Young ladies, you may be seated.
Nancy Drew, chairman of the committee, will now take charge.
Thank you, Miss Van Deering.
Members of the committee...
...today I have the honor to present a very distinguished visitor...
...the lady to whom Brinwood owes its good fortune:
Miss Mary Eldridge of St. Louis.
My dear young ladies, most of you never heard of me until recently...
...but I was born here in River Heights...
...and attended Brinwood just as you are doing.
That was 50 years ago.
I have a great affection for this school.
That's why I wanted to do something to show my appreciation...
...for what Brinwood had done for me.
So I'm giving my money to Brinwood, and the students who are to come.
Tomorrow morning, Mr. Hollister and I are meeting at Mr. Drew's office...
...to arrange the legal details.
The amount will be $250,000.
Miss Eldridge, the figure was 200,000.
I've changed my mind.
As I understand it, you girls, acting as a committee...
...conducted a vote of the students...
...to determine to what use this money should be put. Is that right?
Yes.
Well, then, which is it to be?
A new Science building or library?
A Fine Arts building or a new Administration building?
A swimming pool.
I hope Miss Eldrige likes...
The welcoming committee's on hand bright and early.
- Morning, Mr. Drew. - Morning, girls.
Look what we got for Miss Eldridge. Isn't it super?
Super, yeah. Very, very handsome.
Isn't it rather a small gift for such a large donation?
Oh, it's not the size of the gift that counts. It's the sentiment it represents.
Oh, I see. Perhaps you should add that to the inscription.
Oh, Dad.
Miss Eldridge will be here in a moment. I think you'd better sit down.
Nancy, I want you to make the presentation.
Oh, I don't think I should make all the speeches.
Go ahead. It'll be good experience if you're gonna be a lawyer.
I didn't know you were planning to be a lawyer.
I think every intelligent woman should have a career.
- Morning, Mr. Hollister. - Good morning.
- Where's Miss Eldridge? - Miss Eldridge is gone.
- Gone? - How come?
- Where? - I don't know.
She called me this morning to tell me that she was leaving for a rest cure...
...and she didn't want to be disturbed.
- What about us? - And she made no mention of a donation?
Only that she regretted the necessity for leaving so suddenly.
Then we won't get our swimming pool.
Seems rather strange.
Mr. Hollister, didn't Miss Eldridge even say when she was coming beck?
No, Nancy, she didn't.
Oh, believe me, I am sorry this had to happen.
I know how disappointed you must all feel.
If Miss Eldridge has changed her mind, you must understand and make allowances.
She has her eccentricities, and one of them is a great fear of ill health.
I see.
I guess there's nothing we can do about it, then.
I'm afraid not.
- Lf I hear anything, I'll let you know. - Thanks, Hollister.
- Goodbye. - Goodbye.
She never intended to give us any money.
- I bet she didn't. - She won't come back.
- She's just a crazy old woman. - She's not. You mustn't say those things.
Your grandmother went to school with her.
You probably knew she was just bluffing.
- Why, Theresa Lang, l... - Young ladies.
We must look at it philosophically.
After all, Brinwood has survived a great many years without a swimming pool.
Just the same, I'll prove Miss Eldridge meant what she said.
I'll find her and get her to write a letter or something.
- You'll have to be a magician. - I bet she left for Europe.
I think we'd better go. Come, Suzanne.
- Good day, Mr. Drew. - Good day.
- Oh, and I should have known too. - A crazy old lady.
Well, Nancy, looks like we've got a fruit bowl, doesn't it?
You think Miss Eldridge will come back, don't you, Dad?
I think it best if you forget all about Miss Eldridge.
I wouldn't let her spoil my vacation.
After all, you know, she did seem a little bit eccentric.
Eccentric?
I'll show you. All of you.
I'll find Miss Eldridge if it takes me a hundred million years.
Hi, Dr. Spires.
Hello, Nancy.
"08. 08."
I suppose this one went slumming.
Don't forget the tickets.
- Hello, Effie. - Good evening, Mr. Drew.
What's that, fish?
Well, if it isn't I've been swindled.
- Ls that you, Dad? - Yes, Nancy.
Hi.
- Gee, I'm glad you're home. - Oh, you are, are you?
- Lf you'd only seen what happened. - You found Miss Eldridge?
Oh, no. It's the north road. I didn't see who was in it.
- Who's in the road? - The touring car.
I was driving from West Knoll when it happened.
I didn't know what to do. I wasn't sure that there was anything to it.
I followed them but I lost the car on account of the blowout.
- Touring car blew up? - No, no, Dad. You got it all wrong.
I had the blowout on my car. That's why I wasn't sure.
Hold on. Hold on, young lady. You've got me a little dizzy.
Start at the beginning and tell me very slowly.
- Here's what happened, I was driving... - Mr. Drew, Dr. Spires is on the phone.
Dr. Spires?
Don't go away, Nancy. I want to hear that story.
Hello, Ray. What can I do for you?
No, I didn't want to see you.
Well, I want to talk to you anyway.
I'm afraid to go to the police and...
Well, if you'll come over, I'll explain what it's all about.
- I'll be right there. - I'll drive you, Dad.
- Whoa, it's me he wants to see. - But I've got to go, Dad.
It's my case, and my fault too. That's what I've been trying to tell you.
I phoned Mrs. Spires, pretended I was calling the doctor for you.
I didn't want to alarm her.
- Why should that alarm her? - I saw Dr. Spires kidnapped.
Kidnapped? Come on, Miss Sherlock.
There were two men in the car.
I was blindfolded and driven to a house which appeared to be far out in the country.
There was a patient.
A woman with a dislocated shoulder which had been clumsily treated.
And you had no idea who she was?
No, but I'm sure she was being held against her will.
I was watched every moment by the man who took me to the place where she was.
He held a gun on me.
Besides, the patient was unconscious as if she'd been drugged.
Dr. Spires, was the patient an old lady?
Yes, Nancy, she was rather elderly.
Dad, I'll bet you 23.80 that that woman was Miss Eldridge.
You knew Mary Eldridge, Ray.
Oh, so many years since I've seen her.
It might have been she, but I wouldn't swear.
You think you'd recognize that house again?
They were very careful I shouldn't see the outside.
But from the inside, it was a sort of large, old... fashioned place.
How long did you ride?
An hour, I should judge.
Assuming that you were traveling at the speed of 40 miles an hour...
- That would make it 30 miles from here. - That's right, Nancy.
Oh, there was one other thing.
As we drove into that place today...
...the man driving muttered "Blue Bells" to someone on guard.
Evidently at a gate, for I remember a driveway.
Blue Bells.
- Lt was probably a... - Password.
Yes, it must have been a password.
Carson, I don't like the idea of getting involved in this...
...but I suppose we should turn it over to the police.
Yes, but what about their threat? These men are apt to cause you trouble.
I'm afraid I'll have to take that risk.
Besides, you're a good lawyer and...
Well, you can explain it to the police without jeopardizing me, can't you?
I suppose so. I'll try.
You wouldn't mind driving me to police headquarters, would you?
Mind? Don't be eccentric. Come on.
I'll let you know if anything develops.
- Thanks. - Good night, Dr. Spires.
Good night, Nancy.
My hunch was right. That guy is Carson Drew.
- The lawyer? - Yeah. Let's follow him.
It's just occurred to me that if Dr. Spires is as deeply involved as it appears...
...we may run into danger ourselves.
- We're probably being followed right now. - What? What makes you think so?
That car behind us with the dim headlight.
Well, step on it. Turn the corner. Get rid of them.
- What are you laughing at? - Oh, Dad, don't be so nervous.
I was only kidding.
Come on, Dad.
There's only one reason they're going in there.
Spires has been shooting off his face.
You're sure that's all there is?
Sometimes it's the smallest fact or detail about a case...
...that eventually leads to the apprehension of a criminal. Did you know that?
I did, Captain Tweedy. I heard your broadcast.
Another one of my fans, Mr. Drew.
I've been getting a lot of letters.
Have you any theories concerning that house, captain?
Well, it's a strange story, Mr. Drew.
It'll take a little thinking out.
The place being so far out, I'd say those crooks were running a gambling house.
If I only knew who that old lady was.
But Nancy thinks it might be Miss Eldridge.
- There's no proof. - Lt's easy to find out.
Look around the county in a radius of 30 or 40 miles...
...till you find an old... fashioned house. That's all you have to do.
That's all I have to do?
I'm a busy man, little girl.
There's hundreds, thousands of old... fashioned houses around here.
- Well, I thought that... - A detective has to have more than that.
Could you work on the license plate number of the kidnap car?
- Do you know it? - The last part of it.
- 08. - 08?
The rest was spattered with mud. I couldn't read it.
Don't worry about that, little girl. "08."
That's the kind of information that's valuable.
You sure you can find the car from those numbers?
Am I sure? Listen, I round up every car that ends in "08"...
...and I'll grab that machine... just like that.
How many automobiles are there in the state?
- Oh, a couple of million. Why? - I was just thinking.
That would be about 20,000 licenses ending in "08," wouldn't it?
Yeah, I guess.
You don't know the state in which the license was issued.
You might have to look through about 500,000 cars...
...before you found the right one. And you could do it just like... that?
My, that's wonderful.
Well, I guess we'd better be going.
I'm very glad to have met a real detective, Captain Tweedy.
Come, Nancy. Bye, captain.
Goodbye.
Dad?
Remember that car with the dim headlight?
- The one you were kidding me about? - Yeah.
Well, what about it?
Well, just supposing that it was the kidnap car...
...and just suppose that it had been following us from Dr. Spires' house...
...what would you do?
Don't worry, Nancy. I'd think up something.
Well, you better start thinking. They're right behind us.
What?
Hold tight, Dad.
- What are you doing? - I'm gonna follow them for a change.
Nothing doing, young lady.
This is getting too dangerous.
We're going home and you're gonna keep out of the whole affair.
From now on it's up to Captain Tweedy.
Captain Tweedy? I should say not.
That conceited tweet... tweet? What a character. I'll show him.
You'll do nothing of the kind.
- Now drive home. - But, Dad, what about my pride?
He challenged me. Actually threw down the gauntlet to me.
Well, let it lay, Nancy. Let it lay.
Shift. One, two, three, hip.
Ted Nickerson, what are you doing in my flower bed?
Well, I'm certainly not picking posies.
Oh, man, you hurt?
- How are you, old man? Are you hurt? - Nothing could hurt him, can it, Ted?
- Boy, what a tackle. Do it again. - He certainly won't do it again.
Stop tramping in my flowers.
You...! You hoodlums!
Go on, get out of here. I said get...!
I said beat it. Beat it, you thugs.
And don't ever come back in here again.
Quit disturbing the molecules.
Oh, just look at it. You've ruined it.
You can plant new flowers in the furrow I made.
You could tackle that dummy in some other direction, couldn't you?
That's the only place I can hang it. And I gotta keep in training for football.
Now get that thing out of here.
Gosh, it's a mystery to me how anybody as smart as your father...
...could raise such a dizzy daughter.
- Why, Ted Nickerson, I ought... - Okay, okay.
- Lt's not a mystery. - Well.
Hey, Ted? Boy, look what I got here.
- What's the matter? - Oh, my flower garden.
It's a pigeon. See, its wing's been broken.
Spud Murphy, that's cruel and inhuman to treat a crippled creature that way.
He's not hurt that bad.
- Oh, you poor little precious. - Poor precious.
He landed on my pigeon coop this morning, but he ain't mine.
Well, what do you expect me to do about it?
I was thinking maybe you could broadcast over your radio sending set...
...and find out who he belongs to.
That's very honest and commendable of you, Spud. You should be rewarded.
Say, I might at that. He may belong to the United States government.
- He has a number on his leg. - Well, he's a carrier pigeon.
Oh, that's right. Look, here's the thing the message goes in.
- Say, I never saw that before. - Yeah.
"Shoulder okay. Blue Bells."
What kind of drivel is that?
Blue Bells.
Blue Bells, that's the password.
What password?
Ted, I've got to find out who owns this bird. Start your radio.
You don't have to do that.
All racing pigeons are registered with the American Pigeon Association.
Just send them this number.
"2... 21... 12... 12."
2... 21... 12... 12. Gee, that's swell.
You take care of this pigeon till I get back and don't let anything happen to it.
What's the idea?
Right now, that bird's the most important thing in the world to me.
Why give me the bird?
If there's any reward, it's mine.
So that proves that there's something crooked going on.
And the shoulder being okay and the message signed "Blue Bells"...
Now, Nancy, it's no use arguing. You're keeping out of it.
Dad, someone's holding Miss Eldridge and, well, we've got to do something.
We?
- Have you read the morning paper? - No.
Well, I guess that'll slow you down.
Here it is.
Dad, do you suppose it was those men who followed us last night?
Certainly. They've shown that they'll stop at nothing.
That's all the more reason that we've got to find Miss Eldridge.
Nancy, why are you so convinced that that injured woman is Mary Eldridge?
I don't know. I guess it's just my woman's intuition.
Every women has one, you know.
Yes, I know. Well, whoever the woman is, she'll be found.
But it's not your job to find her.
Those men are not gonna stand for Nancy Drew poking her nose into their affairs.
You know, if that pigeon could be turned loose and followed...
...he might lead us to something.
Of course it would.
Now you're talking. Let's go.
Hold on, young lady. You and I are not going anyplace.
Dad, you're just as excited about this as I am.
Maybe I am. But you're the only daughter I have...
...and for some unexplainable reason, I like you.
A little.
And I'm not gonna trade you for any dead heroine.
So you go home, get that pigeon and take it straight to Captain Tweedy.
Oh, Dad, victory's staring me right in the face.
So am I.
All right. Because you're my father, I'll have to do as you say.
- What's that you said? - I said all right.
All right. I won't have you driving alone.
Get one of those other youngsters go with you.
Youngst...?
Okay, old man. Come in.
Your signal's good and strong, but it's a little over... modulated. Come in, old man.
Ted? Oh, Ted?
Stand by, old man.
Look at that poor pigeon, with a rope on him.
He's happy.
Stop playing with that radio. Help me build a crate.
I've gotta get this pigeon to the police station.
Besides, I've a thousand and one things to tell you.
Sorry, old man. I guess I'll have to QRT. Local QRM.
Seventy... threes and I'll see you later. W8YZR's pulling the big switch.
What kind of talk is that?
I was telling Jimmy Davis that I had to quit on account of local interference.
Well, if you must insult me, you might at last do it in English.
Well, if you ask me, which you didn't, I think your father's right.
Snooping around, somebody will knock your block off.
I can take care of myself.
Just like all women, aren't you? No one can convince you of anything.
You may see things differently when you're as old as I am.
As old as you? What are you talking about?
You seem to forget that I'm 11 months, 29 days and two hours older than you are.
Statistics prove from 15 to 20...
...a woman is five years mentally older than a man of the same age.
All right, keeper. I give up.
Take me away. Put me in a straightjacket.
Ted Nickerson, will you stop eating like an idiot and... Get away.
...and get this crate finished?
- Lt's finished. - Well, come on, then. Here.
- All right. - Be careful of him. He still looks a little ill.
"Sick," to you.
Twenty... three... eighty you'd look little ill, too, if you were in his spot.
I shouldn't ride down to the police station alone, so you better go with me.
Okay.
But listen, I'm only doing it on account of your father.
Ted Nickerson, you're about as chivalrous as an oyster.
Okay, then, I'm an oyster. So what?
So let's get going.
- Now you've done it. - I couldn't help it.
Take it easy.
All is not lost.
You deliberately did that. You wanna scare him away.
Why, Ted, whatever makes you think that?
Quiet. Now, don't even breathe.
I'm going to get a ladder.
Go on.
Go on. Get away. Go on.
Ted, Ted. He's flying away.
- What's flying away? - The pigeon, the pigeon.
- We gotta follow him. - Okay, get going.
Keep your eyes on it.
It's flying southeast.
Kind of low and not very fast.
Don't you dare lose sight of it.
Don't worry, I won't.
Well, it's stopped again. Boy, that thing's been hedgehopping for an hour.
I guess its wing is still sore.
Takeoff. There it goes again.
- Can you still see it? - Yeah.
Gosh, my neck's getting stiff.
- Suffering cats. - What's the matter?
- I lost him. - Oh, Ted.
- Well, heck, I couldn't help it. - You've been watching something.
Yeah, spots before my eyes from staring at that darn sky so long.
Now we'll never find that house.
- Lf you hadn't been so careless... - There you go again.
Why is it as soon as I get around you I run into trouble?
I can be thankful that after today you'll be out of my hair.
Are you going away?
The family's rented a cottage up at Sylvan Lake. We've leaving tonight.
I guess we won't be seeing each other anymore.
Nope.
What I mean is, I wasn't exactly blaming you for losing the pigeon, Ted.
I guess it was just fate or something.
Yeah.
Ted, look.
It's the pigeon.
We must have missed it the last time it stopped to rest.
- Keep your eyes on it. - Okay.
Say, it's going round and round. Maybe it's dizzy.
Nonsense. That's where it lives.
I can see buildings through the trees.
Look, Ted. There's the driveway and the gate...
...but there's no watchman.
Maybe it's his day off.
It's just like Dr. Spires said it was.
- Get out. - Get out?
- Yes, yes, go ahead. - What for?
You stay on guard here and I'll go for the police.
Don't you dare let anyone leave.
And if they do leave, what do you expect me to do?
Oh, I don't know. Take them prisoners or something.
- Yeah, I'll surround them. - Yeah.
Dad? This is Nancy.
I found the house.
You did what?
Nancy, I told you...
Keep out of sight till we get there.
Police headquarters, please.
- Dad. - Good work, Nancy.
However, I'll talk to you later on, young lady.
- Ls this the place? - I'm sure you'll find Miss Eldridge in there.
All right, Elmer. Spread out and attack from the south.
You boys attack from the north.
Me and Ed will handle the front. Got your gas guns ready?
Good. Now, we'll cover all the doors and windows...
...and watch the back while you're at it.
And remember, when I blow the whistle, rush the joint.
- Okay, let's go. - Okay.
Now, you kids keep back.
You watch them, Drew.
Why did he have to come?
They've got someone. Come on.
Hollister.
Mr. Drew, will you explain to these men who I am?
Why, certainly.
This gentleman is Miss Eldridge's business manager.
Oh, yeah?
Captain Tweedy, I'm afraid you've made a mistake.
I've made a mistake?
Mr. Hollister, I didn't know you lived here.
- I only rented this place yesterday. - Why?
I like the country. Is there anything wrong with that?
I must live somewhere until Miss Eldridge returns.
Who had the place before you got it?
The former tenant was a Mr. Tooker, but he's been gone for months.
There's something going on around here you don't know anything about.
I'll dig up this Mr. Tooker and see what he's got to say for himself.
- Do you know what happened to him? - He died.
- There's no one else in the house. - No one in back, captain.
Look, Mr. Drew, we drive out here 30 miles because you insist and what happens?
A wild goose chase. Now, that's a waste of the tax payers' money.
I can't understand it. Nancy wouldn't...
Pardon me, Mr. Drew. I think your daughter has hallucinations.
Captain Tweedy, would you tell me what this is all about?
Well, this kid got her mitts on a pigeon that was carrying a message.
She said it had something to do with your boss. The pigeon came here.
But I did see the pigeon land here.
Yeah, so did I. Right out back.
Excuse me, Mr. Pigeon... Hollister.
Have you got pigeons?
Yes, there are pigeons here. They belong to the owner.
If they have anything to do with Miss Eldridge, I think we should investigate.
Which one is it, Nancy?
I can tell it because its wing has been hurt.
I don't see it, do you, Ted?
No, I don't either.
- Lt's not here. - I thought so.
Nancy, are you positive you saw that pigeon stop at this house?
I'm practically positive.
So your daughter's a detective, is she, Drew?
The police have got a lot of things to do beside running around playing games.
We follow any more of these phony leads, we'll wind up skipping rope.
Little girl, you'd better go back to the kindergarten and play with your dolly.
Psychopathic case.
- I'm awfully sorry, Mr. Hollister. - That's all right, Nancy.
- Good day. Sorry. - Good day.
- Come along. - Forget it.
- Goodbye, sir. - Goodbye, son.
Here's a message, Challon. Just come in.
- That Drew kid found the Tooker house. - What?
There'll be an investigation if she goes to the police.
She already has. But Hollister saw the girl and her boyfriend and was expecting them.
- Cops find anything? - No.
- They were sore they were called out. - Just the same, I don't like it, Challon.
This place was running smoothly until Hollister bring that woman here.
There's nothing to worry about. There's no evidence at the house.
As a lawyer, you've seen to it...
...that all the contracts our guests have signed with the sanitarium are legal.
- But she hasn't signed yet. - No, but she will.
I'll take the stubbornness out of Miss Eldridge.
- Lf she tries to get away again? - She might break more than her shoulder.
You can depend on it that if that buzzard has 300 G's to lay out...
...it's gonna be to us and not to any school.
It's Hollister I'm worried about. He's green and apt to make a slip.
Worth the risk.
If Drew and his kid keep on the way they've been going, we'll have a houseful of cops.
Then I suggest that you do something about the Drews.
Nothing would give me greater pleasure.
Ted, I was sure that was the house. Boy, am I mortified.
You're mortified? That would chap a monk.
Listen, I gotta get home. We're leaving for the lake tonight.
- Good evening, Nancy. - Good evening, Mrs. Spires.
- Hi, Mrs. Spires. - How's the doctor feeling?
- He's a little better now. - I'm so glad.
I don't suppose I could see him?
Well, he shouldn't talk very much.
I wanted to ask him something. It's terribly important.
- Well, you can see him for a while, honey. - Thank you.
I'll be back in a minute, Ted.
Okay.
It's Nancy, Raymond.
Hello, Dr. Spires.
Oh, hello, Nancy dear.
What is it, darling?
I hate to bother you, doctor, but when you were riding in that car yesterday...
...could you tell what kind of roads you passed over?
First there was the highway.
Then I remember going over planking.
A wooden bridge, I think.
- A wooden bridge? - Yes.
Then after a while there was a turn in the road...
...and it was bumpy.
Then when we got near the house...
...there was a gravel driveway...
- Gravel driveway? - Yes.
- Are you sure? - Oh, yes.
I could hear it crunching under the tires.
Well, gee, thank you. That helps a lot.
I'm ever so much obliged.
I do hope you feel better and if there's anything I can do...
Well, thanks, darling. I'm getting on fine.
Well, good night.
Good night, Nancy dear.
That proves that the house was not the right place...
...because there wasn't any gravel driveway.
You know something? I've been thinking.
We shouldn't have followed that pigeon.
We should've gone the other way.
- Ted, you're off your hook. - No.
If I wanted to find the house Dr. Spires was taken to...
...I’d go to where the pigeon came from, not where he was going.
Gee, Ted, that's plenty sharp.
But how could we find where it came from?
Well, a pigeon always flies in a straight line, doesn't it?
- Yes. - And Spud said that pigeon today...
...flew right over River Heights going southeast.
South...? Southeast.
Then it had to come from directly northwest of here.
Maybe 30 or 40 miles.
That'd be up around Sylvan Lake.
Check.
Ted, look.
There's somebody trying to break into our house.
- Do something. - For gosh sakes, what?
I don't know. You could tackle him or something...
...you know, the way you did that dummy, and knock him down.
- Yeah, but suppose he don't stay down? - Oh, yeah.
Well, you tackle him...
...and I'll hit him over the head with this wrench.
- Okay, but hit him. - Yeah.
Now, quiet.
Come on.
Dad.
We thought it was a burglar or something.
It is something, it's me.
- Why are you trying to get in the window? - I forgot my key.
That fool Effie won't come to the door.
- Wait a minute, Dad. I've got a key. - Well, why didn't you say so?
- What comes off here? It won't open. - Get out of the way.
- Well, don't stand there. Give me a hand. - Oh, sure, Mr. Drew. Sure.
- What...? - What the...?
Gosh, Mr. Drew. I mean, gosh.
Effie.
- Effie. - Effie.
Effie?
Hello? Where are you, Effie? She's not here, Dad.
- Well, where in heaven's name is she? - I don't know.
Effie.
Oh, Mr. Drew.
- Effie, what's been going on? - There was a man tried to get in.
That was me, idiot.
- Oh, no. That one was a strange man. - What?
Yes, and he had a gun and he tried to get in...
...so I slammed the door in his face.
And then I piled the furniture up against it, and then I hid in the cellar.
- Why didn't you call the police? - Oh, well, I never thought of that.
- All right, I'll take care of this. - Yes, sir.
- You better go and replace that furniture. - Yes, sir.
- Well, what are you waiting for? - Oh, yes, sir.
Dad, I wonder what it could be. I mean l...
Stand where you are, all of you. Drop that.
You Drews are getting too nosy to stay healthy.
And you, kid...
...drop that wrench.
You're trying to start things you can't finish, so I'm giving you all one warning.
What are you posing for?
What Spires got will look like a beauty treatment compared to what you'll run into.
Who sent you here?
You're supposed to be a pretty smart guy, Drew. Well, figure this one out.
If you care anything for the brat, and I think you do... Drop that.
...you'll keep her out of our way. From now on you're gonna be watched.
And the first move she makes, something happens.
You don't need to worry about that. We're leaving town tonight.
That's a smart idea.
And don't be in any hurry to get back.
I'm through.
I'm quitting.
- I'm leaving this house at once. - Effie.
- Do you want me to call the police? - No, no, Ted.
Those fellows mean business. They're apt to carry out their threat.
Dad, Effie's quit again.
Yes, and left all the furniture piled up.
- Come on, give me a hand, will you? - You bet.
You didn't mean what you said about...?
I mean about going away tonight, did you, Dad?
- Yes, I did, Nancy. - Well, where?
Well, I haven't had a chance to explain, but I've a little surprise for you.
- We've heard from Miss Eldridge. - You what?
Yes, Mr. Hollister had a letter this afternoon.
She's in a private sanitarium.
She didn't give the name, but it's in St. Louis.
Hollister wants me to meet him there and help find her.
Why, I was so sure.
Well, I guess you were barking up the wrong tree this time, Nancy.
Guess my woman's intuition just didn't function.
Well, never mind that, dear. You go and pack your things now.
Ted, you might as well go home. That man may still be watching out there.
There's no use to involve you.
Well, I kind of thought I better stick around in case he comes back.
That won't be necessary, but I promise you if we need help, we'll call on you first.
- Okay. - I don't wanna go to St. Louis.
You don't? I thought you were interested in Miss Eldridge.
I was, but now that you've found her, there's nothing else to do.
And besides, I don't wanna sit around in an old hotel room.
Well, I'm certainly not going to leave you here.
- Why can't I go up to Sylvan Lake? - Alone? I should say not.
- Not alone. The Nickersons invited me. - Say, we didn't...
They were very insistent, weren't they, Ted?
- Yeah, I guess they were. - You might be better off up there.
Of course I would. You'll explain to your mother, won't you, Ted?
Oh, sure, sure. I'll...
Thanks, Ted, that's fine. I know you two will have a lot of fun up there together.
You've no idea what it'll mean to me to have Nancy with your folks...
...safe, quiet, restful.
Not half as much as I hope it'll mean to me.
Don't go away, Ted. You'll have to carry my bags.
Quiet.
Restful.
Hey, Ma, where's the bacon?
There isn't any, Theodore.
What's the matter, the recession still on?
- Morning, Ted. - Hi, nuisance.
My, you're certainly stowing it away.
Well, a guy's gotta live.
If you women had your way, a man would starve.
- How quaint. - How stark.
- How gruesome. - How gruesome.
What's the matter, don't you like cherries?
I'm saving it for last.
Ted, we've got to get organized Where had we ought to look today?
Will you forget Miss Eldridge for one day? I'm tired.
I certainly will not.
I've been telling you she can't be around this part of the country if she's in St. Louis.
I'm not so sure that she is in St. Louis.
Now, look, Sherlock, you edged in on this trip...
...because you thought that house was up around here.
I've tagged with you for three days and you still haven't found it. I'm through.
- I'm going fishing. - All right, all right. Stop beating your gums.
- I'll go fishing with you. - Now you're talking.
If you'll stop by town long enough for me to wire Dad.
Duped again.
For gosh sakes, how much longer have we gotta hang around here?
We gotta wait till we get an answer from Dad, don't we?
If Dad has found Miss Eldridge, I'm crazy.
I think you got something there. I'll rent you a padded cell.
You're about as funny as Captain Tweedy.
What a character.
- Thanks. - Miss Drew.
Here's that answer from your pa. It looks like you're kind of in for it.
- All right, sling it out. - "Told you to forget case. Stop.
- Keep out of it. Stop. I insist. Stop." - I guess you better stop.
"Have important information concerning Eldridge disappearance. Stop.
Am taking first plane. Stop.
Imperative you mind your own business until I arrive. Dad."
Ain't it gruesome? Now we can have some fun.
I didn't say I'd be doing anything. Why tell me to mind my own business?
He knew you weren't just because you're still walking and talking.
He didn't mention whether he found Miss Eldridge.
Well, who cares?
He could have at least told me what he's learned.
Yeah, but he didn't. Now, come on. Are we going fishing?
- Oh, I guess so. - Hot stuff.
Listen, I know the swellest place to go trolling.
And just to show you that I'm a right guy, Nancy, I'll let you row the boat.
Thank you too much.
Ted, give a look. There's Mr. Hollister.
He can't be here.
He's in St. Louis with Dad.
Maybe he's twins.
- What's he doing at Sylvan Lake? - Well, why don't you ask him?
- Come on. Hurry up. - Now, look, Nancy Drew.
- Your dad said that... - it’s the kidnap car.
- We've gotta follow them. - Kidnap car? Gosh.
Ted Nickerson, l...
Keep it clean. Keep it clean.
What's the idea?
What did he say to you?
- My foot slipped. - And the car's out of sight.
Yeah.
At the rate he was going, we wouldn't catch him in 2380 years.
It's all your fault.
I was expecting that crack.
- You know something, Ted? - No. What?
I'll bet you 23.80 that Mr. Hollister lied about Miss Eldridge.
You mean he knew where she was all the time?
I wouldn't be a bit surprised.
It's all beginning to dawn.
That message signed "Blue Bells" was to him.
In that case, he's mixed up with that mob that kidnapped Doc Spires.
And that St. Louis gag was just to get Dad and me out of the way.
We've got to find that house.
Now, look, we've searched the countryside.
It has to be around here.
Personally, I'd rather go fishing.
- You wouldn't want me to drive alone. - Then hire yourself an airplane.
Nobody will bother you up there.
That's an angle. How much do they cost?
Why, the guy down at the lake airport charges $ 10... Why?
Five, 6, 7, 7.50. Eight dollars and four cents.
- Have you any money? - No.
Ted Nickerson, you have so. I saw you break a five yesterday.
Oh, gee, and I wanted to rent a boat with these 2 bucks.
Come on, let's go.
I not only have to furnish the ideas, but I gotta finance them.
See anything yet?
Nothing but a couple of farms.
He'll be turning back in a minute.
- There's a big place. - Yeah.
There's a driveway and a gate, and a little road leading to it through the woods.
Ted, I'll bet you 23.80 that's it.
How we gonna find it from the ground?
I'll show you.
- Don't open that door. - Well, hurry up.
Calm yourself, will you?
- Oh, Ted, let me see. - Relax, will you? Relax.
Now if we can only put them together.
This one goes here. There.
Yeah. Well, look. This one matches in here, doesn't it?
Gee, it's a regular aerial map.
Now...
...here's the house and there's the highway.
This must be the wooden bridge that Dr. Spires was talking about.
- And the dirt road running through the trees. - And this is the turnoff.
- Ted? - Yeah?
That password was Blue Bells.
Blue Bells are also larkspur.
Larkspur...
...Blue Bells, a bumpy road.
This is it.
I think we better leave the car here.
Just in case.
Nancy, I'm not sure I like this snooping around.
Next thing you know, you'll get me nervous.
Ted, look.
Ted.
- There's the gate, just like Dr. Spires said. - And the watchman.
And the gravel driveway.
Place looks like a regular sanitarium.
Yet it doesn't.
We've gotta find some place to sneak inside. Come on.
I think we can get over here.
I think you're making the mistake of your life going in.
Why don't you get the police?
We have to make sure this is the place.
We might be sued for slander or liable or something.
Hey.
- What did you do that for? - You wanna kill yourself?
See those insulators? That top wire's charged with electricity.
Electricity?
Ted, you saved my life.
Let's get out of here.
We just have to think of a way to find out if Miss Eldridge is in there.
Yeah, but we can't get inside the grounds.
We can if the password's still Blue Bells.
I've got an idea.
- Do I figure in this idea of yours? - Of course.
- I think it'll work. - You think it'll work?
Well, that's not enough.
Don't be frightened, now.
Well?
Mister... I mean...
- We're expected. - How do I know?
Blue Bells.
Well, why didn't you say so?
Come on.
I was awfully nervous for a second.
How do you think I felt?
Pull over in those trees so the car won't be noticed.
Okay.
Help me over to the house, as if we belonged here.
Okay, but I'm not gonna let you go in there alone.
But I've got to, Ted.
I'm sure I can find the room from what Dr. Spires said.
I know it's upstairs.
You wait out here by the car.
- Good luck. - Yeah.
Miss Eldridge, it's Nancy.
Nancy.
- What are you screaming about? - I'm sorry, Miss Tyson.
I thought I heard someone at the window.
You're lying. You're screaming just to make trouble.
Now, any more hysterics...
...and you'll be put where your screeching won't bother anybody.
Nancy, child. What are you doing here?
I came to help you, if you want get away.
Of course I want to get away.
They're trying to drive me insane, to steal my money.
- The money I was to give Brinwood. - Oh, I knew it.
Here, put these things on so the gateman won't know you.
- Isn’t this a real sanitarium, Miss Eldridge? - Lt's run by crooks preying on old women.
They keep us in wheelchairs to weaken us.
Dope our food so our minds won't be right.
So we'll sign over everything we've got for a comfortable old age.
Oh, that's awful. How did you get here?
The night before I was to make the school donation...
...I was taken suddenly very ill.
Mr. Hollister suggested that I come here.
Lonesome, girlie?
Not especially.
Hey, you!
- Be careful of the guard. - I will.
We gotta hurry, I just flattened a guy.
- Who? - That gunman that came to your house.
- How did you do it? - Listen...
...I’m not gonna stop to tell you stories now. Duck.
- What's the matter? - Starter's dead.
Here, crank it.
Right.
Hey, Brennan, stop that car.
Hold it, hold it.
Get out, you two.
- What're you doing here? - Drove in just a minute ago.
Gave the password and said they was expected.
What's going on?
This kid's a friend of that Drew outfit.
Keep your hands off me.
- The Eldridge dame. - Then there must be another one.
Come on out of there.
Well, Nancy Drew.
I don't care what you do to me, but you can't harm these young people.
We'll take care of you later, Eldridge. Take her to her room.
- This time, Miss Tyson, see she stays there. - Don't worry. She won't get away again.
I want to know what you're going to do.
Forget it.
- Are you sure this is the Drew kid? - Of course I'm sure.
- And what's your name? - Ted... Theodore Nickerson.
I don't know how you two found this house...
...but the fact that you did is very unfortunate.
What are you going to do to us?
- I don't know. - Listen, I warned you about this kid.
- How'd you know they haven't blabbed? - The cops would have been here by now.
Well, what are you planning to do, adopt them?
I doubt if it'll come to that.
Hollister will be here soon. He may have some ideas. Put them in the cellar.
Come on.
Step along, sister.
Get down there.
See that you keep quiet.
- They could have left a light. - Yeah.
I'm scared.
I don't feel so hot myself.
I didn't think we'd ever get in anything like this.
I should've listened to Dad and you.
Gosh, we had to try and help Miss Eldridge, didn't we?
I guess so.
Ted.
I got a match.
Oh, it's only a cat.
It's cute.
Hey, there's a light.
Gosh, take a ton of dynamite to bust out of here.
Even if we did get out, we couldn't get off the grounds.
Well, at least it'd be better than this. Maybe we could find the telephone.
I don't suppose they'd have a phone or they wouldn't have used those pigeons.
Say...
Look at this.
- What is it? - An old x... ray machine.
Boy, if it only works.
Well, what if it does?
That's the finish. We'll never get a cent out of the lady now.
- Well, what are we gonna do with her? - Convince her there's nothing wrong.
- There's no proof... - Nothing doing, Hollister.
Bringing that Eldridge woman here has cost me plenty.
With what she knows, I can kiss this business of mine goodbye.
That's not my fault. If you hadn't stalled...
Don't try to put the blame on me. You're in this thing as deep as we are.
You tried to be clever, throwing the Drews off the trail.
How did I know he was going to leave the girl?
I suggest we be smart now and get out while there's still the chance.
- We've got the kids on our hands. - Turn them loose.
What for? To put the finger on us? What do you think we are?
- Well, what else can we do? - There's still a way to get some dough.
I'm not quitting empty... handed.
How? Miss Eldridge won't come through now.
I'm not talking about her. Carson Drew has money...
...and so have the Nickersons. They want their kids back.
- You'll never get away with that. - I'm gonna.
We're leaving and the kids are going with us.
You've come this far, you're going the rest of the way.
I won't do it. And I won't let you. I'm going for the police myself.
Okay, here she goes.
Oh, boy.
Now for a guy who understands code.
Code?
Boy, am I glad we know something about radio.
- Station KSG. - No, we have been unable to locate them.
Yes, madam. The interference is affecting all radio sets.
- No, there's nothing we can do. I'm sorry. - They're working on it now.
The Samaritan treats...
Find the woman.
One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four.
Okay, Joe.
Excuse the interruption, friends of radio land.
- Find the woman. - You might as well save that a while, cap.
There's no use trying to broadcast with this disturbance going on.
Let's grab a smoke, Charlie.
There you are. They told me I'd find you here.
- Mr. Drew, I'm on the air. - You're not saying anything.
- I will be in a minute. - I won't take that long.
I'm on my way to Sylvan Lake. I've got to hurry.
Please have a seat. As soon as I'm finished I'll be only too...
- Will you listen to what I have to say? - Certainly.
When I arrived in St. Louis...
...I found a wire from Hollister saying that he was detained here.
After I had no luck in trying to locate Miss Eldridge, I got suspicious.
I made inquiries about Hollister and I found that he had to pay debts within 30 days.
- I thought you might like to know that. - Yeah.
Yeah. I see what you mean.
You think Hollister kidnapped the dame for her dough?
Well, roughly speaking, that's the idea.
Hey, this is code.
S... Y... L... V... A... N.
- I tell you, I've had experience in these... - That disturbance was a message.
It concerns you.
Jumping Jupiter, Mr. Drew, it's about your daughter.
- My daughter? What about her? - I'll see.
She and the Nickerson boy are held by a gang out in the country.
What?
- I know the place. - Where is it?
Where is that? Used to be an old rest home.
- Yes? - Oh, I'll think of it in a minute.
- The Hennessey estate. - Well, come on.
- Cap, you're on the air. - The air? Yeah. Well, you take it.
All right, get the car. We'll leave the back way.
Keiffer, get those kids and hang on to them.
Come on, babe, get in there.
Come on, you, make it snappy.
If you come any closer, I'll shoot!
Give me that thing, girlie, before it bites you.
Grab that guy. Come here.
- Nancy. - Dad.
Oh, where in the world have you been?
Where have I been? I like that. Where...? Are you all right?
- Bust in through that window. - There, there.
Where's Ted?
Ted? Dad, maybe I shot him.
Shot...? Ted! Ted!
Is it...? Is the war over?
- Ted. - Lock him in the car and keep him there.
Quiet.
Mr. Drew, I have to admit, your daughter's a pretty brave girl.
There wouldn't be many kids that would even pick up a cannon like that, let alone...
Well, it's a cleanup. Hollister was just coming out of it when we found him.
Now those boys won't take you or any other old dame... Ladies for their dough.
We're all very grateful to you, captain, even if most of the credit does go to Nancy.
Yes, Tweedy, you'll have to go a long way...
...to find anybody as wide... awake as my Nancy.
Stay where you are.
{{{ the end }}}