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| author | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-01-01 10:10:25 -0800 |
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| committer | www-data <www-data@mail.pglaf.org> | 2026-01-01 10:10:25 -0800 |
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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/77595-0.txt b/77595-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e6d9619 --- /dev/null +++ b/77595-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5779 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77595 *** + + + + + + + [Cover Illustration] + + + + +[Illustration: _The Great Airport Mystery_ + +“IT’S ROBBERY, BUT I’LL SELL THE PLANE,” THE HARDY BOYS HEARD OLLIE +JACOBS SAY.] + + + + + HARDY BOYS MYSTERY STORIES + + THE GREAT AIRPORT + MYSTERY + + + By + FRANKLIN W. DIXON + + + NEW YORK + GROSSET & DUNLAP + PUBLISHERS + + ‾Made in the United States of America‾ + + + + + Copyright, 1930, by + GROSSET & DUNLAP, Inc. + —— + _All Rights Reserved_ + The Hardy Boys: The Great Airport Mystery + + Printed in the United States of America + + + + + CONTENTS + + CHAPTER PAGE + I Peril from the Sky . . . . 1 + II The Crash . . . . . . 8 + III A Promise of Trouble . . . . 17 + IV An Attack . . . . . . 25 + V Anxious Days . . . . . 34 + VI The Cabin in the Woods . . . 42 + VII A Mysterious Conversation . . . 51 + VIII Puzzled . . . . . . 59 + IX Missing Mail . . . . . 67 + X Looking for Clues . . . . 77 + XI News from the City . . . . 87 + XII Under Arrest . . . . . 96 + XIII Circumstantial Evidence . . . 106 + XIV Held for Trial . . . . . 115 + XV On the Trail of Ollie Jacobs . . 125 + XVI Mysterious Plans . . . . 136 + XVII Dangerous Business . . . . 144 + XVIII The Warning Message . . . . 153 + XIX The Twenty-Eighth . . . . 162 + XX That Night . . . . . . 172 + XXI West of Bacon Hill . . . . 181 + XXII Captured . . . . . . 189 + XXIII Back in Bayport . . . . . 197 + XXIV Vindicated . . . . . . 207 + + + + + CHAPTER I + Peril from the Sky + + +“It’s certainly great to have an airport so close to Barmet Bay,” said +Frank Hardy. + +“I wish we could go up in an airplane some time,” returned Joe, his +brother. + +“Wouldn’t you be scared?” + +“Me? Would you?” + +“No.” + +“Then I wouldn’t be scared either. Look at the record holders! Where +would they be now if they’d been afraid to go up in an airplane?” + +“That’s right,” said Frank. “Airplanes are pretty safe nowadays. Almost +as safe as this car of ours.” + +The two Hardy brothers were driving on the Shore Road, leading out of +Bayport and skirting Barmet Bay, in their new roadster. It was +springtime. Snow had disappeared from the hillsides and the blue waters +of the bay sparkled in the sunlight. Their destination this afternoon +was the new airport, a few miles out of the city. + +“I’m glad winter is over, even if we did have a lot of fun on Cabin +Island,” said Joe. “It won’t be long now before we’re through school.” + +“If we pass our exams,” Frank reminded him, calmly. + +“You’ll pass all right. I’m not so sure about myself. I had to work +mighty hard to catch up to you.” + +“Yes, but I lost a term that year I was sick. Anyway, our marks have +been good this year. We should get through. Isn’t it funny—when we’re +going to high school we wish we were out of it and now that we are in +our last term I’m rather sorry to leave.” + +“Me, too,” said Joe. “Wonder where we’ll be next fall?” + +“College, I guess.” + +“Mother has her mind set on a college course for both of us. So far as +I’m concerned I’d rather go into detective work with dad.” + +“It would certainly be more exciting. Still, we’d have a good time at +college, I imagine,” observed Frank. + +He turned the car into a road that branched off the main highway. This +road led toward the airport that had been constructed back of Bayport +the previous summer. + +“Wonder why they built the airport so far out,” Joe said. + +“They have to have plenty of ground. It was the only place available. +Then, there’s a railway siding near by and a train always meets the mail +planes,” Frank explained. “Dad was telling me all about it the other +evening. They use the port for commercial flying too, and I hear they do +a lot of business and hope to do more.” + +“An airmail pilot must have lots of nerve. It’s marvelous that they +nearly always bring the mail through on time. And lots faster than +trains. I wish we knew one of the pilots. He might take us up for a +flight.” + +“Chet Morton and the rest of the fellows would be green with envy,” +rejoined Frank. + +The roadster bounced along the rutted road toward the airport. A +signpost near by conveyed the information that the flying field was +three miles away. A little later, as the car came over the brow of a +hill the Hardy boys could see the great flat field lying in the valley +below. In front of a hangar they could see a plane with silver wings. + +“Chances are we’ll both have a plane of our own in about ten years,” Joe +said. “Everybody will be flying then, and think nothing of it.” + +Frank applied the brakes as the roadster descended the steep grade. In a +few minutes they had reached the foot of the hill. The car raced along +the level road toward the airport. + +The boys had often seen the airplanes flying over the city, but they had +never been in close proximity to one of the machines and now they were +excited over the prospect. + +“Perhaps,” said Frank, “we’ll even meet one of the pilots and have a +chance to talk to him and hear about some of his adventures.” + +Joe turned in his seat and looked back. + +“Why, there’s a plane now!” he exclaimed. “We’ll be able to see it +land.” + +Above the roar of the car the boys could hear the hum of an approaching +airplane. It came swooping down out of the sky beyond the hill. + +“Seems to be flying mighty queerly,” commented Frank. “Usually they go +along as smoothly as a bird.” + +“Nothing smooth about that one. Maybe the pilot’s in trouble.” + +The flight of the plane was indeed erratic. It was going from side to +side in a jerky fashion and it seemed to be flying much closer to the +ground than safety warranted. + +“He’ll never reach the airport at that rate,” said Frank, looking back +again. “He should be higher up than that. Look! He’s coming straight +down, and the airport is a couple of miles away!” + +“I hope he doesn’t land on the road. He might hit us.” + +“If he lands on the road he’s in for a nasty crash. A plane has to have +plenty of room to move around in.” + +Between steering the roadster and eying the plane, Frank Hardy was well +occupied. Joe kept looking back and staring at the descending machine. + +“I believe that fellow _is_ in trouble,” he said. “He’s coming down +right this way.” + +They could see the airplane quite clearly now. They could even see the +figure of the pilot in the cockpit. The machine was descending at +terrific speed in a long glide that made it seem inevitable that the +plane would fall far short of the airport. + +Frank stepped on the accelerator. The car leaped forward, raising a +cloud of dust. But the speed of the car was as nothing compared with the +speed of the plane. The distance between them diminished, and the plane +was steadily nearing the ground. + +“Great Caesar! That fellow is coming down on top of us!” shouted Joe, in +alarm. + +“Not if I can help it,” returned Frank grimly. + +Joe looked up. He could even distinguish details of the understructure +of the airplane now. The roar of its engine was deafening. Lower and +lower it came. + +For a moment the plane flew level. Its nose raised and it gained +altitude. Joe breathed a sigh of relief. Then the big machine dipped +again. He could see the propeller blades flashing in the sun. + +The roadster was traveling at sixty miles an hour. Frank did not dare +raise his eyes from the road. He crouched over the wheel. + +“Where is he now?” he snapped. + +“Right behind us! And coming down every minute!” + +Joe was really frightened. There was no hope that the plane would ever +reach the airport, for it was flying too close to the ground. He +wondered if the pilot was merely trying to scare them. But the plane was +diving toward them in such headlong fashion that he quickly abandoned +this explanation. + +Powerful though the roadster was, the speed of the plane was much +greater. It was scarcely two hundred feet from the ground now and its +nose was pointing down at a dangerous angle. In a few more seconds there +would be a crash, and, from the angle of flight, it seemed almost +certain that the heavy machine would crash directly on top of the +roadster! + +The car roared ahead, the noise of its engine drowned in the gigantic +throbbing of the airplane’s motor. The plane came nearer and nearer, +diving at almost incredible speed. + +“We’re done for!” groaned Joe. + +Unless a miracle intervened the plane would crash directly on top of the +Hardy boys’ car! + + + + + CHAPTER II + The Crash + + +Frank Hardy could scarcely keep the car on the road. He glanced at the +speedometer. They were traveling at seventy miles an hour. + +It was certain that the airplane would crash on the highway. + +Suddenly Joe leaned forward. + +“Look! The side road!” he shouted. “Take the side road!” + +A short distance ahead Frank saw a rough dirt road leading off the +highway to the airport. If he could only reach it in time! The roar of +the descending airplane was deafening now. They could even hear the wind +screaming in the struts. Joe saw the pilot, in helmet and goggles, +waving his arm wildly. + +Frank slackened speed slightly as he neared the dirt road, bore down on +the wheel, and made the turn. The rear wheels skidded wildly, there was +a screech of brakes, the car teetered perilously, then righted itself, +and shot down the rough lane. + +At the same moment the airplane roared past. It was so close that the +wing tip came within a few feet of the rear of the car. + +Then it crashed. + +Frank was having his own troubles and he did not see the crack-up. On +the bumpy dirt road the car skidded, throwing up a cloud of sand and +dust, then shot across a ditch, thumped and lurched over some rocks, and +finally came to a stop at a rail fence. + +Joe came close to going through the windshield and then hit the door +with a thud. + +“Wow!” he burst out. “Some wild ride, I’ll tell the universe!” + +Frank had been thrown tightly against the wheel, otherwise he, too, +might have gone into the glass. As it was, he hurt his ribs a little. + +“Well, I’m glad we didn’t overturn,” he remarked, as soon as he could +catch his breath. + +“Or take down the fence.” + +“Wonder who that crazy fellow was?” + +“Maybe something went wrong with his air bus.” + +“Well, I’m glad we managed to get from under. It was a mighty close +call.” + +Joe, looking back, saw the airplane as it crashed. + +Nose-down, it came, then flattened out just before it reached the +ground. Its understructure crashed into the earth. The plane seemed to +bound high in the air, then came down again with a snapping and +crackling of wood, and buried its nose in the dust of the road. Then its +tail canted up and the plane turned a somersault over on its back. + +It was a wreck! + +While the Hardy boys are scrambling out of their roadster and hastening +back to the scene of the airplane crash that had so nearly cost them +their own lives, the opportunity will be taken to introduce them more +definitely. + +Frank and Joe Hardy were the sons of Fenton Hardy, an internationally +famous detective, late of the New York police force. Mr. Hardy had made +such a name for himself as a detective with the New York force that he +had resigned to go into business for himself as a private detective and +his services were frequently sought in important cases. His sons, Frank +and Joe, were eager to follow in his footsteps. + +The Hardys lived in Bayport, a thriving city on Barmet Bay, on the +Atlantic coast. Here Frank and Joe attended the Bayport high school, +where they were in their final year. Although Frank, a tall, dark, +handsome lad, was a year older than his curly-headed brother Joe, both +boys were in the same grade because of an illness that had caused Frank +to lose time. Mr. and Mrs. Hardy were anxious that their sons should go +to college after finishing high school, Mrs. Hardy wishing them to study +law and medicine. But the boys were of different mind. Their father’s +profession appealed to them. They wanted to be detectives. + +As a matter of fact, the lads had a natural bent toward detective work +and they had already proved their ability so thoroughly that Fenton +Hardy was disposed to believe that they would be successful if they +followed in his footsteps. The Hardy boys had solved a number of +mysteries that had puzzled the police of Bayport and vicinity, and +already the people of the city knew of them as boys possessing more than +the usual share of initiative, resourcefulness, and deductive ability. + +Frank and Joe were introduced in the first volume of this series, +entitled: “The Hardy Boys: The Tower Treasure,” in which they solved the +mystery of the disappearance of a treasure from Tower Mansion, on the +outskirts of Bayport. In succeeding volumes of the series their +adventures while seeking to unravel other mysterious cases in which they +became involved have been described at length. During the winter +previous to the time this present story opens, Frank and Joe Hardy had +spent a vacation on Cabin Island, in Barmet Bay, where they had cleared +up the mystery of a stolen stamp collection of great value, discovering +the precious stamps after many thrilling events. These adventures have +been related in “The Mystery of Cabin Island,” the volume immediately +previous to this story. + +As the Hardy boys ran back down the dirt road toward the wreckage of the +airplane they had little hope that they would find the pilot alive. + +“He’ll be smashed to pieces!” gasped Joe. + +“The plane isn’t burning, anyway,” said Frank. “There may be a chance +for him yet.” + +Just then they heard a cry for help. + +It came from beneath the jumbled wreckage of the plane. In a few moments +the Hardy boys reached the scene. + +Although the crash had been witnessed from the airport and people were +already proceeding toward the spot, the Hardy boys were the first to +arrive. They could hear groans and shouts from beneath the plane. + +“We’ll have to lift up some of that wreckage to get the poor fellow +out,” said Frank quickly. He looked around. It was futile to attempt +raising the wreckage by hand. He saw a heavy rail lying at the base of +the near-by fence. “Here we are. This will do as a lever.” + +The boys seized the rail and carried it over to the wreckage. They +inserted one end of the rail beneath the body of the plane, rolling a +big rock forward as a support. + +The groans and shouts continued. + +“All right there!” called Frank. “We’re going to pry some of this +wreckage away from you. Are you badly hurt?” + +“I’m nearly killed,” groaned the pilot. “Hurry up and lift this plane +off me.” + +“Try to crawl out when we raise it,” advised Frank. + +The boys bore down on their improvised lever. There was a clattering and +crackling of the wreckage; then the mass began to move. The body of the +upturned plane rose slightly. Joe caught a glimpse of the pilot +scrambling out of the cockpit. The man’s face was scratched and +bleeding, but he seemed to be crawling out of his precarious position +quickly, so evidently no bones were broken. + +The boys managed to hold up the plane by means of the strong rail until +the pilot crawled out. + +“Anyone with you?” demanded Frank. + +The pilot, struggling to his feet, shook his head. The boys released +their grasp on the rail and the wreckage subsided again with a crash. + +The pilot came forward. The boys noticed that he lurched slightly as he +walked and that he staggered as he came up to them. His uniform was torn +and he had a few scratches across his face, but otherwise he did not +appear to be badly hurt. + +“How are you feeling?” Joe asked him. + +Swaying from side to side, the pilot confronted them in silence. His +face was flushed. + +“Narrow escape,” he muttered. “Mighty narrow escape.” He turned and +looked at the wrecked plane, and hiccuped. + +“What happened?” asked Frank. “Engine trouble? Or did you run out of +gas?” + +“I dunno,” answered the pilot thickly. “I dunno what happened. It wasn’t +my fault. All the fault of them fellows in the car.” + +“Fellows in a car?” + +“Yes. Couple of fools in a car ahead of me. I wanted ’em to stop and +they wouldn’t. They rushed right ahead and got in my way. Thought I’d +scare ’em and make ’em stop, but they kept on going. Then I found I +couldn’t get back in the air again—flying too low—it was all the fault +of those fools in the car.” + +Frank and Joe glanced at one another significantly. Clearly, the man was +referring to them. And it was just as clear that the pilot had been +drinking. + +“We were in a car,” said Frank. “If you think we’re to blame for your +accident you’re badly mistaken. You mighty near cost us our lives. We +had to get off the road or you would have crashed on top of our car.” + +The pilot turned and looked at the boys, an ugly expression in his +bloodshot eyes. + +“You were in the car, eh?” he shouted. “You’re the fellows that are to +blame for this crack-up!” + +“It was your own fault.” + +“Wasn’t my fault. You fellows wouldn’t stop. I was afraid I was going to +hit you. That’s why I lost control of the plane.” The pilot was working +himself up into a temper. “You’ll pay for this, let me tell you. My +plane is wrecked and I was mighty near killed just because a couple of +fool boys didn’t know enough to stop.” + +Frank and Joe Hardy stared at the man in amazement. The injustice of the +charge passed belief. They were just about to reply angrily when they +heard voices and saw men hurrying down the road toward them. A number of +farmers in the adjacent fields had witnessed the accident and had lost +no time in hastening to the scene. + +“What happened? Anybody killed?” demanded one man, as they came up. + +“The plane is wrecked. The pilot escaped,” explained Frank. + +“No thanks to you young fools,” snarled the pilot. He turned to the +farmers. “I’m lucky to be alive. I was trying to make a landing on the +road and these young idiots in their car kept racing ahead of me so I +couldn’t come down. I lost control of my machine and it’s wrecked.” + +The farmers looked gravely at the Hardy boys. Frank laughed. + +“I think you’d better wait until you sober up,” he told the pilot, +“before you make any charges like that. You haven’t any business being +in an airplane when you’re drunk.” + +“Who says I’m drunk?” demanded the pilot belligerently. He clenched his +fists and stepped forward. “My airplane is wrecked and I’m going to hold +you young fools responsible.” + + + + + CHAPTER III + A Promise of Trouble + + +“You can’t blame us for this smash-up!” exclaimed Frank Hardy. “Why, +that’s absurd! We were on the road, where we belonged. If you wanted to +land, you should have landed in a field. There’s plenty of room.” + +“I’ll land my plane wherever I please,” raged the pilot. + +“Why pick on us?” asked Joe. “We did our best to get out of your way. I +think you deliberately tried to run us down.” + +“Never mind. You’ll hear more about this affair. I’m going to report +this to the air mail service and they’ll come on you for damages.” + +“Try to get ’em,” returned Frank. + +A lanky farmer stepped forward. + +“I saw the whole thing from the top of the hill,” he said slowly. “If I +was you, Mr. Airplane Man, I wouldn’t try to collect no damages from +these lads.” + +“Why not?” + +“Because they wasn’t to blame for the accident. The whole thing was your +own fault. And, by jing, if you _do_ try to blame them they can count on +me for a witness to prove that they did their best to get out of your +way. They was ridin’ peacefully along the road, and then you come +swoopin’ and bouncin’ out of the sky and come slap down on the road +where you shouldn’t be. You airplane fellows give me a pain. You’ve got +the whole sky to move around in, and yet you think you have a right to +chase people off the earth too.” + +“Is that so?” sneered the pilot. “Well, you’ll have a chance to give +your evidence, seeing you know so much.” + +“I’m glad of that, Giles Ducroy,” said the farmer. “I’m glad I’ll have a +chance to give evidence, for then I can tell ’em how drunk you were when +you crawled out from under the plane.” + +This shot told. + +“I’m not drunk,” stormed Ducroy. “I’m nervous.” + +“You must have a pretty bad case of nerves to make your breath smell so +strong,” rejoined the farmer calmly. “I’ll bet the air mail service +won’t keep you on very long after this, when they hear what I’ve got to +say.” + +The pilot turned his back. + +“I haven’t got time to bother with you. It’s these boys I’m dealing +with. I warn you,” he said, glaring at the Hardy boys, “you haven’t +heard the last of this. There’s going to be plenty of trouble for you.” + +Just then there was a roaring and clattering as a huge truck lumbered +down the road, bound from the airport. The driver stared at the scene in +amazement. Some of the farmers moved the wreckage of the plane out of +the road to enable the truck to pass. Giles Ducroy strode forward +arrogantly. + +“Driver!” + +“Yeah?” + +“There are some bags of air mail in my plane. I want you to bring them +to Bayport.” + +“Who says so?” asked the driver calmly. + +“I do. I’m pilot of this plane.” + +The driver regarded the wreckage. + +“Looks like you made a pretty good job of the crack-up,” he said +finally. + +Some of the bystanders grinned. Giles Ducroy flushed angrily. + +“No nonsense about this,” he snapped. “It’s my duty to see that the mail +bags reach the city.” + +The truck driver sighed. + +“Why didn’t you bring ’em to the airport in your plane?” he inquired. + +“Can’t you see? I’ve had an accident.” + +“You picked a nice day for it,” observed the driver, glancing up at the +sky. + +Giles Ducroy lost patience. He went over to the wreckage of the plane +and burrowed among the débris until he found the mail bags. These he +hauled forth and tossed into the truck. + +“There!” he said. “Get them to Bayport as quick as you can.” + +“Yes, Commander!” said the truck driver, with an elaborate salute. “The +air mail must arrive on time. If I run out of gas I’ll come down in a +parachute.” And the big truck lumbered off. + +This exchange of witticisms, in which Giles Ducroy had come out second +best, judging by the snickers of the farmers who were now crowding +about, did not leave the pilot in a very good temper. He stormed into +the middle of a group of men who were examining the wreckage, ordered +them to stand back, and promised all sorts of dire penalties if anyone +touched the airplane until he returned from the airport. + +“As for you,” he said, turning to Frank and Joe Hardy before he stalked +away, “you’ll hear more about this. You’re to blame for the whole +business and I’m going to see that you suffer for it.” + +He went away, walking rather unsteadily down the road. + +The lanky farmer who had befriended the boys came over to them. + +“A man like that oughtn’t to be allowed in charge of a plane,” he said +gravely. “I’ll bet if the air service people knew about him being drunk +he wouldn’t hold his job two seconds.” + +“Do you think he can make trouble for us?” asked Frank. “It wasn’t our +fault that he crashed. We did our best to get out of his road, and it +was just by luck that he didn’t smash right on top of us. I nearly +wrecked our roadster getting out of the way.” + +“I saw it,” said the man. “I saw it all from the top of the hill. And +it’s just like I told Ducroy. I’ll be a witness for you if there’s any +trouble. My name is Jim Perrin and people around here know my word is as +good as my bond. You lads were no more to blame for that smash-up than I +was, and I’ll tell ’em so.” + +“It’s mighty good of you, Mr. Perrin,” said Frank gratefully. “If we +have any trouble about this matter we’ll certainly call on you.” + +“Be sure you do. I’ll help you all I can.” + +The farmer went back toward the wreckage. Frank and Joe decided that +their trip to the airport might as well be called off for the time +being, as they had no desire for a further encounter with Giles Ducroy. +So they went back to the roadster and extricated it from its position +among the rocks, backed it out into the highway and headed toward +Bayport again. + +In spite of Jim Perrin’s reassuring words, the lads were disturbed. + +They had no idea how far Giles Ducroy might go and they realized that +the man would certainly stretch the truth in order to clear himself with +the airport officials. Like most boys, they believed that a man in +uniform was vested with powers beyond that of the average citizen and +they reflected that the officials might be more inclined to believe +Giles Ducroy’s word than theirs. + +“I think we’d better tell dad about this,” said Frank. “We know we +aren’t to blame, but this thing might be serious if Ducroy makes any +charge against us.” + +“Good idea,” replied Joe. + +When they reached home they ran the roadster into the garage, then went +into the house. Fenton Hardy was working in his study, but he put aside +his papers when the boys came in and looked up at them with an inquiring +smile. + +“What’s the matter?” he asked. “You both look as if you have something +on your minds.” + +“We have,” said Frank. + +“Been in an accident with the car?” + +“There was an accident, but we weren’t in it. We saw an airplane crash +and we’re blamed for it.” + +Mr. Hardy looked serious. + +“How on earth could you be blamed for an airplane smash when you were in +your roadster?” + +Frank then explained the circumstances and told how they had been +obliged to take refuge in a lane in order to avoid the descending plane. + +“It certainly wasn’t our fault,” he concluded. “We might have been +killed if we hadn’t reached the lane in time.” + +“You say Ducroy was drunk?” + +“He had been drinking. We could smell liquor on his breath.” + +“I don’t think he’ll get very far if he tries to lay any charges against +you,” said the great detective. “The post office authorities won’t be +very easy on him if they discover he had been drinking. And, then, you +have this witness, Mr. Perrin. I’m inclined to think they’ll accept his +word about how it happened.” + +“I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see what Ducroy does,” said Joe. + +“Perhaps I can fix things up,” said Mr. Hardy. “I happen to have a good +many friends in the postal department. I cleared up a big mail robbery +here a few years ago and they appreciated it. I’ll go down right away +and have a talk with some of the officials and I’ll try to explain +things to them. Don’t worry too much about it.” + +“That’s mighty good of you, Dad,” said Frank. + +“I’ll say it is!” chimed in Joe. + +“Well, I certainly can’t see my sons accused of wrecking an airplane +when they didn’t have anything to do with it,” said Mr. Hardy warmly. He +got up and reached for his hat. “I’ll go and see what can be done about +it right away.” + + + + + CHAPTER IV + An Attack + + +The airplane crash was a front-page feature in the newspapers of Bayport +for several days thereafter, and the Hardy boys learned that the post +office department was conducting an investigation into the cause of the +affair. + +Several reporters called on Frank and Joe Hardy to learn their version +of the accident, and although the boys told exactly how the crash +occurred, they were disturbed to find that considerable space was given +to Giles Ducroy’s account. Ducroy was not backward in laying the blame +upon the Hardy boys. + +“My plane cracked up simply because I was trying to avoid hitting the +car,” he said, in an interview. “The boys deliberately drove their +roadster ahead so that I was unable to find a landing place until it was +too late. They confused me so much that the accident was the result.” + +All this looked very bad in cold print, and one of the newspapers hinted +that the post office department might take action against the boys if +Ducroy’s story was upheld. + +“Don’t worry about it,” Fenton Hardy advised. “Don’t let it be on your +minds while you are writing examination papers.” + +This counsel was sound. The lads were busy writing their final +examinations and upon the result would depend their graduation from the +high school that year. If they failed, it would mean another term, and a +year’s work wasted. + +Both Frank and Joe had studied hard and were well up in their work. +Under ordinary circumstances they would have had little doubt of the +outcome, but with the Ducroy affair on their minds they could not +concentrate on their studies as well as they might have done otherwise. +Frank shook his head mournfully when the boys left school the afternoon +of the geometry examination. + +“How do you think you made out?” he asked Joe. + +“Not so good.” + +“I’m sure I failed.” + +“It was a tough exam. Everybody says so.” + +“I know it was tough, but I couldn’t help thinking of the trouble we’ll +be in if the post office people decide we’re to blame for that +accident.” + +“It was in my mind too,” Joe admitted, “Still we know it wasn’t our +fault.” + +“Of course it wasn’t. But the chances are that they’ll believe Ducroy, +seeing he’s one of their own pilots.” + +“If they blame us, we’ll fight it. We’ll tell them Ducroy was drunk.” + +“Perhaps they won’t even listen to us,” said Frank. + +The boys went on down the street toward the downtown section. Joe caught +sight of a familiar name in a newspaper headline. + +“This looks interesting,” he remarked. When he bought the paper, the two +stood on the corner to read it. + + “Post Office Department Discharges Giles Ducroy,” read the + headline. “Air Mail Pilot Released Following Crash Near Local + Airport.” + +Joe whistled softly. The boys read further: + + “It was announced to-day at post office headquarters that the + resignation of Giles Ducroy, pilot in charge of the mail plane + that crashed on the airport road last Saturday, had been + requested by the department. Ducroy handed in his resignation + early this afternoon and is no longer with the service. It was + stated that information had come into possession of the + department to the effect that Ducroy had been drinking heavily + on the day of the crash and that he had been drinking for + several days previous. According to officials, the pilot had + been warned several times that his bad habits would get him into + trouble, and although he promised to mend his ways he had + evidently failed to do so. Other aviators claimed that Ducroy + was a menace to the air service and that he should not be + permitted to handle a plane. His flying license has been + canceled.” + +The Hardy boys looked at one another in silence. + +“I guess that will clear us,” said Frank finally. + +“It doesn’t say so.” + +“They can’t very well blame us after that.” + +A familiar voice broke in: + +“Hi, there! Hear the news?” + +The Hardy boys looked up to see Chet Morton, one of their chums, +approaching. Chet, too, had a newspaper under his arm. + +“We were just reading it,” said Joe. + +“It was coming to him,” declared Chet warmly. “I was talking to one of +the men at the airport yesterday, and he said Ducroy ought to be fired. +He was always drinking. None of them were surprised when he had that +crash.” + +“I’m sorry he has lost his job,” said Frank, “but I guess he deserved +it. If they let him stay on he might get into a serious accident and +kill somebody.” + +“He mighty nearly killed us,” Joe reminded him. “If I only knew that +this meant we were clear of blame I could write the rest of my exams +with an easy mind.” + +“Don’t worry,” advised Chet. “They won’t blame you chaps. The very fact +that Ducroy has been let out means that they didn’t believe his story.” + +Suddenly Frank nudged his brother. + +“Here he comes now.” + +“Who?” + +“Ducroy,” whispered Frank. + +Joe looked around. Coming down the street he saw the former air pilot. +Ducroy’s face wore an angry look and he appeared not to notice the +stares and the comments of the people near by. + +“Don’t pay any attention to him,” said Joe. “There’s no use looking for +trouble.” + +But, if the Hardy boys were not going to pay any attention to Giles +Ducroy, it soon became apparent that the pilot intended to pay some +attention to them. He changed his course and came over toward the three +boys. + +“Now what’s the big idea?” muttered Chet. + +Ducroy blustered toward them. He faced Frank and Joe angrily, brushing +Chet to one side. + +“Well,” he sneered, “I suppose you’re satisfied now?” + +“What do you mean?” asked Frank. + +“I suppose you’re satisfied now that you’ve lost me my job?” demanded +Ducroy. + +“You lost it yourself,” returned Frank. “We didn’t have anything to do +with it.” + +“You didn’t, hey? It was your fool driving that caused the crash, and it +was because of the crash that I got fired.” + +“The paper says something different,” said Joe calmly. + +“It says I got fired because I was drunk, and I was as sober as I am +now.” + +“And you’re not any too sober now, either,” Chet reminded him sweetly. + +Ducroy turned to him. “You keep out of this,” he snapped. “This is none +of your business. I’ll thank you to keep your mouth shut.” + +“Seeing you ask me so nicely, I will.” + +Ducroy turned to the Hardy boys again. “I’m not through with you two +yet,” he said. “I may have lost my job, but I’m going to get some +satisfaction, anyway.” + +“How?” asked Frank. + +By way of reply, Ducroy drew back his right arm and lashed out suddenly. +His fist struck Frank in the face and sent the youth staggering back. +The blow had come so abruptly that he had no chance to defend himself. + +But Joe, when he saw his brother attacked, lost no time in getting into +action. He plunged at Ducroy without hesitation and planted a swinging +blow on the pilot’s right eye, completely closing it. Ducroy gave a yell +of pain and struck at Joe, but the blow was wild. + +Frank recovered himself. + +“Let me handle this,” he said to his brother. And with no further ado he +advanced on Ducroy. + +The pilot swung at him, but Frank ducked, came in, and stung Ducroy’s +face with an uppercut. Ducroy was bigger than Frank and considerably +heavier, but he was far from being a scientific fighter, relying chiefly +on bull-like rushes and ponderous swinging blows that would have done +damage had they landed, but seldom did. Ducroy rushed Frank back across +the pavement, his heavy fists swinging, but Frank backed away, ducking +and dodging, watching for an opening. + +It soon came. + +Ducroy swung so wildly that he left himself completely unprotected. +Frank’s fist shot out. The blow caught Ducroy directly on the point of +the jaw, and he went down in a heap. + +“Is that enough?” asked Frank. + +A crowd had collected, and Con Riley of the Bayport police force +hastened forward. + +“What’s all this?” he demanded. “Fightin’ on the streets? What’s the +trouble?” + +Frank turned away. “Just a little argument,” he explained. “This man hit +me first and I had to hit him back.” + +“That’s right,” chimed in Chet Morton. “I saw it all. I can prove it.” + +Giles Ducroy got slowly to his feet and Riley seized him by the collar. + +“I got a good mind to run you in,” said the officer. “What business have +you got hittin’ a lad half your size?” + +“I don’t want to lay any charge against him,” said Frank. “Better let +him go.” + +Con Riley looked dubious. Then he released his grip on Ducroy’s collar. + +“Well, seein’ you ask it,” he said. Then he glared at Ducroy. “Take +yourself out of here!” he ordered sharply. “If I catch you makin’ any +disturbance on the street again it won’t go so easy with you.” + +Giles Ducroy lurched away, muttering and defeated. Con Riley then turned +his attention to the crowd and dispersed the bystanders with a wave of +his stick. “Move on!” he ordered. “Move on out of here.” + +The crowd scattered. + +The Hardy boys and Chet Morton continued their journey down the street. +Chet was warm in his praise of the artistic manner in which Frank had +dealt with the bully. + +“I’ll bet his jaw is sore for a week!” he declared. + +“I hate a row like that,” said Frank. “Dad would be angry if he knew we +were mixed up in a common street fight.” + +“You couldn’t help it. You didn’t start the fight. It was all Ducroy’s +fault,” said Chet. “He struck you first. Boy, that was a nice pasting +you handed him!” + +But Frank remembered the vindictive look in Ducroy’s face as the beaten +man slunk away. + +“I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this, by any means,” he said. + + + + + CHAPTER V + Anxious Days + + +It was not until the next evening that the result of the investigation +into the airplane crash was officially announced. Then, to the joy of +the Hardy boys, they learned that the authorities held them blameless +for the accident. + +The report ran, in part: + + “A thorough investigation of the circumstances surrounding the + crash has led us to decide that the responsibility rests wholly + with the pilot, Giles Ducroy. We find that Ducroy had been + drinking on the day of the accident and that, according to + reliable witnesses, he was still under the influence of liquor + after the wreck. In his condition, Ducroy was unable to make a + proper landing. He has made a clumsy attempt to lay the blame on + two boys driving an automobile in the road near the scene of the + crash, but this is manifestly absurd. The motorists, on the + other hand, had a narrow escape from death because of Ducroy’s + irresponsible handling of his plane, and certainly no blame can + be attached to them.” + +Frank danced an impromptu jig. “Hurrah!” he shouted. “That takes a load +off my mind.” + +“I’ll bet dad put in an oar for us,” said Joe happily. + +“Shouldn’t be surprised. Let’s go and ask him.” + +When they entered Fenton Hardy’s study, the detective smiled at their +evident delight. + +“What’s happened?” he asked. “Have you fallen heir to a fortune?” + +“Better than that. The post office people have announced that we aren’t +to blame for that plane wreck,” declared Frank. “We’ve been worrying our +heads off about it.” + +“Did you help, Dad?” asked Joe. + +“Oh, I may have said a few things to the inspector,” observed Mr. Hardy. +“He is an old friend of mine and I have done him a few favors in my +time. It really wasn’t necessary, because I don’t think they would have +blamed you in any case. But it prevented them from being fooled by +Ducroy, anyway.” + +“That was certainly mighty fine of you. Dad!” exclaimed Frank. “I don’t +know how we can thank you.” + +“I know,” said their father. “You can go back to school to-morrow and +dig into those examinations and graduate this year.” + +“We’ll do our best,” they promised. + +“The exams won’t be so bad, now that this worry is off our minds,” added +Joe. + +For the rest of the week the Hardy boys attacked their final +examinations with such determination and enthusiasm, unmarred by any +worries about the airplane accident, that when they handed in their +final papers they knew that if they had obtained passing marks on the +papers written earlier in the week there was little doubt of the final +outcome. + +“But that’s just the trouble,” groaned Joe. “I was so worried when I +wrote those first papers that I’m sure I didn’t get by.” + +“Forget it,” advised Frank. “The exams are over and we can’t change the +papers now. We’ll just have to be patient and wait for the results.” + +“I wish I knew them now,” said Chet Morton. “If I don’t pass this year, +my dad will flay me alive. I might as well pack up and head for Alaska +if I don’t get through. What are you fellows going to do, now that +school is over?” + +“Wait for the results,” returned Frank. “If we pass, I think dad wants +us to go to college and we’ll have to start making our plans.” + +Jerry Gilroy, another chum of the Hardy boys, sauntered up. + +“How about you, Jerry?” asked Frank, “What are you going to do now?” + +“I have a job,” announced Jerry calmly. + +“Already?” the others exclaimed enviously. + +“I start work Monday as a reporter for _The Banner_.” Jerry stuck out +his chest and pulled his hat brim down over one eye. + +“That’s a good job,” said Tony Prito, who joined the group at that +moment. “You’ll be able to get into all the shows in town for nothing +and get through the police lines at all the fires.” + +“Well,” said Jerry doubtfully, “just at first they’re putting me at work +writing up obituaries and real estate deals. But I’ll soon work my way +up,” he added hastily. + +Tony Prito announced that his parents had decided on a college course +for him and that Phil Cohen was bound in the same direction. + +“Looks as if the old gang will be broken up by next fall,” said Joe +glumly. + +“That’s true,” agreed Chet. “I think we all ought to get together as +soon as we know the results of the exams and have one big party to +celebrate.” + +“A picnic!” exclaimed Frank. + +“Good idea!” declared Jerry Gilroy. “I’ll write it up for the paper.” + +“Where shall we have the picnic?” asked Tony. “Beach Grove?” + +“Beach Grove is the only place for a picnic. We’ll have the whole +graduating class,” Frank said. “The girls, too.” + +“I don’t know about that,” demurred Chet, who did not care for girls. + +“Go on with you. If we have a class picnic we can’t leave the girls out. +Anyway, they’ll be sure to bring along lots of eats.” + +“Oh, I forgot about that,” said Chet, who had a weakness for food. “By +all means, we must have the girls along.” + +“In the meantime, Jerry, keep your eyes open around your newspaper +office and see if you can’t get a look at the examination results when +they’re sent in for publication,” Frank suggested. “They’ll appear in +the paper first, and if you get on the good side of the city editor he +may let you have a look at them.” + +“And phone us right away,” added Chet. + +Jerry promised to keep on the lookout for the examination results. + +Frank’s suggestion of a picnic met with the instant favor of the other +members of the graduation class who were enthusiastic over the idea. +They all realized that within the next few months the class would be +scattered far and wide and that it would probably be their last +opportunity of being all together. + +Then they settled down to the tedious business of awaiting the +all-important results. Two days passed, with no word from Jerry Gilroy, +who had extracted a promise from his city editor that he would be shown +the list as soon as it reached the office. The Hardy boys and their +chums bided their time with such patience as they could muster. Frank +and Joe went out on Barmet Bay in their motorboat, _The Sleuth_, and +explored the countryside in their roadster. + +On Thursday morning the boys were in the gymnasium in the barn back of +the Hardy home. Chet Morton was sitting in a window munching at an +apple, as usual. Biff Hooper was drumming away at the punching bag. Tony +Prito was practicing some complicated maneuvers on the parallel bars, +while Phil Cohen and Joe Hardy were engaged in a spirited wrestling +match. Frank was busy trying to repair a broken baseball bat, with small +success. + +“Somebody calling you, Frank,” said Chet, glancing out the window. + +Frank looked out. Aunt Gertrude was standing in the back door, beckoning +to him. + +“You’re wanted on the telephone,” she called. + +“It must be from Jerry!” shouted Frank. + +The others stopped their activities instantly. Frank almost tumbled down +the stairs in his anxiety to reach the house in the quickest possible +time. The other boys crowded to the window. They saw him disappear into +the house. He seemed to be away for a long time. + +“Bad news, I’m sure of it,” moaned Chet. + +“Good news, I’ll bet a cookie,” said Joe, trying to be cheerful. + +After a while they saw Frank come out of the house. His shoulders +drooped. He walked slowly. + +“What’s the verdict?” clamored Chet. + +Frank looked up, shook his head mournfully, and sighed. They heard him +coming up the stairs. + +“I knew it,” Chet groaned. “We’ve all failed.” + +When Frank came up into the gymnasium they crowded around him. He looked +as though he had lost every friend he had in the world. + +“For the love of Pete, don’t keep us in suspense!” demanded Tony. “Was +it Jerry? What did he say?” + +“It was from Jerry,” admitted Frank heavily. “Well, fellows, I don’t +know how you’re going to feel about it, but as for me——” he shook his +head again. + +“Back to the high school for another year, is it?” asked Joe solemnly. + +“Don’t take it too badly, fellows. Of course, we all knew the exams were +harder than usual.” + +“Yes, they were tough,” admitted Chet. “But, hang it all, didn’t _some_ +of us get through? I was sure I’d failed, but I thought the rest of you +would make it.” + +“The results are out,” said Frank. “I know you’re going to feel bad +about it, but every one of us—every one, mind you—_passed_!” + +“What?” they roared. + +Frank turned a handspring. + +“We all passed!” he yelled, in delight. Then he sat down on the floor +and laughed at the expression on their faces. “Boy! didn’t I throw a +scare into you?” + +Biff Hooper hurled a boxing glove at him. Phil Cohen seized Tony Prito +around the waist and danced about in glee. Chet threw away the core of +his apple and stood on his head. Joe vaulted over the parallel bars. +Pandemonium reigned. + +School was over at last! + +“And now,” shouted Frank, “for the picnic!” + + + + + CHAPTER VI + The Cabin in the Woods + + +Preparations for the picnic at Beach Grove on the following Saturday +were in full swing during the next few days. All the members of the +graduation class at Bayport High were enthusiastic, and the girls were +busy baking cookies and cakes. From the standpoint of Chet Morton, at +any rate, the success of the outing was therefore assured. + +“As long as there’s plenty of food, it will be a good picnic,” he said. + +Callie Shaw, who was Frank Hardy’s particular favorite among the girls +of the class, admitted that she felt sad at the prospect of seeing “the +crowd” broken up at last. + +“We had some good times at High. Somehow, I wish now that we had all +failed so we could go back for another year.” + +“You didn’t feel like that when you were writing the math exam,” Iola +Morton, Chet’s sister, reminded Callie. + +“No. I suppose if I did go back I’d be grouching about the work all over +again,” laughed Callie. “I’m glad we’re going to have the picnic, +though. It will be nice to be all together again for once before the +class is scattered.” + +“There won’t be many of the gang left around town by next fall,” said +Frank. “What with some going to college and others going to work, the +class will be pretty well broken up by then.” + +“I hope we’ll get good weather for the picnic,” ventured Joe. + +“The class had good luck on the exams,” Iola reminded him; “so we should +have good luck with the weather.” + +Iola’s optimism was justified. When the day for the picnic dawned the +sky was cloudless, the day was warm and clear. Mrs. Hardy had prepared a +big basket of good things for the Hardy boys to take with them, and they +stowed the basket in the roadster along with their bathing suits and +baseball gloves. They had arranged to call for Callie Shaw in the car, +while Iola was to go with Chet in his roadster. + +It was to be a real picnic—“not one of these afternoon teas,” as Chet +expressed it. All members of the class had been notified to meet at +Beach Grove by ten o’clock in the morning and when Callie and the Hardy +boys reached the grove they found a dozen others already on hand. Chet +arrived a few minutes later with Iola and Biff Hooper, whom he had +picked up on the road, and by half past ten the crowd was complete. + +Beach Grove was just off the Shore Road and extended to a sandy beach on +the shore of Barmet Bay. There were many paths through the woods, a +grassy meadow which was ideal for baseball games and races, and the park +keeper had granted them permission to use a little building in the grove +where a stove and kitchen facilities were installed. The boys lit a fire +and busied themselves bringing up driftwood from the beach, while some +of the girls settled down to preparing lunch and opening up the numerous +baskets at their disposal. + +The Hardy boys and the other lads went down to the beach for a swim +before lunch, and had some fine sport on an improvised raft which they +took turns in defending against all comers. Chet Morton became unduly +ambitious and tried to improvise a sailboat out of a plank and an old +piece of tarpaulin he found on the shore, but the sailboat came to grief +and tipped Chet into the water, to the hilarious delight of his +companions. + +By the time the swim was over and the boys returned to the Grove they +had developed lusty appetites for lunch, and there were loud cheers when +Callie, as chief cook, hammered a tune on a tin plate with a poker, +announcing that the meal was ready. There was hot coffee, heaping bowls +of baked beans, stacks of sandwiches, plates of potato salad, and cake +and fruit without end. The boys and girls sat beneath the trees and ate +from tin plates until they could eat no more. + +Chet, alone, looked discontented when lunch was over. + +“What’s the matter with you?” asked Tony Prito. “Didn’t you like it? I +thought it was the best meal I ever tasted.” + +“The meal was all right,” said Chet dolefully. + +“Then why are you looking so glum?” + +“I never have any luck,” confessed Chet. “Something always goes wrong.” + +“Didn’t you get enough to eat?” asked Callie anxiously. “There is a lot +more potato salad.” + +“No, thanks. I don’t think I could eat any more potato salad—not just +now, at any rate. It was very good potato salad but I couldn’t eat any +more right now. Maybe in an hour or so—oh, well, it doesn’t matter.” + +“If the meal was all right and you got enough, what’s all the trouble?” +asked Frank Hardy. + +“I saw you take three helpings of beans,” added Joe. + +“That’s why I feel so badly.” + +“Got a tummy-ache?” asked Iola solicitously. + +“No. But, you see, I liked the beans so well that I took two helpings +after the first one, and I liked the potato salad so well I took two +helpings of that, extra, and then I saw some sandwiches I liked real +well and I ate about a dozen of them, and then somebody passed around +angel food cake so I ate that, and then I didn’t have any room for +anything else.” + +“I think you did very well,” remarked Jerry Gilroy. “I don’t see where +you have any kick coming.” + +“I like chocolate cake. It’s my favorite cake,” declared Chet gloomily. + +“There was plenty of chocolate cake,” said his sister. “There are two +chocolate cakes left right now.” + +“Save ’em for supper,” advised Chet. “That was the big trouble. I like +chocolate cake so well that I feel bad because I was so full by the time +it reached me I couldn’t eat any.” + +The others looked at one another helplessly. + +“What can you do with a fellow like that?” demanded Phil Cohen. “He’s +never satisfied.” + +“I think he needs exercise,” said Iola threateningly. + +“Now, don’t!” pleaded Chet, who had found a soft spot beneath a shady +tree and was preparing to go to sleep. + +“Maybe you boys don’t know it,” said Iola, “but I do. Chet is ticklish!” + +“Don’t, Iola!” clamored the victim. + +But Iola advanced on her brother and tickled him until he yelled for +mercy, whereat the others, delighted at the exposure of this secret, +pounced on the luckless Chet and rubbed his ribs until he was forced to +make his escape. They chased him through the meadow, shouting with +laughter, and back and forth among the trees until he could run no +longer. + +“It’ll help him digest those three helpings of beans and potato salad,” +said Iola, without sympathy. + +Having concluded their attentions to Chet, the classmates organized an +impromptu program of sports, with races, a ball game and a blindfold +boxing match between Biff Hooper, Jerry Gilroy, Phil Cohen and Tony +Prito, which ended without casualties. Biff, who prided himself on his +boxing ability, wandered away from the others and tackled a large tree, +under the impression that it was Jerry. After dealing a dozen terrific +blows without knocking out the enemy he tore off the blindfold and then +looked very sheepish. + +Most of the others went swimming during the afternoon, but the Hardy +boys had decided to take advantage of the opportunity and investigate a +mysterious little cabin at the far end of the grove. They had often been +curious about the place, and it was Frank’s suggestion that perhaps the +cabin was used as a hiding place for smugglers that prompted their +decision to visit the place. + +“May we come, too?” asked Callie Shaw, as the two boys were starting off +together. She and Iola had remained behind to clear up the last of the +picnic dishes while the other girls went swimming. + +“Glad to have you,” answered Frank. + +“Come on, Iola.” + +The two girls went running across the grass, and the four young people +set out down a winding path beneath the trees. + +“Where are you going, Frank?” Callie inquired. + +“We thought we’d take a walk over to that little cabin at the east end +of the grove. Joe and I have often been curious about that place, but +we’ve never been near it; so we thought this was as good a chance as +any.” + +“Oh, this is thrilling!” declared Iola. “Do you think there’s anything +suspicious about it?” + +Joe shrugged. “Perhaps. It will be fun to look the place over, though. +We thought it might be used by smugglers.” + +“Smugglers!” exclaimed Callie, stopping. “I’m frightened. I don’t think +I care to go after all. I don’t want to meet any smugglers.” + +“Nonsense!” laughed Frank. “There wouldn’t be any smugglers around at +this time of day, anyway. We’re not sure about the smugglers in any +case. Perhaps it’s just a perfectly innocent tumbledown old shack, with +nothing strange about it at all.” + +Callie gathered up courage and they went forward again. The little cabin +was at the extreme end of the grove, and it was some time before they +came within sight of it. Finally, rounding a bend in the path, they +caught a glimpse of the place among the trees. The cabin had been built +in the woods, several hundred yards back from the water. + +“Mighty dingy looking cabin, it seems to me,” remarked Iola. + +“Why, there are some smugglers now!” exclaimed Callie, wide-eyed. “Don’t +you see them, Frank? Down in the bushes. Look, they’re going up toward +the cabin!” + +Frank called a halt. + +“Just a minute!” + +He could see three men making their way up a path in the direction of +the cabin. The trio were apparently unaware that they were being +watched, for they did not look around. For a moment they were hidden by +the intervening branches. Then they appeared in view again. One of the +men halted in front of the cabin, removed a key from his pocket, and +unlocked the door. + +The three men disappeared inside. + +Frank turned to the others. + +“I think we’d better go back,” he said quietly. + +“Were they smugglers?” demanded Callie. “Let’s get out of here. They +might start some trouble.” + +They turned and retraced their steps toward the picnic grounds. Once Joe +said: + +“Do you know, I’m sure I recognized one of those chaps.” + +Frank flashed him a warning look. + +He did not want to alarm the girls, so he had said nothing. But Frank, +too, had recognized one of the men, and he was none other than Giles +Ducroy! + + + + + CHAPTER VII + A Mysterious Conversation + + +When the Hardy boys and the girls got back to the picnic grounds, the +boys excused themselves and drew away to one side, while the girls went +down to join the swimmers. + +“I think we ought to go back there,” said Frank quietly. + +“Why? Did you recognize any of them?” + +“Did you?” + +“I thought one of them looked mighty like Ollie Jacobs,” said Joe. “He’s +a pretty shady customer, as you know. I’ve heard of more than one bad +business he has been mixed up in around Bayport.” + +“Ollie Jacobs, was it? Then the other fellow must have been Newt Pipps! +He is always hanging around with Jacobs. They’re a bad pair.” + +“Who was the other fellow? I didn’t get a good look at him.” + +“I did,” returned Frank. “He was Giles Ducroy.” + +Joe whistled in amazement. + +“So that’s who Giles Ducroy is mixed up with now! I wonder what they’re +doing down in that old cabin?” + +“We’d better go and find out. We can get up to the back of the place +without being seen, and perhaps we can overhear what they’re saying.” + +“Come on. It’s worth trying, anyway. I’m interested.” + +The boys hurried off down the path. Once Joe glanced up at some lowering +clouds that had gathered above the trees. + +“Looks like rain,” he remarked. + +“It may hold off for a while. It won’t stop me from finding out what +that gang is up to.” + +“Not if I know it,” declared Joe. + +When the boys came within sight of the cabin they proceeded more +cautiously. They did not come out into the open, but edged their way +around through the trees until they came to the rear of the little +building. + +“There’s an old road near here,” whispered Frank. “Perhaps that’s how +they reached the place.” + +“I can see it from here. And look—there’s a car! It’s parked under the +trees.” + +“That explains how they come to be here. They’ve probably arranged a +meeting. There’s some funny business on foot, I’ll be bound.” + +Cautiously the brothers went on through the undergrowth. It was +fortunate that bushes grew within a few feet of the back of the cabin, +so the boys were able to make their way near enough to overhear the +conversation of anyone who might be within without danger of being seen +themselves. + +As they pressed close against the logs of the cabin they could hear a +murmur of voices. They soon found a convenient chink in the logs where +they could peep through. There, in the dimly lighted interior of the +building, they saw Giles Ducroy, Ollie Jacobs, and Newt Pipps seated +about a rude table, with a bottle and glasses before them. + +“I tell you,” Ducroy was saying, “I know what I’m talking about. I’m +giving you fellows a chance that lots of other men would jump at.” + +“It sounds good,” admitted Jacobs, a short, ill-favored man with squint +eyes. “But it’s mighty risky.” + +“Nothing venture, nothing gain,” said Ducroy, taking a swig from the +bottle. + +“That’s true,” said Newt Pipps. “But I’m not anxious to get a bullet +through me.” + +“Bullets, nothing!” scoffed Ducroy. “We’ll get away with this as smooth +as silk.” + +“Maybe,” demurred Jacobs. “You say the money is sure to be there, all +right?” + +“I know it will be there. I wouldn’t tell you fellows about it if I +wasn’t sure.” + +Newt Pipps shrugged. “Well, I’m as brave as the next man,” he said, “but +this is a mighty big job. It’s bigger than any I’ve ever tackled yet, +and I can’t say I like it.” + +“The bigger the job, the bigger the profit,” remarked Ducroy. + +“Yes, and the bigger the risks, too.” + +Ollie Jacobs looked around uneasily. + +“Don’t talk so loud,” he said. “If anybody hears us, we’re done for.” + +“Who could hear us?” demanded Ducroy, who was evidently half +intoxicated. “That’s why I picked this cabin for a meeting place. +There’s nobody within miles.” + +“Oh, yes there is,” Jacobs answered. “A bunch of high school kids are +having a picnic over in Beach Grove, and that’s not very far from here.” + +“I thought I saw somebody over among the trees when we were coming in +here,” said Newt Pipps. + +“You did?” said Ducroy. “Why didn’t you speak up?” + +“I might have been mistaken.” + +“If you think there’s anyone around, go and take a look around the +cabin. A person would have to be mighty close to the place to hear us +talking.” + +Then, to the horror of the Hardy boys, Newt Pipps got up from his chair, +rather unsteadily. + +“That ain’t a bad idea,” he remarked. “I’ll just do that.” + +He moved over to the door, opened it, and stepped outside. + +Frank and Joe had no time to lose. They knew that in another moment Newt +Pipps might come walking around to the back of the cabin. They drew back +quickly, yet cautiously, seeking the shelter of the undergrowth near by. + +The bushes were small and afforded little cover, yet they did not dare +move back farther for fear of being heard. So they crouched down as far +as possible. They were not a second too soon. Scarcely had they +flattened themselves in hiding than they heard heavy footfalls from the +side of the cabin. + +They were so poorly hidden that they could plainly see Newt Pipps as he +came around the corner. But Pipps had been drinking and he had evidently +little expectation of seeing anyone around. He did not search in their +direction, but contented himself with a casual glance, then turned and +went back again. + +Frank breathed a sigh of relief. + +“That was close!” he whispered. + +“I’ll say it was,” affirmed Joe. + +The Hardy boys waited until they heard the cabin door slam again. Not +until then did they emerge and creep forward to the rear of the cabin +once more. + +Newt Pipps was sitting down at the table. + +“Satisfied?” asked Giles Ducroy curtly. + +“There’s no one around. Still you can’t be too careful,” said Pipps. + +“That’s true,” agreed Jacobs. “Never know when somebody may be hanging +around.” + +“Well,” snapped Ducroy, “I can’t stay here all day. I’ve made a +proposition to you men and I want to know what you’re going to do about +it.” + +Ollie Jacobs and Newt Pipps looked at one another. + +“What do you say, Ollie?” + +“I don’t know. There’s a lot of money in it for us, all right. And I +could use some cash right now. I’m pretty near broke.” + +Giles Ducroy leaned forward and pounded his fist on the table. + +“There’s ten thousand dollars or more apiece in it for us,” he declared. +“Where else could you make ten thousand dollars as easily, I’d like to +know.” + +“It’s easy money,” admitted Newt. “But it’s dangerous.” + +“And we might get shot,” added Ollie. + +“I’m taking that chance the same as you,” Ducroy answered. “Well, hurry +up. I can’t wait here all day.” + +“Ten thousand looks mighty good to me,” said Newt Pipps. “But I ain’t +anxious to get shot earning it, for then it wouldn’t be any use to me.” + +“Same here,” demurred Ollie Jacobs. + +Just then there was a low growl of thunder overhead. Raindrops began +pattering on the cabin roof. Frank and Joe Hardy looked up and saw that +the brooding storm was already breaking. + +“It’s starting to rain,” said Ducroy. “I want to get back to the city +before the storm turns that road into a mud-hole. Can’t you make up your +minds?” + +“I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” said Ollie Jacobs, finishing the bottle. +“Newt and me ought to talk this over a little more. There’s a lot of +money in this job, but there’s a lot of risk too, and I want to make +sure it’s safe.” + +“Of course it’s safe!” raged Ducroy. “You’ll never make an easier ten +thousand in your life.” + +“That’s letting _you_ tell it.” + +“I think Ollie is right,” said Newt. “We’ll talk it over and let you +know later.” + +“When? I can’t wait long, you know. I’ve got my own plans to make yet.” + +“We’ll let you know to-night,” declared Jacobs, getting up. + +“All right,” grumbled Giles Ducroy. “But don’t take any longer. Come on, +now. It’s starting to pour. I want to get back to town.” + +The three men left the cabin. Rain was now falling on the roof in a +steady downpour. The Hardy boys looked at one another, puzzled. + +“I wonder what mischief those three are up to?” said Frank, as the +brothers hurried back into the shelter of the grove. + + + + + CHAPTER VIII + Puzzled + + +The clouds were black overhead and the rain was pouring steadily as the +Hardy boys hastened back up the path toward the picnic grounds. Once +under the trees they were partly sheltered from the rain but in the open +spaces they were thoroughly drenched. Thunder rolled continuously, +lightning flashed, and the rain came in sheets. + +“This ends the picnic,” panted Joe, as they ran back. + +“It sure does. Everybody will be soaked.” + +The trees were threshing and sighing in the wind. There was a vivid +flash of lightning followed immediately by a crash and a clap of +thunder. + +“Must have hit a tree,” said Frank. + +When they came in sight of the picnic grounds, Frank saw that he had +guessed correctly. Only a few yards away from the cook-house, a great +oak lay prone on the ground, a jagged fragment of the trunk sticking up +out of the earth. The trunk had been sundered by the lightning and the +great tree had been struck to earth. + +Inside the cook-house, the boys and girls of the graduating class were +huddled together. Many of them were badly frightened, for the lightning +flash had come unpleasantly close, and the falling tree had missed their +refuge by a scant few feet. + +As Frank and Joe came racing across the sloppy ground, a cheer went up. + +“Here they are!” + +“Here come the Hardy boys!” + +“At last!” + +“Where have you two been?” shouted Chet Morton, as they dashed up onto +the veranda, their clothes dripping wet. “We’ve been worried sick. +Thought you’d got struck by lightning.” + +“Looks as if you people were nearer to being struck than we were,” +replied Frank, looking ruefully at his drenched garments. + +“We’ve been awfully worried,” said Callie Shaw, pressing forward. “When +the storm began, everybody gathered here except you and Joe, and we had +no idea where you were.” + +“Oh, we were just exploring around,” said Frank. “No harm done, except +that we’re mighty wet.” + +“No harm done!” exclaimed Iola Morton. “How about our nice picnic? It’s +all spoiled now!” + +“Well, we were nearly ready to go home anyway,” observed Chet. He turned +to the Hardy boys. “Well, you two chaps missed the best display of +fireworks I’ve seen since last Fourth of July.” + +“Looks as if you had a mighty narrow escape,” said Joe. + +“We certainly had. There was a flash of lightning that seemed to miss us +all by about two inches, then the loudest crash of thunder I ever heard +in my life, then a tearing and crackling, and we saw that big tree +topple over.” + +“It seemed to be coming right down on top of the house,” said Callie. + +“We thought we were done for. If that tree had ever hit the roof we +would have been crushed to death. And that _would_ have spoiled the +picnic for sure,” added Chet. + +The very real danger they had been in and the storm had dampened the +spirits of the graduating class, and when the rain finally began to die +down there was not a dissenting voice when Frank Hardy suggested that +they make a dash for the cars. Hastily packing up the baskets, they left +their refuge and ran across the grass to the cars parked out by the +gate. Everyone found a place, and within a few minutes the picnic +grounds were deserted. + +The lull in the storm had been only temporary. Rain came down in +torrents before they had gone more than half a mile along the Shore +Road, and some of those in open cars who had not taken the precaution of +putting up the tops, received a second drenching. Frank and Joe, in +their roadster, accompanied by Callie Shaw and Iola Morton, were more +fortunate, and they soon arrived on the outskirts of Bayport without +mishap. + +The picnic party broke up without further ceremony, the cars scattering +in various directions as the boys of the class drove the girls home. +Frank and Joe drove Callie to her aunt’s store in Bayport and Iola +decided that she would wait there for Chet, who was to drive her home +that evening. In their wet clothes, the picnickers presented a sorry +sight, but all in all they agreed that they had had a good time which +even the thunderstorm could not spoil. + +When Frank and Joe Hardy reached home and changed their clothes, their +mother was sympathetic. + +“It’s too bad,” she said, as she prepared a hot supper for them. “You +had all been counting on that picnic.” + +“Well, we had half a picnic, at any rate. We can be thankful for that +much,” Frank observed. And then, when their mother was in the kitchen, +he added to his brother: “I don’t call the day wasted.” + +“You mean Ducroy?” + +“Yes. We learned that he’s up to some funny business. I’d like to know +what it’s all about.” + +“Something crooked, I’ll be bound,” declared Joe. + +“Ten thousand dollars apiece, he said. That’s a lot of money. I’m sure +Giles Ducroy and his two precious friends could never earn that much +money honestly.” + +“It must be crooked. The big reason Ollie Jacobs and Newt Pipps objected +to the scheme was because there was danger in it and they might be +shot.” + +“Maybe they intend to rob a bank,” ventured Frank. + +“I wish we knew. Still, perhaps it was all just talk. They were half +drunk, you know.” + +“Yes, I thought of that.” Frank shook his head. “Still, now that Giles +Ducroy is out of work, he might be turning his hand to some kind of +thievery.” + +“Do you think we ought to tell dad?” Joe suggested. + +“Not yet. After all, those men were drinking and it might have been +nothing more than drunken chatter. Perhaps Ducroy was only bragging and +trying to make a big fellow of himself by telling them he could help +them make so much money. We don’t know what they were talking about in +the first place. We’d just look foolish if we went to dad with our story +and nothing came of it.” + +“He couldn’t do anything, anyway. No more than we can.” + +“All we can do,” said Frank, “is to watch and wait.” + +“We’ll watch, all right. We’ll try to check up on Giles Ducroy and find +out what he’s up to. We have one big advantage—he doesn’t know we +overheard what they were saying in the cabin.” + +“He doesn’t know we were within miles of the place.” + +“I’m puzzled about that conversation. If there was nothing in it,” said +Joe, “why did they pick such an out-of-the-way spot to have their +meeting?” + +“It may have been because of the liquor. It’s against the law to have +it,” Frank pointed out. “Perhaps we were only listening in on a drinking +party after all.” + +“I don’t think so. I have a pretty strong belief that there was more +than that behind it. Giles Ducroy and that other pair are a bad +combination. When you see those three together it means there is some +trouble being hatched.” + +Their mother came in just then with the tea things, so the boys turned +the conversation to other matters. Mrs. Hardy wanted to know what was +next on their program, now that school was over and the class picnic a +thing of the past. + +“Graduation exercises,” said Frank promptly. “Next week, at the high +school.” + +“I must get a new dress,” Mrs. Hardy declared. + +“You’ll certainly have to get all dolled up to come and see your sons +step up for their diplomas,” agreed Joe laughingly. “It only happens +once in a lifetime, you know.” + +“I’m glad to see you graduate, but in a way I’m sorry,” confessed their +mother. “It means you’re growing up and you soon won’t be my boys any +longer.” + +“We’ll always be your boys, even if we live to be a hundred,” declared +Frank, putting an arm about his mother’s waist. + +“Have you decided what you want to do after the holidays are over?” she +asked. “You know I’ve been counting on having you both go through +college.” + +The boys looked serious. + +“We’ll have to think about that,” Joe said. “Still, there’s lots of +time. A whole summer ahead of us.” + +“Be sure and think seriously about it,” their mother warned. “It is a +serious matter. Your whole future will depend on your decision.” + +“Maybe by the end of the summer we’ll feel different about going to +college,” said Frank. “Just now I’m so glad to be out of school that I +never want to see another study book again as long as I live.” + +“Me, too,” declared Joe. + +Their mother smiled indulgently, and the matter of the boys’ future +plans rested at that. + + + + + CHAPTER IX + Missing Mail + + +The night of the graduation exercises at the Bayport high school +arrived, differing little from similar events in past years but of +profound importance to the members of the graduating class and their +parents. + +Mr. and Mrs. Hardy were there, very proud of their two boys, and Mrs. +Hardy beamed with pleasure when Frank and Joe, dressed in their finest +clothes and looking very uncomfortable, stepped up to receive their +diplomas. Chet Morton was so nervous and embarrassed that he stumbled on +the way to the platform and ended by dropping the diploma when it was +handed to him. + +All the girls looked their prettiest, the boys looked their handsomest, +the principal of the school excelled himself in the speech he had made +at every graduation for the past fifteen years, various prominent +citizens expressed their pride in the young people, and Callie Shaw, as +class valedictorian, won the hearts of all by her valedictory address. + +There were other numbers on the program, including a violin solo by Iola +Morton, an exceedingly vigorous recitation by Biff Hooper, an accordion +solo by Tony Prito and—to cap it all—the antics of a burlesque +orchestra organized by Chet. In this, Chet was in his element, wearing a +fireman’s hat and a huge false mustache. Frank and Joe Hardy, wearing +stovepipe hats and red wigs, alternated at a bass drum; Jerry Gilroy, in +a coat that reached to his heels, performed upon a saxophone that +wouldn’t work and from which Chet produced a string of sausage at the +critical moment; Phil Cohen tortured a flute that was capable of but one +note. The burlesque orchestra assaulted the ears of the audience for +some time, with no music whatever, but with such earnestness that the +hearers were doubled up with laughter. + +This was the high spot of the program, so far as the boys were +concerned, and it ended the graduation exercises. When they left the +school that night they all felt a little sad, as they knew they were +leaving it for all time, “unless,” Chet Morton said, “they invite us +back some day when we’re very famous to address the students on ‘The +Secret of Success.’” + +“In the meantime,” said Frank, “what are we going to do this summer?” + +“I’d like another outing,” Joe volunteered. + +“Too much excitement for me,” returned Chet. “Last summer we were going +to have a nice quiet trip down the coast, and look what happened. We got +mixed up with a gang of smugglers and had no end of trouble.” + +“It finished up happily enough, didn’t it?” said Frank. “Even if you did +get lost!” + +“This summer, I’d like to have a nice quiet holiday in a nice quiet +cabin, with a good beach, where we can swim and loaf around and eat and +sleep and not have anything to worry about.” + +“Sounds attractive,” Joe admitted. “Where are you going to find this +place, and how can we get there?” + +“How about Cabin Island?” suggested Biff Hooper. + +The others were thoughtful. + +“You’ve had worse ideas, Biff,” said Chet Morton. “Do you think Mr. +Jefferson will let us go there?” + +Frank laughed. + +“Why not? Didn’t we find his missing stamp collection? Didn’t he say we +could have the use of the island and the cabin any time we wished? There +won’t be any trouble so far as that’s concerned.” + +“I think an outing to Cabin Island would be the real thing,” Joe +declared. “What do you say to organizing a trip? We can take the +motorboats, use Cabin Island as our headquarters, then work out from +there so we can go wherever we wish.” + +“You have a head on your shoulders,” Chet approved. “When we get tired +of camping we can go exploring. When we get tired of the motorboats we +can loaf around Cabin Island.” + +“Joe and I have the summer free,” said Frank. “After that, we’ll either +go to college or go into business with our father.” + +“Don’t you know yet?” + +“We want to go in with dad,” said Joe promptly. “But he and mother seem +bent on having us go to college. I think we’ll have a lot of arguing +yet.” + +“In the meantime, don’t let it spoil your summer,” advised Chet. “Well, +if you want to go on this outing, be sure and count me in. We can dig up +some of the other fellows and we ought to have a bang-up good time.” + +“You can’t dig up many of them,” came from Joe. + +“Why not? Any fellow ought to jump at a chance like that.” + +“Well, some of them wouldn’t be allowed to leave home—got to work and +all that. And some are on the ball team and have to practice when they +aren’t playing a game. And Dick Roylet and his crowd are going on an +auto tour.” + +“Well, we’ll get somebody—if we go,” put in Frank. + +Next day when the Hardy boys told their parents about the outing they +had planned, Mr. and Mrs. Hardy glanced at one another. + +“Don’t you think you had better be making your preparations for going to +college?” suggested Mr. Hardy. + +“If you wait too long, perhaps you may not be able to get in,” their +mother ventured. + +“Do we have to go to college?” asked Frank. + +Mr. Hardy looked dubious. + +“You know, your mother and I have always had that in mind for you.” + +Joe groaned. + +“I’ll make a rotten lawyer.” + +“And I’m sure I’ll be a pretty punk doctor,” declared Frank. “Dad, won’t +you let us go into business with you? We like detective work. It’s the +only thing we’ll ever be happy at. Haven’t we done fairly well with the +cases we’ve had so far?” + +“Yes, you’ve done well. I’ll admit that. Still—I think I’d rather see +you go in for something else.” + +“Would you want us to go in for something we wouldn’t enjoy?” said Joe. +“A person can’t be a success in his work unless he really likes it.” + +“That’s true,” returned Mr. Hardy, weakening a little. “Well, I must +have time to think it over.” + +Frank offered a suggestion. + +“Let us go on our outing first, and by the time we come back we can +settle the whole thing. We’ll be back in plenty of time to go to +college, if you really insist that we go.” + +Mrs. Hardy nodded. “I think that’s fair enough, Fenton,” she said to her +husband. + +“All right, then,” agreed the detective. “We’ll let the matter rest for +the time being, and as soon as you boys return from your trip we’ll go +into it thoroughly. But you must promise to abide by my decision. I +don’t want to send you to college against your will, but I do want to do +what’s best for your future.” + +“We understand that,” said the boys. “It’s for our own good. But we _do_ +want to be detectives.” + +Mr. Hardy smiled. + +“You seem to have your minds made up, at any rate. Well, let it go at +that. Have your outing and enjoy yourselves. Then we’ll settle the whole +matter, once and for all.” + +However, the lads had little time in which to proceed with their plans +for the outing. They did not see Chet Morton that afternoon and the trip +was not discussed with any of the other lads they met. Next morning, as +they were having breakfast, their father came into the dining room. + +“After breakfast is over,” he said, “come into my study. I want to have +a little talk with you.” + +“We’ll be there.” + +When their father had gone, they fell to wondering why he wanted to see +them. + +“I can’t think of any mischief we’ve been into—except breaking that +pane of glass in the garage,” said Joe. + +“He wouldn’t scold us for that. I intended to put in a new pane of glass +to-day.” + +“There’s something in the wind.” + +They hurried through the remainder of the meal, anxious to learn the +reason for the summons. When they went into the study, Mr. Hardy was +reading a long typewritten letter which he placed to one side. + +“I’ve been asked to handle a case,” he explained at once, “and I thought +maybe you could help me a little. Sometimes you hear of things that I +mightn’t learn about. This is a serious case and just now I’m trying to +make up my mind how to go about it.” + +“What has happened, Dad?” asked Frank. + +“I received this letter this morning from the postal authorities, +explaining the circumstances. It seems that several bags of valuable +mail have disappeared from one of the hangars at the airport near here.” + +“Stolen?” + +“They couldn’t have disappeared any other way. The mail, as you know, is +very carefully guarded. In this instance, the train that was to take the +mail into the city was a few minutes late and the sacks were accidently +left unguarded. When the train arrived it was found that the mail had +disappeared. The matter is being kept quiet for the time being, in the +hope that we may get a clue. But so far the whole business seems to be a +complete mystery.” + +“Haven’t they any idea who stole it?” asked Joe. + +“No idea at all. The only men around, so far as they know, were the +usual airport officials and pilots. Practically all of them are above +suspicion. From the looks of the case, I’m inclined to think some +outsider may have been hiding near by, watching his chance, and when he +saw the sacks left unguarded he simply seized them and cleared out.” + +Frank leaned forward in excitement. + +“I think we can help you a little,” he declared. “We may know something +about that very robbery.” + +“Already?” exclaimed Fenton Hardy, astonished. + +Frank and Joe thereupon told their father about their adventure in Beach +Grove on the day of the picnic. They told that they had seen Giles +Ducroy and his two companions near the old cabin, how they had followed +the men and listened to their conversation. + +“Ducroy was trying to get these other chaps to go in with him on some +crooked deal, and they were afraid because they said it was too +dangerous,” explained Frank. “Ducroy told them they’d make ten thousand +dollars apiece out of it. Perhaps that was what he meant. He planned to +steal some of the mail bags.” + +Fenton Hardy was interested. + +“Certainly a suspicious conversation,” he admitted. “Still, the mail +bags weren’t worth any thirty thousand dollars, if what the post office +people tell me is correct. They were worth about two thousand dollars at +the most. Besides, Giles Ducroy is already under suspicion.” + +“Has he been arrested?” asked Joe. + +Fenton Hardy shook his head. + +“When the theft occurred, the authorities first thought of Ducroy, +because they knew he had been discharged and was probably looking for a +chance of revenge. So their first action was to investigate his +movements on the day of the robbery.” + +“And what did they find?” + +“He wasn’t near Bayport at all. He was in Philadelphia—at least, he has +such an alibi.” + +“Can he prove it?” asked Frank. + +“He had two witnesses to prove it. So nothing could be done against +Ducroy.” + +“I’d like to know who those witnesses were,” said Frank. “I don’t +believe he was in Philadelphia at all.” + +The boys were openly dubious about Ducroy’s alibi. + +“He’s a slick one, Dad,” declared Joe. “He may look dumb, but he’s not +as dumb as he looks.” + + + + + CHAPTER X + Looking for Clues + + +The news that Giles Ducroy had a proven alibi to clear himself of +suspicion in the affair of the stolen mail sacks disconcerted the Hardy +boys for a time. + +When their father told them about the robbery their first thought was +that Ducroy and his two companions were the guilty parties, for the +theft seemed to be linked up in some manner with the conversation the +lads had overheard in the cabin at Beach Grove. However, there now +remained the fact that Ducroy had an alibi, and also the fact that the +mail sacks were by no means worth the amount the former pilot had +mentioned to his companions. + +“Just the same,” declared Frank that afternoon, “I’m convinced that +Ducroy had something to do with the affair, alibi or no alibi.” + +“Perhaps the mail sacks weren’t stolen by Ducroy,” suggested Joe. +“Perhaps he went to Philadelphia, so he would be able to prove an alibi, +and left Newt Pipps and Ollie Jacobs to commit the actual robbery.” + +“It could have been worked that way. I’ll tell you what we’ll do, Joe. +Let’s take the roadster and drive back down to Beach Grove. I’d like to +take another look at that cabin. Perhaps we’ll find a few clues there +that may help us.” + +Joe was impressed by this suggestion, and in a short time the Hardy boys +were speeding down the Shore Road in their car. When they reached the +grove they left the roadster and made their way through the woods down +the path toward the little cabin. + +“We didn’t have the opportunity to look through the place when we were +here before,” Frank pointed out. “They may have left something behind, a +few notes or plans for instance, that will give us a better idea of what +they were talking about.” + +“It’s a mighty suspicious thing that a robbery should occur at the +airport so soon after Giles Ducroy and his friends were talking about +some crooked scheme.” + +“That’s the way I feel about it.” + +The boys entered the cabin. The door was unlocked and the place was +deserted. It was sparsely furnished with only a small wooden table, two +broken chairs and a few boxes. + +“Nothing much here,” Frank remarked. “Still, it won’t do any harm to +look around carefully.” + +Joe came upon an empty bottle over in a corner, perhaps the bottle from +which the men had been drinking on the afternoon of the picnic. Frank’s +attention was attracted by a number of cigarette stubs on the table. + +“Sometimes a little thing like a cigarette turns out to be a mighty +valuable clue,” he observed, examining the stubs. Most of them were very +short, but on one, a trifle longer than the rest, he found the letters +“RE.” The rest of the word had been obliterated with the burning of the +cigarette. + +“I wonder what make of cigarettes they were smoking,” he said. He +searched the cabin thoroughly and at last he found what he was looking +for. Beneath one of the boxes he saw a crumpled paper package. He picked +this up, unfolded it, and examined it carefully. + +The package had once held cigarettes, and across the front he saw the +name, “Red Ribbon Cigarettes.” + +“Not much of a clue there,” laughed Joe. “All gone up in smoke.” + +“You never can tell,” returned his brother, pocketing the package. + +“Better be careful. If mother finds that package in your pocket she’ll +think you’ve been smoking.” + +“Mother knows us well enough to know we don’t smoke,” Frank said. “I +have a hunch that this little package may come in handy some day.” + +Although the boys searched the bare little cabin high and low, they +found nothing else that might help them. Their search for clues appeared +to have been a failure. + +“Ducroy and his friends were too wise to leave any notes that might +incriminate them,” Joe said, as they went away. “I guess we’ll have to +tackle the case from another angle.” + +“Dad’s handling it to the best of his ability, and I guess he will be in +a position to get information that we’ll never run across. All we can do +is to keep our ears open and, if we hear anything, let him know.” + +The boys returned to Bayport, somewhat disappointed; but when they were +near their home they dismissed the mail bag mystery from their minds, +for they met Chet Morton and Biff Hooper. + +“Just who we were looking for!” exclaimed Chet. “We called at the house, +but your mother said you had gone out.” + +“What’s up?” asked Joe. + +“Why, Biff and I thought it would be a fine afternoon to take a little +boat trip. I thought we could go down to Cabin Island and see that +everything is in shape. We can find out what we need to take down there +for our outing. I know we left some kitchen dishes and other things +there last winter, but they may be gone by now. We can look the place +over and make a list of what we’ll have to bring along.” + +“You’re going on the trip, aren’t you?” asked Biff. + +“Sure, we’re going. I guess it isn’t too late in the day to go down to +the island, Chet. Come on with us and we’ll take the car back to the +garage.” + +The Hardy boys drove back to the house with the other lads, told their +mother that they were going down to Cabin Island in the boat, and +started off for the boathouse. The lads did not take any food with them, +for the Hardy boys’ motorboat, _The Sleuth_, was a speedy craft and was +quite capable of taking them to Cabin Island and back by evening. + +It was a warm, sultry afternoon, and the lads were glad to be out on the +cool bay, away from the sweltering heat of the city. It had been an +unusually close day, and there had been occasional rumbles of distant +thunder. + +“We’re going to have a thunderstorm to-night, I’ll bet,” said Biff, as +the boat nosed down the bay. + +“I don’t think it’ll break before we get back,” said Frank. “It’s a long +way off yet.” + +_The Sleuth_ drummed along smoothly, and Joe lolled at the wheel. Once +they left the narrow end of the bay upon which the city nestled in the +glaring sunlight, there was a stiff breeze, vigorous and refreshing. + +“Oh, boy!” gloated Chet. “This is the life!” + +“It sure is!” the others agreed. + +By the time they came within sight of Cabin Island, leaving Bayport far +behind, they could see rolling black clouds in the east, and the murmur +of thunder had become more continuous. + +“We shan’t be able to stay long, I’m afraid,” remarked Frank. “That +storm is coming up more quickly than I thought it would.” + +“Oh, it’s hours away yet,” scoffed Chet. “You’ll see.” + +“Let’s hope so. Anyway, we won’t lose time. We’ll just go up to the +cabin and take a quick look around. I don’t want to get caught out in a +bad storm. _The Sleuth_ is a good little boat, but the waves run mighty +high in the open bay around here.” + +Those who followed the adventures of the Hardy boys in “The Mystery of +Cabin Island,” are aware that the island, which was owned by Elroy +Jefferson, a wealthy antique dealer of Bayport, lay far down Barmet Bay +in a little cove. There was a large cabin, built by Mr. Jefferson, fully +equipped and furnished, but not occupied by the owner because it had +been built for the use of his wife and son. They had died, and the +associations of the island had been so painful to him that he had never +gone near the place again. However, grateful to the Hardy boys because +they had recovered his stolen automobile and because they had solved the +mystery of a valuable stamp collection that had been purloined from him, +he had turned over the key of the cabin to them with full permission to +make use of the place on any of their outings. + +They ran the motorboat into the little boathouse and made it secure, +then clambered up the familiar path toward the cabin. They had last been +on the island in the winter time, when everything was blanketed with +snow. Now it was doubly beautiful with its grassy, wooded slopes and its +tall trees, among which the cabin stood. + +“Make it snappy,” cautioned Frank. “That storm looks worse every +minute.” + +He opened the cabin door and they stepped inside. The chimney, which had +been damaged during a storm the previous winter, had been repaired by +some workmen whom Elroy Jefferson had sent to the island, and the place +had been thoroughly cleaned. Some new furniture had been installed and +on going to the kitchen the boys found a full supply of dishes, kettles, +frying pans, cutlery—everything they could possibly need except +provisions. + +“He must have expected us to come here during the summer!” exclaimed +Joe, in delight. “He certainly hasn’t overlooked anything.” + +“Mighty good of him, I’ll say!” Chet declared, and his sentiment was +echoed by the others. “We have nothing to worry about in the way of +kitchen equipment, at any rate. We’ll need only blankets and grub.” + +“I think we’ll have a fine outing here.” Frank looked out the window. +“Well, we’ve found that we don’t have to worry about the kitchen end of +it. Now let’s be going. The storm is right overhead.” + +When the boys stepped outside again, all saw that Frank’s desire for +haste was well-founded. There were white caps rolling on the bay and the +sky was growing black. Even as they started down the path there was a +flash of lightning and an ear-splitting crash of thunder. Then followed +a gusty shower of rain. The trees were bending before the rising wind. + +“We’ll never make it!” shouted Frank. “No use trying to get back to +Bayport now.” + +“What’ll we do?” asked Chet. + +“I guess we’d better go back to the cabin.” + +“We haven’t any food, no blankets, no oil in the lights. We’ll probably +be stranded here all night.” + +“This is a fine lookout,” grumbled Biff. “I wish I hadn’t come.” + +As the boys looked out over the bay they could see a sweeping wall of +rain approaching above the stormy waters. His companions realized that +Frank Hardy was right. They could not hope to brave the perils of that +storm by venturing a return to Bayport that night. On the other hand, +the prospect of being stranded on the island without food was far from +pleasing. + +Rain was pouring now. Another lightning flash zigzagged its way through +the clouds. Another thunderclap crashed forth. + +“Do you think we can reach the village?” shouted Joe. + +Frank had almost forgotten about the little village on the mainland not +far away which they had visited several times during the winter. Amos +Grice, the storekeeper, was a good friend of theirs and his hospitality +was preferable to spending a night in a dark cabin, without food or +blankets. + +“We’ll try it, anyway. If we get into the shelter of the shore I think +we can make it all right. Come on fellows!” + +The others followed Frank down the steep path to the boathouse, where +all clambered into _The Sleuth_. The engine roared as the boat sped out +into the rolling waves, this time Frank taking the wheel. + +Smash! + +A great wave broke over the bow, drenching the boys to the skin. The +full force of the wind caught them as they rounded the point of the +island. They were plunging out into a raging waste of waters. + +“We’ll never make it!” groaned Chet. + + + + + CHAPTER XI + News from the City + + +Frank Hardy set his jaw with grim determination as he drove the +motorboat into the storm. It was too late to turn back. + +The storm had swept up with such speed that Frank realized now that he +had underestimated it. The wind was terrific and the waves were high. +They battered against the staunch little boat, drenching the boys with +flying spray. + +Frank headed toward the mainland, but then he saw that he could not hope +to find shelter from the wind along the shore. The waves were rolling in +and dashing against the rocks. The motorboat would have no chance there. +It would be flung hither and thither and battered to pieces. + +“Nothing for it but to head right into the wind, I guess,” he shouted, +above the howl of the storm. + +The other boys were crouching in the bottom of the boat, out of the +flying spray. The boat seemed to quiver with successive shocks as it +bucked the waves. + +The rain was driving into their faces. Through the downpour Frank could +not even see the little village toward which they were bound. He wished +they had remained on Cabin Island. + +_The Sleuth_, although small, was a strong and well-built craft. The +engine throbbed faithfully. None of them dared think of the consequences +should the engine fail. + +The bow of the craft cut through the rolling waves like a knife. Thunder +rolled overhead. The sky was black. The boys could scarcely see the +shore. Driving against the wind and the tide, the boat could make little +speed, and headway seemed slight. + +Nevertheless _The Sleuth_ was edging slowly down the bay, coming ever +closer to the little village. Frank peered through the raging storm, +hoping to catch sight of the little huddle of houses on the shore. + +Lightning flared in the dark sky. Frank held the boat steadily into the +wind. + +They were all drenched to the skin. Although no one said a word, Frank +could see that the others were frightened. As a matter of fact, he was +none too confident of the outcome himself. + +“It all depends on the engine,” he muttered. “If that fails, we’re done +for.” + +But the engine had been thoroughly overhauled just the previous week. He +was grateful for the foresight that had enabled him and Joe to take this +precaution. + +Joe crept to the side of his brother. + +“Do you think we’ll get there, Frank?” he shouted. + +Frank nodded. “It’s dirty weather, but we ought to make it all right.” + +Just then he caught sight of the little break in the shoreline that +indicated the cove where the village was located. They were still far +out, and to reach the village the boat must run diagonal to the waves. +This was the hardest test. + +The buffeting _The Sleuth_ had previously received was as nothing to +what she now suffered. Time and again the boys held their breaths, +certain that the boat was about to capsize. Great waves would crash +against it, the boat would cant far over on her side, her bow would be +buried in the water. Then, like a live thing, _The Sleuth_ would shake +herself free, rise above the waves, and go plunging on. + +The boys clung to every available hold, fearful of being washed +overboard. + +Suddenly Joe gave a shout of warning: + +“Watch out!” + +A great roller was bearing down on them. They ducked, waited—— + +Crash! + +A huge sea of green water engulfed them. For a moment the boat was +completely buried beneath the wave. It slipped far over. Frank felt his +feet washed from beneath him. He clung to the wheel with all the +strength at his command, held his breath through what seemed an eternity +of waiting. + +Then the motorboat labored free of the wave, slowly righted itself. The +water receded. The craft was weighted down by the water that still +remained in it, but all the boys were safe. Chet was suffering from a +cut across the forehead, where he had been flung against one of the +seats; Biff was clutching his wrist, which had been wrenched in his +desperate effort to retain his grip on an iron ring; Joe was gasping for +breath after his immersion in the water; Frank felt a dull pain in his +side, where he had been dashed against the wheel. + +More dead than alive, the boys held on. But the village was now in plain +view. They had gone through the worst of the storm, and the waves were +now hurling the boat in toward the cove. + +Frank steered toward a little dock, where the angry waters were dashing +themselves angrily against the timbers. He saw a man clad in oilskins +running out on the dock, gesturing to them and pointing toward the +shore. There was a little boathouse in the cove, and then the man ran +from the dock over toward the boathouse, still gesturing. + +There was shelter for them. The motorboat would have been dashed to +pieces had they tied up to the dock. Frank saw the door of the boathouse +open and he drove directly toward it. A great wave caught the craft and +it shot forward. A turn of the wheel and he was headed into the narrow +opening. He switched off the engine, and then _The Sleuth_ slid gently +into the slip. + +Tired, exhausted, drenched, the boys clambered out of the boat. The man +in oilskins was waiting for them. He seized a rope Frank flung to him +and snubbed it around a post. + +“Well, now, that was a narrow squeak, if ever I saw one!” he declared in +a familiar, nasal voice. “Wust storm we’ve had on this bay for ten +years, and you’d be caught in it. You’re mighty lucky, my lads.” + +They looked up. They knew that voice well. + +“Amos Grice!” exclaimed Frank. + +At the sound of his name, the man looked around. Then he recognized the +refugees. + +“Well, if it ain’t the Hardy boys!” he shouted in welcome. “And Chet and +Biff!” + +“You certainly did us a good turn that time,” declared Joe. + +Amos Grice was soon shaking hands with them, asking a score of +questions. How had they come to be out on the bay in the storm? Had they +been at Cabin Island? Had they been frightened? How did the boat get +half full of water? And so on and so forth. He was a kindly old man, +this village storekeeper. He now led the way out of the boathouse. + +“Come up to the store,” he said. “Come up and put on some dry clothes. +You’re soaked to the hide, all of you. Come up and tell me how it +happened.” + +“Nothing much to tell, Mr. Grice,” explained Frank. “We were on Cabin +Island this afternoon when we saw the storm coming up. We knew there was +no chance of getting back to Bayport in time, so we thought we’d run +over here, but the storm broke too suddenly for us.” + +“It did break sudden,” admitted the storekeeper. “It broke sudden and +fierce. I’ve never seen a worse storm in ten years.” + +He took them up to the store, and in a warm kitchen at the back he bade +them dry themselves by the fire while he hustled about and procured dry +clothing. Amos Grice was a bachelor, and while his living quarters were +crude, they were neat and comfortable. He was genuinely delighted to see +the boys, and he soon busied himself at the stove preparing supper. + +After a hearty meal the lads were feeling more comfortable and their +hazardous adventure on the bay did not seem quite so perilous as they +looked back on it. + +“I guess we won’t be able to get back to the city to-night,” said Frank +regretfully. + +Amos Grice snorted. + +“I wouldn’t hear of it!” he declared. “Couldn’t think of it! Just +suicide to try it. No, sir, you lads have got to spend the night with +me, and glad I am to have you. It’s seldom enough I have company here.” + +“As long as you have room for us——” + +“Of course I have room for you. There’s two big beds in the spare room, +and you’re more than welcome.” + +A bell occasionally tinkled out in the store, and Amos Grice bustled +away to wait on a customer. However, there were few people in the little +village and the night was so wild and stormy that nearly everyone was +staying indoors, so the interruptions were few. + +They chatted with the old man all that evening, sitting by the fire, and +eventually he showed them to a big room where the beds were already +made. + +“Now,” he said, “sleep as long as you wish and I’ll have some breakfast +for you in the morning. No doubt your parents is worryin’ about you, and +I’d phone ’em if I could, to let ’em know you’re all safe and sound. But +the telephone wires is down somewhere along the line. They’ll likely be +fixed by morning.” + +“Dad and mother will certainly be worrying about us,” said Joe. + +“Can’t be helped,” returned Amos philosophically. “They’ll feel all the +better when they know you’re safe.” + +The boys were tired and they fell asleep quickly. In the morning when +they awakened the sun was shining in the window. The storm was over. Out +in the kitchen a fire crackled in the stove and they could hear Amos +Grice moving about. There was a savory aroma of bacon and eggs and +coffee. + +“He’s certainly a good scout!” declared Chet, as they dressed. + +“Can’t be beat,” agreed Biff. + +When the boys were washed and dressed, they went out into the kitchen. + +“Sleep well?” inquired Amos. + +“You bet!” + +“That’s good. Breakfast is ready. Pull your chairs up to the table and +get on the outside of some bacon and eggs. There’s plenty, so don’t be +afeared to ask for second helpin’s.” + +“Is the telephone working, Mr. Grice?” asked Frank. “I’d like to call +them up at home if I can.” + +“Yep, the phone is workin’ again,” the storekeeper assured them. “I +know, because I was callin’ the operator this morning. Big doin’s in +Bayport last night.” + +“What was that?” asked Joe, interested. + +“Big robbery at the airport. One of them airplanes was robbed of a lot +of mail worth more’n twenty thousand dollars, so the telephone operator +was tellin’ me.” + +The Hardy boys looked at one another in amazement. A second robbery at +the airport! Impulsively, Frank exclaimed: + +“Ducroy again!” + + + + + CHAPTER XII + Under Arrest + + +“What’s that?” demanded the storekeeper abruptly, in response to Frank +Hardy’s inadvertent exclamation. + +“Nothing,” answered Frank. “I was surprised—that’s all. You see, there +was a robbery at the airport only a day or so ago.” + +“Another one, eh? Well, they oughta watch that place more careful, +that’s all I can say. People won’t be sendin’ their letters by airplane +if they think they’re goin’ to be stolen all the time.” + +“That’s a case for you fellows,” said Biff. + +Neither Biff nor Chet were aware of the depth of the Hardy boy’s +interest in the airport robberies. + +“Did the operator tell you anything more about that affair, Mr. Grice?” +asked Frank, after a pause. + +“Nothin’ more than what I’ve told you. She just said there was a big +robbery and twenty thousand dollars’ worth of mail had been stolen last +night.” + +Joe went to the telephone. After some delay he managed to get the Hardy +home in Bayport on the wire. His mother’s voice answered. + +“Hello, Mother! This is Joe talking.” + +Her voice had an unmistakable note of relief as she answered: + +“Joe! Oh, I’m so glad to hear your voice again. Your father and I have +been greatly worried about you. Where are you? What happened? Why didn’t +you come home last night?” + +“Don’t worry, Mother. We were caught in the storm and we couldn’t get +back. We’re quite safe. We’re at Mr. Grice’s place, down below Cabin +Island.” + +“Well, I’m glad to hear that. When are you coming home?” + +“We’re coming back to-day. Would you mind telephoning to Mrs. Morton and +Mrs. Hooper? Tell them that Chet and Biff are with us and that they’re +all right too.” + +“I’ll do that, Joe. Just a minute. Your father wants to speak to you.” + +Joe waited a moment. Then he heard his father’s voice. + +“Hello, Son. You’ve given us a pretty bad scare.” + +“We’re sorry, Dad, but we got caught in the storm.” + +“Let me in on this, Joe,” begged Frank; and when Joe had put the +telephone in his brother’s hand the older Hardy boy continued: “Hello, +Dad! Worried you and mother, did we? Sorry. But we’re all right. Will +tell you about it when we get back.” + +“Well, I’m glad you’re all right. Now listen. I want you and Joe to come +home at once.” + +“Sure. We are just going to leave.” + +“Come back to Bayport at once. Something has happened.” + +“What’s wrong, Dad?” + +“I’ll tell you when you reach here. But don’t lose any time.” + +“Is it about the airport robbery?” asked Frank. + +“How did you know there was a robbery at the airport?” demanded his +father in an anxious tone. + +“We heard it this morning through Mr. Grice.” + +“Well, it’s connected with the robbery, but it’s a little worse than +that. Come right home, mind now.” + +“All right, Dad. We’ll leave right away.” + +Frank hung up the receiver and turned to the others. He was puzzled. + +“I guess we can’t hang around here this morning. Dad wants us back right +away. He seems awfully anxious.” + +“Anything wrong at home?” asked Joe quickly. “Mother didn’t say so.” + +“Everything’s all right there, I guess. But Dad has something on his +mind. He said he’d explain it when we got home.” + +“Shucks!” grumbled Amos Grice. “And I counted on takin’ you lads out +fishin’ this morning.” + +“I guess we’ll have to call it off, Mr. Grice. Some other time, +perhaps.” + +Chet Morton sighed and ate another slice of bacon. + +“I guess we’ll all catch it when we get home. Was your Dad sore, Frank?” + +“No, he didn’t seem angry. I can’t imagine what’s wrong. Well, I guess +we’ll have to bail out the boat right after breakfast and start for +home.” + +After they had eaten, Amos Grice helped them bail out the motorboat. It +had stood the storm well, in spite of the terrific battering it had +received. The old storekeeper was disappointed because his young guests +could not remain with him longer, and when they thanked him heartily for +his kindness he waved their gratitude aside. + +“A pleasure,” he told them. “I’m always glad to see you. Any time you’re +down this way, be sure and drop in.” + +“We’ll pick better weather next time, Mr. Grice,” laughed Chet. + +“In fair weather or foul, you’re always welcome.” + +They got into the boat and started off. The storekeeper stood on the +dock and waved to them as they departed. Then he turned and walked +slowly up toward his store. + +Joe came up and sat beside Frank, who was at the wheel. + +“What do you think has happened, Frank?” + +“I can’t imagine. It has something to do with the robbery last night, +I’m sure.” + +“But why should dad want us back right away?” Joe insisted. + +Frank shrugged. “It beats me. Perhaps he has some work for us to do, +helping him trace the thieves.” + +“Maybe that’s it. I sure hope so.” + +Frank was silent for a while. Then he said: + +“I wonder if Giles Ducroy and his friends will have an alibi this time.” + +“It will have to be a mighty good one. Just think of it! Two mail thefts +in a row. Whoever did last night’s job must know the run of the airport +pretty well.” + +“Whoever committed the first robbery knew the lay of the land too. If we +solve the first one we’ve solved them both.” + +“We?” said Joe. “I don’t think _we’ll_ have much chance to solve it. +This is dad’s case. I’ll bet it won’t take him very long to clear it up, +either.” + +But, with all their conjectures, the Hardy boys had no suspicion of the +real reason for their summons back to Bayport. Had they known what had +caused that note of urgency and anxiety in their father’s voice, they +would have been dumbfounded. A stunning surprise awaited them. + +They passed Cabin Island and headed out of the cove into the open bay. +The water was still rough from yesterday’s storm, but there was little +wind. After a while the city came in sight far in the distance, shining +in the sunlight, beneath a pall of smoke from the factory chimneys. + +It was a few minutes before twelve o’clock when the boys finally arrived +at Bayport and ran _The Sleuth_ into the boathouse. To their surprise +they saw that a man was lounging in the doorway. He was a big man, with +a fat, stolid face, and he was chewing at an unlighted cigar, his thumbs +in his vest pockets. + +“Good mornin’, boys,” he rumbled. + +They recognized him as Detective Smuff, of the Bayport police +department, a worthy if unintelligent officer. Frank could not imagine +why Smuff should be in the boathouse, apparently waiting for them, but +he grinned amiably at the detective. + +“Hello, Mr. Smuff! It is an unexpected surprise to find you here.” + +Smuff nodded portentously. “It is?” he asked. + +“Last person in the world we ever thought would come down to welcome +us,” declared Chet. “I tell you, Mr. Smuff, we sure appreciate this. It +isn’t often we have a reception committee on the job when we come back +from a little outing.” + +“Well,” said Smuff, “I’m on the job this time.” He turned to the Hardy +boys. “I’ve been sent down here to give you a message as soon as you got +in,” he informed them. + +“A message!” exclaimed Joe. “Who from?” + +“The chief. He wants to see you down at headquarters.” + +The Hardy boys stared at the detective in amazement. + +“The chief? Wants to see us?” ejaculated Frank. + +“Yep.” + +“What about?” demanded Joe. + +Smuff looked very mysterious. “You’ll know all about it when you get +there,” he said. + +“You’re going to be pinched for staying out all night,” laughed Chet. +“That’s a fine thing to do, Smuff—pinch our chums the minute we get +back to town. A fine reception committee you are!” + +“I didn’t say anybody was pinched,” returned Smuff cautiously. + +“Well,” said Frank, “this _is_ a surprise! Won’t you tell us what it’s +all about?” + +Smuff shook his head. “My orders,” he explained, “was to come down here +and wait for you and to tell you to come up and see the chief right +away.” + +“Why not let us wait until after lunch? We want to go home and eat and +change our clothes.” + +“Orders is orders,” insisted Smuff firmly. “The chief wants to see you +right away.” + +“All right,” sighed Joe. “I suppose we’ll have to go. But I wish I knew +what it was all about.” + +“Me, too,” rejoined his brother. + +Biff, who had been tying up the boat, came forward. + +“He probably wants to fire Smuff, here, and give you jobs on the +detective force,” he suggested, with a grin. + +Smuff glowered. “My job is good for a long time yet,” he observed +pompously. + +“Come on,” said Frank. “There’s no use standing here arguing about it. +We’ll go with you, Smuff.” + +“I have my car right here at the door,” said the detective. + +“That’s service,” chirped Chet. “Biff and I will run along home. Our +parents will be worrying themselves sick if we don’t show up. So long, +fellows! If Smuff claps you into a cell, we’ll come and bail you out!” + +Chet and Biff hastened off down the street while the Hardy boys +clambered into Smuff’s car. The detective wedged himself in behind the +wheel and they drove the few short blocks to police headquarters. + +Here they were ushered into the private office of Chief Collig himself, +a fussy little man with a vast sense of dignity. The chief was sitting +at a huge desk, scanning a large number of photographs of criminals, but +he stacked these to one side as Detective Smuff brought the boys in. + +“Good day, Chief,” said Frank easily. “Detective Smuff, here, said you +wanted to see us.” + +“I did,” snapped Chief Collig. + +“Well, here we are.” + +“You’re wanted,” said Collig briefly. + +“Wanted?” asked Frank. “What do you mean?” + +“You’re wanted by the postal authorities. I have orders to place you +under arrest.” + +The lads were so astonished that they could scarcely speak. Under +arrest? This was the last thing either had expected. + +“What for?” gasped Joe. “What’s the idea?” + +“You know about the airport robbery, don’t you?” demanded Chief Collig. + +“Yes, we know about it. But——” + +“Well, they say you did it. I have orders to arrest you both.” + + + + + CHAPTER XIII + Circumstantial Evidence + + +The Hardy boys were absolutely dumbfounded. The charge of theft seemed +so absurd that they were at first tempted to laugh. But they saw that +Chief Collig was in deadly earnest. His face was serious and his eyes +regarded them sternly. + +“The postal people have evidence against you lads,” he said. “A mail +sack with about twenty thousand dollars’ worth of mail was stolen. They +took out a warrant against you this morning.” + +“Why, this is the craziest thing I ever heard of!” declared Frank hotly. +“Us? Mixed up in that mail robbery? Why, we weren’t even near Bayport +when it happened.” + +“How do you know so much about when it happened?” asked the chief +quickly. + +“We were away down the bay all last night and we heard it over the +telephone this morning.” + +“Pretty good alibi,” said the chief. “And what time do you think the +robbery occurred?” + +“Last night.” + +“Well, it didn’t happen last night. It happened yesterday afternoon, +early. And you boys didn’t leave here in your motorboat until late in +the afternoon. The robbery wasn’t discovered until last night. Where +were you yesterday afternoon?” + +“Why, we went in our roadster down to—” began Joe, but a warning kick +from Frank silenced him. It would not do to tell Chief Collig that they +had been in Beach Grove, seeking clues against Ducroy and his friends in +the deserted cabin. + +“Where did you go in your roadster?” asked Chief Collig. + +“We went for a drive,” admitted Joe lamely. + +“Where to?” + +“Well,” said Joe, “we went down the Shore Road.” + +“To the airport?” + +“No.” + +The chief pursed his lips. “You parked your car in Beach Grove,” he +said. “I have a witness to prove it. And from there you walked through +the bush to the airport.” + +“We didn’t!” snapped Frank. + +“Where did you go, then?” + +“We just took a walk through the grove.” + +“Can you prove it?” asked the chief. + +“You’ll have to take our word for it, that’s all I can say.” + +The chief shook his head. “I can’t take your word for it,” he returned. +“The evidence against you is too strong.” + +“Are you going to lock us up?” Frank asked. + +“You’re under arrest. That’s my duty.” + +“Won’t you let us go home first? We’d like to talk this over with our +father.” + +“He knows about it,” said Collig. + +“But we want to see him, anyway. You come with us, Chief. We won’t try +to run away.” + +The chief considered this for a moment. “I guess there ain’t any harm in +that,” he decided finally. He got up, put on his uniform cap, and led +the way out of the office. + +A department automobile was waiting at the curb and Chief Collig ordered +the chauffeur to drive to the Hardy home on High Street. + +“What makes you think we’re mixed up in this business?” Joe inquired. +“Is it just because we were out on the Shore Road yesterday?” + +The chief shook his head. “We didn’t know that until later,” he said. +“After we began checking up on you two lads we found that you had been +on the Shore Road.” + +Frank was surprised. + +“What made you check up on us? Why should you suspect us? We have never +been in trouble before.” + +“I know that,” returned Chief Collig. “You would never have been +suspected hadn’t it been for the clues.” + +“Clues?” + +“There were clues found after the robbery. I think you’ll have a hard +time explaining them.” + +Beyond that, Chief Collig would volunteer no further information. The +boys were puzzled and apprehensive. The chief’s mysterious reference to +clues made their position seem more serious than they had at first +imagined. Conscious though they were of their own innocence, they +realized that their visit to Beach Grove made it almost impossible for +them to prove an alibi and they readily saw that they might find +themselves in a bad plight. + +At the Hardy home they found Fenton Hardy awaiting them. Mrs. Hardy +seemed anxious and frightened, particularly when she saw Chief Collig, +but her husband managed to allay her fears. + +“It’s all a bad mistake, Laura,” he assured her. “The boys have done +nothing wrong. We’ll go into the matter thoroughly and see where the +trouble lies.” + +He ushered Chief Collig and his sons into the study, then closed the +door. + +“Well, Chief,” said the great detective easily, “this seems to be a bad +mix-up. I didn’t meet the boys when they arrived this morning because I +knew you wanted to have a talk with them and I didn’t wish to interfere. +How do things stand now?” + +“They’re under arrest,” returned Collig. “They wanted me to bring them +home so they could see you, and I consented.” + +“Under arrest, are they? Well, that’s bad. I thought they would be able +to prove an alibi.” + +“They can’t,” said the chief. “It isn’t my doing, Mr. Hardy. The post +office people took out this warrant and if I didn’t arrest them, +somebody else would.” + +“I quite understand that, Chief.” Mr. Hardy turned to his sons. “Well, +boys, this looks pretty bad. What have you to say?” + +“It’s a big surprise to us, Dad,” said Frank. “The first we heard of the +robbery was over the telephone this morning. We don’t know anything more +about it than that. I think you know well enough that we’re innocent.” + +Mr. Hardy nodded. “I’m quite sure of that. The fact is, however, that +there is some damaging evidence against you. It will have to be +explained. When were you at the airport last?” + +“We’ve never been at the airport, Dad.” + +“You’ve never been there at any time?” + +“No,” said Frank. “We started out to visit the airport one day, but that +was the time Giles Ducroy’s plane crashed when we were still some +distance away. We turned back and returned to town.” + +“Where were you yesterday afternoon?” + +“We took the car and went for a drive out the Shore Road, to Beach +Grove.” + +“Did anyone see you? Can anyone prove it?” inquired Mr. Hardy, eagerly. + +Frank shook his head. “No one saw us, so far as I know. You’ll just have +to take our word for it.” + +“That’s quite enough for me,” admitted Mr. Hardy. “But the police +require something more substantial than that.” + +“What’s all this about clues?” demanded Joe. “Chief Collig says they +found some clues at the airport that seemed to connect us with the +robbery. What were they?” + +“We found a sweater, for one thing,” declared Chief Collig. “It was a +blue sweater, with white trimmings.” + +“I had a blue sweater with white trimmings,” said Frank promptly. + +“Where is it now?” asked the chief. + +“I lost it.” + +Chief Collig nodded grimly. “You lost it at the airport. That’s where it +was found.” + +“My sweater? Found at the airport?” exclaimed Frank, dumbfounded. + +“There are plenty of blue sweaters like Frank’s,” scoffed Joe. “How do +you know it was his?” + +“Because,” returned the chief, “his name was in it. It was on a tag +inside the collar.” + +Frank was silent for a moment. He realized how damaging the discovery of +the sweater might be. + +“I did have a tag with my name on it, stitched inside the collar of my +sweater,” he admitted. “I guess it must be mine, all right. But I didn’t +leave it there. I lost the sweater more than a week ago. I left it out +in the barn one night and I haven’t seen it since.” + +“Well,” said Chief Collig, “the sweater has been found. It was lying in +the airport, in a place where you—where the thieves lay in hiding until +the mail bags were left unguarded.” + +“Anyone could have put the sweater there,” declared Mr. Hardy. “The +person who took Frank’s sweater from the barn could have done that.” + +“We have more evidence than that,” insisted the chief. He turned to Joe. +“Let me see the soles of your shoes?” + +Mystified, Joe elevated his feet. The chief looked at the soles, then +referred to a paper which he removed from his pocket. + +“You’ll find it hard to explain _that_,” he said, and placed the paper +on Fenton Hardy’s desk. + +Joe’s shoes had been bought at an exclusive sporting goods store in +Bayport just a few days previously. They were new, and of an original +design, the rubber soles were stamped in a peculiar manner. Probably no +more than a few pairs had been sold since the shipment arrived. + +The paper which Chief Collig produced had a penciled drawing which +corresponded to the stamped design on the soles of Joe’s shoes. + +“That drawing,” explained the chief, “was made from the footprints found +at the scene of the robbery. What size of shoe do you wear?” + +“Size six,” returned Joe. + +“These footprints were made by a size six shoe. I went to the shoe +dealers in town and I found that only one merchant handles shoes of that +type. He says they are a new kind of shoe and that he has sold only one +pair of sixes since they arrived. And he sold that pair to you. How do +you explain that?” + +“I didn’t leave the footprints there,” insisted Joe doggedly. “Someone +else must have a pair of those shoes, same size as mine.” + +“You are wearing the only pair of those shoes ever sold in Bayport,” +declared Chief Collig. “The footprints were found at the airport in the +mud. And there’s something else.” He took an object from his pocket and +held it out in the palm of his hand. “Do you recognize that?” + +“My knife!” exclaimed Frank. + +“You admit it, eh?” The chief grunted with satisfaction. “You see the +initials on it. J. H. to F. H.?” + +“Joe gave it to me for Christmas, and he had the initials engraved on +it.” + +“I suppose,” sneered the chief, “you lost the knife at the same time you +lost your sweater?” + +“To tell the truth, I did.” + +Fenton Hardy was pale and distressed. + +“This looks very bad,” he said to his sons. “Have you any idea how the +sweater and the knife came to be there, Frank?” + +“None at all, Dad, unless the person who stole them from me left them at +the airport.” + +“And you, Joe? How about the footprints?” + +“All I can say is that somebody else must have a pair of shoes like +mine. Neither Frank nor I ever went near the airport.” + +“I think,” said Fenton Hardy, “it wouldn’t be a bad idea if we went out +to the airport now. We’ll have to look over the ground.” + + + + + CHAPTER XIV + Held for Trial + + +Chief Collig accompanied Fenton Hardy and the two boys out to the +airport, taking them there in his own car. The road entering the grounds +was under guard, and the big hangars were closely watched, the +authorities evidently taking no chances on a repetition of the robbery. +However, Chief Collig was readily admitted and the party proceeded to a +hangar where a newspaper photographer was busy taking pictures. + +“I’d like to see those footprints, Chief, if you don’t mind,” said Mr. +Hardy. + +“They haven’t been touched,” said Chief Collig. “I gave strict orders +they weren’t to be disturbed.” + +Close by the hangar wall a few boards covered the ground. The chief +raised them, and in the ground beneath they could see the clear imprint +of a foot. The marks of the rubber sole were identical with those made +by Joe’s shoes. + +“Let’s see how your foot fits that,” suggested the chief, turning to +Joe. + +Without hesitation, Joe stepped forward. He placed his right foot in the +print. It fitted exactly. When he removed his foot there had been not +the slightest change in the original print in the ground. + +“Yet you said you were never here before!” exclaimed the chief. + +“I still say it,” Joe insisted. + +“Then how do you account for that footprint? Same size, same marks, same +everything.” + +“Somebody must have had a shoe just like mine. That’s all I can say.” + +The chief sniffed dubiously. Then Fenton Hardy, who had been examining +the footprint, made a suggestion. + +“Joe,” he said, “I want you to stand in the earth right beside that +other footprint. Just walk across there, stand for a moment, and move +away.” + +Wondering, Joe obeyed. When he had done as his father asked, there were +several new footprints in the soft earth. Mr. Hardy looked at them +closely. + +“What do you think of that, Chief?” he asked. + +Chief Collig looked down at the footprints. + +“Not much difference, so far as I can see,” he grunted. + +“Not _much_. But there _is_ a difference, isn’t there?” + +“The footprints Joe just made don’t seem as heavy as the other one,” +admitted the chief. + +“They certainly aren’t. You can see how light the impressions are in the +earth. That first footprint is pressed down quite heavily. You couldn’t +help but see it, and I think it was meant to be seen. Joe’s natural +footprints, on the other hand, are scarcely visible.” + +“What of it?” demanded the chief. + +“I mean,” said Fenton Hardy, “that the footprint you found here is not +Joe’s natural footprint at all. It’s all very well to say that the size +and the sole markings are identical, but there is more to a footprint +than that. The first footprint was made by a very heavy person, as you +can see by comparing it with the footprints Joe made just now.” He +turned to his son. “How much do you weigh, Joe?” + +“One hundred and twenty-five pounds,” Joe answered promptly. + +“That’s not very heavy. But that first footprint was certainly made by a +person weighing considerably more than that. The earth here is no harder +now than it was at the time of the robbery, because it has been covered +over by the boards, so I think the test proves itself. Then, to go +further, wasn’t there another footprint, Chief? You have shown us only +one, the conclusion being that the thief was a one-legged man.” + +“There’s another footprint,” declared Collig. “Here it is.” He pointed +to an impression in the earth a short distance away. + +Fenton Hardy took a small folding measuring rule from his pocket and +measured the distance between the two original prints. Then he measured +Joe’s footprints. + +“More proof,” he said finally. “The distance between these first two +prints is a good seven inches more than the distance between Joe’s +actual footprints. That proves that the man who wore those shoes was a +good deal taller than Joe, with a longer stride. It also proves that +when he made that heavy print in the mud he was not simply standing +still, which might have caused the print to be heavier by reason of his +weight. Otherwise his feet would have been close together. He was +walking, just as Joe was walking a moment ago.” + +Chief Collig was puzzled. Fenton Hardy’s deductions came as a rude +shock, for the chief had already made up his mind that the Hardy boys +were guilty and the evidence had seemed conclusive to him. He was not a +man who admitted a mistake readily and he clung obstinately to his +original belief. + +“I don’t care how you figure it out,” he said roughly. “Your boys can’t +explain how that sweater and the knife got here. And they can’t prove an +alibi. I’m not going to let them go just because one footprint is a +little bit heavier than the other.” + +“You mean we’re still under arrest?” asked Frank anxiously. + +The chief nodded. “You’re under arrest,” he said. “We’d better be +starting back to the city.” + +Fenton Hardy patted Frank’s shoulder. + +“Never mind, Son,” he said. “I’m afraid I can’t convince Chief Collig +just now, but at any rate I’m sure of your innocence. And we’ll prove it +yet.” + +There was nothing more the detective could do. They left the airport and +got back into the chief’s car. Gloomily, they drove back to the city. + +That afternoon, Frank and Joe Hardy were arraigned before a magistrate +and, after the evidence had been presented, they were held for trial on +the serious charge of robbing the air mail. + +“Held for the robbery!” cried Joe, aghast. + +“It’s the most ridiculous thing I ever heard of,” declared his brother. +“What would we rob the mail for?” + +“Gee, Frank, this will give us a black eye all right.” + +“Don’t I know it? But I don’t think our real friends will believe a word +of it.” + +“Just wait till the newspapers come out. They won’t do a thing but spill +it all over the front page!” + +“That’s the worst of it. It will make mother feel pretty bad.” + +“Yes, and when Aunt Gertrude hears of it she’ll say ‘I told you so.’” + +“It’s a blamed shame, that’s what it is. I’d like to get back at the +Chief for this.” + +“So would I.” + +This development caused a sensation in Bayport. When the afternoon +papers came out with headlines, “Noted Detective’s Sons Held For Air +Mail Theft,” friends of the boys and of Fenton Hardy could scarcely +believe the news. On every hand people said, “There must be some +mistake. The Hardy boys would never do a thing like that.” Scarcely +anyone outside the police department could be found who actually +believed the lads were guilty. + +Nevertheless, this did not make the situation any easier for Frank and +Joe Hardy. They were in jail, and the prospect of release seemed remote, +because bail had been set in the heavy sum of fifty thousand dollars. + +Fenton Hardy was not at all rich, and although he would have placed his +entire fortune at the disposal of his sons, he was finding it difficult, +if not impossible, to raise the big sum required for bail. He called on +the boys late that afternoon and visited them in their cell, ruefully +confessing that he had been unable to raise the money. + +“I’m sorry, boys,” he said. “I hate to see you stay here in jail, +particularly when I’m sure you’re innocent. But you won’t be here long. +I’ll do my best to borrow the money to-morrow.” + +“Don’t worry about us, Dad,” urged Frank. “Fifty thousand dollars is a +lot of money.” + +“Mighty slim evidence they’re holding us on,” complained Joe. “If they +would only bring us to trial right away, we’d be acquitted sure.” + +Just then they heard a disturbance in the corridor. Two men were arguing +with one of the guards. + +“But I tell you, we _must_ see them right away!” demanded a familiar +voice. “It’s an outrage! A scandal!” + +“You’ve got to have a permit from the chief,” expostulated the guard. + +“Permit! Bah! Here’s your permit! Now can we get past?” + +“Hurd Applegate!” exclaimed Frank, in astonishment. + +Two elderly men came hastening down the corridor toward the cell, a +guard following close behind. One of them was indeed Hurd Applegate, the +wealthy and eccentric man whose family treasure had been recovered by +the Hardy boys, as related in the first volume of this series; “The +Tower Treasure.” The other man was none other than Elroy Jefferson, the +owner of Cabin Island. + +“This,” declared Elroy Jefferson, standing in front of the cell and +brandishing a newspaper, “is a shame! Nothing less than a shame!” + +“A scandal!” fumed Hurd Applegate. + +“A shame _and_ a scandal!” + +“You’re right, Elroy!” declared Mr. Applegate. “It is a shame and a +scandal. I never heard of anything so disgraceful. The Hardy boys in +jail! Impossible! And bail set at fifty thousand dollars! An outrage!” + +“Idiotic!” raged Mr. Jefferson. He bowed to Mr. Hardy. “How do you do, +Mr. Hardy. Mr. Applegate and I were just talking about our stamp +collections when the boy came with the afternoon paper. We read it. We +saw the headlines. ‘Hardy Boys in Jail.’ And at once I said: ‘This is an +outrage!’” + +“You did, Elroy,” affirmed Hurd Applegate. “And I said: ‘This is a +scandal.’” + +“Yes, Hurd, you said it was a scandal. And it _is_ a scandal. So we put +on our hats and came down here immediately.” + +“It’s mighty good of you to visit us. You are—” began Frank, when Elroy +Jefferson interrupted him impatiently. + +“Good of us to visit you!” he stormed. “Do you think we came down here +just to visit you? Do you think we’re going to let the Hardy boys stay +in jail? Are we going to let them stay in jail, Hurd?” + +“We are not!” said Mr. Applegate firmly. + +Elroy Jefferson drew two slips of paper from his pocket. + +“When we read in the paper that bail had been set in the outrageous +amount of fifty thousand dollars, what did I do, Hurd?” + +“You wrote a check,” said Mr. Applegate. + +“I wrote a check. For twenty-five thousand dollars. And what did you do, +Hurd?” + +“I wrote one too. I insisted on it.” + +“You insisted on it. You wouldn’t let me go bail for the boys myself. +The sentiment does you credit, Hurd, but I would gladly have gone bail +for the full amount.” + +Frank and Joe sprang to their feet. + +“We can’t let you do that!” exclaimed Frank. “That is awfully good of +you——” + +“Good of us!” snorted Mr. Jefferson. “Do you hear that, Hurd? They say +it’s good of us. After what they’ve done for us!” + +“It’s a pleasure,” declared Hurd Applegate. + +“And now,” concluded Mr. Jefferson grandly, “if you will come with us +we’ll go upstairs and turn over these checks as bail. The idea! The +Hardy boys in jail! Most senseless thing I ever heard of! Why didn’t you +call me up on the telephone? I would have been down here inside five +minutes.” + +“Me too,” chimed in Hurd Applegate. “I would have made it in three +minutes, because I live closer.” + +“Come along,” said Elroy Jefferson. “Let’s all get out of here.” + +The two old gentlemen, fuming, led the way down the corridor, Elroy +Jefferson waving the two checks that were to gain the Hardy boys their +release. + + + + + CHAPTER XV + On the Trail of Ollie Jacobs + + +Thanks to the generosity of Elroy Jefferson and Hurd Applegate, the +Hardy boys were quickly released on bail. The two old stamp collectors +scoffed when the lads sought to thank them. + +“We’re not giving away fifty thousand dollars,” declared Hurd Applegate. +“We know you won’t run away. And we know that when your case comes to +trial you’ll be able to prove your innocence. So why should we let you +stay in jail when you don’t deserve it?” + +“Especially after what you did for us in the past,” said Mr. Jefferson. +“We’re glad we can return the favor.” + +That night, at home, the boys discussed the case with their father. +Owing to the arrest of his sons, Fenton Hardy had been told by the +authorities that his services in the airport mystery would no longer be +required. This was a bitter blow, although he realized that the +officials were justified in their action. But he resolved to continue +the investigation on his own account. + +“I’ll do all I can to clear you,” he promised. “And you must do all you +can to clear yourselves. As it stands, they haven’t a very strong case +against you, but it’s strong enough to be unpleasant. Our big chance +lies in capturing the real robbers.” + +“I’m sure that evidence was planted by Giles Ducroy,” declared Frank. + +“Just wait until I get my hands on that skunk!” added Joe. + +“I’m afraid you won’t lay your hands on him very easily,” said their +father. “I wanted to have a few words with him myself, but he seems to +have disappeared.” + +“Disappeared!” exclaimed Frank, in surprise. + +Mr. Hardy nodded assent. “He hasn’t been seen around Bayport for several +days.” + +“How about Newt Pipps and Ollie Jacobs?” asked Frank. “Are they still in +town?” + +Fenton Hardy seemed somewhat surprised at mention of these two names. + +“Is that who Ducroy has been hanging around with?” he asked. “A bad +gang! No, now that you mention it, Pipps and Jacobs have cleared out +too. They haven’t been seen in Bayport for more than a week.” + +“That looks bad,” said Joe. “If they weren’t up to something queer they +wouldn’t have cleared out.” + +“I’ll tell you where you may be able to find that pair,” said Mr. Hardy. +“Do you know the Raven Roadhouse out on the Claymore Road?” + +“I’ve heard of the place,” admitted Frank. “It’s supposed to be a mighty +tough hangout, isn’t it?” + +“Bad enough. Well, I’ve been checking up on Ollie Jacobs and Newt Pipps +and I’ve learned that they make that place their headquarters. If you +make inquiries there you may be able to find something about them.” + +“We’ll make the inquiries, all right!” declared Frank. “I’m sure they +know something about this business. What do you say, Joe? Let’s go out +there right now and see what we can learn.” + +“I’m with you.” + +“Better be careful,” advised Fenton Hardy. “This roadhouse is a tough +place and Jacobs and Pipps will likely have some friends there, so don’t +give yourselves away.” + +“We’ll watch our step,” promised Frank. “Don’t worry. We’ve got to clear +up those mail robberies to clear ourselves, and I think the quickest way +to go about it is to follow up the Ducroy gang. If they’re not mixed up +in it from the start I’m a mighty bad guesser.” + +The Hardy boys lost no time preparing for their journey out to the Raven +Roadhouse, which was located some five miles from Bayport. Within half +an hour they had said good-bye to their parents and had clambered into +their roadster. + +They drove down High Street, on through the business section of Bayport, +and out to the highway. Frank was at the wheel. + +“It was certainly mighty white of Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Applegate to go +bail for us,” he said. + +“They’re real friends,” Joe agreed. “The least we can do now is to clear +up this business and show them that their confidence in us wasn’t +misplaced.” + +“We’ll do the best we can, although it doesn’t look very easy right now. +That gang didn’t miss any bets in planting the evidence against us.” + +“All the more reason why we should get them, and get them right. After +what we heard in the cabin, I don’t think there’s much doubt that Ducroy +and his crowd had something to do with the robberies.” + +“Well,” said Frank, “we’ll go easy, and with any luck we ought to get +some clues that we can follow up.” + +They thought they would get to the roadhouse quickly, but a quarter of a +mile on came to a detour sign. The road ahead was closed for repair. + +“Just our luck,” grumbled Frank. “I know this road was open yesterday.” + +“We’ve got to go around the old Rundle farm,” answered his younger +brother. “That’s a dirt road, too, all the way.” + +“Hope it isn’t muddy. It used to have some pretty bad mud holes in it +when it rained.” + +Fortunately for the Hardy boys, the detour road proved dry. The worst of +the holes had been filled with cracked stone, so they got through +without much difficulty. + +In due time the Hardy boys approached the Raven Roadhouse. It was a +long, rambling building, set back some distance from the road and +approached by a winding driveway. + +“I guess the best plan is simply to go in and ask about them,” said +Frank. + +He drove up to the front of the roadhouse. There were no guests present +at this hour of the day. A fat man was lounging indolently against a +veranda pillar. + +The boys got out of the car. + +“Too early,” grunted the fat man. “The fun doesn’t start here until +after dark.” + +“We’re not guests,” returned Frank. “We’re looking for somebody.” + +A guarded expression crossed the fat man’s face. + +“Who?” he asked abruptly. + +Frank looked at Joe. “I don’t know whether we should tell him or not.” + +Joe, taking his cue, looked dubious. “We weren’t supposed to tell. +Still, it mightn’t do any harm.” + +Frank looked around mysteriously. Then he lowered his voice: + +“Have you seen Newt or Ollie around lately?” + +The fat man regarded him shrewdly. + +“Why do you want to know?” + +“We have a message for him.” + +“Who from?” + +Frank shrugged. “Why should we tell you?” + +The fat man was silent. Then he said: + +“Is it from Sam?” + +“Maybe. I’m not talking.” + +The fat man seemed impressed. + +“Well, you know how to keep your mouth shut anyway,” he said. “And +that’s more than lots of people know. I guess you’re regular, all right. +Well, I can put you in touch with Ollie Jacobs.” + +“How about Newt?” + +“He’s not here. I don’t know where he is right now.” + +“Where is Ollie, then?” + +“Down the road. You know where Greenfield village is, eh?” + +Frank nodded. “About two miles farther down the road.” + +“Well, that’s where you’ll find Ollie. He’s at the hotel. The clerk will +find him for you.” + +“Thanks. We’ll go on to Greenfield, then.” + +“If you’d like to wait here,” suggested the fat man, “Ollie should be +back in an hour or so.” + +The Hardy boys had no desire to wait. They were on the trail of the +elusive Ollie Jacobs and it did not suit their purpose to meet him face +to face at the Raven Roadhouse. They thanked the fat man, got back into +the car and drove away. + +Within a few minutes they reached Greenfield. It was a meagre little +village with a few unprosperous-looking stores and a ramshackle hotel. + +“We’ll have to go easy here,” said Frank. “It won’t do to have Ollie +Jacobs see us.” + +“What should we do? Wait out in front of the hotel?” + +“He would probably see us first. No, I think it would be better to go +inside and take a look around. Once we locate him we can keep out of +sight and then follow him later.” + +They parked the roadster in front of the hotel and went inside. The +Clerk, a seedy little man with shifty eyes, regarded them with +suspicion. By way of explaining their presence, the Hardy boys bought +some newspapers and a few chocolate bars, then sat down in the lounging +chairs in the main office. + +“We’ll just sit tight for a while,” whispered Frank. “If Ollie Jacobs is +in the hotel, he’ll probably pass through here on his way out.” + +The words were no sooner out of his mouth than Joe gave his brother a +sharp nudge and hastily began to unfold one of the newspapers. Frank +glanced up. Coming down the stairs was Ollie Jacobs. + +The man did not see the boys, or at least did not recognize them, for +Frank quickly lowered his head, then he, too, spread out a newspaper so +that it concealed him from view. Thus, to the man descending the +stairway, the two lads appeared intent on the papers, and their faces +were completely hidden. + +Another man was coming down the stairs a few steps behind Ollie Jacobs. +When the pair reached the office, instead of going toward the door, they +sauntered over and sat down a few feet from the Hardy boys. + +Frank and Joe were trembling with excitement. Behind the newspapers they +were safe from observation. + +“I won’t go a cent over eight thousand, and that’s final,” they heard +Ollie Jacobs saying. + +“We’ll split the difference,” returned the other man, in a wheedling +tone. “Make it nine thousand dollars cash.” + +“Nothing doing! I’ll give you eight thousand dollars. Take it or leave +it.” + +“An airplane for eight thousand dollars!” exclaimed the other. “I can’t +do it. I’d be losing money.” + +Ollie Jacobs laughed. “Even at eight thousand, you’ll be making a good +profit.” + +“Eighty-five hundred,” pleaded the bargainer. + +“I’ve made my offer and I won’t raise it a nickel. I’ll give you eight +thousand dollars in cash the moment the airplane is turned over to us. +You have the machine within five miles of here, you say. Well, I can +have the money within half an hour and we’ll close the deal. So make up +your mind, for I can’t be wasting time. If I can’t buy your airplane I +can easily find another one.” + +Ollie Jacobs got up from his chair. The other man rose quickly and +seized him by the arm. + +“All right. All right,” he said hastily. “It’s just downright robbery, +but I’ll sell you the plane for eight thousand. I won’t be making a +cent.” + +“That’s your lookout,” returned Jacobs coolly. “You don’t have to sell +it.” + +“I’ll have the plane ready for you at my farm. As soon as you turn over +the money, the machine is yours.” + +“The money will be in your hands within half an hour. Are you going to +the farm now?” said Jacobs. + +“I’ll go there right away and get the plane in shape.” + +“Be sure you have the tanks full of gas. I want everything to be in +perfect running order. That’s the only condition of sale. I want the +plane to be in readiness.” + +“You can step right in it and start flying the minute you buy it,” +insisted the other man. “And you’re getting a bargain, let me tell you. +There isn’t a better machine on the market. If you bought that plane +from the factory it would cost you fifteen or twenty thousand dollars.” + +“A new plane would cost that much. Yours isn’t worth five. It’s an old +crate, almost falling to pieces. You’ve been flying it for more than +four years now. Well, the deal is made. You go to the farm and get the +machine ready. I’ll be over to take possession in half an hour.” + +The two men went out the door and descended the steps. Apparently Ollie +Jacobs did not notice the roadster belonging to the Hardy boys, for, +after halting for a moment on the sidewalk, he strode briskly down the +street in a direction opposite to that taken by his companion. + +Frank lowered his newspaper and looked at Joe. + +“What do you make of that?” he demanded. + +“Ollie Jacobs buying an airplane! That fellow never had eight thousand +dollars of his own in all his life.” + +“He seems to have it now,” said Frank. “There’s something in the wind.” + +“I think we’d better follow him.” + +They sprang to their feet. + +“There’s no time to lose,” Frank agreed. “I’d like to know what Ollie +Jacobs is planning to do with that plane!” + + + + + CHAPTER XVI + Mysterious Plans + + +When the Hardy boys left the hotel they saw Ollie Jacobs about a block +away, walking quickly down the street toward the outskirts of the +village. As unobtrusively as possible, they followed him. They soon +found that there was little need for caution, as Ollie Jacobs evidently +had no suspicion that he was observed, and not once did he look back. + +Leaving the sidewalk, their quarry struck out along a country road in +the direction of an abandoned house. Here, instead of passing by, he +vaulted the fence, crossed the unkempt yard, and disappeared into the +building. + +“We’ll have to go carefully,” said Frank. “I’ll bet he’s meeting the +others there.” + +“That’s where he intends to get the eight thousand dollars, I suppose.” + +“Chances are, they’re watching. We’d better go around by the back way.” + +At the end of the street, therefore, the Hardy boys did not follow the +road, but instead made a detour through the fields, coming around at the +rear of the old house. There they made their way carefully across the +yard. They knew that they risked detection in so doing, but they were +obliged to take this chance. + +Luck was with them. They crossed the yard in safety, evidently +unobserved by anyone in the house. + +They crouched beneath a window and listened. From inside the house they +could hear human voices. Frank raised himself slightly and peeped +through the window. The room was empty. The voices seemed to be from the +front of the house. + +He gestured to Joe, and silently they crept on to the next window. Here +they had better luck. The window was partly open and they could clearly +hear the voices of the men in the room beyond. + +The first voice they heard was that of Ollie Jacobs. + +“Well,” he was saying, “I guess we can each chip in and make up that +money. The plane is waiting for us.” + +A familiar voice answered: + +“Eight thousand dollars is a lot of dough. But it will be worth it in +the long run.” + +Frank and Joe exchanged glances. They recognized the voice. Giles +Ducroy! + +“Are you sure the plane is all right?” demanded the third man—Newt +Pipps. + +“It’s old, but it’s plenty good enough for our purpose,” returned +Jacobs. “She’ll hold four or five men.” + +“I don’t want to go flying in some old rattletrap that’ll bust all to +pieces in mid-air and kill us all,” demurred Newt. + +“Don’t worry. I’ll be in charge of the plane,” declared Ducroy. “I could +fly a baby carriage if it had wings. Your precious neck is safe enough.” + +“Well, here’s twenty-five hundred dollars,” said Jacobs. “That’s my +share.” + +“And here’s mine,” said Newt. + +“And I’ll make up the other three thousand,” said Ducroy. “You never +spent money any better. If this pans out all right it will bring us +fifty thousand dollars at least.” + +“You say it’s the twenty-eighth or twenty-ninth?” asked Ollie Jacobs. + +“Yes,” answered Ducroy. “Pay day is on the first of the month, and they +always send the money a day or two ahead.” + +“It’ll be a big haul if we get away with it,” declared Newt Pipps. “But +it’s certainly risky.” + +“You’ve got to take chances to make big money,” Ducroy answered. “Fifty +thousand dollars isn’t to be sneezed at.” + +“I’m satisfied,” said Ollie Jacobs. “I think we can get away with it. +Fifty thousand dollars looks mighty good to me. I think we ought to go +right over to the farm, buy this plane, and start out.” + +“Where do we go first?” asked Newt. + +“There’s an airport about thirty miles from here,” Ducroy said. “It’s +just a small flying field—the Riverside Field, they call it. We can +take the plane there and wait until everything is ready.” + +“What if we’re caught?” asked Newt. “The police in Bayport are on the +lookout for us, you know that. If they find out where we are, it will +ruin everything.” + +“We have the plane, haven’t we? If they find out where we are, we’ll +simply fly somewhere else, and dodge them. I have everything all figured +out. We’ll be quite safe.” + +“Then let’s get going,” said Ollie Jacobs impatiently. “We’re just +wasting time by arguing here.” + +There was a scuffling of feet, then the slam of a door. After a few +moments the Hardy boys peeped around the side of the house and saw the +three men going down the road in the direction of the village. + +“It looks as if we’ve stumbled on something,” said Joe. + +“I wonder what they’re going to do with that airplane. One thing is +certain—there’s something in the wind for the twenty-eighth or +twenty-ninth of this month.” + +“What date is this?” + +“The twenty-sixth.” Frank watched the receding figures of the men. “I +suppose we ought to follow them.” + +Joe demurred. + +“Why should we? There’s no chance of losing them now. We know the name +of the airport they’re bound for, and we can go there in the car and +wait for them.” + +“That’s right. We’ll go on to Riverside Field and keep an eye on them +from there. But first of all, I think we ought to call up dad and let +him know what we’ve learned.” + +Joe agreed that this was a sound suggestion. The boys waited until the +trio were out of sight, then hastened on toward the village. Their first +concern was a telephone, and as they did not want to go to the hotel, in +case some of Ollie Jacobs’ friends might be within earshot, they lost +some time seeking the telephone exchange, which they finally located in +the rear of the post office. + +There they put through a call to their father in Bayport. After a wait +of about ten minutes, the call was answered. The operator turned to +them. + +“Mr. Hardy is not at home. Will anyone else do?” + +“Anyone at that number,” assented Frank. + +He picked up the receiver and heard his mother’s voice. + +“Hello, Mother. This is Frank calling.” + +“Yes, Frank. Where are you?” + +“We’re at a little village just outside the city. Where is Dad?” + +“He left for New York an hour ago,” answered Mrs. Hardy. “He just +received a telegram calling him to New York on special business.” + +Frank was disappointed. + +“That’s tough luck. We had some news for him. Well, we’ll just have to +carry on alone. If we’re not home to-night, don’t worry about us. We’ve +picked up some information that may clear up all this fix we’re in.” + +“Don’t stay away too long, Frank,” said Mrs. Hardy. “The police were +making inquiries a little while ago.” + +“The police? Why?” + +“They think you may have run away. They’re afraid you have jumped bail.” + +This news came as a stunning shock to Frank. + +“Why, that’s nonsense!” he exclaimed hotly. “We’ll be back as soon as we +can, and if they make any more inquiries you can tell them so. And when +we do come back, they won’t have any further excuse for holding us, for +we’ll have the real mail robbers with us.” + +“I hope you are right, Frank. If your father comes back, I’ll tell him +you called.” + +“All right, Mother. And don’t worry about us. We’ll be back home as soon +as we can get away.” + +Frank hung up the receiver and paid the cost of the call. When he turned +toward Joe, however, he found his brother standing in the door, gazing +up at the sky. + +“They’re away already!” exclaimed Joe excitedly. “Look!” + +Frank ran to the door. Joe was pointing up at the clouds. High above +them soared an airplane, drumming its way toward the south. + +“I saw it rise,” said Joe. “It took off from one of those farms back of +the village. It’s Ducroy’s crowd, sure as guns.” + +“On their way to the flying field already. Well, we’d better be moving.” + +They hurried down the street toward the hotel, where they had left the +roadster. On the way, Frank told Joe the result of his telephone call. +Joe too was disappointed that they had not been able to get in touch +with Fenton Hardy. + +“It means we have to play a lone hand, that’s all. What do you think we +should do next, Frank?” + +“I think we ought to tell the authorities.” + +“We’ll warn them to watch the airplane hangars on the twenty-eighth and +twenty-ninth,” said Joe. “But we mustn’t lose sight of Ducroy and his +cronies.” + +They looked back. The airplane was merely a blur in the distance. The +boys realized that they had no time to lose. They scrambled into the +roadster. Frank threw in the clutch and the car shot forward. Within a +few minutes they were speeding down a road toward the south in the +direction of the Riverside Field. + + + + + CHAPTER XVII + Dangerous Business + + +When the Hardy boys arrived at Riverside Field they looked in vain for +Giles Ducroy and his friends. But the trio were not in sight, and there +was but one airplane on the flying field. It was a small two-seater. + +“It can’t be their plane,” said Frank. “Ollie Jacobs said it would hold +four or five men.” + +“Perhaps they haven’t arrived yet,” Joe suggested. + +“They had only thirty miles to go. They should have been here long ago.” + +“We can go up to one of the hangars and ask what planes have come in.” + +Frank was dubious. “If Ducroy or any of the others are hanging around, +we’ll be spotted. Our game is to keep out of sight.” + +They sauntered over to the solitary little airplane in the middle of the +flying field. A mechanic in grimy overalls was busy tinkering at the +understructure of the machine. + +“Is this the only plane here?” asked Frank politely. + +The mechanic looked up. “It’s the only one out on the field,” he +answered. “If you can see any more, let me know.” He grinned, and then +waved toward one of the hangars. “An old crate just flew in a few +minutes ago.” + +“Where from?” + +“How should I know? Airplanes, unless they’re on the mail run, aren’t +like trains. Looked to me like a privately owned machine.” + +The Hardy boys glanced significantly at one another. They had no doubt +that this was Ducroy’s plane. + +“Is the pilot in there now?” + +The mechanic nodded. “Him and two other guys.” + +Frank and Joe thanked their informant and made a wide detour across the +flying field so as to approach the hangar at the far side. They had no +desire to meet Giles Ducroy and his friends just now. They came around +to the rear of the hangar without being observed and while they were +looking about for a means of entrance other than by the front, Joe +discovered a small door at the side. + +He tried the door. It was unlocked. Joe edged it open and peeped in. + +There was the plane, at rest in the hangar, and standing beside it were +Giles Ducroy, Newt Pipps, and Ollie Jacobs. They were talking in low +tones. Even as the boys watched they saw Ollie Jacobs move away from the +others. + +“It won’t take long,” he said. “I’ll do some telephoning and find out +all I can.” + +“Make sure of the date!” advised Ducroy. + +Ollie Jacobs left the hangar. For a moment the Hardy boys were +panic-stricken at the thought that he might look back and see them +pressed against the side of the building, but Jacobs strode away without +once glancing behind. + +“I wish we could learn something definite,” whispered Joe. “This thing +of following them around is beginning to get on my nerves. They are +bound to catch sight of us, sooner or later.” + +“We certainly can’t follow them around like this,” agreed Frank. “If +they don’t see us, we’re liable to lose them anyway. If we can only find +out what game they’re up to!” + +They peeped through the opening in the door again. But Ducroy and Newt +Pipps had withdrawn a little way to one side and were talking in +undertones, their words inaudible. + +In about ten minutes, Ollie Jacobs returned. He hastened into the +hangar, and Ducroy looked at him expectantly. + +“Well,” the boys heard Ducroy saying, “did you learn anything?” + +“I sure did,” returned Ollie Jacobs. “It’s all settled. And we don’t +have to wait as long as we thought we might.” + +“That’s good,” declared Ducroy, rubbing his hands together with +satisfaction. “What did he say?” + +“The shipment will come on the night of the twenty-eighth.” + +“As soon as that!” exclaimed Newt Pipps. + +“We’ll be ready for it,” snapped Ducroy. “We’ll force him down not far +from here.” + +“It will be at night, eh?” said Pipps. + +“Of course. All the better, too. I’d think twice before I’d try this +trick in daylight.” + +“I guess you’re right,” admitted Newt feebly. “Although I don’t like the +idea of it at any time. You’re sure we’ll have only one man to handle?” + +“Only one man. And there are three of us. We’re not taking a chance of +failing.” + +“How are we going to force him down?” asked Ollie Jacobs. + +“Leave that to me,” answered Ducroy confidently. “There’s more than one +way of doing that.” + +“Let’s go and eat,” Newt suggested. “I’m half starved.” + +“That’s a good idea,” Ollie agreed. “There’s a little restaurant near +here. What do you figure on doing, Giles? Do you think we should stay +right here at the airport until the twenty-eighth?” + +“No,” said Ducroy firmly. “I don’t. The authorities are apt to find us +if we stay in one place for any length of time. We’ll have to keep +going. We’ll move around from one place to the other until the time +comes. We can’t afford to be nabbed now. And after the twenty-eighth +we’ll clear out for good.” + +The three men moved up toward the front of the hangar, left the +building, and went on across the flying field toward a small restaurant +in the distance. There was a little lunch counter near by but the men +ignored it for the more pretentious eating place. + +Frank and Joe Hardy slipped quickly into the hangar through the side +door. Instead of clearing up the mystery that puzzled them, the +conversation they had just overheard confused them more than ever. That +some criminal coup was in the wind for the night of the twenty-eighth +was no longer in doubt, but what it was and where it was to take place +still remained unrevealed. + +“I don’t understand what’s happening,” said Frank, as he looked at the +airplane in the hangar; “but I know we’ve got to be on hand if we can +possibly manage it.” + +“How can we be on hand if they’re going to keep flying from place to +place for the next two days?” asked Joe. + +“We’ve got to keep track of them somehow.” Frank moved about, inspecting +the airplane. “I’d just like to reserve a back seat in this plane for +the next forty-eight hours.” + +“That idea isn’t as silly as it sounds!” declared Joe. “Why can’t we?” + +Frank laughed. “How can we? They’d simply kick us out, for we’d +certainly be seen.” + +“Not if we went about it right.” Joe was excited as the possibilities of +his idea became more apparent. “Why can’t we be stowaways? Don’t you +remember the time we hid ourselves in the back of the automobile when we +solved the Shore Road mystery? We could hide here too. I’ve heard of +airplane stowaways before.” + +“It’s a nervy idea,” said Frank. “I wonder where we could hide?” He +moved down toward the rear of the plane. Suddenly he halted. “Just what +we want, Joe! Here’s an opening.” He thrust the sliding door aside and +looked into the dark interior. The tail of the plane was hollow and he +could see a substantial hiding place. Considerable space was available +for freight or baggage and, inasmuch as Ducroy and his friends were +travelling light, there was plenty of room for the two boys. + +“How about it?” asked Joe. + +“I’m game. But how about food? We’ll be in there for quite a while, you +know.” + +“We’ll get sandwiches and water. Some blankets too, for that matter. +We’ll simply stow away in there and make ourselves comfortable. Then, if +anything happens, we’ll be right on hand.” + +“We’ll be right on hand too if the plane crashes,” Frank reminded his +brother. “Perhaps we’ll weight it down too much.” + +“I don’t think so. This plane is designed to carry baggage, and if that +space is empty, we’ll never be noticed. I think we can get away with it, +provided we have any luck at all. It’s easily our best chance of keeping +in touch with Ducroy and his gang. If they’re going to be flying around +the country trying to dodge the authorities, we shan’t have much chance +of keeping our eyes on them in our car.” + +“That’s right, too.” Frank made up his mind. “I’m with you, Joe. And +now’s our chance. Let’s get water and sandwiches and get into the plane +while we have time.” + +It seemed a mad scheme, but the brothers knew the importance of keeping +close to Ducroy and his friends. Some crime had been planned for the +night of the twenty-eighth, and the Hardy boys knew they must not lose +track of their quarry for a moment. It would have been obviously +impossible to follow the meanderings of the airplane from the ground. + +They hastened over to the little lunch counter and laid in a stock of +provisions. Several bottles of milk, a huge bottle of water, some cake +and a stock of sandwiches constituted their supplies. At the lunch +counter they spied two heavy automobile robes, and as it was too late to +return to their own roadster, they bought the robes and entrusted the +lunch counter man with the duty of driving their own car to a garage for +safe-keeping. This he promised to do. Doubtless he wondered the reason +for the boys’ purchases, but he was a man who believed in minding his +own business and he exhibited no surprise or curiosity. + +Frank and Joe hurried back into the hangar. They tossed the robes into +their hiding place in the plane, arranged them comfortably, then stowed +away the food and water. + +“All set?” asked Frank finally. + +“All set.” + +Joe began to scramble into the plane. + +“Just in time, too,” said the brother. + +“Why?” asked Joe, in a muffled voice, as he crouched back on one of the +automobile robes. + +“Giles Ducroy and his friends are coming back across the flying field.” + +Frank got into the plane. Quickly he closed the door. The two boys +waited apprehensively. Had their presence been detected? Would the +lunch-counter man mention having seen them? Would Ducroy glance into the +baggage compartment before leaving? + +But nothing happened. They heard the three men come into the hangar. +They heard them moving about, evidently preparing for departure. +Finally, they heard Ducroy’s voice: + +“Get in. We’re away again.” + +The plane was trundled out on the field. A moment later the motor +roared, the machine bumped its way across the field, then the bumping +motion ceased and the Hardy boys knew that they were in the air. + + + + + CHAPTER XVIII + The Warning Message + + +Although their flight as stowaways in the airplane was one of the most +dangerous and perilous adventures that had ever befallen the Hardy boys, +it was at the same time the most monotonous. + +Back there in the darkness they could see nothing and they could hear +very little except the roar of the engine. They were not uncomfortable +and they did not suffer from lack of air, but it was not a pleasant +sensation to reflect that they were high above the earth, wholly at the +mercy of the rascals up in the front of the plane. + +The plane dipped and rose, banked and turned. There were racks, +presumably for the accommodation of baggage, to which the lads clung, so +that at no time were they thrown off balance. + +“If we get to tossing around in here, they’ll notice something wrong,” +said Frank. + +Their weight was evenly distributed and presumably Giles Ducroy did not +see that his plane was somewhat tail-heavy. If he did, it is probable +that he blamed the airplane itself, for it was strange to him. + +After about an hour in the air, the boys were obliged to seize the +racks, for the nose of the machine tilted downward and they were almost +flung ahead as the plane descended. Finally there was a slight shock, +and the plane bumped its way over a field. They could hear men’s voices, +then the engine was shut off. They judged that Ducroy and the others +were clambering out. + +“Now,” they heard Ducroy saying, “I guess it’s safe enough for me to go +and telephone.” + +“Who are you going to telephone to?” asked Newt Pipps. + +“I’m going to call up Jed. He’s at the Bayport airport. I’ll tell him to +be ready for the night of the twenty-eighth so he can call us up when +the time comes.” + +“I don’t like the idea of having so many outsiders in on this,” Newt +grumbled. “It means we’ll have to split the loot too many different +ways.” + +“Outsider!” snapped Ducroy. “Jed isn’t an outsider. How could we get +along without him? We’re going to make a killing before long, and a lot +of the credit will be due to him.” + +“You’re right,” agreed Ollie Jacobs. “Shut up, Newt. We can’t get along +without Jed. If you were half as much help as him we’d get along fine. +You’re always kicking about something.” + +This reprimand silenced Newt Pipps for the time being. The Hardy boys, +listening, heard the three men move away. + +When the footsteps and voices could no longer be heard, Joe heard +Frank’s voice from the darkness: + +“I wish I knew how long they’re going to be away. I’d like to get out of +here and stretch my legs.” + +“So would I. It’s mighty cramped in here. But if they’ve just gone to +telephone I don’t think we should take the chance.” + +Frank opened the door in the side of the plane and looked out. + +“I can see them now. They’re walking across the field toward one of the +hangars.” + +“Where are we?” asked Joe. + +Frank shook his head. “I don’t know. There seems to be a fair-sized town +close by, but I’ve never seen the place before. I can see factory +chimneys and church steeples.” + +“Let’s have something to eat.” + +Joe opened their package of sandwiches, a bottle of milk, and the bottle +of water. Each ate of the frugal meal with enthusiasm, for they were +hungry by now. When they had eaten they felt better, and in spite of the +discomfort of their quarters they began to enjoy the novelty of the +adventure. + +“If only Chet and the other fellows could see us now!” said Joe. + +“They’d be green with envy.” + +“I’m not sure our position’s enviable.” + +“We’re not out of the woods yet, by any means,” agreed Frank. “Ducroy +and the others are apt to find us at any time. We’ll have to sit mighty +tight.” + +“If only we knew what they’re up to! It must have something to do with +the Bayport air field. They’ve evidently got a confederate there, +keeping in touch with him by telephone.” + +“I think,” said Frank, “I’ll get out and stretch my legs a bit.” He +opened the door a little wider and was just about to scramble out when +he gave an exclamation and hastily drew back again, closing the door. + +“What’s the matter?” whispered Joe. + +“They’re coming back!” + +Both boys were silent. They could hear voices, gradually growing louder. +Frank wondered if he had been seen. Ducroy, Newt Pipps and Ollie Jacobs +had not been more than a hundred yards away when he opened the door. + +“There’s no room in the hangars,” Ducroy was saying, “but we’ll stay +here overnight just the same. There’s a hotel not far from the field. +Then, in the morning, we’ll get under way again.” + +“What time?” asked Jacobs. + +“About eight o’clock. We’ll have breakfast and then start again.” + +“I don’t see why we can’t stay right here until we’re ready for the big +job,” grumbled Newt Pipps. “What good does it do flying around from +place to place?” + +“If the police pick us up you’ll wish we had kept going,” declared +Ducroy. “We can’t afford to be nabbed now. We’ve simply got to keep +clear of the cops until the night of the twenty-eighth. After that we’ll +scatter, and each take his own chance. The police will be looking for us +hot enough then.” + +“They sure will,” agreed Ollie. “Well, let’s go on over to the hotel. +The plane is all right here, ain’t it?” + +“Sure. It’s safe enough overnight. We’ll come back after breakfast and +get under way again.” + +The men moved off. After a while, when Frank Hardy peeped out again, he +saw them going through a gate on the far side of the flying field, +evidently heading toward the town. He breathed a sigh of relief. + +“That’s a bit of luck,” he said to Joe. “We don’t have to stay cooped up +in here all night. As long as we get back here well before they show up +in the morning everything will be fine.” + +“Where can we stay? We can’t go to the hotel. I don’t think it’s even +wise to go into the town at all. If they ever catch sight of us it will +spoil everything.” + +Frank scrambled out of the plane. He walked about, enjoying the feel of +solid ground beneath his feet again. Joe followed, and immediately +turned a handspring to express his delight. + +“Makes you feel good, doesn’t it?” said his brother, grinning. + +“I’ll tell the world it does, Frank! Gee, I feel as cramped as a sardine +in a tin.” + +“So do I.” Frank stretched himself. “Say, we were mighty lucky they +didn’t discover us.” + +“Right you are. If they had—well, there is no telling what they would +have done.” + +“They might have killed us, Joe.” + +“Oh, maybe not as bad as that. But they might have tied us up in the +woods and left us there.” + +“They are a bad crowd.” + +“I agree with you.” + +The brothers took a look at their surroundings from every side. + +“We’d better move away from the plane,” advised Frank. “Some of the +mechanics at the hangars may see us and tell Ducroy. I think our best +bet is to go to that farmhouse on the other side of the field.” + +“Perhaps we can use the telephone there, if they have one.” + +In the fading light, the boys crossed the field, climbed over the fence +and made their way toward the farmhouse. As they entered the barnyard, a +collie dog ran toward them, barking. He was a friendly animal, however, +and as he approached he wagged his tail and fawned on them. A stout, +cheery-looking man was standing in the doorway of the house. + +“Hello, boys,” he shouted. “What can I do for you?” + +“Have you a telephone?” asked Frank. + +The farmer nodded. “You’re welcome to use it,” he said, then added: “As +long as you pay the charges.” + +“We’ll do that all right.” + +The farmer led them into the house and indicated the telephone in the +hall. + +“Talk away,” he said. “I saw you coming over from the flying field,” he +remarked shrewdly. “Why didn’t you use the telephone there?” + +“Private reasons,” replied Joe. + +The farmer did not move away while Frank put in a call for Chief Collig +at Bayport. At mention of the chief’s name he seemed interested, and +when Frank finally got the chief on the wire, he listened with all his +ears. + +“Chief Collig?” asked Frank. “This is Frank Hardy speaking.—No, we +haven’t jumped bail.—What’s that?—We’ll be back in good time.—The +reason I’m calling you is to warn you to keep a good watch on the +airport on the night of the twenty-eighth.—I can’t tell you why.—There +is going to be some trouble.—I don’t know anything more about it than +that.—It will be worth your while to make use of this warning.—Where +am I speaking from? I can’t tell you. And listen, Chief, will you call +up my mother by telephone and let her know that I called you and that +Joe and I are all right?—Thanks. Good-bye.” + +When Frank rang off, he saw that the farmer was regarding him curiously. + +“Looks as if you boys are smarter than you seem,” he remarked. “What are +you? Detectives?” + +“I suppose you might call us that,” admitted Frank. “But we’d be obliged +if you would say nothing to anyone at the airport about us.” + +“You can trust me,” returned the man. “I can keep my mouth shut. Where +are you staying to-night?” + +“We don’t know yet,” said Joe. + +“If you’d like to stay here, we have a spare room, and you’re welcome to +it,” the farmer volunteered. + +“That’s mighty good of you. We were just wondering where we would find a +place to sleep. We have to be up and out by seven o’clock, though.” + +“I get up at five, myself,” laughed the farmer. “Come on into the +kitchen and I’ll have my wife fix up something to eat. You’re more than +welcome to stay with us overnight. I’m dyin’ to know what you lads are +up to, but I guess I’d better not ask too many questions.” + +“You’ll read all about it in the papers,” laughed Frank, “if everything +works out the way we want it to.” + + + + + CHAPTER XIX + The Twenty-Eighth + + +The next day was the twenty-seventh and the Hardy boys knew that they +had another day to put in before Ducroy and his friends would be ready +for the mysterious _coup_ for which they had laid so many plans. + +Frank and Joe were up early, and after a substantial breakfast at the +farmhouse they said good-bye to the good-natured farmer and his wife, +then hastened across the fields toward the airport again. There were a +few signs of life about the hangars; some mechanics were busy at a plane +out in the field; a new machine was preparing for a take-off. But the +Ducroy plane was deserted and the lads saw that they were in good time +to conceal themselves again. + +With a fresh supply of water and sandwiches which they had obtained at +the farmhouse, they went casually over to the plane, looked around to +see that they were not observed, and then, when the coast seemed clear, +they slipped quietly into their hiding place. + +“Another day ahead of us!” said Frank. “I wish this was the morning of +the twenty-eighth instead of only the twenty-seventh.” + +“We’ll get through somehow. I hope they don’t keep flying around all +day. It gets mighty monotonous being cooped up like this in here.” + +Frank made himself more comfortable on his automobile robe. + +“We could be worse off. We have lots to eat and drink, and we don’t have +to worry about steering the plane.” + +“I like to see where I’m going,” said Joe dubiously. + +“As long as Ducroy stays sober he isn’t a bad pilot,” returned Frank. “I +guess the other pair will see that he’s fit to take the controls before +they’ll fly with him. Their necks are just as precious to them as ours +are to us.” + +“Guess we’d better keep quiet now. They may be along any minute.” + +The lads lapsed into silence. In about half an hour they could hear +voices and then came footsteps. + +“Just a short jump to-day,” they heard Ducroy saying. “Just a short +jump, and then we’ll lay low until to-morrow night.” + +“Where are we going?” asked Newt Pipps quickly. + +“You’ll know when we get there.” + +“I wish we could have stayed here,” insisted Newt. “I could have stood +another two hours’ sleep easily.” + +“If we stick around here we’ll be liable to find ourselves sleeping in +jail,” said Ollie Jacobs. “I got the scare of my life when that cop came +up and spoke to us.” + +“I thought we were sunk,” admitted Ducroy. “He had been eying us for +quite a while and I was getting nervous. I was sure he had spotted us.” + +“You stood him off all right. That was pretty good, telling him we were +stunt pilots on our way to Hollywood. He swallowed it, hook, line, and +sinker.” + +“Just the same,” observed Ducroy, “you see how easy it is to run into +trouble. If that cop had been a little wiser we might have been in the +jug right now. And if he starts talking to some other cop and describes +us, we may find ourselves in trouble yet. So the sooner we get out of +here the better.” + +This sentiment seemed to find favor with the others, for there was +considerable bustling around as they prepared to take off again. In due +time the propeller began to whirl, the engine burst into a roar, the +plane quivered. The boys heard a shout from Ducroy, and then the +airplane moved slowly off across the field. + +It bumped and rocked along, its progress becoming smoother as it +gathered speed; then it left the ground, the body of the plane tilted a +little as it began to climb. After a while it banked, circled about, +then straightened in swift flight. + +It was hot and stuffy back in the compartment where the Hardy boys had +hidden themselves, but they comforted themselves by remembering that +Ducroy had said this was to be only a short jump. After that, the +rascals evidently planned to lie in hiding until the night of the +twenty-eighth. + +The plane drummed along at a good speed for some time. Then the nose +dipped so suddenly that the lads were flung forward. Their weight being +thrown ahead, the tail was suddenly lighter and the plane went into a +sudden dive. They heard a yell of alarm from one of the men in the +forward part of the machine, but the plane straightened out as swiftly +as it had lost balance. Frank and Joe had been frightened for the moment +but they soon regained their accustomed positions again and clung +tightly to the racks while the plane descended in sweeping circles. + +It went into a long glide finally, then the wheels bumped against the +ground. It rose into the air, bumped again, then taxied across a field +until it gradually came to a stop. The motor was suddenly shut off. + +“What happened?” they heard Newt Pipps shout in alarm. + +“Lost control there for a minute,” Ducroy answered. “She went into a +dive a lot faster than I had figured on.” + +“I thought we were going to crash,” declared Newt shakily. + +“Not with me at the controls,” boasted Ducroy. “I don’t know what went +wrong, but it didn’t take me long to straighten her out.” + +“It was just as if we had some baggage in the back and it shifted +forward,” said Ollie Jacobs. + +The Hardy boys were breathless with apprehension. Perhaps Ducroy would +be tempted to investigate! + +“Well, there’s no baggage,” insisted Ducroy. “It’s just the plane. I’m +not quite used to it yet.” + +“I’ll be glad when this business is over,” said Newt. “I don’t like this +flying business, anyway. Solid earth is good enough for me any day. When +this job is over and I get my share of the money it’ll be a long time +before anyone tempts me into an airplane again.” + +“Where are we now?” asked Ollie. “This isn’t a flying field.” + +“It’s better,” returned Ducroy. “This is an abandoned farm. We’re quite +safe here. If anyone comes to investigate, we’ll just say we ran out of +gas and have to wait here for a while until we get a fresh supply.” + +“We’ll stay here until to-morrow night, then?” asked Newt. + +“There’s a little village about a mile away. We can go there and stay +overnight and loaf around to-morrow. It’s a lot better than hanging +around a flying field where people are apt to ask questions.” + +“This suits me all right,” said Ollie Jacobs. “I didn’t like the idea of +hopping around from place to place the way we were doing. The plane is +safe enough here, I guess.” + +“A few farmers may drop around to have a look at it, but I don’t think +there’s any danger of anyone stealing it,” said Ducroy. “We might as +well go on into the village.” + +“I’m hungry,” declared Newt. “This flying gives me an appetite. Let’s go +and get something to eat.” + +The Hardy boys listened as the voices diminished in the distance. When +they could no longer hear the trio, Frank opened the side door and +peeped out. He could see Ducroy and the others climbing over a fence at +the other side of a wide field. The men went out to the road and then +trudged on toward a little village lying in a hollow about a mile away. + +The boys breathed sighs of relief as they scrambled out. + +“This is luck!” said Frank. “No more flying until to-morrow night.” + +“I hope we don’t have to stay inside the plane until then. Those fellows +are apt to come back at any minute.” + +“I don’t think so. You heard what they said. They intend to stay here +until to-morrow night. As long as we show up here in good time to hide +ourselves before they leave, we’re all right.” Frank strode up and down +the field, taking the kinks out of his legs. “Let’s take our sandwiches +and go over to that abandoned farmhouse. We can stay there quite +comfortably until it’s time to leave.” + +Joe agreed. “We’ll have to keep an eye on the road. We can’t afford to +let them see us getting into the plane and we can’t afford to let them +start without us.” + +“We’ve stayed with them so far and we’ve got to stay with them to the +finish,” declared Frank. “I only wish we knew where this business is +going to end.” + +They took their package of food from the plane and went across the field +toward the farmhouse. It had been abandoned for some years and was in a +bad state of repair, but it sufficed for their purpose. The boys spent +the greater part of the day exploring the place, and toward +mid-afternoon Frank suggested that they might as well sleep there that +night. They went back to the plane, which had been undisturbed, and +removed the automobile robes, bringing them back to the house. + +“We’ll have to sleep on the floor to-night,” laughed Frank. + +“I don’t care where we sleep, as long as we get these rascals where we +want them.” + +They found a spring down in the orchard, and the cold spring water +served to make more palatable the sandwiches the farmer’s wife had made +for them that morning. Toward evening they went into one of the upper +rooms of the house and looked out over the field toward the plane. There +they saw three figures walking across the field. + +“I hope they’re not going to start off again,” said Joe, in alarm. + +“They’ve probably just come back to see if the plane is all right.” + +The three men were Giles Ducroy and his companions, and their errand was +evidently as Frank had suggested. Ducroy went over the plane very +carefully. Then he went toward the back and suddenly pulled open the +door in the side. The boys saw him peer into the interior of the plane. + +“Boy, isn’t it lucky we didn’t stay there!” exclaimed Joe. + +“I hope he doesn’t find that water bottle. We left it there. Remember?” + +But Ducroy’s inspection was brief. He drew back, closed the door again +and turned to the others with an expressive gesture. Frank and Joe +realized that he had merely made the inspection to satisfy the others +that there was no baggage in the plane. Evidently the water bottle had +gone unnoticed. + +The trio stayed only a few minutes, then went back across the field +again toward the village. + +“That’s that!” said Frank. “We’re all right now until to-morrow night. +We’ll go over some time in the afternoon, hide ourselves and then wait +for things to happen.” + +The boys stayed in the empty farmhouse that night, and they slept +soundly in the automobile robes, despite the hardness of the floor. The +gray light of dawn was just shining through the window when Frank heard +a sound that awakened him with a start. + +It was the throbbing roar of an airplane engine! + +He got up and scrambled over to the window. When he looked out he was +just in time to see a figure clambering into the cockpit of the plane +out in the field. Then the machine began to move across the pasture; its +speed increased; it rose from the ground, skimmed above the fence, rose +higher and higher into the air and then headed far off beyond the +village. + +Joe, in the meantime, had been aroused by the noise of the engine, and +he too witnessed the airplane’s flight. + +Disheartened and discouraged, the boys looked glumly at one another. + +“I guess that means we’re licked,” said Joe, at last. + + + + + CHAPTER XX + That Night + + +After all their precautions, the sailing away of the airplane without +them was a bitter pill to swallow. The Hardy boys had been so confident +that the men would remain in this place until the night of the +twenty-eighth that this early morning flight took them completely by +surprise. + +“We’ve lost them now,” said Frank. “We don’t know where they’re going or +where this hold-up, or whatever it is, is going to take place. And we +don’t even know where we are ourselves.” + +“It’s tough luck. After all the trouble we went to!” + +“I guess the only thing we can do now is go back to Bayport and do our +best to warn the post office authorities. I have a pretty good hunch +that the gang are planning another air mail robbery. Why else would they +use a plane?” + +“Not much use staying here,” agreed Joe. “They certainly stole a march +on us that time.” + +They got dressed and left the empty house. Neither said very much, for +they were discouraged beyond measure. All their discomfort of the past +two days seemed to have gone for nothing. They realized that the defeat +was not their fault, because they could not anticipate that Ducroy and +his cronies would leave that morning when they had definitely planned to +remain in the vicinity all day; but there remained the unescapable fact +that the quarry had eluded them. + +“Perhaps the police in the village recognized them and they had to clear +out,” suggested Joe. + +“I guess that’s the reason. I can’t think of any other.” + +They trudged down the lane that led out toward the village road. Their +immediate plan was to reach the village, find out where they were, and +then return to Bayport as soon as possible. + +“There’s just a slim chance we may be able to catch them yet if we tell +the post office authorities all we know,” Frank pointed out. “But we +haven’t much time to work in.” + +The sky was overcast and cloudy that morning, in harmony with the mood +of the Hardy boys. They found it difficult to be cheerful after the +reverse they had just suffered. + +“I’ll bet there isn’t even a railway here,” grumbled Joe. + +“And our roadster is miles away.” + +“What a fine fix we’re in!” + +“Perhaps they’ll come back,” remarked Frank, trying to be optimistic. + +“They’re gone for good.” + +The Hardy boys crossed a rustic bridge over a stream and went up the +dusty road into the village. It was only a small farming town and there +were few people in sight. Several cars were parked in front of the small +hotel. + +“We might as well go in here and have breakfast,” suggested Joe. “Our +sandwiches are all gone.” + +They went into the hotel and entered the dining room. In spite of the +disappointment they had suffered, their appetites still held good and +they managed to make away with a goodly supply of ham and eggs, +flapjacks and syrup, toast and coffee. The meal over, they felt better. +After paying the check at the desk, they sat down to consider future +plans. + +The clerk told them that the village was about one hundred miles from +Bayport, and that the nearest railway was four miles distant. If they +hired a man from the garage to drive them to the station they could +catch a train that would bring them to Bayport late that afternoon. + +“I guess it’s the best we can do,” said Frank. “Mighty flat ending to +our adventure.” + +“Perhaps it isn’t over yet.” Joe was looking out into the street. +Suddenly he clutched his brother’s arm. “Look, Frank! Do you see what I +see?” + +Frank looked out. He gasped with astonishment. + +Across the street, lolling in the doorway of a grocery store, was a +familiar figure. There was no mistaking the battered hat, the shabby +clothes, the mournful and unshaven features. + +“Newt Pipps!” + +“He’s still here.” + +At that moment the Hardy boys were perhaps the most delighted and amazed +lads in the United States. + +“They left him here,” said Frank. “Why, this means the others will be +coming back!” + +“Unless they’ve ditched Newt altogether.” + +“They wouldn’t do that,” said Frank, meeting Joe’s objection. “He knows +too much. He knows all about this crime they have been planning. Ducroy +and Ollie Jacobs would be afraid to get rid of him now.” + +“That’s right, Frank. We gave up hope too quickly. The other pair will +probably be coming back to the farm to-day.” + +“We’d better get back there just as quickly as we know how. We don’t +want to be caught napping now.” + +Newt Pipps was still standing in front of the grocery store. Apparently +he had no intention of moving on. The Hardy boys knew they were risking +discovery if they went out the front entrance, so they scouted around +until they found a back door to the hotel and departed unobtrusively. +They cut across the yard, went down a lane, and soon found themselves on +the road leading back to the farm. + +They were about half way back to the farm when they heard a distant +droning noise. Frank looked up. + +“Here comes the plane!” + +A speeding shadow in the sky quickly resolved itself into the shape of +an airplane, which gradually approached and began to descend in wide +spirals. The boys left the road and took to the shadow of the trees, for +although they knew there was little chance of being recognized from the +air, they were taking no risks. The plane came lower and lower, then +skimmed across the fences, coming to rest in the field near the old +farmhouse. + +“If this isn’t luck!” exclaimed Frank. + +“They probably went away to get gas and oil. Now, if they’ll only give +us a chance to get back in our hiding place again everything will be all +right.” + +They went on cautiously, toward the field. They had just come to the +entrance of the lane leading down toward the farm when they heard +voices. Frank and Joe scrambled into the hedge and hid themselves. + +They were not a moment too soon. + +Giles Ducroy and Ollie Jacobs clambered over the fence, only a few yards +away. + +“Everything is all set now,” Ducroy was saying. “We’re all fueled up, +the plane is in first-class shape, and we’re all ready for the big job.” + +“We’ll go back and pick up Newt now,” said Ollie Jacobs. + +“He gives me a pain,” grumbled Ducroy. “If it wasn’t that he has been +with us from the start I’d be tempted to drop him right now. Imagine +being too frightened to go on that flight with us this morning.” + +“Newt is yellow.” + +“He certainly is. Well, as long as he comes with us to-night and does +his part, I don’t care how yellow he is about flying.” + +“Shall we come back here right away?” + +“No. Some of these villagers might get suspicious. We’ll hang around +town until it gets dark. Then we’ll set out. I know the exact time and +place we can count on meeting this fellow and the whole thing ought to +be over in twenty minutes.” + +“Good,” said Jacobs. + +The two men went on down the lane. They had not seen the Hardy boys +hiding in the hedge. When they reached the road they turned in the +direction of the village and in a few moments were lost to view. + +Frank and Joe crawled out of the hedge. + +“On the trail again,” said Frank. + +“We shan’t have to stay hidden in the plane, after all. This is luck.” + +They hastened down the lane to the farmhouse. Unwittingly, the rascals +had played into their hands. They now knew that Ducroy would not start +on the mysterious mission until after darkness had fallen, and they +resolved to be in readiness. + +“Just when we had given up hope,” said Frank, “everything gets clear +again!” + +“Clear enough so far,” agreed Joe. “We won’t take any chances on +slipping up again. We’ll be hiding in that plane at sundown.” + +The boys went back to the house and there they remained for the rest of +the day. They found that from one of the upper windows of the building +they could have an uninterrupted view of the road leading to the +village, and they made frequent visits to this window in order to make +sure that Ducroy and his companions would not steal a march on them. +However, the afternoon dragged past with no sign of the trio, and it was +evident that they were following their original program of loafing about +the village. + +The airplane, which had evidently escaped notice, rested alone in the +field. + +Toward the latter part of the afternoon the clouds which had been +gathering all day gathered overhead and there was a light shower of +rain. It passed over, but the weather became cool and blustery. + +“A bad night for flying,” remarked Frank. + +“If Ducroy can chance it, so can we.” + +“That’s right. I hope they don’t call it off.” + +“Not after waiting this long,” said Joe. “Ducroy has set his heart on +this affair. It’ll take a mighty stormy night to make him quit at the +last moment.” + +The afternoon seemed endless, but at last Frank turned to his brother. + +“We may have quite a while to wait, but I think we ought to go over to +the plane now.” + +“I don’t mind waiting. I’d rather wait an hour or so than be left +behind, as we thought we were this morning.” + +“Let’s go, then.” + +The boys left the house and went over to the field. The airplane was +apparently just as Ducroy and Jacobs had left it. There was no sign of +anyone on the village road. + +The Hardy boys climbed into their hiding place and made themselves as +comfortable as possible. For the time being, they left the door open for +the sake of fresh air. Minutes went by. The sky grew darker and the wind +rose. Once in a while a gust of rain spattered against the wings of the +machine. + +At last Joe crouched forward. + +“Here they come! I see a light down the road.” + +He reached out and closed the door. + +Breathlessly, the Hardy boys awaited the next move in their perilous +adventure. + + + + + CHAPTER XXI + West of Bacon Hill + + +The Hardy boys soon heard footsteps as the three men approached the +plane. + +“I wish the weather was better,” Newt Pipps complained. “I’m afraid +something will happen.” + +“I wish you’d keep quiet,” snapped Ducroy. “If you’re so scared why did +you come in with us at all?” + +“I need the money.” + +“And you don’t want to earn it. I’m doing all the work. All you and +Ollie have to do is throw the ropes over the side when I give the word +then get your guns ready for the hold-up.” + +“We may lose him in the dark,” whined Pipps. + +“I know every foot of his route,” returned Ducroy. “He’ll come right +over the two church steeples in Jasonville, then strike west of the +light on Bacon Hill.” + +These places were new to the Hardy boys. They had never heard of either +Jasonville or Bacon Hill. They listened while the trio made the final +preparations for flight. It did not take long. In a few minutes they +heard the propeller whirring. The engine roared, there were a few shouts +as the men took their places, and then the plane bumped off over the +uneven ground. + +It gathered speed, then the bumping ceased as the plane rose. It cleared +the fence at the end of the field, circled somewhat slowly, and rose +higher. + +For a time the plane flew a direct course, then it banked and circled. +There was no doubt in the minds of the Hardy boys now that Ducroy and +his companions meant to hold-up another airplane, but how this hold-up +was to be managed they had not the least idea. It was very confining +inside the body of the plane, for the night was hot and sultry despite +the rain. The roar of the engine drowned out all other sounds. + +Suddenly the plane dipped. Joe, who had relinquished his grip on the +rack, was thrown forward. The machine lost balance and nosed down +accordingly. Ducroy quickly straightened it out and Joe tried to edge +back toward his brother in the darkness. + +He found, however, that his wrist was tightly held. + +Panic-stricken, he groped forward. His shirt sleeve had been caught in +the steering gear running from the controls back to the rudder at the +tail of the plane. + +While he tried to extricate himself the plane began to buck and sway in +the wind. + +Frank, realizing that something was wrong, switched on a small +flashlight he had with him, and moved slowly forward. The beam of light +fell on Joe’s shirt sleeve. When the boys saw what was wrong they made +desperate attempts to release the sleeve, but it was now firmly +entangled in the gear. + +Suddenly the roar of the motor died. Ducroy had shut off his engine. The +plane was nosing down toward the earth in a thrilling dive. Wind sang in +the struts. + +“What’s the matter?” shouted Newt Pipps, in terror. + +“Steering gear jammed!” answered Ducroy sourly. + +“We’ll be killed!” + +“Hold steady, you fool!” growled Ollie Jacobs. “What’s the matter, +Giles, can’t you get her out of it?” + +Ducroy was working frantically at the controls. + +“Something wrong somewhere. This old bird’s tail is as heavy as lead. I +can’t move the rudder.” + +The gear was moving in response to his efforts at the controls. Frank +seized Joe’s sleeve and gave a quick wrench. The movement of the gear +had loosened the sleeve somewhat and it abruptly came loose. + +At the same moment there was a shout of satisfaction from Giles Ducroy. + +“She’s working again. Say, next time I land I’m going to see if we +haven’t some ballast aboard. There’s something radically wrong back +there.” + +“We won’t need the plane after this haul,” declared Jacobs. “If we get +through this trip all right we’ll be set for life.” + +The Hardy boys scrambled back to their places. The nose of the plane +suddenly raised. The engine began to roar again. Ducroy then brought the +machine out of its breath-taking dive. It flattened out and raced on +again. + +Frank and Joe were panting with excitement. Each realized how near they +had been to death. With the rudder useless, the plane would have crashed +nose down into the earth and they would have perished instantly. + +From then on, the boys clung to the rack with every movement of the +plane. That one hazardous experience had been sufficient warning. + +Suddenly, above the noise of the engine, the Hardy boys heard a shout +from one of the men. Then they became aware of a new sound. A steady, +distant drumming was apparent. + +“The other plane!” they reflected. + +The machine banked, swept about in a great circle. The big moment was at +hand. The drumming of the other plane became clearer. + +“Stand by!” they heard Ducroy yell. + +The plane bucked as it was caught in a gust of wind, then it shot +forward and began to climb. The drumming of the other plane was now +quite audible, mingling with the roaring of their own machine. It seemed +to be below them and in front of them. + +Ducroy was evidently jockeying for a strategic position, for the plane +rocked and swayed, banked and turned, dipped and rose again. + +“Ready!” + +There was an answering shout from Ollie Jacobs. + +“Over she goes!” + +The boys heard a rattling sound from the forward part of the plane. What +it was they could not imagine. + +An instant later, the drumming of the plane below ceased abruptly. + +Their own plane swung around. Ducroy cut off his engine and went into a +dive. + +“We’ve got him!” they heard Ollie Jacobs shouting. “There he goes. Look! +He’s diving.” + +“Don’t lose sight of him!” shouted Ducroy. + +“He’s heading for a field. Nose her down. We’re right behind him, +Giles!” + +The plane dived swiftly. + +From below, the boys heard a distant crash. + +“He’s on the ground. Watch out, Ducroy. Come up behind him.” + +The plane banked, flinging the two boys violently to one side. It +lurched, dived again unsteadily. + +“Get ready!” ordered Ducroy. “Don’t let him get away. Can you see him, +Ollie?” + +“I can’t see him, but I can see the plane. It’s right ahead. Get your +gun, Newt.” + +“I’m ready,” quavered Newt Pipps. + +Gradually, the plane settled down. There was a bump as the wheels +touched the earth. The plane rebounded high into the air, for Ducroy had +slightly miscalculated in the darkness. The engine roared again. The +wheels once more touched the ground, and the plane rocked on over the +uneven surface. Finally it came to a stop. The Hardy boys heard a +scrambling from the front of the machine. + +“All out!” Ducroy was shouting. “Now, boys, make quick work of this. +Grab the bags and get back here as quickly as you can. Don’t waste any +time. Get into the plane again and wait for me. I’ll get back and start +her again. We’ll be in the air before he knows what it’s all about.” + +The Hardy boys could hear them running across the field. Frank reached +for the catch, flung the door open. He and Joe scrambled out of the +plane. + +The scene was illuminated by a cloudy moon. There was just sufficient +light for them to see a wrecked and crumpled airplane in the field some +distance ahead. A pilot was painfully extricating himself from the +wreckage. Ducroy and the others were running toward him with drawn +revolvers. + +The Hardy boys, too, were armed. Realizing that their antagonists were +desperate men, they had taken the forethought to provide themselves with +revolvers before leaving Bayport. Each lad gripped his weapon. + +“It’s the hold-up!” said Frank quickly. “Let’s break it up.” + +“Just a minute!” declared Joe. “They want to get away in this plane. If +we can’t handle them they’ll make a getaway in spite of us. Let’s fix it +so they can’t.” + +He ran toward the front of the plane, scrambled up into the cockpit. Joe +knew something of machinery, and it took him only a few seconds to break +an important wire connection that rendered the engine useless for the +time being. + +“That’ll fix ’em,” he said jubilantly, as he ran back to Frank, who was +waiting impatiently. “Now we can take a hand in this little game.” + +They ran toward the wrecked plane just as Ducroy and his cronies leveled +drawn revolvers at the pilot. + +“Put up your hands or we’ll shoot!” ordered Ducroy. + + + + + CHAPTER XXII + Captured + + +Caution prevented the Hardy boys from going closer to the fallen plane. + +They had not been seen by Ducroy or the others, and they now realized +that it would be folly to play into their hands at this moment. They +were outnumbered and they saw that they might easily be disarmed if they +took reckless chances. Frank suddenly halted and grasped Joe by the arm. + +“We’re foolish to come out in the open like this. We’re just as liable +to be shot.” + +“That’s what I’ve been thinking,” replied Joe. “What do you think we’d +better do?” + +“They’ll be coming back to the plane. I think we ought to wait here for +them and hold them up when they come back. They’ll be off their guard +then and probably they’ll be loaded down with stuff from the other +plane.” + +Without further parley, the lads turned and ran back. In the gloom they +had not been seen. They crouched in the shadow of the disabled plane and +watched the activities of the others. + +The pilot, after his first shock of surprise, had quickly thrown up his +hands. Ducroy and the others advanced toward him. + +“What’s the idea?” the lads heard the pilot saying. + +“We haven’t time to talk to you,” growled Ducroy, holding a revolver +against the man’s body. “We want those mail bags you have here.” + +“Bandits, are you?” snapped the pilot “You’ll suffer for this. You tried +to kill me!” + +“You’re not dead yet,” said Ollie Jacobs callously. + +“You flung a rope down from your plane and it tangled up in my propeller +shaft. It’s just by luck that I wasn’t killed in the crack-up. Just +wait. You’ll pay for this night’s work.” + +“We’ll get paid,” chuckled Ducroy. “Get in there, Newt, and heave out +those mail bags.” + +The pilot was helpless under the menace of the drawn revolvers. He was +forced to stand by while Newt Pipps scrambled into the plane, found the +mail bags, and began throwing them out to the ground. + +“I’ll take care of this fellow,” said Ducroy. “Ollie, you can start +bringing those bags up to the other plane. Work fast. Some of these +farmers around here may have heard the plane crash and they might be +along any minute to investigate.” + +Ollie Jacobs, pocketing his revolver, sprang forward and seized two of +the heavy mail bags. He flung them over his shoulder and hastened back +toward the plane, where the Hardy boys awaited him. + +Nearer and nearer he came. The boys crouched in readiness. + +Jacobs reached the plane. He did not see the lurking shadows. He was +just reaching forward to open the door of the baggage compartment for +the reception of the stolen mail bags when Frank Hardy stepped out and +swiftly pressed a revolver against his side. + +“Up with your hands, Jacobs! Not a word out of you!” + +Ollie Jacobs gave a strangled exclamation of surprise. Then he dropped +the mail bags. His arms shot into the air. + +“Who—who are you?” he stammered. + +“Keep quiet! One word out of you——” Frank prodded him with the +revolver to emphasize his command. + +Ollie Jacobs was frightened into silence. From where they were standing, +the scene could not be observed by Ducroy. Frank and Joe backed their +captive up against the side of the plane and bade him be quiet. + +A moment later they heard Ducroy shouting. + +“Ollie! What’s keeping you? Hurry back here and get these other bags.” + +Jacobs stirred restlessly, but Frank jammed the revolver against his +ribs. He was helpless, and he knew it. + +“Ollie!” + +Ducroy was becoming angry. + +“What on earth has happened to him? Here, Newt! Keep this man covered +while I go and see what’s the matter.” + +A moment later the Hardy boys heard Ducroy running toward the plane. He +came around the side, muttering to himself. Joe was waiting in +readiness. He leaped out and thrust his revolver against Ducroy’s chest. + +“Hands up, Ducroy!” + +Ducroy gave a shout of dismay, stepped back, but when he saw the +revolver he raised his arms. + +“Get back over here beside Jacobs.” + +Reluctantly, Ducroy did as he was told. Frank went swiftly through the +pockets of each man and disarmed them both. + +“Now,” he said to Joe, “if you’ll keep this pair covered, I’ll go back +and attend to friend Newt.” + +Joe, with a revolver in each hand, eyed his captives warily. But Ducroy +and Jacobs, unarmed, had too much respect for the menacing weapons and +the determined boy who held them, to make any rash break for liberty. + +Frank, his revolver in readiness, went over toward the other plane where +Newt Pipps was holding the pilot at bay. At the sound of his footsteps, +Newt called out: + +“What’s the matter, Ducroy? I thought I heard you shout.” + +“Everything’s all right,” growled Frank. + +Apparently, Newt was deceived, for he did not look around. It is certain +that he got the shock of his life when he felt a revolver muzzle pressed +against his back and heard a stern voice say: + +“Up with your hands, Newt! Drop that gun immediately!” + +With a squeal of amazement, Newt Pipps whirled around, lowering his +weapon as he did so. At the same moment the pilot, who had been watching +his chance, sprang forward, seized the fellow’s wrist and wrenched the +weapon from him. There was a brief struggle, and Newt Pipps was +overpowered. + +“The others are back at the other plane,” Frank told the pilot. “My +brother has them covered.” + +“Good!” said the aviator, dealing Newt a hearty kick. “Now get along +there, you!” + +They propelled the luckless Newt ahead of them across the field until +they reached the other plane, where they found Joe still on guard over +his captives. + +“Try to rob the air mail, would you?” gloated the pilot, as Newt was +lined up beside the others. “You mighty nearly got away with it, too. +But not this time!” + +Ducroy leaned forward, peering at his captors in the gloom. It was then +that he recognized the Hardy boys. + +“I thought so!” he muttered bitterly. “The Hardy boys! Although how on +earth the two of you got here is beyond me.” + +“This means jail!” moaned Newt Pipps. “Oh, why did I ever let myself be +argued into this! I knew we’d never get away with it! I said so from the +start!” + +“Shut up,” snarled Ollie Jacobs. “Shut up and take your medicine like a +man. We’re licked; but we would have been well away if it hadn’t been +for those Hardy boys.” + +“You lads certainly came along in the nick of time,” said the pilot of +the mail plane. “You couldn’t have got here better if you had planned it +from the start. There is about fifty thousand dollars in cash in those +mail bags. That’s what this gang were after. They circled my machine and +dropped a tangle of ropes over the propeller. I had to make a landing, +and nearly lost my life in the bargain.” + +“We did plan it from the start,” Frank told him quietly. “We have been +following these men for three days, trying to find what they were up +to.” + +“Following us!” cried Ducroy. “How could you follow us? We’ve flown +hundreds of miles in the last three days.” + +“And we flew with you. We’ve been quite comfortable back in the tail of +the plane.” + +A startled exclamation burst from Ducroy. + +“So that’s what was wrong! I thought there was something mighty queer +about the way that machine was acting. And I never even looked! The two +of you right on our trail from the start!” + +His ejaculations of surprise and disgust were echoed by Ollie Jacobs and +Newt Pipps. As for the pilot, he was hilarious in his admiration of the +Hardy boys. + +“You were trailing them all the way!” he exclaimed. “Well, that’s the +best I’ve ever heard. And they thinking they’d make a neat clean-up! +Boys, when I report this to the post office department you’ll hear some +fine things said about yourselves for this night’s work.” + +Joe rummaged about in the plane and found a length of rope. He cut this +into convenient pieces, and while Frank covered the three bandits with +his revolver, Joe and the pilot made quick work of binding them hand and +foot. + +The trio had just been safely trussed up when they heard the clatter of +an automobile in a road near by, saw the beam of headlights, and then +they heard a hoarse voice: + +“What’s going on over there?” + +“Who are you?” shouted the pilot. + +“I’m the sheriff of this here county, and I want to know what +monkeyshines are going on over there. I have a shotgun with me, and I’m +ready to use it; hurry up and answer.” + +“You’re as welcome as the flowers in May, sheriff,” yelled the pilot +jubilantly. “Come along with your shotgun. We’ve got some prisoners here +for you.” + + + + + CHAPTER XXIII + Back in Bayport + + +Beyond an occasional robbery of a hen roost the worthy sheriff had +experienced few cases of crime in the county during his time of office, +and when he discovered who the prisoners were and why they had been +captured he was one of the most astounded and bewildered men in the +world. + +“Robbin’ the air mail!” he stammered. “Why, these fellers must be +desperate criminals!” + +“They’re not very desperate now, sheriff,” laughed the pilot. + +“What d’you want me to do with ’em?” asked the man of the law +doubtfully. + +“Lock ’em up.” + +“I don’t know as I’m responsible.” The sheriff was not anxious to be +given charge over three mail robbers. + +“You’re responsible, all right, until the government takes them off your +hands,” returned the pilot abruptly. “You take these men and lock them +up in your village jail, and make mighty sure they don’t get away from +you, either. This crime took place in your county, so you can just get +busy and do your duty.” + +The sheriff looked very unhappy about it, and kept Ducroy and his +companions carefully covered with the shotgun, as though fearing they +might break loose at any moment. Assistance soon arrived, when a number +of farmers and people from the village, attracted by the crash of the +mail plane, came clambering over the adjacent fences. In a remarkably +short space of time a crowd had collected. Everybody talked at once, +everybody asked questions, and general excitement prevailed. + +“What’s the excitement?” + +“Airplane busted, eh?” + +“Anybody killed?” + +“Gosh, Jed, look at the sheriff! What’s he up to, anyhow?” + +“Don’t know nothin’ ’bout it, Asa. But somethin’ is plumb wrong, that’s +certain.” + +“Don’t go too close to the shebang, Billy, she might bust up on you.” + +“First time I ever did see an airplane come down like that.” + +“Me, too. Glad I come along just in time. I wouldn’t go up in one of ’em +for a million dollars.” + +“Nor me.” + +The sheriff, becoming bolder, announced to all and sundry that he had +just captured three mail robbers at great risk of his own life and +called on his fellow villagers to help him take the trio safely to jail. + +Ducroy, Ollie Jacobs, and Newt Pipps were consequently surrounded and +led out of the field, bundled into an automobile where they were guarded +by the sheriff, armed with his shotgun, and two husky villagers armed +with clubs, then hustled off to town. + +The pilot turned to the Hardy boys. A number of people had remained at +the scene and were busy inspecting the wrecked plane and asking +questions. The majority of the villagers, however, had hastened in the +wake of the sheriff and his prisoners. + +“Where are you boys from?” + +“Bayport,” Frank told him. + +The pilot was surprised. + +“Why, that’s where I’m bound for.” + +“I guess you won’t get there to-night,” said Joe pessimistically. + +“I’ve got to get there to-night. I’m carrying the air mail, and it must +get through somehow.” The pilot looked at Ducroy’s plane. “I wonder if +this old crate will make it.” + +“It was running fairly smoothly to-night,” said Frank eagerly. “Do you +think you could take off and reach Bayport to-night?” + +“Why not? Here, take those mail bags and put them in the plane. We’ll +make a try at it, anyway.” + +While Frank stowed away the mail bags, Joe showed the pilot the wire +connections he had broken in order to prevent Ducroy from getting into +the air. + +The pilot laughed. “Pretty smart,” he said approvingly. “Even if you +hadn’t succeeded in holding them up, they wouldn’t have got very far.” + +He quickly repaired the broken connection. + +“Now,” he said, “I don’t see any reason why we shouldn’t be able to take +off from here and reach Bayport in good time to-night. And won’t my +chief’s eyes pop out when I tell him the story of _this_ trip!” + +Frank ran around to the front of the plane and gave the propeller a +flip. The motor began its clamor again and the pilot waved his arm +joyously. + +“Climb in!” he shouted. “We’re away!” + +The Hardy boys lost no time “climbing in,” and while the curious +villagers scattered in all directions, the pilot “gave her the gun” and +the plane began to move slowly off across the field. Although it was a +cloudy night, the pilot had some instinct which told him the right +direction, and he brought the plane off the ground just in time to avoid +a fence that seemed to rise suddenly before them. He cleared the fence, +cleared the telephone wire beyond the road, just skimmed over the tops +of some trees, and then climbed swiftly beyond the danger level. + +The boys enjoyed this ride considerably more than they had enjoyed their +flights in the tail of the plane. The cold air stung their faces. They +found goggles and flying helmets in the seats, and when they donned them +they were more comfortable. + +Lights of the village flashed far beneath them, and as the plane rose +higher in the air they saw lights in the darkness many miles on all +sides. Far to the north they could see a dull haze of lights from a +distant city. Over to one side they could see a speeding beam of light +followed by a little string of twinkling stars, which they identified as +a train, racing across the countryside. + +The plane roared on swiftly and the thrill of that night flight was +sufficient reward to the Hardy boys for all the discomforts they had +undergone. They were riding high above the world, which seemed to have +disappeared altogether save for the twinkling beams and blobs of light +scattered over its black surface. + +They saw the pilot gesture. He was pointing ahead. + +The Hardy boys could see a widening pencil of light which cut through +the blackness of the night. It was the beacon light of the Bayport air +field, still many miles ahead, but visible from their great height. +Beyond that they could see the twinkling flash of a lighthouse at the +mouth of Barmet Bay. + +In due time the lights of Bayport came into view, a yellow glow, and to +the west they could see the airport, clearly illuminated, a huge glowing +rectangle. + +The pilot juggled with the controls. The nose of the plane tilted +downward. The machine dived in a breathless rush. + +Then it banked, and the plane circled the airport, dropping steadily +downward as though descending an invisible spiral. The flying field +seemed to rise up to meet them. The hangars, the other planes, the tiny +figures of men on the field, all became visible. There seemed to be an +unusually large number of people about, and the pilot turned and shouted +something to the boys, but they could not distinguish what he said, +because of the roar of the engine. + +Finally the plane straightened out, then glided swiftly down toward the +field. It struck the ground with a shock, then bounced and bounded on +toward the hangars. + +There was a big crowd at the airport. People were running down the field +toward the plane. By the time the pilot cut off his engine, by the time +the propeller stopped turning and the plane came to a stop, a mob had +surrounded the machine. + +Frank and Joe looked wonderingly at one another. + +“Looks like a reception committee!” said the pilot. “The sheriff must +have telephoned to Bayport about his prisoners.” + +The Hardy boys stood up. They heard shouts: + +“There they are!” + +“That’s them!” + +“Turn around a little—let’s get a picture!” + +The Hardy boys and the pilot had a confused impression of half a dozen +cameras leveled at them. Flashlight powder began to explode until the +whole scene was as bright as day. An enterprising reporter scrambled up +over the side of the plane. + +“Interview!” he clamored. “Give me the story, boys! What happened?” + +The pilot brushed him aside. + +“You boys will have your story in a minute,” he promised. “If you’ll all +come up to the office we’ll tell you the whole yarn.” + +Chief Collig, at the head of a detail of officers, appeared just then +and managed to get the crowd under control, so that the pilot and the +Hardy boys were able to get out of the plane. Several airport officials +ran up. The pilot saluted. + +“Had a forced landing near Jasonville, sir,” he reported to one of these +officials, an elderly man. “The mail is safe.” + +“Good work, Benton,” said the other. “Come up to the office and tell us +what happened. We’ve been mighty curious for the past half hour, since +we heard about this hold-up.” + +The Hardy boys never forgot the short journey to the office building of +the airport. It had all the aspect of a triumphal procession. Scores of +people had invaded the flying field, and the police were kept busy +keeping the crowds back. Seemingly, the news of the hold-up had spread +quickly in Bayport and the flying field suddenly became the Mecca of +everyone who could make his way to the airport. + +In the office, surrounded by reporters, photographers, police officers, +and airport officials, Benton, the pilot, briefly told his story of the +hold-up. + +“As you know,” he said, “the mail to-night was especially valuable. Cash +for a number of payrolls was being sent to one of the Bayport banks from +its head office in New York. Somehow, these men must have got wind of +it, so they flew out to meet me, tossed a tangle of ropes down on my +propeller shaft, then held me up when I crashed. They were just clearing +out with the mail bags when these boys appeared on the scene and turned +the tables. If it hadn’t been for them, the rascals would have made a +clean getaway. Their story is much more interesting than mine.” + +Frank and Joe Hardy were then asked to tell the story of their +adventures. While the newspapermen scribbled hastily and made frequent +dashes to the telephones to inform their city editors of the facts, the +boys quietly told how they had decided to follow Ollie Jacobs, how they +had learned of the purchase of the airplane, and how they had concealed +themselves in the machine and accompanied the rascals in their journeys +about the countryside. When they had finished, a veteran post office +inspector stepped forward and shook hands with them. + +“I hardly need say that your good work will be recognized by the +department,” he said. “Your persistence and courage certainly averted a +serious robbery, and I am going to recommend that you be suitably +rewarded.” + +“The only reward we want,” returned Frank, “is to be cleared of the +charges against us. You know, we’re out on bail on a charge of robbing +the mail several days ago.” + +“Why, didn’t you know that you were cleared of that?” exclaimed the +inspector. “Your father, Fenton Hardy, came to the airport to-night, +shortly before the news of the hold-up was reported, and arrested two +mechanics. It seems they had been in touch with Ducroy and his +companions by telephone, tipping them off to the time this money +shipment was expected. When your father took them away they confessed +that they had helped Ducroy manage the other two thefts here, and that +Ducroy had deliberately planted evidence against you boys.” + +“Charges against them have been withdrawn,” broke in Chief Collig +abruptly. “The Hardy boys have been cleared of all suspicion. So far as +I’m concerned, I never believed them guilty in the first place.” + + + + + CHAPTER XXIV + Vindicated + + +The Hardy boys had cleared up the great airport mystery, which had been +a nine days’ wonder in Bayport. + +Newspapers carried many columns describing the adventures of the boys in +trailing the airmail thieves and the entire city united in praising them +for their good work. But the boys felt that no praise could equal the +delight they felt when they knew they had been cleared of the unjust +charges that had been laid against them. + +“I knew it! I knew it all along!” declared Hurd Applegate, as he sat in +Fenton Hardy’s study the next morning. “It was absolutely ridiculous to +arrest them in the first place. Wasn’t it, Elroy?” + +Elroy Jefferson, who had come to the Hardy home with Mr. Applegate, +nodded affirmatively. + +“Quite ridiculous,” he agreed. “I am indeed glad that the whole affair +has been cleared up so thoroughly. The boys have been vindicated, the +air mail has been saved, and the rascals are in jail. Excellent.” + +“When I arrested those two confederates at the airport last night,” said +Fenton Hardy, “it didn’t take long to get the whole story out of them. +They saw that the game was up. They told me that Ducroy had engineered +the whole business. As for planting the evidence against the boys, he +got Newt Pipps to steal a sweater and a knife from the garage and he +left those near the scene to incriminate Frank.” + +“How about the footprints?” asked Joe. “How did he manage that?” + +“He noticed that you were wearing the new shoes, so he got a similar +pair, of the same size, in another town. After all, you can hardly blame +the police, with all that evidence, particularly when you had no alibi.” + +“The reason we couldn’t explain our alibi,” said Frank, “was because we +had been out to a cabin in Beach Grove that afternoon looking for +evidence against Ducroy and the others. We thought we’d keep quiet about +that until we learned a little more about them.” + +“You took a great many chances,” said Mr. Hardy gravely. “If I had known +you were flying around the country in the tail of an airplane operated +by three mail robbers, I wouldn’t have been very easy in my mind.” + +“Now, Fenton, don’t start worrying about that now,” advised Elroy +Jefferson. “The boys have done excellent work and they’ve come through +it quite safe and sound, which is all that matters.” + +“We want to thank you and Mr. Applegate for going bail for us,” said +Joe. “If you hadn’t put up the money we would have had to stay in jail +and the mail robbers would probably be at large yet.” + +“Don’t thank us,” snapped Hurd Applegate. “We didn’t risk any money. We +knew you were innocent. I think I’m sufficient judge of character to +know a crook when I see one.” + +The boys soon would need to know this to learn “What Happened at +Midnight.” + +“The bail money was returned to us this morning,” said Elroy Jefferson. +“The police were quite apologetic.” + +“The postal department has been apologetic too,” said Fenton Hardy. “As +you remember, when the boys were arrested they relieved me of my +assignment to work on the case, so that when I went out to the airport +last night, following up the information the boys had sent on here by +telephone while I was away, I was really exceeding my authority. +However, the post office people now admit they were mistaken and have +asked me to hold myself in readiness to accept other cases if they +should arise.” + +“Excellent! Excellent!” said Hurd Applegate. “Everything has turned out +wonderfully for all concerned.” + +“Except for Giles Ducroy and his gang,” remarked Frank. + +“Too bad about them!” growled Hurd. “They’re safely locked up in jail, +where they belong. Serves ’em right. Don’t you think so, Elroy?” + +“Absolutely!” agreed Elroy Jefferson. “It is a fitting end to the great +airport mystery.” + + THE END + + + + + TRANSCRIBER NOTES + +Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. Where multiple +spellings occur, majority use has been employed. + +Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious printer errors +occur. + +The publisher’s details on the title page are enclosed by ‾ ‾ markings +and indicate an overline. + +Italics are indicated by _ _ markings. + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77595 *** diff --git a/77595-h/77595-h.htm b/77595-h/77595-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9445a76 --- /dev/null +++ b/77595-h/77595-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7511 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=utf-8"> + <title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Great Airport Mystery by Franklin W. 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margin-bottom:1em; } + div.blockquote100percent p { text-align:justify; } + .pindent {margin-top: 0.3em; margin-bottom: .5em;} + .sc { font-variant:small-caps; font-size:100%; } + .lead-in { font-size: 100%; } + .caption {font-size: smaller; margin-bottom:.3em; max-width:100%; } + p.credit {font-size: .7em; margin-bottom:.2em; max-width:90%; } + hr.pbk { width:50%; } + body { margin-left:8%; margin-right:10%; max-width:650px;} + </style> + </head> + <body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77595 ***</div> + +<div class='figcenter' style='width:70%'> +<img src='images/cover.jpg' alt='' id='iid-0000' style='width:100%;height:auto;'> +</div> + +<hr class='pbk'> + +<div class='figcenter' style='width:60%'> +<img src='images/front.png' alt='' id='iid-0001' style='width:100%;height:auto;'> +<p class='credit'><span class='it'>The Great Airport Mystery</span></p> <p class='caption'>“IT’S ROBBERY, BUT I’LL SELL THE PLANE,” THE HARDY BOYS HEARD OLLIE JACOBS SAY.</p> +</div> + +<hr class='pbk'> + +<div class='lgc' style=''> <!-- rend=';' --> +<p class='line' style='font-size:1.5em;text-decoration:underline;'>HARDY BOYS MYSTERY STORIES</p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line' style='font-size:2.4em;'>THE GREAT AIRPORT</p> +<p class='line' style='font-size:2.4em;'>MYSTERY</p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'><span style='font-size:smaller'>By</span></p> +<p class='line' style='margin-top:.5em;margin-bottom:10em;font-size:1.2em;'>FRANKLIN W. DIXON</p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line'> </p> +<p class='line' style='font-size:.9em;'>NEW YORK</p> +<p class='line' style='margin-top:.3em;margin-bottom:.3em;font-size:1.2em;'>GROSSET & DUNLAP</p> +<p class='line' style='margin-bottom:.8em;font-size:.9em;'>PUBLISHERS</p> +<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'><span class='ol'>Made in the United States of America</span></p> +</div> <!-- end rend --> + +<hr class='pbk'> + +<div class='lgc' style='margin-top:4em;margin-bottom:10em;'> <!-- rend=';fs:.8em;' --> +<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>Copyright, 1930, by</p> +<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>GROSSET & DUNLAP, <span class='sc'>Inc.</span></p> +<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>——</p> +<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'><span class='it'>All Rights Reserved</span></p> +<p class='line' style='font-size:.8em;'>The Hardy Boys: The Great Airport Mystery</p> +</div> <!-- end rend --> + +<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-bottom:5em;font-size:.8em;'>Printed in the United States of America</p> + +<hr class='pbk'> + +<table id='tab1' class='center' style='font-size:1em;'> +<colgroup> +<col span='1' style='width: 3em;'> +<col span='1' style='width: 20em;'> +<col span='1' style='width: 2.5em;'> +</colgroup> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tab1c1-col3 tdStyle0' colspan='3'><span style='font-size:larger'>CONTENTS</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'></td><td class='tab1c2 tdStyle2'></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'> </td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tab1c1-col2 tdStyle4' colspan='2'><span style='font-size:x-small'>CHAPTER</span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><span style='font-size:x-small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>I</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Peril from the Sky</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch1'>1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>II</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Crash</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch2'>8</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>III</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>A Promise of Trouble</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch3'>17</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>IV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>An Attack</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch4'>25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>V</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Anxious Days</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch5'>34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>VI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Cabin in the Woods</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch6'>42</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>VII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>A Mysterious Conversation</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch7'>51</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>VIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Puzzled</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch8'>59</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>IX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Missing Mail</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch9'>67</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>X</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Looking for Clues</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch10'>77</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>News from the City</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch11'>87</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Under Arrest</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch12'>96</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Circumstantial Evidence</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch13'>106</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XIV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Held for Trial</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch14'>115</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>On the Trail of Ollie Jacobs</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch15'>125</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XVI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Mysterious Plans</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch16'>136</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XVII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Dangerous Business</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch17'>144</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XVIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Warning Message</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch18'>153</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XIX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>The Twenty-Eighth</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch19'>162</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XX</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>That Night</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch20'>172</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXI</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>West of Bacon Hill</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch21'>181</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Captured</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch22'>189</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXIII</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Back in Bayport</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch23'>197</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class='tab1c1 tdStyle1'>XXIV</td><td class='tab1c2 leader-dots tdStyle2'><span><span class='sc'>Vindicated</span></span></td><td class='tab1c3 tdStyle3'><a href='#ch24'>207</a></td></tr> +</table> + +<hr class='pbk'> + +<div><h1 id='ch1'>CHAPTER I<br> <span class='sub-head'>Peril from the Sky</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>“It’s</span> certainly great to have an airport so +close to Barmet Bay,” said Frank Hardy.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wish we could go up in an airplane some +time,” returned Joe, his brother.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Wouldn’t you be scared?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Me? Would you?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“No.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Then I wouldn’t be scared either. Look at +the record holders! Where would they be now +if they’d been afraid to go up in an airplane?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s right,” said Frank. “Airplanes are +pretty safe nowadays. Almost as safe as this +car of ours.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The two Hardy brothers were driving on the +Shore Road, leading out of Bayport and skirting +Barmet Bay, in their new roadster. It was +springtime. Snow had disappeared from the +hillsides and the blue waters of the bay sparkled +in the sunlight. Their destination this afternoon +was the new airport, a few miles out +of the city.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m glad winter is over, even if we did have +a lot of fun on Cabin Island,” said Joe. “It +won’t be long now before we’re through +school.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If we pass our exams,” Frank reminded +him, calmly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’ll pass all right. I’m not so sure about +myself. I had to work mighty hard to catch +up to you.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yes, but I lost a term that year I was sick. +Anyway, our marks have been good this year. +We should get through. Isn’t it funny—when +we’re going to high school we wish we were +out of it and now that we are in our last term +I’m rather sorry to leave.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Me, too,” said Joe. “Wonder where we’ll +be next fall?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“College, I guess.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Mother has her mind set on a college course +for both of us. So far as I’m concerned I’d +rather go into detective work with dad.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It would certainly be more exciting. Still, +we’d have a good time at college, I imagine,” +observed Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He turned the car into a road that branched +off the main highway. This road led toward +the airport that had been constructed back of +Bayport the previous summer.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Wonder why they built the airport so far +out,” Joe said.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They have to have plenty of ground. It +was the only place available. Then, there’s a +railway siding near by and a train always +meets the mail planes,” Frank explained. +“Dad was telling me all about it the other evening. +They use the port for commercial flying +too, and I hear they do a lot of business and +hope to do more.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“An airmail pilot must have lots of nerve. +It’s marvelous that they nearly always bring +the mail through on time. And lots faster than +trains. I wish we knew one of the pilots. He +might take us up for a flight.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Chet Morton and the rest of the fellows +would be green with envy,” rejoined Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The roadster bounced along the rutted road +toward the airport. A signpost near by conveyed +the information that the flying field was +three miles away. A little later, as the car +came over the brow of a hill the Hardy boys +could see the great flat field lying in the valley +below. In front of a hangar they could see a +plane with silver wings.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Chances are we’ll both have a plane of +our own in about ten years,” Joe said. “Everybody +will be flying then, and think nothing +of it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank applied the brakes as the roadster +descended the steep grade. In a few minutes +they had reached the foot of the hill. The car +raced along the level road toward the airport.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys had often seen the airplanes flying +over the city, but they had never been in close +proximity to one of the machines and now they +were excited over the prospect.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps,” said Frank, “we’ll even meet +one of the pilots and have a chance to talk to +him and hear about some of his adventures.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe turned in his seat and looked back.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why, there’s a plane now!” he exclaimed. +“We’ll be able to see it land.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Above the roar of the car the boys could +hear the hum of an approaching airplane. It +came swooping down out of the sky beyond the +hill.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Seems to be flying mighty queerly,” commented +Frank. “Usually they go along as +smoothly as a bird.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Nothing smooth about that one. Maybe +the pilot’s in trouble.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The flight of the plane was indeed erratic. It +was going from side to side in a jerky fashion +and it seemed to be flying much closer to the +ground than safety warranted.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He’ll never reach the airport at that rate,” +said Frank, looking back again. “He should +be higher up than that. Look! He’s coming +straight down, and the airport is a couple of +miles away!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I hope he doesn’t land on the road. He +might hit us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If he lands on the road he’s in for a nasty +crash. A plane has to have plenty of room to +move around in.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Between steering the roadster and eying the +plane, Frank Hardy was well occupied. Joe +kept looking back and staring at the descending +machine.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I believe that fellow <span class='it'>is</span> in trouble,” he said. +“He’s coming down right this way.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They could see the airplane quite clearly now. +They could even see the figure of the pilot in +the cockpit. The machine was descending at +terrific speed in a long glide that made it seem +inevitable that the plane would fall far short +of the airport.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank stepped on the accelerator. The car +leaped forward, raising a cloud of dust. But +the speed of the car was as nothing compared +with the speed of the plane. The distance between +them diminished, and the plane was +steadily nearing the ground.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Great Caesar! That fellow is coming down +on top of us!” shouted Joe, in alarm.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Not if I can help it,” returned Frank +grimly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe looked up. He could even distinguish +details of the understructure of the airplane +now. The roar of its engine was deafening. +Lower and lower it came.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>For a moment the plane flew level. Its nose +raised and it gained altitude. Joe breathed a +sigh of relief. Then the big machine dipped +again. He could see the propeller blades flashing +in the sun.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The roadster was traveling at sixty miles an +hour. Frank did not dare raise his eyes from +the road. He crouched over the wheel.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where is he now?” he snapped.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Right behind us! And coming down every +minute!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe was really frightened. There was no +hope that the plane would ever reach the airport, +for it was flying too close to the ground. +He wondered if the pilot was merely trying to +scare them. But the plane was diving toward +them in such headlong fashion that he quickly +abandoned this explanation.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Powerful though the roadster was, the speed +of the plane was much greater. It was +scarcely two hundred feet from the ground now +and its nose was pointing down at a dangerous +angle. In a few more seconds there would be +a crash, and, from the angle of flight, it seemed +almost certain that the heavy machine would +crash directly on top of the roadster!</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The car roared ahead, the noise of its engine +drowned in the gigantic throbbing of the airplane’s +motor. The plane came nearer and +nearer, diving at almost incredible speed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’re done for!” groaned Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Unless a miracle intervened the plane would +crash directly on top of the Hardy boys’ car!</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch2'>CHAPTER II<br> <span class='sub-head'>The Crash</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Frank Hardy</span> could scarcely keep the car on +the road. He glanced at the speedometer. +They were traveling at seventy miles an hour.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>It was certain that the airplane would crash +on the highway.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Suddenly Joe leaned forward.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Look! The side road!” he shouted. “Take +the side road!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A short distance ahead Frank saw a rough +dirt road leading off the highway to the airport. +If he could only reach it in time! The roar +of the descending airplane was deafening now. +They could even hear the wind screaming in the +struts. Joe saw the pilot, in helmet and goggles, +waving his arm wildly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank slackened speed slightly as he neared +the dirt road, bore down on the wheel, and made +the turn. The rear wheels skidded wildly, there +was a screech of brakes, the car teetered perilously, +then righted itself, and shot down the +rough lane.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>At the same moment the airplane roared +past. It was so close that the wing tip came +within a few feet of the rear of the car.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Then it crashed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank was having his own troubles and he +did not see the crack-up. On the bumpy dirt +road the car skidded, throwing up a cloud of +sand and dust, then shot across a ditch, +thumped and lurched over some rocks, and +finally came to a stop at a rail fence.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe came close to going through the windshield +and then hit the door with a thud.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Wow!” he burst out. “Some wild ride, +I’ll tell the universe!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank had been thrown tightly against the +wheel, otherwise he, too, might have gone into +the glass. As it was, he hurt his ribs a little.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, I’m glad we didn’t overturn,” he remarked, +as soon as he could catch his breath.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Or take down the fence.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Wonder who that crazy fellow was?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Maybe something went wrong with his +air bus.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, I’m glad we managed to get from +under. It was a mighty close call.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe, looking back, saw the airplane as it +crashed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Nose-down, it came, then flattened out just +before it reached the ground. Its understructure +crashed into the earth. The plane seemed +to bound high in the air, then came down again +with a snapping and crackling of wood, and +buried its nose in the dust of the road. Then +its tail canted up and the plane turned a somersault +over on its back.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>It was a wreck!</p> + +<p class='pindent'>While the Hardy boys are scrambling out +of their roadster and hastening back to the +scene of the airplane crash that had so nearly +cost them their own lives, the opportunity will +be taken to introduce them more definitely.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe Hardy were the sons of Fenton +Hardy, an internationally famous detective, +late of the New York police force. Mr. Hardy +had made such a name for himself as a detective +with the New York force that he had resigned +to go into business for himself as a private detective +and his services were frequently sought +in important cases. His sons, Frank and Joe, +were eager to follow in his footsteps.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardys lived in Bayport, a thriving city +on Barmet Bay, on the Atlantic coast. Here +Frank and Joe attended the Bayport high +school, where they were in their final year. Although +Frank, a tall, dark, handsome lad, was +a year older than his curly-headed brother Joe, +both boys were in the same grade because of +an illness that had caused Frank to lose time. +Mr. and Mrs. Hardy were anxious that their +sons should go to college after finishing high +school, Mrs. Hardy wishing them to study law +and medicine. But the boys were of different +mind. Their father’s profession appealed to +them. They wanted to be detectives.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>As a matter of fact, the lads had a natural +bent toward detective work and they had already +proved their ability so thoroughly that +Fenton Hardy was disposed to believe that they +would be successful if they followed in his footsteps. +The Hardy boys had solved a number +of mysteries that had puzzled the police of Bayport +and vicinity, and already the people of +the city knew of them as boys possessing more +than the usual share of initiative, resourcefulness, +and deductive ability.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe were introduced in the first +volume of this series, entitled: “The Hardy +Boys: The Tower Treasure,” in which they +solved the mystery of the disappearance of a +treasure from Tower Mansion, on the outskirts +of Bayport. In succeeding volumes of the series +their adventures while seeking to unravel +other mysterious cases in which they became +involved have been described at length. During +the winter previous to the time this present +story opens, Frank and Joe Hardy had spent +a vacation on Cabin Island, in Barmet Bay, +where they had cleared up the mystery of a +stolen stamp collection of great value, discovering +the precious stamps after many thrilling +events. These adventures have been related in +“The Mystery of Cabin Island,” the volume +immediately previous to this story.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>As the Hardy boys ran back down the dirt +road toward the wreckage of the airplane they +had little hope that they would find the pilot +alive.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He’ll be smashed to pieces!” gasped Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The plane isn’t burning, anyway,” said +Frank. “There may be a chance for him yet.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Just then they heard a cry for help.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>It came from beneath the jumbled wreckage +of the plane. In a few moments the Hardy +boys reached the scene.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Although the crash had been witnessed from +the airport and people were already proceeding +toward the spot, the Hardy boys were the first +to arrive. They could hear groans and shouts +from beneath the plane.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll have to lift up some of that wreckage +to get the poor fellow out,” said Frank +quickly. He looked around. It was futile to +attempt raising the wreckage by hand. He saw +a heavy rail lying at the base of the near-by +fence. “Here we are. This will do as a lever.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys seized the rail and carried it over +to the wreckage. They inserted one end of +the rail beneath the body of the plane, rolling +a big rock forward as a support.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The groans and shouts continued.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“All right there!” called Frank. “We’re +going to pry some of this wreckage away from +you. Are you badly hurt?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m nearly killed,” groaned the pilot. +“Hurry up and lift this plane off me.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Try to crawl out when we raise it,” advised +Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys bore down on their improvised +lever. There was a clattering and crackling of +the wreckage; then the mass began to move. +The body of the upturned plane rose slightly. +Joe caught a glimpse of the pilot scrambling +out of the cockpit. The man’s face was +scratched and bleeding, but he seemed to be +crawling out of his precarious position quickly, +so evidently no bones were broken.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys managed to hold up the plane by +means of the strong rail until the pilot +crawled out.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Anyone with you?” demanded Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The pilot, struggling to his feet, shook his +head. The boys released their grasp on the +rail and the wreckage subsided again with a +crash.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The pilot came forward. The boys noticed +that he lurched slightly as he walked and that +he staggered as he came up to them. His uniform +was torn and he had a few scratches +across his face, but otherwise he did not appear +to be badly hurt.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How are you feeling?” Joe asked him.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Swaying from side to side, the pilot confronted +them in silence. His face was flushed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Narrow escape,” he muttered. “Mighty +narrow escape.” He turned and looked at the +wrecked plane, and hiccuped.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What happened?” asked Frank. “Engine +trouble? Or did you run out of gas?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I dunno,” answered the pilot thickly. “I +dunno what happened. It wasn’t my fault. All +the fault of them fellows in the car.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Fellows in a car?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yes. Couple of fools in a car ahead of me. +I wanted ’em to stop and they wouldn’t. They +rushed right ahead and got in my way. +Thought I’d scare ’em and make ’em stop, but +they kept on going. Then I found I couldn’t +get back in the air again—flying too low—it was +all the fault of those fools in the car.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe glanced at one another significantly. +Clearly, the man was referring to +them. And it was just as clear that the pilot +had been drinking.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We were in a car,” said Frank. “If you +think we’re to blame for your accident you’re +badly mistaken. You mighty near cost us our +lives. We had to get off the road or you would +have crashed on top of our car.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The pilot turned and looked at the boys, an +ugly expression in his bloodshot eyes.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You were in the car, eh?” he shouted. +“You’re the fellows that are to blame for this +crack-up!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It was your own fault.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Wasn’t my fault. You fellows wouldn’t +stop. I was afraid I was going to hit you. +That’s why I lost control of the plane.” The +pilot was working himself up into a temper. +“You’ll pay for this, let me tell you. My plane +is wrecked and I was mighty near killed just +because a couple of fool boys didn’t know +enough to stop.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe Hardy stared at the man in +amazement. The injustice of the charge +passed belief. They were just about to reply +angrily when they heard voices and saw men +hurrying down the road toward them. A number +of farmers in the adjacent fields had +witnessed the accident and had lost no time in +hastening to the scene.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What happened? Anybody killed?” demanded +one man, as they came up.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The plane is wrecked. The pilot escaped,” +explained Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“No thanks to you young fools,” snarled the +pilot. He turned to the farmers. “I’m lucky +to be alive. I was trying to make a landing +on the road and these young idiots in their car +kept racing ahead of me so I couldn’t come +down. I lost control of my machine and it’s +wrecked.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The farmers looked gravely at the Hardy +boys. Frank laughed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think you’d better wait until you sober +up,” he told the pilot, “before you make any +charges like that. You haven’t any business +being in an airplane when you’re drunk.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Who says I’m drunk?” demanded the pilot +belligerently. He clenched his fists and stepped +forward. “My airplane is wrecked and I’m +going to hold you young fools responsible.”</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch3'>CHAPTER III<br> <span class='sub-head'>A Promise of Trouble</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>“You</span> can’t blame us for this smash-up!” exclaimed +Frank Hardy. “Why, that’s absurd! +We were on the road, where we belonged. If +you wanted to land, you should have landed in +a field. There’s plenty of room.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll land my plane wherever I please,” +raged the pilot.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why pick on us?” asked Joe. “We did our +best to get out of your way. I think you deliberately +tried to run us down.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Never mind. You’ll hear more about this +affair. I’m going to report this to the air mail +service and they’ll come on you for damages.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Try to get ’em,” returned Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A lanky farmer stepped forward.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I saw the whole thing from the top of the +hill,” he said slowly. “If I was you, Mr. Airplane +Man, I wouldn’t try to collect no damages +from these lads.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why not?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Because they wasn’t to blame for the accident. +The whole thing was your own fault. +And, by jing, if you <span class='it'>do</span> try to blame them they +can count on me for a witness to prove that +they did their best to get out of your way. +They was ridin’ peacefully along the road, and +then you come swoopin’ and bouncin’ out of +the sky and come slap down on the road where +you shouldn’t be. You airplane fellows give +me a pain. You’ve got the whole sky to move +around in, and yet you think you have a right +to chase people off the earth too.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Is that so?” sneered the pilot. “Well, +you’ll have a chance to give your evidence, +seeing you know so much.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m glad of that, Giles Ducroy,” said the +farmer. “I’m glad I’ll have a chance to give +evidence, for then I can tell ’em how drunk you +were when you crawled out from under the +plane.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>This shot told.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m not drunk,” stormed Ducroy. “I’m +nervous.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You must have a pretty bad case of nerves +to make your breath smell so strong,” rejoined +the farmer calmly. “I’ll bet the air mail service +won’t keep you on very long after this, when +they hear what I’ve got to say.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The pilot turned his back.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I haven’t got time to bother with you. It’s +these boys I’m dealing with. I warn you,” he +said, glaring at the Hardy boys, “you haven’t +heard the last of this. There’s going to be +plenty of trouble for you.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Just then there was a roaring and clattering +as a huge truck lumbered down the road, bound +from the airport. The driver stared at the +scene in amazement. Some of the farmers +moved the wreckage of the plane out of the +road to enable the truck to pass. Giles Ducroy +strode forward arrogantly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Driver!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yeah?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There are some bags of air mail in my +plane. I want you to bring them to Bayport.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Who says so?” asked the driver calmly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I do. I’m pilot of this plane.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The driver regarded the wreckage.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Looks like you made a pretty good job of +the crack-up,” he said finally.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Some of the bystanders grinned. Giles Ducroy +flushed angrily.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“No nonsense about this,” he snapped. +“It’s my duty to see that the mail bags reach +the city.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The truck driver sighed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why didn’t you bring ’em to the airport +in your plane?” he inquired.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Can’t you see? I’ve had an accident.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You picked a nice day for it,” observed +the driver, glancing up at the sky.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Giles Ducroy lost patience. He went over to +the wreckage of the plane and burrowed among +the débris until he found the mail bags. These +he hauled forth and tossed into the truck.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There!” he said. “Get them to Bayport as +quick as you can.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yes, Commander!” said the truck driver, +with an elaborate salute. “The air mail must +arrive on time. If I run out of gas I’ll come +down in a parachute.” And the big truck lumbered +off.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>This exchange of witticisms, in which Giles +Ducroy had come out second best, judging by +the snickers of the farmers who were now +crowding about, did not leave the pilot in a +very good temper. He stormed into the middle +of a group of men who were examining the +wreckage, ordered them to stand back, and +promised all sorts of dire penalties if anyone +touched the airplane until he returned from the +airport.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“As for you,” he said, turning to Frank and +Joe Hardy before he stalked away, “you’ll hear +more about this. You’re to blame for the whole +business and I’m going to see that you suffer +for it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He went away, walking rather unsteadily +down the road.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The lanky farmer who had befriended the +boys came over to them.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“A man like that oughtn’t to be allowed in +charge of a plane,” he said gravely. “I’ll bet +if the air service people knew about him being +drunk he wouldn’t hold his job two seconds.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Do you think he can make trouble for us?” +asked Frank. “It wasn’t our fault that he +crashed. We did our best to get out of his +road, and it was just by luck that he didn’t +smash right on top of us. I nearly wrecked +our roadster getting out of the way.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I saw it,” said the man. “I saw it all from +the top of the hill. And it’s just like I told +Ducroy. I’ll be a witness for you if there’s any +trouble. My name is Jim Perrin and people +around here know my word is as good as my +bond. You lads were no more to blame for +that smash-up than I was, and I’ll tell ’em so.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s mighty good of you, Mr. Perrin,” said +Frank gratefully. “If we have any trouble +about this matter we’ll certainly call on you.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Be sure you do. I’ll help you all I can.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The farmer went back toward the wreckage. +Frank and Joe decided that their trip to the +airport might as well be called off for the time +being, as they had no desire for a further encounter +with Giles Ducroy. So they went back +to the roadster and extricated it from its +position among the rocks, backed it out +into the highway and headed toward Bayport +again.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>In spite of Jim Perrin’s reassuring words, +the lads were disturbed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They had no idea how far Giles Ducroy +might go and they realized that the man would +certainly stretch the truth in order to clear +himself with the airport officials. Like most +boys, they believed that a man in uniform was +vested with powers beyond that of the average +citizen and they reflected that the officials might +be more inclined to believe Giles Ducroy’s +word than theirs.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think we’d better tell dad about this,” +said Frank. “We know we aren’t to blame, +but this thing might be serious if Ducroy makes +any charge against us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Good idea,” replied Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>When they reached home they ran the roadster +into the garage, then went into the house. +Fenton Hardy was working in his study, but +he put aside his papers when the boys came +in and looked up at them with an inquiring +smile.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s the matter?” he asked. “You both +look as if you have something on your minds.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We have,” said Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Been in an accident with the car?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There was an accident, but we weren’t in +it. We saw an airplane crash and we’re blamed +for it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Mr. Hardy looked serious.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How on earth could you be blamed for an +airplane smash when you were in your +roadster?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank then explained the circumstances and +told how they had been obliged to take refuge +in a lane in order to avoid the descending +plane.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It certainly wasn’t our fault,” he concluded. +“We might have been killed if we +hadn’t reached the lane in time.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You say Ducroy was drunk?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He had been drinking. We could smell liquor +on his breath.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t think he’ll get very far if he tries +to lay any charges against you,” said the great +detective. “The post office authorities won’t +be very easy on him if they discover he had +been drinking. And, then, you have this witness, +Mr. Perrin. I’m inclined to think they’ll +accept his word about how it happened.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I suppose we’ll just have to wait and see +what Ducroy does,” said Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps I can fix things up,” said Mr. +Hardy. “I happen to have a good many +friends in the postal department. I cleared +up a big mail robbery here a few years ago +and they appreciated it. I’ll go down right +away and have a talk with some of the officials +and I’ll try to explain things to them. Don’t +worry too much about it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s mighty good of you, Dad,” said +Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll say it is!” chimed in Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, I certainly can’t see my sons accused +of wrecking an airplane when they didn’t have +anything to do with it,” said Mr. Hardy +warmly. He got up and reached for his hat. +“I’ll go and see what can be done about it right +away.”</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch4'>CHAPTER IV<br> <span class='sub-head'>An Attack</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>The</span> airplane crash was a front-page feature +in the newspapers of Bayport for several days +thereafter, and the Hardy boys learned that +the post office department was conducting an +investigation into the cause of the affair.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Several reporters called on Frank and Joe +Hardy to learn their version of the accident, +and although the boys told exactly how the +crash occurred, they were disturbed to find +that considerable space was given to Giles Ducroy’s +account. Ducroy was not backward in +laying the blame upon the Hardy boys.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“My plane cracked up simply because I was +trying to avoid hitting the car,” he said, in an +interview. “The boys deliberately drove their +roadster ahead so that I was unable to find a +landing place until it was too late. They confused +me so much that the accident was the +result.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>All this looked very bad in cold print, and +one of the newspapers hinted that the post office +department might take action against the +boys if Ducroy’s story was upheld.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t worry about it,” Fenton Hardy advised. +“Don’t let it be on your minds while +you are writing examination papers.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>This counsel was sound. The lads were busy +writing their final examinations and upon the +result would depend their graduation from the +high school that year. If they failed, it would +mean another term, and a year’s work wasted.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Both Frank and Joe had studied hard and +were well up in their work. Under ordinary +circumstances they would have had little doubt +of the outcome, but with the Ducroy affair on +their minds they could not concentrate on their +studies as well as they might have done otherwise. +Frank shook his head mournfully when +the boys left school the afternoon of the geometry +examination.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How do you think you made out?” he +asked Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Not so good.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m sure I failed.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It was a tough exam. Everybody says so.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I know it was tough, but I couldn’t help +thinking of the trouble we’ll be in if the post +office people decide we’re to blame for that +accident.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It was in my mind too,” Joe admitted, +“Still we know it wasn’t our fault.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Of course it wasn’t. But the chances are +that they’ll believe Ducroy, seeing he’s one of +their own pilots.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If they blame us, we’ll fight it. We’ll tell +them Ducroy was drunk.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps they won’t even listen to us,” said +Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys went on down the street toward the +downtown section. Joe caught sight of a familiar +name in a newspaper headline.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“This looks interesting,” he remarked. +When he bought the paper, the two stood on the +corner to read it.</p> + +<div class='blockquote100percent'> + +<p class='pindent'>“Post Office Department Discharges Giles +Ducroy,” read the headline. “Air Mail Pilot +Released Following Crash Near Local Airport.”</p> + +</div> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe whistled softly. The boys read further:</p> + +<div class='blockquote100percent'> + +<p class='pindent'>“It was announced to-day at post office headquarters +that the resignation of Giles Ducroy, +pilot in charge of the mail plane that crashed +on the airport road last Saturday, had been +requested by the department. Ducroy handed +in his resignation early this afternoon and is no +longer with the service. It was stated that information +had come into possession of the +department to the effect that Ducroy had been +drinking heavily on the day of the crash and +that he had been drinking for several days previous. +According to officials, the pilot had +been warned several times that his bad habits +would get him into trouble, and although he +promised to mend his ways he had evidently +failed to do so. Other aviators claimed that +Ducroy was a menace to the air service and +that he should not be permitted to handle a +plane. His flying license has been canceled.”</p> + +</div> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys looked at one another in +silence.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I guess that will clear us,” said Frank +finally.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It doesn’t say so.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They can’t very well blame us after that.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A familiar voice broke in:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Hi, there! Hear the news?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys looked up to see Chet Morton, +one of their chums, approaching. Chet, +too, had a newspaper under his arm.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We were just reading it,” said Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It was coming to him,” declared Chet +warmly. “I was talking to one of the men at +the airport yesterday, and he said Ducroy +ought to be fired. He was always drinking. +None of them were surprised when he had that +crash.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m sorry he has lost his job,” said Frank, +“but I guess he deserved it. If they let him +stay on he might get into a serious accident and +kill somebody.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He mighty nearly killed us,” Joe reminded +him. “If I only knew that this meant we were +clear of blame I could write the rest of my +exams with an easy mind.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t worry,” advised Chet. “They won’t +blame you chaps. The very fact that Ducroy +has been let out means that they didn’t believe +his story.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Suddenly Frank nudged his brother.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Here he comes now.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Who?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Ducroy,” whispered Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe looked around. Coming down the street +he saw the former air pilot. Ducroy’s face +wore an angry look and he appeared not to +notice the stares and the comments of the people +near by.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t pay any attention to him,” said Joe. +“There’s no use looking for trouble.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>But, if the Hardy boys were not going to pay +any attention to Giles Ducroy, it soon became +apparent that the pilot intended to pay some +attention to them. He changed his course and +came over toward the three boys.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Now what’s the big idea?” muttered Chet.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ducroy blustered toward them. He faced +Frank and Joe angrily, brushing Chet to one +side.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well,” he sneered, “I suppose you’re satisfied +now?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What do you mean?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I suppose you’re satisfied now that you’ve +lost me my job?” demanded Ducroy.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You lost it yourself,” returned Frank. “We +didn’t have anything to do with it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You didn’t, hey? It was your fool driving +that caused the crash, and it was because of +the crash that I got fired.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The paper says something different,” said +Joe calmly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It says I got fired because I was drunk, +and I was as sober as I am now.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“And you’re not any too sober now, either,” +Chet reminded him sweetly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ducroy turned to him. “You keep out of +this,” he snapped. “This is none of your +business. I’ll thank you to keep your mouth +shut.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Seeing you ask me so nicely, I will.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ducroy turned to the Hardy boys again. +“I’m not through with you two yet,” he said. +“I may have lost my job, but I’m going to get +some satisfaction, anyway.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>By way of reply, Ducroy drew back his right +arm and lashed out suddenly. His fist struck +Frank in the face and sent the youth staggering +back. The blow had come so abruptly that +he had no chance to defend himself.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>But Joe, when he saw his brother attacked, +lost no time in getting into action. He plunged +at Ducroy without hesitation and planted a +swinging blow on the pilot’s right eye, completely +closing it. Ducroy gave a yell of pain +and struck at Joe, but the blow was wild.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank recovered himself.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Let me handle this,” he said to his brother. +And with no further ado he advanced on +Ducroy.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The pilot swung at him, but Frank ducked, +came in, and stung Ducroy’s face with an uppercut. +Ducroy was bigger than Frank and +considerably heavier, but he was far from being +a scientific fighter, relying chiefly on bull-like +rushes and ponderous swinging blows that +would have done damage had they landed, but +seldom did. Ducroy rushed Frank back across +the pavement, his heavy fists swinging, but +Frank backed away, ducking and dodging, +watching for an opening.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>It soon came.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ducroy swung so wildly that he left himself +completely unprotected. Frank’s fist shot out. +The blow caught Ducroy directly on the point +of the jaw, and he went down in a heap.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Is that enough?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A crowd had collected, and Con Riley of the +Bayport police force hastened forward.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s all this?” he demanded. “Fightin’ +on the streets? What’s the trouble?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank turned away. “Just a little argument,” +he explained. “This man hit me first +and I had to hit him back.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s right,” chimed in Chet Morton. “I +saw it all. I can prove it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Giles Ducroy got slowly to his feet and Riley +seized him by the collar.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I got a good mind to run you in,” said the +officer. “What business have you got hittin’ a +lad half your size?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t want to lay any charge against +him,” said Frank. “Better let him go.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Con Riley looked dubious. Then he released +his grip on Ducroy’s collar.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, seein’ you ask it,” he said. Then +he glared at Ducroy. “Take yourself out of +here!” he ordered sharply. “If I catch you +makin’ any disturbance on the street again it +won’t go so easy with you.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Giles Ducroy lurched away, muttering and +defeated. Con Riley then turned his attention +to the crowd and dispersed the bystanders with +a wave of his stick. “Move on!” he ordered. +“Move on out of here.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The crowd scattered.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys and Chet Morton continued +their journey down the street. Chet was warm +in his praise of the artistic manner in which +Frank had dealt with the bully.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll bet his jaw is sore for a week!” he +declared.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I hate a row like that,” said Frank. “Dad +would be angry if he knew we were mixed up +in a common street fight.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You couldn’t help it. You didn’t start the +fight. It was all Ducroy’s fault,” said Chet. +“He struck you first. Boy, that was a nice +pasting you handed him!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>But Frank remembered the vindictive look in +Ducroy’s face as the beaten man slunk away.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t think we’ve heard the last of this, +by any means,” he said.</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch5'>CHAPTER V<br> <span class='sub-head'>Anxious Days</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>It</span> was not until the next evening that the result +of the investigation into the airplane crash +was officially announced. Then, to the joy of +the Hardy boys, they learned that the authorities +held them blameless for the accident.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The report ran, in part:</p> + +<div class='blockquote100percent'> + +<p class='pindent'>“A thorough investigation of the circumstances +surrounding the crash has led us to +decide that the responsibility rests wholly with +the pilot, Giles Ducroy. We find that Ducroy +had been drinking on the day of the accident +and that, according to reliable witnesses, he +was still under the influence of liquor after the +wreck. In his condition, Ducroy was unable +to make a proper landing. He has made a +clumsy attempt to lay the blame on two boys +driving an automobile in the road near the +scene of the crash, but this is manifestly absurd. +The motorists, on the other hand, had +a narrow escape from death because of Ducroy’s +irresponsible handling of his plane, and +certainly no blame can be attached to them.”</p> + +</div> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank danced an impromptu jig. “Hurrah!” +he shouted. “That takes a load off +my mind.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll bet dad put in an oar for us,” said Joe +happily.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Shouldn’t be surprised. Let’s go and +ask him.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>When they entered Fenton Hardy’s study, +the detective smiled at their evident delight.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s happened?” he asked. “Have you +fallen heir to a fortune?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Better than that. The post office people +have announced that we aren’t to blame for +that plane wreck,” declared Frank. “We’ve +been worrying our heads off about it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Did you help, Dad?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Oh, I may have said a few things to the inspector,” +observed Mr. Hardy. “He is an old +friend of mine and I have done him a few favors +in my time. It really wasn’t necessary, +because I don’t think they would have blamed +you in any case. But it prevented them from +being fooled by Ducroy, anyway.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That was certainly mighty fine of you. +Dad!” exclaimed Frank. “I don’t know how +we can thank you.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I know,” said their father. “You can go +back to school to-morrow and dig into those +examinations and graduate this year.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll do our best,” they promised.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The exams won’t be so bad, now that this +worry is off our minds,” added Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>For the rest of the week the Hardy boys +attacked their final examinations with such determination +and enthusiasm, unmarred by any +worries about the airplane accident, that when +they handed in their final papers they knew +that if they had obtained passing marks on the +papers written earlier in the week there was +little doubt of the final outcome.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“But that’s just the trouble,” groaned Joe. +“I was so worried when I wrote those first +papers that I’m sure I didn’t get by.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Forget it,” advised Frank. “The exams +are over and we can’t change the papers now. +We’ll just have to be patient and wait for the +results.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wish I knew them now,” said Chet Morton. +“If I don’t pass this year, my dad will +flay me alive. I might as well pack up and +head for Alaska if I don’t get through. What +are you fellows going to do, now that school is +over?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Wait for the results,” returned Frank. +“If we pass, I think dad wants us to go to college +and we’ll have to start making our +plans.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Jerry Gilroy, another chum of the Hardy +boys, sauntered up.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How about you, Jerry?” asked Frank, +“What are you going to do now?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I have a job,” announced Jerry calmly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Already?” the others exclaimed enviously.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I start work Monday as a reporter for <span class='it'>The +Banner</span>.” Jerry stuck out his chest and pulled +his hat brim down over one eye.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s a good job,” said Tony Prito, who +joined the group at that moment. “You’ll be +able to get into all the shows in town for nothing +and get through the police lines at all +the fires.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well,” said Jerry doubtfully, “just at first +they’re putting me at work writing up obituaries +and real estate deals. But I’ll soon work +my way up,” he added hastily.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Tony Prito announced that his parents had +decided on a college course for him and that +Phil Cohen was bound in the same direction.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Looks as if the old gang will be broken up +by next fall,” said Joe glumly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s true,” agreed Chet. “I think we +all ought to get together as soon as we know +the results of the exams and have one big party +to celebrate.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“A picnic!” exclaimed Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Good idea!” declared Jerry Gilroy. “I’ll +write it up for the paper.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where shall we have the picnic?” asked +Tony. “Beach Grove?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Beach Grove is the only place for a picnic. +We’ll have the whole graduating class,” Frank +said. “The girls, too.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t know about that,” demurred Chet, +who did not care for girls.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Go on with you. If we have a class picnic +we can’t leave the girls out. Anyway, they’ll +be sure to bring along lots of eats.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Oh, I forgot about that,” said Chet, who +had a weakness for food. “By all means, we +must have the girls along.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“In the meantime, Jerry, keep your eyes +open around your newspaper office and see if +you can’t get a look at the examination results +when they’re sent in for publication,” Frank +suggested. “They’ll appear in the paper first, +and if you get on the good side of the city editor +he may let you have a look at them.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“And phone us right away,” added Chet.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Jerry promised to keep on the lookout for the +examination results.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank’s suggestion of a picnic met with the +instant favor of the other members of the graduation +class who were enthusiastic over the +idea. They all realized that within the next +few months the class would be scattered far and +wide and that it would probably be their last +opportunity of being all together.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Then they settled down to the tedious business +of awaiting the all-important results. +Two days passed, with no word from Jerry +Gilroy, who had extracted a promise from his +city editor that he would be shown the list as +soon as it reached the office. The Hardy boys +and their chums bided their time with such patience +as they could muster. Frank and Joe +went out on Barmet Bay in their motorboat, +<span class='it'>The Sleuth</span>, and explored the countryside in +their roadster.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>On Thursday morning the boys were in the +gymnasium in the barn back of the Hardy +home. Chet Morton was sitting in a window +munching at an apple, as usual. Biff Hooper +was drumming away at the punching bag. +Tony Prito was practicing some complicated +maneuvers on the parallel bars, while Phil +Cohen and Joe Hardy were engaged in a spirited +wrestling match. Frank was busy trying +to repair a broken baseball bat, with small +success.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Somebody calling you, Frank,” said Chet, +glancing out the window.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank looked out. Aunt Gertrude was standing +in the back door, beckoning to him.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’re wanted on the telephone,” she +called.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It must be from Jerry!” shouted Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The others stopped their activities instantly. +Frank almost tumbled down the stairs in his +anxiety to reach the house in the quickest possible +time. The other boys crowded to the +window. They saw him disappear into the +house. He seemed to be away for a long time.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Bad news, I’m sure of it,” moaned Chet.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Good news, I’ll bet a cookie,” said Joe, +trying to be cheerful.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>After a while they saw Frank come out of +the house. His shoulders drooped. He walked +slowly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s the verdict?” clamored Chet.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank looked up, shook his head mournfully, +and sighed. They heard him coming up the +stairs.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I knew it,” Chet groaned. “We’ve all +failed.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>When Frank came up into the gymnasium +they crowded around him. He looked as though +he had lost every friend he had in the world.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“For the love of Pete, don’t keep us in suspense!” +demanded Tony. “Was it Jerry? +What did he say?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It was from Jerry,” admitted Frank heavily. +“Well, fellows, I don’t know how you’re +going to feel about it, but as for me——” he +shook his head again.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Back to the high school for another year, +is it?” asked Joe solemnly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t take it too badly, fellows. Of course, +we all knew the exams were harder than +usual.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yes, they were tough,” admitted Chet. +“But, hang it all, didn’t <span class='it'>some</span> of us get +through? I was sure I’d failed, but I thought +the rest of you would make it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The results are out,” said Frank. “I +know you’re going to feel bad about it, but +every one of us—every one, mind you—<span class='it'>passed</span>!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What?” they roared.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank turned a handspring.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We all passed!” he yelled, in delight. Then +he sat down on the floor and laughed at the +expression on their faces. “Boy! didn’t I +throw a scare into you?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Biff Hooper hurled a boxing glove at him. +Phil Cohen seized Tony Prito around the +waist and danced about in glee. Chet threw +away the core of his apple and stood on his +head. Joe vaulted over the parallel bars. +Pandemonium reigned.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>School was over at last!</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“And now,” shouted Frank, “for the +picnic!”</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch6'>CHAPTER VI<br> <span class='sub-head'>The Cabin in the Woods</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Preparations</span> for the picnic at Beach Grove +on the following Saturday were in full swing +during the next few days. All the members of +the graduation class at Bayport High were enthusiastic, +and the girls were busy baking +cookies and cakes. From the standpoint of +Chet Morton, at any rate, the success of the +outing was therefore assured.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“As long as there’s plenty of food, it will +be a good picnic,” he said.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Callie Shaw, who was Frank Hardy’s particular +favorite among the girls of the class, +admitted that she felt sad at the prospect of +seeing “the crowd” broken up at last.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We had some good times at High. Somehow, +I wish now that we had all failed so we +could go back for another year.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You didn’t feel like that when you were +writing the math exam,” Iola Morton, Chet’s +sister, reminded Callie.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“No. I suppose if I did go back I’d be +grouching about the work all over again,” +laughed Callie. “I’m glad we’re going to +have the picnic, though. It will be nice to be +all together again for once before the class is +scattered.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There won’t be many of the gang left +around town by next fall,” said Frank. “What +with some going to college and others going +to work, the class will be pretty well broken +up by then.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I hope we’ll get good weather for the picnic,” +ventured Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The class had good luck on the exams,” +Iola reminded him; “so we should have good +luck with the weather.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Iola’s optimism was justified. When the day +for the picnic dawned the sky was cloudless, +the day was warm and clear. Mrs. Hardy had +prepared a big basket of good things for the +Hardy boys to take with them, and they stowed +the basket in the roadster along with their +bathing suits and baseball gloves. They had +arranged to call for Callie Shaw in the car, +while Iola was to go with Chet in his roadster.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>It was to be a real picnic—“not one of these +afternoon teas,” as Chet expressed it. All +members of the class had been notified to meet +at Beach Grove by ten o’clock in the morning +and when Callie and the Hardy boys reached +the grove they found a dozen others already on +hand. Chet arrived a few minutes later with +Iola and Biff Hooper, whom he had picked up +on the road, and by half past ten the crowd +was complete.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Beach Grove was just off the Shore Road and +extended to a sandy beach on the shore of Barmet +Bay. There were many paths through the +woods, a grassy meadow which was ideal for +baseball games and races, and the park keeper +had granted them permission to use a little +building in the grove where a stove and kitchen +facilities were installed. The boys lit a fire and +busied themselves bringing up driftwood from +the beach, while some of the girls settled down +to preparing lunch and opening up the numerous +baskets at their disposal.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys and the other lads went +down to the beach for a swim before lunch, and +had some fine sport on an improvised raft +which they took turns in defending against all +comers. Chet Morton became unduly ambitious +and tried to improvise a sailboat out of a plank +and an old piece of tarpaulin he found on the +shore, but the sailboat came to grief and tipped +Chet into the water, to the hilarious delight of +his companions.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>By the time the swim was over and the boys +returned to the Grove they had developed lusty +appetites for lunch, and there were loud cheers +when Callie, as chief cook, hammered a tune +on a tin plate with a poker, announcing that +the meal was ready. There was hot coffee, +heaping bowls of baked beans, stacks of sandwiches, +plates of potato salad, and cake and +fruit without end. The boys and girls sat beneath +the trees and ate from tin plates until +they could eat no more.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Chet, alone, looked discontented when lunch +was over.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s the matter with you?” asked Tony +Prito. “Didn’t you like it? I thought it was +the best meal I ever tasted.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The meal was all right,” said Chet +dolefully.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Then why are you looking so glum?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I never have any luck,” confessed Chet. +“Something always goes wrong.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Didn’t you get enough to eat?” asked Callie +anxiously. “There is a lot more potato salad.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“No, thanks. I don’t think I could eat any +more potato salad—not just now, at any rate. +It was very good potato salad but I couldn’t +eat any more right now. Maybe in an hour or +so—oh, well, it doesn’t matter.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If the meal was all right and you got +enough, what’s all the trouble?” asked Frank +Hardy.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I saw you take three helpings of beans,” +added Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s why I feel so badly.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Got a tummy-ache?” asked Iola solicitously.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“No. But, you see, I liked the beans so well +that I took two helpings after the first one, and +I liked the potato salad so well I took two helpings +of that, extra, and then I saw some sandwiches +I liked real well and I ate about a dozen +of them, and then somebody passed around +angel food cake so I ate that, and then I didn’t +have any room for anything else.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think you did very well,” remarked Jerry +Gilroy. “I don’t see where you have any kick +coming.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I like chocolate cake. It’s my favorite +cake,” declared Chet gloomily.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There was plenty of chocolate cake,” said +his sister. “There are two chocolate cakes left +right now.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Save ’em for supper,” advised Chet. +“That was the big trouble. I like chocolate +cake so well that I feel bad because I was so +full by the time it reached me I couldn’t +eat any.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The others looked at one another helplessly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What can you do with a fellow like that?” +demanded Phil Cohen. “He’s never satisfied.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think he needs exercise,” said Iola +threateningly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Now, don’t!” pleaded Chet, who had found +a soft spot beneath a shady tree and was preparing +to go to sleep.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Maybe you boys don’t know it,” said Iola, +“but I do. Chet is ticklish!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t, Iola!” clamored the victim.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>But Iola advanced on her brother and tickled +him until he yelled for mercy, whereat the others, +delighted at the exposure of this secret, +pounced on the luckless Chet and rubbed his +ribs until he was forced to make his escape. +They chased him through the meadow, shouting +with laughter, and back and forth among the +trees until he could run no longer.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’ll help him digest those three helpings +of beans and potato salad,” said Iola, without +sympathy.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Having concluded their attentions to Chet, +the classmates organized an impromptu program +of sports, with races, a ball game and a +blindfold boxing match between Biff Hooper, +Jerry Gilroy, Phil Cohen and Tony Prito, +which ended without casualties. Biff, who +prided himself on his boxing ability, wandered +away from the others and tackled a large tree, +under the impression that it was Jerry. After +dealing a dozen terrific blows without knocking +out the enemy he tore off the blindfold and then +looked very sheepish.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Most of the others went swimming during the +afternoon, but the Hardy boys had decided to +take advantage of the opportunity and investigate +a mysterious little cabin at the far end of +the grove. They had often been curious about +the place, and it was Frank’s suggestion that +perhaps the cabin was used as a hiding place +for smugglers that prompted their decision to +visit the place.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“May we come, too?” asked Callie Shaw, as +the two boys were starting off together. She +and Iola had remained behind to clear up the +last of the picnic dishes while the other girls +went swimming.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Glad to have you,” answered Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Come on, Iola.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The two girls went running across the grass, +and the four young people set out down a winding +path beneath the trees.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where are you going, Frank?” Callie +inquired.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We thought we’d take a walk over to that +little cabin at the east end of the grove. Joe +and I have often been curious about that place, +but we’ve never been near it; so we thought +this was as good a chance as any.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Oh, this is thrilling!” declared Iola. +“Do you think there’s anything suspicious +about it?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe shrugged. “Perhaps. It will be fun to +look the place over, though. We thought it +might be used by smugglers.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Smugglers!” exclaimed Callie, stopping. +“I’m frightened. I don’t think I care to go +after all. I don’t want to meet any smugglers.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Nonsense!” laughed Frank. “There +wouldn’t be any smugglers around at this time +of day, anyway. We’re not sure about the +smugglers in any case. Perhaps it’s just a +perfectly innocent tumbledown old shack, with +nothing strange about it at all.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Callie gathered up courage and they went +forward again. The little cabin was at the extreme +end of the grove, and it was some time +before they came within sight of it. Finally, +rounding a bend in the path, they caught a +glimpse of the place among the trees. The +cabin had been built in the woods, several hundred +yards back from the water.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Mighty dingy looking cabin, it seems to +me,” remarked Iola.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why, there are some smugglers now!” exclaimed +Callie, wide-eyed. “Don’t you see +them, Frank? Down in the bushes. Look, +they’re going up toward the cabin!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank called a halt.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Just a minute!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He could see three men making their way up +a path in the direction of the cabin. The trio +were apparently unaware that they were being +watched, for they did not look around. For a +moment they were hidden by the intervening +branches. Then they appeared in view again. +One of the men halted in front of the cabin, +removed a key from his pocket, and unlocked +the door.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The three men disappeared inside.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank turned to the others.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think we’d better go back,” he said +quietly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Were they smugglers?” demanded Callie. +“Let’s get out of here. They might start some +trouble.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They turned and retraced their steps toward +the picnic grounds. Once Joe said:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Do you know, I’m sure I recognized one of +those chaps.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank flashed him a warning look.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He did not want to alarm the girls, so he +had said nothing. But Frank, too, had recognized +one of the men, and he was none other +than Giles Ducroy!</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch7'>CHAPTER VII<br> <span class='sub-head'>A Mysterious Conversation</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>When</span> the Hardy boys and the girls got back +to the picnic grounds, the boys excused themselves +and drew away to one side, while the +girls went down to join the swimmers.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think we ought to go back there,” said +Frank quietly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why? Did you recognize any of them?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Did you?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I thought one of them looked mighty like +Ollie Jacobs,” said Joe. “He’s a pretty shady +customer, as you know. I’ve heard of more +than one bad business he has been mixed up +in around Bayport.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Ollie Jacobs, was it? Then the other fellow +must have been Newt Pipps! He is always +hanging around with Jacobs. They’re a bad +pair.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Who was the other fellow? I didn’t get a +good look at him.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I did,” returned Frank. “He was Giles +Ducroy.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe whistled in amazement.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“So that’s who Giles Ducroy is mixed up +with now! I wonder what they’re doing down +in that old cabin?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’d better go and find out. We can get +up to the back of the place without being seen, +and perhaps we can overhear what they’re +saying.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Come on. It’s worth trying, anyway. I’m +interested.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys hurried off down the path. Once +Joe glanced up at some lowering clouds that +had gathered above the trees.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Looks like rain,” he remarked.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It may hold off for a while. It won’t stop +me from finding out what that gang is up to.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Not if I know it,” declared Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>When the boys came within sight of the +cabin they proceeded more cautiously. They +did not come out into the open, but edged their +way around through the trees until they came +to the rear of the little building.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There’s an old road near here,” whispered +Frank. “Perhaps that’s how they reached the +place.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I can see it from here. And look—there’s +a car! It’s parked under the trees.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That explains how they come to be here. +They’ve probably arranged a meeting. There’s +some funny business on foot, I’ll be bound.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Cautiously the brothers went on through the +undergrowth. It was fortunate that bushes +grew within a few feet of the back of the cabin, +so the boys were able to make their way near +enough to overhear the conversation of anyone +who might be within without danger of being +seen themselves.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>As they pressed close against the logs of the +cabin they could hear a murmur of voices. +They soon found a convenient chink in the logs +where they could peep through. There, in the +dimly lighted interior of the building, they saw +Giles Ducroy, Ollie Jacobs, and Newt Pipps +seated about a rude table, with a bottle and +glasses before them.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I tell you,” Ducroy was saying, “I know +what I’m talking about. I’m giving you fellows +a chance that lots of other men would +jump at.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It sounds good,” admitted Jacobs, a short, +ill-favored man with squint eyes. “But it’s +mighty risky.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Nothing venture, nothing gain,” said Ducroy, +taking a swig from the bottle.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s true,” said Newt Pipps. “But I’m +not anxious to get a bullet through me.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Bullets, nothing!” scoffed Ducroy. “We’ll +get away with this as smooth as silk.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Maybe,” demurred Jacobs. “You say the +money is sure to be there, all right?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I know it will be there. I wouldn’t tell you +fellows about it if I wasn’t sure.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Newt Pipps shrugged. “Well, I’m as brave +as the next man,” he said, “but this is a mighty +big job. It’s bigger than any I’ve ever tackled +yet, and I can’t say I like it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The bigger the job, the bigger the profit,” +remarked Ducroy.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yes, and the bigger the risks, too.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ollie Jacobs looked around uneasily.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t talk so loud,” he said. “If anybody +hears us, we’re done for.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Who could hear us?” demanded Ducroy, +who was evidently half intoxicated. “That’s +why I picked this cabin for a meeting place. +There’s nobody within miles.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Oh, yes there is,” Jacobs answered. “A +bunch of high school kids are having a picnic +over in Beach Grove, and that’s not very far +from here.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I thought I saw somebody over among the +trees when we were coming in here,” said Newt +Pipps.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You did?” said Ducroy. “Why didn’t you +speak up?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I might have been mistaken.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If you think there’s anyone around, go and +take a look around the cabin. A person would +have to be mighty close to the place to hear +us talking.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Then, to the horror of the Hardy boys, Newt +Pipps got up from his chair, rather unsteadily.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That ain’t a bad idea,” he remarked. “I’ll +just do that.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He moved over to the door, opened it, and +stepped outside.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe had no time to lose. They +knew that in another moment Newt Pipps +might come walking around to the back of the +cabin. They drew back quickly, yet cautiously, +seeking the shelter of the undergrowth near by.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The bushes were small and afforded little +cover, yet they did not dare move back farther +for fear of being heard. So they crouched +down as far as possible. They were not a second +too soon. Scarcely had they flattened +themselves in hiding than they heard heavy +footfalls from the side of the cabin.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They were so poorly hidden that they could +plainly see Newt Pipps as he came around the +corner. But Pipps had been drinking and he +had evidently little expectation of seeing anyone +around. He did not search in their direction, +but contented himself with a casual glance, +then turned and went back again.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank breathed a sigh of relief.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That was close!” he whispered.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll say it was,” affirmed Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys waited until they heard the +cabin door slam again. Not until then did they +emerge and creep forward to the rear of the +cabin once more.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Newt Pipps was sitting down at the table.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Satisfied?” asked Giles Ducroy curtly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There’s no one around. Still you can’t be +too careful,” said Pipps.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s true,” agreed Jacobs. “Never +know when somebody may be hanging around.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well,” snapped Ducroy, “I can’t stay here +all day. I’ve made a proposition to you men +and I want to know what you’re going to do +about it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ollie Jacobs and Newt Pipps looked at one +another.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What do you say, Ollie?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t know. There’s a lot of money in +it for us, all right. And I could use some cash +right now. I’m pretty near broke.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Giles Ducroy leaned forward and pounded +his fist on the table.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There’s ten thousand dollars or more +apiece in it for us,” he declared. “Where else +could you make ten thousand dollars as easily, +I’d like to know.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s easy money,” admitted Newt. “But +it’s dangerous.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“And we might get shot,” added Ollie.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m taking that chance the same as you,” +Ducroy answered. “Well, hurry up. I can’t +wait here all day.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Ten thousand looks mighty good to me,” +said Newt Pipps. “But I ain’t anxious to get +shot earning it, for then it wouldn’t be any use +to me.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Same here,” demurred Ollie Jacobs.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Just then there was a low growl of thunder +overhead. Raindrops began pattering on the +cabin roof. Frank and Joe Hardy looked up +and saw that the brooding storm was already +breaking.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s starting to rain,” said Ducroy. “I +want to get back to the city before the storm +turns that road into a mud-hole. Can’t you +make up your minds?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll tell you what we’ll do,” said Ollie Jacobs, +finishing the bottle. “Newt and me ought +to talk this over a little more. There’s a lot +of money in this job, but there’s a lot of risk +too, and I want to make sure it’s safe.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Of course it’s safe!” raged Ducroy. +“You’ll never make an easier ten thousand in +your life.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s letting <span class='it'>you</span> tell it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think Ollie is right,” said Newt. “We’ll +talk it over and let you know later.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“When? I can’t wait long, you know. I’ve +got my own plans to make yet.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll let you know to-night,” declared +Jacobs, getting up.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“All right,” grumbled Giles Ducroy. “But +don’t take any longer. Come on, now. It’s +starting to pour. I want to get back to town.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The three men left the cabin. Rain was now +falling on the roof in a steady downpour. The +Hardy boys looked at one another, puzzled.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wonder what mischief those three are up +to?” said Frank, as the brothers hurried back +into the shelter of the grove.</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch8'>CHAPTER VIII<br> <span class='sub-head'>Puzzled</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>The</span> clouds were black overhead and the rain +was pouring steadily as the Hardy boys hastened +back up the path toward the picnic +grounds. Once under the trees they were +partly sheltered from the rain but in the open +spaces they were thoroughly drenched. Thunder +rolled continuously, lightning flashed, and +the rain came in sheets.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“This ends the picnic,” panted Joe, as they +ran back.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It sure does. Everybody will be soaked.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The trees were threshing and sighing in the +wind. There was a vivid flash of lightning followed +immediately by a crash and a clap of +thunder.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Must have hit a tree,” said Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>When they came in sight of the picnic +grounds, Frank saw that he had guessed correctly. +Only a few yards away from the cook-house, +a great oak lay prone on the ground, a +jagged fragment of the trunk sticking up out +of the earth. The trunk had been sundered +by the lightning and the great tree had been +struck to earth.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Inside the cook-house, the boys and girls of +the graduating class were huddled together. +Many of them were badly frightened, for the +lightning flash had come unpleasantly close, +and the falling tree had missed their refuge +by a scant few feet.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>As Frank and Joe came racing across the +sloppy ground, a cheer went up.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Here they are!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Here come the Hardy boys!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“At last!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where have you two been?” shouted Chet +Morton, as they dashed up onto the veranda, +their clothes dripping wet. “We’ve been worried +sick. Thought you’d got struck by +lightning.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Looks as if you people were nearer to being +struck than we were,” replied Frank, looking +ruefully at his drenched garments.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ve been awfully worried,” said Callie +Shaw, pressing forward. “When the storm +began, everybody gathered here except you and +Joe, and we had no idea where you were.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Oh, we were just exploring around,” said +Frank. “No harm done, except that we’re +mighty wet.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“No harm done!” exclaimed Iola Morton. +“How about our nice picnic? It’s all spoiled +now!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, we were nearly ready to go home anyway,” +observed Chet. He turned to the Hardy +boys. “Well, you two chaps missed the best +display of fireworks I’ve seen since last Fourth +of July.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Looks as if you had a mighty narrow escape,” +said Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We certainly had. There was a flash of +lightning that seemed to miss us all by about +two inches, then the loudest crash of thunder I +ever heard in my life, then a tearing and crackling, +and we saw that big tree topple over.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It seemed to be coming right down on top +of the house,” said Callie.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We thought we were done for. If that tree +had ever hit the roof we would have been +crushed to death. And that <span class='it'>would</span> have spoiled +the picnic for sure,” added Chet.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The very real danger they had been in and +the storm had dampened the spirits of the graduating +class, and when the rain finally began +to die down there was not a dissenting voice +when Frank Hardy suggested that they make +a dash for the cars. Hastily packing up the +baskets, they left their refuge and ran across +the grass to the cars parked out by the gate. +Everyone found a place, and within a few +minutes the picnic grounds were deserted.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The lull in the storm had been only temporary. +Rain came down in torrents before they +had gone more than half a mile along the Shore +Road, and some of those in open cars who had +not taken the precaution of putting up the tops, +received a second drenching. Frank and Joe, +in their roadster, accompanied by Callie Shaw +and Iola Morton, were more fortunate, and they +soon arrived on the outskirts of Bayport without +mishap.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The picnic party broke up without further +ceremony, the cars scattering in various directions +as the boys of the class drove the girls +home. Frank and Joe drove Callie to her +aunt’s store in Bayport and Iola decided that +she would wait there for Chet, who was to drive +her home that evening. In their wet clothes, +the picnickers presented a sorry sight, but all +in all they agreed that they had had a good time +which even the thunderstorm could not spoil.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>When Frank and Joe Hardy reached home +and changed their clothes, their mother was +sympathetic.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s too bad,” she said, as she prepared a +hot supper for them. “You had all been counting +on that picnic.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, we had half a picnic, at any rate. We +can be thankful for that much,” Frank observed. +And then, when their mother was in +the kitchen, he added to his brother: “I don’t +call the day wasted.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You mean Ducroy?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yes. We learned that he’s up to some +funny business. I’d like to know what it’s all +about.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Something crooked, I’ll be bound,” declared +Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Ten thousand dollars apiece, he said. +That’s a lot of money. I’m sure Giles Ducroy +and his two precious friends could never earn +that much money honestly.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It must be crooked. The big reason Ollie +Jacobs and Newt Pipps objected to the scheme +was because there was danger in it and they +might be shot.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Maybe they intend to rob a bank,” ventured +Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wish we knew. Still, perhaps it was all +just talk. They were half drunk, you know.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yes, I thought of that.” Frank shook his +head. “Still, now that Giles Ducroy is out of +work, he might be turning his hand to some +kind of thievery.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Do you think we ought to tell dad?” Joe +suggested.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Not yet. After all, those men were drinking +and it might have been nothing more than +drunken chatter. Perhaps Ducroy was only +bragging and trying to make a big fellow of +himself by telling them he could help them +make so much money. We don’t know what +they were talking about in the first place. +We’d just look foolish if we went to dad with +our story and nothing came of it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He couldn’t do anything, anyway. No more +than we can.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“All we can do,” said Frank, “is to watch +and wait.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll watch, all right. We’ll try to check +up on Giles Ducroy and find out what he’s up +to. We have one big advantage—he doesn’t +know we overheard what they were saying in +the cabin.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He doesn’t know we were within miles of +the place.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m puzzled about that conversation. If +there was nothing in it,” said Joe, “why did +they pick such an out-of-the-way spot to have +their meeting?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It may have been because of the liquor. +It’s against the law to have it,” Frank pointed +out. “Perhaps we were only listening in on +a drinking party after all.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t think so. I have a pretty strong +belief that there was more than that behind +it. Giles Ducroy and that other pair are a bad +combination. When you see those three together +it means there is some trouble being +hatched.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Their mother came in just then with the tea +things, so the boys turned the conversation to +other matters. Mrs. Hardy wanted to know +what was next on their program, now that +school was over and the class picnic a thing of +the past.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Graduation exercises,” said Frank +promptly. “Next week, at the high school.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I must get a new dress,” Mrs. Hardy declared.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’ll certainly have to get all dolled up +to come and see your sons step up for their +diplomas,” agreed Joe laughingly. “It only +happens once in a lifetime, you know.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m glad to see you graduate, but in a way +I’m sorry,” confessed their mother. “It means +you’re growing up and you soon won’t be my +boys any longer.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll always be your boys, even if we live +to be a hundred,” declared Frank, putting an +arm about his mother’s waist.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Have you decided what you want to do after +the holidays are over?” she asked. “You +know I’ve been counting on having you both +go through college.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys looked serious.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll have to think about that,” Joe said. +“Still, there’s lots of time. A whole summer +ahead of us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Be sure and think seriously about it,” their +mother warned. “It is a serious matter. Your +whole future will depend on your decision.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Maybe by the end of the summer we’ll feel +different about going to college,” said Frank. +“Just now I’m so glad to be out of school that +I never want to see another study book again +as long as I live.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Me, too,” declared Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Their mother smiled indulgently, and the +matter of the boys’ future plans rested at that.</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch9'>CHAPTER IX<br> <span class='sub-head'>Missing Mail</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>The</span> night of the graduation exercises at the +Bayport high school arrived, differing little +from similar events in past years but of profound +importance to the members of the graduating +class and their parents.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Mr. and Mrs. Hardy were there, very proud +of their two boys, and Mrs. Hardy beamed with +pleasure when Frank and Joe, dressed in their +finest clothes and looking very uncomfortable, +stepped up to receive their diplomas. Chet +Morton was so nervous and embarrassed that +he stumbled on the way to the platform and +ended by dropping the diploma when it was +handed to him.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>All the girls looked their prettiest, the boys +looked their handsomest, the principal of the +school excelled himself in the speech he had +made at every graduation for the past fifteen +years, various prominent citizens expressed +their pride in the young people, and Callie +Shaw, as class valedictorian, won the hearts of +all by her valedictory address.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>There were other numbers on the program, +including a violin solo by Iola Morton, an exceedingly +vigorous recitation by Biff Hooper, +an accordion solo by Tony Prito and—to cap +it all—the antics of a burlesque orchestra organized +by Chet. In this, Chet was in his element, +wearing a fireman’s hat and a huge false +mustache. Frank and Joe Hardy, wearing +stovepipe hats and red wigs, alternated at a +bass drum; Jerry Gilroy, in a coat that +reached to his heels, performed upon a saxophone +that wouldn’t work and from which Chet +produced a string of sausage at the critical +moment; Phil Cohen tortured a flute that was +capable of but one note. The burlesque orchestra +assaulted the ears of the audience for +some time, with no music whatever, but with +such earnestness that the hearers were doubled +up with laughter.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>This was the high spot of the program, so +far as the boys were concerned, and it ended +the graduation exercises. When they left the +school that night they all felt a little sad, as +they knew they were leaving it for all time, +“unless,” Chet Morton said, “they invite us +back some day when we’re very famous to +address the students on ‘The Secret of +Success.’ ”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“In the meantime,” said Frank, “what are +we going to do this summer?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’d like another outing,” Joe volunteered.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Too much excitement for me,” returned +Chet. “Last summer we were going to have +a nice quiet trip down the coast, and look what +happened. We got mixed up with a gang of +smugglers and had no end of trouble.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It finished up happily enough, didn’t it?” +said Frank. “Even if you did get lost!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“This summer, I’d like to have a nice quiet +holiday in a nice quiet cabin, with a good beach, +where we can swim and loaf around and eat +and sleep and not have anything to worry +about.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Sounds attractive,” Joe admitted. “Where +are you going to find this place, and how can +we get there?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How about Cabin Island?” suggested Biff +Hooper.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The others were thoughtful.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’ve had worse ideas, Biff,” said Chet +Morton. “Do you think Mr. Jefferson will let +us go there?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank laughed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why not? Didn’t we find his missing +stamp collection? Didn’t he say we could have +the use of the island and the cabin any time +we wished? There won’t be any trouble so +far as that’s concerned.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think an outing to Cabin Island would be +the real thing,” Joe declared. “What do you +say to organizing a trip? We can take the +motorboats, use Cabin Island as our headquarters, +then work out from there so we can go +wherever we wish.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You have a head on your shoulders,” Chet +approved. “When we get tired of camping we +can go exploring. When we get tired of the +motorboats we can loaf around Cabin Island.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Joe and I have the summer free,” said +Frank. “After that, we’ll either go to college +or go into business with our father.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t you know yet?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We want to go in with dad,” said Joe +promptly. “But he and mother seem bent on +having us go to college. I think we’ll have a +lot of arguing yet.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“In the meantime, don’t let it spoil your +summer,” advised Chet. “Well, if you want +to go on this outing, be sure and count me in. +We can dig up some of the other fellows and +we ought to have a bang-up good time.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You can’t dig up many of them,” came +from Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why not? Any fellow ought to jump at a +chance like that.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, some of them wouldn’t be allowed to +leave home—got to work and all that. And +some are on the ball team and have to practice +when they aren’t playing a game. And Dick +Roylet and his crowd are going on an auto +tour.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, we’ll get somebody—if we go,” put +in Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Next day when the Hardy boys told their +parents about the outing they had planned, Mr. +and Mrs. Hardy glanced at one another.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t you think you had better be making +your preparations for going to college?” suggested +Mr. Hardy.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If you wait too long, perhaps you may not +be able to get in,” their mother ventured.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Do we have to go to college?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Mr. Hardy looked dubious.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You know, your mother and I have always +had that in mind for you.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe groaned.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll make a rotten lawyer.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“And I’m sure I’ll be a pretty punk doctor,” +declared Frank. “Dad, won’t you let us go +into business with you? We like detective +work. It’s the only thing we’ll ever be happy +at. Haven’t we done fairly well with the cases +we’ve had so far?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yes, you’ve done well. I’ll admit that. +Still—I think I’d rather see you go in for something +else.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Would you want us to go in for something +we wouldn’t enjoy?” said Joe. “A person +can’t be a success in his work unless he really +likes it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s true,” returned Mr. Hardy, weakening +a little. “Well, I must have time to think +it over.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank offered a suggestion.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Let us go on our outing first, and by the +time we come back we can settle the whole +thing. We’ll be back in plenty of time to go +to college, if you really insist that we go.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Mrs. Hardy nodded. “I think that’s fair +enough, Fenton,” she said to her husband.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“All right, then,” agreed the detective. +“We’ll let the matter rest for the time being, +and as soon as you boys return from your trip +we’ll go into it thoroughly. But you must +promise to abide by my decision. I don’t want +to send you to college against your will, but +I do want to do what’s best for your future.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We understand that,” said the boys. “It’s +for our own good. But we <span class='it'>do</span> want to be detectives.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Mr. Hardy smiled.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You seem to have your minds made up, at +any rate. Well, let it go at that. Have your +outing and enjoy yourselves. Then we’ll settle +the whole matter, once and for all.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>However, the lads had little time in which to +proceed with their plans for the outing. They +did not see Chet Morton that afternoon and the +trip was not discussed with any of the other +lads they met. Next morning, as they were +having breakfast, their father came into the +dining room.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“After breakfast is over,” he said, “come +into my study. I want to have a little talk +with you.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll be there.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>When their father had gone, they fell to wondering +why he wanted to see them.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I can’t think of any mischief we’ve been +into—except breaking that pane of glass in the +garage,” said Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He wouldn’t scold us for that. I intended +to put in a new pane of glass to-day.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There’s something in the wind.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They hurried through the remainder of the +meal, anxious to learn the reason for the summons. +When they went into the study, Mr. +Hardy was reading a long typewritten letter +which he placed to one side.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ve been asked to handle a case,” he explained +at once, “and I thought maybe you +could help me a little. Sometimes you hear of +things that I mightn’t learn about. This is a +serious case and just now I’m trying to make +up my mind how to go about it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What has happened, Dad?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I received this letter this morning from the +postal authorities, explaining the circumstances. +It seems that several bags of valuable mail +have disappeared from one of the hangars at +the airport near here.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Stolen?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They couldn’t have disappeared any other +way. The mail, as you know, is very carefully +guarded. In this instance, the train that was +to take the mail into the city was a few minutes +late and the sacks were accidently left unguarded. +When the train arrived it was found +that the mail had disappeared. The matter is +being kept quiet for the time being, in the hope +that we may get a clue. But so far the whole +business seems to be a complete mystery.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Haven’t they any idea who stole it?” +asked Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“No idea at all. The only men around, so +far as they know, were the usual airport +officials and pilots. Practically all of them are +above suspicion. From the looks of the case, +I’m inclined to think some outsider may have +been hiding near by, watching his chance, and +when he saw the sacks left unguarded he simply +seized them and cleared out.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank leaned forward in excitement.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think we can help you a little,” he declared. +“We may know something about that +very robbery.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Already?” exclaimed Fenton Hardy, astonished.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe thereupon told their father +about their adventure in Beach Grove on the +day of the picnic. They told that they had seen +Giles Ducroy and his two companions near the +old cabin, how they had followed the men and +listened to their conversation.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Ducroy was trying to get these other chaps +to go in with him on some crooked deal, and +they were afraid because they said it was too +dangerous,” explained Frank. “Ducroy told +them they’d make ten thousand dollars apiece +out of it. Perhaps that was what he meant. +He planned to steal some of the mail bags.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Fenton Hardy was interested.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Certainly a suspicious conversation,” he admitted. +“Still, the mail bags weren’t worth +any thirty thousand dollars, if what the post +office people tell me is correct. They were +worth about two thousand dollars at the most. +Besides, Giles Ducroy is already under suspicion.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Has he been arrested?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Fenton Hardy shook his head.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“When the theft occurred, the authorities +first thought of Ducroy, because they knew he +had been discharged and was probably looking +for a chance of revenge. So their first action +was to investigate his movements on the day of +the robbery.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“And what did they find?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He wasn’t near Bayport at all. He was in +Philadelphia—at least, he has such an alibi.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Can he prove it?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He had two witnesses to prove it. So nothing +could be done against Ducroy.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’d like to know who those witnesses were,” +said Frank. “I don’t believe he was in Philadelphia +at all.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys were openly dubious about Ducroy’s +alibi.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He’s a slick one, Dad,” declared Joe. “He +may look dumb, but he’s not as dumb as he +looks.”</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch10'>CHAPTER X<br> <span class='sub-head'>Looking for Clues</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>The</span> news that Giles Ducroy had a proven +alibi to clear himself of suspicion in the affair +of the stolen mail sacks disconcerted the Hardy +boys for a time.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>When their father told them about the robbery +their first thought was that Ducroy and his +two companions were the guilty parties, for the +theft seemed to be linked up in some manner +with the conversation the lads had overheard +in the cabin at Beach Grove. However, there +now remained the fact that Ducroy had an alibi, +and also the fact that the mail sacks were by no +means worth the amount the former pilot had +mentioned to his companions.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Just the same,” declared Frank that afternoon, +“I’m convinced that Ducroy had something +to do with the affair, alibi or no alibi.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps the mail sacks weren’t stolen by +Ducroy,” suggested Joe. “Perhaps he went +to Philadelphia, so he would be able to prove an +alibi, and left Newt Pipps and Ollie Jacobs to +commit the actual robbery.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It could have been worked that way. I’ll +tell you what we’ll do, Joe. Let’s take the +roadster and drive back down to Beach Grove. +I’d like to take another look at that cabin. +Perhaps we’ll find a few clues there that may +help us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe was impressed by this suggestion, and +in a short time the Hardy boys were speeding +down the Shore Road in their car. When they +reached the grove they left the roadster and +made their way through the woods down the +path toward the little cabin.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We didn’t have the opportunity to look +through the place when we were here before,” +Frank pointed out. “They may have left something +behind, a few notes or plans for instance, +that will give us a better idea of what they were +talking about.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s a mighty suspicious thing that a robbery +should occur at the airport so soon after +Giles Ducroy and his friends were talking +about some crooked scheme.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s the way I feel about it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys entered the cabin. The door was +unlocked and the place was deserted. It was +sparsely furnished with only a small wooden +table, two broken chairs and a few boxes.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Nothing much here,” Frank remarked. +“Still, it won’t do any harm to look around +carefully.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe came upon an empty bottle over in a +corner, perhaps the bottle from which the men +had been drinking on the afternoon of the +picnic. Frank’s attention was attracted by a +number of cigarette stubs on the table.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Sometimes a little thing like a cigarette +turns out to be a mighty valuable clue,” he observed, +examining the stubs. Most of them were +very short, but on one, a trifle longer than the +rest, he found the letters “RE.” The rest of +the word had been obliterated with the burning +of the cigarette.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wonder what make of cigarettes they +were smoking,” he said. He searched the cabin +thoroughly and at last he found what he was +looking for. Beneath one of the boxes he saw +a crumpled paper package. He picked this up, +unfolded it, and examined it carefully.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The package had once held cigarettes, and +across the front he saw the name, “Red Ribbon +Cigarettes.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Not much of a clue there,” laughed Joe. +“All gone up in smoke.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You never can tell,” returned his brother, +pocketing the package.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Better be careful. If mother finds that +package in your pocket she’ll think you’ve been +smoking.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Mother knows us well enough to know we +don’t smoke,” Frank said. “I have a hunch +that this little package may come in handy +some day.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Although the boys searched the bare little +cabin high and low, they found nothing else that +might help them. Their search for clues appeared +to have been a failure.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Ducroy and his friends were too wise to +leave any notes that might incriminate them,” +Joe said, as they went away. “I guess we’ll +have to tackle the case from another angle.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Dad’s handling it to the best of his ability, +and I guess he will be in a position to get information +that we’ll never run across. All we +can do is to keep our ears open and, if we hear +anything, let him know.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys returned to Bayport, somewhat +disappointed; but when they were near their +home they dismissed the mail bag mystery from +their minds, for they met Chet Morton and Biff +Hooper.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Just who we were looking for!” exclaimed +Chet. “We called at the house, but your +mother said you had gone out.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s up?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why, Biff and I thought it would be a fine +afternoon to take a little boat trip. I thought +we could go down to Cabin Island and see that +everything is in shape. We can find out what +we need to take down there for our outing. I +know we left some kitchen dishes and other +things there last winter, but they may be gone +by now. We can look the place over and make +a list of what we’ll have to bring along.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’re going on the trip, aren’t you?” +asked Biff.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Sure, we’re going. I guess it isn’t too late +in the day to go down to the island, Chet. +Come on with us and we’ll take the car back to +the garage.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys drove back to the house with +the other lads, told their mother that they were +going down to Cabin Island in the boat, and +started off for the boathouse. The lads did not +take any food with them, for the Hardy boys’ +motorboat, <span class='it'>The Sleuth</span>, was a speedy craft and +was quite capable of taking them to Cabin +Island and back by evening.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>It was a warm, sultry afternoon, and the lads +were glad to be out on the cool bay, away from +the sweltering heat of the city. It had been an +unusually close day, and there had been occasional +rumbles of distant thunder.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’re going to have a thunderstorm to-night, +I’ll bet,” said Biff, as the boat nosed +down the bay.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t think it’ll break before we get back,” +said Frank. “It’s a long way off yet.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='it'>The Sleuth</span> drummed along smoothly, and +Joe lolled at the wheel. Once they left the narrow +end of the bay upon which the city nestled +in the glaring sunlight, there was a stiff breeze, +vigorous and refreshing.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Oh, boy!” gloated Chet. “This is the life!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It sure is!” the others agreed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>By the time they came within sight of Cabin +Island, leaving Bayport far behind, they could +see rolling black clouds in the east, and the +murmur of thunder had become more continuous.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We shan’t be able to stay long, I’m afraid,” +remarked Frank. “That storm is coming up +more quickly than I thought it would.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Oh, it’s hours away yet,” scoffed Chet. +“You’ll see.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Let’s hope so. Anyway, we won’t lose +time. We’ll just go up to the cabin and take +a quick look around. I don’t want to get caught +out in a bad storm. <span class='it'>The Sleuth</span> is a good little +boat, but the waves run mighty high in the open +bay around here.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Those who followed the adventures of the +Hardy boys in “The Mystery of Cabin Island,” +are aware that the island, which was owned by +Elroy Jefferson, a wealthy antique dealer of +Bayport, lay far down Barmet Bay in a little +cove. There was a large cabin, built by Mr. +Jefferson, fully equipped and furnished, but +not occupied by the owner because it had been +built for the use of his wife and son. They had +died, and the associations of the island had been +so painful to him that he had never gone near +the place again. However, grateful to the +Hardy boys because they had recovered his +stolen automobile and because they had solved +the mystery of a valuable stamp collection that +had been purloined from him, he had turned +over the key of the cabin to them with full permission +to make use of the place on any of their +outings.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They ran the motorboat into the little boathouse +and made it secure, then clambered up +the familiar path toward the cabin. They had +last been on the island in the winter time, when +everything was blanketed with snow. Now it +was doubly beautiful with its grassy, wooded +slopes and its tall trees, among which the +cabin stood.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Make it snappy,” cautioned Frank. “That +storm looks worse every minute.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He opened the cabin door and they stepped +inside. The chimney, which had been damaged +during a storm the previous winter, had been +repaired by some workmen whom Elroy Jefferson +had sent to the island, and the place had +been thoroughly cleaned. Some new furniture +had been installed and on going to the kitchen +the boys found a full supply of dishes, kettles, +frying pans, cutlery—everything they could +possibly need except provisions.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He must have expected us to come here +during the summer!” exclaimed Joe, in delight. +“He certainly hasn’t overlooked anything.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Mighty good of him, I’ll say!” Chet declared, +and his sentiment was echoed by the +others. “We have nothing to worry about in +the way of kitchen equipment, at any rate. +We’ll need only blankets and grub.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think we’ll have a fine outing here.” +Frank looked out the window. “Well, we’ve +found that we don’t have to worry about the +kitchen end of it. Now let’s be going. The +storm is right overhead.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>When the boys stepped outside again, all saw +that Frank’s desire for haste was well-founded. +There were white caps rolling on the bay and +the sky was growing black. Even as they +started down the path there was a flash of +lightning and an ear-splitting crash of thunder. +Then followed a gusty shower of rain. The +trees were bending before the rising wind.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll never make it!” shouted Frank. +“No use trying to get back to Bayport now.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’ll we do?” asked Chet.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I guess we’d better go back to the cabin.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We haven’t any food, no blankets, no oil in +the lights. We’ll probably be stranded here all +night.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“This is a fine lookout,” grumbled Biff. “I +wish I hadn’t come.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>As the boys looked out over the bay they +could see a sweeping wall of rain approaching +above the stormy waters. His companions realized +that Frank Hardy was right. They could +not hope to brave the perils of that storm by +venturing a return to Bayport that night. On +the other hand, the prospect of being stranded +on the island without food was far from +pleasing.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Rain was pouring now. Another lightning +flash zigzagged its way through the clouds. Another +thunderclap crashed forth.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Do you think we can reach the village?” +shouted Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank had almost forgotten about the little +village on the mainland not far away which +they had visited several times during the winter. +Amos Grice, the storekeeper, was a good +friend of theirs and his hospitality was preferable +to spending a night in a dark cabin, without +food or blankets.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll try it, anyway. If we get into the +shelter of the shore I think we can make it all +right. Come on fellows!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The others followed Frank down the steep +path to the boathouse, where all clambered into +<span class='it'>The Sleuth</span>. The engine roared as the boat +sped out into the rolling waves, this time Frank +taking the wheel.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Smash!</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A great wave broke over the bow, drenching +the boys to the skin. The full force of the wind +caught them as they rounded the point of the +island. They were plunging out into a raging +waste of waters.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll never make it!” groaned Chet.</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch11'>CHAPTER XI<br> <span class='sub-head'>News from the City</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Frank Hardy</span> set his jaw with grim determination +as he drove the motorboat into the +storm. It was too late to turn back.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The storm had swept up with such speed that +Frank realized now that he had underestimated +it. The wind was terrific and the waves were +high. They battered against the staunch little +boat, drenching the boys with flying spray.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank headed toward the mainland, but then +he saw that he could not hope to find shelter +from the wind along the shore. The waves +were rolling in and dashing against the rocks. +The motorboat would have no chance there. It +would be flung hither and thither and battered +to pieces.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Nothing for it but to head right into the +wind, I guess,” he shouted, above the howl +of the storm.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The other boys were crouching in the bottom +of the boat, out of the flying spray. The +boat seemed to quiver with successive shocks +as it bucked the waves.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The rain was driving into their faces. +Through the downpour Frank could not even +see the little village toward which they were +bound. He wished they had remained on Cabin +Island.</p> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='it'>The Sleuth</span>, although small, was a strong and +well-built craft. The engine throbbed faithfully. +None of them dared think of the consequences +should the engine fail.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The bow of the craft cut through the rolling +waves like a knife. Thunder rolled overhead. +The sky was black. The boys could scarcely +see the shore. Driving against the wind and +the tide, the boat could make little speed, and +headway seemed slight.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Nevertheless <span class='it'>The Sleuth</span> was edging slowly +down the bay, coming ever closer to the little +village. Frank peered through the raging +storm, hoping to catch sight of the little huddle +of houses on the shore.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Lightning flared in the dark sky. Frank +held the boat steadily into the wind.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They were all drenched to the skin. Although +no one said a word, Frank could see that the +others were frightened. As a matter of fact, +he was none too confident of the outcome himself.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It all depends on the engine,” he muttered. +“If that fails, we’re done for.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>But the engine had been thoroughly overhauled +just the previous week. He was grateful +for the foresight that had enabled him and +Joe to take this precaution.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe crept to the side of his brother.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Do you think we’ll get there, Frank?” he +shouted.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank nodded. “It’s dirty weather, but we +ought to make it all right.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Just then he caught sight of the little break +in the shoreline that indicated the cove where +the village was located. They were still far +out, and to reach the village the boat must run +diagonal to the waves. This was the hardest +test.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The buffeting <span class='it'>The Sleuth</span> had previously received +was as nothing to what she now suffered. +Time and again the boys held their breaths, certain +that the boat was about to capsize. Great +waves would crash against it, the boat would +cant far over on her side, her bow would be +buried in the water. Then, like a live thing, +<span class='it'>The Sleuth</span> would shake herself free, rise above +the waves, and go plunging on.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys clung to every available hold, fearful +of being washed overboard.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Suddenly Joe gave a shout of warning:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Watch out!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A great roller was bearing down on them. +They ducked, waited——</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Crash!</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A huge sea of green water engulfed them. +For a moment the boat was completely buried +beneath the wave. It slipped far over. Frank +felt his feet washed from beneath him. He +clung to the wheel with all the strength at his +command, held his breath through what seemed +an eternity of waiting.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Then the motorboat labored free of the wave, +slowly righted itself. The water receded. The +craft was weighted down by the water that still +remained in it, but all the boys were safe. +Chet was suffering from a cut across the forehead, +where he had been flung against one of +the seats; Biff was clutching his wrist, which +had been wrenched in his desperate effort to +retain his grip on an iron ring; Joe was gasping +for breath after his immersion in the water; +Frank felt a dull pain in his side, where he +had been dashed against the wheel.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>More dead than alive, the boys held on. But +the village was now in plain view. They had +gone through the worst of the storm, and the +waves were now hurling the boat in toward the +cove.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank steered toward a little dock, where +the angry waters were dashing themselves angrily +against the timbers. He saw a man clad +in oilskins running out on the dock, gesturing +to them and pointing toward the shore. There +was a little boathouse in the cove, and then +the man ran from the dock over toward the +boathouse, still gesturing.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>There was shelter for them. The motorboat +would have been dashed to pieces had they tied +up to the dock. Frank saw the door of the +boathouse open and he drove directly toward +it. A great wave caught the craft and it shot +forward. A turn of the wheel and he was +headed into the narrow opening. He switched +off the engine, and then <span class='it'>The Sleuth</span> slid gently +into the slip.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Tired, exhausted, drenched, the boys clambered +out of the boat. The man in oilskins was +waiting for them. He seized a rope Frank flung +to him and snubbed it around a post.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, now, that was a narrow squeak, if +ever I saw one!” he declared in a familiar, +nasal voice. “Wust storm we’ve had on this +bay for ten years, and you’d be caught in it. +You’re mighty lucky, my lads.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They looked up. They knew that voice well.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Amos Grice!” exclaimed Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>At the sound of his name, the man looked +around. Then he recognized the refugees.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, if it ain’t the Hardy boys!” he +shouted in welcome. “And Chet and Biff!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You certainly did us a good turn that time,” +declared Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Amos Grice was soon shaking hands with +them, asking a score of questions. How had +they come to be out on the bay in the storm? +Had they been at Cabin Island? Had they +been frightened? How did the boat get half +full of water? And so on and so forth. He +was a kindly old man, this village storekeeper. +He now led the way out of the boathouse.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Come up to the store,” he said. “Come +up and put on some dry clothes. You’re soaked +to the hide, all of you. Come up and tell me +how it happened.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Nothing much to tell, Mr. Grice,” explained +Frank. “We were on Cabin Island this afternoon +when we saw the storm coming up. We +knew there was no chance of getting back to +Bayport in time, so we thought we’d run over +here, but the storm broke too suddenly for us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It did break sudden,” admitted the storekeeper. +“It broke sudden and fierce. I’ve +never seen a worse storm in ten years.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He took them up to the store, and in a warm +kitchen at the back he bade them dry themselves +by the fire while he hustled about and procured +dry clothing. Amos Grice was a bachelor, and +while his living quarters were crude, they were +neat and comfortable. He was genuinely delighted +to see the boys, and he soon busied himself +at the stove preparing supper.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>After a hearty meal the lads were feeling +more comfortable and their hazardous adventure +on the bay did not seem quite so perilous +as they looked back on it.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I guess we won’t be able to get back to +the city to-night,” said Frank regretfully.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Amos Grice snorted.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wouldn’t hear of it!” he declared. +“Couldn’t think of it! Just suicide to try it. +No, sir, you lads have got to spend the night +with me, and glad I am to have you. It’s seldom +enough I have company here.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“As long as you have room for us——”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Of course I have room for you. There’s +two big beds in the spare room, and you’re more +than welcome.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A bell occasionally tinkled out in the store, +and Amos Grice bustled away to wait on a customer. +However, there were few people in +the little village and the night was so wild and +stormy that nearly everyone was staying indoors, +so the interruptions were few.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They chatted with the old man all that evening, +sitting by the fire, and eventually he +showed them to a big room where the beds were +already made.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Now,” he said, “sleep as long as you wish +and I’ll have some breakfast for you in the +morning. No doubt your parents is worryin’ +about you, and I’d phone ’em if I could, to let +’em know you’re all safe and sound. But the +telephone wires is down somewhere along the +line. They’ll likely be fixed by morning.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Dad and mother will certainly be worrying +about us,” said Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Can’t be helped,” returned Amos philosophically. +“They’ll feel all the better when +they know you’re safe.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys were tired and they fell asleep +quickly. In the morning when they awakened +the sun was shining in the window. The storm +was over. Out in the kitchen a fire crackled in +the stove and they could hear Amos Grice moving +about. There was a savory aroma of bacon +and eggs and coffee.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He’s certainly a good scout!” declared +Chet, as they dressed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Can’t be beat,” agreed Biff.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>When the boys were washed and dressed, +they went out into the kitchen.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Sleep well?” inquired Amos.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You bet!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s good. Breakfast is ready. Pull +your chairs up to the table and get on the outside +of some bacon and eggs. There’s plenty, +so don’t be afeared to ask for second helpin’s.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Is the telephone working, Mr. Grice?” asked +Frank. “I’d like to call them up at home if +I can.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yep, the phone is workin’ again,” the storekeeper +assured them. “I know, because I was +callin’ the operator this morning. Big doin’s +in Bayport last night.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What was that?” asked Joe, interested.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Big robbery at the airport. One of them +airplanes was robbed of a lot of mail worth +more’n twenty thousand dollars, so the telephone +operator was tellin’ me.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys looked at one another in +amazement. A second robbery at the airport! +Impulsively, Frank exclaimed:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Ducroy again!”</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch12'>CHAPTER XII<br> <span class='sub-head'>Under Arrest</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>“What’s</span> that?” demanded the storekeeper +abruptly, in response to Frank Hardy’s inadvertent +exclamation.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Nothing,” answered Frank. “I was surprised—that’s +all. You see, there was a robbery +at the airport only a day or so ago.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Another one, eh? Well, they oughta watch +that place more careful, that’s all I can say. +People won’t be sendin’ their letters by airplane +if they think they’re goin’ to be stolen +all the time.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s a case for you fellows,” said Biff.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Neither Biff nor Chet were aware of the +depth of the Hardy boy’s interest in the airport +robberies.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Did the operator tell you anything more +about that affair, Mr. Grice?” asked Frank, +after a pause.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Nothin’ more than what I’ve told you. She +just said there was a big robbery and twenty +thousand dollars’ worth of mail had been stolen +last night.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe went to the telephone. After some delay +he managed to get the Hardy home in Bayport +on the wire. His mother’s voice answered.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Hello, Mother! This is Joe talking.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Her voice had an unmistakable note of relief +as she answered:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Joe! Oh, I’m so glad to hear your voice +again. Your father and I have been greatly +worried about you. Where are you? What +happened? Why didn’t you come home last +night?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t worry, Mother. We were caught in +the storm and we couldn’t get back. We’re +quite safe. We’re at Mr. Grice’s place, down +below Cabin Island.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, I’m glad to hear that. When are +you coming home?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’re coming back to-day. Would you +mind telephoning to Mrs. Morton and Mrs. +Hooper? Tell them that Chet and Biff are +with us and that they’re all right too.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll do that, Joe. Just a minute. Your +father wants to speak to you.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe waited a moment. Then he heard his +father’s voice.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Hello, Son. You’ve given us a pretty bad +scare.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’re sorry, Dad, but we got caught in the +storm.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Let me in on this, Joe,” begged Frank; and +when Joe had put the telephone in his brother’s +hand the older Hardy boy continued: “Hello, +Dad! Worried you and mother, did we? Sorry. +But we’re all right. Will tell you about it when +we get back.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, I’m glad you’re all right. Now listen. +I want you and Joe to come home at +once.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Sure. We are just going to leave.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Come back to Bayport at once. Something +has happened.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s wrong, Dad?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll tell you when you reach here. But don’t +lose any time.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Is it about the airport robbery?” asked +Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How did you know there was a robbery at +the airport?” demanded his father in an anxious +tone.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We heard it this morning through Mr. +Grice.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, it’s connected with the robbery, but +it’s a little worse than that. Come right home, +mind now.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“All right, Dad. We’ll leave right away.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank hung up the receiver and turned to +the others. He was puzzled.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I guess we can’t hang around here this +morning. Dad wants us back right away. He +seems awfully anxious.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Anything wrong at home?” asked Joe +quickly. “Mother didn’t say so.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Everything’s all right there, I guess. But +Dad has something on his mind. He said he’d +explain it when we got home.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Shucks!” grumbled Amos Grice. “And I +counted on takin’ you lads out fishin’ this +morning.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I guess we’ll have to call it off, Mr. Grice. +Some other time, perhaps.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Chet Morton sighed and ate another slice of +bacon.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I guess we’ll all catch it when we get home. +Was your Dad sore, Frank?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“No, he didn’t seem angry. I can’t imagine +what’s wrong. Well, I guess we’ll have to bail +out the boat right after breakfast and start for +home.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>After they had eaten, Amos Grice helped +them bail out the motorboat. It had stood the +storm well, in spite of the terrific battering +it had received. The old storekeeper was disappointed +because his young guests could not +remain with him longer, and when they thanked +him heartily for his kindness he waved their +gratitude aside.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“A pleasure,” he told them. “I’m always +glad to see you. Any time you’re down this +way, be sure and drop in.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll pick better weather next time, Mr. +Grice,” laughed Chet.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“In fair weather or foul, you’re always welcome.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They got into the boat and started off. The +storekeeper stood on the dock and waved to +them as they departed. Then he turned and +walked slowly up toward his store.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe came up and sat beside Frank, who was +at the wheel.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What do you think has happened, Frank?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I can’t imagine. It has something to do +with the robbery last night, I’m sure.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“But why should dad want us back right +away?” Joe insisted.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank shrugged. “It beats me. Perhaps he +has some work for us to do, helping him trace +the thieves.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Maybe that’s it. I sure hope so.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank was silent for a while. Then he said:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wonder if Giles Ducroy and his friends +will have an alibi this time.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It will have to be a mighty good one. Just +think of it! Two mail thefts in a row. Whoever +did last night’s job must know the run +of the airport pretty well.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Whoever committed the first robbery knew +the lay of the land too. If we solve the first +one we’ve solved them both.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We?” said Joe. “I don’t think <span class='it'>we’ll</span> have +much chance to solve it. This is dad’s case. +I’ll bet it won’t take him very long to clear it +up, either.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>But, with all their conjectures, the Hardy +boys had no suspicion of the real reason for +their summons back to Bayport. Had they +known what had caused that note of urgency +and anxiety in their father’s voice, they would +have been dumbfounded. A stunning surprise +awaited them.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They passed Cabin Island and headed out of +the cove into the open bay. The water was still +rough from yesterday’s storm, but there was +little wind. After a while the city came in sight +far in the distance, shining in the sunlight, beneath +a pall of smoke from the factory chimneys.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>It was a few minutes before twelve o’clock +when the boys finally arrived at Bayport and +ran <span class='it'>The Sleuth</span> into the boathouse. To their +surprise they saw that a man was lounging in +the doorway. He was a big man, with a fat, +stolid face, and he was chewing at an unlighted +cigar, his thumbs in his vest pockets.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Good mornin’, boys,” he rumbled.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They recognized him as Detective Smuff, of +the Bayport police department, a worthy if unintelligent +officer. Frank could not imagine why +Smuff should be in the boathouse, apparently +waiting for them, but he grinned amiably at +the detective.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Hello, Mr. Smuff! It is an unexpected surprise +to find you here.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Smuff nodded portentously. “It is?” he +asked.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Last person in the world we ever thought +would come down to welcome us,” declared +Chet. “I tell you, Mr. Smuff, we sure appreciate +this. It isn’t often we have a reception +committee on the job when we come back from +a little outing.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well,” said Smuff, “I’m on the job this +time.” He turned to the Hardy boys. “I’ve +been sent down here to give you a message as +soon as you got in,” he informed them.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“A message!” exclaimed Joe. “Who from?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The chief. He wants to see you down at +headquarters.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys stared at the detective in +amazement.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The chief? Wants to see us?” ejaculated +Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yep.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What about?” demanded Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Smuff looked very mysterious. “You’ll +know all about it when you get there,” he said.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’re going to be pinched for staying out +all night,” laughed Chet. “That’s a fine thing +to do, Smuff—pinch our chums the minute we +get back to town. A fine reception committee +you are!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I didn’t say anybody was pinched,” returned +Smuff cautiously.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well,” said Frank, “this <span class='it'>is</span> a surprise! +Won’t you tell us what it’s all about?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Smuff shook his head. “My orders,” he explained, +“was to come down here and wait for +you and to tell you to come up and see the chief +right away.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why not let us wait until after lunch? We +want to go home and eat and change our +clothes.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Orders is orders,” insisted Smuff firmly. +“The chief wants to see you right away.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“All right,” sighed Joe. “I suppose we’ll +have to go. But I wish I knew what it was all +about.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Me, too,” rejoined his brother.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Biff, who had been tying up the boat, came +forward.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He probably wants to fire Smuff, here, and +give you jobs on the detective force,” he suggested, +with a grin.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Smuff glowered. “My job is good for a long +time yet,” he observed pompously.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Come on,” said Frank. “There’s no use +standing here arguing about it. We’ll go with +you, Smuff.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I have my car right here at the door,” said +the detective.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s service,” chirped Chet. “Biff and +I will run along home. Our parents will be +worrying themselves sick if we don’t show up. +So long, fellows! If Smuff claps you into a +cell, we’ll come and bail you out!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Chet and Biff hastened off down the street +while the Hardy boys clambered into Smuff’s +car. The detective wedged himself in behind +the wheel and they drove the few short blocks +to police headquarters.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Here they were ushered into the private +office of Chief Collig himself, a fussy little man +with a vast sense of dignity. The chief was +sitting at a huge desk, scanning a large number +of photographs of criminals, but he stacked +these to one side as Detective Smuff brought +the boys in.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Good day, Chief,” said Frank easily. “Detective +Smuff, here, said you wanted to see us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I did,” snapped Chief Collig.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, here we are.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’re wanted,” said Collig briefly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Wanted?” asked Frank. “What do you +mean?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’re wanted by the postal authorities. +I have orders to place you under arrest.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The lads were so astonished that they could +scarcely speak. Under arrest? This was the +last thing either had expected.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What for?” gasped Joe. “What’s the +idea?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You know about the airport robbery, don’t +you?” demanded Chief Collig.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yes, we know about it. But——”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, they say you did it. I have orders to +arrest you both.”</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch13'>CHAPTER XIII<br> <span class='sub-head'>Circumstantial Evidence</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>The Hardy</span> boys were absolutely dumbfounded. +The charge of theft seemed so absurd +that they were at first tempted to laugh. +But they saw that Chief Collig was in deadly +earnest. His face was serious and his eyes +regarded them sternly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The postal people have evidence against +you lads,” he said. “A mail sack with about +twenty thousand dollars’ worth of mail was +stolen. They took out a warrant against you +this morning.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why, this is the craziest thing I ever heard +of!” declared Frank hotly. “Us? Mixed up +in that mail robbery? Why, we weren’t even +near Bayport when it happened.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How do you know so much about when it +happened?” asked the chief quickly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We were away down the bay all last night +and we heard it over the telephone this +morning.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Pretty good alibi,” said the chief. “And +what time do you think the robbery occurred?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Last night.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, it didn’t happen last night. It happened +yesterday afternoon, early. And you +boys didn’t leave here in your motorboat until +late in the afternoon. The robbery wasn’t discovered +until last night. Where were you +yesterday afternoon?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why, we went in our roadster down to—” +began Joe, but a warning kick from Frank silenced +him. It would not do to tell Chief Collig +that they had been in Beach Grove, seeking +clues against Ducroy and his friends in the +deserted cabin.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where did you go in your roadster?” asked +Chief Collig.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We went for a drive,” admitted Joe lamely.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where to?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well,” said Joe, “we went down the Shore +Road.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“To the airport?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“No.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The chief pursed his lips. “You parked your +car in Beach Grove,” he said. “I have a witness +to prove it. And from there you walked +through the bush to the airport.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We didn’t!” snapped Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where did you go, then?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We just took a walk through the grove.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Can you prove it?” asked the chief.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’ll have to take our word for it, that’s +all I can say.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The chief shook his head. “I can’t take your +word for it,” he returned. “The evidence +against you is too strong.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Are you going to lock us up?” Frank asked.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’re under arrest. That’s my duty.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Won’t you let us go home first? We’d like +to talk this over with our father.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He knows about it,” said Collig.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“But we want to see him, anyway. You +come with us, Chief. We won’t try to run +away.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The chief considered this for a moment. “I +guess there ain’t any harm in that,” he decided +finally. He got up, put on his uniform cap, and +led the way out of the office.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A department automobile was waiting at the +curb and Chief Collig ordered the chauffeur to +drive to the Hardy home on High Street.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What makes you think we’re mixed up in +this business?” Joe inquired. “Is it just because +we were out on the Shore Road yesterday?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The chief shook his head. “We didn’t know +that until later,” he said. “After we began +checking up on you two lads we found that you +had been on the Shore Road.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank was surprised.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What made you check up on us? Why +should you suspect us? We have never been +in trouble before.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I know that,” returned Chief Collig. “You +would never have been suspected hadn’t it been +for the clues.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Clues?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There were clues found after the robbery. +I think you’ll have a hard time explaining +them.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Beyond that, Chief Collig would volunteer no +further information. The boys were puzzled +and apprehensive. The chief’s mysterious reference +to clues made their position seem more +serious than they had at first imagined. Conscious +though they were of their own innocence, +they realized that their visit to Beach Grove +made it almost impossible for them to prove an +alibi and they readily saw that they might find +themselves in a bad plight.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>At the Hardy home they found Fenton Hardy +awaiting them. Mrs. Hardy seemed anxious +and frightened, particularly when she saw +Chief Collig, but her husband managed to allay +her fears.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s all a bad mistake, Laura,” he assured +her. “The boys have done nothing wrong. +We’ll go into the matter thoroughly and see +where the trouble lies.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He ushered Chief Collig and his sons into the +study, then closed the door.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, Chief,” said the great detective easily, +“this seems to be a bad mix-up. I didn’t meet +the boys when they arrived this morning because +I knew you wanted to have a talk with +them and I didn’t wish to interfere. How do +things stand now?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They’re under arrest,” returned Collig. +“They wanted me to bring them home so they +could see you, and I consented.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Under arrest, are they? Well, that’s bad. +I thought they would be able to prove an alibi.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They can’t,” said the chief. “It isn’t my +doing, Mr. Hardy. The post office people took +out this warrant and if I didn’t arrest them, +somebody else would.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I quite understand that, Chief.” Mr. +Hardy turned to his sons. “Well, boys, this +looks pretty bad. What have you to say?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s a big surprise to us, Dad,” said Frank. +“The first we heard of the robbery was over +the telephone this morning. We don’t know +anything more about it than that. I think you +know well enough that we’re innocent.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Mr. Hardy nodded. “I’m quite sure of that. +The fact is, however, that there is some damaging +evidence against you. It will have to be +explained. When were you at the airport last?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ve never been at the airport, Dad.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’ve never been there at any time?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“No,” said Frank. “We started out to visit +the airport one day, but that was the time Giles +Ducroy’s plane crashed when we were still some +distance away. We turned back and returned +to town.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where were you yesterday afternoon?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We took the car and went for a drive out +the Shore Road, to Beach Grove.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Did anyone see you? Can anyone prove +it?” inquired Mr. Hardy, eagerly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank shook his head. “No one saw us, so +far as I know. You’ll just have to take our +word for it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s quite enough for me,” admitted Mr. +Hardy. “But the police require something +more substantial than that.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s all this about clues?” demanded +Joe. “Chief Collig says they found some clues +at the airport that seemed to connect us with +the robbery. What were they?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We found a sweater, for one thing,” declared +Chief Collig. “It was a blue sweater, +with white trimmings.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I had a blue sweater with white trimmings,” +said Frank promptly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where is it now?” asked the chief.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I lost it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Chief Collig nodded grimly. “You lost it at +the airport. That’s where it was found.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“My sweater? Found at the airport?” exclaimed +Frank, dumbfounded.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There are plenty of blue sweaters like +Frank’s,” scoffed Joe. “How do you know it +was his?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Because,” returned the chief, “his name +was in it. It was on a tag inside the collar.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank was silent for a moment. He realized +how damaging the discovery of the sweater +might be.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I did have a tag with my name on it, +stitched inside the collar of my sweater,” he +admitted. “I guess it must be mine, all right. +But I didn’t leave it there. I lost the sweater +more than a week ago. I left it out in the barn +one night and I haven’t seen it since.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well,” said Chief Collig, “the sweater has +been found. It was lying in the airport, in a +place where you—where the thieves lay in hiding +until the mail bags were left unguarded.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Anyone could have put the sweater there,” +declared Mr. Hardy. “The person who took +Frank’s sweater from the barn could have done +that.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We have more evidence than that,” insisted +the chief. He turned to Joe. “Let me see the +soles of your shoes?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Mystified, Joe elevated his feet. The chief +looked at the soles, then referred to a paper +which he removed from his pocket.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’ll find it hard to explain <span class='it'>that</span>,” he said, +and placed the paper on Fenton Hardy’s desk.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe’s shoes had been bought at an exclusive +sporting goods store in Bayport just a few days +previously. They were new, and of an original +design, the rubber soles were stamped in a peculiar +manner. Probably no more than a few +pairs had been sold since the shipment arrived.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The paper which Chief Collig produced had +a penciled drawing which corresponded to the +stamped design on the soles of Joe’s shoes.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That drawing,” explained the chief, “was +made from the footprints found at the scene of +the robbery. What size of shoe do you wear?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Size six,” returned Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“These footprints were made by a size six +shoe. I went to the shoe dealers in town and +I found that only one merchant handles shoes +of that type. He says they are a new kind of +shoe and that he has sold only one pair of sixes +since they arrived. And he sold that pair to +you. How do you explain that?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I didn’t leave the footprints there,” insisted +Joe doggedly. “Someone else must have a pair +of those shoes, same size as mine.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You are wearing the only pair of those +shoes ever sold in Bayport,” declared Chief +Collig. “The footprints were found at the airport +in the mud. And there’s something else.” +He took an object from his pocket and held it +out in the palm of his hand. “Do you recognize +that?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“My knife!” exclaimed Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You admit it, eh?” The chief grunted with +satisfaction. “You see the initials on it. J. H. +to F. H.?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Joe gave it to me for Christmas, and he had +the initials engraved on it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I suppose,” sneered the chief, “you lost the +knife at the same time you lost your sweater?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“To tell the truth, I did.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Fenton Hardy was pale and distressed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“This looks very bad,” he said to his sons. +“Have you any idea how the sweater and the +knife came to be there, Frank?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“None at all, Dad, unless the person who +stole them from me left them at the airport.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“And you, Joe? How about the footprints?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“All I can say is that somebody else must +have a pair of shoes like mine. Neither Frank +nor I ever went near the airport.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think,” said Fenton Hardy, “it wouldn’t +be a bad idea if we went out to the airport now. +We’ll have to look over the ground.”</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch14'>CHAPTER XIV<br> <span class='sub-head'>Held for Trial</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Chief Collig</span> accompanied Fenton Hardy and +the two boys out to the airport, taking them +there in his own car. The road entering the +grounds was under guard, and the big hangars +were closely watched, the authorities evidently +taking no chances on a repetition of the robbery. +However, Chief Collig was readily admitted +and the party proceeded to a hangar where a +newspaper photographer was busy taking pictures.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’d like to see those footprints, Chief, if you +don’t mind,” said Mr. Hardy.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They haven’t been touched,” said Chief +Collig. “I gave strict orders they weren’t to +be disturbed.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Close by the hangar wall a few boards covered +the ground. The chief raised them, and +in the ground beneath they could see the clear +imprint of a foot. The marks of the rubber +sole were identical with those made by Joe’s +shoes.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Let’s see how your foot fits that,” suggested +the chief, turning to Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Without hesitation, Joe stepped forward. He +placed his right foot in the print. It fitted +exactly. When he removed his foot there had +been not the slightest change in the original +print in the ground.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yet you said you were never here before!” +exclaimed the chief.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I still say it,” Joe insisted.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Then how do you account for that footprint? +Same size, same marks, same everything.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Somebody must have had a shoe just like +mine. That’s all I can say.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The chief sniffed dubiously. Then Fenton +Hardy, who had been examining the footprint, +made a suggestion.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Joe,” he said, “I want you to stand in the +earth right beside that other footprint. Just +walk across there, stand for a moment, and +move away.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Wondering, Joe obeyed. When he had done +as his father asked, there were several new +footprints in the soft earth. Mr. Hardy +looked at them closely.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What do you think of that, Chief?” he +asked.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Chief Collig looked down at the footprints.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Not much difference, so far as I can see,” +he grunted.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Not <span class='it'>much</span>. But there <span class='it'>is</span> a difference, isn’t +there?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The footprints Joe just made don’t seem as +heavy as the other one,” admitted the chief.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They certainly aren’t. You can see how +light the impressions are in the earth. That +first footprint is pressed down quite heavily. +You couldn’t help but see it, and I think it was +meant to be seen. Joe’s natural footprints, on +the other hand, are scarcely visible.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What of it?” demanded the chief.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I mean,” said Fenton Hardy, “that the +footprint you found here is not Joe’s natural +footprint at all. It’s all very well to say that +the size and the sole markings are identical, but +there is more to a footprint than that. The first +footprint was made by a very heavy person, as +you can see by comparing it with the footprints +Joe made just now.” He turned to his son. +“How much do you weigh, Joe?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“One hundred and twenty-five pounds,” Joe +answered promptly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s not very heavy. But that first footprint +was certainly made by a person weighing +considerably more than that. The earth here is +no harder now than it was at the time of the +robbery, because it has been covered over by +the boards, so I think the test proves itself. +Then, to go further, wasn’t there another footprint, +Chief? You have shown us only one, the +conclusion being that the thief was a one-legged +man.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There’s another footprint,” declared Collig. +“Here it is.” He pointed to an impression in +the earth a short distance away.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Fenton Hardy took a small folding measuring +rule from his pocket and measured the distance +between the two original prints. Then he +measured Joe’s footprints.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“More proof,” he said finally. “The distance +between these first two prints is a good seven +inches more than the distance between Joe’s +actual footprints. That proves that the man +who wore those shoes was a good deal taller +than Joe, with a longer stride. It also proves +that when he made that heavy print in the mud +he was not simply standing still, which might +have caused the print to be heavier by reason +of his weight. Otherwise his feet would have +been close together. He was walking, just as +Joe was walking a moment ago.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Chief Collig was puzzled. Fenton Hardy’s +deductions came as a rude shock, for the chief +had already made up his mind that the Hardy +boys were guilty and the evidence had seemed +conclusive to him. He was not a man who admitted +a mistake readily and he clung obstinately +to his original belief.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t care how you figure it out,” he said +roughly. “Your boys can’t explain how that +sweater and the knife got here. And they can’t +prove an alibi. I’m not going to let them go +just because one footprint is a little bit heavier +than the other.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You mean we’re still under arrest?” asked +Frank anxiously.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The chief nodded. “You’re under arrest,” +he said. “We’d better be starting back to the +city.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Fenton Hardy patted Frank’s shoulder.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Never mind, Son,” he said. “I’m afraid I +can’t convince Chief Collig just now, but at any +rate I’m sure of your innocence. And we’ll +prove it yet.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>There was nothing more the detective could +do. They left the airport and got back into the +chief’s car. Gloomily, they drove back to the +city.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>That afternoon, Frank and Joe Hardy were +arraigned before a magistrate and, after the +evidence had been presented, they were held for +trial on the serious charge of robbing the air +mail.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Held for the robbery!” cried Joe, aghast.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s the most ridiculous thing I ever heard +of,” declared his brother. “What would we +rob the mail for?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Gee, Frank, this will give us a black eye all +right.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t I know it? But I don’t think our real +friends will believe a word of it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Just wait till the newspapers come out. +They won’t do a thing but spill it all over the +front page!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s the worst of it. It will make mother +feel pretty bad.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yes, and when Aunt Gertrude hears of it +she’ll say ‘I told you so.’ ”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s a blamed shame, that’s what it is. I’d +like to get back at the Chief for this.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“So would I.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>This development caused a sensation in Bayport. +When the afternoon papers came out +with headlines, “Noted Detective’s Sons Held +For Air Mail Theft,” friends of the boys and +of Fenton Hardy could scarcely believe the +news. On every hand people said, “There must +be some mistake. The Hardy boys would never +do a thing like that.” Scarcely anyone outside +the police department could be found who actually +believed the lads were guilty.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Nevertheless, this did not make the situation +any easier for Frank and Joe Hardy. +They were in jail, and the prospect of release +seemed remote, because bail had been set in the +heavy sum of fifty thousand dollars.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Fenton Hardy was not at all rich, and although +he would have placed his entire fortune +at the disposal of his sons, he was finding it +difficult, if not impossible, to raise the big sum +required for bail. He called on the boys late +that afternoon and visited them in their cell, +ruefully confessing that he had been unable to +raise the money.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m sorry, boys,” he said. “I hate to see +you stay here in jail, particularly when I’m +sure you’re innocent. But you won’t be here +long. I’ll do my best to borrow the money to-morrow.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t worry about us, Dad,” urged Frank. +“Fifty thousand dollars is a lot of money.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Mighty slim evidence they’re holding us +on,” complained Joe. “If they would only +bring us to trial right away, we’d be acquitted +sure.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Just then they heard a disturbance in the +corridor. Two men were arguing with one of +the guards.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“But I tell you, we <span class='it'>must</span> see them right +away!” demanded a familiar voice. “It’s an +outrage! A scandal!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’ve got to have a permit from the +chief,” expostulated the guard.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Permit! Bah! Here’s your permit! Now +can we get past?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Hurd Applegate!” exclaimed Frank, in +astonishment.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Two elderly men came hastening down the +corridor toward the cell, a guard following close +behind. One of them was indeed Hurd Applegate, +the wealthy and eccentric man whose family +treasure had been recovered by the Hardy +boys, as related in the first volume of this +series; “The Tower Treasure.” The other +man was none other than Elroy Jefferson, the +owner of Cabin Island.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“This,” declared Elroy Jefferson, standing +in front of the cell and brandishing a newspaper, +“is a shame! Nothing less than a +shame!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“A scandal!” fumed Hurd Applegate.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“A shame <span class='it'>and</span> a scandal!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’re right, Elroy!” declared Mr. Applegate. +“It is a shame and a scandal. I never +heard of anything so disgraceful. The Hardy +boys in jail! Impossible! And bail set at fifty +thousand dollars! An outrage!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Idiotic!” raged Mr. Jefferson. He bowed +to Mr. Hardy. “How do you do, Mr. Hardy. +Mr. Applegate and I were just talking about +our stamp collections when the boy came with +the afternoon paper. We read it. We saw the +headlines. ‘Hardy Boys in Jail.’ And at once +I said: ‘This is an outrage!’ ”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You did, Elroy,” affirmed Hurd Applegate. +“And I said: ‘This is a scandal.’ ”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yes, Hurd, you said it was a scandal. And +it <span class='it'>is</span> a scandal. So we put on our hats and came +down here immediately.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s mighty good of you to visit us. You +are—” began Frank, when Elroy Jefferson interrupted +him impatiently.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Good of us to visit you!” he stormed. “Do +you think we came down here just to visit you? +Do you think we’re going to let the Hardy boys +stay in jail? Are we going to let them stay in +jail, Hurd?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We are not!” said Mr. Applegate firmly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Elroy Jefferson drew two slips of paper from +his pocket.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“When we read in the paper that bail had +been set in the outrageous amount of fifty +thousand dollars, what did I do, Hurd?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You wrote a check,” said Mr. Applegate.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wrote a check. For twenty-five thousand +dollars. And what did you do, Hurd?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wrote one too. I insisted on it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You insisted on it. You wouldn’t let me +go bail for the boys myself. The sentiment +does you credit, Hurd, but I would gladly have +gone bail for the full amount.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe sprang to their feet.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We can’t let you do that!” exclaimed +Frank. “That is awfully good of you——”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Good of us!” snorted Mr. Jefferson. “Do +you hear that, Hurd? They say it’s good of us. +After what they’ve done for us!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s a pleasure,” declared Hurd Applegate.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“And now,” concluded Mr. Jefferson +grandly, “if you will come with us we’ll go upstairs +and turn over these checks as bail. The +idea! The Hardy boys in jail! Most senseless +thing I ever heard of! Why didn’t you call me +up on the telephone? I would have been down +here inside five minutes.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Me too,” chimed in Hurd Applegate. “I +would have made it in three minutes, because I +live closer.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Come along,” said Elroy Jefferson. “Let’s +all get out of here.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The two old gentlemen, fuming, led the way +down the corridor, Elroy Jefferson waving the +two checks that were to gain the Hardy boys +their release.</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch15'>CHAPTER XV<br> <span class='sub-head'>On the Trail of Ollie Jacobs</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Thanks</span> to the generosity of Elroy Jefferson +and Hurd Applegate, the Hardy boys were +quickly released on bail. The two old stamp +collectors scoffed when the lads sought to thank +them.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’re not giving away fifty thousand dollars,” +declared Hurd Applegate. “We know +you won’t run away. And we know that when +your case comes to trial you’ll be able to prove +your innocence. So why should we let you stay +in jail when you don’t deserve it?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Especially after what you did for us in the +past,” said Mr. Jefferson. “We’re glad we +can return the favor.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>That night, at home, the boys discussed the +case with their father. Owing to the arrest of +his sons, Fenton Hardy had been told by the +authorities that his services in the airport mystery +would no longer be required. This was a +bitter blow, although he realized that the +officials were justified in their action. But he +resolved to continue the investigation on his +own account.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll do all I can to clear you,” he promised. +“And you must do all you can to clear yourselves. +As it stands, they haven’t a very +strong case against you, but it’s strong enough +to be unpleasant. Our big chance lies in capturing +the real robbers.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m sure that evidence was planted by Giles +Ducroy,” declared Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Just wait until I get my hands on that +skunk!” added Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m afraid you won’t lay your hands on him +very easily,” said their father. “I wanted to +have a few words with him myself, but he +seems to have disappeared.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Disappeared!” exclaimed Frank, in surprise.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Mr. Hardy nodded assent. “He hasn’t been +seen around Bayport for several days.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How about Newt Pipps and Ollie Jacobs?” +asked Frank. “Are they still in town?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Fenton Hardy seemed somewhat surprised at +mention of these two names.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Is that who Ducroy has been hanging +around with?” he asked. “A bad gang! No, +now that you mention it, Pipps and Jacobs +have cleared out too. They haven’t been seen +in Bayport for more than a week.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That looks bad,” said Joe. “If they +weren’t up to something queer they wouldn’t +have cleared out.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll tell you where you may be able to find +that pair,” said Mr. Hardy. “Do you know +the Raven Roadhouse out on the Claymore +Road?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ve heard of the place,” admitted Frank. +“It’s supposed to be a mighty tough hangout, +isn’t it?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Bad enough. Well, I’ve been checking up +on Ollie Jacobs and Newt Pipps and I’ve +learned that they make that place their headquarters. +If you make inquiries there you may +be able to find something about them.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll make the inquiries, all right!” declared +Frank. “I’m sure they know something +about this business. What do you say, Joe? +Let’s go out there right now and see what we +can learn.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m with you.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Better be careful,” advised Fenton Hardy. +“This roadhouse is a tough place and Jacobs +and Pipps will likely have some friends there, +so don’t give yourselves away.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll watch our step,” promised Frank. +“Don’t worry. We’ve got to clear up those +mail robberies to clear ourselves, and I think +the quickest way to go about it is to follow up +the Ducroy gang. If they’re not mixed up in +it from the start I’m a mighty bad guesser.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys lost no time preparing for +their journey out to the Raven Roadhouse, +which was located some five miles from Bayport. +Within half an hour they had said good-bye +to their parents and had clambered into +their roadster.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They drove down High Street, on through the +business section of Bayport, and out to the +highway. Frank was at the wheel.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It was certainly mighty white of Mr. Jefferson +and Mr. Applegate to go bail for us,” +he said.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They’re real friends,” Joe agreed. “The +least we can do now is to clear up this business +and show them that their confidence in us wasn’t +misplaced.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll do the best we can, although it +doesn’t look very easy right now. That gang +didn’t miss any bets in planting the evidence +against us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“All the more reason why we should get +them, and get them right. After what we heard +in the cabin, I don’t think there’s much doubt +that Ducroy and his crowd had something to +do with the robberies.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well,” said Frank, “we’ll go easy, and +with any luck we ought to get some clues that +we can follow up.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They thought they would get to the roadhouse +quickly, but a quarter of a mile on came +to a detour sign. The road ahead was closed +for repair.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Just our luck,” grumbled Frank. “I know +this road was open yesterday.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ve got to go around the old Rundle +farm,” answered his younger brother. “That’s +a dirt road, too, all the way.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Hope it isn’t muddy. It used to have some +pretty bad mud holes in it when it rained.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Fortunately for the Hardy boys, the detour +road proved dry. The worst of the holes had +been filled with cracked stone, so they got +through without much difficulty.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>In due time the Hardy boys approached the +Raven Roadhouse. It was a long, rambling +building, set back some distance from the road +and approached by a winding driveway.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I guess the best plan is simply to go in and +ask about them,” said Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He drove up to the front of the roadhouse. +There were no guests present at this hour of +the day. A fat man was lounging indolently +against a veranda pillar.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys got out of the car.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Too early,” grunted the fat man. “The fun +doesn’t start here until after dark.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’re not guests,” returned Frank. +“We’re looking for somebody.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A guarded expression crossed the fat man’s +face.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Who?” he asked abruptly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank looked at Joe. “I don’t know whether +we should tell him or not.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe, taking his cue, looked dubious. “We +weren’t supposed to tell. Still, it mightn’t do +any harm.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank looked around mysteriously. Then he +lowered his voice:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Have you seen Newt or Ollie around +lately?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The fat man regarded him shrewdly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why do you want to know?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We have a message for him.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Who from?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank shrugged. “Why should we tell you?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The fat man was silent. Then he said:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Is it from Sam?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Maybe. I’m not talking.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The fat man seemed impressed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, you know how to keep your mouth +shut anyway,” he said. “And that’s more than +lots of people know. I guess you’re regular, +all right. Well, I can put you in touch with +Ollie Jacobs.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How about Newt?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He’s not here. I don’t know where he is +right now.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where is Ollie, then?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Down the road. You know where Greenfield +village is, eh?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank nodded. “About two miles farther +down the road.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, that’s where you’ll find Ollie. He’s +at the hotel. The clerk will find him for you.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Thanks. We’ll go on to Greenfield, then.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If you’d like to wait here,” suggested the +fat man, “Ollie should be back in an hour +or so.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys had no desire to wait. They +were on the trail of the elusive Ollie Jacobs +and it did not suit their purpose to meet him +face to face at the Raven Roadhouse. They +thanked the fat man, got back into the car and +drove away.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Within a few minutes they reached Greenfield. +It was a meagre little village with a few +unprosperous-looking stores and a ramshackle +hotel.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll have to go easy here,” said Frank. +“It won’t do to have Ollie Jacobs see us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What should we do? Wait out in front of +the hotel?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He would probably see us first. No, I +think it would be better to go inside and take +a look around. Once we locate him we can +keep out of sight and then follow him later.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They parked the roadster in front of the +hotel and went inside. The Clerk, a seedy +little man with shifty eyes, regarded them with +suspicion. By way of explaining their presence, +the Hardy boys bought some newspapers and +a few chocolate bars, then sat down in the +lounging chairs in the main office.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll just sit tight for a while,” whispered +Frank. “If Ollie Jacobs is in the hotel, he’ll +probably pass through here on his way out.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The words were no sooner out of his mouth +than Joe gave his brother a sharp nudge and +hastily began to unfold one of the newspapers. +Frank glanced up. Coming down the stairs +was Ollie Jacobs.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The man did not see the boys, or at least did +not recognize them, for Frank quickly lowered +his head, then he, too, spread out a newspaper +so that it concealed him from view. Thus, to +the man descending the stairway, the two lads +appeared intent on the papers, and their faces +were completely hidden.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Another man was coming down the stairs a +few steps behind Ollie Jacobs. When the pair +reached the office, instead of going toward the +door, they sauntered over and sat down a few +feet from the Hardy boys.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe were trembling with excitement. +Behind the newspapers they were safe +from observation.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I won’t go a cent over eight thousand, and +that’s final,” they heard Ollie Jacobs saying.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll split the difference,” returned the +other man, in a wheedling tone. “Make it nine +thousand dollars cash.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Nothing doing! I’ll give you eight thousand +dollars. Take it or leave it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“An airplane for eight thousand dollars!” +exclaimed the other. “I can’t do it. I’d be +losing money.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ollie Jacobs laughed. “Even at eight thousand, +you’ll be making a good profit.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Eighty-five hundred,” pleaded the bargainer.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ve made my offer and I won’t raise it a +nickel. I’ll give you eight thousand dollars in +cash the moment the airplane is turned over +to us. You have the machine within five miles +of here, you say. Well, I can have the money +within half an hour and we’ll close the deal. +So make up your mind, for I can’t be wasting +time. If I can’t buy your airplane I can easily +find another one.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ollie Jacobs got up from his chair. The other +man rose quickly and seized him by the arm.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“All right. All right,” he said hastily. +“It’s just downright robbery, but I’ll sell you +the plane for eight thousand. I won’t be making +a cent.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s your lookout,” returned Jacobs +coolly. “You don’t have to sell it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll have the plane ready for you at my +farm. As soon as you turn over the money, +the machine is yours.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The money will be in your hands within +half an hour. Are you going to the farm now?” +said Jacobs.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll go there right away and get the plane +in shape.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Be sure you have the tanks full of gas. I +want everything to be in perfect running order. +That’s the only condition of sale. I want the +plane to be in readiness.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You can step right in it and start flying the +minute you buy it,” insisted the other man. +“And you’re getting a bargain, let me tell you. +There isn’t a better machine on the market. +If you bought that plane from the factory it +would cost you fifteen or twenty thousand dollars.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“A new plane would cost that much. Yours +isn’t worth five. It’s an old crate, almost falling +to pieces. You’ve been flying it for more +than four years now. Well, the deal is made. +You go to the farm and get the machine ready. +I’ll be over to take possession in half an hour.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The two men went out the door and descended +the steps. Apparently Ollie Jacobs did not notice +the roadster belonging to the Hardy boys, +for, after halting for a moment on the sidewalk, +he strode briskly down the street in a direction +opposite to that taken by his companion.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank lowered his newspaper and looked +at Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What do you make of that?” he demanded.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Ollie Jacobs buying an airplane! That fellow +never had eight thousand dollars of his own +in all his life.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He seems to have it now,” said Frank. +“There’s something in the wind.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think we’d better follow him.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They sprang to their feet.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There’s no time to lose,” Frank agreed. +“I’d like to know what Ollie Jacobs is planning +to do with that plane!”</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch16'>CHAPTER XVI<br> <span class='sub-head'>Mysterious Plans</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>When</span> the Hardy boys left the hotel they saw +Ollie Jacobs about a block away, walking +quickly down the street toward the outskirts of +the village. As unobtrusively as possible, they +followed him. They soon found that there was +little need for caution, as Ollie Jacobs evidently +had no suspicion that he was observed, and not +once did he look back.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Leaving the sidewalk, their quarry struck out +along a country road in the direction of an +abandoned house. Here, instead of passing by, +he vaulted the fence, crossed the unkempt +yard, and disappeared into the building.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll have to go carefully,” said Frank. +“I’ll bet he’s meeting the others there.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s where he intends to get the eight +thousand dollars, I suppose.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Chances are, they’re watching. We’d better +go around by the back way.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>At the end of the street, therefore, the Hardy +boys did not follow the road, but instead made +a detour through the fields, coming around at +the rear of the old house. There they made +their way carefully across the yard. They +knew that they risked detection in so doing, but +they were obliged to take this chance.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Luck was with them. They crossed the yard +in safety, evidently unobserved by anyone in the +house.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They crouched beneath a window and listened. +From inside the house they could hear human +voices. Frank raised himself slightly and +peeped through the window. The room was +empty. The voices seemed to be from the front +of the house.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He gestured to Joe, and silently they crept +on to the next window. Here they had better +luck. The window was partly open and they +could clearly hear the voices of the men in the +room beyond.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The first voice they heard was that of Ollie +Jacobs.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well,” he was saying, “I guess we can each +chip in and make up that money. The plane is +waiting for us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A familiar voice answered:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Eight thousand dollars is a lot of dough. +But it will be worth it in the long run.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe exchanged glances. They +recognized the voice. Giles Ducroy!</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Are you sure the plane is all right?” demanded +the third man—Newt Pipps.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s old, but it’s plenty good enough for +our purpose,” returned Jacobs. “She’ll hold +four or five men.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t want to go flying in some old rattletrap +that’ll bust all to pieces in mid-air and +kill us all,” demurred Newt.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t worry. I’ll be in charge of the +plane,” declared Ducroy. “I could fly a baby +carriage if it had wings. Your precious neck +is safe enough.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, here’s twenty-five hundred dollars,” +said Jacobs. “That’s my share.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“And here’s mine,” said Newt.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“And I’ll make up the other three thousand,” +said Ducroy. “You never spent money any +better. If this pans out all right it will bring +us fifty thousand dollars at least.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You say it’s the twenty-eighth or twenty-ninth?” +asked Ollie Jacobs.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yes,” answered Ducroy. “Pay day is on +the first of the month, and they always send +the money a day or two ahead.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’ll be a big haul if we get away with it,” +declared Newt Pipps. “But it’s certainly +risky.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’ve got to take chances to make big +money,” Ducroy answered. “Fifty thousand +dollars isn’t to be sneezed at.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m satisfied,” said Ollie Jacobs. “I think +we can get away with it. Fifty thousand dollars +looks mighty good to me. I think we ought +to go right over to the farm, buy this plane, and +start out.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where do we go first?” asked Newt.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There’s an airport about thirty miles from +here,” Ducroy said. “It’s just a small flying +field—the Riverside Field, they call it. We can +take the plane there and wait until everything +is ready.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What if we’re caught?” asked Newt. “The +police in Bayport are on the lookout for us, you +know that. If they find out where we are, it +will ruin everything.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We have the plane, haven’t we? If they +find out where we are, we’ll simply fly somewhere +else, and dodge them. I have everything +all figured out. We’ll be quite safe.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Then let’s get going,” said Ollie Jacobs +impatiently. “We’re just wasting time by arguing +here.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>There was a scuffling of feet, then the slam +of a door. After a few moments the Hardy +boys peeped around the side of the house and +saw the three men going down the road in the +direction of the village.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It looks as if we’ve stumbled on something,” +said Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wonder what they’re going to do with that +airplane. One thing is certain—there’s something +in the wind for the twenty-eighth or +twenty-ninth of this month.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What date is this?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The twenty-sixth.” Frank watched the receding +figures of the men. “I suppose we ought +to follow them.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe demurred.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why should we? There’s no chance of losing +them now. We know the name of the airport +they’re bound for, and we can go there in +the car and wait for them.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s right. We’ll go on to Riverside +Field and keep an eye on them from there. But +first of all, I think we ought to call up dad and +let him know what we’ve learned.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe agreed that this was a sound suggestion. +The boys waited until the trio were out of +sight, then hastened on toward the village. +Their first concern was a telephone, and as they +did not want to go to the hotel, in case some of +Ollie Jacobs’ friends might be within earshot, +they lost some time seeking the telephone exchange, +which they finally located in the rear of +the post office.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>There they put through a call to their father +in Bayport. After a wait of about ten minutes, +the call was answered. The operator turned to +them.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Mr. Hardy is not at home. Will anyone +else do?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Anyone at that number,” assented Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He picked up the receiver and heard his +mother’s voice.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Hello, Mother. This is Frank calling.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Yes, Frank. Where are you?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’re at a little village just outside the +city. Where is Dad?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He left for New York an hour ago,” answered +Mrs. Hardy. “He just received a telegram +calling him to New York on special +business.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank was disappointed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s tough luck. We had some news for +him. Well, we’ll just have to carry on alone. +If we’re not home to-night, don’t worry about +us. We’ve picked up some information that +may clear up all this fix we’re in.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t stay away too long, Frank,” said +Mrs. Hardy. “The police were making inquiries +a little while ago.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The police? Why?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They think you may have run away. +They’re afraid you have jumped bail.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>This news came as a stunning shock to +Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why, that’s nonsense!” he exclaimed hotly. +“We’ll be back as soon as we can, and if they +make any more inquiries you can tell them so. +And when we do come back, they won’t have +any further excuse for holding us, for we’ll +have the real mail robbers with us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I hope you are right, Frank. If your father +comes back, I’ll tell him you called.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“All right, Mother. And don’t worry about +us. We’ll be back home as soon as we can get +away.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank hung up the receiver and paid the cost +of the call. When he turned toward Joe, however, +he found his brother standing in the door, +gazing up at the sky.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They’re away already!” exclaimed Joe excitedly. +“Look!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank ran to the door. Joe was pointing up +at the clouds. High above them soared an airplane, +drumming its way toward the south.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I saw it rise,” said Joe. “It took off from +one of those farms back of the village. It’s +Ducroy’s crowd, sure as guns.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“On their way to the flying field already. +Well, we’d better be moving.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They hurried down the street toward the +hotel, where they had left the roadster. On the +way, Frank told Joe the result of his telephone +call. Joe too was disappointed that they had +not been able to get in touch with Fenton +Hardy.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It means we have to play a lone hand, that’s +all. What do you think we should do next, +Frank?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think we ought to tell the authorities.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll warn them to watch the airplane +hangars on the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth,” +said Joe. “But we mustn’t lose sight +of Ducroy and his cronies.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They looked back. The airplane was merely +a blur in the distance. The boys realized that +they had no time to lose. They scrambled into +the roadster. Frank threw in the clutch and the +car shot forward. Within a few minutes they +were speeding down a road toward the south +in the direction of the Riverside Field.</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch17'>CHAPTER XVII<br> <span class='sub-head'>Dangerous Business</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>When</span> the Hardy boys arrived at Riverside +Field they looked in vain for Giles Ducroy and +his friends. But the trio were not in sight, and +there was but one airplane on the flying field. +It was a small two-seater.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It can’t be their plane,” said Frank. +“Ollie Jacobs said it would hold four or five +men.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps they haven’t arrived yet,” Joe suggested.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They had only thirty miles to go. They +should have been here long ago.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We can go up to one of the hangars and +ask what planes have come in.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank was dubious. “If Ducroy or any of +the others are hanging around, we’ll be spotted. +Our game is to keep out of sight.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They sauntered over to the solitary little airplane +in the middle of the flying field. A mechanic +in grimy overalls was busy tinkering at +the understructure of the machine.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Is this the only plane here?” asked Frank +politely.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The mechanic looked up. “It’s the only one +out on the field,” he answered. “If you can +see any more, let me know.” He grinned, and +then waved toward one of the hangars. “An +old crate just flew in a few minutes ago.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where from?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How should I know? Airplanes, unless +they’re on the mail run, aren’t like trains. +Looked to me like a privately owned machine.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys glanced significantly at one +another. They had no doubt that this was +Ducroy’s plane.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Is the pilot in there now?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The mechanic nodded. “Him and two other +guys.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe thanked their informant and +made a wide detour across the flying field so +as to approach the hangar at the far side. +They had no desire to meet Giles Ducroy and +his friends just now. They came around to the +rear of the hangar without being observed and +while they were looking about for a means of +entrance other than by the front, Joe discovered +a small door at the side.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He tried the door. It was unlocked. Joe +edged it open and peeped in.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>There was the plane, at rest in the hangar, +and standing beside it were Giles Ducroy, Newt +Pipps, and Ollie Jacobs. They were talking in +low tones. Even as the boys watched they saw +Ollie Jacobs move away from the others.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It won’t take long,” he said. “I’ll do some +telephoning and find out all I can.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Make sure of the date!” advised Ducroy.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ollie Jacobs left the hangar. For a moment +the Hardy boys were panic-stricken at the +thought that he might look back and see them +pressed against the side of the building, but +Jacobs strode away without once glancing behind.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wish we could learn something definite,” +whispered Joe. “This thing of following them +around is beginning to get on my nerves. They +are bound to catch sight of us, sooner or later.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We certainly can’t follow them around like +this,” agreed Frank. “If they don’t see us, +we’re liable to lose them anyway. If we can +only find out what game they’re up to!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They peeped through the opening in the +door again. But Ducroy and Newt Pipps had +withdrawn a little way to one side and were +talking in undertones, their words inaudible.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>In about ten minutes, Ollie Jacobs returned. +He hastened into the hangar, and Ducroy looked +at him expectantly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well,” the boys heard Ducroy saying, “did +you learn anything?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I sure did,” returned Ollie Jacobs. “It’s +all settled. And we don’t have to wait as long +as we thought we might.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s good,” declared Ducroy, rubbing his +hands together with satisfaction. “What did +he say?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The shipment will come on the night of the +twenty-eighth.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“As soon as that!” exclaimed Newt Pipps.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll be ready for it,” snapped Ducroy. +“We’ll force him down not far from here.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It will be at night, eh?” said Pipps.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Of course. All the better, too. I’d think +twice before I’d try this trick in daylight.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I guess you’re right,” admitted Newt +feebly. “Although I don’t like the idea of it at +any time. You’re sure we’ll have only one +man to handle?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Only one man. And there are three of us. +We’re not taking a chance of failing.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How are we going to force him down?” +asked Ollie Jacobs.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Leave that to me,” answered Ducroy confidently. +“There’s more than one way of doing +that.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Let’s go and eat,” Newt suggested. “I’m +half starved.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s a good idea,” Ollie agreed. “There’s +a little restaurant near here. What do you +figure on doing, Giles? Do you think we should +stay right here at the airport until the twenty-eighth?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“No,” said Ducroy firmly. “I don’t. The +authorities are apt to find us if we stay in one +place for any length of time. We’ll have to +keep going. We’ll move around from one place +to the other until the time comes. We can’t +afford to be nabbed now. And after the twenty-eighth +we’ll clear out for good.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The three men moved up toward the front of +the hangar, left the building, and went on +across the flying field toward a small restaurant +in the distance. There was a little lunch counter +near by but the men ignored it for the more +pretentious eating place.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe Hardy slipped quickly into +the hangar through the side door. Instead of +clearing up the mystery that puzzled them, the +conversation they had just overheard confused +them more than ever. That some criminal coup +was in the wind for the night of the twenty-eighth +was no longer in doubt, but what it was +and where it was to take place still remained +unrevealed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t understand what’s happening,” said +Frank, as he looked at the airplane in the +hangar; “but I know we’ve got to be on hand +if we can possibly manage it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How can we be on hand if they’re going to +keep flying from place to place for the next two +days?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ve got to keep track of them somehow.” +Frank moved about, inspecting the airplane. +“I’d just like to reserve a back seat in this +plane for the next forty-eight hours.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That idea isn’t as silly as it sounds!” declared +Joe. “Why can’t we?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank laughed. “How can we? They’d +simply kick us out, for we’d certainly be seen.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Not if we went about it right.” Joe was +excited as the possibilities of his idea became +more apparent. “Why can’t we be stowaways? +Don’t you remember the time we hid ourselves +in the back of the automobile when we solved +the Shore Road mystery? We could hide here +too. I’ve heard of airplane stowaways before.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s a nervy idea,” said Frank. “I wonder +where we could hide?” He moved down toward +the rear of the plane. Suddenly he halted. +“Just what we want, Joe! Here’s an opening.” +He thrust the sliding door aside and +looked into the dark interior. The tail of the +plane was hollow and he could see a substantial +hiding place. Considerable space was available +for freight or baggage and, inasmuch as Ducroy +and his friends were travelling light, there +was plenty of room for the two boys.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How about it?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m game. But how about food? We’ll be +in there for quite a while, you know.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll get sandwiches and water. Some +blankets too, for that matter. We’ll simply +stow away in there and make ourselves comfortable. +Then, if anything happens, we’ll be +right on hand.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll be right on hand too if the plane +crashes,” Frank reminded his brother. “Perhaps +we’ll weight it down too much.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t think so. This plane is designed +to carry baggage, and if that space is empty, +we’ll never be noticed. I think we can get away +with it, provided we have any luck at all. It’s +easily our best chance of keeping in touch with +Ducroy and his gang. If they’re going to be +flying around the country trying to dodge the +authorities, we shan’t have much chance of +keeping our eyes on them in our car.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s right, too.” Frank made up his +mind. “I’m with you, Joe. And now’s our +chance. Let’s get water and sandwiches and +get into the plane while we have time.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>It seemed a mad scheme, but the brothers +knew the importance of keeping close to Ducroy +and his friends. Some crime had been planned +for the night of the twenty-eighth, and the +Hardy boys knew they must not lose track of +their quarry for a moment. It would have been +obviously impossible to follow the meanderings +of the airplane from the ground.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They hastened over to the little lunch counter +and laid in a stock of provisions. Several bottles +of milk, a huge bottle of water, some cake +and a stock of sandwiches constituted their +supplies. At the lunch counter they spied two +heavy automobile robes, and as it was too late +to return to their own roadster, they bought the +robes and entrusted the lunch counter man with +the duty of driving their own car to a garage +for safe-keeping. This he promised to do. +Doubtless he wondered the reason for the boys’ +purchases, but he was a man who believed in +minding his own business and he exhibited no +surprise or curiosity.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe hurried back into the hangar. +They tossed the robes into their hiding place in +the plane, arranged them comfortably, then +stowed away the food and water.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“All set?” asked Frank finally.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“All set.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe began to scramble into the plane.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Just in time, too,” said the brother.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why?” asked Joe, in a muffled voice, as he +crouched back on one of the automobile robes.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Giles Ducroy and his friends are coming +back across the flying field.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank got into the plane. Quickly he closed +the door. The two boys waited apprehensively. +Had their presence been detected? +Would the lunch-counter man mention having +seen them? Would Ducroy glance into the baggage +compartment before leaving?</p> + +<p class='pindent'>But nothing happened. They heard the three +men come into the hangar. They heard them +moving about, evidently preparing for departure. +Finally, they heard Ducroy’s voice:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Get in. We’re away again.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The plane was trundled out on the field. A +moment later the motor roared, the machine +bumped its way across the field, then the bumping +motion ceased and the Hardy boys knew +that they were in the air.</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch18'>CHAPTER XVIII<br> <span class='sub-head'>The Warning Message</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Although</span> their flight as stowaways in the +airplane was one of the most dangerous and +perilous adventures that had ever befallen the +Hardy boys, it was at the same time the most +monotonous.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Back there in the darkness they could see +nothing and they could hear very little except +the roar of the engine. They were not uncomfortable +and they did not suffer from lack of +air, but it was not a pleasant sensation to reflect +that they were high above the earth, wholly +at the mercy of the rascals up in the front of +the plane.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The plane dipped and rose, banked and +turned. There were racks, presumably for the +accommodation of baggage, to which the lads +clung, so that at no time were they thrown off +balance.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If we get to tossing around in here, they’ll +notice something wrong,” said Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Their weight was evenly distributed and presumably +Giles Ducroy did not see that his +plane was somewhat tail-heavy. If he did, it +is probable that he blamed the airplane itself, +for it was strange to him.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>After about an hour in the air, the boys were +obliged to seize the racks, for the nose of the +machine tilted downward and they were almost +flung ahead as the plane descended. Finally +there was a slight shock, and the plane bumped +its way over a field. They could hear men’s +voices, then the engine was shut off. They +judged that Ducroy and the others were clambering +out.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Now,” they heard Ducroy saying, “I guess +it’s safe enough for me to go and telephone.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Who are you going to telephone to?” asked +Newt Pipps.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m going to call up Jed. He’s at the Bayport +airport. I’ll tell him to be ready for the +night of the twenty-eighth so he can call us up +when the time comes.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t like the idea of having so many outsiders +in on this,” Newt grumbled. “It means +we’ll have to split the loot too many different +ways.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Outsider!” snapped Ducroy. “Jed isn’t +an outsider. How could we get along without +him? We’re going to make a killing before +long, and a lot of the credit will be due to him.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’re right,” agreed Ollie Jacobs. “Shut +up, Newt. We can’t get along without Jed. +If you were half as much help as him we’d get +along fine. You’re always kicking about something.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>This reprimand silenced Newt Pipps for the +time being. The Hardy boys, listening, heard +the three men move away.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>When the footsteps and voices could no longer +be heard, Joe heard Frank’s voice from the +darkness:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wish I knew how long they’re going to be +away. I’d like to get out of here and stretch +my legs.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“So would I. It’s mighty cramped in here. +But if they’ve just gone to telephone I don’t +think we should take the chance.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank opened the door in the side of the +plane and looked out.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I can see them now. They’re walking +across the field toward one of the hangars.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where are we?” asked Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank shook his head. “I don’t know. +There seems to be a fair-sized town close by, +but I’ve never seen the place before. I can see +factory chimneys and church steeples.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Let’s have something to eat.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe opened their package of sandwiches, a +bottle of milk, and the bottle of water. Each +ate of the frugal meal with enthusiasm, for they +were hungry by now. When they had eaten +they felt better, and in spite of the discomfort +of their quarters they began to enjoy the novelty +of the adventure.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If only Chet and the other fellows could +see us now!” said Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They’d be green with envy.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m not sure our position’s enviable.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’re not out of the woods yet, by any +means,” agreed Frank. “Ducroy and the +others are apt to find us at any time. We’ll +have to sit mighty tight.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If only we knew what they’re up to! It +must have something to do with the Bayport +air field. They’ve evidently got a confederate +there, keeping in touch with him by telephone.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I think,” said Frank, “I’ll get out and +stretch my legs a bit.” He opened the door a +little wider and was just about to scramble out +when he gave an exclamation and hastily drew +back again, closing the door.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s the matter?” whispered Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They’re coming back!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Both boys were silent. They could hear +voices, gradually growing louder. Frank wondered +if he had been seen. Ducroy, Newt Pipps +and Ollie Jacobs had not been more than a +hundred yards away when he opened the door.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There’s no room in the hangars,” Ducroy +was saying, “but we’ll stay here overnight just +the same. There’s a hotel not far from the +field. Then, in the morning, we’ll get under +way again.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What time?” asked Jacobs.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“About eight o’clock. We’ll have breakfast +and then start again.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t see why we can’t stay right here +until we’re ready for the big job,” grumbled +Newt Pipps. “What good does it do flying +around from place to place?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If the police pick us up you’ll wish we had +kept going,” declared Ducroy. “We can’t afford +to be nabbed now. We’ve simply got to +keep clear of the cops until the night of the +twenty-eighth. After that we’ll scatter, and +each take his own chance. The police will be +looking for us hot enough then.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They sure will,” agreed Ollie. “Well, let’s +go on over to the hotel. The plane is all right +here, ain’t it?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Sure. It’s safe enough overnight. We’ll +come back after breakfast and get under way +again.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The men moved off. After a while, when +Frank Hardy peeped out again, he saw them +going through a gate on the far side of the flying +field, evidently heading toward the town. +He breathed a sigh of relief.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s a bit of luck,” he said to Joe. “We +don’t have to stay cooped up in here all night. +As long as we get back here well before they +show up in the morning everything will be +fine.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where can we stay? We can’t go to the +hotel. I don’t think it’s even wise to go into +the town at all. If they ever catch sight of us +it will spoil everything.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank scrambled out of the plane. He +walked about, enjoying the feel of solid ground +beneath his feet again. Joe followed, and immediately +turned a handspring to express his +delight.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Makes you feel good, doesn’t it?” said his +brother, grinning.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll tell the world it does, Frank! Gee, I +feel as cramped as a sardine in a tin.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“So do I.” Frank stretched himself. “Say, +we were mighty lucky they didn’t discover us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Right you are. If they had—well, there is +no telling what they would have done.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They might have killed us, Joe.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Oh, maybe not as bad as that. But they +might have tied us up in the woods and left us +there.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They are a bad crowd.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I agree with you.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The brothers took a look at their surroundings +from every side.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’d better move away from the plane,” +advised Frank. “Some of the mechanics at the +hangars may see us and tell Ducroy. I think +our best bet is to go to that farmhouse on the +other side of the field.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps we can use the telephone there, if +they have one.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>In the fading light, the boys crossed the field, +climbed over the fence and made their way +toward the farmhouse. As they entered the +barnyard, a collie dog ran toward them, barking. +He was a friendly animal, however, and +as he approached he wagged his tail and fawned +on them. A stout, cheery-looking man was +standing in the doorway of the house.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Hello, boys,” he shouted. “What can I do +for you?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Have you a telephone?” asked Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The farmer nodded. “You’re welcome to +use it,” he said, then added: “As long as you +pay the charges.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll do that all right.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The farmer led them into the house and indicated +the telephone in the hall.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Talk away,” he said. “I saw you coming +over from the flying field,” he remarked +shrewdly. “Why didn’t you use the telephone +there?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Private reasons,” replied Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The farmer did not move away while Frank +put in a call for Chief Collig at Bayport. At +mention of the chief’s name he seemed interested, +and when Frank finally got the chief on +the wire, he listened with all his ears.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Chief Collig?” asked Frank. “This is +Frank Hardy speaking.—No, we haven’t +jumped bail.—What’s that?—We’ll be back in +good time.—The reason I’m calling you is to +warn you to keep a good watch on the airport +on the night of the twenty-eighth.—I can’t tell +you why.—There is going to be some trouble.—I +don’t know anything more about it than that.—It +will be worth your while to make use of +this warning.—Where am I speaking from? I +can’t tell you. And listen, Chief, will you call +up my mother by telephone and let her know +that I called you and that Joe and I are all +right?—Thanks. Good-bye.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>When Frank rang off, he saw that the farmer +was regarding him curiously.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Looks as if you boys are smarter than you +seem,” he remarked. “What are you? Detectives?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I suppose you might call us that,” admitted +Frank. “But we’d be obliged if you would say +nothing to anyone at the airport about us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You can trust me,” returned the man. “I +can keep my mouth shut. Where are you staying +to-night?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We don’t know yet,” said Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If you’d like to stay here, we have a spare +room, and you’re welcome to it,” the farmer +volunteered.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s mighty good of you. We were just +wondering where we would find a place to sleep. +We have to be up and out by seven o’clock, +though.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I get up at five, myself,” laughed the +farmer. “Come on into the kitchen and I’ll +have my wife fix up something to eat. You’re +more than welcome to stay with us overnight. +I’m dyin’ to know what you lads are up to, but +I guess I’d better not ask too many questions.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’ll read all about it in the papers,” +laughed Frank, “if everything works out the +way we want it to.”</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch19'>CHAPTER XIX<br> <span class='sub-head'>The Twenty-Eighth</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>The</span> next day was the twenty-seventh and +the Hardy boys knew that they had another day +to put in before Ducroy and his friends would +be ready for the mysterious <span class='it'>coup</span> for which +they had laid so many plans.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe were up early, and after a +substantial breakfast at the farmhouse they +said good-bye to the good-natured farmer and +his wife, then hastened across the fields toward +the airport again. There were a few signs +of life about the hangars; some mechanics were +busy at a plane out in the field; a new machine +was preparing for a take-off. But the Ducroy +plane was deserted and the lads saw that they +were in good time to conceal themselves again.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>With a fresh supply of water and sandwiches +which they had obtained at the farmhouse, they +went casually over to the plane, looked around +to see that they were not observed, and then, +when the coast seemed clear, they slipped +quietly into their hiding place.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Another day ahead of us!” said Frank. “I +wish this was the morning of the twenty-eighth +instead of only the twenty-seventh.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll get through somehow. I hope they +don’t keep flying around all day. It gets +mighty monotonous being cooped up like this +in here.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank made himself more comfortable on +his automobile robe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We could be worse off. We have lots to eat +and drink, and we don’t have to worry about +steering the plane.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I like to see where I’m going,” said Joe +dubiously.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“As long as Ducroy stays sober he isn’t a +bad pilot,” returned Frank. “I guess the other +pair will see that he’s fit to take the controls +before they’ll fly with him. Their necks are +just as precious to them as ours are to us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Guess we’d better keep quiet now. They +may be along any minute.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The lads lapsed into silence. In about half +an hour they could hear voices and then came +footsteps.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Just a short jump to-day,” they heard Ducroy +saying. “Just a short jump, and then +we’ll lay low until to-morrow night.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where are we going?” asked Newt Pipps +quickly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’ll know when we get there.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wish we could have stayed here,” insisted +Newt. “I could have stood another two hours’ +sleep easily.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If we stick around here we’ll be liable to +find ourselves sleeping in jail,” said Ollie +Jacobs. “I got the scare of my life when that +cop came up and spoke to us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I thought we were sunk,” admitted Ducroy. +“He had been eying us for quite a while and +I was getting nervous. I was sure he had +spotted us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You stood him off all right. That was +pretty good, telling him we were stunt pilots +on our way to Hollywood. He swallowed it, +hook, line, and sinker.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Just the same,” observed Ducroy, “you +see how easy it is to run into trouble. If that +cop had been a little wiser we might have been +in the jug right now. And if he starts talking +to some other cop and describes us, we may +find ourselves in trouble yet. So the sooner we +get out of here the better.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>This sentiment seemed to find favor with the +others, for there was considerable bustling +around as they prepared to take off again. In +due time the propeller began to whirl, the engine +burst into a roar, the plane quivered. +The boys heard a shout from Ducroy, and then +the airplane moved slowly off across the field.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>It bumped and rocked along, its progress +becoming smoother as it gathered speed; then +it left the ground, the body of the plane tilted +a little as it began to climb. After a while it +banked, circled about, then straightened in +swift flight.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>It was hot and stuffy back in the compartment +where the Hardy boys had hidden themselves, +but they comforted themselves by +remembering that Ducroy had said this was to +be only a short jump. After that, the rascals +evidently planned to lie in hiding until the +night of the twenty-eighth.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The plane drummed along at a good speed +for some time. Then the nose dipped so suddenly +that the lads were flung forward. Their +weight being thrown ahead, the tail was suddenly +lighter and the plane went into a sudden +dive. They heard a yell of alarm from one of +the men in the forward part of the machine, but +the plane straightened out as swiftly as it had +lost balance. Frank and Joe had been frightened +for the moment but they soon regained +their accustomed positions again and clung +tightly to the racks while the plane descended +in sweeping circles.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>It went into a long glide finally, then the +wheels bumped against the ground. It rose +into the air, bumped again, then taxied across a +field until it gradually came to a stop. The +motor was suddenly shut off.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What happened?” they heard Newt Pipps +shout in alarm.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Lost control there for a minute,” Ducroy +answered. “She went into a dive a lot faster +than I had figured on.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I thought we were going to crash,” declared +Newt shakily.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Not with me at the controls,” boasted +Ducroy. “I don’t know what went wrong, but +it didn’t take me long to straighten her out.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It was just as if we had some baggage in +the back and it shifted forward,” said Ollie +Jacobs.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys were breathless with apprehension. +Perhaps Ducroy would be tempted +to investigate!</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Well, there’s no baggage,” insisted Ducroy. +“It’s just the plane. I’m not quite used to +it yet.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll be glad when this business is over,” +said Newt. “I don’t like this flying business, +anyway. Solid earth is good enough for me +any day. When this job is over and I get my +share of the money it’ll be a long time before +anyone tempts me into an airplane again.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where are we now?” asked Ollie. “This +isn’t a flying field.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s better,” returned Ducroy. “This is +an abandoned farm. We’re quite safe here. +If anyone comes to investigate, we’ll just say +we ran out of gas and have to wait here for a +while until we get a fresh supply.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll stay here until to-morrow night, +then?” asked Newt.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There’s a little village about a mile away. +We can go there and stay overnight and loaf +around to-morrow. It’s a lot better than hanging +around a flying field where people are apt +to ask questions.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“This suits me all right,” said Ollie Jacobs. +“I didn’t like the idea of hopping around from +place to place the way we were doing. The +plane is safe enough here, I guess.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“A few farmers may drop around to have a +look at it, but I don’t think there’s any danger +of anyone stealing it,” said Ducroy. “We +might as well go on into the village.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m hungry,” declared Newt. “This flying +gives me an appetite. Let’s go and get something +to eat.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys listened as the voices diminished +in the distance. When they could no +longer hear the trio, Frank opened the side door +and peeped out. He could see Ducroy and the +others climbing over a fence at the other side +of a wide field. The men went out to the road +and then trudged on toward a little village +lying in a hollow about a mile away.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys breathed sighs of relief as they +scrambled out.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“This is luck!” said Frank. “No more flying +until to-morrow night.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I hope we don’t have to stay inside the +plane until then. Those fellows are apt to +come back at any minute.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t think so. You heard what they said. +They intend to stay here until to-morrow night. +As long as we show up here in good time to +hide ourselves before they leave, we’re all +right.” Frank strode up and down the field, +taking the kinks out of his legs. “Let’s take +our sandwiches and go over to that abandoned +farmhouse. We can stay there quite comfortably +until it’s time to leave.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe agreed. “We’ll have to keep an eye on +the road. We can’t afford to let them see us +getting into the plane and we can’t afford to +let them start without us.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ve stayed with them so far and we’ve +got to stay with them to the finish,” declared +Frank. “I only wish we knew where this business +is going to end.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They took their package of food from the +plane and went across the field toward the +farmhouse. It had been abandoned for some +years and was in a bad state of repair, but it +sufficed for their purpose. The boys spent the +greater part of the day exploring the place, +and toward mid-afternoon Frank suggested +that they might as well sleep there that night. +They went back to the plane, which had been +undisturbed, and removed the automobile robes, +bringing them back to the house.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll have to sleep on the floor to-night,” +laughed Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t care where we sleep, as long as we +get these rascals where we want them.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They found a spring down in the orchard, +and the cold spring water served to make more +palatable the sandwiches the farmer’s wife had +made for them that morning. Toward evening +they went into one of the upper rooms of +the house and looked out over the field toward +the plane. There they saw three figures walking +across the field.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I hope they’re not going to start off again,” +said Joe, in alarm.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They’ve probably just come back to see if +the plane is all right.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The three men were Giles Ducroy and his +companions, and their errand was evidently as +Frank had suggested. Ducroy went over the +plane very carefully. Then he went toward the +back and suddenly pulled open the door in the +side. The boys saw him peer into the interior +of the plane.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Boy, isn’t it lucky we didn’t stay there!” +exclaimed Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I hope he doesn’t find that water bottle. +We left it there. Remember?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>But Ducroy’s inspection was brief. He drew +back, closed the door again and turned to the +others with an expressive gesture. Frank and +Joe realized that he had merely made the inspection +to satisfy the others that there was no +baggage in the plane. Evidently the water +bottle had gone unnoticed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The trio stayed only a few minutes, then +went back across the field again toward the +village.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s that!” said Frank. “We’re all +right now until to-morrow night. We’ll go +over some time in the afternoon, hide ourselves +and then wait for things to happen.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys stayed in the empty farmhouse that +night, and they slept soundly in the automobile +robes, despite the hardness of the floor. The +gray light of dawn was just shining through +the window when Frank heard a sound that +awakened him with a start.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>It was the throbbing roar of an airplane +engine!</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He got up and scrambled over to the window. +When he looked out he was just in time to see +a figure clambering into the cockpit of the plane +out in the field. Then the machine began to +move across the pasture; its speed increased; +it rose from the ground, skimmed above the +fence, rose higher and higher into the air and +then headed far off beyond the village.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe, in the meantime, had been aroused by +the noise of the engine, and he too witnessed the +airplane’s flight.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Disheartened and discouraged, the boys +looked glumly at one another.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I guess that means we’re licked,” said Joe, +at last.</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch20'>CHAPTER XX<br> <span class='sub-head'>That Night</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>After</span> all their precautions, the sailing +away of the airplane without them was a bitter +pill to swallow. The Hardy boys had been so +confident that the men would remain in this +place until the night of the twenty-eighth that +this early morning flight took them completely +by surprise.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ve lost them now,” said Frank. “We +don’t know where they’re going or where this +hold-up, or whatever it is, is going to take +place. And we don’t even know where we are +ourselves.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s tough luck. After all the trouble we +went to!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I guess the only thing we can do now is go +back to Bayport and do our best to warn the +post office authorities. I have a pretty good +hunch that the gang are planning another air +mail robbery. Why else would they use a +plane?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Not much use staying here,” agreed Joe. +“They certainly stole a march on us that +time.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They got dressed and left the empty house. +Neither said very much, for they were discouraged +beyond measure. All their discomfort +of the past two days seemed to have gone +for nothing. They realized that the defeat was +not their fault, because they could not anticipate +that Ducroy and his cronies would leave +that morning when they had definitely planned +to remain in the vicinity all day; but there remained +the unescapable fact that the quarry +had eluded them.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps the police in the village recognized +them and they had to clear out,” suggested Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I guess that’s the reason. I can’t think of +any other.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They trudged down the lane that led out +toward the village road. Their immediate +plan was to reach the village, find out where +they were, and then return to Bayport as soon +as possible.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There’s just a slim chance we may be able +to catch them yet if we tell the post office authorities +all we know,” Frank pointed out. +“But we haven’t much time to work in.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The sky was overcast and cloudy that morning, +in harmony with the mood of the Hardy +boys. They found it difficult to be cheerful +after the reverse they had just suffered.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll bet there isn’t even a railway here,” +grumbled Joe.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“And our roadster is miles away.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What a fine fix we’re in!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps they’ll come back,” remarked +Frank, trying to be optimistic.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They’re gone for good.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys crossed a rustic bridge over +a stream and went up the dusty road into the +village. It was only a small farming town and +there were few people in sight. Several cars +were parked in front of the small hotel.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We might as well go in here and have breakfast,” +suggested Joe. “Our sandwiches are all +gone.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They went into the hotel and entered the +dining room. In spite of the disappointment +they had suffered, their appetites still held good +and they managed to make away with a goodly +supply of ham and eggs, flapjacks and syrup, +toast and coffee. The meal over, they felt better. +After paying the check at the desk, they +sat down to consider future plans.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The clerk told them that the village was +about one hundred miles from Bayport, and +that the nearest railway was four miles distant. +If they hired a man from the garage to +drive them to the station they could catch a +train that would bring them to Bayport late +that afternoon.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I guess it’s the best we can do,” said Frank. +“Mighty flat ending to our adventure.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Perhaps it isn’t over yet.” Joe was looking +out into the street. Suddenly he clutched +his brother’s arm. “Look, Frank! Do you +see what I see?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank looked out. He gasped with astonishment.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Across the street, lolling in the doorway of +a grocery store, was a familiar figure. There +was no mistaking the battered hat, the shabby +clothes, the mournful and unshaven features.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Newt Pipps!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He’s still here.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>At that moment the Hardy boys were perhaps +the most delighted and amazed lads in the +United States.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They left him here,” said Frank. “Why, +this means the others will be coming back!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Unless they’ve ditched Newt altogether.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They wouldn’t do that,” said Frank, meeting +Joe’s objection. “He knows too much. He +knows all about this crime they have been planning. +Ducroy and Ollie Jacobs would be afraid +to get rid of him now.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s right, Frank. We gave up hope too +quickly. The other pair will probably be coming +back to the farm to-day.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’d better get back there just as quickly +as we know how. We don’t want to be caught +napping now.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Newt Pipps was still standing in front of +the grocery store. Apparently he had no intention +of moving on. The Hardy boys knew +they were risking discovery if they went out +the front entrance, so they scouted around +until they found a back door to the hotel and +departed unobtrusively. They cut across the +yard, went down a lane, and soon found themselves +on the road leading back to the farm.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They were about half way back to the farm +when they heard a distant droning noise. +Frank looked up.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Here comes the plane!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A speeding shadow in the sky quickly resolved +itself into the shape of an airplane, +which gradually approached and began to descend +in wide spirals. The boys left the road +and took to the shadow of the trees, for although +they knew there was little chance of +being recognized from the air, they were taking +no risks. The plane came lower and lower, +then skimmed across the fences, coming to +rest in the field near the old farmhouse.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If this isn’t luck!” exclaimed Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They probably went away to get gas and +oil. Now, if they’ll only give us a chance to get +back in our hiding place again everything will +be all right.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They went on cautiously, toward the field. +They had just come to the entrance of the lane +leading down toward the farm when they heard +voices. Frank and Joe scrambled into the +hedge and hid themselves.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They were not a moment too soon.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Giles Ducroy and Ollie Jacobs clambered +over the fence, only a few yards away.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Everything is all set now,” Ducroy was +saying. “We’re all fueled up, the plane is in +first-class shape, and we’re all ready for the +big job.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll go back and pick up Newt now,” said +Ollie Jacobs.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He gives me a pain,” grumbled Ducroy. +“If it wasn’t that he has been with us from the +start I’d be tempted to drop him right now. +Imagine being too frightened to go on that +flight with us this morning.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Newt is yellow.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He certainly is. Well, as long as he comes +with us to-night and does his part, I don’t care +how yellow he is about flying.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Shall we come back here right away?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“No. Some of these villagers might get suspicious. +We’ll hang around town until it gets +dark. Then we’ll set out. I know the exact +time and place we can count on meeting this +fellow and the whole thing ought to be over in +twenty minutes.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Good,” said Jacobs.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The two men went on down the lane. They +had not seen the Hardy boys hiding in the +hedge. When they reached the road they +turned in the direction of the village and in a +few moments were lost to view.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe crawled out of the hedge.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“On the trail again,” said Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We shan’t have to stay hidden in the plane, +after all. This is luck.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They hastened down the lane to the farmhouse. +Unwittingly, the rascals had played +into their hands. They now knew that Ducroy +would not start on the mysterious mission until +after darkness had fallen, and they resolved to +be in readiness.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Just when we had given up hope,” said +Frank, “everything gets clear again!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Clear enough so far,” agreed Joe. “We +won’t take any chances on slipping up again. +We’ll be hiding in that plane at sundown.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys went back to the house and there +they remained for the rest of the day. They +found that from one of the upper windows of +the building they could have an uninterrupted +view of the road leading to the village, and they +made frequent visits to this window in order to +make sure that Ducroy and his companions +would not steal a march on them. However, +the afternoon dragged past with no sign of the +trio, and it was evident that they were following +their original program of loafing about the +village.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The airplane, which had evidently escaped +notice, rested alone in the field.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Toward the latter part of the afternoon the +clouds which had been gathering all day gathered +overhead and there was a light shower of +rain. It passed over, but the weather became +cool and blustery.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“A bad night for flying,” remarked Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“If Ducroy can chance it, so can we.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s right. I hope they don’t call it off.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Not after waiting this long,” said Joe. +“Ducroy has set his heart on this affair. It’ll +take a mighty stormy night to make him quit +at the last moment.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The afternoon seemed endless, but at last +Frank turned to his brother.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We may have quite a while to wait, but I +think we ought to go over to the plane now.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t mind waiting. I’d rather wait an +hour or so than be left behind, as we thought +we were this morning.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Let’s go, then.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys left the house and went over to the +field. The airplane was apparently just as +Ducroy and Jacobs had left it. There was no +sign of anyone on the village road.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys climbed into their hiding +place and made themselves as comfortable as +possible. For the time being, they left the door +open for the sake of fresh air. Minutes went +by. The sky grew darker and the wind rose. +Once in a while a gust of rain spattered against +the wings of the machine.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>At last Joe crouched forward.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Here they come! I see a light down the +road.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He reached out and closed the door.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Breathlessly, the Hardy boys awaited the +next move in their perilous adventure.</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch21'>CHAPTER XXI<br> <span class='sub-head'>West of Bacon Hill</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>The Hardy</span> boys soon heard footsteps as the +three men approached the plane.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wish the weather was better,” Newt +Pipps complained. “I’m afraid something +will happen.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I wish you’d keep quiet,” snapped Ducroy. +“If you’re so scared why did you come in with +us at all?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I need the money.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“And you don’t want to earn it. I’m doing +all the work. All you and Ollie have to do is +throw the ropes over the side when I give the +word then get your guns ready for the +hold-up.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We may lose him in the dark,” whined +Pipps.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I know every foot of his route,” returned +Ducroy. “He’ll come right over the two church +steeples in Jasonville, then strike west of the +light on Bacon Hill.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>These places were new to the Hardy boys. +They had never heard of either Jasonville or +Bacon Hill. They listened while the trio made +the final preparations for flight. It did not +take long. In a few minutes they heard the +propeller whirring. The engine roared, there +were a few shouts as the men took their places, +and then the plane bumped off over the uneven +ground.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>It gathered speed, then the bumping ceased +as the plane rose. It cleared the fence at the +end of the field, circled somewhat slowly, and +rose higher.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>For a time the plane flew a direct course, then +it banked and circled. There was no doubt in +the minds of the Hardy boys now that Ducroy +and his companions meant to hold-up another +airplane, but how this hold-up was to be managed +they had not the least idea. It was very +confining inside the body of the plane, for the +night was hot and sultry despite the rain. The +roar of the engine drowned out all other sounds.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Suddenly the plane dipped. Joe, who had +relinquished his grip on the rack, was thrown +forward. The machine lost balance and nosed +down accordingly. Ducroy quickly straightened +it out and Joe tried to edge back toward his +brother in the darkness.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He found, however, that his wrist was tightly +held.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Panic-stricken, he groped forward. His shirt +sleeve had been caught in the steering gear +running from the controls back to the rudder +at the tail of the plane.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>While he tried to extricate himself the plane +began to buck and sway in the wind.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank, realizing that something was wrong, +switched on a small flashlight he had with him, +and moved slowly forward. The beam of light +fell on Joe’s shirt sleeve. When the boys saw +what was wrong they made desperate attempts +to release the sleeve, but it was now firmly entangled +in the gear.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Suddenly the roar of the motor died. Ducroy +had shut off his engine. The plane was nosing +down toward the earth in a thrilling dive. +Wind sang in the struts.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s the matter?” shouted Newt Pipps, +in terror.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Steering gear jammed!” answered Ducroy +sourly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll be killed!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Hold steady, you fool!” growled Ollie +Jacobs. “What’s the matter, Giles, can’t you +get her out of it?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ducroy was working frantically at the controls.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Something wrong somewhere. This old +bird’s tail is as heavy as lead. I can’t move +the rudder.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The gear was moving in response to his efforts +at the controls. Frank seized Joe’s sleeve +and gave a quick wrench. The movement of +the gear had loosened the sleeve somewhat and +it abruptly came loose.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>At the same moment there was a shout of +satisfaction from Giles Ducroy.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“She’s working again. Say, next time I land +I’m going to see if we haven’t some ballast +aboard. There’s something radically wrong +back there.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We won’t need the plane after this haul,” +declared Jacobs. “If we get through this trip +all right we’ll be set for life.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys scrambled back to their +places. The nose of the plane suddenly raised. +The engine began to roar again. Ducroy then +brought the machine out of its breath-taking +dive. It flattened out and raced on again.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe were panting with excitement. +Each realized how near they had been to death. +With the rudder useless, the plane would have +crashed nose down into the earth and they +would have perished instantly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>From then on, the boys clung to the rack with +every movement of the plane. That one hazardous +experience had been sufficient warning.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Suddenly, above the noise of the engine, the +Hardy boys heard a shout from one of the men. +Then they became aware of a new sound. A +steady, distant drumming was apparent.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The other plane!” they reflected.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The machine banked, swept about in a great +circle. The big moment was at hand. The +drumming of the other plane became clearer.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Stand by!” they heard Ducroy yell.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The plane bucked as it was caught in a gust +of wind, then it shot forward and began to +climb. The drumming of the other plane was +now quite audible, mingling with the roaring +of their own machine. It seemed to be below +them and in front of them.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ducroy was evidently jockeying for a +strategic position, for the plane rocked and +swayed, banked and turned, dipped and rose +again.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Ready!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>There was an answering shout from Ollie +Jacobs.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Over she goes!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys heard a rattling sound from the +forward part of the plane. What it was they +could not imagine.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>An instant later, the drumming of the plane +below ceased abruptly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Their own plane swung around. Ducroy cut +off his engine and went into a dive.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ve got him!” they heard Ollie Jacobs +shouting. “There he goes. Look! He’s +diving.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t lose sight of him!” shouted Ducroy.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He’s heading for a field. Nose her down. +We’re right behind him, Giles!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The plane dived swiftly.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>From below, the boys heard a distant crash.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He’s on the ground. Watch out, Ducroy. +Come up behind him.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The plane banked, flinging the two boys +violently to one side. It lurched, dived again +unsteadily.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Get ready!” ordered Ducroy. “Don’t let +him get away. Can you see him, Ollie?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I can’t see him, but I can see the plane. It’s +right ahead. Get your gun, Newt.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m ready,” quavered Newt Pipps.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Gradually, the plane settled down. There +was a bump as the wheels touched the earth. +The plane rebounded high into the air, for +Ducroy had slightly miscalculated in the darkness. +The engine roared again. The wheels +once more touched the ground, and the plane +rocked on over the uneven surface. Finally it +came to a stop. The Hardy boys heard a +scrambling from the front of the machine.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“All out!” Ducroy was shouting. “Now, +boys, make quick work of this. Grab the bags +and get back here as quickly as you can. Don’t +waste any time. Get into the plane again and +wait for me. I’ll get back and start her again. +We’ll be in the air before he knows what it’s +all about.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys could hear them running +across the field. Frank reached for the catch, +flung the door open. He and Joe scrambled +out of the plane.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The scene was illuminated by a cloudy moon. +There was just sufficient light for them to see a +wrecked and crumpled airplane in the field some +distance ahead. A pilot was painfully extricating +himself from the wreckage. Ducroy and +the others were running toward him with +drawn revolvers.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys, too, were armed. Realizing +that their antagonists were desperate men, +they had taken the forethought to provide +themselves with revolvers before leaving Bayport. +Each lad gripped his weapon.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It’s the hold-up!” said Frank quickly. +“Let’s break it up.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Just a minute!” declared Joe. “They +want to get away in this plane. If we can’t +handle them they’ll make a getaway in spite +of us. Let’s fix it so they can’t.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He ran toward the front of the plane, scrambled +up into the cockpit. Joe knew something +of machinery, and it took him only a few +seconds to break an important wire connection +that rendered the engine useless for the time +being.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’ll fix ’em,” he said jubilantly, as he +ran back to Frank, who was waiting impatiently. +“Now we can take a hand in this little +game.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They ran toward the wrecked plane just as +Ducroy and his cronies leveled drawn revolvers +at the pilot.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Put up your hands or we’ll shoot!” ordered +Ducroy.</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch22'>CHAPTER XXII<br> <span class='sub-head'>Captured</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Caution</span> prevented the Hardy boys from +going closer to the fallen plane.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They had not been seen by Ducroy or the +others, and they now realized that it would be +folly to play into their hands at this moment. +They were outnumbered and they saw that +they might easily be disarmed if they took reckless +chances. Frank suddenly halted and +grasped Joe by the arm.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’re foolish to come out in the open like +this. We’re just as liable to be shot.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s what I’ve been thinking,” replied +Joe. “What do you think we’d better do?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They’ll be coming back to the plane. I +think we ought to wait here for them and hold +them up when they come back. They’ll be off +their guard then and probably they’ll be loaded +down with stuff from the other plane.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Without further parley, the lads turned and +ran back. In the gloom they had not been seen. +They crouched in the shadow of the disabled +plane and watched the activities of the others.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The pilot, after his first shock of surprise, +had quickly thrown up his hands. Ducroy and +the others advanced toward him.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s the idea?” the lads heard the pilot +saying.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We haven’t time to talk to you,” growled +Ducroy, holding a revolver against the man’s +body. “We want those mail bags you have +here.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Bandits, are you?” snapped the pilot +“You’ll suffer for this. You tried to kill me!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’re not dead yet,” said Ollie Jacobs +callously.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You flung a rope down from your plane and +it tangled up in my propeller shaft. It’s just +by luck that I wasn’t killed in the crack-up. +Just wait. You’ll pay for this night’s work.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We’ll get paid,” chuckled Ducroy. “Get +in there, Newt, and heave out those mail bags.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The pilot was helpless under the menace of +the drawn revolvers. He was forced to stand +by while Newt Pipps scrambled into the plane, +found the mail bags, and began throwing them +out to the ground.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ll take care of this fellow,” said Ducroy. +“Ollie, you can start bringing those bags up to +the other plane. Work fast. Some of these +farmers around here may have heard the plane +crash and they might be along any minute to +investigate.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ollie Jacobs, pocketing his revolver, sprang +forward and seized two of the heavy mail bags. +He flung them over his shoulder and hastened +back toward the plane, where the Hardy boys +awaited him.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Nearer and nearer he came. The boys +crouched in readiness.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Jacobs reached the plane. He did not see +the lurking shadows. He was just reaching +forward to open the door of the baggage compartment +for the reception of the stolen mail +bags when Frank Hardy stepped out and +swiftly pressed a revolver against his side.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Up with your hands, Jacobs! Not a word +out of you!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ollie Jacobs gave a strangled exclamation of +surprise. Then he dropped the mail bags. His +arms shot into the air.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Who—who are you?” he stammered.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Keep quiet! One word out of you——” +Frank prodded him with the revolver to emphasize +his command.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ollie Jacobs was frightened into silence. +From where they were standing, the scene +could not be observed by Ducroy. Frank and +Joe backed their captive up against the side of +the plane and bade him be quiet.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A moment later they heard Ducroy shouting.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Ollie! What’s keeping you? Hurry back +here and get these other bags.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Jacobs stirred restlessly, but Frank jammed +the revolver against his ribs. He was helpless, +and he knew it.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Ollie!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ducroy was becoming angry.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What on earth has happened to him? Here, +Newt! Keep this man covered while I go and +see what’s the matter.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A moment later the Hardy boys heard Ducroy +running toward the plane. He came around +the side, muttering to himself. Joe was waiting +in readiness. He leaped out and thrust his +revolver against Ducroy’s chest.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Hands up, Ducroy!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ducroy gave a shout of dismay, stepped +back, but when he saw the revolver he raised +his arms.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Get back over here beside Jacobs.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Reluctantly, Ducroy did as he was told. +Frank went swiftly through the pockets of each +man and disarmed them both.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Now,” he said to Joe, “if you’ll keep this +pair covered, I’ll go back and attend to friend +Newt.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe, with a revolver in each hand, eyed his +captives warily. But Ducroy and Jacobs, unarmed, +had too much respect for the menacing +weapons and the determined boy who held +them, to make any rash break for liberty.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank, his revolver in readiness, went over +toward the other plane where Newt Pipps was +holding the pilot at bay. At the sound of his +footsteps, Newt called out:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s the matter, Ducroy? I thought I +heard you shout.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Everything’s all right,” growled Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Apparently, Newt was deceived, for he did +not look around. It is certain that he got the +shock of his life when he felt a revolver muzzle +pressed against his back and heard a stern +voice say:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Up with your hands, Newt! Drop that +gun immediately!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>With a squeal of amazement, Newt Pipps +whirled around, lowering his weapon as he did +so. At the same moment the pilot, who had +been watching his chance, sprang forward, +seized the fellow’s wrist and wrenched the weapon +from him. There was a brief struggle, and +Newt Pipps was overpowered.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The others are back at the other plane,” +Frank told the pilot. “My brother has them +covered.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Good!” said the aviator, dealing Newt a +hearty kick. “Now get along there, you!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They propelled the luckless Newt ahead of +them across the field until they reached the +other plane, where they found Joe still on +guard over his captives.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Try to rob the air mail, would you?” +gloated the pilot, as Newt was lined up beside +the others. “You mighty nearly got away +with it, too. But not this time!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ducroy leaned forward, peering at his captors +in the gloom. It was then that he recognized +the Hardy boys.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I thought so!” he muttered bitterly. “The +Hardy boys! Although how on earth the two +of you got here is beyond me.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“This means jail!” moaned Newt Pipps. +“Oh, why did I ever let myself be argued into +this! I knew we’d never get away with it! I +said so from the start!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Shut up,” snarled Ollie Jacobs. “Shut up +and take your medicine like a man. We’re +licked; but we would have been well away if it +hadn’t been for those Hardy boys.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You lads certainly came along in the nick +of time,” said the pilot of the mail plane. “You +couldn’t have got here better if you had planned +it from the start. There is about fifty +thousand dollars in cash in those mail bags. +That’s what this gang were after. They circled +my machine and dropped a tangle of ropes +over the propeller. I had to make a landing, +and nearly lost my life in the bargain.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We did plan it from the start,” Frank told +him quietly. “We have been following these +men for three days, trying to find what they +were up to.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Following us!” cried Ducroy. “How could +you follow us? We’ve flown hundreds of miles +in the last three days.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“And we flew with you. We’ve been quite +comfortable back in the tail of the plane.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>A startled exclamation burst from Ducroy.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“So that’s what was wrong! I thought +there was something mighty queer about the +way that machine was acting. And I never +even looked! The two of you right on our +trail from the start!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>His ejaculations of surprise and disgust +were echoed by Ollie Jacobs and Newt Pipps. +As for the pilot, he was hilarious in his admiration +of the Hardy boys.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You were trailing them all the way!” he +exclaimed. “Well, that’s the best I’ve ever +heard. And they thinking they’d make a neat +clean-up! Boys, when I report this to the post +office department you’ll hear some fine things +said about yourselves for this night’s work.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Joe rummaged about in the plane and found +a length of rope. He cut this into convenient +pieces, and while Frank covered the three bandits +with his revolver, Joe and the pilot made +quick work of binding them hand and foot.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The trio had just been safely trussed up when +they heard the clatter of an automobile in a +road near by, saw the beam of headlights, and +then they heard a hoarse voice:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s going on over there?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Who are you?” shouted the pilot.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’m the sheriff of this here county, and I +want to know what monkeyshines are going on +over there. I have a shotgun with me, and I’m +ready to use it; hurry up and answer.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’re as welcome as the flowers in May, +sheriff,” yelled the pilot jubilantly. “Come +along with your shotgun. We’ve got some +prisoners here for you.”</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch23'>CHAPTER XXIII<br> <span class='sub-head'>Back in Bayport</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>Beyond</span> an occasional robbery of a hen roost +the worthy sheriff had experienced few cases +of crime in the county during his time of office, +and when he discovered who the prisoners +were and why they had been captured he was +one of the most astounded and bewildered men +in the world.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Robbin’ the air mail!” he stammered. +“Why, these fellers must be desperate criminals!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“They’re not very desperate now, sheriff,” +laughed the pilot.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What d’you want me to do with ’em?” +asked the man of the law doubtfully.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Lock ’em up.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I don’t know as I’m responsible.” The +sheriff was not anxious to be given charge over +three mail robbers.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You’re responsible, all right, until the government +takes them off your hands,” returned +the pilot abruptly. “You take these men and +lock them up in your village jail, and make +mighty sure they don’t get away from you, +either. This crime took place in your county, +so you can just get busy and do your duty.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The sheriff looked very unhappy about it, +and kept Ducroy and his companions carefully +covered with the shotgun, as though fearing +they might break loose at any moment. Assistance +soon arrived, when a number of farmers +and people from the village, attracted by +the crash of the mail plane, came clambering +over the adjacent fences. In a remarkably +short space of time a crowd had collected. +Everybody talked at once, everybody asked +questions, and general excitement prevailed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“What’s the excitement?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Airplane busted, eh?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Anybody killed?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Gosh, Jed, look at the sheriff! What’s he +up to, anyhow?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t know nothin’ ’bout it, Asa. But +somethin’ is plumb wrong, that’s certain.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t go too close to the shebang, Billy, she +might bust up on you.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“First time I ever did see an airplane come +down like that.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Me, too. Glad I come along just in time. I +wouldn’t go up in one of ’em for a million +dollars.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Nor me.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The sheriff, becoming bolder, announced to +all and sundry that he had just captured three +mail robbers at great risk of his own life and +called on his fellow villagers to help him take +the trio safely to jail.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Ducroy, Ollie Jacobs, and Newt Pipps were +consequently surrounded and led out of the +field, bundled into an automobile where they +were guarded by the sheriff, armed with his +shotgun, and two husky villagers armed with +clubs, then hustled off to town.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The pilot turned to the Hardy boys. A number +of people had remained at the scene and +were busy inspecting the wrecked plane and +asking questions. The majority of the villagers, +however, had hastened in the wake of the +sheriff and his prisoners.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Where are you boys from?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Bayport,” Frank told him.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The pilot was surprised.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why, that’s where I’m bound for.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I guess you won’t get there to-night,” said +Joe pessimistically.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I’ve got to get there to-night. I’m carrying +the air mail, and it must get through somehow.” +The pilot looked at Ducroy’s plane. +“I wonder if this old crate will make it.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“It was running fairly smoothly to-night,” +said Frank eagerly. “Do you think you could +take off and reach Bayport to-night?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why not? Here, take those mail bags and +put them in the plane. We’ll make a try at it, +anyway.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>While Frank stowed away the mail bags, Joe +showed the pilot the wire connections he had +broken in order to prevent Ducroy from getting +into the air.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The pilot laughed. “Pretty smart,” he said +approvingly. “Even if you hadn’t succeeded +in holding them up, they wouldn’t have got +very far.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>He quickly repaired the broken connection.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Now,” he said, “I don’t see any reason +why we shouldn’t be able to take off from here +and reach Bayport in good time to-night. And +won’t my chief’s eyes pop out when I tell him +the story of <span class='it'>this</span> trip!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank ran around to the front of the plane +and gave the propeller a flip. The motor began +its clamor again and the pilot waved his +arm joyously.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Climb in!” he shouted. “We’re away!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys lost no time “climbing in,” +and while the curious villagers scattered in all +directions, the pilot “gave her the gun” and +the plane began to move slowly off across the +field. Although it was a cloudy night, the pilot +had some instinct which told him the right direction, +and he brought the plane off the +ground just in time to avoid a fence that seemed +to rise suddenly before them. He cleared the +fence, cleared the telephone wire beyond the +road, just skimmed over the tops of some trees, +and then climbed swiftly beyond the danger +level.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys enjoyed this ride considerably +more than they had enjoyed their flights in the +tail of the plane. The cold air stung their +faces. They found goggles and flying helmets +in the seats, and when they donned them they +were more comfortable.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Lights of the village flashed far beneath +them, and as the plane rose higher in the air +they saw lights in the darkness many miles on +all sides. Far to the north they could see a +dull haze of lights from a distant city. Over +to one side they could see a speeding beam of +light followed by a little string of twinkling +stars, which they identified as a train, racing +across the countryside.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The plane roared on swiftly and the thrill +of that night flight was sufficient reward to the +Hardy boys for all the discomforts they had +undergone. They were riding high above the +world, which seemed to have disappeared altogether +save for the twinkling beams and blobs +of light scattered over its black surface.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>They saw the pilot gesture. He was pointing +ahead.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys could see a widening pencil +of light which cut through the blackness of the +night. It was the beacon light of the Bayport +air field, still many miles ahead, but visible +from their great height. Beyond that they +could see the twinkling flash of a lighthouse at +the mouth of Barmet Bay.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>In due time the lights of Bayport came into +view, a yellow glow, and to the west they could +see the airport, clearly illuminated, a huge +glowing rectangle.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The pilot juggled with the controls. The +nose of the plane tilted downward. The machine +dived in a breathless rush.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Then it banked, and the plane circled the airport, +dropping steadily downward as though +descending an invisible spiral. The flying field +seemed to rise up to meet them. The hangars, +the other planes, the tiny figures of men on the +field, all became visible. There seemed to be +an unusually large number of people about, +and the pilot turned and shouted something to +the boys, but they could not distinguish what +he said, because of the roar of the engine.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Finally the plane straightened out, then +glided swiftly down toward the field. It struck +the ground with a shock, then bounced and +bounded on toward the hangars.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>There was a big crowd at the airport. People +were running down the field toward the +plane. By the time the pilot cut off his engine, +by the time the propeller stopped turning and +the plane came to a stop, a mob had surrounded +the machine.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe looked wonderingly at one +another.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Looks like a reception committee!” said +the pilot. “The sheriff must have telephoned +to Bayport about his prisoners.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys stood up. They heard +shouts:</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“There they are!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“That’s them!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Turn around a little—let’s get a picture!”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys and the pilot had a confused +impression of half a dozen cameras leveled at +them. Flashlight powder began to explode +until the whole scene was as bright as day. An +enterprising reporter scrambled up over the +side of the plane.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Interview!” he clamored. “Give me the +story, boys! What happened?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The pilot brushed him aside.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You boys will have your story in a minute,” +he promised. “If you’ll all come up to the office +we’ll tell you the whole yarn.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Chief Collig, at the head of a detail of officers, +appeared just then and managed to get +the crowd under control, so that the pilot and +the Hardy boys were able to get out of the +plane. Several airport officials ran up. The +pilot saluted.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Had a forced landing near Jasonville, sir,” +he reported to one of these officials, an elderly +man. “The mail is safe.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Good work, Benton,” said the other. “Come +up to the office and tell us what happened. +We’ve been mighty curious for the past half +hour, since we heard about this hold-up.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The Hardy boys never forgot the short journey +to the office building of the airport. It +had all the aspect of a triumphal procession. +Scores of people had invaded the flying field, +and the police were kept busy keeping the +crowds back. Seemingly, the news of the hold-up +had spread quickly in Bayport and the +flying field suddenly became the Mecca of everyone +who could make his way to the airport.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>In the office, surrounded by reporters, photographers, +police officers, and airport officials, +Benton, the pilot, briefly told his story of the +hold-up.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“As you know,” he said, “the mail to-night +was especially valuable. Cash for a number +of payrolls was being sent to one of the Bayport +banks from its head office in New York. +Somehow, these men must have got wind of it, +so they flew out to meet me, tossed a tangle of +ropes down on my propeller shaft, then held +me up when I crashed. They were just clearing +out with the mail bags when these boys appeared +on the scene and turned the tables. If +it hadn’t been for them, the rascals would have +made a clean getaway. Their story is much +more interesting than mine.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Frank and Joe Hardy were then asked to tell +the story of their adventures. While the newspapermen +scribbled hastily and made frequent +dashes to the telephones to inform their city +editors of the facts, the boys quietly told how +they had decided to follow Ollie Jacobs, how +they had learned of the purchase of the airplane, +and how they had concealed themselves +in the machine and accompanied the rascals in +their journeys about the countryside. When +they had finished, a veteran post office inspector +stepped forward and shook hands with +them.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I hardly need say that your good work will +be recognized by the department,” he said. +“Your persistence and courage certainly +averted a serious robbery, and I am going to +recommend that you be suitably rewarded.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The only reward we want,” returned +Frank, “is to be cleared of the charges against +us. You know, we’re out on bail on a charge +of robbing the mail several days ago.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Why, didn’t you know that you were +cleared of that?” exclaimed the inspector. +“Your father, Fenton Hardy, came to the airport +to-night, shortly before the news of the +hold-up was reported, and arrested two mechanics. +It seems they had been in touch with +Ducroy and his companions by telephone, tipping +them off to the time this money shipment +was expected. When your father took them +away they confessed that they had helped Ducroy +manage the other two thefts here, and that +Ducroy had deliberately planted evidence +against you boys.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Charges against them have been withdrawn,” +broke in Chief Collig abruptly. “The +Hardy boys have been cleared of all suspicion. +So far as I’m concerned, I never believed them +guilty in the first place.”</p> + +<div><h1 id='ch24'>CHAPTER XXIV<br> <span class='sub-head'>Vindicated</span></h1></div> + +<p class='pindent'><span class='lead-in'>The Hardy</span> boys had cleared up the great +airport mystery, which had been a nine days’ +wonder in Bayport.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Newspapers carried many columns describing +the adventures of the boys in trailing the +airmail thieves and the entire city united in +praising them for their good work. But the +boys felt that no praise could equal the delight +they felt when they knew they had been cleared +of the unjust charges that had been laid +against them.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“I knew it! I knew it all along!” declared +Hurd Applegate, as he sat in Fenton Hardy’s +study the next morning. “It was absolutely +ridiculous to arrest them in the first place. +Wasn’t it, Elroy?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Elroy Jefferson, who had come to the Hardy +home with Mr. Applegate, nodded affirmatively.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Quite ridiculous,” he agreed. “I am indeed +glad that the whole affair has been cleared +up so thoroughly. The boys have been vindicated, +the air mail has been saved, and the rascals +are in jail. Excellent.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“When I arrested those two confederates at +the airport last night,” said Fenton Hardy, “it +didn’t take long to get the whole story out of +them. They saw that the game was up. They +told me that Ducroy had engineered the whole +business. As for planting the evidence against +the boys, he got Newt Pipps to steal a sweater +and a knife from the garage and he left those +near the scene to incriminate Frank.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“How about the footprints?” asked Joe. +“How did he manage that?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“He noticed that you were wearing the new +shoes, so he got a similar pair, of the same size, +in another town. After all, you can hardly +blame the police, with all that evidence, particularly +when you had no alibi.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The reason we couldn’t explain our alibi,” +said Frank, “was because we had been out to +a cabin in Beach Grove that afternoon looking +for evidence against Ducroy and the others. +We thought we’d keep quiet about that until we +learned a little more about them.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“You took a great many chances,” said Mr. +Hardy gravely. “If I had known you were flying +around the country in the tail of an airplane +operated by three mail robbers, I +wouldn’t have been very easy in my mind.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Now, Fenton, don’t start worrying about +that now,” advised Elroy Jefferson. “The +boys have done excellent work and they’ve +come through it quite safe and sound, which is +all that matters.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“We want to thank you and Mr. Applegate +for going bail for us,” said Joe. “If you +hadn’t put up the money we would have had +to stay in jail and the mail robbers would +probably be at large yet.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Don’t thank us,” snapped Hurd Applegate. +“We didn’t risk any money. We knew +you were innocent. I think I’m sufficient judge +of character to know a crook when I see one.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>The boys soon would need to know this to +learn “What Happened at Midnight.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The bail money was returned to us this +morning,” said Elroy Jefferson. “The police +were quite apologetic.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“The postal department has been apologetic +too,” said Fenton Hardy. “As you remember, +when the boys were arrested they relieved me +of my assignment to work on the case, so that +when I went out to the airport last night, following +up the information the boys had sent +on here by telephone while I was away, I was +really exceeding my authority. However, the +post office people now admit they were mistaken +and have asked me to hold myself in readiness +to accept other cases if they should arise.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Excellent! Excellent!” said Hurd Applegate. +“Everything has turned out wonderfully +for all concerned.”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Except for Giles Ducroy and his gang,” +remarked Frank.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Too bad about them!” growled Hurd. +“They’re safely locked up in jail, where they +belong. Serves ’em right. Don’t you think +so, Elroy?”</p> + +<p class='pindent'>“Absolutely!” agreed Elroy Jefferson. “It +is a fitting end to the great airport mystery.”</p> + +<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:2em;margin-bottom:2em;font-size:.8em;'>THE END</p> + +<hr class='pbk'> + +<p class='line' style='text-align:center;margin-top:.5em;font-size:1.2em;'>TRANSCRIBER NOTES</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Misspelled words and printer errors have been corrected. +Where multiple spellings occur, majority use has been +employed.</p> + +<p class='pindent'>Punctuation has been maintained except where obvious +printer errors occur.</p> + +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 77595 ***</div> + </body> + <!-- created with fpgen.py 4.66 on 2024-11-17 01:48:49 GMT --> +</html> diff --git a/77595-h/images/cover.jpg b/77595-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a84bafc --- /dev/null +++ b/77595-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/77595-h/images/front.png b/77595-h/images/front.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..adaa178 --- /dev/null +++ b/77595-h/images/front.png diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6c72794 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This book, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. 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