which way to go now." <strong>The</strong> policemen sprang from <strong>the</strong>ir automobile and began to examine <strong>the</strong> road. Officer Elton said that if a moving van had passed that way, its tire marks had been obliterated by o<strong>the</strong>r vehicles. It was impossible to tell which route <strong>the</strong> thieves had traveled. http://www.goanwap.com/ebookdownloadndms1.html 39/58