A CLOSE CALL
With a loud crash, the stricken pine tree fell across the road, directly
in front of the blue roadster. The trunk struck the earth less than half
a dozen yards from where Nancy Drew had brought the automobile to a
sudden halt, and the branches touched the hood of the roadster.
For an instant, Nancy gripped the steering wheel, too stunned to
comprehend fully how fortunate had been her escape from death.
Everything had happened so quickly that there had been no time to become
frightened until the danger was over. Now, as she considered what might
have been her fate, she felt weak.
“If I hadn’t slammed on those brakes when I did, it would have been too
bad,” she thought.
Ruefully, she surveyed the tree which blocked the road. What was she to
do? In some way she must reach River Heights. If only someone would come
along to help her!
“There probably isn’t anyone within miles,” she told herself. “If I get
through, I must depend upon my own initiative.”
The tree completely blocked the road, and as there was a steep ditch on
either side, Nancy Drew saw at a glance that it would be impossible to
pull out upon the bank. Fate had played an unkind trick upon her.
Gloomily, she put on her wet slicker and buckled on the muddy galoshes.
As she stepped from the closed car a sheet of rain struck her in the
face. Gingerly picking her way through the slush, she walked to the
fallen pine and surveyed it critically.
The tree was a small one and Nancy thought that two men could move it
quite easily. Unfortunately, the two men were not in evidence.
“If I could pull the trunk a little to one side, I ought to be able to
get through,” Nancy reasoned hopefully.
Grasping the branches, she tugged with all her might, but the tree did
not budge. Next she attempted to lift the trunk, but only succeeded in
tiring herself.
“Maybe I could roll it out of the way,” she thought.
She pushed with all her might against the trunk, but the branches
prevented it from rolling. This gave Nancy a new idea, and she fell to
work pulling the branches out of the way.
At last she was forced to stop for rest. Unmindful of the rain which had
now settled to a slow drizzle, she sat down on the trunk.
“It looks as though I’ll be here all night,” she mourned.
It was by far anything but comfortable on the wet trunk of the tree, and
presently Nancy got up, shook herself, and climbed into the roadster.
She was afraid that she would have to stay in that dismal place all
night.
After a short while the rain let up a little, and feeling restless she
again sought the tree trunk. Just then she heard a strange sound coming
from behind her.
“If only someone is coming to help me!” she murmured to herself.
She strained her eyes and soon made out the object, which proved to be a
large and shaggy dog. The animal, dripping with water, looked at Nancy
in mild wonder and came to a halt.
“Come here, doggy,” the girl cried. “Where is your master? Come here.”
Instead of accepting this invitation the dog gave himself a vigorous
shake which sent a shower of water over the girl and the roadster and
then turned and loped away among the trees.
“Even that dog doesn’t want to help me,” Nancy told herself and smiled
grimly.
Suddenly she sat up straight and listened. She could hear footsteps.
Someone was splashing through the mud and water, coming down the road
toward her.
“I hope it’s someone who can help me,” she thought hopefully, as she
sprang up from the tree trunk.
As the stranger came within range of the automobile headlights, she saw
that it was a girl. Nancy’s sympathy went out to her as she noted her
bedraggled appearance.
“I beg your pardon,” the girl began as she rushed up to where Nancy was
standing, “but I’m in desperate trouble. Could you help me reach River
Heights?”
Nancy, who recognized the voice, could scarcely believe her ears.
“Laura Pendleton!” she exclaimed.
The girl started violently as her name was spoken. For the first time
she peered intently at Nancy.
“Oh!” she gasped in astonishment. “I couldn’t see your face against
those bright headlights!”
Nancy saw plainly that Laura was agitated about something, and it was
evident that she had been running, for she was breathing hard. She wore
no head covering and the thin coat which she had flung over her
shoulders afforded little protection from the rain. Laura was indeed a
sorry sight.
“What is the matter?” Nancy demanded quickly. “Why, you’re crying.”
Laura sank down on the tree trunk and sobbed.
“Oh, everything, Nancy! Everything!”
Nancy Drew slipped her arm gently about the girl.
“You shouldn’t be out in the storm,” she chided her. “What is your
guardian thinking of to let you expose yourself this way?”
“My guardian! Oh, I don’t want to hear his name! I hope I never see him
again!”
“You’re not running away, Laura?”
“Yes, I am. I couldn’t stand it another minute.”
“You were trying to get to River Heights?”
“Yes, I thought you might help me. I’ve no other person to whom I can
turn.”
“Why, you poor dear!” Nancy comforted her. “Of course I’ll help you. I
haven’t forgotten my promise.”
“Then you’ll take me away!”
“Just as soon as I can get this tree out of our path. I’m on my way to
River Heights now, and you shall go with me.”
“What are you doing on the Melrose Lake road? This is the most desolate
place. I didn’t think anyone came here unless he was forced to.”
“That’s why I came,” Nancy informed her grimly. “There was a detour on
the regular road. Then the storm caught me, and finally this tree! When
the lightning struck it, I thought sure I was doomed.”
“You must have had a narrow escape,” Laura observed.
“Too narrow for comfort,” and Nancy laughed shortly. “That tree didn’t
miss me by many feet! As it is, some of the branches are still touching
the front of the car.”
“What are you going to do, Nancy? Shall you be able to get through?”
“That’s what I don’t know. Are there any houses near here?”
Laura shuddered.
“My guardian’s bungalow is only a mile away.”
“Well, we won’t call on him for help.”
“Oh, if he’d find me here, I don’t know what he’d do to me.”
Nervously, Laura wrung her hands, and Nancy was afraid that she might
have another fit of weeping.
“Jacob Aborn won’t find you,” she assured the girl.
“Oh, Nancy, you don’t know what your kindness means to me,” Laura cried
gratefully. “You’ve promised to help me when you haven’t even heard my
story. I must tell you——”
“Not a word until we reach River Heights,” Nancy broke in. “We must both
get into dry clothing as quickly as we can. Here, climb into the car
where the rain won’t strike you.”
“I’m soaked to the skin already. It doesn’t make any difference now.”
“I must think of some way to get out of here,” Nancy said thoughtfully,
more to herself than to Laura. “Do you think you’re strong enough to
help me lift that tree? I think maybe we can do it together.”
“Oh, I’m sure we can,” Laura declared eagerly.
“Then let’s try.”
After pulling the branches away from the roadster, the two girls tugged
at the trunk. Although the tree was a small one, it was remarkably heavy
for its size. Laura and Nancy puffed and panted, but were rewarded for
their labors. Little by little they succeeded in moving the tree a short
way. Though pausing frequently to rest their arms, they kept at the
work.
[Illustration: LITTLE BY LITTLE THEY SUCCEEDED IN MOVING THE TREE A
SHORT WAY.]
“I believe I can get through now,” Nancy decided at length. “Let’s try
it, anyway.”
The girls clambered into the roadster, and Nancy started the engine.
Proceeding cautiously at the very edge of the road, she drove the car
forward. Several small branches struck the body and sides of the
roadster, but did no damage other than to scrape off a little paint.
“Well, we got through!” Nancy declared in relief. “Now for River
Heights!”
“These roads are terrible,” Laura commented anxiously. “Do you think
we’ll make it?”
“We’ll be home inside of half an hour,” Nancy assured her confidently,
“and the first thing you must do when we get there is to change your wet
clothing and go to bed. Just try to relax now.”
Laura attempted to obey, but it was obvious that she was suffering from
a nervous shock. Nancy Drew longed to question her concerning her
troubles, but she felt it would be unwise, for Laura was on the verge of
becoming hysterical. What she needed was quiet and rest.
There would be ample time to hear the story after they reached River
Heights, Nancy told herself.