husband.
“He wasn’t there this morning,” Nancy said, “but I figure he ought to show up eventually.”
Although the young detective would have liked to reveal everything that had occurred during the day, she chose not to. She knew, for instance, that Mr. Hillyer’s reaction to her would upset her father unnecessarily, so she avoided the subject.
“I think I’m on the way to convincing the mayor of my innocence,” Mr. Drew said unexpectedly.
“That’s terrific, Dad,” Nancy replied.
It was the first time he had even made reference to the situation in a while. Yet, despite the note of optimism, Nancy did not see an observable change in her father’s face. He still seemed distressed.
“So I don’t want you to worry anymore,” he continued.
Had he only told her half the truth in order to allay her fears? Nancy wondered. But she didn’t ask any questions, allowing the rest of the meal to pass quietly.
Before long it was nine o‘clock, and Nancy slipped into a jacket, thinking Ned would arrive punctually. To her surprise, though, half an hour had elapsed when the bell finally rang.
“I tried calling you this afternoon, but all I got was a busy signal,” Ned said. He explained that his parents had asked him to do a number of errands and he knew he’d be late.
Nancy promptly recalled how the phone receiver had slipped off the hook as she slept next to it.
“I wonder if I missed any other important calls,” she said, waving good-bye to her father.
“Well, if you did, I’m sure they’ll call back,” Ned declared.
The couple strolled across the driveway to Ned’s car, unaware for the moment of the silver hatchback that was parked a short distance up the street. In spite of the moonlight that glinted on the hood, it remained concealed under a low-hanging tree. The driver, however, kept his gaze steady on the Drew house.
When Ned finally backed the car out onto the street, the hatchback’s headlights turned on and the engine started to purr. The driver waited several seconds before pulling away from the curb, then followed the young detectives.
They headed for the Flannery house. Ned had paid only scant attention to the car in the rearview mirror. It had maintained a fair distance, but when Ned’s car halted at the end of a block, the hatchback suspended the chase, waiting for the pair to emerge.
“The downstairs lights are still on,” Nancy said to Ned as she gazed at the Flannery house.
“If we see the guy you’re looking for,” Ned said, “do you want to talk to him?”
“I’m not sure. Let’s play it by ear.”
“Okay. You’re the boss on this one.”
“Gee, thanks,” Nancy smiled.
Together, they stole up the driveway, hiding behind a tree trunk when Mrs. Flannery moved in front of the living room window.
“Did she see us?” Ned asked.
“I don’t think so.”
But the girl knew their shadows could be seen on the pavement. She shrunk back, leaning against the bark. From where they stood, they were able to see a back window as well, and as one light in the front turned off, others switched on in the kitchen.
“Somebody’s eating,” Ned commented. He had craned his neck to peer between the lower branches and caught sight of black hair. “Come on. Let’s get closer,” the boy said.
They ducked out from their secret place and edged forward, stopping only when they heard the kitchen window being cranked open. Instantly, the two young people dodged discovery, pulling next to the house and accidentally stepping into a garden of petunias.
“Yuck,” Ned said as he shook dirt off his sneakers.
Nancy, however, was more concerned about the footprints that might be noticed, and sprang to the ground to cover them up quickly. As she did so, voices drifted outside. One was low, yet recognizable.
“That is the man we saw at Swain Lake Lodge!” she told Ned.
After all the mysteries she had solved, she had learned to use all her senses with amazing accuracy.
“How
“He wasn’t there this morning,” Nancy said, “but I figure he ought to show up eventually.”
Although the young detective would have liked to reveal everything that had occurred during the day, she chose not to. She knew, for instance, that Mr. Hillyer’s reaction to her would upset her father unnecessarily, so she avoided the subject.
“I think I’m on the way to convincing the mayor of my innocence,” Mr. Drew said unexpectedly.
“That’s terrific, Dad,” Nancy replied.
It was the first time he had even made reference to the situation in a while. Yet, despite the note of optimism, Nancy did not see an observable change in her father’s face. He still seemed distressed.
“So I don’t want you to worry anymore,” he continued.
Had he only told her half the truth in order to allay her fears? Nancy wondered. But she didn’t ask any questions, allowing the rest of the meal to pass quietly.
Before long it was nine o‘clock, and Nancy slipped into a jacket, thinking Ned would arrive punctually. To her surprise, though, half an hour had elapsed when the bell finally rang.
“I tried calling you this afternoon, but all I got was a busy signal,” Ned said. He explained that his parents had asked him to do a number of errands and he knew he’d be late.
Nancy promptly recalled how the phone receiver had slipped off the hook as she slept next to it.
“I wonder if I missed any other important calls,” she said, waving good-bye to her father.
“Well, if you did, I’m sure they’ll call back,” Ned declared.
The couple strolled across the driveway to Ned’s car, unaware for the moment of the silver hatchback that was parked a short distance up the street. In spite of the moonlight that glinted on the hood, it remained concealed under a low-hanging tree. The driver, however, kept his gaze steady on the Drew house.
When Ned finally backed the car out onto the street, the hatchback’s headlights turned on and the engine started to purr. The driver waited several seconds before pulling away from the curb, then followed the young detectives.
They headed for the Flannery house. Ned had paid only scant attention to the car in the rearview mirror. It had maintained a fair distance, but when Ned’s car halted at the end of a block, the hatchback suspended the chase, waiting for the pair to emerge.
“The downstairs lights are still on,” Nancy said to Ned as she gazed at the Flannery house.
“If we see the guy you’re looking for,” Ned said, “do you want to talk to him?”
“I’m not sure. Let’s play it by ear.”
“Okay. You’re the boss on this one.”
“Gee, thanks,” Nancy smiled.
Together, they stole up the driveway, hiding behind a tree trunk when Mrs. Flannery moved in front of the living room window.
“Did she see us?” Ned asked.
“I don’t think so.”
But the girl knew their shadows could be seen on the pavement. She shrunk back, leaning against the bark. From where they stood, they were able to see a back window as well, and as one light in the front turned off, others switched on in the kitchen.
“Somebody’s eating,” Ned commented. He had craned his neck to peer between the lower branches and caught sight of black hair. “Come on. Let’s get closer,” the boy said.
They ducked out from their secret place and edged forward, stopping only when they heard the kitchen window being cranked open. Instantly, the two young people dodged discovery, pulling next to the house and accidentally stepping into a garden of petunias.
“Yuck,” Ned said as he shook dirt off his sneakers.
Nancy, however, was more concerned about the footprints that might be noticed, and sprang to the ground to cover them up quickly. As she did so, voices drifted outside. One was low, yet recognizable.
“That is the man we saw at Swain Lake Lodge!” she told Ned.
After all the mysteries she had solved, she had learned to use all her senses with amazing accuracy.
“How
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