“Three ways, eh?” The other man laughed harshly. “I tell you I’ll have more than a third of the swag!”
“Don’t you remember our agreement?” Mary demanded sharply.
“What do I care for that?” the man snarled unpleasantly. “I furnished the boat.”
“And who took all the risk?” Mary countered angrily. “Answer me that!”
“I’ll have two-thirds or I’ll send you all to jail!”
“Then you’ll go with us.”
“Not much I won’t! Tom Tozzle knows how to look out for himself!”
“Aw, quit that arguing and come on!” Bud interrupted. “We’ll settle this thing in the house.”
To Nancy Drew’s disappointment, the three walked on up the path and disappeared inside the house. After a few minutes, Nancy came out from her hiding place, trembling with excitement.
“It’s evident they’re up to some shady business,” she told herself, “but of course I don’t know whether they had a hand in the Lilac Inn mystery or not. If only I can find out!”
What she was to do next Nancy Drew did not know. It would be dangerous to enter the old house, for if she were discovered she would be entirely at the mercy of her captors. She guessed that the rooms were bare of furniture and that would make the problem of finding a hiding place all but impossible. What should she do?
While Nancy hesitated, the first drop of rain splattered down upon her hand. Glancing up, she saw that black clouds were swirling about overhead.