Carolyn Keene - Nancy Drew by The Clue in the Old Stagecoach

Author:The Clue in the Old Stagecoach [Stagecoach, The Clue in the Old]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Tags: Women Detectives, Detective and Mystery Stories, Girls & Women, Adventure and Adventurers, Juvenile Fiction, Mystery & Detective, Mysteries & Detective Stories, Fiction, Women Sleuths, Drew; Nancy (Fictitious Character), General, Mystery and Detective Stories, Stagecoaches, Letters
ISBN: 9780448095370
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 1942-01-02T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XI

The Cave-in

“It’s an earthquake!” Bess cried out, as Nancy swerved her car to keep it from going into a ditch. “Please let’s stop and get out!”

Nancy turned off the engine and the three girls hopped to the road. There was no further tremor of the earth.

“There must have been blasting some place near here,” George remarked.

The girls climbed into the convertible again and Nancy drove on. About half a mile farther along they found a crowd of people gathering. The center of the explosion seemed to have been at this point and everyone was trying to find out the cause.

“Folks have no business using dynamite or bombs without permission,” said an irate man, “and I happen to know that not a soul applied for a license to do this.”

Nancy and her friends joined the search in a long field for the person or persons responsible. As they hurried along Bess asked if Nancy had any theory regarding the explosion.

“We’re not far from the end of one of those housing developments,” the young sleuth whispered. “This might have been a bomb scare to get people to move out.”

“You mean,” said George in a low voice, “that somebody like Judd Hillary or one of his backers might have done it?”

“I’m not making any accusations,” Nancy replied. “But I think it would be a good idea if we keep our eyes open for suspicious-looking persons.”

The three girls did not notice any such person at first, but just as the group reached a tremendous cave-in of earth caused by the recent explosion, they saw Judd Hillary. Nancy and her chums edged near him. He was talking to a group and wore a self-satisfied smirk.

“Now maybe this’ll drive some o’ those newcomers away,” he was saying.

Bess winked at Nancy, who walked up to the man. “Mr. Hillary, just why are you against progress in this community?” she asked.

The man became livid with rage. “You already know the answer and besides you don’t belong around here. Why don’t you get out and stop snoopin’!”

This crude remark angered Nancy. “No, I don’t live here,” she said. “But I do have a lot of sympathy for people who are in danger.”

“Yes,” George broke in, “instead of feeling relieved that no one was hurt by the explosion, you seem delighted that it happened. You say you don’t want newcomers here because of higher taxes, but there are some people who think you have other reasons for keeping them out which you’re not telling!”

Judd Hillary fell back as if he had been stunned. He seemed at a loss for an answer and a frightened look had come over his face. But he recovered quickly. Throwing back his head, he said disdainfully:

“You got no business talkin’ like that. I don’t have to say any more. Your friend here has had a couple of warnings. Now I’ll give you one: Leave this place before you get hurt!”

At that moment two men stepped forward and took hold of Judd Hillary’s arms. As

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