The Television Clue

NANCY became aware of a roaring noise behind her. A second later a motorcycle policeman drew up alongside and motioned her to pull over.

“You know how fast you’re going? ” he asked. “We got laws, you know! ”

Nancy slowed down but did not stop. Pointing to the sedan ahead, which was disappearing from view, she cried out, “That driver—he’s a thief! Please go after him! I’ll follow and explain.”

The officer, not sure that this might not be a way of getting rid of him, said, “Who are you? ”

“Nancy Drew. Carson Drew’s daugh....”

The policeman waited for no more. Like a released rocket he shot down the road. Nancy, following at top speed, presently saw him overtake the sedan. It pulled to the side of the road and the driver handed the policeman something through the open window.

“Probably his license, ” the girl surmised.

As Nancy reached them and looked the driver square in the face, she knew without a doubt he was the purse snatcher.

“Mr. Rosser here says he’s innocent of your charge, ” the policeman said to Nancy.

“Rosser? His name is Tony Wassell, ” Nancy explained.

“Officer, you see from my license what my name is, ” the man declared indignantly. “I’ve never seen this girl before, and I don’t know what she’s talking about. Now, if you’re through with me, I’ll go along.”

“Not so fast, ” the officer said. “Tony Wassell, eh? That name’s in the police records.”

“Yes, ” Nancy spoke up. “He’s the man who stole a purse with money and other valuables from Mrs. John Struthers.”

“Oh, so you’re the guy, ” said the officer, remembering the case. “And if you’re Tony Wassell, you’re the gypsy we’ve got other charges against.”

“I’m not a gypsy! ” the man retorted angrily.

“Wait until Anton and Nitaka hear that! ” Nancy said, hoping to trap him into betraying an association with the couple.

“Anton and Nitaka! ” The man spoke the words involuntarily, a look of dismay crossing his face.

“You three work for the king, don’t you? ” Nancy quizzed him.

The gypsy’s eyes blazed. “What do you know about the king? ” he demanded.

“More than you think! ” she replied. “And you were so afraid I’d have you arrested, you sent me a warning note, and then tried to shove my car off the road and injure me so I couldn’t work on the Struthers case.”

The gypsy, still protesting his innocence, was taken to police headquarters for further questioning. There he stubbornly maintained a stony silence. The only time he spoke was when one of the officers asked him if he wanted a lawyer, or would like to get in touch with anyone he knew.

“No! ” the thief snapped. “Leave me alone! ”

Nancy took Mrs. Struthers to the police station the next morning to prefer charges against him. Even then the prisoner refused to admit anything or tell them what he had done with the contents of the woman’s bag.

“He’ll talk after he’s been here a few days, ” an officer told Nancy knowingly.

When she returned home a little later, Nancy found Ned Nickerson on the porch swing. He listened attentively to Nancy’s vivid account of the purse snatcher’s capture.

“Nice going, Nancy, ” he observed, “but how about playing a little for a change? One crook in jail is enough for any detective! I have two days off at the beginning of the week.”

Nancy smiled. “Fine idea! Let’s go on a boat ride on the river Monday if it’s clear.”

“Great! ”

When Ned arrived at eleven o’clock Monday morning, Nancy handed him a tempting lunch hamper. “How about a couple of Dad’s fishing rods? Shall we take them? ” she asked.

“Swell idea. I’ll get them.”

Fifteen minutes later Nancy and Ned were on their way. He made one stop to buy bait and in a short time they reached a motorboat rental dock. Ned selected one, and soon the grinning couple were headed downstream.

“Where to? ” he asked.

“Dad says there’s good fishing in Pilot’s Cove, ” Nancy replied.

Ned turned the boat in that direction and by the time they reached the spot, they were both ready for the generous lunch Hannah had packed. They fished that afternoon and enjoyed competing with each other. When they finally reeled in their lines, Ned had five trout and Nancy three.

“What’ll we do with all these fish? ” Nancy laughed, as Ned started the motorboat.

“We might call on the Wyatts, ” he suggested. “They have a cottage not far from here.”

“You mean Hazel and Bill? ” Nancy asked, referring to a young engineer and his wife, who had been married only a short time.

“Yes.”

“I’d love to see them, ” Nancy agreed.

Ned rowed toward the channel of the Muskoka River. Four miles south, they tied up in front of a small picturesque stone house perched on a hillside overlooking the water. To their delight, they found the Wyatts at home.

“Well, it’s about time you came to see us! ” Hazel greeted them enthusiastically. “You’re staying to dinner too. No excuses! ”

“Thanks, we will, ” Ned accepted. “And here’s part of our meal, ” he added, presenting Hazel with the fish.

For an hour the young people sat on the stone terrace, chatting and sipping frosty cool drinks. Bill spoke of his interesting work in the manufacture of television apparatus and said, “I want you to see our set. It’s the last word in television.”

“Any good programs on now? ” Hazel asked. “This time is usually given over to children’s stories. Adult shows come on later.”

Bill scanned a TV schedule. Finally he said, “There’s to be a Thomas Smith on at eight o’clock. Someone at the studio says he’s good. Plays the violin. He has never been televised before.”

Nancy was interested at once. “Let’s tune in to that program, ” she suggested.

A little before eight Bill turned on the set. Nancy and Ned marveled at the clarity of the images on the screen and the natural sound of the actors’ voices. When the next program came on, an announcer introduced Thomas Smith. The artist walked to the center of the stage and put his violin under his chin.

He had played only the first few notes of the “Gypsy Love Song, ” when Nancy cried out, “Romano Pepito! ”

“You know him? ” Hazel Wyatt exclaimed.

“Only from his picture, ” Nancy answered. “I’ve been trying to find him. It’s terribly important that I talk to him. If I were only at that studio right now! ”

Bill jumped up. “I’ll call the station and ask that the man be kept there until you can drive over, ” he offered. “Take our car.”

Nancy and Ned waited only long enough to make sure the station manager knew they were en route to meet the violinist. Then, with a thirty-mile drive ahead of them, they set off for the town of Aiken. Two detours and a delay at a bridge made the trip longer than they had anticipated.

“It’s taken us an hour! ” Nancy said as they alighted in front of the broadcasting company offices. “Oh, Ned, I hope Romano is still here. It will be the best break I’ve had yet! ”