Exciting Evening

PATRICK Croft lived alone in a small house. When Nancy explained why the girls had come, he invited them inside. Before he sat down the sad-looking man offered them some candy he had made. They learned he was a bachelor and liked to cook. Nancy surmised that Mr. Croft was reserved and not apt to defend himself when any trouble arose.

“That’s too bad, ” the young detective told herself. “Maybe if Croft had been more aggressive, he wouldn’t have been dismissed from NASA.”

When Nancy queried him about the driver of the truck with the explosive oranges, Croft described him minutely.

At once Nancy thought, “It is true then that this man could have passed as Mr. Billington! ”

Croft went on, “The driver said he was Mr. Billington, whom I don’t know. He had all the proper credentials with him, so of course I let him in. The last I saw of him he was turning toward the food supply depot and I assumed that was where he went.”

“And he didn’t? ” George asked.

Mr. Croft smiled. “A guard got aboard and took him there. Fortunately the explosive oranges were discovered before any damage was done. But it’s my opinion he intended to blow up part of the rocket while it was still in the Vehicle Assembly Building.

“I’m mighty sorry about the whole thing, but I don’t think I should have been dismissed. The explosives had been put in the oranges very cleverly and they looked innocent enough in the sacks.

“I hope someday I’ll be reinstated.” Mr. Croft heaved a great sigh. “By the way, I was taken to identify Mr. Billington. He and the impostor look enough alike to be twins.”

The girls felt sorry for Croft. They realized his dismissal had been necessary. After the saboteur was caught, perhaps Croft would be exonerated.

Nancy told him that her father was the lawyer who had been retained to defend Mr. Billington, but that he in turn had engaged the services of Johnson Datsun.

Croft said he had heard of Mr. Datsun. “He’s a very fine lawyer. If anybody can straighten out this case, I’m sure he can.”

“But it’s not just a legal matter, ” Bess spoke up. “It’s a mystery too. Nancy’s an amateur detective and—”

Nancy smiled. “And with the help of my two good friends here, I have solved some mysteries.”

Mr. Croft’s eyes opened wide. “That’s wonderful, ” he said. “I always wanted to be a detective, but I wasn’t cut out for that kind of work. The nearest I came to it was checking people’s credentials when they entered the Space Center.” He sighed again.

Nancy stood up. Bess and George took the cue from her and arose also.

“Mr. Croft, ” said Nancy, “if you should hear or recall anything that might help us solve this mystery, will you telephone me? ”

“I’ll be glad to, ” the man replied. Nancy gave him the Billingtons’ address and telephone number, then the girls left.

Upon reaching home, they found Hannah Gruen quite excited. George asked, “Have the Resardos pulled another fast one? ”

“No, ” the housekeeper replied. “I haven’t seen them all day. But I think I’ve picked up a clue for you. If I’m right, it may spell trouble or danger for you, Nancy, and your father.”

“What do you mean? ” Nancy queried.

Hannah produced the day’s newspaper. She pointed out a personal. It read:

“Dorothy’s son has just released trunk. It is empty. Advise at once where to find contents.”

Immediately the three girls read words numbered 1, 5, 9, 13. These said, “Dorothy’s released empty where.”

Bess said, “They don’t make sense.”

Hannah was eager to tell her clue. “But put the first letters of those words together, ” she said. “They spell Drew.”

“Wow! ” George exclaimed. “What could this possibly mean? ”

Nancy did not answer. She had not yet figured out the meaning of the personal but one thing was certain—someone was sending a message which could have dire consequences for her and her father and possibly her friends. She was worried but did not speak her thoughts aloud.

Bess admitted that she was scared. “I think we’d better give up our sleuthing and leave here, ” she declared.

George said, “Bess, you know as well as I do that the thrust of a hundred-thousand-pound rocket couldn’t force Nancy to give up this case.”

Nancy smiled. “A wild thought just occurred to me. Suppose this reference to Drew has something to do with our interest in the Webster house. We already know that Mr. Scarlett has gone on vacation. For some reason unknown to us, the people who use the code may not want us here and encouraged Scarlett to go away. What we must do is find out that reason.”

Hannah Gruen reminded the girls that their dinner was ready. “The meal will be spoiled if you don’t eat it now.”

Nancy, Bess, and George washed their hands and combed their hair, then sat down at the table with Hannah. All had good appetites and thoroughly enjoyed the delicious roast beef. They were tidying up the kitchen when Bess remarked, “The Resardos missed a good dinner, but we certainly didn’t miss them.”

“Maybe they’re not coming back at all! ” George said with a grin. “It would please me if I never saw that couple again.”

“I agree with you, ” said Mrs. Gruen.

That evening the phone was kept busy. First Nancy called her father and told him all she had learned that day.

After hearing the whole story, he observed, “It’s evident that someone or a group is keeping an eye on us. The situation could become dangerous.”

“But you’re not going to let them scare us away, are you? ” Nancy asked.

She was sure her father was going to say no and he did not disappoint her. He warned Nancy, however, to keep alert for trouble.

“I’ll get back there as quickly as I can, ” he added.

Nancy had just put down the phone when it rang. The voice at the other end said, “Well, I’m glad I got you at last. I’ve been trying for hours to get hold of you.”

“Hi, Ned! ” Nancy said. “We can hardly wait for the house party to start, but we haven’t been idle. There’ll be lots to tell when you boys arrive.”

“No doubt, ” Ned said. “I’ve never known a time when you weren’t doing as much as three people. I have just one favor to ask—that you have this mystery solved before Burt and Dave and I arrive. We want to have fun.”

“Why, Ned, ” said Nancy, a teasing tone in her voice, “I thought you adored solving mysteries and tracking down villains.”

Ned laughed. “You’re right. Okay, Nancy, ” he added, “I’ll help bring this mystery to a quick termination! ”

“Actually there are two mysteries, ” said Nancy. “The explosive oranges and the spooky-looking grounds of an estate on this island. When I get a chance I’m going to investigate the place.”

“I’ll take the spooky one, ” Ned answered.

Nancy laughed. “I hope to have at least one of them solved before you arrive.”

Ned chuckled, then became serious. “Watch your step. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

After he and Nancy had said good night, she joined the other girls. Within seconds there was another call.

“Maybe it’s Burt, ” George spoke up.

“And maybe you’re both wrong, ” Hannah remarked. “The call might be for me—from Herb. He said he’d phone and make a date to call on us. I think he was very much impressed with you three girls.”

As Hannah had predicted, the caller was Herb, who told her he had been put on special assignment. “I won’t be able to come over to the Billington house until after the lift-off.”

“By that time we’ll probably be gone, ” Hannah said, “but give us a ring anyway.”

The girls were giggling when Hannah returned. Bess teased her. “Did Herb want to make a date to take you up in a rocket? ”

The housekeeper flushed slightly but joined in the banter. “Don’t think I didn’t catch on. He wanted to see you girls! ”

Just then the phone rang again. Burt and Dave were calling. Both boys were eagerly looking forward to the house party at the Nickersons’ and sent their best wishes to Hannah and Nancy.

By bedtime the Resardos still had not returned and everyone wondered if the couple would put in an appearance.

As the group was about to go upstairs the telephone rang again. Nancy, nearest the instrument, answered.

“Is this Nancy Drew? ” a man asked.

“Yes.”

“This is Patrick Croft. I’ve been trying to call you but your line has been busy. A man phoned me around eight o’clock. He sounded like the driver I let into the Base with the oranges. He told me I was to have nothing more to do with Nancy Drew or I’d be harmed.”

“That’s dreadful! ” Nancy said.

The words were barely out of her mouth when Patrick Croft gave a cry of panic. “Someone’s breaking in! ” he shouted. “Help! Help! ”