She summons authorities and her father, who quickly arrive to help investigate. Nancy wakens to find herself being bound by Dowd, but uses an escape artist trick to free herself after he exits. Too late, Nancy whirls to face Dowd, who knocks her out! He says that he is the real Aborn and the criminal is an imposter, and has taken Aborn's place to defraud Laura. She trails him to an abandoned bungalow in the woods and, once inside, finds a man who looks just like Aborn chained up in the basement. Nancy drives out to the lake and sneaks into the house, where she spies Aborn taking securities from a wall safe.

Laura flees, seeking asylum at the Drew residence. There are strange happenings in which she (Laura) is locked into her room. Nancy is startled to hear from Laura shortly after returning home - Aborn is evil, and life is intolerable-he keeps no servants, and expects Laura to perform household chores! (Evoking sympathy from Nancy but probably not from Depression-era readers). The once-wealthy Laura is informed that she is now penniless, and Aborn takes her to his bungalow on the lake. The new guardian proves to be unfriendly and uncouth, which seems very strange considering that Laura's mother was wealthy and rich. The girls from River Heights befriend the orphaned Laura, who has come to the area to meet her new guardian, Jacob Aborn. Nancy Drew and her friend Helen Corning are rescued from a boat wreck by Laura Pendleton during a sudden and severe storm.

The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene