Chapter 14 The Clue of the Broken Locket by Carolyn Keene
A Chase Overland
“She’s heading for the railroad station, I believe!” Nancy told herself, glimpsing the steel tracks which, far in the distance, ran parallel to the grounds of the Selkirk Home. “Maybe I can catch her!”
To the amazement of several attendants nearby, she darted from the office and fairly flew through the halls. Frantically she looked about for her chums. They had wandered to the far corners of the grounds.
“Bess! George!” she called. “Hurry!”
The girls moved toward her with provoking indolence. It was not until she beckoned to them excitedly that they hastened their steps. Nancy had the motor of her car started by the time they came up.
“What’s the hurry?” George asked in surprise. “What happened?”
“I’ll explain everything as we go along,” Nancy said tersely. “Get in, quick!”
The girls obeyed with alacrity, for they realized now that something was afoot. As they shot down a side street leading to the railway station, Nancy indicated the fleeing woman who could be seen some distance ahead of them.
“Keep your eye on her!” she directed. “It’s Ruth Brown, the mysterious person we’ve been seeking. We must overtake her!”
Since Nancy was driving and the woman was on foot, to catch up to her appeared to be a simple matter. However, the girls had not counted upon a long bridge and a double-decked truck which was hauling cars from a factory. The truck reached the bridge first and Nancy was forced to crawl along behind it.
“There should be a law against such vehicles!” George fumed. “That truck is just four times the average length.”
Nancy made no response, for she was watching Ruth Brown. The woman turned in at the railway station and was lost to view.
“We’ll get up to her, all right,” Bess said confidently. “She probably went in to buy a ticket.”
Scarcely fifty yards beyond the bridge, at a point where another road joined the street, glared a warning sign.
“Detour!” it read.
“This is maddening!” Nancy exclaimed impatiently, swinging the car into the only clear road. “If we lose sight of that woman, all my plans will be thwarted.”
The train came thundering into the station while the girls were still some distance from it. As Nancy brought the automobile to a quivering halt in the parking space alongside the depot, the last of the passengers were entering the coaches.
“There she is!” George cried.
Nancy caught a glimpse of Ruth Brown disappearing into the car. Her suitcase was handed up after her.
Nancy flung herself out of the automobile, intending to board the train herself. But she was too late. It began to move, rapidly picking up speed.
“Don’t try to board!” Bess called frantically, fearful lest Nancy recklessly might attempt it.
“There goes Ruth Brown again,” George groaned. “Such luck!”
Nancy lost no time in bemoaning the situation. She turned and ran into the station, but was back again in an instant, hurling herself into the driver’s seat.
“That woman bought a ticket to River Heights!” she informed them tensely. “Are you girls game for a speedy ride?”
“Let’s go!” George urged. “We can race the train!”
Bess was far from eager to take such a reckless drive, but she said nothing.
The road to River Heights was unusually straight and smooth. For the greater part of the way the pavement ran parallel with the railroad tracks. Nancy had counted upon these factors.
She drove fast upon the heels of the retreating train. As Nancy pressed deeper upon the accelerator, the distance slowly decreased.
“This is some ride!” George screamed into the wind, which tore by like a hurricane.
Bess gripped the edge of her seat. She had never ridden so fast before in all her life.
Nancy leaned low over the wheel, her eyes fastened upon the ribbon of road ahead. Little by little they were gaining on the train. Trees and telephone poles whizzed by.
“The salesman told me this car was built for speed,” Nancy murmured grimly. “Now I know he was right.”
River Heights loomed up in the distance. The train whistled for the crossing.
Nancy was now racing even. The girls thought the engineer was waving them on; but as the train whistled several sharp, shrill blasts, they suddenly realized that the trainmen were trying to warn them of the crossing.
“Slow down!” Bess screamed. “Don’t try to cross ahead of the train! I’d rather lose that woman than my life!”
Nancy had not forgotten the crossing. She had carefully calculated her speed and felt that she had ample time to make it. However, even for the sake of overtaking Ruth Brown, she would not risk her life nor that of her friends.
She brought the car to a grinding halt as they watched the train rumble by. The River Heights station was just around the bend. The train slowed down for it, giving Nancy an opportunity to make up for the time she had lost at the crossing.
“We’re in time!” Bess cried joyfully, as they drove into the gravel parking space adjoining the station. “The passengers are just alighting!”
Eagerly they surveyed those who stepped from the train. Ruth Brown was one of the last to leave.
“So she did come here!” cried Bess.
“I’m going to speak to her!” Nancy announced.
She hurried forward and reached the woman just as she picked up her suitcase from the station platform.
“Miss Brown, I believe?”
The woman glanced up, startled.
“Why, yes, that is my name. I don’t believe I know you.”
“I am Nancy Drew,” the girl returned, watching her companion closely. “Carson Drew’s daughter.”
“Oh!”
The telltale blood rushed to Ruth Brown’s face. Nancy was sure then that it was she who had sent the telegram. She drew the woman to a secluded corner of the station where passers-by could not overhear their conversation.
“Father and I are your friends, Miss Brown,” she said gently. “Please don’t be frightened.”
The woman laughed.
“Did I look so? I didn’t mean to. I suppose I have a great deal to explain.”
“It would simplify matters if you would do so,” Nancy said kindly. “Father and I are doing everything possible to untangle the unfortunate adoption of the Blair twins. We need your coöperation.”
At mention of the twins, Ruth Brown’s face became a study. Impulsively, she gripped Nancy’s wrist.
“Oh, can’t they be saved from those dreadful people?”
“She is the babies’ mother!” Nancy thought with conviction. Aloud she said, “If you will help us, I think matters perhaps can be righted.”
“Oh, I’ll do anything you suggest if it’s in my power.”
Nancy nodded sympathetically.
“You were their nurse at the Selkirk Foundling Home, weren’t you?”
Ruth Brown laughed nervously.
“I see I have no secrets from you, Miss Drew.”
“I wish you would tell me your story.”
“There isn’t much to tell. It’s true I was the babies’ nurse.”
“You found the babies in the first place, didn’t you?”
“Yes.” The woman made the confession unwillingly. “I loved the children at first sight. I wanted them for my own, but I couldn’t afford to keep them. I am very poor.”
Her eyes dropped, as if she were conscious of the shabby suit, the old felt hat, the worn purse. Her suitcase, too, was of poor quality and much worn. The wages of a nurse at an orphan home were small.
“I placed the twins in the Home,” Miss Brown continued in a low tone. “I felt I had to be near them, so I secured a position as their nurse.”
“And when they left, did you leave, too?”
“Yes, Mrs. Roberts failed to tell me that the babies were to be adopted until the very last minute. I was away from the Home when the Blairs first called.”
“It was a shock to you to lose the twins, wasn’t it?”
“To such people as the Blairs—yes. I was much upset. I know now that I shouldn’t have sent the telegram to your father.”
“I am very glad that you did,” Nancy told her sympathetically.
“In my anxiety over the babies, I left the Home without taking any of my clothes,” the woman explained. “That was why I went back today.”
During the recital, Nancy had been studying Ruth Brown’s face. She was more than half convinced that the woman was the real mother of the children. The nurse’s distress over the adoption seemed to confirm this suspicion.
“It’s good of you to take such an interest in the case,” she continued wearily, reaching down for her suitcase, “but I’ve come to the conclusion that nothing can be done for the babies. The papers have been signed.”
Nancy was unwilling to lose track of the nurse so soon.
“I wish you would talk with my father,” she urged. “Why not come to the house with me now?”
Miss Brown hesitated.
“Father may be able to think of some legal way in which to wrest the twins from the Blairs. Do come!” begged Nancy.
“If you really want me to, I will.”
Nancy led the way to the car where she introduced the gaping George and Bess to Miss Brown. The girls climbed into the rumble-seat, and bade the young woman good-bye at their respective homes.
Nancy, her father and Miss Brown had a long talk at the Drew residence. The attorney could glean no further information from the nurse. However, she told him a straightforward story, never varying in a single detail from her first account.
Nancy had hoped that her father might think of some way in which to aid the unfortunate woman. Although the lawyer plainly had Miss Brown’s interests at heart, he was devoid of ideas as to how he might assist her in the matter.
Nancy took but little part in the conversation, for she was thinking. Slowly a plan began to evolve in her mind. Excusing herself, she ran to the telephone and called the Jolly Folly estate. She was relieved when the maid told her that Kitty Blair was at home.
“I’ve been having the most dreadful time,” the actress wailed before the girl had an opportunity to speak. “Colleen has run off on a date with her friend and the twins are screaming their heads off!”
This was the very opening Nancy wanted. With an eloquence which surprised herself, she convinced Mrs. Blair that she needed an extra nurse, one especially trained to care for babies.
“I know just such a person, too,” she concluded. “A wonderful nurse who has had years of experience.”
“Send her out and I’ll interview her,” the actress said. “At least, she can’t be any worse than Colleen.”
With a delighted chuckle, Nancy hung up the receiver. She felt that everything was working out as she had planned. The babies were assured of an excellent nurse, Ruth Brown would be happy to have them in her care again, and peace would descend upon the Blair household.
“If Ruth Brown really is the twins’ mother, she’ll be unspeakably happy to take charge of them!” she thought.
Returning to the study, Nancy quickly mentioned the offer Mrs. Blair had made.
“I am confident she will employ you, Miss Brown, if you will call at the estate tomorrow.”
Mr. Drew nodded approvingly. He felt that Nancy had found an easy way out of an awkward situation.
Only Miss Brown looked downcast.
“Why, can’t you take the position?” Nancy questioned, as the woman remained silent.
“I’m sorry, I wish I could. I love the babies as if they were my own, but nothing could induce me to work at Jolly Folly!”
Nancy saw all her plans completely frustrated. Her theories, too. In refusing the offer, Miss Brown had made it evident that she was not the mother of the twins.
The parents of Jay and Janet still remained a mystery.