Carolyn Keene - Nancy Drew by The Twin Dilemma Page B

surrounding her created a warmth that was uncomfortable, almost suffocating.

    “Maybe this wasn’t such a great idea,” Nancy murmured, realizing she was trapped!
    But there was no time to change her mind as the wheels of the van began to move under her!
    By now Bess and George had met two young men who introduced themselves as Woody Haskins and Frank Vanderveer. Both looked to be in their twenties, and told the girls that their parents were in the clothing business. They had lived in New York City all their lives.
    “And where are you two from?” Woody inquired.
    “River Heights,” Bess replied. “Home of the famous Nancy Drew.”
    “Oh, yes. She’s an amateur detective,” Woody said. Then he whirled Bess onto the dance floor.
    “Hm-hm. So am I,” Bess told him.
    “You solve mysteries, too?” Frank asked George. He was tall and seemed reserved like her friend, Burt Eddleton, which made the girl relax almost immediately.
    “Oh, we all do,” she said brightly, as the music picked up tempo.
    The beat was faster now, and the couples fell apart from each other for the duration of the dance. Afterwards, their escorts took the girls to the buffet for a snack. When they returned to their table, Bess and George suddenly realized that Nancy hadn’t come back yet.
    Vaguely uneasy, they wondered what had happened to her. Bess nudged George. “We’ve been having such a good time that we forgot all about our best friend!” she whispered. “Where do you think Nancy went?”
    “I don’t know,” George said, “but I think we ought to go looking for her.”
    The girls excused themselves and moved off, but neither of their escorts was ready to release them so quickly. The music had started again, and Frank and Woody ran after Bess and George, begging for another dance.
    “But we can’t stay!” Bess insisted as Woody tugged on her hand, pulling her back on the floor.
    “Why not? Do you turn into a pumpkin at eleven o‘clock?” The young man laughed, causing a tiny grin to wrinkle the girl’s face.
    “No, but we really do have to leave,” Bess declared and motioned to George, who looked forlornly at her date.
    When the foursome stood together again, the young men continued to plead. “You came here to enjoy yourselves, didn’t you?” Frank asked. “Why do you want to go home so early?”
    “Well, we’re not going home,” George said. “We’re investigating something.”
    “Tonight?” Woody and Frank chorused.
    “We’ll go with you,” the latter volunteered.
    “Oh, no!” Bess exclaimed. “It’s nice of you to offer, but—”
    “Then it’s all settled,” Frank put in. “Now tell us, what are you looking for?”
    “Our friend Nancy,” George said.
    “Describe her,” Frank went on. “Then we’ll fan out and search. Afterwards, we’ll meet at your table.”
    Bess and George were glad to have help, but when they rejoined their dates fifteen minutes later, no one had seen Nancy.
    “Maybe she left the party,” Woody suggested.
    “Let’s see if her cloak is still in the check-room,” George replied.
    Upon questioning the woman in charge, the girls were given Nancy’s message.
    “We ought to go there at once,” Frank spoke up. “Get a taxi, Woody.”
    In the cab, Bess whispered to George, “I’m glad we have a couple of strong men with us!”
    “Just hope we find Nancy!” George said.
    By the time they climbed out of the taxi at Gramercy Park, most lights had been turned out in the various buildings and Number 11 seemed unoccupied.
    “Maybe Nancy gave up on whatever she was looking for and went home,” Woody suggested.
    “Nancy? Give up? Never!” Bess said.
    She and George hurried ahead of the men toward the iron fence that framed the park area itself, thinking they had heard someone crying. But as they drew near, they realized it was only the whine of a small puppy.
    “Where could Nancy have gone?” Bess wailed.
    She and George roamed close to the fence, peering at the