"I'll do that," Nancy promised. She thanked the woman for being so cooperative.

It was dark when Nancy and Ned came out of the house. They were pleased it was a clear crisp evening for the dance.

When they reached the fraternity parking lot, it was full. "We'll have to leave your car in the street," Ned remarked.

Nancy, who was at the wheel, turned around and headed down the street. Parking was allowed only on one side and she had to go to the next block before finding a s.p.a.ce.

Ned teased her by saying he was sure she would never squeeze her convertible in such a tight parking place. However, after several skillful twists of the wheel, Nancy maneuvered the car in the vacant spot. Ned admitted he could not have done a finer job.

Nancy locked up the convertible. Then she and Ned started walking on the side of the street where no cars were allowed to be parked.

About halfway back to the fraternity house, they suddenly became aware of bright lights behind them. The two turned automatically. To their horror, a car had raced up over the curb and was heading directly at them!

CHAPTER XVII.

Fake Summons

THOUGH terrified, Nancy and Ned reacted quickly. With a tremendous leap they managed to get out of the way of the oncoming car. The couple landed on some tree roots and lost their balance.

Suddenly it was dark around them. They realized that the driver of the car which had almost hit them had turned off his headlights. In a second the car roared back into the street and sped away.

Nancy and Ned picked themselves up and stared after the vehicle. By a street light they caught a glimpse of the car. It was red in color.

The driver deliberately tried to run us down," Ned stormed. "That was your enemy, Nancy."

"I'm afraid so," she agreed. "Ned, we must report this to the police at once. Let's go back to my car and drive downtown."

"Are you sure you're all right?" Ned asked solicitously. "You don't want to go back to the fraternity house first?"

Nancy a.s.sured him her nerves were steady now. "I'm just mad," she said. "The person in that car was either Edgar Nixon or one of his henchmen. I'm going to keep after him until he's brought to justice!"

Ned laughed. "That a girl!" he said, patting her shoulder.

At police headquarters they talked to Captain Krate. Ned told of the recent near-accident, then Nancy went on to reveal her suspicions about a man named Edgar Nixon who ran a Lonely Hearts Club.

"Lonely Hearts Club, eh?" the captain repeated. He turned the pages of a large book on his desk. "I have a notation here to be on the lookout for such a person. We've had complaints from two women who said that an Edgar Nixon promised them a husband. But he never produced any."

"How did the club operate?" Nancy asked.

Captain Krate said that the total sum for finding a husband was one hundred dollars which was paid on the installment plan of twenty-five dollars a month.

"These poor women sent their last payment but never heard from Nixon again. When they made inquiries at the houses where he had lived, they learned that he had moved away and left no forwarding address.

Nancy reported how she had come upon one such address and seen a couple of letters, each one containing twenty-five dollars. "But by that time he had moved."

"That's always the pattern," Captain Krate remarked. "Do you know the names of any of his victims?"

"Possibly one," she replied. "Her name is the same as mine. That's how I became mixed up in the mystery."

Nancy told him about the actress by the name of Nancy Smith Drew. "I'm so afraid she's not only a victim of Edgar Nixon's dishonesty, but that he intends to marry her and help himself to an inheritance she's going to get."

The police captain frowned. "This is a complicated case. Well, I shall put out an alarm also for this Miss Nancy Smith Drew."

Nancy then left with Ned and went back to the fraternity house. Bess and George were already in the girls' bedroom and were amazed at the story she had to tell about the near-accident.

"It seems as if you aren't safe anywhere," Bess said. "Nancy, please be careful."

"I promise," Nancy said with a chuckle. "But my enemy seems to strike in such peculiar ways, all I can do is jump out of his path as fast as possible."

She hurried to take a shower and get dressed for the dance. Dinner was merry and afterward the couples strolled off to the gymnasium where the dance was to be held.

Football star Ned Nickerson became the center of attention with congratulations, handshaking, and backslapping the order of the evening. Finally, as the band began to play, he escaped onto the dance floor with Nancy.

The evening was about half over and Nancy and Ned were seated on one side of the gym when a boy came up and said that Ned was wanted on the telephone. He excused himself to Nancy and hurried off.

A moment later the band started a lively tune and one by one couples began to go back onto the dance floor. Bess, George, Burt, and Dave waved to Nancy as they pa.s.sed by. At that moment the music suddenly stopped and the drums began to roll. Everyone became quiet and listened attentively.

The band leader called out, "Where is Nancy Drew?"

"Here I am!" Nancy said, jumping up and raising her hand.

"Will you please step up here," the leader requested. "The police want to see you."

As Nancy hurried forward, a gasp went up around the room. Why did the police want to see her?

When she reached the band, the young leader said, "I'm sorry I had to call out that way, but I didn't know you. Hope you don't mind."

"Not at all," said Nancy. "Tell me, what's this about the police?"

She was told that two detectives were waiting for her on the stage of the adjoining theater. "The student who came to give us the message said that they have news for you of the other Miss Drew."

Excitedly Nancy hurried from the gymnasium and down the long corridor which led to the stage in the theater. The entrance door was open and footlights were on. The curtain had been hoisted about halfway up.

Nancy looked around but did not see anyone. Where were the detectives?

"h.e.l.lo!" she called out, thinking they might have walked out into the far wings, where the dressing rooms were.

There was no answer. Nancy was puzzled and turned to look out over the darkened seats. As she stood pondering directly under the curtain, she heard a noise above her. A sixth sense told the young detective to move in a hurry. She jumped forward just as the heavy curtain crashed to the floor.

Terror seized Nancy. She leaped across the footlights to the floor and sped as if on wings to the corridor leading to the gym. She had not gone far when she was met by Ned. Bess, George, Burt, and Dave were following.

"What's up?" Ned asked, seeing the look of fright on Nancy's face.

Turning, Nancy pointed back toward the stage. "In there! The message was a hoax! Someone tried to kill me by dropping the curtain!"

Bess shrieked and held onto Nancy. "Don't go back in there!"