The Secret of the Old Clock - Carolyn Keene [25]
The meal over, she was rushed from one activity to another. The girls insisted that she join them in a hike. Then came a cooling dip in the lake. Nancy enjoyed herself immensely, but the Crowley mystery was never far from her mind.
“I must find out where the Tophams’ cottage is located,” she reminded herself. “And next, manage to go there alone.”
Nancy’s opportunity to accomplish the first part of her quest came when Helen suggested about five o’clock, “How about going for a ride around the lake in the camp launch? There’s just time before supper.”
“Wonderful!” Nancy accepted readily. “By the way, can you see many of the summer cottages from the water?”
“Oh, yes. Lots of them.”
Helen led her friend down to a small dock and with four other girls climbed into the launch, a medium-sized craft.
As one of the campers started the motor, Helen remarked, “It’s always a relief to us when this engine starts. Once in a while it balks, but you never know when or where.”
“Yes,” spoke up a girl named Barby. “And when you’re stuck this time of year, you’re stuck. There are hardly any cottagers up here yet, so their boats are still in winter storage.”
As the little launch turned out into the lake, Nancy was entranced with the beautiful sight before her. The delicate azure blue of the sky and the mellow gold of the late afternoon sun were reflected in the shimmering surface of the water.
“What a lovely scene for an oil painting!” she thought.
As they sped along, however, Nancy kept glancing at the cottages, intermingled with tall evergreen trees that bordered the shore line.
“The Tophams have a bungalow up here, haven’t they?” she questioned casually.
“Yes, it’s across the lake,” Helen replied. “We’ll come to it soon.”
“Is anyone staying there now?”
“Oh, no, the cottage is closed. It’s being looked after by Jeff Tucker, the caretaker. He’s the tallest, skinniest man I’ve ever seen outside a circus.”
“Is it hard to get to the place?”
“Not if you go by launch. But it’s a long way if you take the road around the lake.” Helen looked at her friend. “I didn’t know you were particularly interested in the Tophams, Nancy.”
“Oh, they’re not friends of mine, as you know,” Nancy returned hastily. “I was merely curious.”
After a time, as the launch slowed down and chugged along close to shore, Helen pointed out a wide path through the woods. At the end of it stood a large, rambling white cottage.
“That’s the Topham place,” she said.
Trying not to appear too eager, Nancy looked intently at the bungalow. She made a quick mental note of its location.
“Tomorrow I’ll visit that place and try to solve the mystery!” she told herself.
CHAPTER XI
An Unexpected Adventure
NANCY awoke the next morning to the fragrant odor of pines. Eager to start out for the Topham bungalow, she dressed quickly.
But in her plans she had reckoned without Helen Corning and her friends. From the moment breakfast was over, Nancy was swept into another whirlwind of activity by the campers of Avondale. The entire day passed without a chance for her to break away.
“Oh, Helen!” Nancy groaned as she tumbled into bed that night. “Tennis matches, canoe races, swimming, water skiing—it’s been fun. But tomorrow I think I’ll stay out of the activities.”
Helen laughed gaily. “You’ll change your mind after a sound sleep, Nancy. Wait and see.”
For answer, Nancy murmured a sleepy good night. But even as she slipped into slumber, she vowed that in the morning she would not be deterred again from visiting the Tophams’ summer place!
After breakfast the next day, Nancy stood firm in her resolve. When Helen urged her to accompany the girls on an all-day hike, Nancy shook her head.
“Thanks a lot, but please excuse me today, Helen.”
Normally Nancy would have loved going on such a hike. But she had to achieve her plan of sleuthing. Helen, though disappointed, heeded her friend’s plea and