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Dixon (Stratemeyer pseudonym)</title> + + <style> + body { margin-left:8%;margin-right:10%; } + .it { font-style:italic; } + .bold { font-weight:bold; } + .sc { font-variant:small-caps; } + .ol { text-decoration:overline; } + p { text-indent:0; margin-top:0.5em; margin-bottom:0.5em; + text-align: justify; } + div.lgc { } + div.lgl { } + div.lgc p { text-align:center; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; } + div.lgl p { text-indent: -17px; margin-left:17px; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; } + h1 { + text-align:center; + font-weight:normal; + page-break-before: always; + font-size:1.2em; margin:2em auto 1em auto + } + + .sub-head { font-size: smaller; } + + .lead-in { + font-variant: small-caps; + } + + hr.pbk { border:none; border-bottom:1px solid silver; width:100%; margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:2em } + .figcenter { + text-align:center; + margin:1em auto; + page-break-inside: avoid; + } + + div.blockquote100percent { margin:1em auto; width:100%; } + p.caption { text-align:center; 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+ text-indent:0; + } + td.leader-dots span { + background:white; + } + + .tab1c1 { } + .tab1c2 { } + .tab1c3 { } + .tab1c1-col2 { border-right: 0px solid black; } + .tab1c1-col3 { border-right: 0px solid black; } + .tdStyle0 { + padding: 3px 5px; text-align:center; vertical-align:top; + } + .tdStyle1 { + padding: 3px 5px; text-align:right; vertical-align:top; + } + .tdStyle2 { + padding: 3px 5px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top;padding-left:29px; text-indent:-24px; + } + .tdStyle3 { + padding: 3px 5px; text-align:right; vertical-align:bottom; + } + .tdStyle4 { + padding: 3px 5px; text-align:left; vertical-align:top; + } + .pindent { margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:1.5em; } + .noindent { margin-top:0; margin-bottom:0; text-indent:0; } + .hang { padding-left:1.5em; text-indent:-1.5em; } + </style> + <style> + h1 { font-size:1em; word-spacing:.2em; line-height:200%; margin-top:4em; } + .sub-head { font-size:1em; font-variant:small-caps; word-spacing:.2em; } + div.blockquote { margin-top:1em; 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> |