Тайна загадочной лестницы [with w_cat] | страница 45

[658] "A hoax!" Mrs. Gruen cried out.

[659] "Yes. Dad's enemies sent it to keep me from meeting him!"

[660] "Oh, Nancy," Hannah wailed, "You don't suppose those enemies that Mr. Comber warned you about have waylaid your father and are keeping him prisoner?"

[661] "I'm afraid so," said Nancy. Her knees began to quake and she sank into the chair alongside the telephone table.

[662] "What'll we do?" Hannah asked. "Do you want me to notify the police?"

[663] "Not yet. Let me do a little checking first."

[664] "All right, Nancy. But let me know what happens."

[665] "I will."

[666] Nancy put the phone down, then looked at the various telephone directories which lay on the table. Finding one which contained River Heights numbers, she looked for the number of the telegraph office and put in a call. She asked the clerk who answered to verify that there had been a telegram from Mr. Drew on Tuesday.

After a few minutes wait, the reply came. "We have no record of such a telegram."

[667] Nancy thanked the clerk and hung up. By this time her hands were shaking with fright. What had happened to her father?

[668] Getting control of herself, Nancy telephoned in turn to the airport, the railroad station, and the bus lines which served Cliffwood. She inquired about any accidents which might have occurred on trips from Chicago the previous day or on Tuesday night. In each case she was told there had been none.

[669] "Oh, what shall I do?" Nancy thought in dismay.

[670] Immediately an idea came to her and she put in a call to the Chicago hotel where her father had registered. Although she thought it unlikely, it was just possible that he had changed his mind again and was still there. But a conversation with the desk clerk dashed this hope.

[671] "No, Mr. Drew is not here. He checked out Tuesday evening. I don't know his plans, but I'll connect you with the head porter. He may be able to help you."

[672] In a few seconds Nancy was asking the porter what he could tell her to help clear up the mystery of her father's disappearance. "All I know, miss, is that your father told me he was taking a sleeper train and getting off somewhere Wednesday morning to meet his daughter."

[673] "Thank you. Oh, thank you very much," said Nancy. "You've helped me a great deal."

[674] So her father had taken the train home and probably had reached the Cliffwood station! Next she must find out what had happened to him after that!