#1 The Secret of the Old Clock

10/7/2016 The Secret of the Old Clock
"What! You mean I won't have to depend on just my little pension any longer? Bless Josiah! Nancy, I never
could believe that my cousin would go back on his word."
Nancy ate some broth and crackers with Abby Rowen and told the whole story. The old woman's eyes began to
sparkle and color came into her cheeks. "Oh, this is so wonderful!" she said. Then she chuckled. "It does my
heart good to know you outwitted those uppity Topham women!"
Nancy grinned, then said soberly, "If I hadn't become involved in this mystery, I might never have met several
wonderful peopleand their names aren't Topham!"
Abby Rowen laughed aloudthe first time Nancy had heard her do this. She laughed again just as the
neighbor returned. Mrs. Jones, amazed, had no chance to exclaim over the elderly woman's high spirits. Abby
launched into an account of her inheritance.
As soon as Mrs. Rowen finished the story, Nancy said good­by and left. She now headed straight for the
Hoover farm. The two sisters were working in a flower bed.
"Hi!" Nancy called.
"Hi, yourself. How's everything?" Allison asked, as she brushed some dirt off her hands and came forward
with Grace.
"Hurry and change your clothes," Nancy said. "I have a surprise for you."
"You mean we're going somewhere?" Grace inquired.
"That's right. To Signor Mascagni's so Allison can sign up for lessons."
"Oh, Nancy, you mean?"
"Yes. The inheritance is yours!"
"I can't believe it! I can't believe it!" Allison cried out ecstatically. She grabbed the other two girls and whirled
them around.
"It's simply marvelous," said Grace. "Marvelous. Oh, Nancy, you and Mr. Crowley are just the dearest friends
we've ever had." Then, seeing Nancy's deep blush, she added, "Come on, Allison. Let's get dressed."
Nancy waited in the garden. Fifteen minutes later the sisters were ready to leave for River Heights. "But before
we go," said Grace, "Allison and I want to give you somethingit's sort of a reward."
"Something very special," her sister broke in.
"Oh, I don't want any reward," Nancy objected quickly.
"Please take this one," Allison spoke up.
She led the way to the living­room mantel. There stood the Crowley clock. "We received it this morning from
the Tophams," Grace explained.
Allison added, "We think you earned this heirloom, Nancy, and somehow Grace and I feel Mr. Crowley would
want you to have it."
"Why, thank you," said Nancy.
She was thrilled, and gazed meditatively at the old clock. Though quaint, it was not handsome, she thought.
But for her it certainly held a special significance. She was too modest to explain to Allison and Grace why she
would prize the heirloom, and besides, her feeling was something she could not put into words. Actually she had
become attached to the clock because of its association with her recent adventure.
"This is the first mystery I've solved alone," she thought. "I wonder if I'll ever have another one half so
thrilling."
As Nancy stood looking wistfully at the old clock she little dreamed that in the near future she would be
involved in The Hidden Staircase mystery, a far more baffling case than the one she had just solved. But
somehow, as Nancy gazed at the timepiece, she sensed that exciting days were soon to come.
Nancy ceased daydreaming as the clock was handed to her and looked at the Hoover girls. "I'll always prize
this clock as a trophy of my first Venture as a detective," she said with a broad smile.
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