The Missing Chums Part 12

"Sutton had a Yokohama radio!" Joe exclaimed. "And we saw him talking to Ben Stark that day at Shantytown."

"The radio seems to be a connection between them," Frank pointed out. "I think we'd better go back to the hi-fi shop, and find out more about the ident.i.ty of Yokohama Super-X purchasers."

After eating breakfast, the boys hurried off, first to pick up their motorcycles, then to go to the hi-fi shop.

When they entered the store, the young clerk was glad to see them.

"Change your minds, fellows?" he asked hopefully. "Like to buy one of those sets?"

"We would like to look at them," Frank replied.

Immediately the clerk bustled off and returned with four of the compact little radios. "Go ahead," he invited. "Try them."

While Joe flicked the b.u.t.ton on one set, the young man said, "These are neat. As I told you the other day, we buy them from a distributor in j.a.pan." In response to Frank's query about who had purchased them, the clerk gave the customers' names, all familiar to the Hardys. None of them could be suspect.

"Three of these radios came in yesterday afternoon. I could give you boys a good price, since we bought them at a big discount."

"How come?" Frank asked.

"Well, we didn't buy these from the distributor," the clerk admitted. "These were brought in by a fellow who wanted to sell them at a secondhand price, even though they're brand new. My boss snapped up all three. He knows a bargain."

"I see." Frank nodded. "No questions asked."

"Oh, it's not anything illegal," the clerk hastened to say. "They were brought in by a respectable businessman, Mr. French, who owns the costume store down the street."

"Mr. French!" the boys echoed in amazement.

"Yes. What's so strange about that?"

"Oh, nothing, I guess," Frank replied. "You just reminded us that we must see Mr. French ourselves right away. The radios will have to wait. Come on, Joe!"

While the mystified clerk stared after the Hardys, they bolted from the shop and hurried along the sidewalk toward the costume shop.

"Mr. French again," Joe muttered, shaking his head. "Is he one of this gang?"

"Somehow I trust him," Frank replied. "Maybe the robbers are forcing him to play along with them, and have threatened harm to his family unless he does."

"He didn't look very happy the afternoon we picked up our costumes," Joe recalled. "Those men in his shop were threatening him. And when he came to our house in the middle of the night, it was no mistake!"

"He knows Dad's a detective," Frank said. "I think he wanted him and was confused when we answered the door."

"Well, we'll soon find out," Joe said as they neared the shop.

"It looks closed," Frank remarked. The heavy door was shut and the blinds drawn. Going closer, the boys saw a sign in the window: CLOSED INDEFINITELY.

"I wonder why," said Joe. "Has Mr. French gone out of business?"

"Hey," Frank cried out, "where are the gorilla and magician outfits that were in the window yesterday afternoon?"

Only one costume was now on display-a skeleton suit, which stood up with outspread arms, like a scarecrow!

"I hate to think what that costume means, if it's a signal," Joe said.

"Never mind," Frank said. "We must find Mr. French. Perhaps he lives over the store." Frank strode to a door at one side of the building. "Yes, here's his name on the bell plate."

Impatiently the young detective jabbed with his thumb at the b.u.t.ton. The bell sounded loudly but no one answered.

"Hey!" came a sharp voice. "What are you two doing here?"

Frank and Joe whirled to face their two chums Jerry Gilroy and Tony Prito.

"We're sleuthing around," Joe replied, and grinned. "What are you fellows up to?"

Tony explained that he and Jerry were on an errand for Mr. Prito, then asked, "Have you found out anything more about Chet and Biff?"

"We found out plenty!" Joe exploded. "Chet and Biff were kidnaped by the bank robbers, who mistook them for Frank and me."

"What!" cried Tony and Jerry. While they listened intently, Frank and Joe gave the details of their adventure the night before.

"But where is the gang holding them?" Jerry wondered. "Could it be Hermit Island?"

"Could be," Frank said. "We found out the hermit we saw is a fake. The real one's dead."

"And when Dad trailed Stark and Moran last night," Joe put in, "they went to the dock and waited for a boat. That could mean the rest of the gang-and Chet and Biff-are some place only accessible by water."

"Then what are we waiting for?" urged Jerry. "Let's head for Hermit Island!"

"Yes-and no girls this time," Tony added. "That phony hermit carries a shotgun, and if the robbers are there, the danger is double."

"Right," Frank said. "We'd better take both boats, Tony. In case of trouble, we'll be able to split up, or help each other."

Tony agreed eagerly. "Then we'll meet you at your dock at one-thirty," Frank told him.

As their two friends hurried off, Frank and Joe walked to their motorcycles and rode home.

As they dismounted in front of their garage, Aunt Gertrude appeared behind the back screen door, wringing her hands nervously.

"Hi, Auntie!" Joe called cheerfully. "Where are Mother and Dad?"

"Your mother has gone shopping and your father's off on some more detective work! There's a giant in the living room waiting for you."

"A what?" Joe asked, entering the house.

Aunt Gertrude made a sweeping motion with her arms. "A man," she said, "a great big man!"

Laughing, Frank led the way into the living room. This must be Alf Lundborg!

The visitor's huge frame certainly dwarfed the Hardys' furniture. Grinning, he shook each brother's hand in his crus.h.i.+ng grip.

"I'm out of jail again," he told them. "Sutton wouldn't say I attacked him, so they finally let me go."

"I knew you didn't do it, Alf," said Joe.

The stevedore's good-natured face clouded. "No, I wouldn't touch a little weasel like Sutton," he agreed.

"But it makes me sore to be accused of doing it! What I came to tell you, though, is this-I know who did beat him up. It was one of his own pals!"

"Ben Stark?" Frank asked curiously.

"No, a fellow they call Pops. Remember I told you about the bunch who were always fighting with one another? Well, Sutton and Pops do most of it. Pops finally gave it to him good, but Sutton won't tell the police."

"That must mean they're in something illegal together," Frank reasoned. "How about this Pops, Alf-is he an old man?"

"No. Although he's bald, he's younger than Sutton-bigger and stronger. Talks loud, too. I don't know why they call him Pops."

Frank and Joe looked at each other excitedly Both immediately thought of Ben Stark's pal who was still at large. Could Pops be the Fizzle soda drinker?

"Thanks for telling us, Alf," said Joe. "We're glad you're out of jail. You've been in twice and both times because of us."

"You couldn't help it," replied their big friend, "and you spoke up for me both times. I appreciate that."

After Alf had left, the brothers had some lunch, then headed for the waterfront on their motorcycles.

Tony and Jerry were already in the Napoli when the Sleuth came alongside the Prito dock. With serious, determined faces the four friends headed for Hermit Island.

As soon as they reached the ocean, the boys were confronted by a fast-darkening sky and choppy sea.

With incredible swiftness, black clouds, with chains of lightning snapping underneath them, moved in from the south. Large raindrops began to pelt the boys. In another moment the darkness closed around them like nightfall. Lightning flashed on the heaving ocean and the rain smacked down on them almost painfully.

"Why didn't we bring slickers!" Joe exclaimed.

Through it all, Joe kept the Sleuth's nose pointed northward. Presently, illuminated by the lightning, a rocky ma.s.s came into view.

"There's the island," Frank called out. "A motorboat's just pulling away, Joe!"

"Let's chase it!" Joe cried. "Some of the gang may be aboard and are escaping."

"Not now," Frank cautioned. "Chet and Biff come first!" As the boys watched, the dark-brown craft disappeared in the distance.

As suddenly as it had come up, the black squall pa.s.sed over. The Sleuth and the Napoli circled toward the island's beach. By this time the rain had stopped.

The clouds parted, blue sky appeared, and the sun beat down again. Under its burning heat the boys'

clothes began to dry out.

"The storm's probably driven that phony hermit under cover," Joe said. "Let's get ash.o.r.e before he spots us."

The boys found a small cove fringed with small, scrubby oak trees. Quickly concealing their boats in this cover, they debarked and set out on the path around the island.

This time no one disturbed them. The trail climbed and then dropped down to the level of the sh.o.r.e again. Overhead loomed the wet bluff.

Suddenly Frank stopped and pointed to a dark opening in the gray rock ahead. "A cave!" he said quietly.

The boys crept nearer. Just outside the cave's entrance, Frank lifted a warning hand.

"Voices!" he whispered.

CHAPTER XVII.

Hermit's Hideout HOLDING themselves rigid against the damp rock, the four boys strained to listen. Somewhere inside the cave a man was talking rapidly, but his words were m.u.f.fled and indistinct.

"What's he saying?" whispered Tony.

Frank motioned for the others to hold their places. Then he lay on his stomach and inched cautiously forward until his head was just outside the cave opening. From this position he could hear what was going on inside.

"Well, what's happening?" Jerry whispered impatiently. "Tug at his ankle, Joe!"

But just then Frank came wriggling backward. He jumped to his feet, and clutching his sides, hastened some distance down the path.

Joe, Tony, and Jerry ran after him.

"Frank-what's the matter?" his brother asked. "What was he saying?"

Frank tried to speak, but his chest heaved with suppressed laughter. Finally he managed to tell them: "The fellow was saying . . . 'B-buy B-b-b.u.t.terfly Baby Foods'!"

"Wha-a-t!" The three boys looked at one another, completely mystified.

"We were listening to a radio," Frank blurted out. "The announcer was giving a commercial!"

"You mean the hermit's in there, listening to the radio?" Joe asked.

"I couldn't see," Frank replied. "Maybe Chet and Biff are there! It's likely, anyhow, that their guard went in to avoid the rain. Now that it's over, he'll probably come out again. Our best move is to find a good spot to lie in wait for him."

Near the cave mouth the boys found a large, brush-protected boulder and hid themselves behind it. For some time they waited. From inside the cave, s.n.a.t.c.hes of music alternated with the announcer's voice.

At last Joe could stand it no longer. "Maybe there's n.o.body inside!" he burst out impatiently. "I'm going to have a look!"

"Careful!" Frank whispered, as his brother slipped out of hiding.

Joe darted to the path, lay down, and inched himself forward until he could see into the cavern. For several minutes he peered inside, then scrambled back behind the boulder.

"Somebody is in there!" he reported. "He's asleep and forgot to turn off his radio."