LAURA BEGINS TO WORRY
Not without misgiving, Laura Pendleton stood at the window of the Carson
Drew residence and watched Nancy start off for Melrose Lake in her
roadster.
“Perhaps I shouldn’t have allowed her to take that note to my guardian,”
she thought uneasily. “Nancy is going to a great deal of trouble and
risk for me. I’m afraid it isn’t fair to involve her in my affairs.”
After a time, she entered the library and tried to interest herself in a
novel. She found she could not remember a word she had read, so laid the
book aside in a little while. Walking restlessly to the window, she
glanced out.
“I may as well do some shopping,” she decided. “It will help me kill the
time and help me forget my troubles.”
She told Hannah Gruen where she was going, and then started off afoot
for the business section of River Heights. The day was a pleasant one,
and as she walked briskly along, her worries seemed less real.
Reaching a department store, Laura entered and purchased a few articles
for which she had urgent need. In her hasty departure from Melrose Lake,
she had forgotten a great many things. However, she made her purchases
with the utmost caution, for with the exception of a twenty dollar bill
in her purse, she was without funds. When that was gone she did not know
what she would do.
“I’ll never sell or pawn mother’s jewels, even if I starve,” she told
herself. “I’ll manage some way. Perhaps Nancy will help me find work.”
Carrying her packages with her, Laura walked slowly back to the Drew
residence. Already, the evening shadows were beginning to gather. In
another hour or two it would be dark. As she passed the garage, she
noticed that it was empty. Nancy had not returned.
“I do hope she gets back before dark,” Laura thought anxiously.
Entering the house, she had not had time to put away her things when the
telephone jangled. A minute later, the housekeeper told her that there
was a long-distance telephone call for her.
“It’s from Miss Nancy, I think,” Hannah Gruen said.
“Oh, I hope nothing has happened!”
Eagerly, Laura snatched up the telephone receiver. Nancy’s quiet voice
at the other end of the wire reassured her. However, as she listened to
her friend’s daring plan, she was somewhat alarmed. Still, other than to
warn Nancy to be careful, she made no protest, for she felt that her
friend’s judgment was probably better than her own.
“If I’m not back or haven’t telephoned within twenty-four hours, send
the police to your guardian’s bungalow,” Nancy told her.
Laura promised, and a moment later hung up. Before she turned away from
the telephone, she regretted that she had not asked Nancy to give up her
plan.
“She doesn’t realize what a mean man Jacob Aborn is,” she told herself.
“If he catches her prowling about the bungalow at night there’s no
telling what he may do.”
Tempted to call Nancy back, she picked up the telephone again. With her
hand on the receiver, she hesitated.
“I’m just a little coward,” she accused herself. “I’ll not let my nerves
get the best of me this time.”
Resolutely she turned away. Presently, Hannah called her to dinner, and
she made a pretense of eating, but was relieved when the dessert dishes
were cleared away. Returning to the living room, she tried to read the
evening paper. The hours dragged slowly along, and still there was no
sign of Nancy. Several times Laura walked to the window and cast a
hopeful glance down the driveway.
“I suppose it’s too early to expect her home,” she told herself.
As she crossed to the window for perhaps the tenth time that evening she
was surprised to see a tall, elderly man coming up the walk toward the
house. Although Laura had never seen him before, she was instantly
convinced that it was Carson Drew.
He thrust open the front door and his eyes fell upon her.
“Hello, Nancy,” he called. “It’s good to get back home again! Oh, I beg
your pardon! I couldn’t see your face. I thought you were my daughter.”
“I don’t wonder you are surprised to find a stranger in your home,”
Laura said, with a friendly smile.
Quickly, she introduced herself and told Carson Drew what had happened
and why Nancy had gone to Melrose Lake. She ended by apologizing for her
presence in the house.
“You’re entirely welcome to our hospitality,” Mr. Drew assured her
cordially when she had finished her story. “But I’ll admit I’m rather
worried about Nancy. Tell me more about that guardian of yours. What
does he look like?”
Laura gave a detailed description of the man.
“H-m! Did you say that his name is Jacob Aborn? Wait a minute.”
Walking over to the desk he began to rummage in a drawer. Laura noticed
the stern expression on his face and was troubled.
After a brief search, Carson Drew brought out a small photograph and
handed it to Laura.
“Is that your guardian?”
Laura stared at the photograph in amazement.
“Why, it is! It’s Jacob Aborn!”
Carson Drew shook his head.
“That man is Stumpy Dowd.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Stumpy Dowd is a clever criminal. He has a long police record. Just now
he is at large.”
“Stumpy Dowd!” Laura exclaimed in horror. “You mean my guardian is a
criminal?”
“It looks that way, and a particularly tough one at that.”
“And Nancy has gone up there to see him! What if something should happen
to her!”
“We must get in touch with her at once! Do you know the hotel where she
is staying?”
“Yes. But it’s pretty late now. Perhaps she isn’t there.”
“That’s what we want to find out.”
Now thoroughly excited, Laura ran to the telephone and placed a call to
the Beach Cliff Hotel. Impatiently, Carson Drew waited for a response.
When the bell finally rang, he snatched up the receiver.
“Hello?” he said eagerly.
It was the voice of the hotel telephone operator that greeted him.
“We are unable to reach your party. Miss Drew is not in her room.”
Carson Drew turned from the telephone, a drawn expression upon his face.
“She’s not in,” he informed Laura. “That may mean anything, and again it
may not. I’m afraid Nancy is in trouble!”
“Oh, what shall we do?”
“I must go to Melrose Lake as quickly as I can.”
“May I go too? It was my fault that Nancy went there, and I want to help
if I can.”
“We may run into danger.”
“I’m not afraid.”
Laura, who by nature was timid, had suddenly become calm and determined.
“Then get your things quickly.”
As Carson Drew issued the order, he jerked open a drawer in the table
and pulled out a revolver. Hastily loading it, he stuck it in his
pocket.
“I’m ready,” Laura announced.
Rushing from the house, they climbed into Mr. Drew’s brown sedan. He
backed out of the garage and without stopping to close the doors behind
him, headed toward Melrose Lake.
“Oh, I hope we get there in time!” Laura breathed.
Carson Drew made no response, but his hands clenched more tightly on the
steering wheel.