# Laura Pendleton — The Bungalow Mystery character guide > Laura Pendleton in The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Laura, Poor Laura **First appearance:** 0000-i-racing-the-storm ## Snapshot An orphaned heiress dreading the guardian she has never met, she arrives at Moon Lake already certain that something dreadful is waiting for her. ## Who they are Laura enters the story as a guest among friends but speaks like someone already in flight — apologizing for her moods, clutching her mother's wishes, unable to explain a fear she calls silly. Her dread of meeting Jacob Aborn is the emotional engine of the early chapters; it makes Nancy curious and the reader uneasy at once. When she finally escapes her locked room by a rope of bedsheets, her timidity turns into something steadier, and her trust in Nancy becomes the thing the plot must protect. ## Relationships ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/nancy_drew) _friendship_ Nancy acts as Laura's protector and advocate, working to restore her inheritance. ### [Jacob Aborn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/jacob_aborn) _psychological_ Aborn gaslights and controls Laura, pretending to be her guardian while stealing her fortune. ### [Helen Corning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/helen_corning) _friendship_ Helen becomes a supportive friend to Laura, helping her through the ordeal of the mystery. ### [Stumpy Dowd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/stumpy_dowd) _rivalry_ Stumpy Dowd intimidates and threatens Laura as part of Aborn's plot against her. ### [Hannah Gruen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/hannah_gruen) _social_ Hannah provides hospitality and comfort to Laura as a guest in the Drew home. ### [Laure](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/laure) _family_ Laure is Laura's deceased mother, whose legacy and inheritance are central to the mystery. ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/nancy_drew) _friendship_ Laura deeply trusts Nancy and relies on her to solve the mystery of her missing inheritance. ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/nancy_drew) _friendship_ Nancy acts as Laura's protector and advocate, working to restore her inheritance. ### [Jacob Aborn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/jacob_aborn) _psychological_ Aborn gaslights and controls Laura, pretending to be her guardian while stealing her fortune. ### [Jacob Aborn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/jacob_aborn) _psychological_ Aborn gaslights and controls Laura, pretending to be her guardian while stealing her fortune. ### [Helen Corning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/helen_corning) _friendship_ Helen becomes a supportive friend to Laura, helping her through the ordeal of the mystery. ### [Stumpy Dowd](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/stumpy_dowd) _rivalry_ Stumpy Dowd intimidates and threatens Laura as part of Aborn's plot against her. ## In the story ### [A Desperate Struggle](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/ii-a-desperate-struggle) The rescuer who rows out in a small boat to save Nancy and Helen, nearly exhausted herself. ### [A New Friend](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/iii-a-new-friend) Rescues Nancy and Helen despite her fear of water; reveals she is an orphan and dreads meeting her guardian Jacob Aborn. ### [A Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/iv-a-visitor) Laura visits the camp, appears shy and troubled, and confides her dread of meeting her guardian Jacob Aborn. ### [Laura's Guardian](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/v-laura-s-guardian) Anxious and fearful of her guardian, she is forced to leave for Melrose Lake against her wishes. ### [A Close Call](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/vii-a-close-call) Flees her guardian in desperation, arrives bedraggled and distraught; helps move the tree and accepts Nancy's offer of refuge. ### [VIII: Laura's Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/viii-laura-s-story) Arrives at Nancy's home soaked and cold, shares her distressing experiences with her guardian Jacob Aborn, including forced labor, theft of her coat, and threats over her mother's jewels. ### [Nancy's Plan](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/ix-nancy-s-plan) Appears happier at breakfast, writes a defiant letter to Aborn, and expresses fear for Nancy's safety. ### [The Mysterious Bungalow](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/x-the-mysterious-bungalow) Mentioned as having warned Nancy that her guardian is dangerous when aroused. ### [Ordered Away](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xi-ordered-away) Mentioned as Aborn's ward who ran away; Nancy delivers a letter composed by Laura. ### [XII: Nancy Bides Her Time](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xii-nancy-bides-her-time) Receives a phone call from Nancy, expresses fear for Nancy's safety, and is mentioned as having left her window unfastened. ### [A Narrow Escape](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xiii-a-narrow-escape) Referenced as having escaped from Aborn and as the owner of the jewels Aborn seeks. ### [Startling Revelations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xiv-startling-revelations) Mentioned as the one whose estate the money may have been stolen from. ### [XVI: What Nancy Discovered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-what-nancy-discovered) Mentioned as safe at Nancy's home in River Heights; her fortune is the target of Stumpy Dowd's scheme. ### [A Desperate Situation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xvii-a-desperate-situation) Laura is mentioned as hiding in River Heights; Stumpy plans to go after her for the jewels. ### [Left to Starve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-left-to-starve) Mentioned as the vulnerable girl Nancy fears for; Stumpy threatens her and she may be left penniless. ### [XIX: In Pursuit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xix-in-pursuit) Referenced as the reason for Jacob Aborn's determination and Nancy's urgency; her fortune has been stolen. ### [Nancy's Daring Action](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xx-nancy-s-daring-action) Nancy tries to call her in River Heights but gets no answer, raising fears for her safety. ### [Laura Begins to Worry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxi-laura-begins-to-worry) Laura is worried about Nancy's safety and feels guilty for involving her. She tries to distract herself but remains anxious, and later shows courage by insisting on joining Carson Drew to rescue Nancy. ### [A Chance Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxii-a-chance-meeting) Rides with Nancy, providing lookout and moral support during the high-speed chase. ### [A Bad Turn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxiii-a-bad-turn) Rides with Nancy, witnesses the crash, and helps in the rescue. ### [Stumpy's Fate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxiv-stumpy-s-fate) Rides with Mr. Drew to the hospital, is reunited with her real guardian, and learns her fortune is safe. ### [Laura’s Gratitude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxv-laura-s-gratitude) Now happy and grateful; shows Nancy the bungalow improvements; gives Nancy her mother's pendant. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/laura_pendleton - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters