"Nina has talked about you so much. We have no children and we’ve always thought of Nina as our own.” The woman’s eyes clouded. “And now she is . . . under such tragic circumstances. I still can’t believe what has happened.”
Aaron Calisher looked searchingly at Nancy. "I know of your detective skills and I’m sure you want to help Nina. But please don’t try to reopen John Ford’s case. It could only cause more pain.”
"Mr. Calisher,” Nancy replied, “I do respect your opinion. But Nina is a responsible adult now and she has asked me to help. As long as John Ford’s disappearance remains a mystery and that safe is missing, we can’t give up.” Nancy’s listener reddened and his wife put her hand on his arm. He simply nodded. “I hope you won’t regret your decision.”
5. Nancy Gets an Assistant
Nancy was confident she had made the right decision, and Nina’s eyes showed her gratitude and faith in Nancy. Silently, the young detective watched the Calishers depart with Nina after insisting they pay the girls’ check.
When they were gone, Midge spoke again. “Hey, wasn’t that Nina Ford, the tennis player? Boy, am I hungry. I could eat a bear. Can I order a bear, Nancy?” She laughed.
Nancy didn’t focus on Midge right away. Her mind was filled with thoughts of the Calishers’ strange reaction. Then she became aware of the girl’s babbling and looked at her sternly.
“What are you doing in New Brighton? Why did you follow me to this coffee shop?”
Midge flashed a smile. “Didn’t I tell you I was a good detective? I’ll bet you can’t guess how I found out.”
Without answering, Nancy looked her straight in the eye and Midge knew the young detective was beginning to lose patience.
“Please don’t be angry with me,” the girl begged. “You practically said I was going to be your assistant!”
"All right,” Nancy said in a firm and quiet tone that her father sometimes used with her. "Stop dodging the issue, Midge. How did you know where I’d be and how did you get here?” Midge took a deep breath and cleared her throat. “Okay. Well, I got up early, you know, and I went over to your house and I hid on the floor of the back seat of your car.”
"Midge! You did no such thing. It was in the garage! Besides, when I drove it to the front of the house, I put my suitcase in the back seat— and you weren’t there.”
"I wasn’t?"
The pretended look of surprise on the girl’s lace almost forced Nancy to laugh. She wagged one forefinger at the tip of Midge’s nose.
“No,” said Nancy, “you weren’t and you know it.”
“Oh,” Midge replied weakly, “well, I guess I wasn’t but—”
“Now go on, tell the truth. I promise I won’t be angry,” she urged sympathetically.
There was a moment’s pause while Midge debated her answer. “Okay ... I hid in your trunk.”
“But the trunk was locked.” Nancy stared at Midge in disbelief.
“Remember when you drove out of the garage and parked in the drive? You put your suitcase in the back of the car and started to get in. Then you put the key in the ignition just as someone called to tell you Bess was on the phone, and you went back inside.”
Nancy nodded.
“Well, I was hiding behind the rose bushes right by the driveway. When you went into the house, I took the keys from the ignition and unlocked the trunk. Then I put the keys back and jumped in.”
Midge smiled. “I know I shouldn’t have done it, Nancy, but wasn’t it smart? I mean, haven’t you ever done anything like that?”
“But you could have suffocated.”
“I was ready for that, too. I had a piece of rope that I looped around your bumper. Then I tied the ends of the rope to the lid, leaving it open about an inch. That way I got plenty of air.”
Nancy leaned back in the booth and let out a sigh. She shook her head and looked at Midge. “Was that really so bad?” the girl asked.
“I was careful, wasn’t I? If I hadn’t been there and scared that guy when he tried to fool with your brakes, you might have had an accident. Doesn’t that count?”
Without speaking, Nancy stood up and motioned to her companion to follow her out of the restaurant. Midge looked back longingly at the menu but meekly obeyed. When they were out on the sidewalk, Nancy put her arm around Midge.
“All right,” she said, “I’m not going to scold you anymore, and the reason I didn’t order you any food is that there's a cooler full of scrumptious sandwiches in the car. In fact, I’m ready for some myself. That wasn’t the most satisfying lunch I’ve ever had—and it seems like ages ago!” Midge’s pout instantly became a hungry grin.
“I’m very grateful to you for your help,” Nancy continued seriously. “But you must remember you’re my responsibility. I can’t allow you to put yourself in danger. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to you.”
Midge nodded and bit her lip. “I know. I’m sorry. I promise you I’ll never do anything like that again.” Then she grabbed Nancy’s hand impulsively. “But now that we’ve got that settled, won’t you please say I can be your Dr. Watson?”
Nancy rumpled Midge’s hair and smiled at her. “Yes, you can be my Dr. Wats—” “Yippee!” Midge exploded. “I’m a red assistant! Oh thank you, Nancy!”
“Now wait a minute,” Nancy said. “Calm down. We have to figure out what you’re going to wear while you’re here.”
“Oh, no problem,” Midge cried. “I brought everything with me. My bag is in the trunk.” Nancy threw up her hands. “That was very resourceful of you! Well, let’s check in at the motel and call your dad and my dad.”
“You still call your dad to tell him where you are and what you’re doing?”
Nancy nodded. “Yes. Why? Do you think I’m too old to be doing that?”
“Kind of.”
“Let me tell you, Midge. No matter how old you are, your father will always worry about you, so it’s only fair to check in from time to time.”
Climbing into the blue car, the girls set off for the New Brighton Motor Lodge, where Nancy had been lucky to get a reservation. She and Midge were taken to a large and pleasant room. Typically for motels, it had two beds in it.
“Wow,” said Midge, “I’ve never been in a motel before. They give you towels and everything.” She turned on the television set. “Color television! Can we stay awhile?”
Nancy was dialing Mr. Watson in River Heights. “That,” she answered, “depends on what your dad says and how long this case lasts.”
When Nancy reached Midge’s father she explained to him how Midge came to be in New Brighton. Mr. Watson was relieved to know she was safe but was not too surprised, as Midge had left a note that said she’d gone to New Brighton to be with Nancy on an important case.
“I’d be grateful, Nancy, if you would look out for Midge the rest of the week. I have a chance to get work in another city where I’ll be staying with friends.”
“Oh, I’ll keep an eye on her, that’s for sure,” Nancy said, glancing at Midge with a smile.
After giving the girl time to talk with her father, Nancy took down his out-of-town number and wished him luck.
“What a feast!” Midge purred as Nancy laid the contents of the picnic basket on a table.
After the early supper was devoured, Nancy talked at length about the three mysteries: the disappearance of John Ford, the missing safe with the documents that could prove Mr. Ford’s innocence, and finally the threats to Nina and other tennis players.
Midge listened with great interest as Nancy outlined how they would proceed. To Nancy’s amusement, her new assistant whipped out an old notebook and the stub of a pencil and began taking notes. Nancy paced back and forth as she related the details given her by Nina.
“It’s not a whole lot of information to go with, Midge, but it’s a start,” she commented, then began to unpack her bag. “We ought to think about turning in early, Midge. This week’s going to be long, hard work—walking, searching, a
nd talking to people for hours.”
“Won’t bother me any,” Midge said with confidence. “But could you call me Watson1” Nancy laughed, then pretended to be very serious. “Harumph! Why, of course, Watson, old boy.”
Midge clapped her hands. “That sounds great,” she said. “Now what’s the first thing on our schedule tomorrow, Holmes?”
“What would you do first?” Nancy inquired. “Hmm,” Midge said, looking up at the ceiling. “Go through the police records?”
“You’re close, but we’ll do that the next day. Tomorrow we’re going to take a canoe ride.” Midge’s eyes popped wide. “What for?” “We’re heading down the New Brighton River to investigate the place where Mina’s father was last seen alive!”
6. River Adventure
It was still dark outside when Nancy felt Midge gently shaking her shoulder. “Nancy,” the girl whispered. “It’s getting light. Shouldn’t we be leaving?”
Nancy groaned and turned over to glance at her watch. “Midge—”
“Watson.”
“Watson, do you know it’s only five o’clock?” “Sure. Don’t we want to get an early start?” “Not this early.”
“But it’s supposed to rain this afternoon.” Nancy sat up. “I didn’t hear any weather report. Were you watching TV all night?”
Midge looked sheepish. “Not all night. I had this dream and woke up, so I turned the TV on real low. That’s how I found out about the rain.”
Nancy and Midge took showers, then dressed itnd went to the coffee shop for an early breakfast. By 6:30 they were in the car with a full Thermos and a bag of sandwiches prepared by the cook.
It was a sunny morning, but Nancy noted clouds on the horizon and realized that they could build into great thunderheads by late afternoon. She and her eager sidekick drove out of New Brighton and were enjoying the peaceful countryside.
Suddenly Nancy sensed a car’s engine roar growing louder. In her rear-view mirror she saw a dark blur become a green Chevy as it bore down on the two girls.
Spotting a crossroads ahead, Nancy steered her car toward the shoulder to allow the anxious pursuer to pass. But instead, the driver took a reckless turn across Nancy’s left fender, and careened off to the right, nearly running Nancy and Midge off the road. The two startled girls were badly jolted and Midge bumped against the car window.
“Wow!” Midge whispered, rubbing the lump on her forehead “My heart just tapped a new heat!”
“That Chevy seems to know our plans as well as we do!” Nancy said in between breaths. “You okay?”
“I think so—but someone sure doesn’t want us snooping around.”
“You still with me, Watson?”
Midge managed a pale grin. “More than ever!” she announced, and Nancy pulled slowly back onto the main road. Within minutes their car was at the bridge that spanned the New Brighton River. Although it was not very wide, it had a good flow of water.
“This is where it happened, Watson. The police car was headed in the same direction as we are. The river was high and beginning to lap over the roadway. The driver thought he could get across, but when he got halfway, there was a surge of water and a big tree trunk hit the bridge right about there.” She pointed to a section of the structure that had since been repaired.
“The car plunged into the water,” Nancy went on. “The policemen barely had time to get out, and claimed they couldn’t find Mr. Ford in the darkness and confusion. It was a miracle they made it to shore. Mr. Ford was handcuffed and didn’t have much of a chance. But we have to keep hoping he somehow survived.”
As they sat in the car at the side of the road Midge stared down the river. “It’s really spooky here.”
“My dad says this river is deceptive,” Nancy remarked. “The water seems very quiet along this stretch, but it’s dark, with strong undercurrents. According to Dad, most of the people who live along here are a bit strange.”
“What do you mean?” Midge asked.
“Well, the heavy foliage and rocky gullies make the riverbanks almost unapproachable from land. For that reason it was never developed, so the people who settle around here are usually loners.”
“You mean crooks?” Midge questioned. Nancy nodded, catching the excitement in the girl’s face. “Dad did say outlaws have been known to hide here from time to time.”
“Wow,” Midge said, “this is going to be thrilling.”
“Not too thrilling, I hope.” Nancy smiled. “You can swim, can’t you?”
“Like a fish.”
“Still, we’ll both have to wear life jackets to be on the safe side.”
The girls drove slowly across the bridge and turned down a side road that bore a sign BOATS and CANOES FOR RENT. After a few hundred yards, they came to a large, weathered shack. A loose wooden shutter provided shelter from the sun. A dozen rowboats and canoes were pulled up on the bank but no one was in sight.
Nancy and Midge walked from the car, Midge carrying their lunch.
“Hello,” Nancy called, “anybody home?” There was no answer, and Nancy peered into the darkened interior. A light wind began to blow and an eerie, creaking sound was heard. Midge shivered. “Spooky, just like the river.” Nancy agreed. She circled the shack looking for the proprietor. A sign near the door gave the hourly rate for boat rentals, and the price for taking a canoe down the New Brighton River to another boat landing ten miles south. A small notice at the bottom explained that the strong rapids prevented a return trip.
“I’ll just have to leave a note and a check,” Nancy said. “The car’s here, too, as security, so the owner shouldn’t be too upset if we borrow one of his boats.”
The girls chose a sleek silver canoe that looked to be in good condition. Nancy said, “We need paddles and life jackets, but I don’t know about going into a place with the owner not around—”
“He probably keeps the equipment in the shack,” Midge cut in. “And besides, we’ve paid for everything.”
As the girls timidly stepped inside, Midge wrinkled her nose. “Crummy. Not exactly a thriving business, is it?”
The first room held nothing but a battered old filing cabinet, two worn-out chairs, and a pile of clutter on the floor.
“The stuff must be in back,” Midge concluded, leading the way to a second room.
The next moment there was a crash and sudden darkness. “Stand where you are, you thieves!” a harsh voice boomed.
Midge yipped and clutched Nancy.
“We’re not thieves, whoever you are,” Nancy said as calmly as she could.
“We’ll see about that. Just come out here and don’t try anything funny.”
Nancy and Midge moved slowly out of the room to see a tall, heavy man replace the awning that had fallen. He turned to face them with small, glaring eyes.
“Then what are you doing snooping around here, if you’re not thieves?”
“We came here to rent a canoe,” Nancy answered politely. “We put a note and check under the rock in the doorway and had to come in here to look for paddles and life jackets.” The man growled and walked over to pick up the check. He glanced at it, then at Nancy. His ryes gleamed with a cunning light. “Nancy
Drew,” he said, reading the signature. “Well, how do I know this check is good?"
“I’ll give you cash if you prefer," Nancy offered, taking out her wallet. “Nov will you please get us our paddles and life jackets?” The beady eyes narrowed to black pinholes. “What do you want jackets for?”
“You know very well there are rapids,” she replied. “Besides, it’s against the law not to wear some kind of safety equipment in a boat.” Midge cut in, “And you don’t have to be so tough, mister. You’re talking to Nancy Drew, the most famous detective in the world.” Nancy motioned for Midge to be quiet, as the man got a pair of paddles and two life jackets from the back room. “Famous detective, huh? Well, I’ve never heard of you,” he grumbled. “Just be sure you turn this canoe in at the dock downriver, and don’t pu
t any holes in the boat or I’ll keep your car until you pay for it. And leave the keys.”
Midge’s mouth fell open and Nancy gave her the eye. “No, I don’t think that’s necessary. I paid you in advance and I left a deposit. I have no intention of stealing your canoe,” Nancy replied firmly and put the keys in a pouch she had strapped around her waist.
“Oh, get out of here,” the man snarled.
“You’re giving me an earache.”
After they had shoved off in the canoe, Midge, in the bow, asked, “Nancy, why was that man so horrible? What does he have against us?”
“Not us, Watson. Me. He does know me. But lie thinks I don’t know him. He’s an extremely dangerous man and I’d like to know what he’s up to in New Brighton.”
“Who is he?” Midge asked, her eyes round as saucers.
“His name is Bull Tolliver, and I was once told he vowed he’d get even with me if it was the last thing he ever did!”
7. Capsized!
On hearing Nancy’s chilling statement about Bull Tolliver, Midge turned around in her front seat so fast that she almost upset the canoe.
“What?” she cried. “He said he was going to get you? And he recognized you? And you recognized him? But you both pretended you didn’t know the other? Oh, Nancy, I don’t understand.”
“Sit still for a moment and I’ll explain,” Nancy said. “A while ago I helped convict some members of a burglary ring. The police couldn’t get any evidence on the man who received the gang’s stolen goods—the fence—and they never made an arrest. He left town, however, because his business was ruined when we broke up the burglary ring. He was heard saying that he was out to get me. I never saw him face to face, and he probably doesn’t realize I recognized him from seeing all those mug shots. Understand?”
“I see,” Midge said. “But Nancy, what are you going to do—call the police?”
“When I get a chance I’ll tell them he’s here, if they don’t already know. But unless he’s committed a crime and we can prove it, he can’t be arrested. That’s the law.”