Inside illustration, 1937 edition.
This is one of the original text versions where the illustration is not opposite the title page, but is opposite the first page of regular text.
Text differences
1. The name of the big bad in the 1931 text is Mortimer; in the 1972 text his first name is Martin.
2. The 1931 caddy was Sammy; his name is changed to Chris in the 1972 text.
3. The cabin in the woods in the 1931 text has more animals; in addition to the mountain lion it has rabbits, foxes and a wolf.
Synopsis. SPOILERS!
Chapter 1
1931: Nancy is playing golf. She's told that a footbridge on the course is haunted. She's trying to qualify for a tournament. A guy named Mortimer is there and he's a horrible braggart.
1993: Nancy is playing golf. She's told that a footbridge on the course is haunted. She's trying to qualify for a tournament. A guy named Martin is there and he's a horrible braggart and tries to make a date with Nancy. (Martin Bartescue is the revised name for Mortimer Bartescue in this text.
Chapter 2
1931: (The caddy's name in the revised text was Chris, but in the original text it's Sammy.) Her father is referred to as a criminal lawyer 'whose fame...has spread over many states.' Some of Nancy's background is discussed. She talks to her caddy about the bridge. Nancy notices the differences in the way Mortimer signs his name. She falls into a flowerbed due to Mortimer.
1993: Nancy points out Martin wrote his name in a strange way. Her mother died when she was three. Nancy talks to her caddy later and he tells her a lot about the bridge and that he's seen the ghost. She sees another signature of Martin's and it's not the same. She's told the ghost is seen both in the day and at night. Mr. Drew shows up. She falls into a flowerbed due to Martin.
Chapter 3
1931: Ned calls her. He is coming along with Burt and Dave. Mortimer sends Nancy some flowers. Handwriting on cards of flowers doesn't match his other handwriting. Nancy's father is dealing with a smuggling case. One of the gang members is a woman. Nancy is to help look for the woman who stays at hotels in the area.
1993: Ned calls her. He is coming along with Burt and Dave. Martin sends Nancy some flowers. Handwriting on cards of flowers doesn't match his other handwriting. Nancy's father is dealing with a smuggling case. One of the gang members is a woman. Nancy is to help look for the woman who stays at hotels in the area. At the second hotel Nancy finds a woman with a certain type of compact the gang member uses.
Chapter 4
MortimerMartin is accused of cheating by another player. The girls go to look at the bridge and hear moaning and see something white.
1993: It's not the compact she's looking for. Martin is accused of cheating by another player. The girls go to look at the bridge and hear moaning and see something white. They find a scarecrow in a white outfit. It moves easily due to the wind, so that explains the “ghost.” Nancy also sees something metallic.
Chapter 5
1931: It moves easily due to the wind, so that explains the “ghost.” Nancy also sees something metallic. Nancy finds a small carved chest. It's heavy. They run into Mortimer.
1993: Nancy finds a small carved chest. It's heavy. They run into Martin. Nancy finds out more about Martin's signature. Nancy's hand is hurting and a doctor examines it.
Chapter 6
1931: She's cleared to play golf. They get the chest open.
1993: She's cleared to play golf. They get the chest open and there's lots of jewelry inside. There also is a jeweled compact and that might be the one that relates to Mr. Drew's case. She talks to her father about the chest. Nancy plays her first round of the tournament. She tells her caddy about the scarecrow. She had lost an autographed golf ball. She finds a nearby mansion had burned down two years ago. A woman named Judson had lived there. She disappeared after the fire.
Chapter 7
1931: They get the chest open and there's lots of jewelry inside. There also is a jeweled compact and that might be the one that relates to Mr. Drew's case. She talks to her father about the chest. Nancy plays her first round of the tournament. She tells her caddy about the scarecrow. She had lost an autographed golf ball. She finds a nearby mansion had burned down two years ago. A woman named Judson had lived there. She disappeared after the fire.
1993: Nancy wins her golf match. The girls look at the ruined house. They hear a scream. They see Martin cheat at golf.
Chapter 8
1931: Nancy wins her golf match. The girls look at the ruined house. They hear a scream.
1993: Mr. Drew says the jewelry in the box was probably stolen. Nancy goes to meet with the caddy's mother to find out what she can about Judson. Nancy goes to the Judson estate and sees a guy who runs away from her. She gets a note from Martin wishing her luck in her second round of play. She gets a telegram from her father.
Chapter 9
1931: They see Mortimer cheat at golf. Mr. Drew says the jewelry in the box was probably stolen. Nancy goes to meet with the caddy's mother to find out what she can about Judson. Nancy goes to the Judson estate and sees a guy who runs away from her.
1993: Nancy's hand starts to hurt, but she win's in a sudden-death hole. Her opponent claims Nancy cheated but Martin appears and says she did not cheat. He is going to take Nancy to a dance and she asks him about Judson. He claims to know her. She overhears two women talking about selling a compact.
Chapter 10
1931: She gets a note from Mortimer wishing her luck in her second round of play. Nancy's hand starts to hurt, but she win's in a sudden-death hole. Her opponent claims Nancy cheated .
1993: Nancy finds out Judson was at the dance but has left. Mr. Drew arrives. The jewelry in the box was not stolen. Nancy plays her third match and wins. Her caddy had seen someone looking for something, perhaps the box. The girls go to the bridge and again hear moaning sounds and a scream. They find a log cabin in the woods and they follow a guy they see there. His gun goes off accidentally and he's hurt. They take him to the cabin. Nancy finds a photo and inscription for Judson. They hear a “wild cry”.
Chapter 11
1931: He is going to take Nancy to a dance and she asks him about Judson. He claims to know her. She overhears two women talking about selling a compact.
1993: Nancy finds there is a young mountain lion in a cage. Mr. Drew, Ned and the guys and George show up, Bess having gone to get help. Ned and the boys will watch over the guy. She wants Ned to write down anything the guy says. Martin sends Nancy an autographed golf ball. She goes to town, calls Martin and pretends to be Judson. She arranges a meeting.
Chapter 12
1931: Nancy finds out Judson was at the dance but has left. Mr. Drew arrives. The jewelry in the box was not stolen.
1993: This tells Nancy that Judson and Martin are working together. The girls follow Martin who goes into a theater. Nancy comes out and Bess, George and the car are gone. Ned picks Nancy up. She talks to her father and he thinks Judson is not the individual with the jewel smuggling ring. Nancy's hand hurts again and her caddy says her mother has more information about Judson.
Chapter 13
1931: The girls go to the bridge and again hear moaning sounds and a scream. They find a log cabin in the woods and they follow a guy they see there. His gun goes off accidentally and he's hurt. They take him to the cabin.
1993: Nancy doesn't learn anything new. She goes to town and finds Judson has a lot of letters from Martin. Nancy finds out a a professor was engaged to Judson. Nancy starts her next match and later a heavy rain falls. Nancy crosses the bridge and it collapses but she finally makes it to shore. She goes to the cabin and Ned is there.
Chapter 14
1931: Nancy finds a photo and inscription for Judson. They hear a “wild cry”. Nancy checks things out and there is a mountain lion in a cage. There are also several rabbits, some foxes and a wolf.
1993: The professor shows up; the guy at the cabin is his uncle. She shows him a picture of Judson and he admits they had been engaged. Her house had burned down and only a chest of jewelry had survived. She had lost the chest.
Chapter 15
1931: Mr. Drew, Ned and the boys show up. The boys are Bud Mason and Bill Cowan. There's a doctor with him and he has to remove a piece of shell from the gardener's head. The boys agree to stay and watch over the guy. Ned is to copy down anything the guy says.
1993: Mr. Drew and the professor meet. Haley, the guy in the cabin, tells Nancy about Judson.
Chapter 16
1931: Nancy gets the golf ball Mortimer had sent her. She sets up a meeting with Mortimer and pretends to be Judson. The girls follow him. Nancy goes into a movie theater, exits and finds the other girls and the car gone.
1993: Ned and Nancy go to a dance. Nancy gets a note from Martin and also gets a note from Judson. Nancy leaves a blank sheet of paper on a statue. She later talks to a real estate guy who rented a house to Judson. She goes to the address.
Chapter 17
1931: Ned shows up. Nancy talks to her father and says she's going to continue playing golf. Her hand is hurt again. Sammy's mother is at the hotel to talk to Nancy.
1993: She meets Judson. George's mother calls her. George has found out that Martin is a forger and that the hotel people are after him. Burt finds someone's keys. They see Martin take the note Nancy left from a statue and the boys catch him. It turns out he's not the one the hotel manager was talking about.
Chapter 18
1931: The woman doesn't tell Nancy anything new. She checks Judson's mail and finds out about a professor. The professor's name is Wardell. Nancy starts to play her round but a heavy rain falls and the rest of the round is postponed. Nancy starts to cross the bridge and it collapses.
1993: Judson doesn't want to meet the professor. She thinks that the professor will think she burned down her own house for the insurance money. She talks about the fire and how she lost her jewelry box. A woman has been trying to get money from her, claiming a compact she had was really hers. They go to the cabin to see Haley who had been Judson's gardener. The professor is there.
Chapter 19
1931: She reaches shore and goes to the cabin. The professor shoes up and says the guy at the cabin is his uncle. He talks about how he and Judson were engaged. The box of jewelry is also explained.
1993: Mr. Drew is there. Judson repeats her story. Mr. Drew wants to set a trap for the harassing woman. Judson and the professor renew their engagement. Martin knows one of the harassing women (there are two involved.) Nancy goes to her golf match to finish the rain-delayed event. Martin talks to Nancy. He tells her he enjoys matching wits with her. Nancy's caddy tells her Martin had been asking questions about her. Chris finds her missing golf ball.
Chapter 20
1931: She takes the professor to meet her father. Nancy finds out more about Judson from the gardener, Haley.
1993: Nancy wins the golf match and gets a silver trophy. She crosses the now-repaired bridge and figures out what was causing the moaning sound (trees rubbing together). She goes to the cabin and there are federal agents and detectives nearby. One of the harassing women is the smuggler and she and her accomplice show up. The jig is up and the women confess.
Chapter 21
Nancy gets a note from Mortimer and from Judson. Nancy leaves a blank note at the statue. She later talks to a real estate man and gets an address. Nancy finds Judson. She tells her about Haley's accident, and how she's afraid of being accused of being a thief.
Chapter 22
George's mother calls her. George says Mortimer is a forger. Bess finds some keys. They see Mortimer pick up the note at the statue. Ned and the boys capture Mortimer but later it turns out he's not the one the hotel people are looking for.
Chapter 23
Judson talks to Nancy about her past and the box of jewelry. A woman named Brownell harasses Judson over a vanity chest. Nancy talks Judson to the cabin and they see the professor inside.
Chapter 24
Nancy talks to her father and says Brownell is probably the one they are looking for. Judson and the professor are reunited. They set up a scheme to get Brownell there. Mortimer talks to Nancy and says he knew who she is. He was just playing mind games with her. She gets ready for her final round of golf.
Chapter 25
Sammy has found her autographed ball. Nancy wins the tournament and wins a silver cup. Nancy goes to the cabin. Mr. Drew and federal agents are in readiness. Brownell and her accomplice show up. The crooks confess. Judson and the professor say they are going to get married and rebuild the mansion.
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