Тайна загадочной лестницы [with w_cat] - [32]

[963] "Where do you think Comber's going?" Helen asked presently. "To meet somebody?"

[964] "Perhaps. And he may be on his way back to River Heights."

[965] "Not yet," Helen said, for at that moment Comber had reached a crossroads and turned sharp right. "That road leads away from River Heights."

[966] "But it does lead past Riverview Manor," Nancy replied tensely as she neared the crossroads.

[967] Turning right, the girls saw Comber ahead, tearing along at a terrific speed. He passed the vacant mansion. A short distance beyond it he began to turn his car lights off and on.

[968] "What's he doing that for?" Helen queried. "Is he just testing his lights?"

[969] Nancy was not inclined to think so. "I believe he's signaling to someone. Look all around, Helen, and see if you can spot anybody." She herself was driving so fast that she did not dare take her eyes from the road.

[970] Helen gazed right and left, and then turned to gaze through the back window. "I don't see a soul," she reported.

Nancy began to feel uneasy. It was possible that Comber might have been signaling to someone to follow the girls. "Helen, keep looking out the rear window and see if a car appears and starts to follow us."

[971] "Maybe we ought to give up the chase and just tell the police about Comber," Helen said a bit fearfully.

[972] But Nancy did not want to do this. "I think it will help us a lot to know where he's heading."

She continued the pursuit and several miles farther on came to the town of Hancock.

[973] "Isn't this where that crinkly-eared fellow lives?" Helen inquired.

"Yes."

[974] "Then it's my guess Comber is going to see him."

[975] Nancy reminded her friend that the man was reported to be out of town, presumably because he was wanted by the police on a couple of robbery charges.

[976] Though Hancock was small, there was a great deal of traffic on the main street. In the center of town at an intersection, there was a signal light. Comber shot through the green, but by the time Nancy reached the spot, the light had turned red.

[977] "Oh dear!" she fumed. "Now I'll probably lose him!"

[978] In a few seconds the light changed to green and Nancy again took up her pursuit. But she felt that at this point it was futile. Comber could have turned down any of a number of side streets, or if he had gone straight through the town he would now be so far ahead of her that it was doubtful she could catch him. Nancy went on, nevertheless, for another three miles. Then, catching no sight of her quarry, she decided to give up the chase.

[979] "I guess it's hopeless, Helen," she said. "I'm going back to Hancock and report everything to the police there. I'll ask them to get in touch with Captain Rossland and Captain McGinnis."

[980] "Oh, I hope they capture Comber 1" Helen said. "He's such a horrible man! He ought to be put in jail just for his bad manners!"

[981] Smiling, Nancy turned the car and headed back for Hancock. A woman passer-by gave her directions to police headquarters and a few moments later Nancy parked in front of it. The girls went inside the building. Nancy told the officer in charge who they were, then gave him full details of the recent chase.

[982] The officer listened attentively, then said, "I'll telephone your River Heights captain first."

[983] "And please alert your own men and the State Police," Nancy requested.

[984] He nodded. "Don't worry, Miss Drew, I'll follow through from here." He picked up his phone.

[985] Helen urged Nancy to leave immediately. "While you were talking, I kept thinking about Comber's visit to Twin Elms. I have a feeling something may have happened there. You remember what a self-satisfied look Comber had on his face when we saw him come out of the driveway."

[986] "You're right," Nancy agreed. "We'd better hurry back there."

[987] It was a long drive back to Twin Elms and the closer the girls go to it, the more worried they became. "Miss Flora was already ill," Helen said tensely, "and Comber's visit may have made her worse."

[988] On reaching the house, the front door was opened by Aunt Rosemary, who looked pale.

[989] "I'm so glad you've returned," she said. "My mother is much worse. She has had a bad shock. I'm waiting for Dr. Morrison."

[990] Mrs. Hayes’ voice was trembling and she found it hard to go on. Nancy said sympathetically, "We know Nathan Comber was here. We've been chasing his car, but lost it. Did he upset Miss Flora?"

[991] "Yes. I was out of the house about twenty minutes talking with the gardener and didn't happen to see Comber drive up. The cleaning woman, Lillie, let him in. Of course she didn't know who he was and thought he was all right. When she finally came outside to tell me, I had walked way over to the wisteria arbor at the far end of the grounds.

"In the meantime, Comber went upstairs. He began talking to Mother about selling the mansion. When she refused, he threatened her, saying that if she did not sign, all kinds of dreadful things would happen to me and to both you girls.

"Poor mother couldn't hold out any longer. At this moment Lillie, who couldn't find me, returned and went upstairs. She actually witnessed Mother's signature on the contract of sale and signed her own name to it. So Comber has won!"