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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 />
"It'll be strictly guesswork from here," Officer Elton said to Nancy.<br />
"In that case," replied Nancy, "it's my guess that <strong>the</strong> van went to <strong>the</strong> left." She pointed to a sign which read:<br />
Garwin, 50 miles. "Isn't Garwin a fairly large city?" she queried.<br />
"Yes."<br />
"Perhaps <strong>the</strong> thieves headed that way to dispose <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stolen furniture."<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficer nodded approvingly. "Sounds reasonable," he said. "Well, in any case, we can't go much far<strong>the</strong>r,<br />
because we're near <strong>the</strong> state line."<br />
Nancy had ano<strong>the</strong>r thought. "I'll take <strong>the</strong> road to Garwin and swing around toward River Heights." She smiled.<br />
"If I see those thieves, I'll let you know."<br />
"Well, you watch out, young lady. Those men may lock you up again!"<br />
"I will. Anyhow, <strong>the</strong>re'll be plenty <strong>of</strong> traffic as soon as I reach <strong>the</strong> main highway."<br />
Without giving <strong>the</strong> policemen an opportunity for fur<strong>the</strong>r objection, Nancy started up and swung her car to <strong>the</strong><br />
left. She noted in her rearview mirror that <strong>the</strong> squad car had turned onto <strong>the</strong> righthand road.<br />
"<strong>The</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficers must have picked up a clue," Nancy said to herself. "But I certainly wish I could spot that van<br />
and maybe find a chance to look in <strong>the</strong> old clock!"<br />
Nancy soon reached <strong>the</strong> main road. As mile after mile <strong>of</strong> highway spun behind her, Nancy's hopes grew dim.<br />
<strong>The</strong>re were a number <strong>of</strong> side roads, any one <strong>of</strong> which <strong>the</strong> moving van might have taken to elude pursuers.<br />
<strong>The</strong> young sleuth decided to adhere to her original <strong>the</strong>orythat Sid and his pals had headed for Garwinand<br />
kept on <strong>the</strong> main highway.<br />
"Those thieves think Jeff and I are still locked up and won't suspect <strong>the</strong>y're being followed," she assured<br />
herself. Smiling, she thought hopefully, "In that case <strong>the</strong>y won't be on <strong>the</strong>ir guard!"<br />
About ten minutes later Nancy stopped at a service station to have her car refueled, and on impulse asked <strong>the</strong><br />
attendant, "Did you by any chance see a moving van pass here recently?"<br />
"Sure did, miss," was <strong>the</strong> prompt answer. "About half an hour ago. I noticed it because <strong>the</strong> driver was going at<br />
a terrific speed for a van."<br />
Heartened, Nancy thanked him and resumed her pursuit, going past <strong>the</strong> turn for River Heights. "If only I can<br />
overtake <strong>the</strong> truck and somehow examine <strong>the</strong> Crowley clock before I have to report to <strong>the</strong> police!" she thought.<br />
Again time elapsed and Nancy still saw no sign <strong>of</strong> a moving van on <strong>the</strong> highway. It was growing dusk and she<br />
decided that she would have to admit defeat.<br />
"I never caught up to <strong>the</strong>m." She sighed in disappointment, and turning into <strong>the</strong> opposite lane, headed back for<br />
<strong>the</strong> River Heights road.<br />
Just <strong>the</strong>n Nancy recalled that a little beyond <strong>the</strong> service station where she had stopped, she had noticed a ra<strong>the</strong>r<br />
rundown old inn. It was a slim hope, she knew, but <strong>the</strong> thieves might have put <strong>the</strong>ir van behind it while having a<br />
meal <strong>the</strong>re.<br />
"I'll go in and ask, anyhow," she decided.<br />
Nancy increased her speed as much as she dared and within a few minutes came in sight <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> inn. It stood<br />
back from <strong>the</strong> road a short distance and was halfhidden by tall trees. In front <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> building a battered sign<br />
bearing <strong>the</strong> name Slack Horse Inn creaked back and forth from a post. <strong>The</strong>re was no sign <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> van. Beyond <strong>the</strong><br />
inn Nancy glimpsed a garage and a large barn. <strong>The</strong> doors to both were closed.<br />
"I wonder," mused Nancy, "if <strong>the</strong> moving van is parked inside ei<strong>the</strong>r one."<br />
At <strong>the</strong> far side <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> inn was a small woods with a narrow road leading into it. For safety's sake, Nancy<br />
thought it best to park her car on this littleused road.<br />
She turned <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> car lights, pocketed <strong>the</strong> key, and walked back to <strong>the</strong> curving driveway leading to <strong>the</strong> inn. As<br />
Nancy made her way forward, her heart pounded. <strong>The</strong>re were tire marks which could belong to Sid's van I <strong>The</strong>y<br />
led to <strong>the</strong> barn I<br />
"Maybe those thieves are eating," she thought. "I'll look."<br />
As Nancy stepped onto <strong>the</strong> porch, <strong>the</strong> sound <strong>of</strong> raucous laughter reached her ears. She tiptoed to a window and<br />
peered inside. What <strong>the</strong> young sleuth saw made her gasp, but she felt a glow <strong>of</strong> satisfaction.<br />
In a dingy, dimly lighted room three men were seated about a table, eating voraciously. <strong>The</strong>y were <strong>the</strong> thieves<br />
who had robbed <strong>the</strong> Topham bungalow!<br />
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