AN UNPLEASANT ENCOUNTER
In spite of Nancy Drew's firm decision to assist the Horner girls, the
days slipped by and, try as she would, she could think of no way to
discover whether or not the missing Crowley will had fallen into the
hands of the Tophams. Although she seldom discussed the case with her
father, he knew that she was troubled.
"You're worrying about the Horner girls," he observed one day. "I am
afraid you are taking their misfortunes too seriously. There is nothing
you can do without the will, and you had best forget about it. Why,
you've scarcely been out of the house since the Horner girls were here.
Go shopping, or anything, to take your mind from the subject."
"I have been thinking about Allie and Grace," Nancy admitted, with a
rueful smile. "I was so sure I could do something for them."
"Give your mind a rest and perhaps you'll have an inspiration," Mr.
Drew encouraged her kindly.
"All right, I'll take your advice and go shopping, though I really
haven't a thing to buy. The fresh air will do me good, I suppose."
After luncheon, Nancy left the house and made her way toward the
business section of River Heights. The walk was a long one, but she
took it at a brisk pace. Nancy naturally was athletic, and as she swung
along more than one passerby turned to look after her in admiration.
After "window shopping" for a time, she wandered into a department
store more from curiosity than because she had anything to buy. She
moved about aimlessly, gazing at whatever struck her fancy.
Suddenly Nancy's attention centered upon two girls who were hurrying
down the aisle ahead of her. She stopped short and stared. Though their
backs were turned, she had recognized them.
"Ada and Isabel Topham! I'm sure I don't want to tag them around! I'll
just slip down another aisle!"
But Nancy Drew never carried the thought into action, for at that very
moment she saw Ada brush carelessly against a counter of expensive
vases. As her sleeve caught, a large fragile bowl was swept to the
floor. In horror Nancy heard the crash and saw the bowl break into a
dozen pieces.
As Ada looked down upon the wreckage, a slight flush mounted to her
cheeks. Then with a toss of her head, she started to move on.
"Miss, I am afraid I must ask you to pay for the bowl," a saleswoman
interposed politely.
Ada wheeled angrily and stared at the saleswoman insolently.
"I'll not pay for it!" she snapped. "I didn't break it!"
"But, Miss, I saw you knock it off the counter," the saleswoman
protested.
By this time the floor manager had arrived upon the scene, and a number
of shoppers had gathered about Ada and the salesgirl. Nancy likewise
drew closer.
"This impudent girl claims I broke a vase," Ada stormed, addressing the
floor manager. "I wasn't even near the counter at the time! However, I
did see her knock it to the floor herself. Isn't that so, Isabel?"
Solemnly, Isabel agreed to the untruth.
The floor manager looked doubtfully from the Topham sisters to the
saleswoman. He realized that it would be a serious error to accuse
well-to-do customers falsely, and for that reason he was inclined to
give the Topham girls the benefit of the doubt. He stooped over and
examined the fragments of the bowl.
"Someone must pay for the damage," he said severely. "This is an
expensive imported bowl."
"Then let your clerk pay for it out of her salary," Ada retorted. "If
she hadn't been so stupid she wouldn't have broken the vase!"
The saleswoman was too bewildered to take her own part and Nancy saw
that the floor manager was in a dilemma. As she sensed that he was
about to exonerate Ada from all blame, she stepped forward.
"You must be mistaken, Miss Topham," she said quietly. "I am certain
the saleswoman did not break the bowl, for I saw the accident myself."
"What business have you to interfere?" Ada demanded harshly, wheeling
upon Nancy.
"Perhaps it isn't my business, but I can't permit you to accuse this
girl of something she didn't do."
"You saw the accident, Miss?" the floor manager questioned.
"Yes. As Miss Topham walked by the counter, her sleeve caught on the
vase."
"It isn't true," Ada snapped. "But I'm tired of this silly argument.
How much do you want for your vase?"
The floor manager studied a price list.
"Fifty dollars."
"What?" Ada fairly screamed. "You want fifty dollars for that old bowl?
I'll never pay it!"
"The vase, was imported from Italy, Miss, and I am afraid you must pay
the price asked."
"Do you know who I am?" Ada inquired loftily.
"I think everyone in the city knows about the Richard Tophams," the
floor manager returned wearily.
"My father owns----"
"He doesn't own this store," the man interrupted, with growing
impatience. "If you refuse to pay for the vase I shall be forced to
turn you over to the authorities."
"You wouldn't dare!" Ada gasped. "Never in all my life have I been
insulted like this!"
Isabel, who was slightly more reasonable than her sister, now held a
whispered conference with Ada.
"All right, I'll pay for the bowl," Ada decided, as she took out her
checkbook. "But let me warn you the matter won't be dropped here."
She turned upon Nancy Drew and eyed her coldly.
"I'm not through with you either, young lady! You'll pay for this
outrage!"
Nancy made no reply but continued to smile pleasantly, an act which
further enraged the Topham sisters. Hastily settling for the damage Ada
had done, they sailed grandly out of the store.
Gratefully, the saleswoman thanked Nancy.
"You don't know how I appreciated the way you took my part. I couldn't
have paid for the bowl, and if you hadn't said what you did the floor
manager probably would have discharged me."
"I saw her break the bowl and I was determined to see justice done.
There is my name and address--if you need it," and Nancy handed the
woman her card.
"I'm afraid you have made enemies by taking my part."
Nancy shrugged her shoulders indifferently.
"It really doesn't matter. The Topham girls were never my friends."
"But they may try to get even with you. They're very spiteful."
"Let them try!" Nancy smiled. "However, I don't believe there is any
need to worry. Their talk is mostly bluff."
Lightly, Nancy Drew dismissed the subject, and, as she found she was
being regarded with curiosity and admiration by those who had witnessed
the scene, left the store. She walked slowly toward the park.
"It makes my blood fairly boil every time I think of Ada and Isabel
Topham getting all of the Crowley fortune," she told herself, with
feeling. "Especially when Grace and Allie Horner need the money so
badly. The way Ada tried to accuse that shopgirl was disgusting."
Nancy crossed the public park and paused for a moment at the drinking
fountain. As she glanced up she saw that unwittingly she had selected
the path Isabel and Ada Topham had taken. Upon leaving the department
store they, too, had gone to the park and were now seated upon a bench
engaged in earnest conversation. Their heads were close together, and,
from the expression on their faces, Nancy suspected that they were
discussing her. Unless she retraced her steps it would be necessary to
pass directly in front of them.
"If they see me they are certain to say something mean," Nancy thought,
"and if they do I'll be sure to lose my temper. I know!" she decided
impulsively. "I'll take the path through the bushes and avoid them. I
can pass behind that bench and they'll never notice me!"
Ada and Isabel were so engrossed in their conversation that they failed
to notice Nancy's approach. Chuckling to herself, Nancy left the
sidewalk and quietly made her way down the path which was shaded with
overhanging bushes.
She had no intention of attempting to overhear what the Topham sisters
were saying, but as she noiselessly approached the bench where they
were sitting, two words reached her ears, causing her to pause
involuntarily.
Ada was speaking, and the phrase which Nancy had accidentally
overheard was "the will." In a flash, her suspicions were aroused. She
comprehended the significance of the phrase.
"It must be Josiah Crowley's will they're talking about," she reasoned.
"Perhaps they know something about the missing will! They may reveal
what became of it!"
With the instinct of a detective, Nancy Drew crept cautiously closer.
The bushes were thick, and by crouching low behind the bench she was
able to hear without being seen.
Oh, if only she might learn something which would prove that the
Tophams had deprived the Horner girls of their inheritance!