Nancy's Mysterious Letter (Part 2 of 2)
The 'thrilling' mystery comes to an extremely anticlimactic close.
"Though Nancy hated to admit it, she was exhausted. The day had been a strenuous one for Ned and he also was pretty tired." (page 148)
Now, now- you two can pick up where you left off tomorrow. Not many people can go at it all day without getting at least a little tired/sore...
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"Everyone slept soundly, but was up in time the next morning to go to the special chapel service arranged for students and their dates." (page 148)
The college figured that with all the sinning that undoubtedly took place the night before, they'd need somewhere to absolve themselves.
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"'Ira did have some (money) in the house- lots of it. He was very foolish not to have put it in a bank.'" (page 151)
Hannah: "Even with the bank holiday and all..."
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"Nancy was incensed. But
*GASP* NEVER start a sentance with 'but'! Carolyn Keene, how COULD you?!
she could see that Ira, despite his family misfortune, did not want any unfavorable publicity about his half brother. After all, they did have the same mother." (page 151)
Narrator: "The same father, too- at least, that's what their mother told them."
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"For several seconds Nancy sat lost in thought. Finally Mrs. Gruen said,
Hannah: "Nancy, I've said goodbye five times. Will you just hang up already?"
'Nancy are you still there?'" (page 152)
Nancy: "Duhhh... what?"
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"(Nancy's) friends were dismayed, and Dave remarked, 'Edgar Nixon is one of the slipperiest crooks I've ever heard of.'" (page 152)
Dave doesn't get out much.
Dave: "Even that Zodiac Killer dude- he ain't got nothin' on this guy who throws rocks at people!"
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"Bess and George offered to do Nancy's packing while she was gone." (page 152)
Narrator: "And luckily for them, Nancy never noticed the missing fifty dollars."
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"In a little while (Nancy) and Ned rode off (to the boarding house) in the convertable.
When Mrs. Roderick opened her front door, she exclaimed,
Mrs. Roderick: "I told you to go away and stay away, you freak! (slam)
'You're just the people I want to see!
Mrs. Roderick: "Two more virgins for the pagan sacrifice- just what I need!"
I was going to call you, Nancy, but
Mrs. Roderick: "... Then I realized that I never want to see you again."
I couldn't remember which fraternity house you said you were in.'" (page 153)
Mrs. Roderick: "And then I called the college, and they started in with some business about 'sororities'..."
Nancy: "Meh, no wonder you couldn't find me. I've been staying in a different one each night. Hurrah for sleeping around!"
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"Mrs. Roderick explained that she taught a Sunday-school class and then went to church service afterward." (page 153)
This bit was added to make sure we realize that Mrs. Roderick is an innocent, Godfearing woman who could never, ever be mixed up in any of Edgar Nixon's underhanded schemes. No.
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"So far, there was nothing in Mrs. Roderick's story to upset her. Nancy and Ned waited patiently for her to go on.
Ned and Nancy: "C'mon! Get to the juicy parts!"
'As soon as I came into the house, I went upstairs to change my clothes.
Nancy and Ned: "That's more like it!"
To get to my bedroom, I had to pass Miss Drew's door.
Mrs. Roderick: "I arranged it that way on purpose, of course."
When I glanced into the room,
Mrs. Roderick: "As I always do, in hopes of catching an eyeful..."
I saw something on the bureau.
Mrs. Roderick: "It was a box of Morning After pills."
This seemed funny to me so I went in to look at it.'" (page 153)
Mrs. Roderick: "I never allow my boarders to clutter up their dressers. Too unseemly."
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"'I thought I'd better investigate
Nancy: "NEVER! That's my job!"
to see if (Nancy Smith Drew's) clothes and jewelry and everything were gone.'" (page 153)
Mrs. Roderick: "And if they weren't, I thought I'd take them for myself."
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"'Are you sure that Miss Drew came here herself?'
(Mrs. Roderick) looked startled. Then she answered slowly,
Mrs. Roderick: "Nnnnooooo.... Iiiii'mmmmm... nnnnooooootttt...."
'No, I'm not. And nobody else around here would have seen who it was.
Mrs. Roderick: "And we all maintain plausible deniability, anyway."
We're church-going folks on this street, so everyone would have been out.'" (page 154)
Mrs. Roderick: "Too bad Miss Drew didn't move in with the Godless Heathens a couple blocks over!"
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"Suddenly (Mrs. Roderick) turned and looked straight at the couple. 'Are you two detectives?' she asked.
The young people began to laugh..." (page 155)
Nancy: "I can't believe it! We really do have everyone fooled!"
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"'I have solved some mysteries, I'll admit, and I enjoy it, but I'm sure there are many other girls who could do the same.'
Oh, sure. The Dana Girls... The Bobbsey Twins... The Babysitter's Club... Trixie Belden...
Mrs. Roderick was silent a few moments..." (page 155)
Narrator: "... To further appreciate the greatness that was Nancy Drew."
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"Ned requested that Nancy read (NSD's Shakespearean quotes) aloud. She did so, pausing between each quotation and puckering her brow.
She does that whenever she reads. It's kind of a strange habit.
...
'We that are true lovers, run into strange capers.'
Ned: "Hey Nancy, that's us! Does that mean I have a chance to get you in the sack?"
Nancy: 'Dream on."
'Prosperity's the very bond of love.' (page 155-156)
Ned: "Hey Nancy, we're both rich..."
Nancy: "Shut. It."
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"Ned admitted that he could not fathom the meaning of the conglomeration of quotes.
No surprise there.
Since Nancy had said nothing, he asked her, 'Have you any idea what this means?' (page 156)
Nancy: "What do you think, douchebag?"
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"'I have a hunch,' said Nancy, 'that Edgar Nixon was with (Nancy Smith Drew) when she came here and the poor girl had no chance to write you an explination. The next best thing she could do was to
Nancy: "... carpet-bomb the place."
put a message in the form of a code and the first thing that came to her mind was Shakespearean quotations.'" (page 159)
Because everyone knows them off the top of their heads- especially ones that conveniently explain their companion, destination, and approximate time of departure.
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"(Nancy and Ned) were told that there were no leads and the officers were glad that Nancy had one to suggest." (page 160)
Officer: "Finally, someone competent!"
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"(Carson Drew) answered, 'I went over (to Ira Nixon's) as soon as I got home and heard about the theft. I urged Ira to inform the police, but he still steadfastly refused to do so. He seemed calmer, however, so I did not think it was necessary for me to stay or to ask a neighbor to come in.'
The three girls began to suppress yawns..." (page 162)
Narrator: "None of them gave a crap about Ira Nixon."
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"(Nancy, Bess, and George) all slept soundly, but Nancy awoke early with a persisting thought in her mind.
Nancy: "Why do I get so much satisfaction from stringing Ned on?"
She proposed it to Bess and George." (page 162)
Bess: "I don't know, Nancy. Isn't it a little early in our relationship? Besides, polygamy's illegal, y'know..."
George: "Oh, who cares? I say we go for it."
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"Bess said, 'If you tell Nancy Smith Drew about her inheritance, maybe she won't feel so bad about having a husband in jail." (page 162)
Yeah, that's definitely the way it works.
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"To (Nancy's) delight she found out that Ira Nixon was feeling better and decided not to disturb him with any worry about his brother.
Because keeping him in the dark about the fate of his own family member is a much better idea.
As she left the (phone) booth, a young woman walked up to her. 'You're Nancy Drew, aren't you? I've seen your picture in the paper lots of times.'" (page 163-164)
Woman: "And on 'Wanted' posters in the police station."
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"'I wonder what's keeping Nancy,' said Bess nervously...
'We'd better hunt for her,' George suggested." (page 165)
Bess: "Oh, goodie! I love reenacting 'The Most Dangerous Game'!"
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"'What's the matter with (Nancy)? Bess asked, frightened.
That lack of closing quotation marks is actually in the book, by the way. I'm just doing my best to keep all typos intact.
'I think she's been drugged,' George said grimly." (page 165)
George: "Trust me- I know what people under the influence look like."
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"George felt that it might be wise for Nancy to try disguising herself.
Bess suggested, 'You have a reversible coat.
Oh, God. With people like this advising her, she's doomed.
You can turn in inside out, and tie a scarf over your hair and wear sunglasses.'
'All right. I'll do it,' Nancy replied." (page 167)
Nancy: "With a master disguise like that, how will people ever find me?"
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"George said, 'I never finished telling you my idea.
George: "I think you should dye your hair purple."
Nancy, pretend you've never met Bess and me. You run ahead and do your sleuthing. We'll follow at a discreet distance.'" (page 167)
George: "You'll seem much cooler that way."
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"'Okay, and if one of us finds out something, we'll raise our handbag in the air as a signal.'" (page 168)
Nancy: "Whoever gets their purse snatched first wins!"
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"'Pardon me, but aren't you Miss Nancy Smith Drew?' (Nancy) asked.
... 'Yes, I am. Do I know you?'
'No, but first of all let me tell you that my name is also Nancy Drew. I must talk to you quickly. Did you ever receive a letter from England telling you that you have inherited a small fortune?'" (page 169)
Nancy: "I'm doing a public poll."
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"'Look over there, Miss Drew,' Nancy said. 'Those are plainclothesmen arresting Edgar Nixon.'" (page 170)
Nancy: "Tee hee! See your hopes and dreams being shattered?"
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"Miss Drew turned her tear-stained face toward Nancy. 'You've been so wonderful. But,' she added sadly,
Nancy S. Drew: "I'm afraid I have no choice but to have you killed."
'there'll be no wedding bells for me and I had counted on my marriage so much. Oh dear, I don't know what to do!'
As Nancy thought of an appropriate answer, she suddenly realized that this mystery which she had enjoyed so much was coming to a close.
Nancy: "Well, why don't you think about my needs? I don't have a mystery to solve anymore! You just lost who you once thought was your true love! Hmph."
The young detective always felt a vacuum in her life when this happened." (page 173)
Nancy, have you considered seeking professional help?
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