Flinging the door wide, the girl peered hopefully into the dark interior. A low cry escaped from her lips.
There in front of her stood the moving van!
“What a piece of luck!” she exclaimed, as she viewed the truck which the robbers had left in the barn. “Now if I can only find the clock!”
With a last cautious glance in the direction of the roadhouse, she hastily closed the barn door lest it swing in the wind and attract attention. With the doors shut, the interior of the barn was dark.
As Nancy switched on her automobile flashlight and played it over the moving van, she was disappointed to note that it was a covered one. The rear doors were closed. Nevertheless, although she could not see inside, she was certain the truck contained the goods stolen only a few hours before from the Topham bungalow.
Securing a firm grip on the door handle, she gave it a quick turn. To her surprise, the door did not open.
With an exclamation of disappointment, Nancy turned her flashlight on it and for the first time noticed the keyhole. The robbers had locked the van!
“Oh, dear, now what shall I do?” she questioned frantically. “I’ll never be able to break the lock.”
Desperately, she glanced about. She dared not remain many minutes in the barn lest the robbers return and find her there. Yet she could not admit defeat.
“Perhaps the keys were left in the ignition switch,” she thought hopefully.