The Secret of the Old Clock - Carolyn Keene [29]
There was no doubt now in Nancy’s mind. She was trapped by a clever gang of thieves! She could only continue to watch and listen helplessly from her hiding place.
The two men lifted the heavy piece of furniture and started with it to the door. But they did not move swiftly enough to satisfy the leader, and he berated them savagely.
Jake turned on him. “If you’re in such a hurry, why don’t you bring the van back to the driveway, instead of leaving it hidden on that road in the woods?”
“And have someone driving past here see us!” sneered the leader. “Now get going!”
Little by little the men stripped the room of everything valuable. Nancy was given no opportunity to escape. Sid remained in the room while the others made several trips to the van.
“Well, I guess we have all the stuff that’s worth anything now,” Sid muttered at last.
He turned to follow his companions, who already had left the room, but in the doorway he paused for a final careful survey of the room.
At that same moment Nancy felt an uncontrollable urge to sneeze. She tried to muffle the sound, but to no avail.
The thief wheeled about. “Hey! What—”
Walking directly to the closet, he flung open the door. Instantly he spotted Nancy and angrily jerked her out.
“Spying on us, eh?” he snarled.
Nancy faced the man defiantly. “I wasn’t spying on anyone.”
“Then what were you doing in that closet?” the thief demanded, his eyes narrowing to slits.
“I came to see the caretaker.”
“Looking for him in a funny place, ain’t you?” the man sneered.
Nancy realized that she was in a desperate situation. But she steeled herself not to show any of her inward fears.
“I must keep calm,” she told herself firmly. Aloud, she explained coolly, “I heard someone coming and I just felt a bit nervous.”
“Well, you’re going to be a lot more nervous,” the man said threateningly. “This will be the last time you’ll ever stick your nose in business that doesn’t concern you!”
A fresh wave of fright swept over Nancy, but resolutely she held on to her courage. “You have no right to be here, helping yourself to the Tophams’ furniture!” she retorted. “You should be turned over to the police!”
“Well, you’ll never get the chance to do it.” The ringleader laughed loudly. “You’ll wish you’d never come snoopin’ around here. I’ll give you the same treatment the caretaker got.”
“The caretaker!” Nancy gasped in horror. “What have you done to him?”
“You’ll find out in good time.”
Nancy gave a sudden agile twist, darted past the man, and raced for the door. The thief gave a cry of rage, and in one long leap overtook her. He caught Nancy roughly by the arm.
“Think you’re smart, eh?” he snarled. “Well, I’m smarter!”
Nancy struggled to get away. She twisted and squirmed, kicked and clawed. But she was helpless in the viselike grip of the powerful man.
“Let me go!” Nancy cried, struggling harder. “Let me go!”
Sid, ignoring her pleas, half dragged her across the room. Opening the closet door, he flung her inside.
Nancy heard a key turn.
“Now you can spy all you want!” Sid sneered. “But to make sure nobody’ll let you out, I’ll just take this key along.”
When Nancy could no longer hear the tramp of his heavy boots she was sure Sid had left the house. For a moment a feeling of great relief engulfed her.
But the next instant Nancy’s heart gave a leap. As she heard the muffled roar of the van starting up in the distance, a horrifying realization gripped her.
“They’ve left me here to—to starve!” she thought frantically.
CHAPTER XIII
The Frustrating Wait
AT FIRST Nancy was too frightened to think logically. She beat upon the door with her fists, but the heavy oak panels would not give way.
“Help! Help!” she screamed.
At last, exhausted by her efforts to force the door open, she sank down on the floor. The house was as silent as a tomb. Bad as her predicament was, Nancy felt thankful that enough air seeped into the closet to permit normal breathing.
Although she had little hope that there was anyone within miles of the cottage, Nancy