# Stumpy Dowd — The Bungalow Mystery character guide > Stumpy Dowd in The Bungalow Mystery by Carolyn Keene. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** Stumpy, Dowd **First appearance:** 0003-iv-a-visitor ## Snapshot A hardened criminal with a long police record, he leaves Nancy bound in a dark cellar and drives off toward Laura's fortune without a backward glance. ## Who they are Dowd is the story's cold center of gravity — the man whose name makes Laura cry out in horror and whose errand sends Carson Drew racing down the highway with a loaded revolver. He works through patience and cruelty rather than noise, keeping a prisoner chained for two weeks and hanging the key on a nail where his victims can see it. His head start on the road to the state line is what forces Nancy, her father, and Laura into the same car and the same gamble. ## Relationships ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/nancy_drew) _rivalry_ Nancy repeatedly foils Stumpy Dowd's attempts to hinder her investigation. ### [Jacob Aborn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/jacob_aborn) _professional_ Aborn employs Stumpy Dowd as a criminal accomplice to carry out his schemes against Laura and Nancy. ### [Laura Pendleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/laura_pendleton) _rivalry_ Stumpy Dowd intimidates and threatens Laura as part of Aborn's plot against her. ### [Helen Corning](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/helen_corning) _rivalry_ Helen confronts Stumpy Dowd as an adversary during the investigation. ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/nancy_drew) _rivalry_ Nancy repeatedly foils Stumpy Dowd's attempts to hinder her investigation. ### [Jacob Aborn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/jacob_aborn) _professional_ Aborn employs Stumpy Dowd as a criminal accomplice to carry out his schemes against Laura and Nancy. ### [Nancy Drew](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/nancy_drew) _rivalry_ Nancy repeatedly foils Stumpy Dowd's attempts to hinder her investigation. ### [Laura Pendleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/laura_pendleton) _rivalry_ Stumpy Dowd intimidates and threatens Laura as part of Aborn's plot against her. ### [Jacob Aborn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/jacob_aborn) _professional_ Aborn employs Stumpy Dowd as a criminal accomplice to carry out his schemes against Laura and Nancy. ### [Laura Pendleton](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/laura_pendleton) _rivalry_ Stumpy Dowd intimidates and threatens Laura as part of Aborn's plot against her. ## In the story ### [Startling Revelations](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xiv-startling-revelations) Name muttered by Aborn, suggesting his criminal identity. ### [XVI: What Nancy Discovered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xvi-what-nancy-discovered) The criminal impersonating Jacob Aborn; has chained the real guardian and is attempting to convert Laura's securities into cash. ### [A Desperate Situation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xvii-a-desperate-situation) Stumpy reveals his identity as the impostor, boasts of his scheme, and threatens to go after Laura in River Heights. ### [Left to Starve](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xviii-left-to-starve) The antagonist who left Nancy and Aborn to starve in the cellar and is heading to River Heights to harm Laura and escape with the fortune. ### [XIX: In Pursuit](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xix-in-pursuit) Has escaped from the bungalow with Laura's fortune, leaving the safe empty and the house in disarray. ### [Nancy's Daring Action](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xx-nancy-s-daring-action) His racing car is gone from the garage; Nancy believes he took the lake route and may be heading to River Heights to threaten Laura. ### [Laura Begins to Worry](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxi-laura-begins-to-worry) Revealed to be the man posing as Laura's guardian, Jacob Aborn. He is identified as a clever criminal with a long police record. ### [A Chance Meeting](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxii-a-chance-meeting) The antagonist fleeing with Laura's fortune; his car is spotted and identified. ### [A Bad Turn](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxiii-a-bad-turn) Drives recklessly, crashes over the cliff, and is rescued with severe injuries. ### [Stumpy's Fate](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxiv-stumpy-s-fate) Unconscious and gravely injured; taken to the hospital where he is identified by the police chief. ### [Laura’s Gratitude](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/chapters/xxv-laura-s-gratitude) Mentioned as being in jail, facing a long sentence. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters/stumpy_dowd - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_bungalow_mystery_se/characters