RACING THE STORM
"Nancy, if you haven't planned anything special for the day, I wonder
if you would care to do a little errand for me?" inquired Carson Drew
one morning at the breakfast table.
"Why, of course," Nancy agreed pleasantly. "What is it?"
"I have a number of legal documents which must be delivered to Judge
Hartgrave at Masonville some time before noon. I would take them
myself, but I have several important appointments this morning."
"I'll be glad to do the errand for you," Nancy promised willingly.
"I can run over to Masonville in the roadster. It isn't more than a
fifteen mile jaunt."
"Fine. That's a load off my mind. You're sure you don't mind?"
"It's such a wonderful day, I'll enjoy the trip."
Mr. Drew parted the curtains at the dining-room window and looked out.
"It is a bright day, but I can't say I like the appearance of those
clouds in the west, Nancy. I'm afraid it may rain. You know how quickly
our storms come up."
"I'll start just as soon as I can get ready then. Where are the papers?"
"At the office. We can ride down together."
Nancy Drew hurried away to find her hat and purse. Before Mr. Drew had
collected his own belongings, she had backed the roadster from the
garage and was waiting for him at the curbing.
"I haven't heard you mention the Crowley case lately," Mr. Drew
commented as they rode along together. "Have you forgotten about it?"
Nancy's face clouded.
"No, I haven't forgotten, but I must admit I have made no progress. I
guess I'm not cut out for a detective!"
"Don't feel discouraged, Nancy. The Crowley case would baffle a
professional."
"I haven't given it up yet, father. I may stumble onto a clue one of
these days."
When they reached the law office, Nancy stopped the roadster and her
father got out. He disappeared inside the building and, returning a few
minutes later, placed a fat manilla envelope in Nancy's hand.
"Give this to Judge Hartgrave. You know where to find him?"
"Yes, I'll have no trouble in finding his office. I've frequently
driven as far as Masonville."
Selecting the shortest route to her destination, Nancy deftly shifted
gears and was off. As she rode along the gravel road her eyes traveled
to the fields on either side of the highway. Like a true daughter of
the Middle West, Nancy Drew took pride in the fertility of her State
and saw beauty in a crop of waving green corn as well as in the rolling
hills and the expanse of prairie land.
More than once Nancy glanced anxiously at the sky. The sun shone down
on the gravel road with dazzling intensity, but a large black cloud had
settled in the west. Still, it did not appear to be rolling up very
fast, and Nancy told herself that there was no need to worry.
"It won't rain for an hour or two, and by that time I'll be home," she
thought.
Nancy took her time on the road and it was nearly eleven o'clock
when she finally drove into Masonville. She went at once to Judge
Hartgrave's office but was informed that he had gone to the courthouse.
Nancy knew that the legal papers which she had been sent to deliver
were important, and rather than leave them with the office girl she set
off in search of the judge.
She had considerable trouble in finding him, and it was nearly twelve
o'clock when at last she delivered the manilla envelope into his hands.
Learning that Nancy was the daughter of Carson Drew, Judge Hartgrave
insisted that she take luncheon at his home before returning to River
Heights.
Nancy accepted the invitation and spent a very pleasant hour in company
with the judge and his wife. When at last she had insisted that she
must start for home, it was after one-thirty.
"I have half a notion to take a different route back," she told Judge
Hartgrave, as she stepped into her blue roadster. "It's a beautiful
drive on the River Road. But the trip will take longer, and I am afraid
it may rain."
Judge Hartgrave looked up at the sky, but, in spite of a general
murkiness, the sun was shining.
"Oh, I don't believe it will rain for an hour or two," he said
optimistically. "That big cloud is only bluffing."
"Then I'll take the River Road," Nancy decided.
She said good-bye and started the motor. Soon she was spinning along
the road which wound in and out along the Muskoka River. Nancy met few
automobiles, for the road was infrequently traveled. She did not hurry,
but took time to enjoy the scenery.
Overhanging trees with dense foliage shaded the road and formed a
tunnel which all but blotted out the sky. Presently, as Nancy drove
into a clearing, she was astonished to see how dark it had become.
Evidently, the big black cloud which had attracted her attention
earlier in the day was no longer bluffing. It had grown rapidly in size
and was spreading over the sky in an alarming fashion. As Nancy Drew
watched, the sun vanished as though by magic.
"How foolish of me to take this road," she chided herself. "I'm going
to be caught in the storm! There isn't a chance that I can make it!"
Although the River Road was perfectly safe in dry weather, Nancy knew
that a little rain would make it dangerously slippery. Then, too, the
road was little traveled, and in case of accident she could not depend
upon passing motorists for aid. If her roadster slipped into a ditch,
it would be necessary to walk miles for help.
Few persons lived along the River Road, for the land was not considered
valuable. In the spring of the year, with the arrival of heavy rains,
the Muskoka River sometimes overflowed its banks and spread over the
farmland, destroying the newly planted crops. For this reason, the
district was not a popular one and the land was held by poor folk.
"If only I can find a farmhouse where I can drive in until the storm
passes!" Nancy thought desperately.
The sky was now entirely overcast and in among the trees it was as dark
as night. Nancy could not see the road distinctly, and switched on the
headlights of her roadster. A brisk breeze began to stir the trees, and
the leaves seemed to whisper a fearful warning of the storm to come. A
feeling of uneasiness took possession of Nancy Drew.
She stepped on the accelerator and the roadster fairly leaped forward
as though it, too, understood the need for haste. Suddenly, a flash of
forked lightning coursed across the sky and was followed by a loud clap
of thunder.
"That was close!" Nancy murmured uncomfortably.
She bent low over the wheel and took the curves as fast as she dared.
An unexpected gust of wind struck the road and blew dust in every
direction. As the cold air struck her, Nancy realized that the storm
was almost upon her. Already, she could see the rain sweeping down upon
her from the far hills.
Frantically, Nancy glanced about for a possible shelter. On down the
road a short distance, she caught sight of an old farmhouse and a
dilapidated barn which stood near the highway.
"If only I can get there before the rain strikes me!" Nancy thought
anxiously.
But the storm would hold off no longer. Large drops of rain began to
splash against the windshield, slowly at first, then faster and faster.
The sky had taken on a yellowish cast.
Then, unexpectedly, came a second flash of lightning, and
simultaneously a deluge of rain.
Nancy turned on the windshield wiper, but the rain was blinding in its
violence. It was impossible to see more than a few feet ahead of the
automobile, and almost in an instant the road had dissolved into a sea
of mud. Nancy had been caught in a number of storms, but never one like
this. She feared that she would slip into a ditch before she could
reach the shelter of the barn.
Then, at the side of the road, the barn loomed up, and in relief Nancy
saw that the doors were wide open. Without an instant's hesitation, she
headed straight for the building and drove in.
[Illustration: "WITHOUT AN INSTANT'S HESITATION, SHE HEADED STRAIGHT
FOR THE BUILDING AND DROVE IN."]
Safely inside, she turned off the motor and the lights, and with a sigh
of relief sank back against the cushions.
"Well, you got in just in time," said a pleasant voice behind her.
Startled, Nancy Drew turned quickly and saw a girl of her own age
regarding her with interest. Even as the stranger spoke, the storm
broke in full violence. A cold blast of wind rattled the barn doors and
sent a sheet of rain inside.
"I beg your pardon," Nancy apologized, as she climbed from the
roadster. "It wasn't very polite of me to run in here the way I did."
"You're more than welcome to the shelter, I am sure," the stranger told
her kindly. "I'm afraid we haven't much else to offer."
In the semidarkness, Nancy studied the girl curiously. She had been
impressed with her cultured voice and manner, and now she noted that
her clothing, while not expensive, was neat and well made. The girl did
not appear to be the daughter of a farmer who would live on this poor
land, yet she seemed to fit into her background.
"It looks to me as though we're in for a real storm," the girl said and
smiled pleasantly. She glanced outside at the pelting rain. "I'm afraid
you'll be forced to remain here for some time."
"So long as I'm not out in the rain I don't mind," Nancy replied
quickly. "That is, if you don't object."
"Object?" The girl spoke impulsively. "Oh, you can't understand how
eager we are for visitors. Grace and I seldom have a chance to talk
with anyone our own age. Sometimes a whole week will go by, and we
won't see anyone but the postman."
Nancy Drew had a natural talent for unearthing interesting stories, and
now a sixth sense seemed to tell her that she had encountered something
unusual. She was eager to learn more about the girl and her reason for
leading such an isolated life.
"I must thank you for your hospitality," Nancy said, with a friendly
smile. "After all, perhaps the storm has done us both a real favor in
throwing us together."
At the moment, Nancy Drew little dreamed that the next few hours were
to reveal the truth of her polite utterance.