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