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poison his food in a restaurant, or—"Helen and her aunt gasped. "It's thatbad?" Helen asked, her eyes growingwide.Nancy explained that she would talk toher father when he returned home. "I hateto disappoint you," she said, "but you cansee what a quandary I'm in.""You poor girl!" said Mrs. Hayessympathetically. "Now don't you worryabout us."Nancy smiled. "I'll worry whether Icome or not," she said. "Anyway, I'll talkto my dad tonight."The callers left shortly. When the doorhad closed behind them, Hannah put anarm around Nancy's shoulders. "I'm sureeverything will come out all right for

everybody," she said. "I'm sorry I talkedabout those dreadful things that mighthappen to your father. I let my imaginationrun away with me, just like they say MissFlora's does with her.""You're a great comfort, Hannahdear," said Nancy. "To tell the truth, Ihave thought of all kinds of horrible thingsmyself." She began to pace the floor. "Iwish Dad would get home."During the next hour she went to thewindow at least a dozen times, hoping tosee her father's car coming up the street. Itwas not until six o'clock that she heard thecrunch of wheels on the driveway and sawMr. Drew's sedan pull into the garage."He's safe!" she cried out to Hannah,who was testing potatoes that were baking

in the oven.In a flash Nancy was out the back doorand running to meet her father. "Oh, Dad,I'm so glad to see you!" she exclaimed.She gave him a tremendous hug and aresoundingkiss.Herespondedaffectionately, but gave a little chuckle."What have I done to rate this extra bit ofattention?" he teased. With a wink headded, "I know. Your date for tonight isoff and you want me to substitute.""Oh, Dad," Nancy replied. "Of coursemy date's not off. But I'm just about to callit off.""Why?" Mr. Drew questioned. "Isn'tDirk going to stay on your list?""It's not that," Nancy replied. "It'sbecause— because you're in terrible

danger, Dad. I've been warned not toleave you."Instead of looking alarmed, the lawyerburst out laughing. "In terrible danger ofwhat? Are you going to make a raid on mywallet?""Dad, be serious! I really mean whatI'm saying. Nathan Comber was here andtold me that you're in great danger and I'dbetter stay with you at all times."The lawyer sobered at once. "Thatpest again!" he exclaimed. "There aretimes when I'd like to thrash the man tillhe begged for mercy!"Mr. Drew suggested that they postponetheir discussion about Nathan Comberuntil dinner was over. Then he would tellhis daughter the true facts in the case.

After they had finished dinner, Hannahinsisted upon tidying up alone while fatherand daughter talked."I will admit that there is a bit of amuddle about the railroad bridge," Mr.Drew began. "What happened was that thelawyer who went to get Willie Wharton'ssignature was very ill at the time.Unfortunately, he failed to have thesignature witnessed or have the attachedcertificate of acknowledgment executed.The poor man passed away a few hourslater.""And the other railroad lawyers failedto notice that the signature hadn't beenwitnessed or the certificate notarized?"Nancy asked."Not right away. The matter did not

come to light until the man's widow turnedhis brief case over to the railroad. The olddeed to Wharton's property was there, sothe lawyers assumed that the signature onthe contract was genuine. The contract forthe railroad bridge was awarded andwork began. Suddenly Nathan Comberappeared, saying he represented WillieWharton and others who had ownedproperty which the railroad had bought oneither side of the Muskoka River.""I understood from Mr. Comber," saidNancy, "that Willie Wharton is trying toget more money for his neighbors byholding out for a higher price himself.""That's the story. Personally, I thinkit's a sharp deal on Comber's part. Themore people he can get money for, the

higher his commission," Mr. Drew stated."What a mess!" Nancy exclaimed."And what can be done?""To tell the truth, there is little anyonecan do until Willie Wharton is found.Comber knows this, of course, and hasprobably advised Wharton to stay inhiding until the railroad agrees to giveeverybody more money."Nancy had been watching her fatherintently. Now she saw an expression ofeagerness come over his face. He leanedforward in his chair and said, "But I thinkI'm about to outwit Mr. Nathan Comber.I've had a tip that Willie Wharton is inChicago and I'm leaving Monday morningto find out."Mr. Drew went on, "I believe that

Wharton will say he did sign the contractof sale which the railroad company hasand will readily consent to having thecertificate of acknowledgment notarized.Then, of course, the railroad won't payhim or any of the other property ownersanother cent.""But, Dad, you still haven't convincedme you're not in danger," Nancy remindedhim."Nancy dear," her father replied, "Ifeel that I am not in danger. Comber isnothing but a blow-hard. I doubt that he orWillie Wharton or any of the otherproperty owners would resort to violenceto keep me from working on this case.He's just trying to scare me intopersuading the railroad to accede to his

demands."Nancy looked skeptical. "But don'tforget that you're about to go to Chicagoand produce the very man Comber andthose property owners don't want aroundhere just now.""I know." Mr. Drew nodded. "But Istill doubt if anyone would use force tokeep me from going." Laughingly thelawyer added, "So I won't need you as abodyguard, Nancy."His daughter gave a sigh ofresignation. "All right, Dad, you knowbest." She then proceeded to tell her fatherabout the Twin Elms mystery, which shehad been asked to solve. "If you approve,"Nancy said in conclusion, "I'd like to goover there with Helen."

Mr. Drew had listened with greatinterest. Now, after a few moments ofthought, he smiled. "Go by all means,Nancy. I realize you've been itching towork on a new case—and this sounds likea real challenge. But please be careful.""Oh, I will, Dad!" Nancy promised,her face lighting up. "Thanks a million."She jumped from her chair, gave her fathera kiss, then went to phone Helen the goodnews. It was arranged that the girls wouldgo to Twin Elms on Monday morning.Nancy returned to the living room,eager to discuss the mystery further. Herfather, however, glanced at his wristwatch. "Say, young lady, you'd better godress for that date of yours." He winked."I happen to know that Dirk doesn't like to

be kept waiting.""Especially by any of my mysteries."She laughed and hurried upstairs to changeinto a dance dress.Half an hour later Dirk Jacksonarrived. Nancy and the red-haired, formerhigh-school tennis champion drove off topick up another couple and attend anamateur play and dance given by the localLittle Theater group.Nancy thoroughly enjoyed herself andwas sorry when the affair ended. With thepromise of another date as soon as shereturned from Twin Elms , Nancy saidgood night and waved from her doorwayto the departing boy. As she prepared forbed, she thought of the play, the excellentorchestra, how lucky she was to have Dirk

for a date, and what fun it had all been.But then her thoughts turned to HelenCorning and her relatives in the hauntedhouse, Twin Elms."I can hardly wait for Monday tocome," she murmured to herself as she fellasleep.The following morning she and her fatherattended church together. Hannah said shewas going to a special service thatafternoon and therefore would stay athome during the morning."I'll have a good dinner waiting foryou," she announced, as the Drews left.After the service was over, Mr. Drewsaid he would like to drive down to thewaterfront and see what progress hadbeen made on the new bridge. "The

railroad is going ahead with constructionon the far side of the river," he toldNancy."Is the Wharton property on this side?"Nancy asked."Yes. And I must get to the truth of thismixed-up situation, so that work can bestarted on this side too."Mr. Drew wound among the manystreets leading down to the MuskokaRi ver, then took the vehicular bridgeacross. He turned toward the constructionarea and presently parked his car. As heand Nancy stepped from the sedan, helooked ruefully at her pumps."It's going to be rough walking downto the waterfront," he said. "Perhaps youhad better wait here."

"Oh, I'll be all right," Nancy assuredhim. "I'd like to see what's being done."Various pieces of large machinerystood about on the high ground—a crane, aderrick, and hydraulic shovels. As theDrews walked toward the river, theypassed a large truck. It faced the river andstood at the top of an incline just abovetwo of the four enormous concrete pierswhich had already been built."I suppose there will be matchingpiers on the opposite side," Nancy mused,as she and her father reached theriverbank. They paused in the spacebetween the two huge abutments. Mr.Drew glanced from side to side as if hehad heard something. Suddenly Nancydetected a noise behind them.

Turning, she was horrified to see thatthe big truck was moving toward them. Noone was at the wheel and the great vehiclewas gathering speed at every moment."Dad!" she screamed.In the brief second of warning, thetruck almost seemed to leap toward thewater. Nancy and her father, hemmed inby the concrete piers, had no way toescape being run down."Dive!" Mr. Drew ordered.Without hesitation, he and Nancy maderunning flat dives into the water, and witharms flailing and legs kicking, swamfuriously out of harm's way.The truck thundered into the water andsank immediately up to the cab. TheDrews turned and came back to the shore.

"Whew! That was a narrow escape!"the lawyer exclaimed, as he helped hisdaughter retrieve her pumps which hadcome off in the oozy bank. "And whatsights we are!" Nancy remarked."Indeed we are," her father agreed, asthey trudged up the incline. "I'd like to gethold of the workman who was carelessenough to leave that heavy truck on theslope without the brake on properly."Nancy was not so sure that the nearaccident was the fault of a carelessworkman. Nathan Comber had warned herthat Mr. Drew's life was in danger. Thethreat might already have been put intoaction!

CHAPTER IIIA Stolen Necklace"WE'D better get home in a hurry andchange our clothes," said Mr. Drew. "AndI'll call the contracting company to tellthem what happened.""And notify the police?" Nancysuggested.She dropped behind her father andgazed over the surrounding ground fortelltale footprints. Presently she sawseveral at the edge of the spot where thetruck had stood."Dad!" the young sleuth called out. "Imay have found a clue to explain how thattruck started downhill."Her father came back and looked at

the footprints. They definitely had notbeen made by a workman's boots."You may think me an old worrier,Dad," Nancy spoke up, "but thesefootprints, made by a man's businessshoes, convince me that somebodydeliberately tried to injure us with thattruck."The lawyer stared at his daughter.Then he looked down at the ground. Fromthe size of the shoe and the length of thestride one could easily perceive that thewearer of the shoes was not tall. Nancyasked her father if he thought one of theworkmen on the project could beresponsible."I just can't believe anyone associatedwith the contracting company would want

to injure us," Mr. Drew said.Nancy reminded her father of NathanComber's warning. "It might be one of theproperty owners, or even Willie Whartonhimself.""Wharton is short and has a smallfoot," the lawyer conceded. "And I mustadmit that these look like fresh footprints.As a matter of fact, they show thatwhoever was here ran off in a hurry. Hemay have released the brake on the truck,then jumped out and run away.""Yes," said Nancy. "And that meansthe attack was deliberate."Mr. Drew did not reply. He continuedwalking up the hill, lost in thought. Nancyfollowed and they climbed into the car.They drove home in silence, each puzzling

over the strange incident of the runawaytruck. Upon reaching the house, they weregreeted by a loud exclamation ofastonishment."My goodness!" Hannah Gruen criedout. "Whatever in the world happened toyou?"They explained hastily, then hurriedupstairs to bathe and change into dryclothes. By the time they reached the firstfloor again, Hannah had placed sherbetglasses filled with orange and grapefruitslices on the table. All during thedelicious dinner of spring lamb, rice andmushrooms, fresh peas and chocolateangel cake with vanilla ice cream, theconversation revolved around the railroadbridge mystery and then the haunted Twin

Elms mansion."I knew things wouldn't be quietaround here for long," Hannah Gruenremarked with a smile. "Tomorrow you'llboth be off on big adventures. I certainlywish you both success.""Thank you, Hannah," said Nancy. Shelaughed. "I'd better get a good night'ssleep. From now on I may be kept awakeby ghosts and strange noises.""I'm a little uneasy about your going toTwin Elms ," the housekeeper told her."Please promise me that you'll be careful.""Of course," Nancy replied. Turning toher father, she said, "Pretend I've said thesame thing to you about being careful."The lawyer chuckled and pounded hischest. "You know me. I can be pretty tough

when the need arises."Early the next morning Nancy droveher father to the airport in her blueconvertible. Just before she kissed himgood-by at the turnstile, he said, "I expectto return on Wednesday, Nancy. Suppose Istop off at Cliffwood and see how you'remaking out?""Wonderful, Dad! I'll be looking foryou."As soon as her father left, Nancydrove directly to Helen Coming's home.The pretty, brunette girl came from thefront door of the white cottage, swinging asuitcase. She tossed it into the rear ofNancy's convertible and climbed in."I ought to be scared," said Helen."Goodness only knows what's ahead of us.

But right now I'm so happy nothing couldupset me.""What happened?" Nancy asked as shestarted the car. "Did you inherit amillion?""Something better than that," Helenreplied. "Nancy, I want to tell you a big,big secret. I'm going to be married!"Nancy slowed the car and pulled tothe side of the street. Leaning over to hugher friend, she said, "Why, Helen, howwonderful! Who is he? And tell me allabout it. This is rather sudden, isn't it?""Yes, it is," Helen confessed. "Hisname is Jim Archer and he's simply out ofthis world. I'm a pretty lucky girl. I methim a couple of months ago when he washome on a short vacation. He works for

the Tristam Oil Company and has spenttwo years abroad. Jim will be away awhile longer, and then be given a positionhere in the States."As Nancy started the car up oncemore, her eyes twinkled. "Helen Corning,have you been engaged for two monthsand didn't tell me?"Helen shook her head. "Jim and I havebeen corresponding ever since he left.Last night he telephoned from overseasand asked me to marry him." Helengiggled. "I said yes in a big hurry. Then heasked to speak to Dad. My father gave hisconsent but insisted that our engagementnot be announced until Jim's return to thiscountry."The two girls discussed all sorts of

delightful plans for Helen's wedding andbefore they knew it they had reached thetown of Cliffwood."My great-grandmother's estate isabout two miles out of town," Helen said."Go down Main Street and turn right at thefork."Ten minutes later she pointed out TwinElms, From the road one could see littleof the house. A high stone wall ran alongthe front of the estate and beyond it weremany tall trees. Nancy turned into thedriveway which twisted and woundamong elms, oaks, and maples.Presently the old Colonial home cameinto view. Helen said it had been built in1785 and had been given its name becauseof the two elm trees which stood at

opposite ends of the long building. Theyhad grown to be giants and their foliagewas beautiful. The mansion was of redbrick and nearly all the walls werecovered with ivy. There was a ten-footporch with tall white pillars at the hugefront door."It's charming!" Nancy commented asshe pulled up to the porch."Wait until you see the grounds," saidHelen. "There are several old, oldbuildings. An icehouse, a smokehouse, akitchen, and servants' cottages.""The mansion certainly doesn't lookspooky from the outside," Nancycommented.At that moment the great door openedand Aunt Rosemary came outside. "Hello,

girls," she greeted them. "I'm so glad tosee you."Nancy felt the warmness of thewelcome but thought that it was tingedwith worry. She wondered if another"ghost" incident had taken place at themansion.The girls took their suitcases from thecar and followed Mrs. Hayes inside.Although the furnishings looked ratherworn, they were still very beautiful. Thehigh-ceilinged rooms opened off a centerhall and in a quick glance Nancy sawlovely damask draperies, satin-coveredsofas and chairs, and on the walls, familyportraits in large gilt frames of scrollworkdesign.Aunt Rosemary went to the foot of the

shabbily carpeted stairway, took hold ofthe handsome mahogany balustrade, andcalled, "Mother, the girls are here!"In a moment a slender, frail-lookingwoman with snow-white hair started todescend the steps. Her face, though olderin appearance than Rosemary's, had thesame gentle smile. As Miss Flora reachedthe foot of the stairs, she held out herhands to both girls.At once Helen said, "I'd like to presentNancy Drew, Miss Flora.""I'm so glad you could come, mydear," the elderly woman said. "I knowthat you're going to solve this mysterywhich has been bothering Rosemary andme. I'm sorry not to be able to entertainyou more auspiciously, but a haunted

house hardly lends itself to gaiety."The dainty, yet stately, Miss Floraswept toward a room which she referredto as the parlor. It was opposite thelibrary. She sat down in a high-backedchair and asked everyone else to beseated."Mother," said Aunt Rosemary, "wedon't have to be so formal with Nancy andHelen. I'm sure they'll understand thatwe've just been badly frightened." Sheturned toward the girls. "Somethinghappened a little while ago that has madeus very jittery.""Yes," Miss Flora said. "A pearlnecklace of mine was stolen!""You don't mean th

NANCY DREW began peeling off her garden gloves as she ran up the porch steps and into the hall to answer the ringing telephone. She picked it up and said, "Hello!" "Hi, Nancy! This is Helen." Although Helen Corning was nearly three years older than Nancy, the two girls were close friends. "Are you tied up on a case?" Helen