The Secret in the Old Lace Read Online Free PDF Page B

up. Relieved, she ran on, calling loudly for help.
    Ned, meanwhile, had been overpowered by the three young hoodlums who remained behind.
    Panting and exhausted, he stopped fighting. “What do you want?” he asked his attackers.
    “We’re going to take your car apart, wise guy!” one of the boys replied. He ran to the trunk of his own car and got out a box of tools. “Here,” he said to one of his companions, “you disconnect the radio. I’ll get the hubcaps.”
    The third boy, who was the smallest and looked about fifteen years old, stood guard over Ned.
    While his friends were busily working on Nancy’s car, he released his grip on the athlete somewhat. Ned, perfectly still, tried to regain his strength. Suddenly he twisted his body and grabbed the boy, lifting him up and dragging him toward the road barrier.
    “Let me go!” the boy screeched, trying to get away from Ned.
    The captive thrashed his legs, allowing his body to fall like dead weight toward the ground. But Ned tightened his grip on the boy’s arms and, kicking over one of the wooden horses, he dragged him to the dark, swirling water.
    “Tell your friends to quit or I’ll dump you in the river!” he panted.
    By now the boy’s companions had come after Ned and his captive, ready to pounce on the young athlete again, when they heard police sirens in the distance.
    “The cops!” one of the young punks yelled. “Let’s get out of here!”
    The two ran up the street, too scared to come to their friend’s help.
    “Just who are all of you?” Ned asked his captive.
    “Friends!” the boy hissed, squirming and trying to kick Ned in the shins.
    Ned sank his fingers into the boy’s arm.
    He bellowed in pain, but did not answer when Ned repeated the question.
    “As soon as the police get here,” Ned said, “I’m going to tell them you were responsible for this whole mess.”
    “But that’s not true. Sammy Johnson made us do it,” the boy blurted out.
    “Who’s he?”
    After a slight hesitation, the answer came. “He’s Matey Johnson’s brother!”
    By now, a patrol car flashing blue and red lights had pulled to a halt behind the two cars. Two officers and Nancy emerged. She rushed to Ned’s side.
    “Are you okay?” she inquired, noticing a slight bruise along his cheekbone.
    Ned grinned. “I feel as though I just scored a touchdown—”
    “I hate you,” his captive snapped at Nancy.
    She stared at him in surprise. “I don’t even know you! What did I ever do to you?”
    Before he could answer, the police officers interrupted. “Come on, we’re taking you down to headquarters,” one of the men said.
    Immediately Ned related what the boy had told him. “I guess the kids were trying to get even with Nancy for catching Matey Johnson,” he concluded.
    “Incredible,” the girl detective said. “Was Sammy one of the gang members?”
    The boy, who was now handcuffed, glared. “Well, you won’t catch him!”
    Staring at her car stuck between the roadblock and the gang’s vehicle, Nancy replied, “I guess I won’t. ”
    Before long, however, a tow truck was on the scene to move the boys’ car. As soon as Nancy’s hubcaps were replaced, the couple was ready to leave.
    “Too bad the radio was ripped out,” Ned said, looking at the hole, the wires dangling under the dashboard. “But at least they didn’t take it with them. I’ll have it put back for you while you’re away. ”
    “That’s really nice of you,” said the girl, adding, “I couldn’t get over how you tackled all those kids. You were terrific. ”
    Prompted to tell Nancy the full details of the final capture, he said, “I just dragged that little squirt to the goalpost—I mean the river!”
    Ned turned the car around and drove toward the main street once again, while Nancy looked at her watch.
    “It’s too late for us to go to the show,” she said. “Why don’t we go straight to the dance and meet everybody there? I’m sure Bess, George, and the