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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 Tense Chase<br />
CHAPTER XIV<br />
"WHICH way is Melborne?" Nancy asked <strong>the</strong> caretaker when <strong>the</strong>y reached <strong>the</strong> highway.<br />
"Down <strong>the</strong>re." He pointed.<br />
"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<br />
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<br />
time for us to catch <strong>the</strong>m."<br />
"Yes, ding it," Jeff muttered.<br />
Nancy drove as rapidly as <strong>the</strong> law permitted toward Melborne. All <strong>the</strong> while, Jeff Tucker peered from one side<br />
<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> road to <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r.<br />
"Those rascal thieves might just have nerve enough to stop an' count <strong>the</strong>ir loot," he said to Nancy. "So I'm<br />
keepin' a sharp eye peeled."<br />
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<br />
would be so reckless."<br />
"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<br />
summer places."<br />
"We'll watch for <strong>the</strong>ir tire marks on any dirt side road," <strong>the</strong> young sleuth said.<br />
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<br />
him at <strong>the</strong> Topham house.<br />
"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."<br />
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.<br />
How much far<strong>the</strong>r is it to Melborne?"<br />
"Only a mile."<br />
As <strong>the</strong>y came into <strong>the</strong> little town, Nancy asked her companion, "Which way to State Police headquarters?"<br />
"Go right down Central Avenue to Maple Street. Turn left, and <strong>the</strong>re it is."<br />
Reaching headquarters, Nancy parked <strong>the</strong> car and hopped out. Jeff Tucker followed as she walked briskly into<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice.<br />
"I want to report a robbery," she told <strong>the</strong> desk sergeant after identifying herself.<br />
For a moment <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficer, taken aback, looked in astonishment at Nancy. "You've been robbed?" he asked. "In<br />
our town?"<br />
"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><br />
Tophams' cottage. Jeff Tucker added his account.<br />
<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<br />
said, turning to Nancy, "have you any idea which road <strong>the</strong> thieves took?"<br />
"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<br />
road leading north. I'll be glad to show you."<br />
"Good. Lead <strong>the</strong> way. But first I'll send out a general alarm."<br />
"Hurry!" Nancy begged as she started out. "Those thieves have at least an hour's head start!"<br />
Jeff Tucker had been advised to return to his home. Accordingly he telephoned his son to come and pick him<br />
up in his car.<br />
"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><br />
Tophams."<br />
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<br />
following close behind.<br />
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<br />
until Nancy unexpectedly came to a fork. Both branches were paved and no tire marks were visible. Nancy<br />
stopped. <strong>The</strong> police car pulled up alongside.<br />
"What's <strong>the</strong> matter?" asked <strong>the</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficer in charge, whose name was Elton.<br />
"I'm not sure which way to go now."<br />
<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<br />
moving van had passed that way, its tire marks had been obliterated by o<strong>the</strong>r vehicles. It was impossible to tell<br />
which route <strong>the</strong> thieves had traveled.<br />
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